Apple just wrapped up its high-octane keynote at WWDC 2024 and boy did it not disappoint. From Apple executives jumping into a conference, Tim Cook on the roof of Apple Park, Craig Fedrigghi doing parkour, and a whole lot of artificial intelligence, oops, I meant Apple Intelligence spread throughout the entire operating system, whether it’s iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, or iPadOS 18. ChatGPT is available directly on your iPhone.
Wait, did I already say that iOS 18 is even more customizable than before? Unfortunately, iPadOS 18 didn’t require that much of an upgrade, but 14 years later iPad will have its own Calculator app. macOS Sequoia has also gained recognition for its recent iPhone mirroring feature, which appears to work similarly to Sidecar. Will we talk about everything here? Let’s wrap things up nicely, one at a time.
Artificial Intelligence for Apple Intelligence
Yes, it’s not artificial intelligence, but Apple Intelligence “puts powerful generative models at the heart of your iPhone, iPad and Mac.” So, if I were to explain in plain words, it brings generative AI features to Apple devices, those that already exist on the web, Android phones, and even Windows PCs.
There’s a smarter, more personal Siri that can sometimes talk to ChatGPT, creating writing tools to support you rewrite, proofread and set the tone of your text. And yes, there is a tool like Magic Eraser Immaculate Up that magically removes people in the background. You can also create cartoons or other images using text prompts.
The system will be available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac models with M1 chips and newer.
A smarter, more personal and relevant Siri
13 years later, Siri receives redemption. First, Siri is no longer a blob in the middle of the screen, but a pulsating lithe at the edges, and is powered by vast language models. What does this mean in human language? Well, Siri can now better understand user requests, track follow-up questions, and provide more exact answers. If you’re not the chatty type, you can now text Siri. It can also take action for you, just ask.
OpenAI lends ChatGPT to Apple Sam Altman thinks you’ll “really like it.” It talks about ChatGPT integration with Siri. So if Siri can’t match your wits, it will ask if you want to chat via ChatGPT and give you the answer right on the screen. You won’t need an account, and if you’ve already paid for ChatGPT Plus, you can operate all of Siri’s paid features.
It’s no wonder that OpenAI will not be Apple’s only partner. Apple could soon bring in other partners, which could also include Google, which will bring Gemini into the mix.
Writing tools that let you rewrite, revise, and set your tone
Apple Intelligence brings useful recent writing tools to iPhone, iPad and Mac. These tools therefore allow you to quickly summarize long lectures or group conversations in a few sentences. They also support you write better by proofreading and suggesting different ways of speaking until it sounds right. You can operate writing tools in Mail, Messages, Notes, and even third-party apps.
Not just rewriting or proofreading, but Apple Intelligence can also transcribe and summarize conversations in the Notes and Phone apps.
A picturesque playground for everyone
As the name suggests, Image Playground is a place where you can play with artificial intelligence and images, so you can create images or cartoons of your contacts and place them in Messages or mail.
iPhone gets its own Magic Eraser
Exploit the Cleanup tool to magically remove obstructive objects from the background of your photos. Sounds familiar, right? Artificial intelligence also actively uses the Photos app, allowing users to search for photos using natural language.
Genmoji remixes emojis with AI
Have you ever been saddened by not finding the right emoji, even among so many of them. Well, not anymore. With Genmoji you can create your own custom emoji using artificial intelligence. Everything you need to tell Apple Intelligence what you need with a text prompt. The intelligence will then create a Genmoji for you, which can be sent in Messages as a reaction, a sticker, or just a regular text message that may not even be perceptible on Android phones.
iOS 18 makes iPhone more customizable than ever
iOS 18 is highly customizable, giving users unprecedented control over home screen layout, app icon themes, and a redesigned Control Center. The update also brings improvements to the Messages app, including the ability to schedule text messages, operate luxurious text formatting, and respond to any emoji. Moreover, the update finally brings support for RCS, potentially ending the “blue bubble and green bubble” divide.
