Ondrej Holzman Today, June 2nd, Apple is going to introduce its latest products to the world. The traditional keynote at the Moscone Center will open the WWDC developer conference, and everyone is eagerly waiting to see what Tim Cook and his colleagues will do. We know for a hundred percent that new operating systems will be introduced, but will we also see some iron?
Nevertheless, expectations are high. Apple is holding such a big event for the first time in more than seven months, the last time it presented new iPads was in October of last year. A lot of time has indeed passed since then, and Apple is under a lot of pressure because while Tim Cook has long been reporting how great his company's products are coming up - and now he's joined by colleague Eddy Cue –, actions, usually speaking for everything, we do not yet see from Apple.
However, according to the indications that Cook and Cu provide us, it seems that this year's WWDC could kick off a very fertile year in which Apple is going to introduce big things. In San Francisco, we will certainly see new versions of the OS X and iOS operating systems, about which we already know some details. Here's a look at what's being talked about, what's being speculated about, and what Apple should, or at least could, unveil tonight.
OS X 10.10
The new version of OS X still remains a relatively unknown quantity, and the most common speculations in connection with it were just the name. The current version is labeled 10.9, and many have asked whether Apple will continue this series and come with OS X 10.10 with three tens in the name, at least one written in Roman numerals, or perhaps OS XI will come. The riddle surrounding the name was finally solved by Apple itself over the weekend, who started hanging banners in the Moscone Center.
One of them sports a huge X, so we can most likely expect OS X 10.10, and the scenery in the background revealed that after Mavericks' surf spot, Apple is moving to Yosemite National Park. The new version of the operating system with the code name "Syrah" will probably be called OS X Yosemite or OS X El Cap (El Capitan) in its final form, which is a 900-meter high rock wall in Yosemite National Park, which we can see on the banner.
The biggest change in the new OS X is supposed to be a complete visual transformation. While iOS was completely transformed last year, a similar rebirth of OS X is expected this year, moreover, following the example of iOS 7. The new look of OS X should carry similar elements as the latest version of the mobile operating system, although the basic concept of control and operation of the system should remain the same. At least not yet, Apple is not going to merge iOS and OS X into one, but it wants to bring them closer at least visually. But only when Apple shows us how it envisions the transfer of graphic elements from iOS to OS X.
In addition to the new design, Apple's developers also focused on some new functions. It is said that Siri for Mac or the possibility of quick access to settings similar to the Control Center in iOS 7 could be introduced. It would then make a lot of sense to launch AirDrop for Mac as well, when it would be possible to easily transfer files not only between iOS devices, but also between Mac computers .
It is also not clear whether Apple will present transformed other applications such as Pages or Numbers directly at WWDC, but at least work should be done on upgraded versions that match the new style. At the same time, it will be interesting to see how other third-party applications will cope with the possible new environment and whether we will not be in for a similar transformation as in iOS 7.
iOS 8
A year ago, the biggest revolution in history took place in iOS, this should not be threatened with the next version. iOS 8 should only be a logical successor to the previous seven-series version and follow on from iOS 7.1 in the acquisition of various functions. However, it certainly cannot be said that we should not expect anything new. The biggest changes should take place in individual applications, some of which will be brand new "products", and Apple wants to focus on significant performance improvements in iOS 8 as well. However, according to available reports, they are in a big hurry in Cupertino with the new mobile operating system, and the first beta version, which should go to the developers during WWDC, is said to be actually being tuned in the last few days. Because of this, some upcoming news will probably be postponed.
Probably the biggest news of iOS 8, which was already cracked a few months ago, will be the Healthbook application (pictured below). Apple is about to enter the field of monitoring your health and home, but more on the latter later. Healthbook is supposed to be a platform that collects data from various applications and accessories, thanks to which it will be able to monitor blood pressure, heart rate or blood sugar level in addition to traditional information such as steps taken or calories burned. Healthbook is supposed to have a similar interface to Passbook, but for now the question is which devices it will collect data from. Apple is expected to introduce its own device that can collect health and fitness data sooner or later, but it is possible that the Healthbook will also work with accessories from other brands.
Ever since Apple introduced its own maps, its map apps and backgrounds have been a big topic. In iOS 8, there should be a drastic improvement, both in terms of the materials themselves and new functions. It is likely that information about public transport will appear in Maps, although Apple will reportedly not have time to implement it in the first version of iOS 8. In recent months, the apple company has bought several companies that deal with maps in various ways, so the Maps application should experience significant improvements changes and progress for the better. However, it is not clear how much the upcoming news will affect users in the Czech Republic, where apple Maps are still often lacking.
