WWDC 2021 - What Apple Unveiled on Their Latest Event
- Florencia Lombardi
- Jun 18, 2021
- 2 min read
The annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference is the company’s event for software makers. Starting on June 7, the conference presented its newest updates and products in events that lasted until Friday 11th.
During the week, Apple announced many updates to its operating systems. This means that lots of improvements are coming soon to iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and WatchOS.
Among these improvements, CEO Tim Cook revealed additional features for Apple’s existing products. For example, advanced traits will be added to FaceTime, iMessage, and Apple Maps. Siri and AirPods will also be updated, and a service called iCloud Plus will be released with better privacy controls.
With the latest iOS 15, FaceTime will undergo major developments. To improve communication during the pandemic, the app’s experience will be more “natural, comfortable, and lifelike,” Craig Federighi said. Spatial audio will also be introduced to ensure more realistic meetings. Due to Apple’s focus on privacy, FaceTime calls remain end-to-end encrypted.
Another upgrade in audio is the Conversation Boost. This is supposed to help people with hearing loss by focusing the microphones on the person talking and reducing ambient noise. According to Apple, “Conversation Boost is designed to help people with mild hearing challenges, stay more connected in conversations through computational audio and beamforming microphones.”
For computers, the latest version of macOS, named Monterey, now holds a new function called Universal Control. This will allow users to use the same mouse and keyboard across a Mac or an iPad. The cursor will move back and forth between the screens of both devices, making the iPad a fully functional second screen. Universal Control also works between computers.
Apple has been working to improve health features in its products. The WatchOS 8 includes a Beath app, designed to guide users through breathing exercises. The new technology in iPhones can measure balance and coordination, informing users about their walking stability. Moreover, the health app can store medical records that can be shared with doctors or friends.
These features will be released to the public during our spring. “I am so excited for these new releases and how they will make our products even more powerful and more capable,” Cook said. “They will provide users new ways to enrich their lives and developers new tools to change the world.”
Bibliography
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Khullar, K. (2021, June 7) Apple wants to take on Zoom with new FaceTime features [Photograph] XDA-Developers. https://www.xda-developers.com/apple-wwdc-2021-facetime-update/
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Nguyen, C. (2021, June 7) Everything Apple announced at WWDC 2021: iOS 15, MacOS Monterey, and more. Digital trends.
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Sherr I. (2021, June 12) Everything Apple unveiled this week: iOS 15, FaceTime upgrades and more. Cnet.
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