Apple CEO announced Apple Intelligence at WWDC, alongside many other extra features coming in iOS 18. One of these AI-powered features which photographers have long wanted to see is the equivalent to the Google Pixel's Magic Eraser which can identify and eliminated unwanted objects from photos.

Called the Clean Up tool, it can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of photos. It works in a very similar way – you can circle areas or highlight unwanted people.

If you're excited to try the tool, though, you need to remember that things shown at WWDC – while they do filter to a lot of iPhones thanks to Apple's upgrade philosophy – don't appear instantly.

WWDC is a summer conference for developers, and it began on June 10 (this was far from the only new thing for developers to get their heads around!)

The final version of iOS 18 with that feature could be a little way of – its not due until fall.

You can get it now...

But you shouldn't.

If you're prepared to run the developer beta on your phone – something most developers caution against doing on your main phone – then you can download the iOS 18 Developer Beta right now.

That, of course, comes with all the risks you can imagine – and if you also run apps related to work or perhaps have essential travel tickets on there that you wouldn't want randomly deleted by an unfinished operating system then, well, there are certainly no guarantees with a Beta!

If you're still determined to ignore common sense – or you have a spare iPhone to try it on – then go to Settings > General > Software Update > and below 'Automatic Updates' you should see an option for 'Beta Updates' where you'll find the 'iOS 18 Developer Beta'

(If you have multiple Apple devices and regularly work across them then you probably need to dive into betas on multiple platforms in an all-or-nothing way... again, on your head be it!)

What if I have more common sense?

You'll have to wait until the general release in the fall. 

Experience suggests mid-September is the time, just before the new iPhones.

An interim solution might be to at least give it a few weeks for the worst of issues to sort themselves out, but even then cross-compatibility between devices could be an issue.

One more intelligent thing...

This looks to be a Photos features, so will be on more devices. 

Apple Intelligence, however, will be quite restricted to newer devices with the needed grunt on-board; specifically iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and M-series processor Macs and iPads.

Incidentally, if the intelligence is the main appeal and you're not based in the US, you might not get the features anyway – the feature is not coming to other territories straight away, so it might not be worth risking the beta.

It's been a long wait for Apple to get the AR glasses to the area Americans affectionately know as 'rest of world', but now Apple loyalists and developers can have a chance to climb on the not virtual, but augmented, bandwagon.

Customers in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore will get the first – well, second – bite at the cherry on June 13, while Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK will get the opportunity to pre-order from June 28 (when that initial wave starts to take delivery). The glasses will ship to customers in the UK and Australia on July 13.

While the Vision Pro is still very pricey, it might be a good time for serious customers to look at climbing on board as Apple took the opportunity at WWDC 2024 not just to announce the new territories but also to debut Vision OS 2 – the updated operating system. 

Perhaps the most striking new feature was the massive virtual monitor features which will be powered in part by your Mac, so wherever you look it appears in high resolution (also taking advantage of the eye-tracking). It will be equivalent to a dual 4K display, according to Apple.

The system will also use AI to make old 2D photos appear 3D in spatial viewing.

Vision OS 2 will also make it much easier to share the device with friends and family, remembering the settings chosen by others.

“The enthusiasm for Apple Vision Pro has been extraordinary, and we are thrilled to introduce the magic of spatial computing to more customers around the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait for more people to see the impossible become possible, whether working and collaborating with an infinite canvas for apps, reliving treasured memories in three dimensions, watching TV shows and movies in a one-of-a-kind personal cinema, or enjoying brand-new spatial experiences that defy imagination.”

The Vision Pro will cost £3,499 for the basic 256GB model (which is $3,699 in the USA). Optical corrections from Zeiss are £99, or £149 for prescription. The case is £199. 

That's AU$5,999 for the goggles in Australia, with an additional AU$169 or AU$249 for optical corrections, and AU$349 for the case.

A bit of a different world, but I recently tried the DJI Avata 2 drone which has pass-through cameras in its goggles.

The build-up to WWDC – Apple's annual conference for developers – has been an interesting one. The company normally uses the event to release major new software features and, occasionally, hardware, so tech fans and users of a very popular camera known as the iPhone watch it intensely.

Since it's Apple's practice to deliver many of the features within days and for free to existing users, it's usually well worth paying attention to for all Apple users.

This year it's also of particular interest because Apple, despite holding a leading position, is under a lot of fire for being behind the game in the AI space. Photographers are bemoaning the lack of AI tools to help with their on-the-go snaps in comparison to Google Pixel, while Siri is definitely not as smart as recent demos from Open AI.

