Apple reveals iOS 16, with new iPhone screen, changes to iMessage, health, Carplay and more

iPhone owner announces a series of news. Here’s what.

Apple kicked off its annual programming conference by unveiling the next generation of its mobile software, iOS 16, which brings new features that will allow users to customize their iPhone’s locked screens, change the way they text friends via iMessage and delve deeper into how your smartphones interact with cars.

These and other updates, which were unveiled at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, show how Apple continues to forge ahead to ensure that its devices – in particular the iPhone – remain central to our daily lives and to the many products with which we interact. But while these updates are likely to be attractive to many Apple device users, the event was also marked by what was not announced: a new product.

In recent days, some industry watchers have been hoping that Apple could offer a first look at a platform thought to be called RealityOS. The system, according to rumors, could power a mixed reality headset – a device said to be capable of both VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) – which Apple has been rumored to be in. working for years.

Instead, the focus was on a series of functional, if not sexy, product updates: more multitasking functionality in Mac software, introduction of Apple’s Weather app on the iPad, and the unveiling of the company’s next-generation M2 chip.

“While some may be disappointed by the lack of radical new hardware in areas such as AR, Apple’s investment will play a key role in future product categories, such as a head-worn device, where power and performance must be finely tuned. balanced,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at market research firm CCS Insight.

Here’s a closer look at some of the updates coming to Apple’s most important products. Updates are expected to be available to users in the autumn.

Relaunching iMessage, Lock Screen and Notifications

Apple is breathing new life into some iOS tools that haven’t been updated in years.

Perhaps the fastest changes are coming to iMessage, including the ability to edit or un-send messages and to mark messages as unread. The company said that these options are among the most requested features by users.

iPhone users will be able to add widgets to the lock screen to get information at a glance, such as upcoming calendar events and weather, and track “live” activities, including the progress of an Uber ride or game updates. sporty. And the software will offer more personalized wallpapers for your lock screen and the ability to shuffle options throughout the day.

Expanded CarPlay options

Apple’s updates extended to its wider ecosystem of products and services, from payments and passwords to cars.

The latest version of CarPlay will be packed with custom widgets controlled by the iPhone and capable of scrolling through every screen in a car, from the center screen to the dashboard behind the steering wheel. As with other Apple updates announced on Monday, there will also be more widget support and more customization options, including multiple designs.

New payment and health features

Apple said iOS users in the US will be able to spread payments over eight weeks on Apple Pay, which is similar to a “buy now, pay later” service using a growing payment method for consumers.

The company also continues to focus on health characteristics. Apple Watch will soon support new personalized training features, including heart rate zones and data on a runner’s stride. In addition, enhanced sleep tracking will monitor when a user enters and exits light sleep and deep sleep. A new drug application will allow users to track, manage and understand the drugs people take and notify users when to take them.

Apple also unveiled a tool called Passkeys, which is intended to replace passwords using Touch ID or Face ID to authenticate across apps and devices.

New MacBooks and the M2 chip

While the event focused on software, Apple made some hardware announcements.

Apple introduced a thinner, lighter and faster MacBook Air built around its new internal M2 processor. The 13.6-inch MacBook Air is 25% brighter than before, supports MagSafe charging and features an improved front camera with twice the resolution of the previous model. With an 8-core CPU, Apple said the M2 chip promises 18% higher performance than its M1 chip.

The processor also comes with a 10-core GPU — double that of the M1 — along with 25% better graphics performance. The M2 also comes with a new 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple also lifted the veil on its latest Mac software, called OS Ventura, which offers a handful of multitasking features, such as the ability to share Safari tabs with friends and family, pass FaceTime calls to other devices, and use an iPhone as a webcam, using a new product called Continuity Camera.

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