WWDC 2021: Apple announces the news of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 and macOS Monterey

WWDC 2021

Also this year Apple organized the usual event dedicated to developers. Just like in 2020, the recent WWDC was also held completely online. During the broadcast, Apple announced the main news for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS. In the coming days, in addition to being able to try these functions in advance, they will be able to participate in other small courses and events organized by Apple to better disseminate their new technologies. We mere mortals, on the other hand, will have to wait until September, a period in which the new versions of the operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch will be made available for all. In the meantime, let's go over all the most interesting features presented by Apple during WWDC 2021.

iOS 15: the news

Video calls on FaceTime also on Android and Windows The first protagonist of Apple event was iOS 15. The new operating system dedicated to the iPhone has been designed to perfect the already excellent user experience. Given the particular situation we are experiencing with the global pandemic, Apple has focused its efforts on improving technologies that can better connect us with our loved ones. FaceTime in fact has been greatly improved, finally welcoming many functions already present on competing services.

Apple has brought Spacial Audio into video calls, making the audio of the participants three-dimensional. We will hear our interlocutors as if they were physically present around us, depending on the position occupied on the screen. Through machine learning, the audio captured by the microphone has also been optimized, using active noise cancellation. There is also the Portrait mode in FaceTime with which the subject is brought to the foreground while the background gets a blur with the classic bokeh effect.

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WWDC 2021: Apple's biggest announcements, from iOS 15 to new ways to use FaceTime

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Apple's invite for WWDC 21

At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple unveiled upgrades to many of its operating systems, most notably iOS 15. Apple also unveiled MacOS Monterey, previously known as MacOS 12, along with WatchOS 8 and iPadOS 15. (The rumored HomeOS, however, didn't make an appearance.) Developer betas of all Apple OS upgrades are available today, but the general public will have to wait awhile for public betas, with wide releases likely coming sometime this fall.

In Apple's big keynote address, with CEO Tim Cook at the helm, the iPhone-maker also unveiled some new tricks for existing products such as FaceTime, iMessage and Apple Maps, a slew of new health features, updates to Siri and AirPods, and a new iCloud Plus service with enhanced privacy controls. The conference, all-virtual for the second year in a row, began June 7 and continues through June 11. In the meantime, here's everything Apple announced on Day 1 of WWDC 21.

Prepare for the Apple betas

Apple's iOS 15, iPadOS 15, WatchOS 8 and MacOS Monterey are all being made available to developers today, following the company's trend of releasing the new software to developers immediately after its announcements.

Apple said the public beta will be made available in July, with a full release planned in the fall.

Apple: Don't forget all the hard work we do

The past year, Apple's been under a lot of pressure from regulators and lawmakers concerned about its growing financial and industry power. In a lawsuit with Fortnite maker Epic Games, was forced to defend its App Store and the up to 30% commission it charges for many in-app purchases.

We weren't expecting Apple to directly respond to everything that's been going on, but the company did take a couple minutes during its WWDC presentation Monday to remind people of all the technology it makes available to developers. That includes the sound isolation, scanning technologies and the Swift programming language.

'We created Swift and all of these other technologies and frameworks for one reason, to help you build the best possible apps, and the best place to discover those apps,' said Susan Prescott, Apple's head of developer relations.

Apple also talked up new features to its App Store, saying it'll create a new 'in-app events' feature that will be on the App Store homepage. Apple said in-app events will also be built into App Store search, a new App Store widget for iPhones and iPads, and on the product page for an app in the store.

Finally, Apple announced a new feature called Xcode Cloud, designed to help test apps across multiple devices. Apple said once a developer uploads their code to the company's servers, it'll automatically be tested across multiple devices, and then can be made easily available to beta testers. 

Revamped Safari

Apple's on-Mac web browser has always been a second-banana to Google's Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox, even if Apple claims it's faster and has better battery life.

In MacOS Monterey, Apple said it's reworking Safari by making it sleeker to look at, and adding more sync features between devices. Tabs synchronize between devices, Apple said.

And on the iPhone, Apple said it's moving the tab bar to the bottom of the page, rather than the top. Apple said this makes it easier to reach and use.

Apple's also bringing Safari's desktop app extensions to Safari on the iPhone and iPad. Apple said extensions can share code across an iPhone, iPad and desktop, making them easier to develop as well. 

Apple will make Siri and HomePod Mini a bigger part of your home with iOS 15 updates

MacOS Monterey, the next big update

It may sound like a broken record by this point, but if you look through the list of features for Apple's next major Mac software update, many of them are the ones you heard about on iOS 15. Quick share, for example, and the new FaceTime features. Apple's new Focus feature is there too, of course.

