Apple WWDC 2019 keynote: Apple loves privacy, introduction of iPadOS and how your next iPhone software is going to look

All the major announcements from Apple Park 
Amelia Heathman4 June 2019

Apple’s WWDC 2019 event has officially kicked off with the must-watch keynote at the San Jose Convention Centre in San Francisco, California.

Though the conference lasts all week, the Monday morning event - or evening, depending on where you are in the world - is the one to watch because it is when Apple shines a light on the new software and platforms coming to its products.

From the introduction of iPadOS to the new health tracking features coming to Apple products, here’s what you need to know about the WWDC 2019 announcements.

Around 6,000 people attend WWDC every year ( BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL / Contributor / Getty)
BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL / Contributor / Getty

iOS 13: Dark mode and Memoji stickers

Dark mode is coming to your iPhone in iOS 13 and it looks beautiful. Apple’s apps have been redesigned to fit the dark colour screen, the keyboard has been refined too, and you can now swipe as you type to send messages faster.

The Reminders app has been completely re-written to make it more intelligent and intuitive, with attachments for images, and you can even tag people for when you are planning an event. Maps has undergone a revamp too, adding a 3D-tool, as well as the option to add favourites and collections of places to visit and see. Google StreetView better watch out.

The Photos app is getting smarter, with intelligent organisation of photos and albums, new editing options, including the ability to rotate videos within the native app, which drew a lot of cheers from the crowd.

Don’t forget that all new software updates need speed improvements: in iOS 13 app launches are going to be twice as fast as iOS 12 and FaceID unlock is going to be 30 per cent faster.

How iMessage will look in the new Dark Mode feature in iOS 13 (Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty )
Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty

There’s more makeup and accessory options coming to Memoji, including the option to add Airpods to your 3D look, which you can also turn into stickers.

But, you'll have to wait for it. iOS 13 will be available to download in September, when the next range of iPhones is released.

WatchOS 6: a Watch App Store and long-term activity tracking

The Apple Watch is getting its own App Store for the first time. For developers, there are going to be new tools so they can run apps independently on the Apple Watch without an iPhone. There’s also a new streaming audio API so you can stream podcasts just from the watch.

It’s not just about third-party apps, more Apple apps are coming to Watch, including audiobooks, calculator and voice notes – handy for recording voice memos.

Voice notes and calculator are coming to the Apple Watch is WatchOS 6 (Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty )
Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty

New health and fitness capabilities include activity trends which will track your progress over the last 90 days and compare it with the previous 365, offering coaching to get you back on track if you’ve been slacking recently.

Period tracking is also coming to both to the Watch and the iPhone Apple Health app to compete with the likes of Natural Cycles and Clue.

The new WatchOS update will be available to download in September.

iPadOS: new iPad software incoming

For the first time, Apple is breaking up the operating software for iPhones and iPads. Whilst previously it’s always been about iOS for both, the iPad range is now getting its very own OS in the form of iPadOS.

Now, developers will be designing native apps for the Apple tablet, instead of working across both devices on iOS. This should help to improve the functionality of the iPad, including things like multi-tasking, to make the iPad really become that laptop killer.

Quickly view and switch between multiple apps with updates to Slide Over
Apple

There’s split view in apps – so you can have two note files next to each other for instance. Slide Over allows you to quickly view and switch between different apps easily.]

Finally, iCloud is getting folder sharing and built-in file sharing from different servers. But, the big news is, you can now plug in external disc drives and SD cards to the iPad, and this will show up in the Files app.

macOS Catalina: the official end of iTunes and accessibility features

iTunes is officially dead – the programme is being broken out into different apps in the new macOS platform, Catalina. Now, on the Mac, there are different apps for Music, Podcasts, and TV separately.

Catalina also brings iPad app support to the new system, so you set up your tablet as a second screen to the Mac.

There’s new accessibility features too, including voice control for people with limited mobility. The demo was quite impressive; you can basically do anything on the mac now using your voice. And, your voice is stored on the device so you don't need to worry about anyone else accessing the device.

And if you ever lose your Mac? The new Find My Device app can find a Macbook, even when it's offline. The device can now send out a secure Bluetooth beacon which will relay the Macbook's location to the network, which is completely encrypted and protected. A new Activation Lock means you can brick the use of the Mac in the eventuality its get lost so it is completely useless to whoever else picks it up.

Apple loves privacy

Apple is coming for apps that ask for your location. New protections include a feature to share your location only once with an app and then ensure the app asks you again before it uses it. iOS 13 will also protect your phone from apps using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to gauge your location without you realising.

The new privacy features are also calling for the end of social account logins for apps, as now you can sign in with Apple instead, creating a one-stop login that will put a stop to data tracking.

If you do need to add email information for an app, you can choose to share your email address or hide it. If you select 'hide' then Apple will create a random email address, which will forward to your actual iCloud-linked account. Each app will get a unique random email so you can simply retire an email address when you’re done with that particular app.

These privacy features will be available across all Apple platforms, including the web.

Arguably, this is one of the biggest features Apple has launched at WWDC. It'll be interesting to see how developers deal with it thought and how this will change how you use apps across Apple's platforms.

What else is new at WWDC 2019?

Apple WWDC is aimed at developers which is why Apple chose to announce the new Mac Pro, which will cost a minimum of $3,000 (not including a screen), as well as additions to ARKit to improve the augmented reality apps that developers will be creating.

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