In review: WWDC23.
Last night's WWDC23 keynote came with a whole lotta new tech for consumers to sink their teeth into, but what were the headlines?
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The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) has come out with a bang in its opening address.
The star of the show was Apple's much-hyped Vision Pro headset. It's finally here, confirming the rumours we'd been spreading. It mixes virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), and it even lets bystanders catch a glimpse of your eyes.
There was more.
The Vision Pro has the hardware to match, with M2 and R1 chips behind it. Its design features a strip of glass and a digital crown, which makes switching between AR and VR modes simple. It also has spatial audio.
Via apple.com
Before you get too excited, let's address the price tag. The Vision Pro headset doesn't come cheap. It costs $3,499 and doesn't arrive until next year. It also doesn’t have a release date for the rest of the world yet, along with little in the way of price confirmation outside the US. Apple has also introduced an operating system called visionOS. With eye tracking, hand gestures and voice commands, you navigate virtual apps and integrated icons in the real world.
Via apple.com, the Macbook Air 15” comes with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos built in.
Then there is the new MacBook Air with its 15.3-inch display. It weighs just over three pounds, and its 18-hour battery life means you can watch your favourite shows without hunting for an outlet.
For desktop users, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro are here too. Both use the M2 Ultra chip. You can choose the Mac Studio with the M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip, or go for the Mac Pro and its exclusive M2 Ultra chip. These machines come at a price, of course.
Apple's announcements went beyond hardware. There are software updates too. Journal is a secure, encrypted app for recording your thoughts and experiences. And iOS 17 brings StandBy mode, voice message transcriptions, a safety-focused Check-In feature and sharing with NameDrop.
Via apple.com
iPadOS 17 brings interactive widgets, real-time collaboration in the Notes app and a personalised lock screen. macOS Sonoma got a makeover with customisable widgets and new screensavers. Safari can now create and pin web apps to the Dock, and it adds browsing profiles for a tailored experience. Apple has also added a dedicated "game mode" for macOS, so you can play games while pretending to be productive.
Apple isn't done yet. The Apple Watch gets an update too. watchOS 10 brings convenient widget browsing, new watch faces and specialised functions for outdoor activities such as cycling and hiking. Switch out that leather band for a silicone one and people may ask if you ran to work.
Watch OS 10 via Apple.com
We almost forgot about Apple TV. You can now FaceTime on the big screen, thanks to Continuity Camera, and connect with your loved ones through your TV. The Center Stage feature acts as a personal cameraman and keeps you in the frame, so awkwardly cropped video chats are a thing of the past.
That is our round-up of Apple's WWDC. The announcements impressed us, from the Vision Pro headset to the hardware updates, and Apple continues to push the boundaries of what is possible.