Today at Apple’s annual WWDC keynote address in San Jose, California, Tim Cook took the stage to announce the latest update to Apple’s smartwatch operating system. watchOS 6 is coming this fall, and boasts a number of big changes. Most significantly, watchOS 6 makes progress on the independence of the Apple Watch from the iPhone, adds a number of new APIs and health features, and includes an all-new native UI framework for developers.
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watchOS 6: The MacStories Overview
WWDC 2019 Keynote: By the Numbers
Every time Apple holds a keynote event, the company shares a variety of numbers related to things like user counts for certain products, software performance improvements, and customer satisfaction. With the company announcing the future of key platforms like iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the all-new iPadOS today, there was unsurprisingly a lot of data mentioned at today’s WWDC event.
We’ve collected some of the most interesting numbers shared on-stage during the keynote and on Apple’s product pages:
iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
- iOS has a 97% customer satisfaction rating
- 85% of iOS users have updated to iOS 12 compared to 10% of Android users on the latest version
- iOS devices will unlock 30% faster with Face ID on iOS 13
- iOS 13 downloads will be up to 50% smaller and updates 60% smaller than previously
- Apps will launch up to twice as fast as before
- Apple Pencil latency will be reduced to 9 milliseconds
- Sidecar will work wirelessly within 10 meters
- 100,000 radio stations will be available on HomePod
- There are over 450,000 apps on the App Store built using Swift
Mac Pro
- Up to 28 cores
- 8 expansion slots
- 64 PCI Express lanes
- Can handle 3 streams of 8K ProRes RAW video and 12 streams of ProRes 4K video
- 1.4 kilowatt power supply
- Up to 56 teraflops of graphics performance
- Up to 1.5TB of system memory on 12 DIMMs
- Up to 4TB of internal storage
- Up to 6.3 billion pixels processed per second
- Users can connect up to 6 Pro Display XDRs, which would cost up to $42,000
Pro Display XDR
- Maximum 1,600 nits
- 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
- 20 million pixels
- 40% more screen real estate than 5K Retina display
- 10-bit color
- Over 1 billion colors
You can also follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2019 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2019 RSS feed
Apple Shows Off New Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR Coming in the Fall
During the keynote presentation at WWDC today, Apple previewed the long-awaited Mac Pro alongside a new 32-inch pro display. Both hardware announcements are aimed at professionals in fields like video compositing, 3D rendering, photography, and audio engineering.
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is designed with performance and customization in mind. The computer’s design echoes the classic ‘cheese grater’ Mac’s shape, vent system, and handles. The frame of the Mac Pro is built from stainless steel, and the casing is aluminum. With a twist of a latch on the top of the computer, users can lift the case off using the two stainless steel handles to access internal components from all sides and install expansion cards.
The case also incorporates a lattice pattern to maximize airflow through the case. According to Apple, the three-dimensional interlocking hemisphere pattern simultaneously assists with airflow by maximizing surface area and makes the case rigid but lightweight. Optional wheels can be added to the case to make it easier to transport in a workspace.
iPadOS: The MacStories Overview
Today during the WWDC keynote, where Apple unveiled the next major version of its mobile software platform, iOS 13, the company also had a big surprise to share: iOS is now exclusive to the iPhone and iPod touch and has given birth to a new, dedicated operating system for the iPad, named iPadOS.
iPadOS includes all the existing features of iOS, including the host of updates coming in iOS 13, but adds to it a long list of enhancements that address common pain points among iPad Pro users. From an updated Home screen to multitasking improvements, Files upgrades including USB drive support, a desktop-class Safari, and much more. All of these features aim to make the iPad a more capable full-time computer than ever before.
Apple Releases Memoji Makeup Tutorial Video with YouTube Stars
YouTube stars Patrick Starrr and Desi Perkins joined forces with Apple to create a makeup tutorial video using only this year’s huge iOS 13 Memoji update. The new Memoji appear to be massively more customizable, and can be used to create Bitmoji-like stickers. Starrr and Perkins’ video premiered during Apple’s WWDC keynote address, and you can watch it below.
