Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during the 2019 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center on June 03, 2019 in San Jose, California.
Beyond the glitz of new iPhone features and a $6,000 new supercomputer, the underlying theme of Apple's annual developers conference on Monday was privacy.
The Apple Watch's new hearing protection feature doesn't record ambient noise around you. Security cameras connected to Apple's HomeKit system will encrypt your video feeds. And so on.
The most significant announcement was "Sign in with Apple," a new option developers can add to their apps so users can log in without having to create a separate username and password. It's similar to all those log in buttons you see across apps and websites from Facebook and Google, except Apple says its solution doesn't gather any personal data from you. In fact, it gives you the option to scramble your email address so a third-party never gets to store it.
But the most significant aspect to Sign in with Apple came to light after Apple's event when eagle-eyed developers noticed that starting with the release of iOS 13 this fall, any app that offers the option to sign in with Google or Facebook will also be required to offer Sign in with Apple as well.
The move doesn't just separate Apple apart from its data-hungry rivals, it twists the knife into them by placing its privacy-focused login option right next to Facebook and Google. The convenience no longer has to come at the expense of your data. Apple took advantage of a huge opportunity to make its massive 900 million+ user base more aware of the privacy practices of its Big Tech rivals. Even if someone loves Facebook and Google, they'll now be prompted with a prominent reminder from Apple that those companies aren't always clear about data collection every time they try to log into an app.
For all the criticism Apple gets for exerting too much power and control over the way apps work on iPhone — and much of that criticism is legitimate — forcing developers to use Sign in with Apple does a lot more good than harm.
Still, with all the progressive privacy moves Apple made on Monday, it still could've done more. There are plenty of third-party apps on iOS that slurp up your private data without being entirely clear what they're taking from you.
Those data-hungry apps aren't going to police themselves. While they have every right to make their money off advertising, there's no system in place to make sure iPhone users know what personal information each app they download is gathering about them.
While there are strong arguments to be made that Apple has too much power over software distribution in the App Store, it can also use those powers to require apps to provide clear and concise disclosures on what kind of data they gather.
Sign in with Apple is a great first step, but if Apple is going to continue to promote and sell its products based on its privacy prowess, there's still a lot more work to be done.
The decision to retire iTunes in favor of a standalone Mac Music app (alongside separate Podcast and TV apps) will please many of us, but it did leave a few unanswered questions.
With Apple these days very focused on streaming music, what happens to music ripped from CD once we make the switch to the new Music app in macOS Catalina, for example … ?
NordVPN
ArsTechnicagot some brief answers from Apple. First, our iTunes libraries – with their mix of ripped, downloaded and streamed music – are safe in the new Mac Music app, and will continue to sync with the cloud.
Apple Music in macOS Catalina will import users’ existing music libraries from iTunes in their entirety, Apple says. That includes not just music purchased on iTunes, but rips from CDs, MP3s, and the like added from other sources.
Further, the existing feature that synced users’ non-iTunes files to the cloud will continue to work, and of course, users will still be able to buy songs from Apple. Apple is not turning Apple Music into a streaming-only experience. For the most part, the end of iTunes seems to be an end in name only: key features will be retained in the Music app.
Apple also revealed yesterday that syncing iOS devices like iPhones and iPads will now take place in Finder, rather than any of the new apps. However, if you were hoping this might mean simple drag-and-drop access to your devices, sadly this won’t be the case.
When you plug your iPhone, iPod, or iPad in, you’ll see it in the sidebar for Finder just like you would any external drive or USB stick.
But when you click it, you won’t just see a file system like you would with those accessories. Instead, you will be presented with an interface very similar to the one you’re used to in iTunes, with many (if not all) of the same features.
So expect the new Finder to look very much like the old iTunes when it comes to syncing.
ArsTechnica also confirmed that nothing changes for Windows users – they are stuck with iTunes.
Many people use iTunes to manage their media libraries in Windows—not just music, but videos and podcasts, too. Apple announced today that iTunes will be broken into multiple applications in macOS, but the company didn’t specify onstage what will happen to the same program in Windows.
