What’s new for iPhone, iPad and Mac?
On Whit Monday (June 6), Apple will open its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from 7 p.m. German time. In a video presentation, the electronics giant shows software innovations that will be available for its smartphones, tablets and Mac computers by autumn at the latest.
For the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic in early 2020, Apple is again letting some software developers and journalists into the Apple Park corporate headquarters in Cupertino (US state of California) at the start of the week-long event. A small step back towards normality, even if all participants wear masks and have to be tested for the corona virus every day.
According to the latest rumors, Apple will primarily be presenting new software for iPhone and iPad: iOS 16, iPadOS 16, as well as new operating systems for Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. But hardware should also be shown.
New to the iPhone: Apple insider Mark Gurman from the business news service Bloomberg reports that the lock screen of the iPhone in particular is to be significantly revised. With the upcoming iOS 16 operating software, background images that integrate widgets could be used.
Widgets are program windows that can be inserted into the start screen and display content from apps such as email, photos, weather or calendar. The content is automatically updated. Apple first introduced this option two years ago with iOS 14.
According to Gurman, with iOS 16 it could also be possible for the first time to display information on the iPhone screen at any time (a so-called always-on display) instead of switching the display completely dark as before. However, the function could be reserved for an upcoming iPhone 14.
iPad with windows of any size
Apple is planning for the iPad Information from Gurman shows a significant improvement in multitasking, i.e. working with several apps side by side. While it has so far only been possible to use two apps side by side on a split iPad screen, it should be possible with iPadOS 16 in the future to run the software in windows that the user can resize.
This would bring Apple’s tablet even closer to the capabilities of a notebook. At the same time, the rumors leading up to the WWDC keynote assume that Apple could present a new notebook: the Macbook Air.
That could have a new generation of Apple’s own computer processor on board, the M2 chip. It was also long it has been speculated that the Macbook Air could come out in just as colorful variants as the current iMac. However, recent rumors assume the classic colors silver, gray and gold.
It is completely open whether Apple dares to take the step and give a first glimpse of its upcoming AR/VR glasses are. All rumors agree that the glasses will not be launched until next year. But it’s about time to get the software developers on board so that they can adapt their programs to the future device.
It will be interesting to see which of the rumors will come true in the end. BILD will report on the start of the WWDC from Cupertino in a live ticker.