Arbitrage WWDC Recap!

Tim Cook opened the video with a pre-recorded segment from Apple Park, touting the 15th anniversary of App Store. John Ternus then took it over with another pre-recorded segment, speaking on the power and usability of the MacBook. 

The long-rumored 15-inch MacBook Air was introduced as the world's thinnest 15" laptop, weighing 3 pounds with 3 mic arrays 500 nit brightness, and 18-hour battery life. Next they brought out the Mac Studio with M2 Max, with 25% faster performance and 50% faster rendering. M2 Ultra was also touted, with 50% better performance over their M1 Ultra. The M2 Ultra is 6 times faster than the highest available Intel iMac. M2 Ultra-powered Mac Pro was introduced, with rack-mounting options. 

Tim came back with another pre-recorded segment, talking about software, and throwing it to Craig Federighi, who opened with changes to iOS with 17. Updates to the phone app include personalized contact posters; live voicemail, with real-time transcription and interrupt; and Facetime Voicemail. Updates to iMessage include search, catchup, inline reply, voice transcription, and Checkin which allows you to send a card and a route to friends in case anything is wrong.

Craig also shared updates to AirDrop. NameDrop allows exchanging contacts by bringing your phones close together. Airdrop works now in the same way. New features to Keyboard and Input, including a new way to autocorrect. Predictions are now presented as you type, allowing you to express yourself faster. Journal, a new way to inspire writing, will be introduced later this year. Standby is a new full screen experience, by turning your iPhone on its side, it allows viewing of widgets and time. 

iPadOS 17 brings enhancement to widgets and the lock screen, allowing in-widget interaction on the lock screen. Live Activities allow you to interact with and update many useful details including multiple timers. Health gets updates to interactivities between iPhone and Apple Watch. PDFs get form autofill, and safe signature. Notes gets a big upgrade when it comes to PDFs, by integrating PDFs directly into a note. 

MacOS gets changes too, introducing MacOS Sonoma. Many of the changes seen in iOS are here too, with some amazing screen savers. Widgets are becoming more powerful, being able to be dragged directly into the desktop. Widgets fade into the background depending on your focus. Widgets are interactive now as well, allowing you to do other tasks more effectively, Gaming gets its own mode, prioritizing CPU and GPU to your focus, and doubling Bluetooth for latency. 

Hideo Kojima was introduced to bring out Death Stranding for the Mac, utilizing Metal 3 and MetalFX upscaling. He also promised future titles coming to the Mac. New features for video conferencing are in MacOS 17 as well with keyed content backgrounds. Live reactions were introduced too, with gesture control. Safari gets changes as well, with a more robust Webkit, and privacy changes. Private Browsing now locks the screen when you walk away and passwords can now be shared with friends and family securely. Profiles now help you to separate work and home or school, and Web apps on Mac elevates websites you need to the dock. 

Ron Huang talked Adaptive Audio, which blends noise canceling and active listening to deliver the best audio experience. Conversations can now be focused on, and new calling features were introduced. AirPlay also gets updates by AirPlay Preferences, learning your habits and locations. AirPlay in Hotels connections are as easy as scanning a QR code. CarPlay is easier to control with SharePlay. TVOS and AppleTV is completely redesigned with system profiles and widgets. Selecting Memories is easier as well for screensavers. FaceTime is also coming to AppleTV, wirelessly connecting to iPad or iPhone. SharePlay over FaceTime is also available on AppleTV. 

WatchOS updates were introduced by Kevin Lynch, introducing WatchOS 10. Widgets get revealed now through twisting the digital crown and favorites are held in the Smart Stack. World Clock is now dynamic, showing day or night in the selected zone. Activities gets a redesign and makes it easier to see your accomplishments. Snoopy and Woodstock celebrate the release of WatchOS 10 on new faces. Cycling gets an update with Apple Watch being able to connect to Bluetooth sensors. Live Activities can now be pulled to the face of your iPhone. APIs can have access to high frequency sensors to track minute wrist and arm movement. The Health app gets updates for mental health, with momentary emotional updates throughout the day with the Mindfulness app on Apple Watch and iOS. Standardized assessments will be available through Health as well, to share with a medical professional. Vision health is also focused on with this release with ambient light sensors to keep track of daylight exposure. Screen Distance measures if you are holding your device too close. All health data is encrypted and can only be shared with your permission. All OS releases will be available as public betas later this month and available this fall. 

Tim came back for the first live segment since Covid, with his introduction of one of the worst-kept secrets in Apple history, the Apple Vision Pro. Using AR, you can blend digital content into the space around you. Alan Dye, in a pre-recorded segment, tells us about the interface, familiar if you know any Apple app. Rescale and place apps where you want, and newly launched apps just open to the right of the already present app. Backgrounds can immerse you in a beautiful environment to the extent you want. There are no controllers, using gestures and eye movements, with your voice, to do anything you need, but can be used with Bluetooth keyboards and mice. FaceTime is super powered as it uses the space and uses spatial audio to separate voices. Vision Pro is a 3D camera and can capture your memories with depth. 

Tim tossed the presentation to Bob Iger, CEO of Disney. Bob introduced a video showing Disney properties interacting with AR, and saying Disney Plus will be available on Vision Pro day one. Richard Howarth discussed the design of Vision Pro, with lightweight but strong materials, reminiscent of all of Apple's products. The Vision Pro is modular allowing for different fits. A lightweight battery pack attaches via a twist-lock cable. The display renders in true 4K and in true spatial audio with Audio Ray Tracing. Fourteen cameras allow sight and awareness like nothing else. Dual processors, M1 and R1 provide real-time 12 ms response. Unity brings gaming and apps to Vision Pro as well. OpticID uses the print of your eye to unlock Vision Pro and uses it to unlock apps and websites. Apple Vision Pro will be available soon starting at $3,500.