Apple Inc (AAPL.O) on Monday announced it would more deeply integrate its software into the core driving systems of cars, while the iPhone maker rolled out a slew of features for payments and business collaboration and a pair of new laptops.
The announcements at Apple's annual developer conference showed a company that was once an outsider working its way firmly into the mainstream of nearly every screen in day-to-day life.
The company whose late 1990s turnaround meant branding itself for rebels and troublemakers spent Monday talking up how to use iPads to collaborate on business presentations and how its software will eventually help display fuel economy on car dashboards. Notably absent were any hints of Apple's expected next big product, a mixed-reality headset that can overlay digital objects on a view of the real world. Hopeful fans got only a few tidbits of new augmented reality technology at a technical talk.
And Apple announced Apply Pay Later, a service that lets users make interest-free installments. The business, which will work over the MasterCard Inc (MA.N) network wherever Apple Pay is accepted, puts Apple in direct competition with payment providers like Affirm Holdings Inc (AFRM.O) and PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL.O).
But mostly Apple doubled down on existing products. A MacBook Air laptop was redesigned around a new M2 silicon processor, which it says is 35% faster than the previous M1 chip. The new laptop will be 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg) and have a 1080p high-definition camera to provide better images on video calls. The MacBook Air will start at $1,199, Apple announced at its WWDC 2022 conference.
The M2 chip will also power the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which will start at $1,299 and be available next month. Both chips will use the second generation of 5-nanometer chip manufacturing technology. Apple did not say who would make the chip, but likely manufacturers include longtime Apple partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330. TW), which is struggling with delays in newer technology.
"They have to do volume" with the new laptops, said Bob O'Donnell of TECHnalysis Research. "That's the safe choice," he said of the 5-nanometer chips.
But Apple did break with its tradition of not tipping its hand about future technology when it showed off a new car dashboard that it said would be able to display data from major instruments such as speed, fuel levels, and gas mileage. Apple said it was in talks with automakers such as Ford Motor Co (F.N), Nissan Motor Co (7201.T), Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE), and Honda Motor Corp (7267.T). Vehicles with the software will not be announced until late next year.
The software connects more deeply into core driving systems than prior versions that were limited to the vehicle's infotainment displays for playing music and showing maps. While Apple's car software has been in vehicles since 2014 is currently available in more than 600 models - even including a few motorcycles - it is largely separate from the vehicle's own operating systems. Vehicle owners must leave the system for even basic functions like adjusting a car's climate controls, a shortcoming the updated system is designed to address.
Polestar, the premium electric vehicle maker owned by China's Geely (GEELY.UL) and Volvo Cars, is installing the current version of Apple CarPlay into its Polestar 2 cars through an over-the-air update later this month, Polestar spokesman JP Canton said. Which Polestar cars will get the newer version Apple announced on Monday are under discussion and no further information was available, he said.
A spokeswoman for Ford, which announced a software deal with Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google last year, declined to comment on Apple's announcement. Automakers remain wary of allowing the tech giants unfettered access to the data generated by connected cars or allowing them to displace the automakers' brands with their own dashboard displays.
Apple's iPad also received a revamp to make it easier for users to juggle multiple applications and displays and to collaborate on business-centric documents such as presentations. The company also previewed an app called Freeform, which will act as a virtual whiteboard that multiple users can tap to share ideas during video meetings over Apple's FaceTime service. The productivity features put Apple in more direct competition with Microsoft (MSFT.O), whose Surface tablet computers are popular among business users.
Apple also added an edit button to iMessage for sent messages, beating Twitter (TWTR.N) to a long-requested feature.
The tech giant is also adding a tool called "Safety Check" to turn off access to sensitive information for people in abusive situations.
Apple introduced a new technology called Passkeys to replace passwords on websites. Apple said Passkeys are safer than traditional passwords because Passkeys are never stored on a web server. The company said it is working to enable the use of Passkeys with non-Apple devices.
Apple shares closed up less than 1%, similar to their level at the start of the presentation.
While some of these features are available now, other software updates will be available later this year. Fortunately, newly-announced MacBook Air and Pro laptop models are available for purchase today.