The answer, it turns out, is not much. Apple says users of iTunes under Microsoft Windows will not see any changes. It won’t be broken up into several apps; it will work just like it does now. However, Apple did not provide any clarification about what support will be like for future features. The company simply says that Windows users will continue to have the same experience as before and that it is not announcing any plans to end support for iTunes in Windows.
The new Mac TV app will also offer the same functionality as an Apple TV 4K in terms of displaying content on a television (via an HDMI adapter), but you’ll need a 2018 or later Mac for Atmos support.
Apple executives took the stage in San Jose, California on Monday morning and gave the world its first look at the company’s next-generation software platforms. MacOS 10.15 Catalina is packed full of nifty new features, tvOS 13 gets a great new home screen, and watchOS 6 has all sorts of new features as well as new watch faces. You can read a full recap of all the biggest announcements right here, but it goes without saying that the star of the show during Apple’s WWDC 2019 keynote was iOS 13. After last year’s iOS 12 update focused almost exclusively on fixing bugs and improving performance, the company’s new iOS 13 software shifts gears back to adding new features — and needless to say, there are far too many new features in iOS 13 for Apple to have covered them all during its keynote presentation.
We’ve already detailed the 15 best new iOS 13 features coming to your iPhone and iPad later this year, and it’s a fantastic list. Highlights include the new system-wide Dark Mode users have been clamoring for, swipe typing support on the Apple keyboard, a new secure “Sign in with Apple” feature, and new call filtering capabilities that could eliminate spam calls almost entirely. But what about all the smaller iOS 13 features that Apple didn’t have time to cover on stage at WWDC 2019?
At the end of the iOS 13 section of Apple’s WWDC keynote on Monday, senior vice president of software Craig Federighi noted that there were far too many new iOS 13 features to cover them all. As he said that, a slide flashed on the screen behind him and listed nearly 70 additional new iOS 13 features for the iPhone and iPad that hadn’t been discussed on stage. Apple news blog 9to5Mac managed to take a screen captured of the slide in question, and it wrote out all the new iOS 13 features shown on that list. Here’s the full rundown:
iOS 13 system:
Optimized battery charging
Single sign-on extension
Option to download large apps over cellular
Video downloads optimized for congestion in India
Wi-Fi selection in Control center
Enhanced QR code scanning
Reading goals in Apple Books
Low Data Mode
Audio:
Dolby Atmos playback
Bluetooth wireless splitter
FaceTime, Phone, and Messages:
Improved search in Messages
Silence unknown callers
FaceTime on Dual SIM
iMessage on dual SIM
Photos:
Location controls for Shared Photos
Search enhancements in Photos
Reminders & Notes:
Folder Management in Notes
Customize appearance of Reminders lists
View only collaboration in Notes
More powerful search in Notes
New Checklist Option in Notes
MDM & Business:
Business Chat Suggestions
Data separation for BYOD
Managed Apple IDS for business
Modern authentication for device enrolment
Calendar & Mail & Contacts:
Add attachments to events in Calendar
New relationship labels in Contacts
Block sender in Mail
Mute thread in Mail
Keyboard & Language:
Separate Emoji and Globe Keys
Enhanced language setup
Thai-English bilingual dictionary
Hindi and English bilingual keyboard
Typing predictions for Hindi
Typing predictions for Dutch
Adjustable Chinese handwriting keyboard height
Typing predictions for Vietnamese
Typing predictions for Swedish
Language selection per app
Typing predictions for Cantonese
Typing predictions for Arabic
Vietnamese English bilingual dictionary
Refreshed Home accessory controls
Weak password warnings
Simultaneous phone calls on Dual SIM
Keyboard support for all 22 official Indian languages
New Indian language system fonts
Apple News+ in UK and Australia
Siri:
Indian English Siri voices
Siri Suggestions in Apple Podcasts
Siri Event Suggestions from Third-party apps
Siri Shortcuts in Home automations
Conversational Siri shortcuts
CarPlay & Maps:
Second video stream support in CarPlay
CarPlay irregular screen size support
Hey Siri support in CarPlay
CarPlay adjustable screen size support
Do Not Disturb While Driving in CarPlay
Independent CarPlay app views
Light mode in CarPlay
Improved Report a problem in Maps
Maps Place Card enhancements
Safari:
Updated Safari Start Page
Siri suggestions in Safari
Enhanced anti-fingerprinting protections in Safari
As you can see, there are definitely some gems that Apple didn’t get to during the WWDC keynote. “Optimized battery charging” and “Low Data Mode” both sound quite promising, and several of our readers likely fainted when they got to “Improved search in Messages” on the list. The search function in Apple’s Messages apps in iOS and in macOS has always been horrible, so we can’t wait to see if Apple got its act together in iOS 13. Also worth noting, you won’t find mention of the new volume HUD on the list above, but Apple FINALLY fixed the little pop up that appears when you adjust the volume in iOS 13. That’s right, it doesn’t block the entire middle of the screen anymore!
