Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference was last night, and all the announcements have been overwhelming to say the least. Over the 1 hour 40 minutes or so of the Apple WWDC 2020 keynote event, Apple dropped major updates on everything from new OSes to a (not so) surprise announcement that’ll usher in a new era for the Mac.
If you missed the keynote and want to catch up on everything that was announced without having to spend nearly two hours watching it (though we highly recommend it), we’ve got your back! Here’s a summary of all the Apple WWDC 2020 updates you could possibly need:
iOS 14 Brings New Features to iPhone
From widgets that you can move around anywhere on the home screen and new iMessage features like mentions in group chats to updated privacy settings and a makeover for Siri, Apple has a lot in store for us with iOS 14. There’s App Clips, Picture-in-Picture, a new Translate app to rival Google’s, and so much more.
Read more here: All About iOS 14: New Features, Release Date and More
iPadOS is Better Than Ever
With all the new iOS features included in the upcoming upgrade, plus some that iPadOS can exclusively claim as its own, there’s no doubt that iPadOS 14 is going to be a much-anticipated upgrade. Some of the new features include Universal Search, UI changes, enhancements to note-taking capabilities, and—the star of the show—Scribble.
Read more here: Say Hello to the All New iPadOS 14
macOS Gets a Redesign
From a stylish transparent look to familiar additions like the Control Centre, the upcoming macOS update is going to be a big one. Named the macOS Big Sur, the update brings new iMessage features such as Memoji stickers to the Mac, better tab management on Safari, and more.
Read more: Have You Met the New macOS Big Sur!
tvOS Gets Home App Support
iOS and iPadOS 14 weren’t the only ones to get Picture-in-Picture at the WWDC 2020. Apple also revealed that this feature would be coming to tvOS 14, through which you can minimise a playing video to a smaller window while you interact with other parts of the Apple TV. Updates also included better AirPlay streaming, enhanced controller support, and a lot more.
Read more here: WWDC 2020: How Does The New tvOS 14 Fare?
watchOS Gets Sleep Tracking
WWDC 2020 proved to be a great moment for Apple Watch lovers, as Apple finally introduced the long-awaited sleep tracking capabilities with watchOS 7. Besides that, new watch personalisation options were introduced, such as creating your own Watch faces and even sharing them with other users! A fun new addition is the hand wash timer, which tracks how long you wash your hand by counting down with you.
Read more here: All About watchOS 7: Compatibility, Features, and More
AirPods Become Even Cooler
AirPods just got a significant update! If you own the AirPods Pro or the second-gen AirPods, you’ll be able to seamlessly switch between your Apple devices depending on what you’re listening to or if you’re getting a call. Another major update was spatial audio, which will bring surround sound to your AirPods and keep it in sync even as you move around.
Read more here: AirPods Software Updated With ‘Spatial Audio’ And More
HomeKit Gets Some Juicy Updates
Though the news was slightly buried in the “Privacy” section of the keynote, don’t think we missed all the exciting things coming to Apple’s HomeKit! The Home app is getting even better, with automation features that will make it easier than ever to control your Smart Home with your devices. Some features announced were face recognition on cameras so that you can immediately know who’s at your door, adaptive lighting according to the time of the day, and more.
And finally… Apple Shifts to ARM!
The news of the hour, and probably the announcement we were all waiting for throughout the event! Yes, Apple finally announced its shift from Intel chips to the ARM-based Apple Silicon for Macs. Tim Cook said that the process of transition is expected to take nearly two years, with the first Apple Silicon-based Macs to be shipped by the end of 2020.
Read more here: Apple Switches to Its Own ARM Processors, Apple Silicon
And that’s the highlights of Apple WDC 2020! What announcement are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below.
