WWDC 2021 Highlights: iOS 15 brings spatial audio to FaceTime, on-device processing to Siri and more | HT Tech

WWDC 2021 Highlights: iOS 15 brings spatial audio to FaceTime, on-device processing to Siri and more

Apple WWDC 2021: Apple hosted the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2021 today. At the event, Apple claims that Safari is the world's fastest internet browser. It also said that with iOS 15, iPhones can now be used as car keys and keys for your homes and hotel rooms.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Jun 08 2021, 10:13 IST
WWDC 2021
WWDC 2021 (Apple)
WWDC 2021 (Apple)

Apple WWDC 2021: Apple announced iOS 15 at its annual developers’ conference, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2021. The new OS not only simplifies your notifications and makes your FaceTime calls smarter. It also turns your iPhone into your car keys, home keys and hotel room keys.

 

Apple has also announced iPadOS 15. It is getting a new feature that will enable you to use multiple apps simultaneously in split view.

 

Apple has also announced updates to iMessages, Photos, Maps and FaceTime. In addition to this, Apple has introduced on-device processing for Siri. Apple has also announced watchOS that will let users see photos and type and send messages with ease.

 

Apple has announced macOS Monterey and a new feature called Universal Control that will let users multiple Apple devices using the same keyboard and trackpad.

 

Stay tuned for all the interesting developments!

...Read More
08 Jun 2021, 00:20 IST

It's a wrap!

WWDC
WWDC
WWDC

Apple's new features and software updates will be coming to Apple devices in the fall this year. 

08 Jun 2021, 00:18 IST

About the timing

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Developers will get access to these software updates this week. The public beta version of Apple's new OSes will be rolled out next month. These new OSes will be available for download this fall.

08 Jun 2021, 00:18 IST

TestFlight is coming to Mac

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple's TestFlight is coming to Mac!

08 Jun 2021, 00:13 IST

App Store gets in-app events

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

App Store will showcase in-app events from various apps on its home page. Apple will also showcase top events in the widgets on iPhones and iPads.

08 Jun 2021, 00:07 IST

Apple announces Object Capture API for developers

It uses series of images to create a life-like 3D model of an object. It will make AR experience better for developers and end-users.

08 Jun 2021, 00:04 IST

Safari gets new features

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Safari is getting new features – Tab Groups, Tab Bars, customisable Start Page and Extensions. Apple is bringing web extensions to iPads and iPhones.

07 Jun 2021, 23:57 IST

AirPlay comes to Mac

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

AirPlay is coming to your macOS. Apple has also announced Shortcuts for Macs.

07 Jun 2021, 23:56 IST

More details on Universal Control

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

With Universal Control, users can drag and drop content from one Apple device to another. It works with more than two Apple devices.

07 Jun 2021, 23:54 IST

Apple introduces Universal Control

It enables users to use the same keyboard for various connected Apple devices such as MacBook laptop and iPad.

07 Jun 2021, 23:52 IST

Apple announces macOS Monterey

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

macOS Monterey is here!

07 Jun 2021, 23:51 IST

Apple announces Matter

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple has announced a new standard to connect various HomeKit-supported devices called ‘Matter'. It includes support for third-party devices.

07 Jun 2021, 23:48 IST

Apple has something for your homes too!

Starting this fall, users will be able to ask Siri to play content on their Apple TVs hands-free using voice commands. This fall, users will be able to select HomePod Mini as speakers for Apple TV 4K.

07 Jun 2021, 23:46 IST

watchOS will let share messages from your Apple Watch

Now you can edit text and add emojis to your messages on your Apple Watch.

07 Jun 2021, 23:44 IST

watchOS 8 gets support for portrait photos

watchOS 8 is bringing support for portrait photos to Apple Watch. There is a new Photos app for Apple Watch that makes it easy for users to browse through their photos on Apple Watch.

07 Jun 2021, 23:40 IST

Apple Watch can now monitor your breathing

With watchOS 8, Apple Watch can monitor your Respiratory Rate.