Now that iOS 13 beta 1 is out (here’s how to install it on your iPhone) and people are testing on their iPhones, plenty more news about new unannounced iOS 13 features will trickle out over the coming days.
Apple doesn't share a whole lot of information about the ins and outs of dark mode, but here's what we know about the new feature so far -- and what we don't.
You'll turn on dark mode by swiping into the Control Center (either up from the bottom or down from the top right corner, depending on which iPhone you have). Then just tap the button to toggle on the control.
You'll also be able to schedule dark mode to turn on only at night, and turn off again during the day. It sounds like you'll be able to set those hours, as you can with night mode for Samsung Galaxy phones and Wind Down, Google's greyscale app for getting sleepy.
Now playing:Watch this:
Dark Mode comes to Apple iOS
2:45
Will dark mode automatically work with all my apps?
Dark mode will work with systemwide apps on your iPhone, including Messages, Safari, the camera and photo gallery, the calendar, internal menus and Maps. Every app that Apple controls itself should support Dark Mode.
However, third-party apps might not all work with dark mode immediately. Apple hopes that in releasing OS 13 to developers early, they'll get to work programming their apps to run in dark mode when you turn it on.
As with dark mode in Android Q , it's possible that iPhone apps that don't have a dedicated night mode or dark theme can get in on the feature automatically when you turn on dark mode in the settings, by inverting the colors.
Will it work for iPad?
For the first time ever, this year's iOS release won't power the iPad. Instead, Apple broke off iPadOS, a dedicated version of its operating system to work with the iPad's signature tablet features. However, iPadOS is based on iOS and will also feature systemwide dark mode.
Now playing:Watch this:
iOS 13 is packed with new features
3:27
Why is Apple using dark mode now?
Dark themes have certainly been around for years as third-party apps and themes. Unlike Google, Apple didn't say why it's looking into dark mode, though we're sure high demand was certainly part of it.
Apple doesn't have a track record of being terribly concerned about trends, often bringing out features years after competitors. It's always been much more concerned about getting things right than getting them first. It's also possible that Apple used MacOS Mojave as a test bed before moving on to the highly scrutinized iOS.
Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
One of the interesting new features introduced at WWDC was Sign In with Apple. It’s a new sign-in system made by Apple that’s meant to replace other platforms offered by Facebook and Google. The idea here is that Apple’s system ensures your data stays safe and doesn’t get abused by third-party developers.
Sign In with Apple lets you login with Face ID or Touch ID, and it only lets you share your name and email address with apps. And if some apps do require your email address, you can share your actual email address with them — or better yet, Apple can help you mask your actual email address. This works by Apple creating a unique email address for each app you login to, and simply forwards email to that unique/fake email address to your actual email address. That way, the apps never get your actual email address.
And all of this is actually really great. Apple’s system might be the only single sign-in system that keeps your data safe. But here’s the thing: iOS apps will be forced to use the new system, which is a bit unfriendly on Apple’s side.
Apps that offer third-party sign-in will require to offer Sign In with Apple as an option when iOS 13 launches later this year. “Sign In with Apple will be available for beta testing this summer. It will be required as an option for users in apps that support third-party sign-in when it is commercially available later this year,” Apple said.
