June 2022

iOS & Apple news

Apple is holding the 2022 WWDC this week. Yesterday's Keynote had a lot of announcements, here is the full version:

Apple WWDC 2022 Keynote and a summary of announcements.

Here is the whole vide keynote address, 1 hour, 48 minutes:

Here is the abbreviated version of the key announcements in yesterday's WWDC Keynote, by MacRumors, in just 13 minutes:

Summary of announcements: iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9. And for hardware: new M2 chip, new MacBook Air with M2, and new mackBook Pro with M2.

iOS 16 & iPadOS 16

Apple's iOS 16 preview.

Note the iPhone compatibility list at the end: iPhone 8 and higher, SE (2nd gen) and higher.

Apple's iPadOS 16 preview.

Note the iPad compatibility list at the end: all Pro models, Air (3rd gen and higher), and iPad mini 5th gen and higher.

So let's look at some of these in more detail...

Apple on the new iOS 16 Lock screen: `With iOS 16, the Lock Screen has been totally reimagined. It’s fully customizable with new fonts and colors for date and time, photo styles, Live Activities and widgets that let you see all your data at a glance. You can create or choose different Lock Screens and easily switch between them.' Here is the video:

These are the most important features coming to your iPhone in iOS 16, writes iMore.com

iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Be Accepted in Apps on iOS 16, reports Macrumors.

You Can Get Translations Directly From the Camera App in iOS 16, reports Macrumors.

You Can Use the iOS 16 Fitness App for Activity Tracking Without an Apple Watch, reports Macrumors.

Safety Check is a new iOS 16 feature. Safety Check promotes user safety for those at risk from domestic violence, reports 9to5Mac. `Safety Check allows you to digitally separate from those you no longer want to be connected to.' You can do this quickly and securely.

Handoff Lets You Swap FaceTime Calls Between Devices in iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura

iOS 16 code includes multiple ‘always-on display’ references ahead of iPhone 14 Pro, reports 9to5Mac.

iOS 16 Brings New Features for Memoji, reports Macrumors.

With iOS 16, a new playlist sorting feature will come to Apple Music.

Books App Gets Redesign in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16

iPadOS 16 Adds Handwriting Straightening Feature to Make Your Writing Neater, reports Macrumors.

And this may be one of the greatest needs for some of us:

iOS 16 Lets You Easily Fix Duplicate Contacts.

A summary video of some of the new iOS 16 features:

watchOS 9

The new watch faces with watchOS 9, by 9to5Mac.

watchOS 9 brings typing prediction to Apple Watch Series 7, reports 9to5Mac.

macOS Ventura

Apple offers a macOS Ventura preview.

Some Ventura Tidbits: 'About This Mac' Redesigned, New Game Controller Menu, Background Sounds, and More, reports Macrumors.

New hardware

Apple on the new MackBook Air with the M2 chip: `This is Apple’s most loved laptop, completely reimagined. Supercharged by the M2 chip, the impossibly thin and light MacBook Air is exceptionally fast and powerful. With features like a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, 18-hour battery life, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and a four‑speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, it’s also the most capable MacBook Air ever.' Here is Apple's new ad:

Hands-on with the completely redesigned MacBook Air, by 9to5Mac.

Justine gives a hands-on view of both the MacBook Air and the new Pro, from yesterday's visit to WWDC at Apple Park:

other news

Apple and the European Union have reached an agreement, starting in 2024, iPhones will need to support USB-C, reports 9to5Mac.

App Store stopped nearly $1.5 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2021, announced Apple.

If you have seen the interview, or maybe if you want to watch it again, it's worth watching even in 2022: `The interview with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, one of the most important moments in the recent history of computing.'

iOS apps

Mary Anne recommends Car Care, the app she has been using to track her car's service, oil changes, etc. The app sends her reminders when service is due. You can also use it to track fuel economy.

Petra told us about Carfax Care Care, and app that she uses for tracking her car maintenance needs. In addition to service reminders, it also provides recall alerts.

Apple announced the winners of the 2022 Apple Design Awards.

(not boring) habits is one of the Apple Award recipients, a `Science-backed habit tracker'.

Halide Mark II is the refreshed version of Halide, the camera app, and they just got an Apple design Award. It is designed to work like a traditional camera and it works on iPhone and iPad. They also offer free tutorials on Halide.

Odio won an Apple design Award for innovation. It's an interactive 3D audio app: `Odio replaces your noisy or distracting environment with AR soundscapes. Enter your sonic cocoon to focus on what’s important, truly relax, or sleep better.'

tips & tricks

Roger S. points us to this very educational video, on how to create shortcuts that accept voice input. This uses Apple Notes and once you set it up, it works on all your devices automatically, thanks to iCloud.

`With Magnifier, you can use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch camera to magnify and illuminate objects, apply color filters, change the contrast, and more.' Here is how to do this, by Apple:

gadgets & accessories

Roger S. points us to a demo video by Shane Whatley on `The Best robot vacuum and mop for HomeKit users': the Roborock S7 MaxV ULTRA. `This is Roborock's premier robot vacuum/mop with the fully automated Empty/Wash/Fill Dock. We'll take a look at the different ways to integrate this into your HomeKit setup, including both Siri Shortcuts and Homebridge or Hoobs.' Take a look:

Pay

With iOS 16, It will Be Easier to Track Packages With Built-In Order Tracking for Apple Pay Purchases.

watch

Apple unveiled new Apple Watch Pride Edition bands.

next iPUG

Our next iPUG meeting will be on Tuesday, July 5. Happy Fourth of July to all!

A reminder: Apple makes it easy to donate to Ukraine via iTunes sending funds to Unicef.