Apple announced some solid enhancements and features to all their operating systems, from new versions of OS X and iOS to updated watch software. Here’s what went down at the event.
EL CAPITAN
Refinements
OS X 10.11 comes with some welcomed tweaks and performance performance rather than a redesigned interface.
OS X El Capitan refinements begin with the new system font, San Francisco, a modern and easy-to-read typeface. Mission Control, has a cleaner design now and allows you to drag a window to the top of your screen to access the new Spaces Bar in Mission Control and create a new Space.
The new Split View feature automatically positions two app windows side-by-side in full screen so you can work with both apps without distraction.
Safari now features Pinned Sites to keep your favorite websites open and active in your tab bar and a new mute button to quickly silence browser audio from any tab.
Mail introduces Smart Suggestions, which recognizes names or events in a Mail message and prompts you to add them to your contacts or calendar with a single click. You can also swipe to delete messages, just like in iOS, and juggle multiple emails while Mail is in full screen.
In Photos, you can add locations to a single image or an entire Moment, and sort albums by date or title. Additionally, you’ll be able to download third-party editing extensions from the Mac App Store.
The all new Notes app in El Capitan brings welcomed changes to the table. You can now drag and drop photos, PDFs, videos and other files into notes, and add content directly from other apps, such as Safari or Maps, using the Share menu. Notes also features new checklists / to-do option, and a new Attachments Browser that organizes attachments in one view.
Spotlight also gets some new enhancements enabling it to generate results for more topics, including weather, stocks, sports, transit and web video.
Improvements
OS X El Capitan improves system performance, making things faster and more responsive. Metal, Apple’s graphics technology, accelerates Core Animation and Core Graphics to boost system-level rendering by up to 50 percent, and efficiency by up to 40 percent, resulting in faster graphics performance for everyday apps. Metal also takes full advantage of your CPU and GPU, delivering up to 10 times faster draw call performance for a richer, more fluid experience in games and pro apps.
IOS 9
Much like the new version of OS X, iOS 9 is centred around refinements.
Intelligence
Siri features an all-new design in iOS 9, contextual reminders and new ways to search photos and videos. Proactive assistance presents information and suggests actions at a particular moment — even before you start typing — automatically suggesting apps to launch or people to contact based on usage patterns, and notifying you when you need to leave for appointments, taking into account traffic conditions. iOS 9 can even learn what you typically listen to in a certain location or at a particular time of day, so when you plug in headphones at the gym or hop in the car before work, it can automatically display playback controls for your preferred app. Typed search queries deliver better results from more categories, including sports scores and schedules, videos and simple math calculations.
New iPad Features
iOS 9 introduces the new Slide Over feature, which, with a simple swipe lets you simultaneously work in a second app without leaving the first. And with a quick tap, access the new Split View feature so you can work in two apps at the same time, side-by-side. Picture-in-Picture lets you continue a FaceTime call or video while using your favorite apps. These new multitasking features are supported by built-in Apple apps, and APIs make it easy for third-party developers to add support into their own apps. Typing is faster and easier with an all-new Shortcut Bar that displays actions tailored for the app you are in, and new Multi-Touch gestures.
Built-In Apps
In iOS 9, Maps adds support for transit systems, schedules, subway station entrances and exits. When you plan your trip, Maps can offer a combination of trains, subways, buses and walking, and with the new Nearby feature, quickly see what’s around by searching for food, drinks, shopping and more. The roll out is limited to few countries for now, in word on when the Middle East will get these features as of now.
The Notes app on iOS 9 also gets an upgrade. The new Notes now includes the ability to draw a quick sketch using your finger, create checklists to keep track of your to-dos, or snap a photo directly in a note. Easily save important items to your notes directly from other apps.
Completely new to iOS 9 is the News app. News delivers a reading experience in an immersive design of a print magazine with the interactivity of digital media. News can learn your interests and suggest relevant content that’s easily shareable with friends or saved for later. News is powered by the new Apple News Format™, a digital publishing format supporting custom typography, galleries, audio, video and interactive animations, allowing publishers like Condé Nast, ESPN and The New York.
Apple Pay adds support for rewards programs from merchants and participating store-issued credit and debit cards. Shoppers will be able to manage their cards in the new Wallet app. Apple Pay will also be available to users in the UK starting next month.
Foundation
Apple also said that iOS 9 makes the foundation of iOS even stronger with refinements including battery optimisation and software updates requiring less space to install. Enhanced security features in iOS 9 keep your devices and Apple ID secure by strengthening the passcode that protects your devices and improving two-factor authentication by building it directly into iOS.
