WWDC 2021
After successfully putting the M1 chip into the iPad Pro, the other question we're most concerned about is whether the iPad Pro will have the software ecosystem in place to make the most of this high-performance core.
When you went to WWDC 2021 with this expectation in mind, you found that all your expectations were dashed - iPadOS didn't get the software ecosystem to support it, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro that was rumored to be on the horizon didn't show up either.
This WWDC 2021 is summed up in three key words: *** Enjoyment, Unification, and Privacy.
Video calls are becoming more and more important, and Apple has added Voice Prominence Mode and Wide Spectrum Mode to its own iOS 15. The former uses machine learning to reduce ambient noise and enhance the human voice, while the latter will capture the sound of everything around you, which can be interpreted as the original voice without the call being noise-canceled.
Share Play
Of course, more people care about Portrait Mode than audio enhancement - not only does iPhone help you blur out the background when you're using FaceTime, but more importantly, it actually helps with real-time face beautification, which of course is only available on FaceTime calls. Only during FaceTime calls.
The good news is that FaceTime now supports web access, which means that in addition to Apple devices, Windows devices and Android phones can now join a FaceTime call via a link shared by an Apple user.
Once you've embraced this setup, you'll see how seriously Apple takes this whole 'enjoy with friends/family***' thing. Here Apple has introduced the feature, and the centerpiece of this system-wide update, SharePlay. which lets users ****enjoy music, video, and the screen while on a FaceTime call.
With this feature, you can work with coworkers, brush up on drama with your family, and play games with your friends, just like you can with a range of collaboration apps like Nail/Flybook/Tencent Meetings and more
Sharing doesn't stop there; in iMessage, Apple's official messaging app, there's now a new ability to share music from Apple Music, articles from Apple News, and more. Apple News, and more.
Focus Mode
To draw a line between your real life and your digital life, iOS 15 finally adds Focus Mode. This time, I think Focus Mode is an extension of the previous 'Sleep Mode' - if Sleep Mode is blocking out all notification messages, then Focus Mode is selective blocking.
You can set different focus modes, and iOS 15 will help you filter messages accordingly. For example, in work mode, you'll only get messages from Nail/WeChat, while pushes from gaming and video apps will be ignored, and iOS 15 will algorithmically determine which message is more important and display it at the top so you don't miss out on important information.
Of course, you can also customize different Focus Pages, which are automatically displayed on your iOS device when you turn on the appropriate Focus Mode.
What's new in iOS 15
Every year's iOS upgrade comes with a slew of app upgrades, and this one is no exception.
Text Live
The upgraded aspects of this year's camera and gallery features are primarily at the level of utilizing AI algorithms. The new Text Live feature, which recognizes text in captured/existing images, not only converts the text, but also translates it, debuting with support for seven languages, including English, Chinese, and French.
The 'Memories' feature in the gallery has been upgraded again, and this time users can customize the memories feature to include music, animations, themes, and more. The system can also automatically match the right song, tempo, and presentation based on the content and style of the photo.
The wallet feature has also been upgraded: this time it not only adds credit cards and bus passes, it also supports simulated hotel keycards, Disney park tickets, and even electronic ID cards. It's unclear whether it can replace your neighborhood access card.
The updates and upgrades to the Weather and Maps apps are more about visual kinetic presentations: different weather will have different animation effects, and maps of some overseas cities support viewing elevation, landmark attractions, road details, and more. The new transit mode helps users find nearby bus stops as quickly as possible.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that Safari for mobile now supports the installation of browser expansion plug-ins, and the new "tab group" function - this feature is similar to the "collection" function of the Edge browser launched by Microsoft.
iOS 15 also brings some new features to the Health app, allowing users to share data with their healthcare team***, metrics to assess fall risk, trend analysis, and more. It's also possible to share health data with family members, so the people who care about you can be the first to know what's going on.
AirPods upgrades
By the way, AirPods (primarily AirPods Pro and AirPods Max) have also received minor feature upgrades, such as a new Conversation Enhancement Mode, which utilizes computed audio and a beamforming microphone to enable clearer conversations on AirPods, and a new Notification Broadcasting feature. AirPods automatically read time-sensitive notifications; and the addition of a new anti-drop feature similar to AirTag.
Simply put, if AirPods are lost, they will automatically send out a Bluetooth signal, which is recognized by passing iPhones and uploaded to iCloud, which goes straight to the user's Find app. As for the higher-definition bitrate update that some music aficionados were expecting, it didn't arrive, and Apple Music just added Dolby Atmos sound.
iOS 15 supported devices
Surprisingly, iOS 15 supports basically the same models as iOS 14. iPhone 6s, first-generation iPhone SE are also available for upgrade. The Developer Preview is pushing out updates now, and as for the Public Beta, it's starting to push out updates in July, next month, with the full version coming after the fall launch.
