The Best Highlights From Apple's WWDC 2018 Event

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty

Today (June 4), led by Tim Cook, Apple held their annual WWDC event, and the focus was entirely on improving the performance of their products with iOS 12, watchOS 5, macOS Mojave and Apple TV. We break down the best highlights from the highlights from the event. 

iOS 12

Apple’s software VP, Craig Federighi made it entirely clear to the attendees in the room that “for iOS 12, we are doubling down on performance.” Being that recent iOS updates have been very buggy lately this focus is warranted. There are definitely some new additions, changes, and improvements coming to your iPhone, IPads worth looking forward too.

Screen Time

Google introduced its digital well-being dashboard called Android P which wants to help users limit their phone use. Apple is aiming for the same with its new Screen Time feature which breaks down exactly how much you are using your iPhone and individual apps. Like Android P it will allow you to set a time limit for each app which will warn you when you are about hit your time limit and hit you with a “time’s up” message once the timer runs out.

Group FaceTime

If you always wanted to be able to facetime more than just one friend at one time the good folks at Apple have heard your cry. Thanks to iOS 12, you can now start a Facetime session that will feature up to 32 people. Now why you would want to be a part of a group text but with video is beyond us. We can see this feature being beneficial for conference calls maybe.

Photos

Apple is taking another page out of Google’s book with how iOS 12 will handle and store your photos. iOS 12 will now offer search suggestions, filter and effect suggestions as well as suggesting which friends to share the photo with. Honestly, something you similarly experience if you utilize Google Photo’s app BUT if you don’t want to download a Google on your iPhone (there are people like this) this update is for you.

Siri Gets An Upgrade

Apple is allowing third-party developers more integration with Siri giving them the ability to create shortcuts for the favorite digital assistant.

Source: Apple / apple

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Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty

Source: Apple / apple

WatchOS 5

Later this year Series 1, 2 and 3 of Apple’s popular smartwatch will be getting a decent software update thanks to watchOS 5. With Fitbit’s Versa smartwatch moved a million smartwatches in six weeks, so Apple has to make sure it stays on top of the wearables game. Apple didn’t announce any new hardware but did reveal a new band to commemorate Pride month alongside a matching face.

Fitness

WatchOS 5 will now allow Apple Watch users to challenge friends up to seven days in fitness competitions. WatchOS 5 will introduce new workout types like hiking and different yoga activities. Runners will also love the new update thanks to improved pace and cadence tracking. The watch can even automatically track you by detecting when you are working out and sending you a prompt.

Walkie-Talkie

This is not groundbreaking technology, but if you miss utilizing the good old-fashioned Nextel chirp, it’s coming to Apple Watch. The new feature will allow users to communicate with each other by pressing a button on the side of the watch. So get ready the chirp is back.

Siri

Siri is also getting an update on the Apple Watch as well.  With new third-party support, Siri watchface will have more enhanced integration with sports, heart rate information, and maps. Along with new Siri shortcuts for third-party apps, users will no longer have to say “Hey Siri” but instead just raise their wrist to wake Siri.

Web Pages

Apple Watch owners will now be able to view specific web pages on their watches through WebKit support. Apple adds the pages will be optimized specifically to work on the watch’s small face.

Apple Wallet

This is a pretty cool update for college students. Apple Wallet will now allow students from a handful of universities to upload their school IDs.

Source: Apple / apple

macOS Mojave 

Keeping with naming its operating systems after landscapes, Apple introduced Mojave to masses today. The new OS will intros “Dark Mode” which turns the Finder window black and a new inverted look for XCode as well. Privacy is one of the primary focus, and you can thank the fallout with the whole Cambridge Analytica data scandal for that.

Safari

Safari will now a feature a privacy feature that blocks features like Facebook’s like button or sharing buttons.  Safari will ask you if you want them to appear while you are browsing a website.  Sites will also be given a “simplified system configuration” so they will not be able to “fingerprint” your device advertisements.

Mac App Store

The Mac App Store is getting a much-needed redesign that will focus on app ratings, editor’s choice picks and video previews. New apps are also coming to the store like Lightroom CC, Voice Notes, BBEdit, Home and Office 365.

Quick Actions

Thanks to MacOS Mojave organize all of the clutter on your desktop is much easier thanks to Stacks. Users will now also be able to watermark multiple files, e-sign a PDF document by selecting a menu option in the revamped sidebar. Taking screenshots have been improved as well. New on-screen controls make it easy to access your screenshots plus there are new video recording capabilities.

iPhone Syncing

Your laptop or desktop also seamlessly syncs up with your phone allowing users to snap a photo using their phone and add it to a document.

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Source: Apple / apple

Apple TV 4K

Last but not least Apple TV 4K is also getting an update its users have been screaming for. Apple TV 4K now will support Dolby Atmos Surround Sound. Apple TV 4K is now the first and only (for now) device that supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Any iTunes Movies you own will be upgraded to Dolby Atmos for free 99.

The company also announced that Apple TV 4K will be partnering with Charter Spectrum later this year to that will give users access to the cable providers live channels and on-demand content. Apple’s single sign-on system they introduced last year, “zero sign-on” is being added to Apple TV 4K. Apple TV will now recognize and automatically log you into all of your connected cable apps without you having to input a password.