The big news from the event was Apple moving to custom ARM-based processors for its Mac computers, away from Intel chipsets.
The annual Worldwide Developers Conference by Apple, the WWDC 2020, took place on Monday night, providing a slew of new announcements and introducing exciting new frontiers for the company. The opening keynote started with Tim Cook addressing the empty auditorium about Black Lives Matter and the coronavirus before it launched into the announcement of new features like the iOS 14, the iPadOS 14, and its UI tweaks and new widgets.
More announcements followed, regarding the MacOS Big Sur, TV OS, and WatchOS updates as well. Public betas will start next month, and as usual ship in the fall.
However, the big news from the event was Apple moving to custom ARM-based processors for its Mac computers, away from Intel chipsets. According to reports, this is "intended to deliver better performance at lower power consumption than before, a (presumably) Metal-optimized graphics processor and other custom acceleration silicon."
Here are the major announcements from the Apple WWDC 2020 event:
(With inputs from BGR.in)
1. iOS 14
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First up, the company has finally introduced some significant UI tweaks to the home screen experience on iOS 14. As part of the changes, the company has finally introduced home-screen widgets to make app screens more dynamic and useful. Users can pin different sizes of widgets on any home screen depending on their needs. They can also use on-device AI to create “Smart Stacks” for widgets.
It also launched the “App Library” that behaves as quick collections or groups of similar apps on one single screen. These collections get rid of multi-page app lists to simplify things. The company uses AI to create dynamic libraries such as “Suggestions” as well as “Recently Added” apps. In addition to App Library, the company also introduced a list view for apps in the search function.
There is also a redesigned Siri UI to make it more compact and useful. The new Siri UI will no longer take up the full screen distracting users from their work. Instead, one can see a dynamic, small, card-like UI interface for results
2. iPadOS 14
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Similar to iOS 14, the iPadOS 14 also features a lot of so similar design changes. These include home screen widgets, compact cards for calls and Siri, and more. The company has also reinforced iPad focused apps with the “Designed for iPad” moniker. As part of the changes, it also redesigned its core iPadOS apps with a new design for the full screen along with a consolidated UI. These freshly designed apps include Photos, Files, Notes, Calendar, Apple Music, and more.
iPadOS 14 also comes with a system-wide redesigned search that looks somewhat similar to Spotlight. Like Spotlight, this search also works as an app launcher to quickly open apps, open contacts, files, or more. Users can also make web queries directly from the universal search without leaving the current app.
3. MacOS Big Sur
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The newest version of macOS 11 was announced at WWDC 2020 and it has been named 'Big Sur'. And the major inspiration this time has been Apple’s very own iOS as it has picked up quite a few features from there. These include the Control Center as well as a translucent look based on the priority. Apps like Mail, Photos, Notes, and iWork have been streamlined with some redesigns.
macOS 11 Messages app has a new search feature that organizes results in links, photos, and appropriate terms. This also includes replies for group chats, a new photo-selection interface, as well as Memoji stickers. Maps for macOS 11 has also seen a redesign and now features custom Guides, 360-degree location views, indoor maps, and other features.
And to make things look “more consistent with icons across Apple’s ecosystem while retaining their Mac personality” Dock buttons have been redesigned to look more like iOS.
4. WatchOS 7
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Apple previewed the watchOS 7 at WWDC 2020, which enhances and adds new features which include Watch Faces sharing, Sleep detection, and others. Users will now be able to customize and add watch faces with multiple features for single watch faces. These will include rich complications, and a single watch face can be customized to feature multiple functions. Watchfaces can be shared as well with friends and family. Face Sharing would work not just with friends, but if users come across an interesting watch face on a website that can be picked up as well. Watch faces can even be shared across social media.
Maps on watchOS 7 is also getting new features which include cycling directions for multiple cities. The Workout app adds core training, dance, functional strength training, and cool down. This app is being renamed to Fitness, and will now include a Summary tab.
But one of the most-asked-for features that has been added is sleep tracking. This mode includes a wind-down mode that will prepare you for bed. And once you wake up the next morning, the user will be shown a summary of the previous night’s sleep. The mode will include a collection of soothing alarm sounds or haptic mode to wake up without alerting others.
5. Custom ARM-based chips for Mac
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It’s time. Apple has finally decided to make its own chipsets for Macs.
The major news from the event was Apple moving to custom ARM-based processors for its Mac computers, away from Intel chipsets. According to reports, this is "intended to deliver better performance at lower power consumption than before, a (presumably) Metal-optimized graphics processor and other custom acceleration silicon."
The switch to ARM for Apple comes as a blow to Intel, which has been its chief supplier for Mac devices since 2005. Reports indicate that Apple has found Intel processors to be lagging behind the competition, ARM in this case. Their internal tests have seemingly given them the confidence to make this big move, which is likely to change the dynamics of design for Macs.
