Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2020 (WWDC) had some major announcements for Apple users around the globe. The Cupertino tech giant has introduced the new iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and WatchOS7 and MacOS, among others.
The new iOS 14 is set to be released later this year and the most visual change is that the home screen will now have widgets. The company has announced that it will be using its own Apple Silicon processor in the new Mac lineup and parting ways with Intel.
Siri has got a new look and you will also now be able to add widgets to your home screen. Here’s a quick look at some of the key highlights from the event:
iOS 14
iOS 14 has been announced with some of its core features revolving around an updated home screen and a new look.
In the new iOS 14, Apple will also be able to can pin widgets with updating information on the home screen, including calendar and maps mini-programmes.
Users can create a Smart Stack of widgets, which uses on-device intelligence to surface the right widget based on time, location, and activity said Apple.
The latest addition to iOS 14 is the App Library. It uses AI to detect which apps you are using the most and organises them in a single folder for you to access quickly. It creates a new space that automatically organises all of a user's apps into one simple, easy-to-navigate view.
iOS 14 also has customisable widgets which can be put on the home screen.
Apple has launched something called Smart Stack that lets you have a gallery of widgets. This way, you can see how your widget looks on the home screen. You can drag widgets to the home screen as well. These widgets come in different sizes.
Also, Apple has finally brought the picture-in-picture (PIP) to the iPhone. The PIP can be moved around the screen and you can also zoom into the picture.
That's a quick look at the core features of iOS.
Messages also receives an update with the addition of new Memojis and new hairstyles, face coverings and more.
iOS 14 also introduces an offline translator which can be used to live translate conversations via live audio. Currently, the feature supports 11 languages.
Siri also gets a new look for the entire Apple ecosystem. Instead of covering the entire screen, Siri will now appear as a subtly animated circle on the screen.
Apple has also introduced App Clips which are dedicated pop-up apps which different services can have of their own. They are basically custom Apple-specific QR codes which can be scanned quickly to open apps.
iPadOS 14
Apple also previewed iPadOS 14, with new features and designs that take advantage of the unique capabilities of iPad and its large Multi-Touch display.
iPadOS 14 introduces an all-new compact design for incoming FaceTime and phone calls, Siri interactions, and Search to help users stay focused on the task at hand.
iPadOS 14 brings Scribble to iPad with Apple Pencil, allowing users to write in any text field - where it will automatically be converted to typed text - making actions like replying to an iMessage or searching in Safari fast and easy.
It also introduced a new sidebar which allows quick access to apps and tools.
watchOS 7
The company also announced new watchOS 7 that offers enhanced customisation tools and a new health and fitness suite.
The new watchOS is set to bring new watch face configurations and health features like sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, additional workout types including dance, and a new hearing health feature.
Sleep tracking with the new watchOS 7 takes a holistic approach to sleep by providing more in-depth analysis of sleep tracking and prompts on when the user needs to go to sleep to meet sleep goals.
There is a new hand wash tracking feature which ensures that the users wash their hands for at least 20 seconds in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. The Apple Watch now uses the motion sensors, microphone, and on-device machine learning to automatically detect handwashing motions and sounds.
macOS Big Sur
Apple also took the wraps off its latest macOS now called Big Sur. This next major desktop OS brings a new and improved Safari web browser with enhanced security features and faster browsing.
The new macOS Big Sur design is reminiscent of the iPad OS borrowing elements like Dock. Big Sur now comes with a translucent menu bar with a new Control Center that appears on the top-right corner.
Widgets are also coming to the macOS while updates have been made to Maps and Messages on the Mac.
— with inputs from IANS.
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