The company showed previews of WatchOS6, iOS13, MacOS Catalina and the first version of iPadOS. These operating systems will become available in the second half of the year. The keynote also had room for the updated Mac Pro and a new display, the Apple Pro Display XDR, both of which will appear in the stores after the summer.
Three replacements for iTunes
When MacOS Catalina becomes available later this year, this will mean the final end for iTunes. The now obsolete and, according to Apple, too extensive iTunes service, was once started as the standard music player for iPods. It will now be divided into three new apps with already familiar names and services: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and the Apple TV App. The iTunes Music Store will continue to exist for anyone who wants to purchase music themselves. People can from the Apple Music app access the iTunes Music Store with one click.
The synchronisation and creation of backups for iPhones, iPods or iPads will be handled directly in MacOS Catalina via the Finder. When a media device is connected, it will appear in the left bar, where also hard disks and other (network) devices are shown.
Another new feature added in MacOS Catalina is SideCar. The function makes it possible, for example, to set an iPad as a second screen or as a drawing tablet for the user’s Mac.
iOS13; faster, Dark Mode and more privacy
The most important innovations and improvements in iOS13 include a so-called Dark Mode, a new dark colour scheme that works for the entire system and in all native apps. It is made to be easy on the eye and help people stay focused on their work. There are also new options for browsing and editing photos. In addition, the login function for apps and websites has been updated. The Maps app has also been updated and apps start up faster in iOS13, with smaller downloads. The speed of Face ID has also improved, Apple said.
Apple introduced with iOS13 a new way to log in to apps and websites easily, quickly and with more privacy. People do not have to use a social media account or fill in forms, check email addresses or use passwords, but can use an Apple ID for verification. Apple protects user privacy by subsequently providing developers with a unique random ID. Even when developers ask for names and email addresses, users can keep their email address private and enter a unique random email address instead.With machine learning, Photos organizes the entire library in such a way that the best photos are most visible, important events from previous days, months or years are highlighted while unnecessary or similar photos are hidden.
Separate operating system for iPad
The new iPadOS is built on the same basis as iOS but with features and features developed specifically for use on the iPad. iPadOS introduces new ways of working with apps in multiple windows, shows more information at a glance on the newly designed home screen, and brings more ways of working with Apple Pencil. Furthermore, iOS13 updates are also included in iPadOS.
IPad users will soon be able to work with different files and documents from the same app thanks to updates for Split View. With Slide Over, multiple apps can be viewed quickly and switched between apps. For example, it is possible to write an email while another email is on the screen, or to open multiple apps such as Messages or Agenda with a single movement.
Stricter security in MacOS Catalina
Apple in addition announced that various improvements for existing apps, such for Photos, Safari, Mail and Notifications, have been implemented in MacOS Catalina. In the OS, Gatekeeper now checks all apps for known security issues. And all apps must now request permission before they can access the user's documents.
The "Approve with Apple Watch" feature allows users to approve many security questions by tapping the side button of their Apple Watch. All Macs with the T2 Security chip now support an activation slot, making them less attractive to thieves.
More health functions in WatchOS6
In the preview of WatchOS6, the emphasis was mainly on the more extensive and new health and fitness functions and apps that Apple has developed for the Watch. For example, the Noise app measures sound level, for example during concerts, and gives a warning when the user is running the risk of hearing damage.
The Cycle Tracking app is also new. This allows women to record relevant information from their menstrual cycle, such as blood loss, symptoms and results of ovulation tests. The app can then calculate when the next menstrual period can be expected and when they are most fertile.
The new Trends tab in the Activity app on the iPhone now gives users a picture of their progress in the longer term. The tab shows at a glance how the most important figures are doing, for example the number of active calories, training minutes, walking pace and so on. The Trends function will coach the user based on usage and progress.
Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR
The updated Mac Pro is equipped with Xeon workstation processors, with up to 28 cores depending on the model and version, a fast memory system with a capacity of 1.5 TB, eight PCIe expansion slots and a powerful video card. There is also the new Apple Afterburner, an acceleration card that makes it possible to simultaneously play three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video.
The Pro Display XDR is a 32-inch Retina 6K display with wide 10-bit P3 colour reproduction, a brightness of 1600 nits, a contrast ratio of 1,000,000: 1 and a wide viewing angle.
Both the Mac Pro and the Pro Display XDR will be available this fall. The Mac Pro has a suggested retail price from USD 5,999 and the Pro Display XDR is expected to carry a suggested retail price of USD 4,999. No prices were given in Euros during the keynote speech.
