June 8, 2021
On June 7, Apple opened the Worldwide Developers Conference WWDC 2021. At the event, the company presented updates for its operating systems: iOS 15, iPadOS, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey. A brief overview of the main points is in our material.
iOS 15
The new operating system will be released in the fall of 2021, with a beta version already available to developers. iOS 15 will be installable on iPhone 6s and newer, as well as on the 7th generation iPod touch.
Live Text - reading text from photos
iOS 15 will introduce a new feature called Live Text, which can digitize text in photographs. You will be able to "extract" text from any image where it appears. Here's how it works: you take a photo of a board or banner, then enable recognition mode and highlight the area with the desired text. You can then save it for yourself, search for information about it online, or send it via email. If it's a phone number, you can call it. Initially, Live Text will support 7 languages, but Russian is not among them yet.
Apple has added the ability to search for photos in Spotlight. Enter in the search bar what is depicted in the photo, and neural networks will find all photos matching your query.
Updated design of notifications
Apple developers have simplified interaction with notifications and changed their interface. When you enable "Do Not Disturb" mode, it will be displayed to your contacts as well. They will know that you are currently busy and cannot respond.
Don't want to be distracted by a stream of messages and notifications? Now you can customize it based on what you are doing. iOS 15 will introduce Focus or notification profiles. Choose "Sleep," "Work," "Do Not Disturb," or customize your own. These settings will sync across different devices and allow you to avoid unnecessary distractions.
You will also be able to search for AirPods in the "Find My" app. The principle of this feature is similar to AirTag tracking.
Enhanced Apple Maps
Now the maps look like a cartoon. Apple has digitized a colossal amount of data about terrain, roads, streets, parks, and routes. All of this is presented in the form of three-dimensional animated images. The map is so detailed that drivers can see in advance which lane to turn from. In Belarus, the updated Apple Maps service is not yet available. However, the geography will gradually expand.
Siri will work without the internet
The voice assistant Siri will now work without an internet connection. This will speed up request processing and make the feature safer and more private.
FaceTime on Android and Windows
For the first time, FaceTime video calls will work outside the Apple ecosystem. You can send your friends or loved ones a link to join an ongoing FaceTime conversation. They will be able to connect from a Windows-based computer or an Android smartphone. However, this is currently only available via the web.
In iOS 15, the service will gain support for spatial audio, a voice isolation feature to improve sound quality, and the ability to blur the background.
And we can also expect:
- Support for documents and car keys in the Wallet app;
- Siri will be able to read not only messages but also notifications;
- Voice search in Safari;
- iMessage on Android and new features;
- SharePlay feature in FaceTime - this is shared movie watching and music listening;
- Memories in "Photos" with music from Apple Music.
- Enhanced security and privacy.
iPadOS 15
With the Apple tablet, any tasks become easier and more interesting. With the new update, iPadOS will gain even more versatility and multitasking, as well as improved search results and data organization.
Developers have added a new multitasking menu that will allow you to work in full-screen mode, central window, and, for using multiple apps simultaneously, in split windows.
In the new version, users will be able to customize the home screen more flexibly. "Contacts," "Find Me," "Mail," "App Store," and "Game Center" have received new widgets, and many of the former apps have also received a new large size.
To keep the home screen less cluttered, similar to the iPhone, the iPad will now also have an App Library. The app library automatically organizes all folders by categories.
Taking notes will also become easier: launch Quick Note using hotkeys, gestures, Apple Pencil, or from the Control Center and immediately start writing - regardless of what you were doing before. There is an option to add handwritten input, links, tags, and mentions. Those who work a lot with texts will find the new iPadOS 15 very useful.
There are also new features related to FaceTime. Now you can watch movies and listen to music with a large group: share your screen using SharePlay and maintain communication in FaceTime! An interesting feature of group calls: thanks to spatial audio, individual voices of participants seem to come from the area of the screen where their icon is located - this makes communication more natural. You can also plan calls in advance and send links to other participants for joining.
A few new features have been added to Safari, Memoji, and iMessage. You will like them too.
watchOS 8
The developers couldn't overlook the operating system for smartwatches. The new version offers even more health and fitness features. The popular Breathe app, which helps you track your breathing, has not only received expanded features but also a new name - Mindfulness. It now includes fresh animations and relaxation tips.
For active users, movements from tai chi and pilates have been added. With wellness exercises, you will achieve balance and flexibility in your body, as well as be able to monitor important metrics.
Traditionally, the update has also touched the watch face: now users can use photos taken in portrait mode on the iPhone. You can overlay text and other information on the photo.
And a few features await you in "Contacts," "Weather," "Timer," and "Sound Management." This fall, you will be able to test all the new features yourself!
macOS Monterey
The new operating system will be installable on MacBook 2016 and newer, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 2015 and newer, iMac 2015 and newer, Mac Pro 2013 and newer, Mac mini 2014 and newer, iMac Pro.
Tight integration with iOS
Many innovations presented at WWDC 21 relate not to a separate OS, but to the Apple ecosystem as a whole. For example, the capabilities of FaceTime and iMessage, Focus, "Live Text," and other features are also implemented in Monterey. By the way, this is the name of a city and bay in California.
Apple developers have made Monterey as compatible with iOS as possible. This integration is called "Universal Control." For example, if you have an iPad and an iMac, you can use one keyboard, mouse, or trackpad on both. If you place them next to each other, the cursor will freely move between the screens. Moreover, files can be dragged between devices. You can also draw something with the Apple Pencil on the iPad and add the drawing to a presentation on the Mac. There can be multiple devices, and a shared clipboard works between them. No additional setup is required.
Additionally, you can use a Mac as an external monitor for an iPhone or iPad. With the AirPlay feature, which allows you to display images from your smartphone on a TV.
Safari with a simplified tab bar
A rescue for those who always have dozens of tabs open. Now you can group them so they take up less space and are easier to find.
Also, the browser pages adapt to the color of the site you have opened. Therefore, they look like a unified whole.
Shortcuts - all daily apps are launched with one button
In macOS Monterey, Shortcuts have appeared. Now you can create your own commands for quick access. For example, by pressing one button, you will launch all the programs and applications you use daily. All saved settings can be transferred from Automator to Shortcuts.