That’s not particularly a bad thing, especially since Sign in with Apple makes logging into apps much quicker and safer. And Apple forcing apps to offer its own service as an alternative to those provided by Facebook and Google will allow the service to reach more users quickly, and hopefully replace the horrible systems provided by other companies, especially Facebook.
The problem, however, is that it’s not really clear how Sign In with Apple works on other platforms. If you create an account on your iPhone or iPad, it’s not clear how you would access that same account from an Android device, a Windows laptop, or just from any other laptop on the web. It’s a bit of a mystery for now.
Apple's changes in iOS 13 for iPhone are coming soon.
James Martin/CNET
Soon iOS 13, Apple's newest software for iPhones, will bring a slew of features big and small to your phone. Dark mode, new photos tools and a swipe-able keyboard are some of the bigger ones, with new Maps tools, security features and the ability to customize Memoji avatars folded in for good measure. While Apple highlighted certain features, keep in mind that the company often reserves some surprises for the iPhone reveal each September. There may be more features still to come.
One big change to iOS 13 is that it doesn't directly fuel the iPad. Apple split off a new OS just for tablets called iPad OS. The new iPad OS is based on iOS for iPhone, so you'll find similarities with the phone's core features there.
The iOS 13 unveiling at Apple's annual WWDC developer conference comes just weeks after Google, Silicon Valley's other titan of tech, trickled out more details about Android Q, Apple's chief software rival. Today with iOS 13, it's Apple's turn to woo app-makers and wow future buyers with everything that iPhones and iPads running iOS 13 will soon be able to do.
Now playing:Watch this:
iOS 13 is packed with new features
3:27
Apple's ability to engage buyers with iOS 13 is particularly important in 2019. The iPhone-maker has seen iPhone sales slow in step with competitors across the board. Meanwhile, the next iPhones will likely lag behind other Android rivals in key features like support for 5G speeds, periscope zoom and a standalone night mode for ultraclear camera shots. But over the years, Apple has proven that it can create must-have software tools and apps, like FaceTime video and iMessage.
Dark mode, which replaces a light screen with a dark screen, comes across core apps in iOS 13, including the calendar, music, and photos apps. This appears to be system-wide, but we'll need to see if there are any exceptions. Dark mode is a popular trend across apps, and will come to Android Q, too.
Android users have been swiping their keyboards to type for years, through a number of third-party apps, like Swype and Swiftype. At long last, Apple has added the ability, letting you trace a word to spell it out.
Apple calls it QuickPath Typing. In theory, it's faster and just as accurate as pecking away at the virtual keyboard, and you still get spelling suggestions as you go along.
The feature is especially useful for one-handed typing.
Now you can swipe in addition to typing.
Apple
Portrait lighting for photos, rotate a video
A new photos tab gives you access to some of the new tools Apple's adding here. For example, you can now remove duplicate photos and highlight best shots.
Portrait lighting, the tool within your iPhone's native camera app, adds more lighting effects to smooth your skin -- you can also change the intensity and location of your light for portrait lighting.
More editing filters add accents called vignette, vibrance, auto enhance and noise reduction.
Photo editing gets a boost, too, with a new ability to adjust pictures by tapping and dragging with your finger. The editing tools also come to video, which means -- yes -- you can rotate a video if you accidentally shoot it in the wrong orientation. You can apply the new filters and video effects as well.
Other new camera features in iOS 13
The photo apps will automatically organize photos by year, month and date, which will make it easier for you to find photos.
Live photos and videos play as you scroll.
View photos based on each day, month or year.
New photo tolls will come to your iPhone in iOS 13.
James Martin/CNET
Find My Phone and Find My Friends joins forces
The rumors were right. Apple folded Find my Phone and Find My Friends into a single app called Find My. While locating nearby friends is fine, the real value is in finding your lost or missing devices (e.g., the iPhone that fell behind the couch) even when they're offline, using a Bluetooth beacon.
The tool is encrypted and anonymous, Apple says, and it won't let phone thieves install or reboot your iPhone unless you activate it.