We’ll have more on the new Memoji updates and all of the changes coming in iOS 13 later today.
You can also follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2019 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2019 RSS feed
Apple Publishes “For All Mankind” Apple TV+ Trailer
At this year’s WWDC keynote address, Apple dropped the first trailer for their upcoming Apple Original drama series For All Mankind. The series will follow an alternate timeline in which the space race never ended, and is set to premier this fall.
We’re actively at work on in-depth coverage for all of today’s announcements, and will be reporting on any additional news that trickles out in the coming days as WWDC 2019 continues.
You can also follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2019 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2019 RSS feed
Apple Publishes Goodnight Developers Video from WWDC 2019 Keynote
Apple kicked off this year’s WWDC keynote address with a black and white video of developers hard at work in the middle of the night. The video, titled Goodnight Developers, showed a variety of iOS developers struggling and eventually succeeding in getting their apps to build. Check out the video below.
You can also follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2019 hub, or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2019 RSS feed
Apple Defends App Store Practices in Light of Antitrust Discourse
Apple has been in the news at several points this year due to claims that its App Store practices are monopolistic. First, Spotify filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, then more recently, the US Supreme Court ruled that an antitrust lawsuit against Apple could proceed, setting the stage for potential future battles in this space.
Today Apple has launched a new page on its website defending its App Store practices and sharing the values that lie at the core of the Store.
It’s our store. And we take responsibility for it.
We believe that what’s in our store says a lot about who we are. We strongly support all points of view being represented on the App Store. But we also take steps to make sure apps are respectful to users with differing opinions, and reject apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line — especially when it puts children at risk. For example, we strictly prohibit any app that features pornographic material, discriminatory references, torture and abuse, or anything else in exceptionally poor taste.
The page shares specific details on App Review practices, including the following stats:
- Every week, 100,000 apps are reviewed
- Of those 100,000, 60% are approved, and 40% rejected
- The most common rejections are due to bugs, followed by privacy concerns
- The App Review team makes ~1,000 calls per week to developers to help resolve rejection issues
Apple also outlines the different business models apps can utilize on the App Store, and notes that 84% of apps are free. It’s unclear if this percentage includes apps with In-App Purchases and subscriptions.
Finally, the page closes by highlighting how Apple welcomes competition on the App Store. System apps like Calendar, Mail, and Apple Music are listed alongside popular third-party competitors; Fantastical, Spark, and Spotify are a few third-party alternatives that Apple singles out.
The timing of Apple launching this new page is no accident: next week the company will welcome thousands of developers to WWDC, and in light of the growing questions regarding App Store practices, Apple is reminding developers, and the world at large, of why the App Store as it stands today is so important.
Apple Launches Updated iPod touch with A10 Chip, Larger 256GB Storage Option
Today Apple announced an updated version of its last remaining iPod product, the iPod touch. The device starts at the same $199 price as before, but it’s been upgraded in a couple of ways, such as adding an A10 Fusion chip to replace the previous generation’s A8, which among other things enables Group FaceTime and augmented reality features.
Lots about the new iPod remains the same. It keeps the previous generation’s basic form factor, including the same 4-inch display and headphone jack. The device is available in Pink, Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Blue, and (PRODUCT)RED finishes, just as it was before. One thing that’s new, however, besides the upgraded A10 chip, is that there’s now a higher storage capacity available. Joining the 32GB and 128GB models, you can now get an iPod touch with 256GB of storage. Pricing for the lower tiers of storage remains $199 and $299 as before, and the new model comes in at $399.
The new iPod touch is available today to order from Apple.com, and will be available in Apple Stores later this week. Apple clearly wanted to get this device into the world ahead of WWDC next week, so it will be interesting to see if, perhaps, that means new software like iOS 13 will no longer run on A8 chips, and thus Apple needed to modernize the iPod before announcing that new version of iOS.