The Photos app has received its “biggest overhaul ever,” with intelligent photo grouping, uncomplicated hiding of screenshots, and a more intuitive interface. The Mail app gains automatic categorization, and Apple Maps introduces detailed topographic maps with offline support. Other noteworthy improvements include the Apple Cash option in Wallet, an improved Journal app with support for stats and search, Calendar reminder integration, and the introduction of Game Mode for optimal gaming performance.
iPad finally gets its own Calculator app
It took them 24 years, but the iPad finally has a Calculator app that not only does basic and scientific math, but also lets you write down math problems in pencil and let the calculator solve them. The Notes app also gains Calculator’s math capabilities and a recent feature called Sharp Script. It uses artificial intelligence to make your handwriting look neater and can even change your written text to look like handwriting.
iPadOS 18 also has many other recent features. You can now further customize your home screen, operate third-party apps in Control Center, and dim app icons. iMessage is getting some updates like the ability to schedule messages and respond with any emoji. The update also uses artificial intelligence in an engaging way. There’s even a recent accessibility feature that lets you control your iPad by moving your eyes.
macOS Sequoia can mirror iPhone content directly to your Mac
macOS 15 Sequoia lets you operate your iPhone directly on your Mac screen. You can control iPhone apps with your Mac’s trackpad and keyboard, and your iPhone’s screen stays turned off for privacy. The update also brings notifications from iPhone to Mac, so you can easily switch between devices.
Safari is also getting some improvements, such as better tracking prevention and the ability to summarize web page content using machine learning. Finally, Apple continues to focus on gaming by supporting better graphics and special effects on Macs equipped with Apple silicon chips.
Up-to-date Passwords app
The recent Passwords app lets you manage and sync your passwords across devices, including Apple Vision Pro, Mac, iPhone and iPad. It also integrates with Google Chrome and Android, allows you to view and share Wi-Fi passwords, and offers deep integration with Apple logins and family sharing setups.
watchOS 11 includes the recent Vitals app, which lets you closely monitor your health
watchOS 11 adds several recent health and fitness features to Apple Watch, including the Vitals app, which lets you quickly view crucial health information like heart rate and respiration while you sleep. It can also let you know if something seems unusual. Another recent feature, called training load, helps you understand how your workouts affect your body over time, so you can make intelligent decisions about your exercise program.
watchOS 11 also makes Apple Watch more personal and convenient. You can now customize your activity rings and pause them if you need a break without losing your progress. The watch face will intelligently show you the information you need at the right time and even support you choose the best photos to operate as a background. Plus the Translate app and recent ways to operate your watch with plain finger taps.
tvOS 18 improves the quality of cinematic experiences
In tvOS 18, the Apple TV app gets a recent feature called InSight, which displays information about actors, characters, and music while watching shows and movies. It also makes dialogue clearer and automatically displays subtitles when needed. Additionally, there are recent screensavers and support for wider screens when using a projector.
A look at the upcoming seasons of Severance, Silio and Shrinking
We had the opportunity to see snippets of recent seasons of popular series such as Silo, Severance and Pachinko, Shrinking, as well as recent series such as Sluggish Horses and Presumed Innocent starring Jake Gyllenhaal. There are also some electrifying movies available on Apple TV+, including Fly Me to the Moon with Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, and The Instigators with Matt Damon.
Nod your head to talk to your AirPods
You can now nod your head to reply to Siri without speaking, which helps in loud places. AirPods Pro will also be better at providing clear voice while blocking out ambient noise. Plus, some games will sound more realistic when AirPods track your head movements, starting with the iPhone game “Need for Speed Mobile.”
The home app will support you track your electricity bills
The Home app will now support you track your electricity consumption if your energy service provider provides it. For added convenience, robot vacuum cleaners can now be controlled from the Home app using Siri voice commands. You can now easily give guests access to control things like locks and security systems. There’s a recent hands-free unlock feature that unlocks the door when you’re close to it.
Spatial photos and the ultra-wide Mac display will be available on Vision Pro with VisionOS 2
Vision Pro has received its first major update, VisionOS 2, which brings several improvements such as the ability to rearrange apps on the home screen, recent gestures for navigation, and an ultra-wide virtual display feature for improved productivity. As with 3D videos, 3D photos are now available, and any photo can be turned into a 3D 3D image that can be shared with friends using SharePlay. The update also introduces recent content such as immersive videos and support for online video players.
