WWDC 2016; Everything You Need To Know

Apple held their annual developers conference on Monday and we have rounded up all the information you need to know about what was announced.

Recycle

Last year, Apple made it easier, and more affordable, for their customers to upgrade to the latest handsets and devices by making them available on payment plans. starting today, you can now recycle your older device with Apple and save on an upgrade. This is actually an idea i can get behind. For a long time now, devices have been announced every 12 months but most people get their devices through a 24 month plan from their network provider, making it almost impossible to keep up to date with the latest technology. You will now find it easier to change for the device you want rather than being limited to using every other device released.

Apple Watch

There wasn't a great deal to talk about when it came to new releases here. There were no software updates or second generation models announced as many thought there would be. Instead, all we got was new watch bands. Sport bands and Leather bands now come in new colours and there was an entirely new woven nylon band launched as part of a 'Spring lineup'. Perhaps the biggest news for the soon to be year old device, was the drop in price. In the UK, Apples entry level watch [Apple Watch Sport] is now available for just £259 for the 38mm model and £299 for the 42mm version. A nice price drop, making more affordable for many.

Apple TV

We did, however, get a software update for the latest Apple Tv model. Available now, the small update will now allow for folders for all of your apps and games on the big screen identical to the way you organise them on your iPhone or iPad. How useful this will prove to be? Only time will tell. But given that Apple believe, the 'future of television is Apps' it is nice to see they are pre-empting a problem with endless scrolling to get to where you want.

The other problem they are trying to avoid in the near future is having to type in information by scrolling through a line of numbers, letters, and symbols. The update brings dictation to Apple TV. You will be able to say the name of artists, shows, movies, and apps when searching for them instead of typing thanks to Siri. You can also say usernames and passwords out loud instead of typing them. Again, we aren't sured how useful this will be. Especially when there is other people around.... hmm.

iPhone SE

As expected, Apple did announce a 'new' addition to it's phone line up. Making it the biggest line up they have ever had with more choice than ever before. We say 'new', looking at the device, you may have to take a second look before you realise it isn't the 2 (almost 3!) year old iPhone 5S. The design and hardware has been recycled but the internals are that of the iPhone 6s. There are a few things that have been left out though. The lack of force touch, for example, seems a little weak as it lowers the value of a heavily advertised 6s feature as it has yet to surface on any other device. Shame.

We will have full details on the iPhone SE in a separate post soon...

iOS 9.3

It used to be that WWDC would give us a glimpse at the next major iOS update. Not any more. There was no mention of what we can assume will be iOS 10 at this developers conference. Instead we were able to download and install a minor update to iOS 9. 9.3 brings a few small features with it that slightly improve the use of an iOS device but nothing major or entirely new for smartphones in general.

Night shift is a new setting that can be turned on manually or set to come on and turn of at a time set by you whereby Blue Light emitted by the screen will be switched off and the overall tone of the screen is changed to a warmer spectrum. In theory helping people sleep better at night if they just can't look away from their phone screen before bed time. Phone Addicts rejoice! It is something that Android users have been able to enjoy for a while now thanks to third party apps. As science has found more evidence that Blue Light does prevent a good nights sleep it has become more popular to use such apps and we should see more phone manufacturers build this in to their handsets in the near future.

For the few people who are using Apples built in Notes app, you can now rest easy that nobody is peaking at your all important memos. You can now secure them with your fingerprint! The notes app has gotten a lot more attention of late and has become a lot more unusable as a result of certain updates so it is a welcome, albeit most unnecessary update.

The Health App on the iPhone is more than likely stashed away in a folder somewhere you never go along with the Shares app as most people just don't check the little data it stores on your fitness. One of the main reasons that Apple feels that people aren't using Health is that they aren't sure which fitness apps with work well with it. To fix this Health will now display app suggestions for you. Making it a lot easier to pick the right running or calorie counting app.

iPad Pro 9.7"

Perhaps the only exciting thing to be announced at WWDC this year, definitely the most exciting, was the new iPad Pro. It's a little confusing to describe. Is it a second generation device? Is it the iPad Mini to the iPad Air? We aren't entirely sure. We are, however, glad to see it arrive. When the iPad Pro was released last year, it too was met with some confusion. Even now we don't know who it is for, and whether we have room for it in our lives. Given the cost and the size of the Brobdingnagian iPad Pro, it was hard to justify replacing an iPad air 2 with it despite it's impressive features and spec sheet. Considering that the iPad Pro only truly shines when paired with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard cover, it is much cheaper, and more practical for most, to buy a 13" MacBook Pro. So having the power and features of the original iPad Pro shrunken down to a more portable form factor is something we are incredibly glad to see. We can't wait to get our hands on one. (and the accessories to match)

Again, we will have full details of the 9.7" iPad Pro in a separate post soon.

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Until next time...

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