Apple's WWDC Keynote: Upcoming Changes To Your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and More...
- Ethan Pugh
- Jun 10
- 7 min read
Apple kicked off their week-long Worldwide Developers Conference (known as WWDC) with announcements on the future of all their products including iPhone and iPad.
WWDC is Apple's chance to show off their new operating systems and software to the general public before their release in September. More importantly however, it provides developers insider knowledge and early access to new features that they can implement into their apps. Previous WWDCs have seen the announcement of Apple Intelligence (Apple's new product-wide AI features) Apple Vision Pro and even the launch of iCloud.
While we are only covering the main one and half hour keynote which kicks off WWDC, the event spans a week which will be full of smaller announcements meant more for developers than the general public. However, we will update this article if any noteworthy news is announced.
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A Brief History of WWDC
WWDCs first started in 1983 and was a space for Apple to reach developers and talk about the more technical side of their products. In 1984 Steve Jobs announced the Macintosh at that year's keynote starting a long standing tradition of announcing new products at the event. Over the past four decades the keynote has expanded with more developers attending in person as well as more people viewing online. Apple has also invited more media to the event utilising it as a marketing opportunity to increase attention for their new product releases in September and October.
Operating systems are a key focus of the event. An operating system (or OS) is a piece of core software installed on a device which makes it run. Apple releases updates to all of their operating systems yearly, usually in the autumn which makes WWDC the perfect time to showcase new features and allow developers to update their apps.
Improvements to Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence first launched last year to lukewarm success with critics questioning half baked implementations of AI features and debating how useful (or useless) they are. However, this year Apple seems to have improved their offering with important improvements in Apple Intelligence across all their products and the launch of more useful features that the every day person would find beneficial.
They first announced that Apple Intelligence will be supported by more languages such as Dutch, Traditional Chinese and Turkish as well allowing developers of apps on iPhone, iPad and Mac access to Apple Intelligence to integrate into their apps. An example of this they provided was Kahoot being able to create a test based on photo of your handwritten notes. Along with this Apple also emphasised their focus on privacy by stating that many features of Apple Intelligence happen on device meaning that no data leaves your phone and if it does it is encrypted and safe.
The phone app has had updates utilising AI and machine processing with new call screening where calls from unknown numbers are first answered by an AI voice who will only notify you of the call if it is a genuine caller which Apple suggests will cut out scam calls interrupting you. Hold assist was also announced meaning you 'hold your space in line' whist using your phone in other ways or leaving it on the side.
Translate has also been improved and implemented more broadly across all communication apps with live translations available on FaceTime and on calls as well as automatic translation in iMessage. This translation also extends to Apple Music which now has an option to translate the lyrics of songs into your language and also tells you how to pronounce lyrics.
'Liquid Glass': A new Design Language
Apple have announced their new 'Liquid Glass' design language which they have launched across all of their products. The new design features softer, glossy and glass like materials utilising lighting and 3D effects much more than previous designs. All elements have been changed to feature softer and more rounded corners to match the shape of devices as well as adjustments to animations to make the UI feel more responsive and natural. Apple have also announced that all OS versions will be named after the year, marking a change to their previous naming convention. This means the new round of updates will be IOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, etc.
IOS: Changes to iPhone
Starting off, wallpapers are now more dynamic with time now automactially shifting based on the photo you use as a background. Notifications now also cause your wallpaper to move to ensure the key parts of the photo stay in frame. The photos and camera app have also been re designed to make it easier and faster to take photos and search for them. A new 'Spatial Scenes' feature has also been included in the photos app where you can turn any 2D photo into a spatial photo which changes depending your viewing angle and feels more 3D.
Messages have also had improvments with backgrounds now available in iMessage as well as polls and typing indicators in groupchats. Genmoji, Apple's emoji creation tool, has also been improved with the ability to mix two or more emojis together.
The wallet app has new intergrations to make tracking orders easier with it automatically using your emails to bring information about deliveries into one place. Apple have also updated their visual intelligence feature to work on your devices screen meaning you can take a screenshot then use AI to search within that screenshot. This is a similar feature to Google Lens which allows you to search using images.
iPad OS: changes to iPad
Along with the new design language and changes affecting iOS, iPad OS also includes a redesigned file app making it easier to find and sort files. With this new multitasking features have also been implemented making it possible to have multiple windows from different apps on your screen at once. For creatives, new audio settings make it possible to use native voice isolation and background sound reduction technology to record audio with iPad as well as the ability to export large items in the background and still use your iPad in the meantime.
Mac OS Tahoe: Changes to Mac
The new Mac OS is named after Tahoe, an area in Northern California known for it's beauty. The new version of the OS introduces new controls in control centre, new widgets for the home screen and better shortcuts which can be customised and enabled to run in the background.
One of the bigger features is the improved Spotlight which now is able to search for content on your Mac faster and more easily with context aware search results as well as the ability to set up quick keys to quickly perform actions. Spotlight is also enabled with new features which allows it to be used within apps meaning it is easier to find certain features of an app or you can make simple changes faster by typing it into the spotlight window.
Watch OS: Changes to Apple Watch
Apple Watch now has a built in workout buddy feature where machine learning is used to aggregate all of your workout vitals and provide you with motivational messages during your workout. It also is able to provide you with an overview of your workout after you have finished.
Along with this, Apple Watches now will feature a native notes app, the ability to flick your wrist to dismiss a notification and loudness aware notifications where the volume of notifications will increase or decrease depending on your enviroment. Smart Stacks also have new features meaning it shows you more relevant information depending on your location, the time of day, weather and more.
Vision OS: changes to Vision Pro
The Apple Vision Pro has lived in a weird state since it's launch as it never appealed fully to professionals due to its unqiue and hard to share headset design nor to the general consumer with its high price point. However, this update to Vision OS seems to try and increase the usefulness of Vision Pro and make it easier for businesses to use it.
Firstly, widgets are now available in Vision OS and can be anchored to elements within your physical space, such as walls, tables and windows, and will stay there until you move them. This means you can create a fully virtual office with a clock on your wall and a calendar on your desk and return to it every time you use Vision Pro. Alongside this if you and your friend both have your own Vision Pro you can now play games or watch movies together in the same virtual environment.
Vision Pro also supports new accessories with the Logitech Muse and PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers which allow you to draw and interact in new ways.
Other Updates
Apple TV is getting some updates as well with new poster art designs, the ability to add user profiles and also a new karaoke feature when using Apple Music which allows you to use your iPhone as a mic and have your voice amplified through the TV.
Apple Car play also received updates with the new design language introduced as well as the ability to add widgets for easy access to information while you are driving.
Gaming on iPhone, iPad and Mac has also had a boost with a dedicated games app where you can see the latest updates for all downloaded games and also compete in challenges with friends.
Conclusion
This years WWDC has seen the introduction of a brand new design lanaguge for Apple software across all their devices. AI has also been a focus with improvements to Apple Intelligence as well as the introduction of new quality of life features. Apple has also seemed to allow users to customise their devices more with the introduction of backgrounds in messages, new wallpaper settings, personalised workout buddies and more context aware functions in maps, mail, wallet and safari. Throughout the keynote Apple re-emphasised their commitment to protect their users privacy which is a refreshing change from recent announcements from Google and Meta which seem to suggest the opposite.
These new Apple updates are sure to please many with new and interesting features which may be useful for some and provide entertainment for others.
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