Developer APIs
iOS 9 APIs and tools for developers include:
- extensible search that deep links directly to content within third-party apps;
- GameplayKit and Model I/O for building better games and ReplayKit for recording gameplay;
- new HomeKit profiles for motorized windows and shades, motion sensors and home security systems;
- wireless CarPlay and support for auto manufacturers to develop apps within CarPlay; and
- new HealthKit data points for reproductive health, UV exposure, water intake and sedentary state.
Swift 2 brings powerful new features and performance improvements that produce faster apps. The Swift compiler and standard library will be made available as open source later this year.
APPLE WATCH OS 2
Less than two months into its life, the Apple Watch has a new operating system: watchOS 2.
WatchKit for watchOS 2
WatchKit now gives developers access to key hardware like the Digital Crown, Taptic Engine, heart rate sensor, accelerometer and microphone. New software APIs enable audio and video playback and animation, and with the ClockKit framework, developers can represent their data as complications on the watch face.
These new tools allow developers to make apps more robust. For example, Volkswagen owners can get haptic feedback when their car door has been locked; WeChat includes audio messaging using the microphone; and Vine can host and play video right in the app.
New Apple Watch Features
watchOS 2 lets you turn your photo into a new watch face or view pictures from your photo albums. In addition, you can now choose Time-Lapse watch face from a selection of time-lapse videos shot over 24 hours in iconic locations including New York City, London or Shanghai.
A new Time Travel feature lets users scroll with the Digital Crown to explore events in the future (and past) including upcoming meetings or activities, the temperature for the week, and information from third-party apps, such as upcoming flight information.
With Mail, you can now respond using dictation, Smart Replies or emoji. You can create multiple Friends screens, each of which can hold up to twelve friends, and new friends can be added directly on Apple Watch. Digital Touch lets you draw and send sketches with multiple colors on the same canvas, giving you more tools for creative sketches.
Additional watchOS 2 features include:
- Nightstand Mode that transforms Apple Watch into a bedside alarm clock, with the Digital Crown and side button serving as snooze and off buttons for the alarm;
- the ability to use merchant rewards and store-issued credit and debit cards with Apple Pay, which can be added to Wallet;
- support for Transit in Maps, so you can view detailed transportation maps and schedules, including walking directions to the nearest stations with entrances and exits precisely mapped;
- workouts from third-party fitness apps contributing to your all-day Move and Exercise goals;
- using Siri to start specific workouts, launch Glances and reply to email; and
- Activation Lock, which lets users secure their Apple Watch with their Apple ID, preventing another user from wiping or activating the device if it is lost or stolen.
Oh, there’s one more thing!
Apple Music — All The Ways You Love Music. All in One Place.
Apple Music was finally announced. Apple Music features all your regular downloads alongside the Apple Music catalog with over 30 million songs. You can stream any song, album or playlist you choose or let Apple Music do the work for you.
Apple said it has hired the most talented music experts from around the world, dedicated to creating the perfect playlists based on users preferences, and they become better curators the more you listen. The “For You” section of Apple Music provides a fresh mix of albums, new releases and playlists, which have been personalised for users.
Apple Music Radio
Beats 1, Apple’s first ever live radio station dedicated entirely to music and music culture, will broadcast live to over 100 countries. Beats 1 is a 24-hour listening experience led by influential DJs Zane Lowe in Los Angeles, Ebro Darden in New York and Julie Adenuga in London. Beats 1 will offer exclusive interviews, guest hosts and the best of what’s going on in the world of music.
Apple has also redesigned radio with human curation taking the lead. Apple Music Radio gives you stations created by some of the world’s finest radio DJs. The new stations range in genres from indie rock to classical and folk to funk. With membership, you can skip as many songs as you like, so you can change the tune without changing the dial.
Apple Music Connect
Artists and fans now have a new way to connect with one another directly in Apple Music with Connect. Through Connect, artists can share lyrics, backstage photos, videos or even release their latest song directly to fans directly from their iPhone. Fans can comment on or like anything an artist has posted, and share it via Messages, Facebook, Twitter and email. And when you comment, the artist can respond directly to fans.
Starting on June 30, music fans around the world are invited to a 3-month free membership, after which a $9.99/month subscription fee will apply. There will also be a family plan providing service for up to six family members available for just $14.99/month.
Everything that was announced during WWDC 2015 will be officially launched this fall with public betas rolling out in July and developers beta previews already out.
Watch the entire Keynote here.
