WWDC and Apple announcements for 2022-3

Thursday, 23 June, 2022   Filed in: iOS | iPadOS | macOS | watchOS | WWDC

Last week Apple held its Developer Conference (WWDC) which included a keynote presentation announcing new products for the year. Here are a few of the highlights:


iOS, WatchOS and iPadOS:
Every year at WWDC Apple unveils its new software for the iPhone, iPad and Watch.

For the iPhone, iOS 16 will see a new Lock Screen design with fresh styles and colours. You’ll be able to customise the screen design with different images, fonts and colours:


As has been the case with the Watch, you can design multiple iPhone lock screens and swipe between them when you want to change your look!
Also, Notifications will be stacked at the bottom so they don’t fill the entire screen and screen widgets can be added for weather, calendar, news, sports etc:


Yes there is more in iOS 16…check out the new app features below...
macOS Ventura:
The next OS for the Mac is Ventura, with a completely redesigned System Preferences app, now called System Settings. It is quite a change for the long-time Mac users, but is a redesign which should help to make all of those settings much clearer.

Also, Stage Manager is a new way to lay out all of your apps and windows, stacked along the left hand side. This way you can click to choose the item you need and you get an overview of all open windows, sorted by app:


Continuity Camera will allow you to use your iPhone as a webcam, for high resolution video conferencing. This will require a stand (sellotape!) or an Apple attachment for your Mac (!), but is a good way to improve your look compared to using some of the low-res cameras built into older Mac laptops.


Coming later in 2022, Apple will release a new app called Freeform. It can be used with FaceTime, where you can sketch on the screen with your FaceTime colleagues during a conference call- a bit like a white-board on the screen as you all discuss a topic:

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Many of the really interesting new changes will come to all platforms at the same time (iOS, macOS and iPadOS). Here are some of the app changes coming to your Mac, iPhone and iPad:
Messages:
The Messages app will allow for two exciting changes
- the ability to change a text message after it has been sent
- to UNSEND a text message!
Yeah, we've all sent one of those typo-texts!!
Photos:
Apple will introduce a shared library system which can be shared with your family. When one person takes all of the photos at an event, how to you share them with a parent or spouse- email? text them? Instead, you’ll be able to add the batch to the “family” library and all members of this group can see the shared photos.
The second new tool is a duplicates finder- an easier way to spot and remove duplicate photos from your collection.

Mail:
One of those long requested features is coming to Mail- scheduled sending of emails! You’ll be able to type up an email and set it to go out at 5:30 on a Friday, just in time to scoot off for the weekend.
They also promise an “unsend” feature to recall a message, but we’ll see if this is an iCloud-only feature or if it’ll work with other email accounts…
Passwords:
Apple are starting the process of trying to eliminate passwords for websites and apps. Don’t throw out your trusty 1Password 7 just yet, but in the future the Mac or iPhone will use “passkeys” instead, which identifies your device without the need for a password for every site. Instead the device generates an encrypted passkey to communicate with the site or app, and identify you as the user.
Dictation:
If you use Dictation to create messages you’ll know the annoying way you have to move back and forth between the dictation screen and the keyboard layout. The new single design makes this easier where you can dictate and type words on the same screen:


Maps:
Apple will introduce multi-stop routing to Maps, allowing you to plan your trip with a number of stop-offs on the way. Right now you can only route point A to B. This will be a very useful way to design your driving route for longer journeys.
Apple Pay:
I suspect this one will be US-only to begin with, but they’re adding the ability to make purchases with Apple Pay and spread payments out over 4 monthly payments, with no extra interest. On second thoughts this just sounds dangerous for those prone to shopping online…You’ll also be able to track your orders inside the Wallet app.
Home app:
For those of us with Smart homes with smart-bulb lighting, heating apps etc, the Home app gets a complete re-design and will include “Matter” devices, meaning that you can control far more accessories as they all move to one connectivity standard. Up to now you could only control devices which were made for Apple's Home app.

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Beyond apps and software:

CarPlay:
One of the biggest surprises was the announcement of CarPlay and Apple’s intention to work with car manufacturers to have its software on the dashboard. Instead of having an Audi dashboard in your Audi car, there’ll be an option to have an Apple designed dispaly instead (see below). Many people using CarPlay today will be familiar with the Apple design on their car’s entertainment/radio screen, but taking over the entire dashboard, including the speedometer, is quite a new venture:



MacBook Air:
And lastly, the MacBook Air has had a complete re-design. This is Apple’s biggest selling Mac and it now comes with the all new M2 chip and in some new colours.