07 Jun 2021, 23:39 IST

Apple announces watchOS 8

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple has announced watchOS 8 for its smartwatches!

07 Jun 2021, 23:37 IST

Apple's Health app gets smarter

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Now you can share select health data from your Health app with your doctor privately. This feature is available in the US only. You can also share your health data with people you trust such as your mother or your partner.

07 Jun 2021, 23:34 IST

Apple announces Walking Steadiness feature for iPhone

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

This feature analyses your walking steadiness and over time help you reduce your risk of falling.

07 Jun 2021, 23:26 IST

Apple announces iCloud+

Apple announces paid cloud service called iCloud+.

07 Jun 2021, 23:25 IST

Siri gets on-device processing support

Siri is getting a new update that makes it process a lot of requests on the device. This means that Siri doesn't have to connect to cloud to process user requests.

07 Jun 2021, 23:23 IST

App Privacy Report introduced

Apple is introducing an App Privacy Report that will show users how various apps are treating their data including the one from camera, and microphone, location among other things.

07 Jun 2021, 23:18 IST

Translate app gets better

Apple announces system-wide translate feature. It also works with images on iPads and iPhones.

07 Jun 2021, 23:14 IST

iPadOS 15 gets Multitasking menu

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

iPadOS 15 is getting a new multitasking menu that will help iPad users use multiple apps simultaneously. Users can also use different apps in split view mode. All apps running simultaneously will remain in an area called ‘Shelf'.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

iPadOS 15 gets new bigger widgets

Apple has redesigned widgets for iPadOS. It is aimed at making use of iPad's bigger display.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

Apple announces iPadOS 15

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple announces iPadOS 15.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

Spatial Audio comes to more devices

Spatial Audio comes to M1-powered Macs and Apple TV.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

Apple announces new features for AirPods

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple has announced a new Conversation Boost and Announced Notifications features for AirPods Pro. You can now location AirPods Pro using Apple's Find My app.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

Apple maps gets new features

Apple Maps is getting a new driving experience that will come to CarPlay later this year. It is also getting 3D transit routes in select cities.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

New Apple Maps is coming to more countries

The new Apple Maps app is coming to more countries including Spain and Portugal. Earlier it was available only in the US and Canada.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

Weather app gets updated UI

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

The Weather app in iOS 15 is getting a new user interface and better graphics.

07 Jun 2021, 23:12 IST

iOS 15 will act as your key

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

iOS 15 will turn your iPhone into your keys, which includes your car keys, home keys and even keys to your hotel rooms. Apple Wallet is also getting support for state IDs.

07 Jun 2021, 22:57 IST

Photos gets Memories

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Photos is getting a new Memories features. Memories can be customised using music from Apple Music. Apple will suggest music based on what is in the photos. Memories will be created automatically but you can also customise them.

07 Jun 2021, 22:53 IST

Photos gets Live Text

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple has announced a Live Text feature for Photos that will convert Photos with text into text-based messages that can be used in emails. It works with screenshots and images from the web. It supports 7 languages and it is available on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

07 Jun 2021, 22:49 IST

Notification Summary announced iOS 15

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple is simplifying notifications with Notification Summary. 

07 Jun 2021, 22:48 IST

Apple announces Share with You feature

Apple has announced Share with You feature. It will be available in Photos, Safari and iMessages.

07 Jun 2021, 22:45 IST

SharePlay will be available on third-party apps too!

SharePlay will work with Apple Music and Apple TV and third-party apps including Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, TikTok, MasterClass, ESPN and more.

07 Jun 2021, 22:42 IST

FaceTime gets SharePlay

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

SharePlay will let you watch and listen to content with your friends. You will also be able to share your FaceTime screens

07 Jun 2021, 22:40 IST

FaceTime gets Portrait mode

FaceTime is getting a Portrait mode for putting focus on your face in video calls. Apple has also announced FaceTime Links that will let you schedule FaceTime calls like Zoom or Google Meet. 