Below we'll walk through what was announced, from new software updates to new Mac models.
Apple Watch OS9 Updates
Apple will add four new watch faces, including Astronomy, Lunar, Play Time, and Metropolitan. While Astronomy will show cloud coverage across the globe, Lunar will adjust for Chinese, Jewish, and other calendars for use inclusively.
New banner notifications and active apps will be pinned at the top of the watch for easy access and notifications. The watch will also see an expansion of podcast coverage. It will allow users to find new podcasts to listen to without having to search for suggestions.
For workout enthusiasts, workout coverage will expand to include workout and recovery time. Users can adjust alerts to make sure athletes keep a target heart rate zone and a power target. If users opt to repeat workouts or running trails, the Workout app will now save past workouts to track training progress.
The Fitness app will also be available on all iOS 16 phones, so those without an Apple Watch will still be able to track their fitness journey.
Apple Sleep expanded to include how long users slept, the stage of sleep they were in, and for how long. This data can also be used across the Research app to help other users get optimal sleep.
Expected to get FDA approval shortly, the aFib heart rate tracker can monitor users' heart rates and let users know what percentage of their heartbeats in the last 24 hours have been irregular. Users can share this data with their doctors, too. Additionally, the watch can help users set reminders to take medications, share health data with family members, and notify them if medications may clash with each other.
All-New Lock Screen
The update features an all-new lock screen that can be personalized to your preference with different styles, color filters, fonts, and typefaces. You can also add new widgets -- from calendars to weather updates -- to optimize your day. Additionally, it will come with a photo shuffle to see your favorite images throughout the day.
Notifications will also roll in with the latest iOS 16 update rather than take up the entirety of your screen.
Messaging Updates
Last year, the tech giant introduced Shared with You and expanded it with Shared with You API, which will allow users to see shared content live. Now, the latest update allows users to capture those live updates whenever they look at their phones.
Additionally, SharePlay extends to messages, so users can share the SharePlay experience through messaging. The latest update also allows you to edit, unsend, and mark messages as unread.
Dictation also saw some major software updates that allow users to swap seamlessly between voice dictation and the touchscreen keyboard. Dictation automatically will add updates to the text and will include emoji dictation.
Apple Pay Later
While Tap to Pay will see expanded acceptance across more retailers and websites, the tech giant announced the implementation of Apple Pay Later.
Apple Pay Later will split the cost of any purchase into four equal payments over six weeks with zero interest. It will be available on most e-commerce platforms, starting with Shopify.
Maps
Apple has announced multi-stop routing, so users can build out a map to get to their destinations without circling back. Maps will also include cycling and other local areas to enhance your experience across multiple countries.
Additionally, the company expanded its 3D mapping visualizations coverage to eleven new countries, including France and New Zealand.
Apple Sports
In conjunction with iOS 16's Live Activities, the Apple TV app will now bring live updates for users' favorite sporting events. The app will also stream up to two games weekly.
Apple News will also implement sports live coverage, including commentary. This update will be available in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
iCloud Shared Photo Library
In addition to shared activities, Apple will implement sharing settings for images. Users can share permissions for friends and family to add to their iCloud, allowing up to five people to access and contribute to their photo library.
Safety Check Privacy Settings
Apple also announced Safety Check, a new privacy setting to review and quickly revoke passwords and location sharing in the event of an emergency. Users will be able to keep full control over their privacy and sharing settings.
Matter Smart Home App
Apple announced Matter, an all-new home app that helps users navigate and control their smart home. Users will be able to get an overview of their home stats in a single image, and the app has new features such as lights and climate controls. Over 100 companies worked with Apple to implement a cohesive smart home system.
Users can break out categories and can check cameras with ease. Additionally, users can add a home widget to the lock screen to keep tabs on their homes.
CarPlay Expansion
CarPlay saw an update reinventing the car experience. Working with automakers, Apple implemented widgets to provide information at a glance. This next generation of CarPlay uses new layouts to optimize users' driving experiences.
Personalization settings allow users to curate themes and styles for gauges, so users can get the most out of it when they're driving. Apple worked with major vehicle retailers to expand on this experience, and vehicles will get this new implementation starting early next year.