It also comes with some of the new Pro features, such as a MagSafe charger, bigger display, but is slightly lighter than the previous Air.
Although this was announced at this week’s event, it won’t be available to order until July.



Read more:

Check out this page for the full list of features in the new iOS 16:

macOS Ventura Preview:

New MacBook Air M2 model:

https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-m2/

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Hopes for 2018

Thursday, 18 January, 2018   Filed in: Apple Watch | macOS

There are a number of items which I hope Apple will address this year- some outstanding issues and some new expectations.

The first is a personal want- the cellular version of the Apple Watch in Ireland. Apple launched the cellular Watch in the Autumn, but it needs deals with the mobile phone carriers to spread this into other countries. On launch, there was a limited set of carriers involved in a handful of countries, but I hope to see this spread to new regions this Spring. It would also be good to see all carriers involved so customers have choices.

The second issue for 2018 is the Mac Pro and what Apple does in the professional space. In a sense I have divided views on this. I like the idea of Apple reclaiming their professional desktop space but will I ever buy one- probably not. So it feels like a heavy dose of hypocrisy to want Apple to build pro Macs, without seeing any reason to use one. But the idea of a Mac Pro and how it would help to boost and inform work on future iMacs is enough to allow me to hope for this.

HomePod is my third hope for 2018. Right now it feels underwhelming, a Siri based speaker. The audio working to adapt with the space in a room is clever, but to date this does not feel like a must-have product. It reminds me of the iPod HiFi speaker, but I hope it will offer more than Apple attempting to copy Amazon and Alexa. I also hope the shipping date delay is a good sign of improvements, because right now no one has asked me about this product and the sense of buzz is not there. An interesting space to watch and see where Apple are going here.

No doubt we will have the usual yearly updates to iOS and macOS too- lots to look forward to in 2018.

Tags: HomePod

Event Update: iPhone 8, iPhone X, Watch 3 & Apple TV

Tuesday, 12 September, 2017   Filed in: Apple TV | Apple Watch | iOS | iPhone | macOS | tvOS | watchOS

Apple held an event this evening to launch a number of new products. Here is a quick update on what was announced:

iPhone:
The biggest news came with the iPhone. There will be two new ranges of iPhone-


iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus:
These new models will be the successors to the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. The main changes are the better camera, faster A11 chip and more storage included, starting at 64GB. The iPhone 8 can also be charged wirelessly- where you can place the phone on a mat-type device and it charges through the back of the phone. The new retina displays are "true-tone", which means they adjust depending on the light, which should help to make them easier to read in the sun!
Other changes include the new glass-back design and a new gold colour.

Overall the iPhone 8 is a steady, yearly improvement over the 7, if not revolutionary. The main selling points are the better camera and the extra speed.
Prices start at €829 / $699 (|iPhone 8) or €939 / $799 (iPhone 8 Plus)

iPhone X:
The very revolutionary iPhone X (“ten”) comes on the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone. This is a very different design, with the screen almost covering the entire front surface of the phone. There is no home button either, and the device unlocks using the new Face ID, which will scan the contours of your face when you look at it. According to Apple, Touch ID (fingerprint) has unique security of 1 in 50,000 people, whereas Face ID is at 1 in 1,000,000. Face ID projects 30,000 dots onto the surface of your face to ensure a high level of security and accuracy.

The facial recognition technology also extends to emojis! You can make a facial expression and turn it into your own emoji, called an animoji!
The new OLED screen is what Apple calls Super Retina, with better colours and more pixels per inch, making it the highest resolution screen Apple have produced.
The camera is also improved, with portrait mode photos available on both the front and rear cameras.The camera is also Augmented-Reality-ready, something Apple has bene pushing for new games and apps.
Overall a very new look for an iPhone and, combined with Face ID, it has many cutting-edge technologies packed in here.
Prices start at €1179 / $999 (this phone is not intended to be cheap- this is the flagship model)

Apple Watch:
The big change to this year’s Apple Watch Series 3 is a version which comes with a mobile/cellular chip, meaning you could take a Watch out and still get calls, texts, use Maps and Siri. Apple announced that you can use Apple Music on the cellular Watch, so combined with Bluetooth headphones, the Watch will be a streaming music device. Great for people who like to go for long walks, run or cycle. No need to take your iPhone out to play music!

Only catch- the cellular version will not launch in Ireland just yet. Apple are likely to have to agree deals with local mobile companies, so expect this to arrive in the next few months. Adding your Watch to your data package is likely to add around €10 / $10 extra per month to your bill.




Apple TV:
With what may seem to be a minor change to the Apple TV lineup, Apple announced the new Apple TV 4K, which can play high quality 4K movies. If you have a 4K TV this is big news as the quality will be quite dramatic. But you will need a 4K TV to get the most out of this.

