Apple announced what the company has planned for its core products during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote in San Francisco on Monday, June 13, with the focus being on making Apple devices more seamless and easier to use.
Although there were no new products announced, the company did reveal big changes like updates to its software coming soon, along with Siri opening up to third-party developers and Apple Pay soon being available on desktops.
While many people tuned in to the live stream, others might have missed the event and need to get up to speed on the news. Here are the 16 big announcements Apple made at WWDC 2016.
1. iOS 10 Update
This fall, Apple will release a new update for its iPhone and iPad operating system with plenty of brand-new features users can get excited about. These include a new lock screen that will wake up without a single touch by just raising the device, image stabilization and editing features for Live Photos and the new app Home that serves as a hub for all HomeKit products. All data will be encrypted on the device so users' data will remain safe and private.
2. 3D Touch To New Apps
Apple's 3D Touch feature will be integrated to more apps with iOS 10. Users will be able to clear all notifications at once by using the 3D Touch gesture, and the feature will be added to Calendar, Weather and Stocks apps so that users can quickly get the info they need with just a press.
3. New iMessage Features
With iOS 10, users will be able to access other apps while inside Messages without exiting the app. There are many new features to iMessages itself, including the ability to customize the way message bubbles look, as well as use animated ink in the user's own handwriting and invisible ink that will have the recipient swiping a hidden message to reveal it.
There are also lots of fun additions like having a greeting such as "Happy Birthday" take over the full screen, tapping to replace a word with an emoji, bigger emoji and stickers as well as being able to draw over videos and send songs from Apple Music.
4. Quick Typing Update
Apple's Quick Type keyboard is getting smarter, thanks to the use of deep learning to make better predictions when texting or composing an email. With the use of Siri, the intelligence will be able to provide a location when a friend texts "where are you," help fill out an email someone asks about, or search for a restaurant right from the keyboard. Users will also be able to type in two languages at the same time without first having to switch keyboards.
5. Voicemail Transcription
Users will be able to see transcriptions of their voicemails in the next software update. Voicemails will appear like texts, so users won't have to listen to them. Users will also be warned about spam calls with the iOS 10 support of this API.
6. Photos Update
The Photos app will get an update that includes AI and facial recognition technology to help sort group albums automatically. Users will be able to search for photos according to the people, objects or scenes that are included, such as beach or a specific concert.
7. Apple Music Redesign
Apple's music streaming service is getting a facelift to include a more simplistic and minimalist design with black, white and pink colors. Navigation will be easier with new sections like recently added and downloaded music. Discovering music will also be easier, thanks to curated playlists in the "For You" section that are based on the user's preferences. Users can also learn the words to songs with lyrics that will appear on the Now Playing screen.
8. Apple News Redesign
Apple News is also getting a redesign for iOS 10 that makes it more visually appealing to browse. This includes more defined sections for what's Trending, Top News and Sports, while Feature Stories and topics will be created based on the user's reading preferences. Notifications will be sent for breaking news, and the app will include support for subscriptions.
9. Apple Maps Redesign
The redesigns keep on coming, this time with Maps. When users open the app, there will be a bigger emphasis on displaying the map. Users will be able to check out new features like searching for coffee along their route, with Maps providing information on how much extra time the pit stop will take out of the user's trip.
The app will also include traffic data during trips and integration with CarPlay to provide directions and show alternative routes from a car's display. Apple also revealed Maps Extension, which may be used with third-party apps so that users can use Uber to hail a ride directly from Maps.
10. macOS Sierra
The Mac is also getting a software update this fall with macOS Sierra, which will include a more seamless experience between Apple devices. This includes the ability to copy and paste something from the user's Mac to their iPhone and vice versa and accessing Desktop and Documents from any device via iCloud. macOS Sierra will help clear up storage space by automatically storing files that aren't used often in the cloud.
11. Siri To The Desktop
Siri is coming to the desktop for the first time with macOS Sierra. Users will be able to access Apple's digital voice assistant in the dock and in the top-right corner by Spotlight, or use voice commands. With Siri, users will be able to do things like finish a Message, locate files, search for information, add a meeting to the Calendar and play a song from iTunes.
12. Apple Pay On Safari
Safari will now support Apple Pay as a form of payment when online shopping on websites with the release of macOS Sierra. Purchases will be authenticated via TouchID on an iPhone or Apple Watch so users won't need to enter in their credit card info.
13. Siri Open To Developers
The biggest Siri announcement was that Apple is now opening its digital voice assistant to third-party developers. This means Siri will be able to work in other apps so that users can use it to complete tasks such as booking a ride via Uber or Lyft, sending a message on WeChat or starting and stopping a workout app without the hassle.
14. watchOS 3 Update
There are lots of new features coming to the Apple Watch with the release of watchOS 3 this fall. These include new watch faces, apps running seven times faster than the previous OS and easier navigation. By using the side button, the apps will launch immediately when they are updated with info.
Fitness lovers will enjoy the ability to share the Activity rings when competing with others and see up to five workout metrics at a time. There will also be a new app called Breathe to help users relax and see their heart rate. There are also new iMessage features including a keyboard function called "Scribble" where users respond by drawing a letter, and the ability to call 911 with location information by pressing the side button.
15. New To tvOS
A new software to tvOS will further enhance the user experience on Apple TV. With the single sign-on feature, users just have enter their cable or satellite details once instead of having to log in multiple times for every network's app.
Live TV's streaming service is also available now on Apple TV, with Fox Sports launching later this month, and the French TV streaming service Molotov next month. The new remote app includes upgraded Siri voice commands so users can search for a specific video in YouTube or ask to bring up titles by name or category, such as "Thrillers from the '90s" across video streaming services. Apple also announced the developer kits ReplayKit and HomeKit will be available this fall for live gameplay broadcasts and controlling smart home devices.
16. Swift Playground
Apple announced a new app for the iPad that will help kids learn how to code using its programming language Swift. Called Swift Playgrounds, the app will include lessons and step-by-step instructions on how to master the basics of coding. To appeal to kids, the app will have animations and puzzles to make programming fun. The app will be available this fall.
