What we learned from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference

Software updates in the spotlight at
company’s annual tech keynote

In Depth

The Cupertino-based tech giant announced new versions of its iOS
operating system for smartphones and its macOS system for
computers, along with software updates for the Apple Watch and
Apple TVs.  

Hardware products, such as new iPhones and computers, were
off the cards at the conference, or WWDC. However, Apple often
unveils this sort of thing at an event that falls in either
September or October. 

Here are the highlights from yesterday’s
conference:

iOS 12 will speed up old phones

Apple came under fire last December after tech watchdog Geekbench discovered that the firm
designed the iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and SE to slow down as the
smartphones’ batteries deteriorate.

Although Apple cut the price of battery replacements for the
affected handsets, the company has found a way to boost the
performance of its old handsets with its iOS 12 mobile software,
expected to launch later this year. 

To give an example, an old iPhone 6S running iOS 12 will be
capable of launching apps 40% faster, open the keyboard 50% faster,
and take photos from the lock screen 70% faster, compared with the
same phone running iOS 11, says Wired. 

The tweaks shouldn’t reduce battery performance
significantly either, because the software only ramps up the
mobile’s processing power when it is needed. 

Apple takes aim at Facebook

Privacy has been a hot topic for tech firms following the
row about Cambridge Analytica, the consulting
firm allowed access to the personal information of up to 87 million
Facebook users. 

At WWDC, Apple announced that it would be taking extra measures
to prevent websites from tracking its users. 

During a presentation of the new Safari web browser, Apple
software chief Craig Federighi revealed that the “like” and “share”
buttons on Facebook can currently be used to track online activity
“whether you click on them or not”, the BBC reports.

The updated web browser will give users an on-screen
prompt before accessing social media sites, such as Facebook,
allowing them to choose whether they want to share their personal
data with the website. 

According to The Guardian, the update will also limit a
process called “fingerprinting”, where data companies gather
information about a web user’s computer. 

macOS Mojave gets a new look

A new version of the macOS computer operating system is
set to arrive later this year. Apple calls the new system Mojave,
or “version 10.4” for tech fans.

The most notable changes include the addition of a “Dark mode”,
which “turns the dock, taskbar, and the chrome around your apps
into a dark grey”, says The Verge.

The App Store is also “getting a long-overdue redesign”,
the tech site says. The new version takes several design cues from
the iOS App Store, such as “larger billboards” advertising new
apps, and some “editorial content” about the software that is
available.

Apple is changing the way that users update their computers,
too. Previously, users were required to issue updates through the
App Store, but Mac Rumors says this option has now been moved
to the system preferences menu. 

Walkie-Talkie mode comes to Apple Watch

Rounding off the presentation was a glimpse at the new watchOS 5
software for the Apple Watch. Users can now control podcasts using
their smartwatch, either through touch or voice commands via
Siri.

There is also a “fun” new feature called Walkie-Talkie mode,
which allows two Apple Watch users to talk to each other, says
Engadget. 

Once permission has been given to be contacted via the feature,
the users tap the talk button on their watch’s display to record a
voice message. This is then sent to their recipient of choice, who
will be “alerted by a vibration” on their Apple Watch.