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Apple WWDC Live Updates: New Watch App Store and iPhone Privacy Apple WWDC Live Updates: iPhone Privacy and a Watch App Store
(32 minutes later)
Craig Federighi, another Apple executive overseeing software, said the new version of iOS 13 would highlight speed. Unlocking the iPhone with its face scanner will now be 30-percent faster, for example. App launching is up to two times faster. The new software system will also clear out data storage, which will increase speeds, too: App downloads will be 50-percent smaller and updates will be 60 percent smaller. Apple took a major swipe at the data-collection practices of other companies, including rivals Apple and Facebook, with several new privacy features for its devices.
All of this addresses consumer complaints that iPhone software seems to slow down with every new software update — a conspiracy theory known as planned obsolescence. But the changes are also designed to increase customer satisfaction, an important metric for Apple to retain customer loyalty. For years, smartphone apps have been notorious for collecting people’s location and using that data to better target them with ads, or worse. On Monday, Apple said that on the newest version of iOS, users will be able to share their location with an app once. Each time the app wants to access the user’s location again, it will have to ask again.
The new iPhone software will also be more transparent when apps are tracking their location in the background, and it will block apps from using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections to figure out a user’s location.
Apple also unveiled a new way for people to sign into third-party apps and services using an Apple ID, a feature called “Sign in with Apple.”
Google and Facebook have leveraged their ubiquity for years by enabling people to sign into other apps and websites with their Google or Facebook accounts. But doing so sometimes meant the companies — Google, Facebook and the third parties — could collect more data about you.
On iPhones and other Apple devices, people can now sign in with a more private Apple ID. With the feature, Apple said that in some cases third-party apps will only receive the user’s name and email address. But if users choose, the feature also allows them to conceal their email addresses by generating a random address that forwards the messages.
Apple said it invested a significant amount — flying and driving all around the United States — to improve its Maps app. The maps will now include an option to view photo previews of the street, similar to Google’s Street View project.Apple said it invested a significant amount — flying and driving all around the United States — to improve its Maps app. The maps will now include an option to view photo previews of the street, similar to Google’s Street View project.
Apple’s maps effort has been a long game of catch up to Google. In 2012, when Apple updated its maps app, replacing Google’s mapping data with its own, the release sparked consumer outrage. Its mapping data was sparse, getting many people lost. Mr. Cook eventually issued an apology for the hiccup, and Scott Forstall, a former executive overseeing Apple software, resigned amid the incident. Apple’s maps effort has been a long game of catch up to Google. In 2012, when Apple updated its maps app, replacing Google’s mapping data with its own, the release sparked consumer outrage. Its mapping data was sparse, getting many people lost. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, eventually issued an apology for the hiccup, and a former executive overseeing Apple software resigned in the fallout.
Apple introduced a new version of WatchOS, the software system powering its Apple Watch. Kevin Lynch, the Apple executive who oversees the watch software, said more Apple apps were coming to the watch, like audiobooks, voice memos and a calculator. In addition, the watch includes its own App Store, and third-party apps can now run independently. They no longer require a companion app loaded on an iPhone.Apple introduced a new version of WatchOS, the software system powering its Apple Watch. Kevin Lynch, the Apple executive who oversees the watch software, said more Apple apps were coming to the watch, like audiobooks, voice memos and a calculator. In addition, the watch includes its own App Store, and third-party apps can now run independently. They no longer require a companion app loaded on an iPhone.
This move is a big step toward making the Apple Watch independent from the iPhone. What that means for consumers is that at some point in the future, they may be able to buy an Apple Watch without having to purchase an iPhone. In other words, Android smartphone users may one day be able to use an Apple Watch.This move is a big step toward making the Apple Watch independent from the iPhone. What that means for consumers is that at some point in the future, they may be able to buy an Apple Watch without having to purchase an iPhone. In other words, Android smartphone users may one day be able to use an Apple Watch.
Mr. Cook has said “Apple’s largest contribution to mankind” will be improving people’s health. Given the iPhone’s enormous impact on society, that’s quite a claim. On Monday, Apple announced several more health initiatives. Mr. Cook has said “Apple’s largest contribution to mankind” will be improving people’s health. Given the iPhone’s enormous impact on society, that’s quite a claim. On Monday, Apple announced several more health initiatives:
The company unveiled a new feature that helps women track their menstrual cycles, similar to services now offered by third-party apps. Apple’s feature, called Cycle Tracking, allows women to log key aspects of their menstrual cycles and returns predictions on the timing of their periods and fertility windows. A new feature that helps women track their menstrual cycles, similar to services now offered by third-party apps. Apple’s feature, called Cycle Tracking, allows women to log key aspects of their menstrual cycles and returns predictions on the timing of their periods and fertility windows.
Apple also announced an app for the Apple Watch called Noise, which notifies people when they are in a noisy environment that could be harmful to their hearing. An app for the Watch called Noise, which notifies people when they are in a noisy environment that could be harmful to their hearing.
On the Apple Watch, a feature will show the user’s activity over the past 90 days compared with the past year, highlighting whether they are trending up or down. The new iPhone software will have similar health-tracking features. A feature on the Watch that will show the user’s activity over the past 90 days compared with the past year, highlighting whether they are trending up or down. The new iPhone software will have similar health-tracking features.
iMessage, Apple’s messaging app, includes the ability to create your own emoji using the iPhone’s infrared camera system.
Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, started off the keynote by showing a trailer of “For All Mankind,” its new original TV series that involves traveling to the moon. Apple’s decision to lead the conference with this program reflects its ambition to pivot into a services business — offering you content, in addition to devices. Now an update to the messaging app will let people modify emojis more to include piercings, earrings and even missing teeth. This is a minor update, but iMessage has been an important product keeping Apple customers loyal to the iPhone.
At the same time, Mr. Cook said Apple TV’s new operating system would support multiple users, which will allow different family members to browse programs based on their preferences. That’s similar to how Netflix has profiles for different family members. Apple has wanted to make the iPad the laptop killer for years. While the hardware is svelte and lightweight, for many people the software hasn’t been robust enough to make the iPad their primary work computer. On Monday, Apple announced maybe its biggest effort yet to change that: a new operating system specifically for iPads, called iPadOS.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, showed off how the new software made iPads work much more like a desktop computer. The software enables users to more easily switch between apps, use two apps at once, manage downloads, browse the web, and search and share files. In a clear sign of the new target audience of corporate workers, Mr. Federighi showed how he could now work in two Microsoft Word documents at once. “That’s enterprising right there,” he said.
One of the biggest applause lines was when he announced users could now plug in external hard drives.
Apple made several announcements about its less popular products — its virtual assistant Siri and the HomePod smart speaker — and a more popular product, its AirPods earphones. It also unveiled more details about its upcoming TV offering.
Mr. Cook started off the keynote by showing a trailer of “For All Mankind,” its new original TV series that involves traveling to the moon. Apple’s decision to lead the conference with this program reflects its ambition to pivot into a services business — offering you content, in addition to devices.
AirPods will now be able to read people’s latest iPhone messages out loud by asking Siri to “announce messages.” And HomePod now supports a feature called Handoff: When a iPhone user is listening to a song and holds the phone up to the HomePod, the speaker will continue playing the same song.
Apple did not, however, announce a feature that many people want from the HomePod: the ability to use Siri to control third-party music streaming services — namely Spotify.
The takeaway: Apple is continuing to invest in products that are far less important to its profit than the iPhone. And it is positioning its music ecosystem as another hook to keep people loyal to Apple products.