© Provided by CNET Apple  

Apple's also building a new 'Universal Control' feature into its Macs to help control its iPads. The way it'll work is pretty simple, all you have to do is move the mouse cursor to the side of the screen, and it'll start controlling the other device. Apple said cut/copy/paste works too, so you can take one item from one Mac and bring it to another.

And Apple said Universal Control works across multiple devices, so you can drag an image across an iPad, MacBook and to an iMac all on the same desk, if you want. 

More Siri more places

Until now, Apple's voice assistant has only been available on its iPhones, iPads, Macs and HomePods. Now, Apple said, it'll work with partner companies to make Siri available on their devices too. So, for example, if your smart thermostat has a microphone and speaker, the company will be able to add Siri to it.

Apple said it's keeping all Siri communication in your home, so everything will work together rather than needing to have an internet connection. 

Bigger health push

A couple years ago, Apple added a feature to the Apple Watch to call for help if you fall. Now, it said the Health app will identify what your likelihood is to fall in the future. Apple said the new datapoint, called 'steadiness,' is scientifically validated, and based on how you walk throughout the day. And if your likelihood of falling rises, Apple said it'll send an alert to warn you.

Apple's building other features to help decode health data into its Health app. The company said it's building 'trends' into its Health app, showing whether you're more (or less) active. It's also building more helpful information into the labs section of its Health app. So, for example, the next time you get a blood test, the Health app will explain what each datapoint means and whether it's within expected ranges.

Apple's also adding a way to share health data with your family. The company said people will now be able to share health data with other iPhone users, and give them access to whatever selected data you want. Apple said this will be particularly helpful for families with elderly people and kids.

Apple said all this data is encrypted and can't be read by Apple. 

© Provided by CNET AppleiCloud Plus for privacy

Apple's adding a new service offering to its lineup, this time focused on privacy. The new iCloud Plus is designed to help obscure your information from the web.

For example, now it'll create obscured email addresses for you to help keep companies from spamming you. And it's creating a 'relay' system, which hides your information as you surf the web. Apple said when you use its relay system, it'll send internet traffic through two relay systems, obscuring your information even from Apple.

Video: WWDC21: Everything we expect from Apple (CNET)

Apple said these features will be built into iCloud for the same prices it charges now. So for many people, it's already built in when it launches likely later this year. 

Privacy, privacy, privacy

Apple's increasingly pushed privacy as a way to stand out from its competitors. In iOS 15, Apple said it's going to begin obscuring IP addresses of its users -- meaning that companies won't be able to use your internet address to identify and track you.

Apple said its IP obfuscation will be on the Mail App and Safari, but it's a good bet this will expand.

Apple also said it's going to tell you every time an app uses other features of your iPhone. So, you might see for example how many times an app accessed your camera, microphone or address book.

And Apple said it'll start tracking other websites and services that apps send data to. So, you'll see which advertising companies an app connects with, for example. 

Build apps on the iPad

Apple's Swift Playgrounds app started as a way to teach people how to code. But now, Apple's making it possible to build apps too.

Apple said that with iPadOS 15, people will be able to write code, test it out and even submit apps to the App Store -- all within Swift Playgrounds.

Apple still hasn't gone the next step of adding its Xcode developer tools to the iPad, but this is definitely a move toward that. It'll be interesting to see how developers feel about it.

Apple revamps iPad multitasking with shelves

As the iPad's become more powerful, it's gotten just that much more computer-like. But it's still more iPhone than Mac.

Though Apple isn't going to push the iPad more into Mac-world, it is revamping the way multitasking works. With iPadOS 15, Apple said it's adding a 'shelves' feature, which will show open 'windows' within an app. So, in an email app, the shelves could be your open emails or draft messages.

Apple said this'll make multitasking much easier on the iPad. We'll see. 

© Provided by CNET AppleRevamping iPad widgets

Last year, with iOS 14, Apple added widgets to its iPhone's homepages. This year, Apple's doing that with the iPad too.

Apple updates multitasking for iPadOS 15

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The iPad-based widgets have a different feel too, of course. Apple said its newest widgets can be larger, making it easier to interact with them.

Apple's also adding its 'App Library' feature to the iPad. But unlike the iPhone, where you have to swipe many times to the right to get there, Apple's adding the 'App Library' to the bottom dock. 

