I had the chance to watch the WWDC 2024 event, and it was nothing short of exhilarating. Apple has set the stage for a groundbreaking event, filled with exciting announcements and innovations to shape the future of technology. I will share my thoughts on everything that transpired so you, don’t need to worry about watching it.
Celebrating Developers Worldwide
WWDC is the moment when Apple celebrates its global developer community. Tim Cook kicked off the event by highlighting the importance of developers, saying, “Developers continue to amaze us with the apps they create for our products, used by over a billion people around the world. We must provide them with the newest tools and technologies to do their best work.”
The day started with some incredible updates across Apple’s platforms. Tim Cook expressed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to introduce profound new intelligence capabilities that we hope will inspire developers, delight users, and make our platforms even smarter and more useful than ever.”
Apple TV+: Five Years of Excellence
Apple TV+ is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. Over the past five years, it has become known for high-quality original content. “We are proud that Apple TV+ has been recognized for delivering the highest-rated originals in the industry for three consecutive years,” said Cook. This year, critically acclaimed movies like “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon”, as well as hit series like “Masters of the Air” and “Dark Matter”, have been added to the lineup.
Vision OS and Apple Vision Pro
One of the most thrilling parts of the presentation was the update on Vision OS and Apple Vision Pro. Mike Rockwell, VP of AR/VR, stated, “Apple Vision Pro and Vision OS unlock completely new possibilities for entertainment, productivity, collaboration, and much more.” From watching live NBA games with stats to exploring endangered species with Unextinct, Vision Pro is revolutionizing the user experience.
Introducing Vision OS 2.0
Vision OS 2.0
Cook went on to talk about updates to Vision OS, now at version 2.0. While it might sound like a major leap, it feels more like a modest 1.2 update rather than a groundbreaking 2.0 release.
New Gestures and Media Features
One of the nifty new features is a wrist turn gesture that lets you quickly check the time and battery percentage. No more awkwardly looking up at the ceiling! This is reminiscent of the Oculus Quest’s functionality and is a welcome improvement. Vision OS also now boasts immersive media features, transforming your old photos into spatial photos using advanced machine learning. This sounds impressive, but we’ll have to see how well it works in practice.
Enhanced Productivity and New Gestures
Navigating Vision Pro has become even more intuitive with new gestures. Opening Home View or Control Center is now possible with simple hand movements. The Mac Virtual Display feature has also been upgraded, offering higher resolution and an ultra-wide display that wraps around you, equivalent to two 4K monitors side-by-side.
Travel Mode Enhancements
Apple Vision Pro is perfect for travel. Vision OS 2 adds train support to Travel Mode, making it possible to work privately or enjoy your favorite shows on a massive screen during long commutes. This update promises to make the Vision Pro experience even better.
Developer Tools and APIs
In addition to these great features, Vision OS 2.0 also makes it easier for developers to create sophisticated spatial apps. The supported apps for the vision pro are now up to 1.5 million as mentioned in the Apple WWDC. There are also new frameworks and APIs, such as advanced volumetric APIs for multitasking, Tabletop Kit for apps that anchor to flat surfaces, and enterprise-specific APIs for use cases like surgical training and equipment maintenance.
Creating Spatial Content
Creating spatial content is also simpler now. Apple has made it easy to capture spatial video with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Pro videographers can now use Canon’s new spatial lens for the EOS R7 to record stunning spatial video for Apple Vision Pro, even under challenging conditions. These videos can be edited in Final Cut Pro for Mac and shared on the new Vimeo app for Vision OS.
Apple Immersive Video
Apple Immersive Videos are 180-degree 8K recordings with spatial audio, giving users lifelike experiences. To enable creators to bring their stories to life, Apple has partnered with Blackmagic Design to build a new production workflow. New Apple Immersive Video content includes an extreme sports series with Red Bull and experiences from artists like The Weeknd.
Global Expansion of Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro is expanding globally. Tim Cook announced, “We’re bringing Apple Vision Pro to these eight countries next, starting with China, Japan, and Singapore on June 28th, and Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom on July 12th.”
iOS 18: Personalization and Connectivity
Craig Federighi took the stage to reveal what’s coming in iOS 18, a release that offers more ways to customize your iPhone, stay connected, and relive special moments.
Home Screen Personalization
iOS 18 introduces exciting new ways to personalize your home screen. You can now arrange your apps and widgets to frame your favorite wallpaper perfectly. App icons have a new look in dark mode, and you can even tint them with colors that complement your wallpaper.
Enhanced Control Center
Control Center is now more extensible than ever. You can add multiple new groups of controls, like for media playback and home controls. Developers can include controls from their apps, making it easy to customize and access everything you need.
Lock Screen Enhancements
The new controls are also available from the lock screen, allowing you to swap a camera and flashlight for different controls, like taking a note or capturing a moment for Snapchat. The Action button on iPhone 15 Pro can also invoke these new controls.
Enhanced Privacy Features
iOS 18 brings new privacy features to keep you in control. You can now lock sensitive apps with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, and hide apps in a new hidden apps folder. Sharing contacts and pairing accessories are also more secure, with intuitive new ways to manage permissions.
Messages Enhancements
Messages in iOS 18 has received a major update. “Messages is central to how we communicate with the most important people in our lives,” said Ronak, a lead developer. Tapbacks now include limitless ways to express yourself with any emoji or sticker. You can schedule messages, use text formatting, and add text effects to amplify your messages visually. Plus, Messages via Satellite allows you to stay connected even without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
Mail and Maps
Mail gets a new on-device categorization feature to help you manage your inbox better, while Maps introduces detailed topographic maps with hiking routes, which can be accessed offline.
Wallet and Journal
Wallet continues its journey to replace the physical wallet with new features like Tap-to-Cash and redesigned event tickets. The Journal app now helps you log your state of mind and track your goals with new insights and search capabilities.
Game Mode for iPhone
Gamers rejoice! Game Mode is coming to iPhone, offering an immersive experience by minimizing background activity and improving responsiveness with AirPods and wireless game controllers.
Redesigned Photos App
The Photos app has been redesigned to make it easier to find and enjoy your memories. Collections organize your photos by themes like time, people, and trips. The new carousel highlights your best content in a beautiful poster-like view, and you can customize the app to suit your preferences.
Conclusion
WWDC 2024 has introduced a host of exciting updates and innovations across Apple’s platforms. From enhanced personalization and privacy features in iOS 18 to groundbreaking advancements in Vision OS 2 and Apple Vision Pro, Apple continues to push the boundaries of technology. While we’ve covered the major highlights, the real star of the show was Apple’s foray into artificial intelligence, setting the stage for a new era of tech advancements. In our next article, we’ll dive deeper into Apple Intelligence, exploring how these AI features are going to change the way we interact with our devices.
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