Apple WWDC 2020 Keynote — Day One
Apple has started annual WWDC 2020 (Worldwide Developers Conference) for this year on Monday 22 June, 2020. As being an Apple developer you must be excited for the upcoming new software for its iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV and Apple Watch.
Tim Cook started addressing the empty auditorium due to Black Lives Matter and Covid-19 pandemic, before it launched into the announcement of iOS 14 and its home-screen redesign and new widgets.
Big news announced by Apple — future Macs will use chips made by Apple instead of Intel — including one that will launch later this year.
Let’s discuss what Apple announced during its WWDC 2020 keynote.
iOS 14
Apple introduced iOS 14, the latest version of the iPhone software, which includes updates such as the ability to set a browser app or default mail app, a redesigned home screen, and some more.
Widgets on home screen:
iOS 14 enables users to pin widgets with updating information on the home screen, including maps mini-programs and calendar.
Previously, users could only include apps on iPhone’s home screen. Users can drag a widget onto the iPhone home screen, where it will persist.
Apple also introduced a new widget that uses AI to predict which data user wants to see.
Picture-In-Picture:
Apple introduces a picture-in-picture feature in iOS 14, that enables user to pop up a small screen that floats on top of other apps while the user is watching video. It’s similar to what Apple already offers on the iPad.
App Library:
iOS 14 includes a this new feature that automatically organises apps.
Users can also delete complete pages of apps in single tap, or find similar apps, like all of the games from Apple Arcade, using App Library.
Memoji & Messages:
User can now pin most important conversations to the top of messages list, and can setup notifications on noisy group messages to only alert when user mentioned by name.
Oh, and new Memoji features including an avatar wearing a face mask.
Apple’s Siri:
Siri interface has been innovated to pop over other window and take required area of screen not take over the fullscreen, and can do speech-to-text transcription entirely on-device for the sake of speed and privacy.
According to Apple, now Siri has 20 times more facts than a few years ago.
Maps:
iOS 14 has rolling out for new maps latter this year in UK, will contain new features such as Cycling navigation for more cities, EV routing to alleviate worries about running out of juice en route, red and green zones.
CarPlay:
CarPlay is rolling out with new features like wallpaper options, along with a handful of new built-in apps focusing on things like parking, charging, and food ordering.
The biggest update is digital car keys in iOS 14, enables users to unlock and start their car from their phone using NFC. The first supported car is the 2021 BMW 5-series, which will be released next month.
App Clips:
Apple rolled out a new lightweight form of software, App Clips that can be launched through the web or a text message. App Clips are less than 10 megabytes.
iPad OS 14
Well, iPad OS will get same most of the features above as iOS 14, but iPadOS improves Photos navigation with a sidebar.
Apple’s Siri & Universal Search:
Siri feature is now included in a little button on the bottom right corner in the newest version of iOS 14. Apple also redesigned its search feature to look more like the search function on a Mac desktop.
iPad stylus / Apple Pencil:
Apple announced new improvements for iPad stylus also called pencil, now works in any text field, allowing to jot a quick note without having to put the Pencil down to type, enables to draw any rough shape.
WatchOS 7
Multiple complications per app:
Now, enables each app on watchOS to offer up multiple different watch face complications, instead of just one per app.
Face Sharing:
Enables to share current watch face setup with others through Messages, Mail, or Safari. If the person on the receiving end doesn’t have a required app/complication, they’ll be shown where to get it.
Sleep tracking:
Now, watch can automatically detect when the person is sleeping, records this data and helps to track sleeping schedule over times.
Cycling directions:
Cycling directions helps to find bike paths and takes elevation into account. It’ll tell if the route includes quiet or busy roads, if there’s a steep section or if need to carry bike up some stairs.
Hand-wash detection:
Relevant, Apple Watch washing/scrubbing hands, using the accelerometer for the relevant motions and the microphone to listen for the sounds of scrubbing or water flow.
It can automatically start a countdown timer for 20 seconds, to help ensure you have done.
MacOS Big Sur
A complete redesign will greet you when you update to the newest MacOS version, though you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a pretty subtle change.
Safari:
Safari will be faster at loading frequently visited websites, saved passwords to look for those that might’ve been exposed in breaches and enhanced privacy features.
Notification Center:
Notification center is more sophisticated bringing notifications/widgets into one unified view while making it easier to clear out lots of notifications at once.
Maps:
Maps redesigned with support for things like in-door maps, guides, favourite locations etc.
Control center:
Now, Mac will have a dropdown in the upper right area of the screen that provides one-click access to display brightness, volume, dark mode, WiFi controls and more. By the way it’s an idea browed from iOS.
AirPods
Spatial Audio:
AirPods Pro gets spatial audio using a gyro and an accelerometer to track your head movements. It supports multiple spatial standards.
Automatic device switching:
AirPods can now automatically switch between multiple devices. Play a video on iPad, and listen that audio from AirPods; if a call comes in on iPhone, AirPods can automatically switch over accordingly.
Homekit
Home app provides adaptive lighting, the ability to define activity zones for cameras, plus face recognition notifications from your doorbell across all the devices.
Activity Zones:
If security camera setup through HomeKit, can now limit alerts to just specific sections of the video stream — motion alerts only when something enters in yard.
Face recognition:
Enables doorbell cameras can now recognise known faces, and let you know who’s at the door via Home-pod/AppleTV notifications.
Adaptive lighting:
Automatically adjust the brightness/temperature of connected smart bulbs throughout the day, allowing for things like cooler lights during work hours and warmer temperatures when it’s time to wind down.
👩💻 !!! KEEP LEARNING !!! 👨💻
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