07 Jun 2021, 22:39 IST

FaceTime gets spatial audio support

FaceTime is getting support for spatial audio. This will make the audio more natural and comfortable.

07 Jun 2021, 22:37 IST

iOS 15 announced

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Craig Fedegirhi announces iOS 15!

07 Jun 2021, 22:35 IST

Tim Cook takes the stage

WWDC
WWDC
image caption
WWDC

Apple CEO Tim Cook takes the stage officially kicking off WWDC 2021. 

07 Jun 2021, 22:29 IST

It’s showtime!

WWDC 2021
WWDC 2021 (Apple)
image caption
WWDC 2021 (Apple)

It's time now. Apple's WWDC 2021 keynote address has finally begun!

07 Jun 2021, 22:14 IST

New Breathe app coming to watchOS

Apple is expected to roll out a new version of its Breath app with the watchOS 8 update. For the uninitiated, Apple's Breathe app is designed to help Apple Watch users relax by guiding them through a series of breathing exercises. At this point, it remains uncertain what a new Breathe app would do but guided meditation sessions would be a nice addition.

07 Jun 2021, 21:57 IST

Top executives' profiles changed to Memoji

Apple Leadership
Apple Leadership (Apple)
image caption
Apple Leadership (Apple)

Ahead of today's event, Apple has updated the images of its top leadership to show their Memojis instead of their profile photos. The list includes Apple CEO Tim Cook, Senior VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, CFO Luca Maestri, and VP and General Counsel Kathrine Adams among others.

ALSO READ: Top executives' profiles changed to Memoji, including of Tim Cook, ahead of WWDC live streaming

07 Jun 2021, 21:45 IST

Tim Cook asks ‘Who’s ready?’

The keynote event for WWDC 2021 will begin at 10:30 PM IST with CEO Tim Cook taking the centre stage to make the announcements. Ahead of the event, Cook has shared a nine-second long video on Twitter, wherein cartoonified versions of developers show their excitement ahead of the event. “Today's the day! Who's ready,” Cook wrote in the caption.

07 Jun 2021, 21:29 IST

New Apple Silicon SoC, MacBook Pro expected

Apple MacBook laptop
Apple MacBook laptop (Unsplash)
Apple MacBook laptop (Unsplash)

Apple is famous for launching new devices at its developers' conference. For instance, the company launched its first-generation smart speaker, HomePod, back in 2017. Similarly, the company announced its M1 chipset at WWDC 2020 last year. This year, Apple is expected to launch its second-generation Apple Silicon chip, M2, at its upcoming developers' conference. Apart from this, reports have also hinted towards the company updating its line of MacBook Pro laptops by launching 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops.

ALSO READ: WWDC 2021: We might see a new MacBook Pro with M2 at the event

07 Jun 2021, 21:11 IST

Apple to roll out updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS

Apple iPhone
Apple iPhone (Unsplash)
Apple iPhone (Unsplash)

As is the tradition, Apple will be announcing updates to its software platforms at today's event. The company will be officially announcing iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS 12 and tvOS 15 at today's WWDC 2021 keynote address. These software updates will bring stronger privacy features, updated to its messaging app, iMessage, new accessibility features, and new multitasking features to iPhones and iPads. Details are scarce about the features that watchOS 8 will bring to the Apple Watch.

ALSO READ: Apple WWDC 2021: Here's how to watch WWDC 2021 keynote livestream, what to expect, and more

07 Jun 2021, 20:52 IST

How to watch WWDC 2021 keynote

Apple CEO Tim Cook 
Apple CEO Tim Cook  (Apple via REUTERS)
Apple CEO Tim Cook  (Apple via REUTERS)

The Apple WWDC 2021 keynote will begin at 10:30 PM IST today. You can watch the WWDC 2021 keynote address on the company's official YouTube page, which the company made live earlier this week. Alternatively, you can watch the event on Apple's events page. You can check all the details here.

First Published Date: 07 Jun, 20:52 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS