Here’s Every New Product Apple Just Announced At WWDC23 Event

With the upcoming release of a virtual reality (VR) headset, iOS 17, and several other exciting launches for Apple the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was one for the books.

Apple, renowned as a technology leader, often holds a reputation as a trendsetter in the industry, as other companies tend to follow suit. If we consider the pervasive influence of the “Apple effect,” the recent conference announcement serves as a confirmation that VR technology is here to stay. Although the VR headset was the announcement that sent shockwaves through social media, the list of new releases for Apple is extensive. Here is every new product Apple announced at the WWDC: 

Vision Pro

Now, let’s address the highly anticipated announcement that has captivated everyone’s attention. Vision Pro is a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, meaning that the VR content will appear like it is in your physical space. The most revolutionary feature of this device is its ability to be controlled by a fully three-dimensional user interface—the user’s eyes, hands, and voice. 

Vision Pro will change the way users interact with their favorite apps and relive favorite moments, with the new spatial photos and videos. This feature will allow users to watch TV shows and movies in a personal movie theater on a screen that feels 100 feet wide. The breakthrough design of Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display system that packs 23 million pixels across two displays. 

Vision Pro will be available for $3499 in early 2024 on apple.com and at Apple Store locations in the U.S., with more countries coming in late 2024.

iOS 17

Ask and you shall receive: NameDrop allows users to easily share contact information by simply bringing their iPhones together—or by bringing an iPhone and Apple Watch together. With the same gesture, users can also share content or start SharePlay to listen to music, watch a movie, or play a game while in close proximity.

Messages introduce Check-In, an important safety feature for when a user wants to notify a family member or friend that they have made it to their destination safely. After a user initiates a Check-In, their friend or family member will automatically be notified as soon as the user arrives. If they are not making progress toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cell service status. Messages, also, launched new emoji stickers and the ability to create Live Stickers. 

iOS 17 introduces new calling and FaceTime features that make the iPhone more personal. With personalized Contact Posters, users can customize how they appear, bringing a completely new look to incoming calls. Also, Apple seems to be taking inspiration from the good old days of landlines: Live Voicemail gives users the ability to see real-time transcription as someone leaves a voicemail, allowing users to decide if they want to pick up the call. Additionally, FaceTime now supports voice and video messages, as well as, reactions such as hearts, balloons, fireworks, laser beams, rain, and more.

Journal is a new app for iOS 17 that gives users a way to reflect and focus on their well-being. Personalized suggestions are curated from the user’s recent activity and scheduled notifications can help build a journaling habit. StandBy gives users a full-screen experience designed to be viewed from a distance when iPhone is on its side and charging; StandBy can be personalized to display a range of beautiful clock styles, favorite photos, or widgets.

The new software features will be available in the fall of 2023 as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later. The developer beta of iOS 17 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com and a public beta will be available in July of 2023 at beta.apple.com. 

Health

The Health app has received a remodel, emphasizing exams of mental health and nearsightedness.

The new mental health features across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch allow users to log their momentary emotions and daily moods, as well as, see valuable insights to better understand what might be contributing to their feelings, like activity or sleep. 

To encourage behaviors that help reduce the risk of myopia, or nearsightedness, users can track their time spent in daylight using the ambient light sensor, using their Apple Watch. Additionally, the new Screen Distance feature on iPhone and iPad encourages users to move their device farther away after holding it closer than 12 inches for an extended period of time.

iPadOS 17 brings the Health app to iPad, giving users new ways to see their health data. iPad users can track and manage their medications, use Cycle Tracking, log their emotions and daily mood, view their available health records from multiple institutions, and more.

The new software features will be available in the fall of 2023 as a free software update for iPad (6th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later), and iPhone Xs and later. The developer beta of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com and a public beta will be available in July of 2023 at beta.apple.com. 

15-inch MacBook Air with M2

The 13-inch MacBook Air is getting 25% more screen real estate with the release of the 15-inch MacBook Air. Bringing power and portability in a thin and light, fanless design, the new release will have an expansive 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, the performance of M2, and up to 18 hours of battery life. With the use of Apple silicon, the new MacBook Air is the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop and weighs just 3.3 pounds. 

With a six-speaker sound system, the new release uses Spatial Audio, along with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, MagSafe charging, and macOS Ventura. Supercharged with the power of M2 and fanless technology, multitasking and working with complex workloads will not leave your MacBook fuming.

The new 15-inch MacBook Air comes in four colors: midnight, starlight, space gray, and silver. Customers can order today on apple.com starting at $1,299 and $1,199 for education, with availability beginning June 13, 2023.

Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra

With M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra, Mac Studio provides a big boost in performance and a massive leap for users coming from older Macs. 

The new Mac Studio now has higher-bandwidth HDMI, enabling up to 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates. With M2 Ultra, Mac Studio also supports up to six Pro Display XDRs, allowing for a vast amount of screen real estate for pro workflows. Wi-Fi 6E delivers download speeds that are up to twice as fast as the previous generation.  

The Mac Studio includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gb Ethernet port, an enhanced HDMI port, and two USB-A ports. It, also, has two USB-C ports and an SD card slot on the front to easily import photos and video. 

Customers can order the new Mac Studio starting at $1,999, with availability beginning June 13th, 2023.

