Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) kicks off on Monday, June 6, and apart from a small in-person contingent invited to Apple Park for that first day (together with the all-important keynote), the occasion stays on-line once more this 12 months.
The weeklong occasion gives builders a deep dive into the forthcoming working system updates for all of Apple’s units. This could embody macOS 13, iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16. Periods all through the week will give us extra perception into every one, however the keynote gives a glimpse at the entire software program highlights — and rumors are pointing to a possible {hardware} announcement.
Right here’s easy methods to watch WWDC and what we expect to see on the occasion.
WWDC 2022: Learn how to watch the keynote
The Apple Keynote will kick every part off as per standard; it begins on June 6 at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) and can be live-streamed from Apple Park. As at all times, that is open for anybody to look at. You possibly can tune in from Apple’s web site, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, or YouTube. Should you can’t watch alongside, observe our WWDC dwell weblog, which can kick off early Monday morning and canopy the entire occasion’s highlights.
Subsequent up is the Platforms State of the Union, which can begin at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT). Because the title suggests, it delves into Apple’s upcoming plans for every of its platforms. This occasion, and the remainder of the streamed engineering periods, are restricted to registered Apple builders who paid the $99 annual price. We’ll carry you any thrilling information that comes out of those occasions as nicely.
WWDC 2022: New {hardware}?
Whereas WWDC is a software program occasion, we do often get a brand new piece of {hardware} and this could possibly be a kind of years. The rumor mill has been churning at full pace on the potential announcement of a brand new MacBook Air with an M2 processor at WWDC. Whereas the timing could be uncommon, the present MacBook Air with M1 launched on November 17, 2020, so its alternative is definitely overdue. Apple would little doubt like to have its successor prepared for the fast-approaching faculty laptop computer shopping for season.
Past regardless of the M2 chip delivers by way of efficiency enhancements, there are a selection of rumored design adjustments. Just like the MacBook Professional 14 and MacBook Professional 16 final 12 months, the brand new MacBook Air is rumored to, as soon as once more, characteristic MagSafe charging. It must also sport a pair of USB 4 ports and a headphone/mic combo jack. Not the portstravaganza that its Professional counterparts now provide, however not dangerous contemplating the opposite main rumor is that the Air will get dramatically slimmer and lighter due to a discount in its bezels.
That’s the lone {hardware} rumor that drew pretty unanimous help from dependable leakers, however there’s another that appears like an apparent alternative. Preserving it within the Mac household, Apple closed the Mac part of its March 8 occasion by saying the transition to Apple Silicon is “almost full, with only one extra product to go…Mac Professional. However that’s for one more day.” It’s arduous to think about a extra becoming day than WWDC to announce the final piece of the Apple Silicon puzzle falling into place.
There haven’t been appreciable rumors relating to the Mac Professional replace, however that could possibly be as a result of the assumption is that the design will stay largely the identical because the 2019 mannequin. Efficiency is definitely the bigger query and it looks like Apple will as soon as once more merely remix what it already has with leaker Majin Bu, indicating it would mix two M1 Extremely chips to create an “M1 Excessive.” (No phrase on whether or not it would truly characteristic Mountain Dew-based cooling to earn that ludicrous title.) There’s some disagreement on this level with others like developer Hector Martin expressing a perception that an M2 configuration is likely to be wanted, however he conceded after a leaked schematic revealed that it is likely to be attainable with the prevailing M1 Ultras. Suffice to say this can be a remarkably highly effective and exceedingly costly desktop.
Shifting into the much less doubtless, we now have Apple’s AR/VR headset. Rumors have urged it might go into manufacturing as quickly as August or September, however even when Apple is taking a look at a 2023 launch, it wants to offer builders time to work on apps. What that might imply is Apple reveals among the specs for the headset and particulars on what it might name “realityOS” with out giving us a glimpse on the precise {hardware}.
Lastly, the AirPods Professional 2 have develop into a perennial addition to the bingo card for any Apple occasion as we now have seen rumors concerning the replace to the 2019 AirPods Professional for over a 12 months now. This may be an exceedingly odd time for Apple to announce them and there’s an argument that Apple ought to wait to launch them anyway, however it could really feel unsuitable to not embody them right here.