There is also talk of other news. Apple is reportedly testing the iOS versions of TextEdit and Preview, which until now have only been available for Mac. If they really appeared in iOS 8, they should not be full-fledged editing tools, but primarily applications in which you can view iCloud documents stored on a Mac.
A new one could also become a much-discussed novelty in recent weeks multitasking on the iPad, when it would be possible to use two applications side by side. So far, however, no one has been able to crack how exactly such multitasking would work, how it would start, and how developers would have to react to it. In addition, at least in the first version of iOS 8, Apple may not even have time to show it. Another potential innovation with the use of the iPad as an external display for Mac should be similar, when the iPad could be turned into another monitor natively.
Siri could get a partnership with Shazam in iOS 8 function to recognize the music being played, we may see a revised interface of the application for making audio recordings, and the Notification Center will probably also see the changes.
Smart home platform
Information about that Apple is preparing to intelligently connect our household, appeared only in the last few days. It will probably be a part of iOS 8, as it is supposed to be an extension of the so-called MFi (Made for iPhone) program, under which Apple certifies accessories for its devices. The user could then set that he will be able to control such devices with his iPhone or iPad. Apple probably wants to simplify, for example, the control of thermostats, door locks or smart light bulbs, although according to some sources, it has no plans to build an application that should replace existing ones from various manufacturers. Perhaps for now, through its certifications, it will only ensure that various devices and appliances can actually be connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
New iron with a question mark
WWDC is primarily a developer's conference, which is why Apple mainly presents news in the field of software. While new versions of iOS and OS X are such a certainty, we can't be sure of anything when it comes to hardware news. Apple does sometimes introduce new devices at WWDC, but it's not a rule.
In recent years, new iPhones and iPads have only been introduced in the fall, and the same scenario is expected this year as well. According to many, brand new products such as the iWatch or the new Apple TV, which Apple is preparing, will not be shown to the audience for the time being, and even the new Macs were not presented very often during the developer conference. But there is speculation, for example, about a 12-inch MacBook Air with a Retina display, which the iMac could also get, and many users have been waiting for a high-resolution Thunderbolt Display for a long time. But if Apple really introduces some iron, no one is talking about it with certainty yet.
It is likely that many of the above-mentioned news and estimates will come true, but at the same time it is true that these are often mere speculations and, especially in cases where, for example, future versions of iOS 8 are being talked about, in the end, no stone may fall on fertile ground at all. If you are interested in what will be filled, what will not be filled and what Apple will surprise at WWDC, watch the live broadcast of the keynote on Monday from 19:XNUMX. Apple will broadcast it live and Jablíčkář will provide you with a text transmission of it, followed by Digit Live with Petr Mára and Honza Březina.
There is a covered banner on the second floor. We are truly in for something new. Since there were brand new products introduced at WWDC, I wish they were iWatch because of the connectivity with iOS8 H.Book
I was interested in thick 8 iOS8, would a readable font in the new iOS finally?
It amazes me how rarely the Mac Mini is mentioned. This is the product that breaks records for the longevity of the last model - and yet other HW products are always talked about in connection with the conference. Why?
Wasn't the Mac Mini last updated like the iMac? 2012? I have a feeling that Apple updates these computers 1 in 2 years, so this year we will see a Mini and according to the size of the Mac Pro, it will be interesting in terms of size in my opinion :)
True - so the iMac and Mac Mini come into play. I don't know why " MacBook Air with Retina display is speculated" when this product was updated a month ago.
MacBook Air with Retina display doesn't exist then, so it couldn't have been updated a month ago :-)
He didn't mean that Macbook Air with Retina came out :) … He meant that the Air was recently updated (the processor I think it was), so why would Apple introduce another upgrade of the Air with Retina today :)
No, the iMac was updated to Intel Haswell 251 days ago, while the Mac Mini has been running on Intel Ivy Bridge for 587 days.
Yes, but I meant when the product was seen at the keynote - for the iMac it was a "silent" upgrade on Apple's website
If he presents some hardware today, how long would it take for it to be available in the Czech Republic? :)
They can present it today, but that doesn't mean it will go on sale right away...