Most of the new features in iPadOS are the same as in iOS 15, though Apple has added some new exclusive features for the larger screen, such as larger-sized widgets - now widgets will finally be able to be mixed and matched with app icons.
iPadOS upgrades at a glance
With this feature, you can create more personalized pages on your iPad, such as game pages, catch-up pages, and so on, and iPadOS finally adds the ability to have the same app repository as iOS.
At the same time, iPadOS finally updates the logic of split-screen operation: it adds the logic of "Multitasking Dashboard" and "App Shelf". With the multitasking control panel, you can not only double-open apps, but even "triple-open" - like Huawei's previous "Smart Split Screen" feature, with a third hovering browsing page.
A look at the new multitasking features
You'll also be able to 'put' different split-screen pages on the App Combo Shelf, making it easy to quickly switch between a number of different split-screen apps. You can create a new split-screen view by dragging apps around, which is even easier than traditional multitasking. And all of these actions can also be done with shortcuts with the iPad Wonder Keyboard.
Apple has also upgraded the Memo feature on iPadOS: you can swipe your finger/Apple Pencil to call out the Memo window from any corner of the app, and quickly jot down handwritten notes, connections, Safari highlights, sticky notes, and whatever else inspires you to do it in the blink of an eye.
Quick Notes is also multi-device synced - for example, if you make a note of a passage in Safari, when you revisit it, a thumbnail of the Quick Note appears, taking you back to what you were looking at before.
The update to Swift Playgrounds on iPadOS is probably the only productivity-tied update this time around, allowing users to develop apps directly in Swift Playgrounds, debug them, and even build them directly into the app. debugging and even selling directly to the App Store.
Although the iPad Pro, which uses the same M1 chip as the Mac, has been released, the iPadOS update is more about the logic of "adapting iOS to a larger screen" than about making iPadOS more productive and replacing the Mac, which is still disappointing.
This year's watchOS update is still on two levels: one is the addition of a new "photo dial" feature, where you can set any picture as a dial, which is equipped with a depth-of-field effect, and you can adjust the bokeh effect through the crown.
A look at the new features of watchOS
The new macOS is named Monterey, from Monterey, California. The new features are consistent with iOS, but with Universal Control, which is enough to change the way multiple devices interact.
Universal Control
Simply put, with Universal Control, you can ****enjoy a set of keyboards and mice between different Apple devices in close proximity, and be able to quickly ****enjoy files between devices. For example, you can use the keyboard and trackpad on your MacBook to modify images/transcripts, etc. on your iPad, and drag text/images directly into the video timeline of the current Mac-edited transcript/clip.
A look at the new features of macOS
The most exciting feature in this update is, AirPlay to Mac - you can finally cast your mobile content directly to your Mac by way of AirPlay, and through the Mac's larger screen and better speakers. You'll be able to enjoy a more comfortable audio-visual experience with the Mac's larger screen and better speakers.
Finally, the shortcut commands from iOS have been ported to macOS, so you can finally automate commands and legitimately be lazy on your Mac.
Privacy has always been an area of great importance to Apple, and this multi-system update is no different: Apple has added a new privacy feature to the native Mail app that not only hides your IP address, but also hides what you do when you open an email, ensuring that the sender can't tell when, or even if, you've opened an email.
Previously, Apple added more device rights management features to iOS devices, and this time it added App Privacy Report. You can visualize data like how many times and for how long which apps are using relevant privacy permissions.
Siri adds voice recognition. By default, conversations sent to Siri are processed locally on the device and not uploaded to the cloud. This also means Siri can do more commands offline, such as opening an app, setting reminders/alarms, and more.
To protect users' privacy, the original iCloud service has also been upgraded to iCloud+: when browsing the web, users can create an encrypted link through iCloud for more secure access.
iCloud+ also generates a randomized email address for the user and forwards it to the user's inbox. So you don't have to enter a person's real email address when filling out an online form or registering as a new user.
In addition, Apple has added a new Digital Legacy Program: users can define their own legacy contacts, and in the unfortunate event that they pass away, this feature allows them to request access to their iCloud data.
Every WWDC brings system-level updates to Apple devices, and each update brings devices within the Apple ecosystem closer together, especially with the introduction of the M1 chip and its adoption on different Pinterest devices (Mac and iPad Pro).
This close connection is not just about synergy between multiple devices, it's about the same interaction logic, the same app functionality and interface across devices. Judging from the SharePlay feature and FaceTime cross-platform support, Apple not only wants to firmly bind users within the existing ecosystem, but also wants to pull in users from other platforms to experience the unity that Apple's ecosystem brings.
Of course, the most interesting thing about these updates is Apple's understanding of technology and life: when you use an Apple device, it cares not only about the user's digital privacy, but also about the user's physical health.
I'll also be bringing readers up to speed on the iOS 15 public beta once it's pushed out. (This article was first published on Titanium Media App by Tang Shixiao)