Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference started on Monday, 7th June with a two-hour keynote address.
The WWDC is an annual event for Apple developers. At this year’s event, the company showcased several software updates for its products. However, in a departure from previous events, there was no major product announcement.
During the keynote, the company unveiled upgrades to its operating systems. These include the iOS 15 for iPhones, MacOS Monterey for MacBooks, WatchOS 8 for wearables, and iPadOS 15 for tablets.
The iOS 15 update includes cross-platform support for FaceTime that allows iPhone users to video chat with non-iPhone users. Also, the Safari browser can now synchronize between devices and support the same extensions on the iPhone and the MacBook. Further, its Wallet app will have improved functionalities such as keys to get into hotels and homes.
The iPadOS 15 allows you to rearrange iPad apps and place widgets on the homescreen. It also introduces the App Library – a feature for automatically organizing apps which was, until now, only present on the iPhone.
Importantly, users can now hide their IP address and location in their Mail apps. They can also hide if and when they open an email from the senders. Similarly, they can hide their IP addresses from trackers within the Safari app. To beef up iCloud security, the company announced a new feature – the iCloud+.
As for the new MacOS, it has features that will allow users to alternate between their iPad and MacBook. With it, they can use their iPad like it’s a second screen.
Other announcements include updates to Siri, Apple Maps, Airpods, and its health app.
At the moment, these updates are only available to developers. However, the organization promises to release Beta versions to the public by July.