Apple is unveiling radical software aimed at limiting the amount of time people spend on their devices. This stunning revelation made us, as an offshore software development company – rademade.com to follow up the news as it drops.
Apple boss Tim Cook is unveiling the new software at the firm’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, which kicked off at 1pm ET.
It is also expected to feature a first look at new versions of the software that powers the Apple Watch, Apple TV and its Mac computer line.
Apple boss Tim Cook is unveiling the new software at the firm’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose alongside new versions of the software that powers the Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac.
The event kicked off with a David Attenborough ‘Life on Earth’ sketch voiced by Stephen Fry.
‘Today is all about software,’ Cook said.
‘We now have over 20 million Apple developers around the world.’
The firm’s app store now has over 500 million visitors a week, and developers have now made over $100 billion from selling apps, he added.
Cook also said he believed coding should be taught in every school when talking about the firm’s Swift programming language.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, unveiled iOS12, a free software update available later this year.
He began by taking aim at Google’s Android, pointing out just 6% of users are on the latest version – compared to 81% for Apple’s iOS.
‘We are doubling down on performance with iOS 11,’ he said.
‘We are making your device faster and more responsive. iOS 12 will be available on all the same devices as iOS11.’
On older devices such as the iPhone 6S, performance will be upto 70% faster, he said.
Last month Google unveiled a similar tool – soon to launch for its Android operating system – which will enable users to monitor how often they use their phone.
Apple’s event is traditionally used to give an early look at the next version of all Apple’s software platforms before they are released to the public in the autumn.
The firm’s app store now has over 500 million visitors a week, and developers have now made over $100 billion from selling apps, he added.
It is likely to include a first look at iOS 12, which will be the next version of the software that runs on the iPhone and iPad.
The event, which will open with a keynote from Apple chief executive Tim Cook, is also expected to feature a first look at new versions of software that power the Apple Watch, its Mac computer line and Apple TV.
In other announcements, there have been rumours of a new version of the company’s iPhone SE being in development, which could also be unveiled at the conference, as could a rumoured cheaper version of the HomePod smart speaker.
Apple’s new wireless charging mat AirPower, which was first announced alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X last year and has been slated for release in 2018, could also make an appearance.
The event, which will open with a keynote from Apple chief executive Tim Cook, is also expected to feature a first look at new versions of software that power the Apple Watch, its Mac computer line and Apple TV.
However, Apple is also likely to hold its traditional iPhone event in September to reveal the next version of its smartphone, and the firm could choose to also discuss its other hardware products then.
The iPhone maker is also expected to release a substantial update to its augmented reality platform for developers, ARKit 2.0,Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the situation.
Other substantial hardware upgrades, such as new MacBooks and an Apple Watch, are more likely to be rolled out later this year.
Apple is expected to launch a version of its relatively new ARKit developer platform, called ARKit 2.0 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference next week
WWDC kicks off on Monday, June 4 in San Jose, California and runs through Friday, June 8.
Most of the announcements will be centered around software and Apple’s upcoming OS, which is believed to be called iOS 12.
Although Apple’s ARKit is still relatively new software, the firm is expected to release an update titled ‘ARKit 2.0’.
As part of the update, Apple will reportedly let users play augmented reality games against each other in the same simulated environment.
It will allow people to save and share the location of users and AR objects. It may also include several new Animoji.
ARKit 2.0 will serve as a teaser for what may be coming in Apple’s AR headset, which experts say could hit the shelves as early as 2020.
Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster wrote in a recent post that he expects the iPhone maker to release ‘Apple Glasses’ late in 2021.
Apple is expected to make some augmented reality announcements at WWDC this year, including a feature that lets users play AR games against each other and even new animojis
Apple is said to be working on updating the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook. It’s also working on a new MacBook Air. But those announcements will likely come later this year
Munster believes Apple’s recent moves around augmented reality signal that the firm is focusing more and more on the prospect of AR glasses.
‘We believe AR is real and Apple will be a beneficiary,’ Munster, who is a long-term Apple analyst, wrote.
Another big software announcement will involve Apple’s new Digital Health initiative, which was created in response to recent concerns around iPhone addiction.
The tools will help users keep track of how much time they’re spending on their devices, as well as on certain apps.
According to Bloomberg, the new Digital Health features will be housed in the Settings app in iOS 12.
It marks a significant departure for Apple, which is used to highlighting the many ways in which users are becoming more connected to their devices. ‘
Another big software announcement will involve Apple’s new Digital Health initiative, which was created in response to recent concerns around iPhone addiction
‘We need to have tools and data to allow us to understand how we consume digital media,’ Tony Fadell, a former senior Apple executive told Bloomberg.
‘We need to get finer-grain language and start to understand that an iPhone is just a refrigerator, it’s not the addiction’.
Earlier this year, major Apple investors Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, or CalSTRS, penned an open letter to the firm saying it must offer tools to help children fight addiction on its devices.
At the time, Apple promised to add more ‘robust’ parental controls to monitor the use of its products.
At WWDC, Apple will also have some incremental updates to Mac software, making it more integrated with iOS.
This could possibly include a secretive project, referred to internally as ‘Marzipan’, which would allow iOS apps to run on Macs.
Among other products in the pipeline, Apple is working on an iPad Pro with Face ID, as well as a pair of Apple Watches that are the same size as previous models, but feature a larger, edge-to-edge display, similar to the iPhone X. These announcements are likely to come later this year
APPLE’S IPHONE ADDICTION ROW
Two major Apple investors have urged the iPhone maker to take action to curb growing smartphone addiction among children, highlighting growing concern about the effects of gadgets and social media on youngsters.
New York-based Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, or CalSTRS, said in open letter to Apple that the company must offer more tools to help children fight addiction on its services.
By seeing nothing but gray could be a quick trick to leaving your phone on the table instead, as certain colors can evoke emotions – and it seems Silicon Valley knows how to use them
Among their proposals, they recommend the company enhances mobile device software so parents have more options to protect their children’s health.
Collectively the pair control $2 billion (£1.5 billion) worth of Apple shares.
Meanwhile, other, bigger updates like a redesigned home screen and AI features for the Photos app won’t arrive on iPhones and iPads until next year.
Apple is still reportedly working on updating the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook laptop. It’s also reportedly working on a new MacBook Air.
Those announcements aren’t expected to happen until later this year, Bloomberg said.
Among other products in the pipeline, Apple is working on a redesigned iPad Pro with Face ID, as well as a pair of new Apple Watches that are the same size as previous models, but feature a larger, edge-to-edge display, similar to the iPhone X.