I'd go so far as to say that I'd be very surprised not to see some kind of AI object removal in Photos.

There have been a lot of rumors about a 'deal' to bring ChatGPT to help Siri out in some way, and this will almost certainly be the moment we get to find out how that will impact just how 'smart' that'll make what for many of us is our most commonly used camera. We might also get to find out if the unnerving (and very unlikely) idea of a fee-paying Siri+ are going to become a reality!

Whether we see that or not, a LLM (Large Language Model) seems very likely, with the result being that Siri will chat more like a human, and be able to remember things from one question to the next.

We're also expecting to see changes to the control centre in iOS and Mac OS, perhaps a new Vision OS for the Vision Pro (we see that 'missing feautres' will be added according to reliable Apple rumor-monger Mark Gruman).

As well as watching the Apple feed here, it'll be possible to watch on an Apple TV – if you've got one. The Keynote, by none other than Apple CEO Tim Cook, will begin at 10AM in Silicon Valley, which is 1PM Eastern or 6PM in the UK.

I see on Twitter that Tim Cook is promising that it's going to be the 'Best Ever' WWDC, while journalists are taking their seats (or sharing selfies with some well-known tech reviewers – perhaps there will be a solid product to talk about!)

In any case I definitely need this event to start because the Apple animation is starting to wear me down ("Is this Eurovision?" a fellow – admittedly somewhat more disinterested – Apple user observed of the graphics and music choice). It is definitely not that impressive. Still, seven mins to go. 

Ooooo...... here we go! Kick off sees... er... well the same Apple graphic crystalize. And then we're in a plane preparing for an air drop apparently. Straight after the D-Day landing commemorations they're parachuting onto the donut. Well, I mean probably not really, but it's an impressive bit of CG. And now Tim Cook is on the roof of Apple Park (so we can see the solar panels).

He's reminding us why developers are good (which they are, but that isn't an update...)

AppleTV+ is getting the initial love from TV. Looks like a new season of, well, lots of good TV is coming. And Tim's said we're going to get to "Intelligence" so the enormous elephant in the room has been acknowledged.

OK, now onto VisionOS... Hmm... "It's been just 4 months" and yet somehow there seems to be a slightly 'justifying' tone to my ear.

After that, VisionOS 2 presentation kicks off with photos – machine learning can make spatial photos from 2D originals. (Or 'bring them into the future')

There is an enterprise leaning, and Canon's EOS-R7 spatial lens gets a mention, so a workflow between Canon, Final Cut Pro, and Vimeo as the player app is being trailed. I tried the Canon tech at The Photography and Video show and it was impressive.

Apple Immersive Video content partners – including Redbull – will be bringing content to the TV app. A scripted short film was mentioned. Real challenges for creatives.

Oh, and it's coming to the UK on July 12th.

Now the iPhone; customization will now allow us to frame our home wallpaper picture by placing the app icons where we like them, and choose a 'dark look'. A complementary color can even be selected by iOS.

Ah, and as expected, Control Center is up...

It looks like the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro will be accessible to external developers settings features now, if developers create the feature using the new API and the user adds them.

Messakers – Ronak Shah tells us ways we're going to be able to take even longer composing texts with text effects, extra emoji on the tap-back 'quick' responses, and more that add more personality. All sounds great, but I know from experience that all styling options take more time than just typing!

The photos app – "Biggest redesign ever" – and it does look better. Now a single view with photo grid at the top and libraries below.

There's a finction to filter out screenshots to keep clutter free – that'll be bery handy for journalists on photography and tech sites, I can tell you!

The new style has a small white bezel around the albums, very Polaroid-chic!

Thre seem to be more options to put pinned collections near the top (and help dissuade the system from choosing the wrong pics). It does look better... but where's the AI... oh, yeah... Tim said later...

There was more on TVOS but it felt like they were holding back (or didn't have much to say). Finally catch up with other apps it'll tell me about the actors on Apple shows (but if there was real AI it could tell me who the actors were on any show – not just Apple ones, right?).

OK, now WatchOS 11. Exercise stuff here isn't bringing a lot for photography fans I'm afraid and – if the watch is anything like my Series 8 – Apple's software team do seem to forget that you have to take the hardware off and charge it from time to time. Oh, it seems it'll be able to tell if it thinks you've drunk too much?