Mac Pro with M2 Ultra

Mac Pro, now featuring M2 Ultra, combines the performance of Apple’s most powerful chip with PCIe expansion. With seven PCle expansion slots, Mac Pro lets professionals customize and expand their systems, pushing the limits of demanding workflows.

Customers can order the new Mac Pro starting at $6,999 (Tower Enclosure) and $7,499 (Rack Enclosure), with availability beginning June 13th, 2023.

macOS Sonoma

macOS Sonoma brings richer features to Apple products. Users can place widgets directly on their desktop. Through Continuity, users can also enjoy the vast ecosystem of iPhone widgets on their Mac. 

For all the gamers out there, macOS Sonoma introduces Game Mode, which delivers an optimized gaming experience with smoother and more consistent frame rates by ensuring games get the highest priority on the CPU and GPU.

macOS Sonoma brings enhanced video conferencing features, such as Presenter Overlay which displays the user on top of the content they are sharing. The improved screen-sharing picker also simplifies the process of sharing apps during video calls.

Safari brings a significant update with Private Browsing, which provides added privacy protection during browsing. Additionally, profiles help users stay organized by offering a way to separate browsing between topics while keeping cookies, history, extensions, tab groups, and favorites separate.

The release will be available as a free software update in the fall of 2023. The developer beta of macOS Sonoma is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program in July of 2023 at beta.apple.com.

watchOS 10

With watchOS 10, available in the fall of 2023, Apple Watch users can expect redesigned apps, a new Smart Stack to show relevant widgets right when they’re needed, and new watch faces. Snoopy and Woodstock are featured on the new watch faces, from the beloved comic strip, Peanuts.

The new Smart Stack contains widgets that display timely information that adapts to the user’s context. For example, at the beginning of the day, Weather will show the forecast, or, when traveling, the Smart Stack will show boarding passes from Wallet.

While new Compass Waypoints and Maps capabilities further help hikers, new metrics, Workout Views, and Bluetooth connectivity for power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors arrive for cyclists. With the Mindfulness app in watchOS 10, users can discreetly log their momentary emotions and daily moods. 

watchOS 10 will be available in the fall of 2023 as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 4 or later paired with iPhone Xs or later, running iOS 17. The developer beta of watchOS 10 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com and a public beta will be available to watchOS users in July 2023 at beta.apple.com. 

tvOS 17

With tvOS 17, FaceTime comes to Apple TV 4K. Users can initiate FaceTime calls directly from Apple TV, or start calls on iPhone or iPad, and hand them off to Apple TV. Center Stage keeps everyone in the room perfectly framed on the screen, even as they move around. The new gesture-based reactions allow users to use their hands to generate effects, such as hearts or fireworks.

Did Apple introduce karaoke? Apple Music Sing—a feature that lets users sing along to their favorite tracks—will also integrate Continuity Camera so users can see themselves onscreen with the ability to add filters.

Lost your remote again? With tvOS 17, users can launch the Apple TV remote inside Control Center on iPhone to find their Siri Remote (2nd generation or later). Like a game of hot and cold, as users get closer to the remote, an onscreen circle grows in size to guide their movement.

tvOS 17 will be available in the fall of 2023 as a free software update for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. The tvOS developer beta is available for Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com and a public beta program will be available to Apple TV users in July 2023 at beta.apple.com. 

AirPods Pro (2nd generation) software updates

Coming to AirPods Pro (2nd generation), Adaptive Audio is a new listening mode that blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation together based on the conditions of a user’s environment. 

Personalized Volume learns your habits over time and environmental conditions to automatically fine-tune your personal listening experience. Users can simply start speaking and Conversation Awareness will lower the volume and enhance the voices in front of the user—all while reducing background noise.

Moving between Apple devices with AirPods gets even easier with updates to Automatic Switching. Additionally, using AirPods on calls is enhanced with a new Mute or Unmute feature, to help with multitasking.

New AirPods features will be available in the fall of 2023 as a free firmware update. The AirPods developer beta is available for Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. 

Apple WWDC 2023 Live Blog: Seeing the Apple Vision Pro Headset, New Macs and More

We haven't heard anything about screens getting upgraded at WWDC, but I'd love to see a replacement or alternative to the Pro XDR Display. Preferably, I'd like a new model that would sit between the Pro XDR Display and the Studio Display or below the Studio Display on the food (and price) chain. Normally monitors aren't a WWDC concern, but the changes I'd like would probably need updates in MacOS to support them.

The Pro XDR Display is great, but its weaknesses that were forgivable when it launched over three years ago really aren't any more. A pro monitor in 2023, especially at its $5,000 price, now needs Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 2 for higher bandwidth support. This would enable high-resolution HDR and a minimum of a ProMotion-level 120Hz refresh rate, without relying on display stream compression or other operating system alchemy. A display with at least two of the connections would be nice, because sometimes you want a single monitor for two systems. I'm not even going to suggest that one of them might be running Windows, because HAHAHA.

The Studio Display launched without support for HDR, which makes sense given the panel it uses doesn't have local dimming. And HDR without local dimming is pretty meh. But that also means it shouldn't cost over $1,000 in its current incarnation. So drop the price and add a consumer HDR version of the display at $2,000; preferably with an HDMI connector so you can hook it up to a streaming device, you know, like an Apple TV.

I will die on the hill of physical controls. Neither of Apple's current monitors has any. At minimum, sometimes you just want to be able to power off with a button press.