Apple WWDC 2016: iOS, Siri Updates Expected
Apple kicks off its Worldwide Developer Conference on June 13. With the company's iPhone sales and revenue decline, the pressure is on. At the event, we expect to see refreshes to iOS and Siri, and seven other updates.
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Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off June 13. This year, new products and services are expected to reflect a company with fresh ideas and a new attitude.
Apple is under some serious pressure to prove itself as an innovator. In April the company reported its first quarterly decline in 13 years and the first drop in iPhone sales since the smartphone launched.
Much of the revenue decline can be attributed to an overall lag in iPhone demand. New iPhone models contain minor updates and give users little reason to pay for upgrades. It doesn't help that smartphone owners are generally more likely to wait before replacing their devices.
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Innovation will be critical to Apple's performance throughout the years to come. However, new hardware isn't expected to take center stage at WWDC. Rather, Apple is anticipated to put the spotlight on software during this year's keynote addresses.
While the Mac could use an upgrade, the focal points of WWDC 2016 will likely include new versions of Apple's four operating systems: iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS, reported 9to5Mac.
Here, we discuss some of the announcements to watch for during Apple's Monday keynotes. Do you have any thoughts on what's coming up at WWDC 2016? We'd like to hear your predictions in the comments.
Apple is expected to launch a beta version of iOS 10 as part of its WWDC events next week. iOS users eager to make the leap should be able to download the mobile OS via Apple's Beta Software Progrm, reported 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman.
The upcoming version of iOS will reportedly bring small design changes to make the interface more colorful, with revamped icons. A new Photos app may bring new editing features. Some sources suggest iOS 10 may finally come with the option to hide native iOS apps you don't use.
The iOS 10 beta will likely debut sometime after the Monday keynote so developers can try new features, with a public beta to follow. Testers can anticipate more than a few bugs in the initial beta, but Apple is expected to roll out a few editions before the public launch. Most existing Apple devices should be compatible with the iOS 10 beta.
The official release date for iOS 10 is TBD. Some sources are saying fall 2016, perhaps alongside the iPhone 7 debut.
Apple is expected to unveil the first major redesign for Apple Music since its launch about one year ago. Changes reportedly include a redesigned user interface, simpler features, and a handful of new functions, according to 9to5Mac.
A new UI will reportedly swap out the bright, colorful appearance for a more bare-bones, black-and-white look. 3D Touch will also be integrated into the app for shortcut previews and to promote song sharing.
Several changes are expected to arrive in the "For You" section, which recommends songs, albums, and artists. This section will get a new interface design, but likely retain the same algorithm of the current Apple Music recommendation engine.
Apple Pay is undergoing rapid expansion, with 34 US banks and credit unions added to the payment service in the last week, reported Phone Arena. Apple is expected to share more news on the evolution of Apple Pay at the coming WWDC.
Cupertino is reportedly working on launching person-to-person payments in Apple Pay, according to KnowYourMobile. This would enable users to send money simply by tapping their phones together. Other rumored features for Apple Pay include support for ATM withdrawal, more support for loyalty points, and expansion into new geographic territories. Switzerland is one of the rumored locations to come, following a promise from Apple that its payment service will expand into European and Asian markets.
In the weeks leading up to WWDC, concept photos surfaced indicating iOS 10 could come equipped with a feature called "Dark Mode" across the entire operating system. This feature could be automatically activated based on the time of sunset.
Dark Mode is different from Night Shift, which arrived in iOS 9.3. Night Shift adjusts the display to warmer tones after sunset in order to ease the effects of blue light on users' eyes. Dark Mode would inverse display colors for an overall darker look.
Apple's pre-WWDC content suggests Dark Mode is a future iOS 10 feature. As Forbes pointed out, the company tends to integrate hints into its event marketing materials. Remember last year, when the invitation for its Apple Watch launch event read "Spring Forward"? This year, Apple's WWDC website and iOS app both have a dark color theme.
Two major Siri announcements are expected to take place on Monday. Apple's personal digital assistant is expected to become more powerful. It's also expected to debut on the Mac.
Apple supposedly has plans to open Siri to all third-party apps, as reported by The Information and noted by The Verge. This would allow any developer to integrate Siri into third-party apps, broadening the assistant's functionality.
Another report from 9to5Mac claims Apple is planning to integrate Siri into OS X 10.12, which is also expected to launch at WWDC. A Siri icon may appear on the Mac's menu bar so users can enable the assistant and interact via voice control. Users would click the icon to launch a dark Siri interface, which is still undergoing testing ahead of the final summer launch, sources told the publication.
A report from ITPro UK claims Apple may rename its Mac operating system from OS X to MacOS, a change it could make official at WWDC. Other reports say it could be named "Fuji" after the Fuji apple, which grows in California.
Additional OS X rumors include new designs for iTunes and the Photos app, and improvements to storage and iCloud file management.
Apple may announce a major update to the fourth generation of its Apple TV operating system, as MacWorld UK reported. There's a chance tvOS could enter a launch pattern similar to that of iOS, with an initial debut at WWDC, a public beta, and an official release in the fall.
While not much is known about the next release of tvOS, MacWorld lists a few features notably missing from the current edition that would be welcome: an app store available in the browser, improved organization of the app store, 3D Touch, and more control over screensavers. Perhaps we could also see deeper integration between Siri and Apple TV.
WWDC 2016 would be a good time to debut the latest watchOS, since Apple may release Apple Watch 2 in the months to come.
Future watchOS updates will likely put more distance between the Apple Watch and the iPhone. Upon its initial release, the Watch relied on iPhone for much of its functionality. Now Apple is trying to make its wearable more independent from the smartphone. In April, for example, Apple mandated all watchOS apps must be native apps created using watchOS 2 SDK or later.
Fast Company is predicting Apple will integrate cellular radio support into watchOS, a sign we would see an Apple Watch 2 with 4G or LTE connectivity. WatchOS 3 may also add support for apps that use less battery power.
The redesigned MacBook Pro may get its first refresh since Apple integrated retina displays, reported Gizmodo. A new model would have an OLED touchscreen.
Other features cycling through the MacBook rumor mill include a Touch ID login, a USB-C port, and perhaps a Thunderbolt 3. Many tech watchers are also expecting Apple to upgrade the MacBook processor.
Given that this year's WWDC is expected to focus on software, MacBook rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. However, the lineup is due for an upgrade, so it's a rumor worth watching.
The redesigned MacBook Pro may get its first refresh since Apple integrated retina displays, reported Gizmodo. A new model would have an OLED touchscreen.
Other features cycling through the MacBook rumor mill include a Touch ID login, a USB-C port, and perhaps a Thunderbolt 3. Many tech watchers are also expecting Apple to upgrade the MacBook processor.
Given that this year's WWDC is expected to focus on software, MacBook rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. However, the lineup is due for an upgrade, so it's a rumor worth watching.
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