Apple kicks off WWDC: Tech giant drops ‘Hey’ to activate Siri in new iOS 17 update that also includes a Journal and Health app
- Apple has kicked off its three-day World Wide Developer Conference
- The tech giant has revealed a new 15-inch MacBook starting at $1,299
- Users also had a first look at the new iOS 17 which includes a new Journal app
- READ MORE: Apple’s WWDC 2023: Everything you need to know about today’s event
Apple is making a small but mighty change to Siri in the new iOS 17 – users can drop the ‘Hey’ and only need to say ‘Siri’ to activate the virtual assistant.
The change has been a sought-after feature of iOS fans, and it seems Apple has finally listened to their demand.
The operating system will also see new apps geared toward your physical and mental health, along with personalized posters of a user that shows their photo or emoji to a call recipient.
A live voicemail feature also transcribes messages directly on the display, allowing you to ignore or answer the call.
LIVE: WWDC 2023
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GYkq9Rgoj8E%3Fautoplay%3D1%26mute%3D1
Apple is making a small but mighty change to Siri in the new iOS 17 – users can drop the ‘Hey’ and only need to say ‘Siri’ to activate the virtual assistant
A live voicemail feature also transcribes messages directly on the display, allowing you to ignore or answer the call
It is only in the past 20 years that Apple has used the conference as a major launchpad for new devices, including the HomePod speaker in 2007 and the iPhone 4 in 2010.
Arguably, the main event in the calendar for Apple fans is held in the first two weeks of September, when it announces its new iPhone – although WWDC could be bigger this year.
However, this year the firm is expected to announce a new piece of hardware that could soon ‘replace the iPhone,’ according to one expert. The long-rumored AR/VR headset.
iOS 17
Apple typically launches a new operating system during its WWDC – and this year is no different.
As rumors had speculated, the operating system will include a new Journal app, which lets people write down daily thoughts, feelings and aspirations – and Apple wants to let you carry it in the palm of your hand.
The new app inspires users, helping them with ideas on what to write about based on their daily activities.
Apple kicked off its highly anticipated World Wide Developers Conference Monday by showing off ‘the world’s best 15-inch laptop’
The new 15-inch MacBook Air is powered by an Apple-designed M2 processor chip
Users can upload photos and activities and schedule reminders on when to write down thoughts.
The software will analyze users’ behavior to determine a typical day, including how much time is spent at home compared with elsewhere and whether a certain day was unusual.
iOS 17 also features keyboard updates – and one that improves autocorrect.
Many users have complained that their words are autocorrected incorrectly, but the new system adds a new language model that has a more accessible shortcut to go back to the original word if the system gets it wrong.
And now, dictation also uses a new AI-powered model.
Users can create their own posters that will appear on someone else’s display when they call.
These can include your best selfie or unique emoji – anything that represents who you are.
iPhone users have long enjoyed the Health app, which lets users manage, understand, and track their medications, invite loved ones to Health Sharing and see your sleep stages.
Now, iPadiOS 17 is bringing the service to Apple’s tablet.
With the new app, users will be able to see their health data, such as electrocardiogram results, on a larger screen.
New MacBooks
Apple kicked off its highly anticipated World Wide Developers Conference by showing off ‘the world’s best 15-inch laptop.’
The new 15-inch MacBook Air is powered by an Apple-designed M2 processor chip, which provides 18 hours of battery life and is 12 times faster than intel-based MacBooks.
The laptop features six speakers for immersive spatial audio and starts at $1,299 – and it will be available to consumers next week.
A new version of the Mac Pro took center stage, which is Apple’s highest-performing desktop, with an M2 Ultra chip and a price tag starting at $6,999.
The 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 gets a new starting price of $1,099 — $100 less than before.
The new MacBook Air measures only 11.5mm thin, making it the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, said: ‘We’re thrilled to introduce the first 15-inch MacBook Air. With its incredible performance and striking design, the new MacBook Air is the world’s best 15-inch laptop. And it’s only possible with Apple silicon.
‘From its expansive Liquid Retina display and remarkably thin and fanless design, to extraordinary battery life and an immersive six-speaker sound system, the new MacBook Air has it all.’
The new 15-inch MacBook Air features up to 500 nits of brightness and support for 1 billion colors, with twice the resolution and 25 percent brighter than a comparable PC laptop.
The MacBook Air measures only 11.5mm thin, making it ‘the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop,’ weighing just 3.3 pounds.
The 2022 model weighs 2.7 pounds, but the screen is two inches smaller.
Apple also revealed an updated Mac Studio desktop machine Monday, which features the all-new M2 Ultra chip that can process artificial intelligence work that rival chips do not have enough memory to handle.
Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies, said: ‘M2 Ultra delivers astonishing performance and capabilities for our pro users’ most demanding workflows, while maintaining Apple silicon’s industry-leading power efficiency.
Apple also revealed an updated Mac Studio desktop machine Monday, which features the all-new M2 Ultra chip that can process artificial intelligence work that rival chips do not have enough memory to handle
‘With huge performance gains in the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, combined with massive memory bandwidth in a single SoC, M2 Ultra is the world’s most powerful chip ever created for a personal computer.’
The M2 Ultra chip is essentially two of Apple’s largest M2 chips bonded together, a similar approach Apple took to boosting the performance of its M1 chips.
Until Monday, the Mac Pro was the last computer in Apple’s lineup that still used an Intel chip.
‘For PC users, there’s never been a better time to switch to a Mac,’ said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering.
Apple’s Mac lineup has experienced a revival since it started using its own chips in 2020, but in recent quarters sales have slumped along with the broader PC market.
Apple said that it was improving the auto-correct feature on iPhone keyboards.
‘In those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it, too,’ said Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief.
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