Now playing:Watch this:
Dark Mode comes to Apple iOS
2:45
Sign in with Apple won't share your email address
A new privacy feature called Sign in with Apple logs you into accounts and apps without having to add your email address, which Apple says will protect users from third-party apps track that want to them.
This is Apple's version of logging in with Facebook and Google, with one major exception. Those tools can be used to track you online, but Apple's version will use your iPhone or iPad to authenticate your credentials when you log in. You tap to authenticate with Face ID without revealing any personal information about yourself.
You can also choose to share or hide your email address, and can ask Apple to create a random email for the app or service that forwards to your actual email address, therefore masking your real identity without making you use a junk account.
Apple also blocks apps to track your location from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and lets you decide if you'd like apps to ask your permission each time it requests your location data.
Siri, Apple's new voice assistant, gets an audio update in iOS 13. Instead of clipped voices, Apple is hoping the new Siri sounds smoother and more natural to your ears. Using AI software (a neural talk-to-speak network, specifically), Siri will speak with fewer gaps and non-human sounding modulations.
Create personalized shortcuts using a new Shortcuts app.
Suggested automations so you can customize your and create a template.
Siri reads messages as soon as they arrive and you can instantly respond.
Share a movie or song with friend with one tap.
Hand off a phone call or music from your iPhone to your HomePod.
CarPlay: Siri smart suggestions work here, like suggesting you open your garage door when you get close to home.
Siri Suggestions comes to the Safari browser.
James Martin/CNET
Memoji avatars come to Messages, stickers
Apple's Messages apps will now get support for Memoji profiles, which puts a thumbnail of your Memoji (an emoji of your face) into the Messages app. New controls let you go in depth with customization, makeup, even adding braces to your teeth. You also get a sticker pack across your iOS 13 devices.
iMessages will also now work on Dual SIM phones (unfortunately, we don't have more detail than that).
New apps in iOS 13
Mail: Gets rich new fonts.
Notes: A new gallery view, support for shared folders.
Reminders: You can add details for when and where to remind you of an item.
Smart lists: Will let you tag a person in order to trigger sending a notification to another person, for example when you set up a time to talk.
Maps: Gets Apple Carplay support by the end of 2019. You'll be able to see roads, beaches, parks and buildings, tag a place for favorites. Collections will give you a list of favorites to share with friends. Look-around will give you a high-def 3D view of the area. Landscape view will smoothly move down the street, letting you tap labels to learn more about new places.
Now playing:Watch this:
Apple reveals new camera and Photos upgrades
5:47
More new iOS 13 features
Send call spam straight to voice mail and silence unknown callers.
Mute thread in Mail.
Add attachments to events in Calendar.
Time-synced lyrics when you play music.
Support for 3D AR apps like Minecraft Earth, coming to iOS 13 this summer.
Face ID unlocking is now 30 percent faster.
New font support.
Apps launch 2x faster.
Downloads are 50% smaller and updates 60% smaller.
Apple unveiled macOS Catalina yesterday with support for iPad apps and lots of new features, but a big change for developers and power users was missing from the on stage presentation. Starting with macOS Catalina, Macs will now use zsh as the default login shell and interactive shell across the operating system. All newly created user accounts in macOS Catalina will use zsh by default. Bash will still be available, but Apple is signaling that developers should start moving to zsh on macOS Mojave or earlier in anticipation of bash eventually going away in macOS.
Apple hasn’t explained exactly why it’s making this change, but bash isn’t exactly a modern shell as it’s implemented in macOS, and a switch to something less aging makes a lot more sense for the company. Apple is stuck using version 3.2 of bash that has been licensed under GPLv2, as newer versions are licensed under GPLv3. Apple has kept clear of using GPLv3 packages in macOS as the license is generally more restrictive to companies like Apple that sign their own code and it includes explicit patent grants, too.
While a number of Mac developers have already moved on to even more modern shells like Fish, zsh is more compatible with Bourne shell (sh) and mostly compatible with bash. There’s a lot more flexible autocomplete with zsh, and if you’re interested in moving to zsh on macOS Mojave then there are plenty of helpful guides for getting the best terminal setup and getting used to zsh before bash is fully phased out.
