June 2023

WWDC keynote

Yesterday's WWDC Keynote is available for watching on Apple's website and also on AppleTV. It's about 2 hours long but can be watched in chapters.

Apple announced: The new 15‑inch MacBook Air with M2, Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra, and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra. And previews of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS 10. Oh, and `One More Thing': Apple Vision Pro.

Apple also released a video summary of the Keynote announcements in 2 mins:

Apple's WWDC 2023 Highlights page from their Newsroom.

Macrumors also made a summary video (12 mins):

Apple Vision Pro

The big announcement (roughly the last 45 minutes of the Keynote) was Apple Vision Pro and the introduction to the `era of spatial computing'. It's well worth watching the last 45 minutes of Apple's Keynote presentation (above) before reading news summaries & commentary from third parties.

Apple's brief intro (9 mins), chapterized, released after the Keynote:

Apple Vision Pro, on Apple's webpage.

Joanna Stern gives her very first impressions of the Apple Vision Pro from the display area after the Keynote:

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman tweeted yesterday:

Marques Brownlee got try the new Apple Vision Pro and gives his impressions:

Apple has introduced Apple Vision Pro to developers with the expectation that they will innovate and create new ways to use it.

Developer Paul Hudson tweeted after the demos and display tests yesterday:

Nathan Gitter, human interface designer at Apple, tweeted:

See the whole video here: Principles of spatial design, to get a sense of how Apple is guiding developers and eventually what we are likely to see coming in 2024.

Linda Dong, Designer at Apple also tweeted:

and, of course:

MBAir 15''

The new Macbook Air with a 15-inch Liquid Retina display, with M2 chip, and up to 18 hours of battery life. Plus six speakers with Spatial Audio technology, a 1080p camera:

iOS 17

Apple's iOS 17 preview.

There are many updates to iOS 17 and we will surely find out many more over the coming weeks.

Macrumors has put together iOS 17 Overview

Apple introduced StandBy Mode Turns a Charging iPhone Into a Home Hub in iOS 17.

Various iOS 17 Tidbits: Enhanced Siri Suggestions, Multiple Timers, Recipe Visual Look Up, and More.

iOS 17 Introduces Follow-Up Reminders to Take Your Medications.

You Can Log Your Moods and Emotions in iOS 17.

Apple Promises to Dramatically Improve iPhone's Autocorrect in iOS 17.

Apple announced a new app: Journal with iOS 17. The developer of Day One says his app is being `Sherlocked.' (He is probably right.)

iOS 17 Photos App Recognizes Your Pets, reports Macrumors.

You Can Turn Your Photos Into Animated Stickers With iOS 17.

With iOS 17, Apple lets you share AirTags with friends and family.

The WSJ's Joanna Stern had been giving Apple a hard time last year, about it being `2022 and we still cannot get multiple timers set.` So in his presentation during the Keynote yesterday, Craig Federighi said something about amazing times we live in, and introduced multiple timers. Joanna Stern tweeted:

and

iPadOS 17

Apple's iPadOS 17 preview.

iPadOS 17 drops support for these iPads.

tvOS 17 will let you use your iPhone to find your lost Siri remote.

Apple's tvOS 17 preview.

S/W and Smart Home updates

Shane Whatley offers a nice video summary:

AirPods s/w update

Apple also announced AirPods software updates with newly refined audio features.

New privacy & security features

Apple announced the latest privacy and security innovations, `including major updates to Safari Private Browsing, Communication Safety, and Lockdown Mode, as well as app privacy improvements. Additionally, Apple introduced new features designed with privacy and security at their core, including Check In, NameDrop, and Live Voicemail. These new efforts are the latest manifestation of Apple’s deeply held belief that privacy is a fundamental human right and that good privacy is built on a foundation of strong security.''

App store

Apple announced that the App store celebrates 15 years and App Store developers generated $1.1 trillion last year (2022). `More than 90 percent of billings and sales accrued solely to developers, without any commission paid to Apple New study underscores the strength and resilience of the App Store ecosystem — with billings and sales facilitated by the App Store growing 29 percent year over year.`

June is Pride month

Apple Fitness+ celebrates Pride with a new Artist Spotlight featuring Madonna.

Apple released the Apple Watch Pride Edition with new watch bands and watch faces, plus an iPhone Wallpaper. The new watch face's dials change colors to match the color they are pointing to.

other iOS and Apple news

This Apple ad was released about 6 months ago but it's worth watching if you haven't seen it.

iOS apps

Apple announced the winners of the 2023 Design Awards.

2023 winners and finalists. The Apple Design Awards honor excellence in innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement in app and game design.

Luke Beard, CEO of Any Distance, one of the apps that won a Design Award yesterday tweeted:

podcasts

The WaPo recommends 23 podcasts and audiobooks to save for a long travel day.

tips & tricks

If you want to try out an app that offers a trial period but then automatically turns to a subscription and you don't want to forget and get charged automatically, fear not. Just subscribe, to initiate the trial, and then immediately cancel the subscription. This will still give you the free trial period but will apply the cancellation before the automated subscription payment kicks in.

gadgets & accessories

First Third-Party Headbands for Apple Vision Pro Offer Leather Finishes and Multiple Color Options.

Parrot Pro: The Ultimate On-the-Go Smartphone Teleprompter, on Kickstarter. Smart idea.

watch

Taylor Carrigan, Human Interface Designer at Apple, tweeted:

watchOS 10 Will be Compatible With watchOS Series 4 and Later, iPhone XS/XR or Later Also Required.

privacy & security

Apple released a video on privacy and security of health data in the Health app:

next iPUG meeting

Our next iPUG meeting is on Tuesday, July 11. (The 1st Tuesday is July 4th. Happy Independence Day!)