It’s that time of the year again when Apple reveals a new line of goodies at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) – an annual event solely rivalled by its consistently anticipated iPhone launch – and in 2023, the tech that’s piqued our interest ranges from the Apple Vision Pro to iOS 17.
Let’s not waste any time and jump straight into it, shall we?
Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 Highlights
Apple Vision Pro
Price: $3,499 (US)
Availability: Early 2024
The star attraction is, without a doubt, Apple’s long-awaited foray into AR/VR.
This mixed reality headset, dubbed the Apple Vision Pro and described as a “revolutionary spatial computer,” has been in development for years; in line with the Tim Cook-helmed operation’s usual strategy of letting the competition work out the kinks before stepping in with a perfected product.
Essentially, it’s reinvented how you’ll interact with the entire Apple ecosystem, introducing a fully three-dimensional user interface organically controlled by the eyes, hands, and voice. Apps, online browsing, entertainment, even FaceTime… the whole shebang.
“It’s the first product you look through, and not at,” Cook explained in a pre-taped demo video.
“You can see, hear, and act with digital content just like it’s in your physical space. You’re no longer limited by a display.”
The CEO added: “You can relive your most important memories in an entirely new way.”
The Apple Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display comprised of 23 million pixels and a unique dial-chip design to ensure you’re experiencing everything in real-time.
“Infinite canvas” for productivity aside, it transforms any space into a personal movie theatre with a screen that feels 100 feet wide and an advanced Spatial Audio system.
iOS 17
Price: N/A
Availability: Right Now (Apple Developer Program Members), July 2023 (Public Beta), Spring 2023 (General)
iOS 17 will upgrade the communications experience across the board – Phone, FaceTime, Messages – as well as make sharing even easier than it already is with AirDrop, while providing more intelligent input that’ll improve the speed + accuracy of your typing.
Standouts include the following:
- NameDrop – a function that works with AirDrop to send contact details and files by tapping two phones together.
- Customisable Contact Posters
- Real-time transcription when you hit the voicemail button; ability to answer call midway if it turns out to be important
- Search filters within messages
- Swipe to reply
- New emoji stickers and the creation of Live Stickers by lifting subjects from photos
- Audio and video messages for FaceTime when someone isn’t available
- StandBy Mode – a function that offers an always on display when charging and turned sideways (glanceable information)
- plus a Journal app to “practice gratitude” (lol)
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MacBook Air (15-inch)
Price: $2,199 (AU)
Availability: June 2023 (Next Week)
The main appeal here is size because, let’s be honest, it does matter.
Apple claims the forthcoming MacBook Air will be the world’s “best” and thinnest 15-inch laptop, the latter of which is obviously far more quantifiable than the former.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the first 15-inch MacBook Air. With its incredible performance and striking design, the new MacBook Air is the world’s best 15-inch laptop. And it’s only possible with Apple silicon,” said John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
“From its expansive Liquid Retina display and remarkably thin and fanless design, to extraordinary battery life and an immersive six-speaker sound system, the new MacBook Air has it all.”
The 13-inch MacBook Air will also shave off $100 from its price tag with the release of the new 15-inch version.
Mac Studio & Mac Pro with M2 Ultra
Price: Starting From $3,299 (Mac Studio – AU) & $11,999 (Mac Pro – AU)
Availability: June 2023 (Next Week)
Now we arrive to the new Mac Studio and Mac Pro – the two most powerful Macs ever made thanks to the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, respectively.
The Mac Studio is up to six times faster than the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac, and up to three times faster than the previous-generation Mac Studio with M1 Ultra.
The enhanced Mac Pro, on the other hand, apparently combines the “unprecedented” performance of Apple’s most powerful chip with the versatility of PCIe expansion. It’s up to three times faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model.3
Featuring up to 192GB of unified memory, these iterations of the Mac Studio and Mac Pro also comes with far more memory than the most advanced workstation graphics cards, meaning they’re capable of taking on workloads rival systems aren’t even capable of processing.
watchOS 10
Price: N/A
Availability: Right Now (Apple Developer Program Members), July 2023 (Public Beta), Spring 2023 (General)
Given the Apple Watch is now eight years old, it was high time for a refresh. Hence why the watchOS is about to get the biggest update in ages, complete with the arrival of Smart Stack – a new function that allows you to toggle between and interact with widgets quickly.
“watchOS is the world’s most advanced wearable operating system, and it has redefined how people all over the world think of what a watch can do,” said Kevin Lynch, Apple Vice President of Technology.
“It’s a major milestone and an energising new approach for Apple Watch, introducing a fresh new design for quickly viewing information, delightful new watch faces, new features for cyclists and hikers, and important tools for health.”
The two faces in question are Palette and Snoopy.
Palette depicts time in a wide variety of colours using three distinct overlapping layers, and as the time changes, the colours on the display also shift; while Snoopy brings the beloved comic strip Peanuts comes to life – the characters actually interact and play with the watch hands, react to the weather conditions in the area, and become active when you undertake a workout.
Check out the entirety of Apple’s WWDC 2023 presentation below.