Vision Pro will be available in 8 recent countries
After the US, Apple is rolling out Vision Pro in 8 more countries, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK.
Wait, did I already say that iOS 18 is even more customizable than before? Unfortunately, iPadOS 18 didn’t require that much of an upgrade, but 14 years later iPad will have its own Calculator app. macOS Sequoia has also gained recognition for its recent iPhone mirroring feature, which appears to work similarly to Sidecar. Will we talk about everything here? Let’s wrap things up nicely, one at a time.
Artificial Intelligence for Apple Intelligence
Yes, it’s not artificial intelligence, but Apple Intelligence “puts powerful generative models at the heart of your iPhone, iPad and Mac.” So, if I were to explain in plain words, it brings generative AI features to Apple devices, those that already exist on the web, Android phones, and even Windows PCs.
There’s a smarter, more personal Siri that can sometimes talk to ChatGPT, creating writing tools to support you rewrite, proofread and set the tone of your text. And yes, there is a tool like Magic Eraser Immaculate Up that magically removes people in the background. You can also create cartoons or other images using text prompts.
The system will be available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac models with M1 chips and newer.
A smarter, more personal and relevant Siri
13 years later, Siri receives redemption. First, Siri is no longer a blob in the middle of the screen, but a pulsating lithe at the edges, and is powered by vast language models. What does this mean in human language? Well, Siri can now better understand user requests, track follow-up questions, and provide more exact answers. If you’re not the chatty type, you can now text Siri. It can also take action for you, just ask.
OpenAI lends ChatGPT to Apple Sam Altman thinks you’ll “really like it.” It talks about ChatGPT integration with Siri. So if Siri can’t match your wits, it will ask if you want to chat via ChatGPT and give you the answer right on the screen. You won’t need an account, and if you’ve already paid for ChatGPT Plus, you can operate all of Siri’s paid features.
It’s no wonder that OpenAI will not be Apple’s only partner. Apple could soon bring in other partners, which could also include Google, which will bring Gemini into the mix.
Writing tools that let you rewrite, revise, and set your tone
Apple Intelligence brings useful recent writing tools to iPhone, iPad and Mac. These tools therefore allow you to quickly summarize long lectures or group conversations in a few sentences. They also support you write better by proofreading and suggesting different ways of speaking until it sounds right. You can operate writing tools in Mail, Messages, Notes, and even third-party apps.
Not just rewriting or proofreading, but Apple Intelligence can also transcribe and summarize conversations in the Notes and Phone apps.
A picturesque playground for everyone
As the name suggests, Image Playground is a place where you can play with artificial intelligence and images, so you can create images or cartoons of your contacts and place them in Messages or mail.
iPhone gets its own Magic Eraser
Exploit the Cleanup tool to magically remove obstructive objects from the background of your photos. Sounds familiar, right? Artificial intelligence also actively uses the Photos app, allowing users to search for photos using natural language.
Genmoji remixes emojis with AI
Have you ever been saddened by not finding the right emoji, even among so many of them. Well, not anymore. With Genmoji you can create your own custom emoji using artificial intelligence. Everything you need to tell Apple Intelligence what you need with a text prompt. The intelligence will then create a Genmoji for you, which can be sent in Messages as a reaction, a sticker, or just a regular text message that may not even be perceptible on Android phones.
iOS 18 makes iPhone more customizable than ever
iOS 18 is highly customizable, giving users unprecedented control over home screen layout, app icon themes, and a redesigned Control Center. The update also brings improvements to the Messages app, including the ability to schedule text messages, operate luxurious text formatting, and respond to any emoji. Moreover, the update finally brings support for RCS, potentially ending the “blue bubble and green bubble” divide.
