Apple kicks off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference next Monday and the predictions are in as to what to expect via Bloomberg’s well-sourced Mark Gurman:
– A series of Digital Health tools in the Settings app on iOS 12 that will help users monitor how much time they spend using their devices and individual apps, helping to address concerns about smartphone addiction.
– ARKit 2, including a new mode that allows for a multiplayer mode in augmented reality games. Another mode is said to allow objects to be dropped into an area and virtually remain in place.
– Apple could reveal its reported plans to allow iOS apps to run on Macs as early as this year. The wording suggests it’s not entirely clear if Apple plans to discuss the project at WWDC or later.– Minor new features for snoozing notifications, tracking the stock market, making video calls, and sending Animojis via FaceTime.
Gurman’s report focuses on “muted” updates for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, with “bigger changes later,” as Apple is apparently looking to focus more on the quality and stability improvements this year, according to an internal meeting the company reportedly held earlier this year.
Among other changes notes, 12 planned new iOS 12 features are said to have been shelved until 2019, including a redesigned home screen with more information, an artificial intelligence upgrade to the Photos app, and new file-management tools for iPads.
The report also states that Apple is working on refreshed MacBook, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch models, and a new low-cost MacBook, although these devices won’t be ready until “later this year.”
Other changes are said to be as follows:
– Refreshes to the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro lines with next-generation Intel chips ready “later this year.”
– A new low-cost notebook to succeed the MacBook Air ready “later this year.”
– A redesigned iPad Pro line with Face ID is also expected “later.”
– A pair of new Apple Watch models that keep the overall size of the current models, but include slightly larger, edge-to-edge screens. The new models are expected to support watch bands from existing models.
The WWDC 2018 keynote will begin on Monday at 10:00 A.M. PST at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. Stay tuned to the PowerPage with updated news throughout the event.