Find My AirPods

Apple's AirTags offered a new way to track devices, but when it comes to Apple's own accessories, the company's taking it a step further. The company said AirPods will now send out a 'bluetooth beacon' so that Find My network devices can help you find AirPods if you're not near them.

And in the case of AirPods Pro, the Find My app will help you pinpoint their location just like they do with AirTags.

© Provided by CNET Apple

Apple said it's adding a 'separation alert' to the AirPods as well, sending a notification to your phone if you leave your AirPods behind. No word yet on whether they'll show puppy dog eyes if you're going out for the evening and the AirPods feel left alone at home. 

Better maps

Since launching in 2012, Apple Maps has been trying to take on Google Maps and its Waze app. This year, Apple says it's revamping what Apple Maps looks like, with more colorful visuals and more detail like showing pedestrian walkways and turn lanes in the map as you're driving.

Apple Maps gets a 3D makeover in iOS 15

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Apple's also adding augmented reality to its walking directions in its Apple Maps. This is something Google's offered for a couple years, but it's another way Apple's hoping to catch up. 

Better Wallet

Apple's Wallet app has always felt like more promise than reality. But with iOS 15, Apple's pushing its Wallet app further -- bringing corporate keycards and driver's licenses to its app. That's right, you can carry your ID in your iPhone. Whether you want to or not is another issue, but Apple says it'll be encrypted and that the US TSA is already working on ways to accept it in airports.

Add your driver's license to Wallet with iOS 15

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Apple says you'll be able to scan in your driver's license just by snapping a photo in the Wallet app. Here's hoping my real-world Wallet's days are numbered. 

Live Text

Apple's expanding its artificial intelligence technology in iOS 15, and the most dramatic way is with something it calls 'Live Text.' What it does is automatically perceive what you want to do with text on the web if you click on it, or if you hold up the camera on a white board.

Apple said Live Text works with its photos app too, attaching its automatically generated photo tags to its device-wide spotlight search feature. So you can search for 'beach' on Spotlight and it'll show you photos there too, not just in the photos app. 

Apple demos new Live Text for iOS 15

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Fixing notifications

Many of us are living in an avalanche of notifications on our phones, and Apple says it's working on ways to fix that. The biggest change is something called 'focus' -- which allows you to decide which apps can send you notifications at specific times. And you can create a home screen to match it too.

So, for example, a 'work focus' would allow email and messages apps to send you notifications, but keep Facebook quiet.

'Focus is a new way to match your device to your current mindset with focus,' Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software engineering, said. 'All you have to do is choose what you want to focus on. You can carve out time in your day for work or your personal life.' 

Share, share away

Apple's spent years experimenting with sharing photos, videos and music. In iOS 15, Apple said it's building in new features to 'share' a video or song in the Messages app. People will be able to share a song in Spotify, for example, and listen to it with friends at the same time.

Apple said it's also working with Disney Plus to let you watch movies too. 

And if you receive links in a Messages conversation, now Apple will automatically add them to a list in its News app.

Apple brings FaceTime to non-iPhone users

FaceTime is already a popular feature on Apple products, in part thanks to the fact that it's built in by default. It also offers end-to-end encryption, something that's helped it stand out from SMS. This year, Apple's planning a bunch of changes for it in iOS 15. 

The biggest change is that FaceTime will work on the web, allowing people to participate in video chats if they're using a non-Apple device. The way it works is that FaceTime users can share a link to their friends, which they then click on and then they'll be brought to a webpage that looks similar to the FaceTime app on an iPhone. 

© Provided by CNET Apple

It isn't FaceTime for Android, but it's Apple's limited way of making FaceTime more open.

Apple head of software Craig Federighi, said the company's also adding features to make it easier to participate in calls. One is called sound isolation, which cuts out background noise. Another is 'spatial audio,' which is Apple's term for surround sound. In this case, people will sound like they're coming from different parts of a room, based on where their FaceTime tiles are shown.

Finally, Apple's adding a 'portrait mode' to video -- so you don't have to look at everyone's dirty socks in the background.

Tim Cook kicks off WWDC

Apple's CEO started his keynote speech for Apple's biggest developer event by talking about what Apple's been doing to attract more people to tech. He noted that last year, nearly 25 million people watched WWDC for free online (though he didn't offer any comparable data from 2019).

He also noted how Apple's hosting entrepreneurs, and supporting black and female developers.

'We are committed to being a force for change as we seek to make the world a better place full of opportunity for all of us,' he said. 

Let's get this party started

It's 30 minutes until the start of WWDC and our live show, with hosts Iyaz Akhtar, Claire Reilly, Lexy Savvides and Patrick Holland, has begun.