Apple WWDC23 Keynote

Apple announced several new products and features during the WWDC 2023 Keynote, including one highly anticipated product that will be available next year. Below is an overview of the announcements. 

Macbook Air & Pro

Apple announced a new 15” MacBook Air, featuring MagSafe charging, a headphone jack, six speakers, 18-hour battery life, a fanless design, and the M2 chip. The new MacBook comes in 4 finishes. The MacBook updates also included updates to the MacStudio,  first released last year, and now runs the new M2 Ultra chip. 

iOS 17

iOS 17 brings many new features, including personalized posters that will display whenever you call someone else, live voicemails that provide a voicemail message transcription, and even Facetime voicemail. Changes to the Messages app include new search filters, a catch-up arrow for when group chats become too chaotic, swipe to reply option on individual message bubbles, transcribed voice messages, new stickers, live stickers to react to message bubbles, and a new check-in feature that enables users to let loved ones know when they make it home or if they have been delayed. 

IOS 17 also includes new apps like NameDrop that uses AirDrop to send contact information, music, or pictures just by placing your phone near another. The Journal app allows users to create journal entries from special memories using photos as writing inspiration, and Standby enables a new way to view and access widgets when your phone is on its side. 

iPadOS 17

iPadOS 17 updates include widget changes, enabling users to access and interact with widgets without opening the app. iPad users can now personalize their wallpaper with live photos and widgets. The Health app is now available on iPadOS, as well as updates to PDFs, including field identification for electronic signatures. 

MacOS Sonoma

The new MacOS update focuses on improving the gaming experience on Macs with new levels of gaming experience and video conferencing updates, including presenter overlay and reaction effects. MacOS Sonoma also includes new screensavers functioning as slow-motion videos that settle into the Mac screen and widget improvements. Additionally, Safari now locks windows you aren’t using, and a new feature called WebApps allows users to make apps from their favorite websites. 

Audio & Home

Airpods now use Adaptive Audio, which blends transparency and noise cancellation into one feature. Users can now personalize audio and share content such as music, videos, and pictures while traveling via Airplay by pairing with hotel televisions. Shareplay allows other iPhone users to join music sessions when the driver connects their phone via Bluetooth, and Facetime will now be available for Apple TV. 

WatchOS 10

WatchOS 10 includes updates to the health and fitness apps and new mental health trackers. Users can also access Apple Watch widgets by turning the dial. 

Vision Pro

Apple’s most anticipated announcement was the company’s new mixed-reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro. Virtual Reality headsets have become more popular in recent years, and a new phenomenon is taking off in the technology world, a concept referred to as spatial computing. Apple’s new augmented reality headset projects users’ content like music, movies and shows, notes, email, and Safari searches into their surroundings. The headset enables users to see their surroundings or choose a different background but still alerts users to the presence of others. Vision Pro uses eye movements to bring the apps to life, and rather than developing more pieces of equipment, users simply have to use their fingers to swipe or adjust the screen size. 

The first iOS 17 beta was available to developers soon after the announcement, and the public beta will be released next month. 

Vision Pro uses a brand new R1 chip and VisonOS and will be available early next year.