#wwdc2016

Here’s part 3 of our thoughts on the WWDC 2016. If you haven’t read the other two parts, here are the links to those blogs:

iOS 10 update

http://unscrambledblog.tumblr.com/post/147189201894/the-emojification-of-messaging-continues-apple

WatchOS update

http://unscrambledblog.tumblr.com/post/146155026534/time-for-some-much-needed-change-apple-wwdc-2016

Among all the updates announced at the Apple WWDC 2016, macOS takes the title of being the most noteworthy. So much so that it actually begins right with the name; Apple’s laptop software platform will no longer be called OS X but macOS in keeping with the rest of their software platforms. 

Image credit: fossbytes.com

If you are a mac user, you’ll be glad to finally be able to say hello to Siri right on your laptop. You can now use Siri to search the web and your local files, add reminders and save search results to use them when required. If the use of Siri on your desktop extends to your iPhone we’ll have to see. 

Image credit: mnmcdn.com

The next major update to continuity is here too, with the ability to copy and paste across devices. It seems like a small addition, but could be especially useful for those who are constantly switching between their phones and their laptops. 

One of the key limitations of continuity was the lack of access to files and folders stored on your local system. But Apple has resolved this with the new update which provides access to your local desktop files on the cloud, provided you have the iCloud space needed to do so.

Image credit: applenapps.com

Talking about storage, macOS Sierra also optimises storage on your Mac by offloading documents, photos and videos you don’t use too often to the cloud provided, as always, that you have the iCloud space to do so. 

Image credit: mashable.com

Photos and memories also add up to the Apple software experience, with Photos gaining valuable artificial intelligence to identify faces and locations in your photos. Memories extends this intelligence to make a collection of your photos and videos with a particular person or at a particular destination. 

Image credit: theinquirer.net

Finally Apple Pay has now come to the web, trying to extend it’s reach but you will still need an iPhone to authenticate the transaction. There are also other updates like using your Apple Watch to unlock your laptop without having to enter annoying passwords. That feature might extend to your iPhones but we can only hope.

Image credit: theinquirer.net

Now, if you are wondering why there are not snippets of humour along with this blog, its because there’s really nothing to smirk at with this update. They are all meaningful changes that truly help the experience of using a Mac. Now that the software’s taken care of, Apple needs to focus on the hardware refresh for the Macs that is so long overdue. 

This is part 2 of our blog on the Apple WWDC 2016 and we take on the changes the Apple’s latest mobile operating system. If you haven’t read our take on the changes to WatchOS, you can find it here:

http://unscrambledblog.tumblr.com/post/146155026534/time-for-some-much-needed-change-apple-wwdc-2016

So what’s changed in the new iOS.

image credit: youtube.com

There’s been a major overhaul to the lock screen and notification toolbar. There’s more options to interact with notifications on the lock screen with 3D Touch. There’s also a clear all notifications option (thank heavens!). Apple has added the rise to wake feature (their version of Active Display, for all Android fans), which shows the user the entire lock screen (no ambient display mode or any of that, just plain full lock screen) as soon as the phone is raised or taken out of the pocket.

image credit: macrumours.com

You also now have the option to remove stock Apple Apps. But read this through before all you 16GB iPhone users (including me) do the Boogie. You can only hide these apps from the home screen, but they will still be installed on your iPhone. So no benefits in terms of any space.

image credit: macworld.com

The major improvements come with the opening up of Siri and a few stock Apple Apps, including Maps and Messenger to developers. You can now ask Siri for assistance with third party apps along with stock Apple ones. So you can now (finally) ask her to “Search Tumblr for the Unscrambled blog” (I know I’m pushing it here, but I hope this becomes a common thing to ask Siri for soon.). An extension of this is the integration of VOIP to your contacts. So you can call someone using services like WhatsApp or Skype right from your contacts. And also incoming calls with VOIP are received just like normal calls. Siri’s functionality now extends to these as well and you could ask her to call someone using WhatsApp. Further, and much needed, improvements come to Maps and Music. Both apps now offer more friendly and majorly overdone user interfaces. In addition to drawing locations from your calendar appointments, you can now add sub filters during map searches. This means looking for restaurants by cuisine or any other such sub filters. With Music, you now get lyrics of the songs right on the app itself. This, in addition to all the interface changes, makes Music a more realistic approach for those in the market for a music app.

image credit: wired.com

There’s a new app for all your “smart-home” devices called Home. You can use these apps to control all the devices, including your doors, lights and refrigerators.

But the biggest changes come to Apple’s messenger. Like Google’s Allo, there are now a host of new features for those really into making their messages look beautiful and feel personal. There’s now features to add effects to your messages like hiding the text, making them bounce and so on. If that’s not enough to express yourself, you also get effects for the wallpaper in your chat and you can animate that as well. There’s even a feature that lets you substitute words in your message with emojis (wait, wasn’t the whole point of emojis that you can save time not typing the words out? Now you type the word and then replace them with emojis? What is happening?)

While these changes have been in-line with most platform updates (read as Google), I believe Apple could’ve made a few added changes. One of the most awaited changes be the ability to customize quick access buttons in the control center. Also, Apple’s lack of multi-tasking features means that Google’s Android N will head in to this winter packing more of a selling feature than the new additions for Apple’s iOS 10.