The Photos app has received its “biggest overhaul ever,” with intelligent photo grouping, uncomplicated hiding of screenshots, and a more intuitive interface. The Mail app gains automatic categorization, and Apple Maps introduces detailed topographic maps with offline support. Other noteworthy improvements include the Apple Cash option in Wallet, an improved Journal app with support for stats and search, Calendar reminder integration, and the introduction of Game Mode for optimal gaming performance.
iPad finally gets its own Calculator app
It took them 24 years, but the iPad finally has a Calculator app that not only does basic and scientific math, but also lets you write down math problems in pencil and let the calculator solve them. The Notes app also gains Calculator’s math capabilities and a recent feature called Sharp Script. It uses artificial intelligence to make your handwriting look neater and can even change your written text to look like handwriting.
iPadOS 18 also has many other recent features. You can now further customize your home screen, operate third-party apps in Control Center, and dim app icons. iMessage is getting some updates like the ability to schedule messages and respond with any emoji. The update also uses artificial intelligence in an engaging way. There’s even a recent accessibility feature that lets you control your iPad by moving your eyes.
macOS Sequoia can mirror iPhone content directly to your Mac
macOS 15 Sequoia lets you operate your iPhone directly on your Mac screen. You can control iPhone apps with your Mac’s trackpad and keyboard, and your iPhone’s screen stays turned off for privacy. The update also brings notifications from iPhone to Mac, so you can easily switch between devices.
Safari is also getting some improvements, such as better tracking prevention and the ability to summarize web page content using machine learning. Finally, Apple continues to focus on gaming by supporting better graphics and special effects on Macs equipped with Apple silicon chips.
Up-to-date Passwords app
The recent Passwords app lets you manage and sync your passwords across devices, including Apple Vision Pro, Mac, iPhone and iPad. It also integrates with Google Chrome and Android, allows you to view and share Wi-Fi passwords, and offers deep integration with Apple logins and family sharing setups.
watchOS 11 includes the recent Vitals app, which lets you closely monitor your health
watchOS 11 adds several recent health and fitness features to Apple Watch, including the Vitals app, which lets you quickly view crucial health information like heart rate and respiration while you sleep. It can also let you know if something seems unusual. Another recent feature, called training load, helps you understand how your workouts affect your body over time, so you can make intelligent decisions about your exercise program.
watchOS 11 also makes Apple Watch more personal and convenient. You can now customize your activity rings and pause them if you need a break without losing your progress. The watch face will intelligently show you the information you need at the right time and even support you choose the best photos to operate as a background. Plus the Translate app and recent ways to operate your watch with plain finger taps.
tvOS 18 improves the quality of cinematic experiences
In tvOS 18, the Apple TV app gets a recent feature called InSight, which displays information about actors, characters, and music while watching shows and movies. It also makes dialogue clearer and automatically displays subtitles when needed. Additionally, there are recent screensavers and support for wider screens when using a projector.
A look at the upcoming seasons of Severance, Silio and Shrinking
We had the opportunity to see snippets of recent seasons of popular series such as Silo, Severance and Pachinko, Shrinking, as well as recent series such as Sluggish Horses and Presumed Innocent starring Jake Gyllenhaal. There are also some electrifying movies available on Apple TV+, including Fly Me to the Moon with Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, and The Instigators with Matt Damon.
Nod your head to talk to your AirPods
You can now nod your head to reply to Siri without speaking, which helps in loud places. AirPods Pro will also be better at providing clear voice while blocking out ambient noise. Plus, some games will sound more realistic when AirPods track your head movements, starting with the iPhone game “Need for Speed Mobile.”
The home app will support you track your electricity bills
The Home app will now support you track your electricity consumption if your energy service provider provides it. For added convenience, robot vacuum cleaners can now be controlled from the Home app using Siri voice commands. You can now easily give guests access to control things like locks and security systems. There’s a recent hands-free unlock feature that unlocks the door when you’re close to it.
Spatial photos and the ultra-wide Mac display will be available on Vision Pro with VisionOS 2
Vision Pro has received its first major update, VisionOS 2, which brings several improvements such as the ability to rearrange apps on the home screen, recent gestures for navigation, and an ultra-wide virtual display feature for improved productivity. As with 3D videos, 3D photos are now available, and any photo can be turned into a 3D 3D image that can be shared with friends using SharePlay. The update also introduces recent content such as immersive videos and support for online video players.
Vision Pro will be available in 8 recent countries
After the US, Apple is rolling out Vision Pro in 8 more countries, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK.