WWDC 2022: macOS 13
On to the software program, the precise star of the present for the builders. The following replace to macOS could possibly be referred to as macOS Mammoth, however regardless of the title, the variety of precise updates to the working system could possibly be pretty small.
In his Might “Energy On” publication, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicated that the System Preferences app can be redesigned to extra intently mirror the iOS Settings app with settings organized by app. Different default apps like Mail, Messages, Notes, Podcasts, Music, Safari, and so on. can be getting a makeover as nicely. He didn’t provide any hints as to the design tweaks for these different apps.
Gurman’s different huge macOS prediction extends past macOS and that’s Messages taking over extra of a social networking characteristic set together with enhanced audio messaging.
🔴EXCLUSIVE: iOS 16.Be ready for interactive widgets! Apple is now engaged on these “huge widgets” internally named InfoShack.Will let you know extra about them quickly. pic.twitter.com/GZF9zYjOswJanuary 26, 2022
WWDC 2022: iOS 16
Whereas iOS 16 isn’t more likely to be an enormous overhaul of the working system, turning once more to Mark Gurman, he claims there can be “pretty vital enhancements throughout the board.” This might embody new heath-tracking options and a much-needed replace to notifications. The well being monitoring goes to tie into the watchOS 9 options that we’ll handle in a later part.
The notification replace might prolong the present “Fast Actions” characteristic from the notification shade to the lock display. Particular apps might get updates to their notification dealing with as nicely, like Information, Reminders and Mail. Apple could also be updating Focus mode, which was launched in iOS 15 that will help you customise Do Not Disturb for various settings and actions. In iOS 16, you would possibly be capable to get much more granular with these controls, a doubtlessly essential characteristic for customers which are inundated with notifications.
One other leak means that iOS could also be getting extra interactive widgets. Apple’s widgets had been stable out of the gate in iOS 14, however haven’t seen a lot consideration since then.
Tying again into the rumored {hardware} bulletins, Gurman additionally believes that iOS 16 might embody some insights into Apple’s AR/VR headset.
In much less thrilling information for older iPhone homeowners, the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and unique iPhone SE might not be eligible for the iOS 16 replace in response to iDropNews. Whereas disappointing for these customers, it represents seven years and 6 years of help, respectively, which outstrips any of its rivals.
WWDC 2022: iPadOS 16
Whereas they’re distinct, the vast majority of the brand new options for iPadOS 16 are the identical options from iOS 16 making their solution to the larger show.
The one main rumored unique replace for iPadOS this 12 months is a brand new multitasking interface. After our current have a look at utilizing an iPad vs. a Chromebook for work, we are able to undoubtedly say it’s an enormous deficit for the platform for the time being, significantly for the M1-powered iPad Professionals and iPad Air. These units are greater than able to a full multitasking expertise and we hope this one is correct.
WWDC 2022: watchOS 9
The spotlight for watchOS 9 could possibly be a battery-saving low energy mode that’s an enhancement to the present Energy Reserve mode for Apple Watch. Something that may allow you to push past the roughly someday of battery life for the Apple Watch Collection 7, or any Apple Watch, could be welcome so long as you don’t should sacrifice too many options.
A Bloomberg report means that exercise monitoring can also be due for some upgrades with new supported exercise varieties and extra metrics for exercises. Sleep monitoring might also enhance, which once more hopefully means battery life beneficial properties as your Apple Watch can’t observe your sleep if it’s lifeless. The report provides that Apple is planning to supply new girls’s well being options.
Whereas third-party watch faces stay a dream, the Bloomberg report additionally indicated that Apple can be refreshing its built-in faces, together with some that can leverage the bigger show launched on the Apple Watch Collection 7.
WWDC 2022: tvOS 16
There’s no query that Apple goes to replace tvOS 16 ultimately, in any case, it gained’t need to cross up the prospect to say Apple TV+ and its Oscar victory, however there aren’t any significant rumors or leaks about it with simply days to go earlier than the keynote.
There’s hypothesis about improved Apple Health+ help, extra sensible residence integration and common enhancements to the TV app, however none of it quantities to something earth-shattering. We’ll simply should tune in on June 6 at 1 p.m. ET to search out out what Apple has in retailer for tvOS 16.