M2 Chip
The next-generation chip, the M2, was announced during Apple's event. Utilizing power-efficient performance technology and unified-memory architecture, the M2 chip uses 20 billion transistors to send 100 GB of unified memory per second -- a 50% increase from the M1 chip. It boasts four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores for 1.9 times more power.
It will also use a 10-core GPU, delivering up to 25% more power and 35% more performance than the M1 chip. This GPU reduces the power use by up to 20%.
MacBook Air with M2 Chip
Completely redesigned around the M2 Chip, the latest MacBook Air comes with a new all-aluminum design. It is 11.3mm thin and is only 2.7 pounds, available in a series of colors: silver, space gray, starlight, and midnight.
The new Air comes with the signature liquid retina display on a 13.6-inch display with a thinner bezel. It's 25% brighter with 500 nits and will come with over a billion colors for optimal streaming and working. With up to 18 hours of playback, users can get more done in their workday without worrying about charging.
The camera comes with 2x resolution on a 1080p camera. Additionally, a three-mic array captures users' voices and playback comes from four integrated speakers on the keyboard. For artists, the image filters and performance will be 20% better, and it will be 38% faster for video editing.
The MacBook Air will come with a charging adapter with two USB-C ports. There's also a fast-charging adapter, which will charge the Macbook up to 50% in just 30 minutes. It will also come with up to 2TB of SSD Storage.
MacBook Air enthusiasts can get the MacBook Air starting next month, but it's available for pre-order now for $1,199 -- or $1,099 for those in education.
MacBook Pro with M2 Chip
Apple's second best-selling laptop also saw an upgrade to the M2 chip. With up to 20 hours of battery life, the liquid retina display will also see 500 nits of brightness for working and streaming across a 13-inch display.
Additionally, the M2 chip still comes with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. It will also provide up to 2TB of SSD storage. The MacBook Pro will retail for $1,299 -- or $1,199 for those in education.
macOS Updates
Stage Manager will gather all tabs to the left of the screen and help users organize their overlapping apps and tabs together. If users shift out, Stage Manager will keep apps and tabs grouped together to help users optimize their workday and multitasking.
Spotlight also saw a major overhaul. With a tap on the spacebar, Spotlight has been enhanced to help you find queries and information quickly. It can start a timer, find a shortcut, and leverage the full window for richer results. This update will come to the iPad and will be available on iOS.
Users can now unsend emails if there is a mistake in Mail. Additionally, the search engine has been enhanced, so it's now easier to find an email in your inbox.
Safari also saw updates. In addition to intelligent tracking, which helps track users' browsing history, users can also share tab groupings with friends and family. Whether it's building a vacation or planning an event, sharing tabbed groups can help users keep track of projects involving multiple team members.
The most important update announced was the Passkey. Unlike passwords, Apple's Passkey uses TouchID and FaceID to authenticate. Passkeys cannot be phished, shared, or leaked. They're synced across Apple devices and are instantly available on all devices. In Apple's announcement, it was clear that passwords will eventually be phased out, and the Passkey will be the future of Safari's security.
Gaming
Apple is breaking further into the gaming world with its specialized MetalFX Scaling. The software takes geometric updates and works to enhance gaming. The first of the games using this major update, No Man's Sky, will be available later this year, and users can expect to see Resident Evil: Village soon after.
iPadOS Updates
Collaboration, a new software feature, will allow you to collaborate on projects and documents. Users can FaceTime or message on projects within the app, making it easy to complete tasks.
In addition, if a project needs more time to be flushed out, Apple announced Freeform, the latest note-taking app that allows users to build ideas on a blank slate. Users can pinch, move around, sketch, write notes, and do anything else on the canvas -- with or without FaceTime. Freeform will be available later this year.
Similar to the MetalFX Scaling on the macOS, the iPadOS will also receive an update later this year called Metal, which will help gaming on the iPad, such as when users are playing Divinity: Original Sin.
The latest iPad Air and iPad Pro will add a virtual memory swap, which will allow users to add more storage.
Similar to the macOS, Stage Manager will also come to the iPad–a first for Apple's tablet line.