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Top WWDC 2018 Highlights – Does it Satiate you or Curb Your Attraction From iPhones?

Neeti Kotia

Apple’s iOS operating system is driving around 81% of all Apple iOS devices around the world with the commencement of all Apple Worldwide macOS and iOS App Developers Conference 2018, CEO Tim Cook introduced latest iOS 12 update, with various iterations of other operating systems, which also includes a coup d’oeil of what the company is projecting in the long term. Here are the high spots of WWDC 2018:

iOS 12:

Apple announced its latest release an all-new operating system iOS 12 for iPhones and tablet devices. This comes up with a software update and bug fixes that were reported in earlier versions of iOS by other iPhone and iPad users. There are updates in Screen Time, Group FaceTime, Memoji, Grouped Notification and many new features. This latest update will reach those devices that received iOS 11.3.1 update. Your iPhone can also be used as a remote microphone with iOS 12 and AirPods.

SIRI:

You must definitely hear about SIRI’s intriguing new shortcut feature, haven’t you? Well, Apple’s SIRI is getting suggestions just like Cortona and Google Assistant. It has been improved to let us create shortcuts via a built-in shortcut app. As an example, a phrase like “Heading Home” can be created as a shortcut. A series of actions can be associated with this shortcut. Ask it to send a message to mum, play your favorite song, show the next bus schedule. The next time you wish to head towards home, the assistant is going to show the predefined actions. Some more details on Apple’s SIRI Shortcuts:

MacOS Mojave:

This is a new version of MAC OS. The ‘dark mode’ feature like Windows 10 OS is common with MAC OS. It also brings enhanced security features like blocking tracking websites like Facebook. Apple has redesigned MAC App Store in Mojave; this further brings new easy to use sections.

Watch OS:

Watch OS 5 brings interesting features for iwatches. With workout recording, digital awards, users can challenge friends to fitness goal and competitors. It does not start automatically in case a user forgets to press start or if he forgets to track the workout. It supports the podcast, notifications from SIRI and shortcuts.

Some of the best feature changes that are going to be really useful for Apple Watch wearers:

The flashiest watchOS 5 new features is the Walkie-Talkie app. This can be equally at home as well as on the go. As soon as you tap the top of the Apple Watch, it instantly turns out into a Walkie Talkie and reduces the need for phone calls when you are within considerable distance. Touch the yellow dot that appears on top, when someone tries to connect and Push-to-talk mode begins.

The haptic guidance feature of Apple watch gives alerts about paces and buzzes automatically for workouts. The subtle left and right turn tap patterns guide in walking and driving. The use of nuanced vibrating haptics with new Pace Alert feature works in the same way for runners. Apple promises a wrist grab to allow to retroactively record a workout.

In addition to this, the Background Music feature promises more music on the go.

Now, with new “Do not disturb” feature, notifications can be turned off for the period of time or set to locations.

Augmented Reality:

Augmented Reality has again become a center-point of iOS 12. Snapchats, Instagram, Pokemon Go have been popular applications of Augmented Reality. To make AR available to a wider audience, Apple has tried to advertise a new file format for AR objects called USDZ (Universal Scene Description) with iOS12. This format is supported by Adobe.

Also read: How Much Does It Cost to Develop an Augmented Reality App?

High Powered AR/VR Enabled Headset:

Apple has been consistently working on a high powered headset that adequately runs both AR and VR technology.

ARKit2:

Introduction of ARKit2 enhances the ability of users to work closely with AR. With an increasing number of people making use of VR and AR headsets and glasses, this market is soon going to explode in coming years. This includes shared experiences, 3D object detection and persistent experiences. Sharing same AR space with other devices will be easier now. This has also empowered developers to create an even more engaging AR experience for their users. Apple’s ARKit 2.0 now supports multiplayer and has also introduced a new file format.

Animoji:

There are more Animoji’s on messages app in the messages app now. In addition to this, you can define your own Memoji.

Facetime:

As many as 32 people can connect in a group call on Facetime now.

ML Support:

Machine Learning Training and playgrounds can be used to train the models.

iOS and macOS:

Apple is not planning to merge iOS and MAC OS, but the stakes have never been higher for Apple Software.

ULKit and macOS:

Apple is working on a bounteous project to bring ULKit to macOS. This way it will be easier to port iOS applications to macOS. This is going to help iPhone developers to port their iOS to macOS. This feature is going to be updated in 2019.

Embedded Apple Maps:

Web browsers have Apple Maps embeds as a beta feature in them now.

Hardware Announcements:

iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands are the Apple’s only new WWDC hardware.

Dolby Atmos:

Apple TV is going to have Dolby Atmos Support now.Apple’s Books: Apple’s Books are getting a branding in iOS 12 and also iBooks get a redesign.

Face ID:

iPads are with Face ID in IOS 12 beta release now.

Apple’s Screen Time and Google Digital Wellbeing:

Apple’s Screen Time and Google Digital Wellbeing are two similar but subtly different view on managing overusing our smartphone.

What Big Features is Watch OS 5 missing in iOS 12?

Apple’s 2018 WWDC keynote was majorly about software and not about hardware.

Which Devices Support iOS 12, Watch OS 5, tvOS12, macOS Mojave?

Devices that support iOS 12:

Image Source: www.macworld.com

Devices that support watchOS:

Support dropped

Supported Apple TVs

Unsupported devices

Devices that Support macOS Mojave:

Support dropped

Commentary

Improving performance of its software and devices has been a top focus of Apple around this WWDC 2018, and it is paying more attention to older devices this way. Therefore, there is a pretty good chance that iPhone 6s is going to be quite snappier with iOS 12 than with iOS 11.

Everyone around has been always curious about what will be major announcements of Apple in WWDC 2018, irrespective of whether they will be able to use it or not. Apple’s Sherlock Search Tool, Memoji (bidding a bye to Snapchat’s Bitmoji, Samsung’s AR Emoji, and the gaming avatars of consoles like the Xbox and Wii), Screen Time (bidding a bye to Moment and Amazon’s Free Time App), SIRI Shortcuts (bidding a bye to IFTTT / Workflow), Apple Photos, For You (bidding a bye to Google Photos, Rediscover This Day), Group Facetime (bidding a bye to Houseparty), Measure (bidding a bye to Every AR measurement app ever) are some of the Apps, Features and Services that Apple Replicated for iOS 12.

Apart from this are you aware that Apple just took a shot at Facebook’s web-tracking empire? Apple and Google seem to be taking more introspective strides will their upcoming annunciations. But what is the best iOS12 feature that Apple didn’t talk about onstage? Stay tuned for more.