At Apple's WWDC 2024, several significant software updates were announced, focusing heavily on AI enhancements and new features across multiple platforms.
iOS 18
iOS 18 will bring substantial changes, including major updates to the home screen allowing users to place icons and widgets freely and customize app icon colors. The Messages app will gain RCS support, improving communication between iPhone and Android users. Other updates include AI-driven features like custom emoji creation, photo editing through commands, transcription for audio recordings, and smart summaries in Safari (9to5Mac) (Engadget).
macOS 15
macOS 15 will also see many AI integrations, especially in built-in apps like Photos, Mail, and Notes. The system settings will be reorganized for better usability. Many features from iOS 18, such as updates to Apple Music and the Notes app, will also appear in macOS 15 (MacRumors) (AppleInsider).
iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18 will inherit many of the new features from iOS 18, including the long-awaited Calculator app. A notable addition is the eye-tracking feature for hands-free control, enhancing accessibility (AppleInsider) (Engadget).
visionOS 2
VisionOS 2 will bring improvements to the Vision Pro headset, including new apps built natively for visionOS and features like Live Captions for real-time dialogue transcription (9to5Mac).
Other Updates
Updates to watchOS 11, tvOS 18, and HomePod Software 18 were also mentioned, but specific details are limited. Additionally, Apple introduced a new Passwords app to streamline password management across devices (MacRumors) (9to5Mac).
Hardware Announcements
Unlike previous years, no new hardware was announced at WWDC 2024. The focus was entirely on software updates (AppleInsider) (Engadget).
Overall, WWDC 2024 emphasized Apple's commitment to enhancing user experience through AI and improving cross-platform integration and functionality.
Apple Calculator:
At WWDC 2024, Apple announced significant updates to the Calculator app, which will be available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The revamped Calculator app will feature:
- Notes Integration: Users can integrate their calculations directly with the Notes app, making it easier to keep track of and annotate their calculations.
- Improved Unit Conversions: The app will have enhanced unit conversion capabilities, making it more versatile for different types of calculations.
- Sidebar for Recent Activity: A new sidebar will display recent activity, allowing users to quickly reference and reuse previous calculations.
This update will also bring the Calculator app to iPadOS for the first time, addressing a long-standing user request (9to5Mac) (Engadget).