Apple have got the major studios on board and they will be selling and renting 4K movies. Amazon Prime is also coming to the Apple TV in the next few weeks.


Software:
A couple of dates for the diary:
September 19th: iOS 11 will be released for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
September 25th: macOS High Sierra will be released for the Mac
Both are free downloads- please backup your data first!


Tags: Event

Loving the New MacBook Pro

Monday, 19 December, 2016   Filed in: Mac | MacBook Pro | macOS

I have been through a few Apple laptops families over the years. I started with a black PowerBook G3 in the mid-90s and then moved to a titanium PowerBook G4. I didn't move to an iBook, even when they became sleeker with the white plastic design, but instead stuck with PowerBook and MacBook Pro until the MacBook Air emerged. This finally encouraged me away from the top-of-the-line models, as the slim and yet powerful MacBook Air offered me the flexibility of a thin laptop, but with enough power to drive an external display and complete all the tasks I needed. I generally boosted the processor, such as the i7 in my last model, so the size, weight and engine matched my needs.

However this October, Apple launched the new range of MacBook Pro and I was left with a choice. The MacBook Air family looks dated with no Retina display, so my choice this year was a new sleek and thin MacBook or to jump back up to the top of the line MacBook Pro. I decided on a 13" MacBook Pro for two reasons- the screen size (13" vs the MacBook's 12") and the new TouchBar technology.

After one week of use, I have no regrets. The display is crystal-clear and it is only after you have worked for a while with these displays that you realise you can't go back. Like the iPhone and iPad Pro, the text is smooth, images are clean and elegant on this screen. I also enjoy the extra space compared to my old MacBook Air's 11" screen.

But the real headline here is the TouchBar. Part of this is its existence, and part is its use. The existence of the TouchBar just makes the laptop feel new and feel more sophisticated compared to the MacBook Air and the previous MacBook Pro. It is a whole new way to interact with the laptop and that makes it look and feel like a new generation and not just a minor upgrade. Along with the black trim and thin bezel around the display, the TouchBar makes the MacBook Pro look new and fresh, and the MacBook Air by comparison looks "old" and quite outdated.

In use, it is smart and intuitive, even if it is a work-in-progress. For example in Mail, the Touch Bar offers suggestions on where you would like to file emails. If you select an email in your inbox, it knows which mailbox you normally place emails from that person, and files the message in one tap. The change, after years of dragging and dropping emails, is astonishing. I still only use about 30% of the buttons in the TouchBar and it may be that over time I customise them more, but what I do use I love and it makes a difference to my speed. This is especially true with the Touch ID sensor at the end of the TouchBar: unlocking the Mac and using my 1Password app is so much quicker.

I am also positive on the ports and possibly even hostile to all of the noise over Apple's move. The ports make complete sense. Four USB-C ports, no longer requiring me to look at the end of the cable to ensure I am about to plug it in the right way, just shows how bad the old USB standard was. USB-C is the way forward and we jut need to get on board. Yes I have bought a few adaptors, but so far I have used a USB-C to USB adapter twice for about ten minutes, used to plug in a USB stick and back up my iPhone.

About the only thing I don't like is the USB power adapter. It seems to have had less thought put into it. It is a shame it is so big and the USB-C cable which runs from the adapter to the laptop is thick and slightly clumsy. But overall, this is a minor concern.

If you are ready to move into the future of Mac laptops, dive in. If you love your current (and old) peripherals, the move will be more painful and expensive. But in the end I recommend this laptop as it is a clear break from the past and a beautifully designed Mac.

Tags: Laptops

Apple Event- What Happened Last Week...

Monday, 19 September, 2016   Filed in: Apple Watch | iOS | iPhone | macOS | watchOS

The Apple press event last week brought in new products, a new version of iOS and watchOS, plus some interesting headphone news...

iPhone 7:
The new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were announced:

- iPhone 7 (smaller 4.7” screen)
- iPhone 7 Plus (larger 5.5” screen)
Photos: The iPhone 7 comes with a new A10 chip for faster speed and graphics but the big news is the new internal cameras. The standard 7 comes with a new camera capable of capturing a wider range of colours, plus a new LED flash, meaning that low-light photos are much clearer than in previous iPhones. The new 7 Plus (big iPhone) comes with a zoom lens. Although a small zoom amount compared to pro-cameras (2x optical or 10x digital), it is the first iPhone to come with any real zoom feature. Even the front camera, used mostly for FaceTime (and selfies!!), goes up to a 7 megapixel resolution (previously 5).

READ MORE ->

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