Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 kicked off on June 5, and it was one of the company’s biggest events yet. The tech giant unveiled updates for iOS devices and new product launches, including a virtual reality headset that is likely to cause quite a stir in the tech world.
The most talked-about product at WWDC 23 is the Apple Vision Pro, a new mixed reality headset due out early next year. This product blends the real world with the digital world by allowing users to see, hear and interact with digital content as if they were in the same room. It comes with a 3D interface that you can control with your eyes, hands and voice, and you can use your fingers to scroll by moving them or select something by touching them together.
What’s also cool about this new product is how you can be notified when someone approaches you while you’re wearing your headphones with the EyeSight feature. When you’re viewing your content, the person who approaches you will appear in the corner of your view. The headset can send a message that the person can see if you’re fully immersed in something and still can’t talk.
Apple’s first new hardware product unveiled at the conference was the 15-inch MacBook Air. With a lightweight yet durable design and only 11 millimeters thin, it’s now officially recognized as the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop weighing just 3.3 pounds. No matter which of the four colors you choose, its estimated battery life will keep you going between plugging in and out.
For those not yet looking for a new MacBook, macOS Sonoma is coming to Mac computers in fall. This new software update for Mac will bring stunning new screen savers that play in slow motion; add widgets to your desktop; have widgets fade to background of your screen to avoid distractions while working; introduce video conferencing features such as Presenter Overlay, which lets you stay present on the screen during virtual meetings while giving a presentation, and Recenter to automatically focus on the frame at all times.
Safari is already one of the best browsers when it comes to keeping your privacy intact, but there are even more features coming this fall. If you’re using Private Browsing in Safari, it will lock your Private Browsing windows when you’re not using them and completely block known trackers from loading your pages. Also, it will remove tracking added to URLs while browsing.
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will get a new and improved adaptive audio feature that will combine transparency and noise cancellation so you can be present with what you’re listening to while distracting outside noises are reduced. If you start talking to someone while wearing your AirPods, the volume of whatever you’re listening to will automatically decrease.
Apple TV is also getting a nice update with access to AirPod settings, home cameras and a new Siri remote control finder. You can also change the screensaver of your Apple TV and personalize it with your photos. And perhaps the biggest update of all is that people can FaceTime their friends and family right from their Apple TV, allowing them to chat on a much bigger screen.
A new version of the Apple Watch is expected this fall with expanded and revolutionary features such as World Clock app that changes color depending on time of day; adding new widgets; Cyclists metrics with compatible Bluetooth settings for active cyclists; Functional Threshold Power showing level of intensity that can be sustained for an hour; Power Zones showing which zone they are in and how much time they spend in each zone for performance improvement.
Lastly, iPhones and iPads will also get some major updates with the upcoming iOS17 software update also coming out in fall. The Phone app is getting a nice new feature called Contact Banners where users can customize how they appear on other people’s phones when calling them. Live Voicemail is also being introduced, which allows users to leave a voicemail while their iPhone transcribes the voicemail to their phone in real time.
Completely, Apple’s WWDC 23 showcased some exciting new products and software updates that are sure to please Apple fans and tech enthusiasts alike. The company continues to push boundaries and innovate with its products, making it one of the leading tech companies in the world.
