The much-anticipated Apple Vision Pro augmented reality glasses, along with the new Mac devices and software updates like iOS 17, were revealed by Apple at the WWDC 2023 event.
As previously announced, Apple held its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2023) to officially introduce the new features of its upcoming operating systems: iOS 17, watchOS 10, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and macOS Sonoma.
In addition, the company brought some surprises by unveiling new hardware products, including the Apple Vision Pro augmented reality glasses, the all-new 15-inch MacBook Air, and updates to the Mac Pro and Mac Studio.
In the following article, let’s review the hardware and software products that Apple introduced at the WWDC 2023 event.
After much speculation, Apple has finally unveiled its own augmented reality glasses called Vision Pro. This product will allow users to engage in both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences, designed to blend the real world and the digital world for both the wearer and those around them.
The primary interface displays real-world apps for the wearer, while people nearby can see the wearer’s eyes through the device thanks to the external display feature called EyeSight.
The device is powered by two chips: the M2 and the new R1 chip for real-time sensor processing. According to Apple, the Vision Pro has a single lens array on the front of the device, along with a digital crown button that allows users to toggle AR and VR. It also supports spatial audio through integrated speakers and has an external battery pack that can last up to 2 hours on a single charge.
The Vision Pro is priced at an attractive $3,499 and will be available next year.
visionOS is Apple’s new VR operating system.
The Apple Vision Pro augmented reality glasses will run on a brand-new operating system called visionOS. This allows the device to layer virtual apps and icons onto the real world, enabling users to utilize eye tracking, hand gestures, and voice commands for navigation within the system.
As Apple presented at WWDC, users will be able to use the Apple Vision Pro augmented reality glasses to interact with the company’s native apps such as Safari, FaceTime, Photos, Music, and more. Users can even use the device as an external display for their Mac to play games on Apple Arcade, watch movies, and record videos.
Larger 15-inch MacBook Air
In addition to the Vision Pro augmented reality glasses, Apple also revealed a new MacBook Air with a 15.3-inch display. This is a significant upgrade for the MacBook Air line, which previously only had a 13-inch display.
Apple claims that this device is the “world’s thinnest” 15-inch laptop and weighs just over 1.36kg. The device comes with a battery life of up to 18 hours, a brightness of 500 nits, and a 1080p webcam. The new 15.3-inch MacBook Air is priced at $1,299 and will be available next week.
Mac Studio and Mac Pro upgraded with the more powerful M2 Ultra chip
At WWDC 2023, Apple introduced new versions of both the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Notably, the latest versions of these desktop computers will feature the new M2 Ultra chip, including up to 24 CPU cores and 76 GPU cores.
Specifically, the Mac Studio will come with options for the M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip, while the Mac Pro will only have the M2 Ultra chip, as well as expandable PCIe storage options.
While the Mac Studio starts at $1,999, the Mac Pro starts at $6,999.
Journal – a brand-new journaling app
Apple introduced a new app called Journal for iOS. True to its name, Journal encourages users to document their thoughts on recent activities or trips.
Apple states that the app is secured with end-to-end encryption, and your journal is stored locally on your device. Journal will be officially released later this year.
iOS 17 with various minor but interesting upgrades
Alongside the new journaling app, Apple unveiled some new features for iOS 17. Most notably, the new StandBy feature turns your iPhone screen into a smart display when tilted horizontally while charging, allowing the device to show essential information like date and time.
Additionally, iOS 17 will support transcription for voice messages and introduce a new safety-focused Check In feature that enables users to share their location with someone they are meeting.
Furthermore, the new iOS version includes the NameDrop feature, which makes it easy to share email addresses or phone numbers with other iPhone users. And as previously leaked, Apple has dropped the “Hey” from the activation phrase “Hey, Siri.”
Apple brings interactive widgets to iPadOS 17
With iPadOS 17, Apple is adding new interactive widgets that allow users to quickly access apps and features from the home screen. Additionally, this update includes enhancements for the device’s Notes app, personalized lock screens similar to the iPhone, and a new Health app.
Notably, users can now add their signature and edit text within PDF files, saving notes as PDF files. Furthermore, iPadOS adds the Auto Fill feature for user information in files such as CVs, forms, and more. Additionally, users can edit PDF files more extensively with the Apple Pencil.
Apple officially introduces macOS Sonoma with several improvements
Apple announced some exciting upgrades for macOS Sonoma, which will now support widgets that users can add to their screens, along with new screensavers that include interactive motion. This update also brings new features to Safari, allowing users to create and pin web apps to their Docks, as well as configure settings for different web browsers.
Apple is also introducing a new “game mode” for macOS, which prioritizes GPU and CPU performance when playing games on Mac and reduces audio latency on AirPods. As part of Apple’s gaming push, developer Hideo Kojima also announced that Death Stranding (and some of his other games) will be available on macOS.
Widgets make a comeback in watchOS 10
In line with the trend of this year’s event, widgets have made a comeback in watchOS 10, allowing users to browse and view various information by rotating the Digital Crown of their watches. Apple is also adding new watch faces, cycling features, and long-distance walking information.
tvOS 17 equipped with smarter features for TV
Apple will soon allow users to use FaceTime on Apple TV. Additionally, users can utilize the Continuity Camera feature to turn their iPhones into webcams while interacting with others on their TVs.
Furthermore, video conferencing apps will be available on tvOS. Apple provides an API called Continuity Camera for developers to integrate online conferencing apps. This way, users can use their iPhones or iPads as webcams for TV conferencing.
tvOS 17 will also help users locate their remote if it gets misplaced. The TV screen will display a signal when the iPhone is moved closer to the remote.
Notably, with tvOS 17, the TV can turn into a giant photo frame, displaying Memories from photos stored in iCloud.
