WWDC 2019

Here's a quick rundown of my favorite updates announced at Apple's annual WWDC.

tvOS

  • Xbox One and PS4 controller support for games

watchOS 6

  • watchOS App Store => Apple Watch Independence!
  • streaming support
  • menstrual cycle tracking

iOS 13

  • system-wide dark mode
  • built-in swipe typing
  • Maps: favorites, collections, street view
  • up to 30% faster Face ID
  • up to 2x faster app launch
  • Sign in with Apple button — privacy-focused version of "Sign in with Facebook/Twitter/Google"
  • HomeKit Secure Video — store videos from HomeKit cameras to iCloud
  • HomeKit support for routers
  • iMessage Profiles — add your own display name, avatar. Only people in your contacts can see this.
  • Memoji — makeup, hats, piercings
  • Memoji stickers — automatically turns your memoji into a sticker pack with all standard emoji facial expressions
  • Video editing in Photos app
  • dual iCloud accounts per device (for personal and work)
  • smaller volume HUD — changing volume doesn't bring the stupid dialog in the middle of the screen

Siri

  • auto-announce messages on AirPods
  • audio sharing — play your music on a friend's AirPods
  • Music HandOff to HomePod — music on your iPhone will continue on your HomePod with a physical tap
  • live radio stations on HomePod
  • Siri Shortcut Events — automatically run shortcuts based on an event
  • Voice ID for HomePod => multi-user support

iPadOS 13

  • multiple windows for the same app
  • easily switching Slide Over apps
  • App Exposé
  • Safari: download manager
  • third-party font management
  • built in Zip/Unzip files
  • three-finger swipe gesture to undo/redo
  • mouse support (hidden as accessibility option)
  • iCloud Folder Sharing
  • network drives support in Files app
  • USB/SD drives support in Files app

Mac Pro

  • starts at $5,999
  • $4,999 - $5,999 for 32" monitor
  • $999 for monitor stand (LOL)

macOS Catalina

  • Project Catalyst and SwiftUI— an easy way for developers to make apps for ALL of Apple's platforms! The future of the Apple ecosystem.
  • SideCar — wirelessly use your iPad as a second monitor
  • full voice control
  • Find My - combines Find My iPhone, Find My Friends into one app. WORKS WITH OFFLINE DEVICES
  • Activation Lock — like iOS, if someone steals your MacBook, you can lock it down so they cannot format your computer.
  • approve with Apple Watch — like Unlock with Apple Watch but for EVERYTHING

ARKit 3

  • people inclusion — people are detected in real-time and AR elements can visibly work around people
  • motion capture for people

Why watchOS 2 Was So Slow →

Jason Snell:

You may not remember this, but before the Apple Watch came out, there were many rumors that it wasn’t able to get through a day without a charge. It’s clear that Apple made battery life a top priority, perhaps even the top priority: This thing better last all day. And so everyone was incredibly conservative with power and memory.

The result: They overshot. Most of the people I know now report that they end their day with their Apple Watches reporting 40 or 50 percent of remaining battery life. Fegerighi admitted that there was a lot of extra memory and battery life available to them when building watchOS 3, because they overshot so much. And that’s why watchOS seems almost impossibly better than watchOS 2, given that it’s running on the same hardware.

Classic approach by Apple — starting too restricted but loosen up over time instead of starting too open and tightening up over time.

Huge props to Apple for showing their ability to correct course.