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WWDC 2022

Apple WWDC 2022

Apple WWDC 2022 Highlights: iOS 16, New MacBook Models, watchOS 9, and More.

On June 6, 2022, Apple held its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). Tim Cook was the one who started the event. On Apple’s official website, the tech titan held an online-only event. Selected members of the media and YouTubers were present at the Cupertino-based corporation for the event. The Apple WWDC 2022 keynote began at 10 a.m. PST, or 10.30 p.m. IST. Here is everything you need to know:

Apple WWDC 2022
Image source: moneycontrol.com

Apple MacBook Air and Apple MacBook Pro:

The new Apple MacBook Air is out, with MagSafe charging and a notch on the display. This one comes with a 13.6-inch liquid retina display. The display can display 1 billion colours, making it a 10-bit display. The MacBook Air will also get a 1080p camera from Apple. Speakers and microphones are included in the display and keyboard. It comes with a four-speaker audio system. Spatial audio is included with the Apple MacBook Air. On the MacBook Air, Touch ID is still available.

The new MacBook Pro (2022), like the MacBook Air (2022), is powered by the new M2 chipset, and consumers can choose between up to 24GB of unified memory and up to 2TB of storage. According to Apple, the MacBook Pro (2022) has a 13-inch Liquid Retina Display with up to 500 nits of peak brightness and P3 colour compatibility. The MacBook Air, like its predecessor, has an active cooling system, and the fans should provide longer-lasting performance at high clock rates.

Pricing:

The pricing of an Apple MacBook Air (2022) starts at $1,199. (roughly Rs. 93,300). Meanwhile, the Apple MacBook Pro (2022) starts at $1,299 and goes up from there (roughly Rs. 1,01,000). The previous MacBook Air with the M1 chip will continue to be sold for $999, according to Apple (roughly Rs. 77,500). Midnight, Silver, Space Grey, and Starlight Gold will be the colour options for the upcoming MacBook Air model.

Mac0S Ventura 13:

MacOS 13 Ventura, Apple’s next edition of the software for Mac and MacBook machines, was unveiled at the WWDC 2022 keynote on Monday. The updated macOS edition provides an enhanced multitasking experience with Stage Manager. Mail, Notes, Reminders, and Messages are among the preloaded programs that have been redesigned in macOS 13. In addition, macOS 13 Ventura includes a new Safari browser from Apple. Both Intel-powered and Apple Silicon-based Mac machines will be able to download the next macOS update.

Developers who have signed up for the Apple Developer Program were given early access to macOS 13 Ventura for testing reasons. Next month, the new release will be accessible as a public beta, and it will be available for download later this year – most likely in October.

WatchOS 9:

Apple unveiled watchOS 9 at the WWDC 2022 keynote. With the latest watchOS version, Apple Watch wearers will be able to better manage their health and fitness, as well as continuously monitor atrial fibrillation (AFib) and improve sleep tracking. Apple has released the Medications app alongside the introduction of watchOS 9. WatchOS 9 also contains new watch faces and an updated user experience. In order to cater to fitness enthusiasts, Apple has also introduced new training features.

Apple Developer Program participants were the first to receive the watchOS 9 upgrade. Next month, users will be able to participate in a public test of watchOS 9.. This fall, Apple Watch Series 4 or later paired with iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE (2020) or later running iOS 16 will receive the next watchOS as a free software update (somewhere in September).

iOS 16:

iOS 16, Apple’s next-generation operating system for compatible iPhone devices, has been officially announced. Apple has made tweaks and improvements across the system at its annual WWDC keynote event, as earlier leaks and rumors predicted. The iOS 16 software update will be available later this year, most likely in September, for iPhone 8 and later handsets. It will include enhancements to the operating system, such as a redesigned lock screen and notification system, as well as updated and redesigned system apps. Developer previews will be available this week, with a public beta to follow next month, ahead of the public release later this year.

Apple has started sending out developer previews of iOS 16 to Apple Developer Program members. Meanwhile, an open beta for iOS users will begin in July, and people can join up on the company’s website. According to Apple, the iOS 16 upgrade and the software features demonstrated at Apple WWDC 2022 will be released later this year — most likely in September — for iPhone 8 and subsequent devices.

WWDC 2022

Apple Previews Major Accessibility Features, Including ‘Door Detection’ In The Upcoming WWDC 2022.

Apple revealed a new set of accessibility capabilities on Tuesday that would help individuals with impairments navigate new places and conversations more easily. The new features, which will be available later this year, combining software, hardware, and machine learning. It’s unusual to hear directly from Apple about new features in unreleased iOS releases. These types of announcements are normally saved for a special occasion, such as WWDC 2022. Apple, based in Cupertino, has announced new accessibility capabilities that will be available shortly, most likely with iOS 16. Door recognition and live subtitles for FaceTime, streaming multimedia, and even spoken chats are among Apple’s latest accessibility capabilities.

What’s new:

  • Live subtitles for videos on iPhones, iPads, and Macs are a huge new feature. People who are deaf or hard of hearing will benefit from this feature. They may use Live Captions on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it easier for them to follow any audio content, such as during a phone call or while watching the video. Users can choose the text size, see Live Captions for all FaceTime call participants, and type responses that are spoken aloud. Later this year, English Live Captions will be available in beta for iPhone 11 and later versions, iPad models with the A12 Bionic and later variants, and Macs with Apple hardware. The live captions function simply allows viewers to watch a video with the sound turned off and read along with the text at the bottom of the screen. The capability is compatible with FaceTime calls, streaming services, and other video conferencing apps, according to Apple. If you’re an Android user, Google already has something comparable.
  • Individuals who are blind or have low vision will be able to use their iPhone or iPad to detect a door when they arrive at a new location, determine how far away they are from it, and describe the door’s properties, such as how it can be opened and any nearby signs or symbols, using Door Detection. Along with People Detection and Image Descriptions, the functionality will be part of a new “Detection Mode” in Magnifier. Only iPhones and iPads with a LiDAR scanner will be able to use Door Detection. It will also indicate whether the door is open or closed, as well as whether it can be opened by pushing, pulling, turning a knob, or pulling a handle. Even signs and symbols around the door, such as room numbers or the accessible entrance logo, are read by the function.
WWDC 2022
Image source: phonearena.com
  • In the meantime, Apple has unveiled a new Apple Watch Mirroring feature. This feature, according to Apple, will allow people with disabilities to control Apple Watch using iPhone’s assistive features such as Voice Control and Switch Control, and use inputs such as voice commands, sound actions, head tracking, or external Made for iPhone switches instead of tapping the Apple Watch display. Apple Watch Mirroring makes use of a combination of hardware and software, including “advanced AirPlay features.”. AirPlay advancements will allow consumers to utilize their iPhones to access Apple Watch apps like Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate, Mindfulness, and more.
  • Apple Watch users will be able to use a double-pinch motion to answer or end a phone call, dismiss a notification, snap a photo, play or pause media in the New playing apps, and start, pause, or continue a workout using Quick Actions. This year, all of these new accessibility features will be implemented.
  • Apple will add 20 new languages and locations to voiceover, its screen reader for blind and poor vision customers, including Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Users will also be able to choose from hundreds of new optimized voices across languages, as well as a new Text Checker tool to detect text formatting issues. There will also be sound and haptic feedback for Voiceover users in Apple Maps to find the starting point for walking directions, as well as adjustable response times for Siri, new themes and customization options in Apple Books, and sound and haptic feedback for unique home doorbells and appliances.

The announcement of new accessibility capabilities comes just days before Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2022), which will be held entirely online from June 6 to June 10. WWDC 2022 is an annual developer conference where Apple usually announces new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Apple released iOS 15.5, the latest version of its iPhone operating system, earlier this week.