Now that it's done talking about OS X El Capitan and iOS 9, Apple has moved on to watchOS. In previewing the Apple Watch's first major software update, the company has announced several new features including support for third party complications.
Framed as a “giant moment” that feels like “opening the App Store” back in 2008, Apple CEO Tim Cook today at Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco said that apps for the Apple Watch, which launched just six weeks ago, will soon run natively on the device through the newly announced watchOS 2.
The forthcoming Apple Watch operating system update, among other things, also brings out a pair of additional watch faces with custom third-party Complications.
In wrapping up its iOS 9 preview at WWDC, Apple announced availability for the upcoming software update. As usual, it looks like a beta will be available to developers sometime after the keynote today, but there's a bit of a new twist this year.
HomeKit, Apple's platform for the connected home that was unveiled last summer, is beginning to pick up support from some well-established names in smart home appliances.
Last week, several vendors brought out some compelling HomeKit-certified home automation devices ahead of the Worldwide Developers Conference. And now, HomeKit is going to get a lot smarter with support for new types of home automation systems and improved remote management of your home.
True multitasking is now a reality on the iPad! With iOS 9, you can view two apps at the same time and interact with them using multitouch at the same time.
You can also adjust the Split View between the two apps on the fly, and access additional apps by means of a brand new App Switcher. You'll even be able to watch videos via a brand new Picture in Picture mode.
Needless to say, iOS 9 looks like a complete game changer for the iPad. It will certainly make it more of a productivity machine thanks to the new multitasking ability.
Among the many new features Apple announced today in iOS 9, is a new Low Power battery mode. Much like the feature of the same name on Apple Watch, the new iOS feature will help save precious battery life on your iPhone or iPad.
Apple has said that people using iOS 9 on their iPads will be more productive thanks to an improved QuickType virtual keyboard. The suggestion bar introduced in iOS 8 now has all-new handy shortcuts to format your content, move between apps quickly, position the cursor and even multitask like a pro with an OS X-style task switcher translucent UI with active app icons.
Apple says that many iPhone users use the Notes app regularly to do things like create lists, capture ideas, and more. As a big proponent of the Notes app, I completely concur.
Notes on iOS 9 brings some significant new improvements to the Notes app to help those users, including the ability to create lists, rich text, and hand-drawn notes, and more.
Apple on Monday announced News, a new app for iOS 9, during its WWDC keynote in San Francisco. The app is a direct challenge to Flipboard, in that it offers a curated selection of news and other content based on your interests, all wrapped in a beautiful package.
During its WWDC conference today, Apple announced that it has decided to change the name of its stock iOS app Passbook to Wallet. The move makes sense, considering that last fall it took over Apple Pay duties, and soon it will be getting store and reward cards.
It's transit time! Apple just announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco's Moscone West that its mapping and navigation service will soon provide transit lines, bus stations, ferry lines and more.
Available across Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod devices, the improved Apple Maps app will sport departure times, multi-modal routing with step-by-step directions, estimated times for walking directions and much more.
Apple Pay, Apple's wireless payment system, will be coming to the United Kingdom next mont with 250,000 UK merchant locations. Commuters using London transportation system will be able to use Apple Pay, too.
Furthermore, the system will be available to Discover's 50 million card members this fall, said Apple during the WWDC keynote today.
Trader Joe's, J.C. Penneys and many other retailers will be joining Apple Pay soon. Small businesses will be supported on Apple Pay through Square via a brand new reader compatible with Apple Pay that will be available in Apple Stores soon.