Apple rolled out a bevy of new product features today at its annual WWDC event, held virtually for the first time due to the global pandemic. Here’s what you need to know, with selected commentary. Watch the full presentation below.
My sleepy self just entered the kitchen and found this. ? #WWDC pic.twitter.com/t7wJ0LtRf8
— Ben Scholtysik (@Elektrojunge) June 22, 2020
Apple silicon
Perhaps the biggest news from Monday was Apple’ confirming plans to shift its Mac lineup to its own processors, moving its notebook and desktop computers away from Intel chips after 15 years. Apple will ship the first Mac with “Apple silicon” this year and make a full transition by 2022. “The transition to Apple silicon represents the biggest leap ever for the Mac,” Apple said in a statement. Apple said Microsoft and Adobe are already updating their software for the new architecture.
MacBook Air battery is down to 39% from 100% since this keynote video started. ARM transition is welcome.
— Brian X. Chen (@bxchen) June 22, 2020
iOS 14
First look at iOS 14! ?#WWDC2020 #WWDC20 #WWDC2020 pic.twitter.com/fRhlwnPrRl
— Rajeev Rajput (@TheRoyalRaajput) June 22, 2020
And that’s iOS 14…Wooosh, it’s pretty awesome! pic.twitter.com/J51V5W0ken
— Michael Kukielka ? (@DetroitBORG) June 22, 2020
The new iPhone operating system now includes support for Widgets on the Home Screen, eliciting this brilliant tweet from The Verge’s Tom Warren:
I just installed iOS 14, and wow pic.twitter.com/ucDkR1yo2x
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 22, 2020
There’s an App Library, which organizes apps; picture-in-picture support for FaceTime calls; and App Clips, which lets users quickly access specific in-app actions. More jokes:
App Clip, because it clips 30% of your revenue.
— Ben Thompson (@benthompson) June 22, 2020
New iMessage features include more support for group chats, such as inline replies and pinned chats. There’s also a new feature to unlock car with your iPhone, and a way to set default email and browser apps.
iPadOS 14
Apple’s newest tablet OS has new design changes for apps such as Photos, Music, and Calendar. Universal Search lets users launch apps, find documents, and search within apps. Scribble converts handwriting to written text. And you can now set default email and browser apps on the iPad as well.
iPad OS 14 allows you to set a default browser and comes with a feature called scribble which converts handwriting into text #WWDC2020 pic.twitter.com/M3vKvh1Mgz
— Product Hunt (@ProductHunt) June 22, 2020
watchOS 7
Apple Watch will now track sleep and hand-washing.
I've been "hacking" Sleep Mode for years by putting Apple Watch in "Theater Mode" when going to sleep so it doesn't turn into a lighthouse every night at the slightest movement. Good change. #WWDC
— M.G. Siegler (@mgsiegler) June 22, 2020
Apple Watch will automatically recognize when you wash your hands based on the movement of your hands combined with the sound of water running and squishing soap. It then kicks off a timer mode to help make sure you wash for the right amount of time! #WWDC2020 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/OYV483T9av
— Rich DeMuro (@richontech) June 22, 2020
macOS Big Sur
The latest version of the Mac operating system will get a notable redesign, as well as a Control Center and an updated Messages app. The Notification Center will group notifications together. There are new features for Safari, such as a custom start page and a new Privacy Report, and a revamped Maps experience.
I definitely like this new OS X design. Clean.
– New icons
– Control center in the top right
– Refreshed app designs pic.twitter.com/Fc9LBbfq0w— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) June 22, 2020
tvOS 14
Apple TV users will be able to access HomeKit-enabled video cameras and accessories, as well as multi-user features for Apple Arcade.
Watch the full WWDC presentation here:
