http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBSU9KaCYP4
From a new health app to greater continuity among Apple devices, here’s a look at the six biggest announcements made at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco last night.
Apple Inc.’s head honcho, Tim Cook, made six big announcements at this year’s WWDC in San Francisco and the announcements seemed to focus on Apple’s software, so no word yet on the iPhone 6, unfortunately.
Here’s a breakdown of the six biggest developments from Apple…
1) OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Yosemite is the name of Apple’s latest OS X 10.10 operating system that will feature new translucent effects, a new dock & icons, increased Spotlight search capability and an improved Notification Centre. Mail and Safari also receive boosts, with Mail being able to send attachments up to 5GB, while Safari will receive video optimisation that will add up to two additional streaming hours of HD video playback from Nextflix on a MacBook Air.
The upgrade to OS X 10.10 Yosemite will be free of charge for Apple users.
2) Continuity
Apple is aiming to increase its continuity among its various devices. With the new update, iPhone and iPads will be proximity-aware, so when you switch from one to the other, you will be asked if you want to continue working on the same document that you had closed. SMS from iMessage will now carry over to Mac, and you will also be able to answer calls from your iPhone on your Mac using the computer’s mic.
3) iOS 8
Apple’s mobile operating system will see improvements in interactive notifications, photo editing, predictive text and ‘Family Sharing’ documents, which includes: calendars, reminders and access to each others purchased apps.
Mobile gaming is also set to get a massive boost with Apple announcing ‘Metal’, a new console-level graphics capability.
4) HealthKit
Two of the most interesting announcements came in the form of new apps. The first of which is a health and fitness app called ‘HeathKit’, which will come as standard on iOS8.
HeathKit will help to organise and store your body measurements and health stats to you can keep track on how well your diet or fitness regime is working for you. Apple say they will also be working closely with the likes of Nike and the Mayo Clinic for the HeathKit apps.
5) HomeKit
HomeKit is the next-gen app for tech savvy homeowners whose house is better connected than an Italian mob boss. The app will make using home automation kits (think HAL 9000) a whole lot easier. So if the lights, power mains, garage door and home security systems are connected to one main hub in your home then you’ll be able to control those functions using just one Apple device.
6) Dev
According to Tim Cook, the latest improvements to Apple’s operating systems represents, “The mother of all release for developers.”
Improved AppStore search functionality will make it easier for you to find the apps you really want and cut out the crap you don’t. The new developments will now make it much easier to developers to share data and improve their apps and a new iOS and OS X development language, called ‘Swift’, will also make it easier to create apps across Mac and Apple’s mobile devices.
Apple also took the time out to say thanks to developers at the WWDC 2014 with the video presentation featured above.
Here’s what the company had to say about developers: “Developers — and the iOS apps they create — have changed the way we all interact, learn, entertain, work, and live. Here’s a little thank you note to developers, written by people who can’t live without their apps.”
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