Everything announced at Apple’s WWDC 2019

In case you totally missed the bevy of news concerning Apple’s 2019 outing of their Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) yesterday, you’re in luck.

From the death of iTunes to Dark Mode, from the shamazing Mac Pro to the strangely in-depth Memoji personalisations, we’ve got it all covered. The tech giant announced a boatload of new things — both hardware and software — that will be arriving in the next couple of months, and what's for sure is that not all of us can afford 'em. 

Without further ado. 

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Apple TV

The next major operating system coming this fall to the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD is none other than tvOS13. Expect a nicer home screen, multi-user support, and support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers for the Apple Arcade gaming service. 

Apple Watch

The next major version of its smartwatch operating system is watchOS 6, which features new dynamic watch faces and a suite of standalone apps — meaning the likes of Voice Memos and Calculator can live entirely on your watch. Also, redesigned Health and Activity apps for better tracking and a standalone app for women to track their menstrual cycles. Nifty. 

Dark Mode on iOS 3

A bit late to the party, but Apple finally brings Dark Mode to iPhones and iPads. Look forward to reduced battery depletion and less fatigue on your eyes (debatable). 

Memoji 

Memoji gets juiced up on iOS 3 with the ability to make your own custom sticker pack in your likeness. Deeper personalisation options for your Memoji including makeup, headwear, and accessories. And yes, virtual AirPods on your avatar.

Privacy

Apple really wants everyone to know that they’re serious about privacy and data protection. So much so that the company launched a “Sign In With Apple” function to rival Facebook and Google web login accounts — Apple will have a system to create randomly generated email addresses so users won’t have to reveal their real ones when signing up for things. Plus, tightened controls on location-based tracking. 

iPadOS

To drive in the message that its iPads are just as good as desktops, Apple announced iPadOS, a sort of middle ground between iOS and the macOS. New features include widgets living on the home screen, multitasking and split-screen capabilities, and even App Exposé (!). Oh, and you can finally plug in thumb drives, SD cards and hard disks to transfer files to and fro the iPad via the improved Files app. 

MacOS Catalina

The next OS for Macs will be called macOS Catalina. iTunes is truly dead, and from the ashes, three standalone apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV. Screen Time comes to laptops and desktops, while a new app called Sidecar allows iPads to be used as wireless secondary displays. Find My iPhone and Find My Friends merge to become the awkwardly-named Find My. 

Mac Pro

Gone is the dustbin-looking thing of yore — herald in the return of the cheese grater. Apple’s new Mac Pro is well and truly a beast of a machine that really should only be used by professionals who need that much power. Can be modularly customised for maximum configuration and more processing might. There’s also Apple’s god-tier 6k monitor called the Pro Display XDR (meaning Extreme Dynamic Range), which has its own proprietary stand that’ll cost US$999 by itself. The Mac Pro starts at a minimum of US$6,000, and if you want to get everything with top specs, you’re looking at a bill that’ll set you back at least US$33,720.88.

 

ilyas@asiaone.com