We do learn that the 'Photos Face' is popular – and in WatchOS 11 machine learning AI will pick aesthetics and smiling faces to help choose the best photo to serve as a watch face.

OK, back to Craig and the iPad OS (and he's able to remind us about the still very new iPads...). Guess what, it's all very similar but bigger when it comes to the Photos app, but there will be a new floating tab bar / side bar in some apps (potentially familiar to Apple TV users).

And – one for the fans – Calculator is coming to iPad (believe it or not, the app didn't come to the iPad until now). But it's going to have a bonus feature – Math Note. You can draw with the Apple Pencil and as you write the equal sign and some AI reads your writing and completes your equation for you.

This actually does look like 'proper AI' (at least in Apple's carefully planned slick presentation!)

Time for the Mac. Craig does a 'superhero run' to another part of the donut. 

Sequoia seems to feature a lot of the tools we've already seen, including Math Notes in Notes.

iPhone mirroring might be a star new feature though – you can access your phone in a window on your Mac desktop; use your pointer as a finger. iPhone notifications will be mixed into the MacOS stream.

The iPhone looks locked, or shows standby of that's the mode it's in – so people in whatever room of the house you left your phone in can't see what you're doing, and (at least in Apple apps) you can drag and drop between apps.

Nice! (Or the beginning of the end of desktop apps?)

Footnote there – Safari offers 4 hours more battery than Chrome when streaming video, Didn't say which Apple device, but that's something to remember (or be mindful of if you feel you have to use Chrome).

Ooo... and more AI – article summaries. Didn't say how it was being done though.

Tim's back – we're about to find out the big AI answers...

Starting by laying out the goals – powerful, intuitive, integrated, personal, private.

Here goes...

"Apple Intelligence" – well, it's not as nice a name as Siri. Oh, and back to Craig.

He dismisses chat tools that know things through what they've learned from world models, saying that Apple's approach is to work with personal, private knowledge of the user. Personal context. Potentially very interesting angle, but is it sales-speak?

Writing tools, proofing tools, summarizing, OK. Well, we saw a bit of that.

"Now you can create totally original images" he says, and demonstrates a cartoon image of "someone in your photo library". Sketch, illustration, and animation.

OK, so it can make generic emoji-like images because it knows the names of people in your Photos.

Now we're moving onto 'on device processing' and privacy. It's going to come back to the processing power of the M series chips, and on-device semantic indexes.

Many but not all are on-device, he says; now promoting security of Apple's cloud – 'Private Cloud Compute'.

Now we get to find out what that means. Siri gets 1.5 billion requests a day, apparently (which probably isn't that many if you think about it).

You can now type to Siri, and Siri can now remember context, though she still sounds a lot more robotic than Scarlett Joh—, er, I mean Chat GPT.

Siri can also work with Photo requests i.e. – "Show me photos of Dave in an orange coat" and then  "Make this photo pop".

My inner cynic is deeply worried by Apple's integration of Apple Intelligence into Apple Mail (the example being demonstrated) – not because it looks bad, but because of the potential unforeseen results. These days we all have a lot of email because, well, it's easier than print mail was. Now we barely have to read or write it, what's going to happen?!

Apple are also creating a dedicated 'Image Playground' app (and API) for the 'genmoji' for the quirky illustrations the system can create – no generated photos though. Not this time anyway, Apple are not risking that copyright minefield!

Or did I speak too soon?

There is a new 'cleanup tool' in Photos though – as expected – similar to Google's – demoed removing an unwanted stranger in the background of a beach photo.

Search in videos was also mentioned – that has the potential to be interesting as it can be much more time-consuming to hunt through video clips. Apple Intelligence can also create movies with a narrative arc, apparently (though how different that is to the current tool I'm not sure).

Apple Intelligence will be free... BUT... 

...ChatGPT 4.0 can be 'borrowed' by Siri – who asks permission to use the system first. This does unlock ChatGPT's image generation and is also going to be free to some extent but paid features will also be available for subscribers – so Apple are going to unlock the door for OpenAI to charge users for their features via Siri after all.

And that's your lot. 

It was a big one though, and as Tim Cook wraps up he's not kidding that it's going to be a big week for developers who need to get to grips with all the new features and tools to integrate with AI, for features like the ones demonstrated – asking a photo app to apply the cinematic filter to the photo of Tim I took yesterday.

Given ChatGPT Plus comes in at $20/month and Cook was vague about how long 'other languages' outside American English would take be supported, there is a lot of potential for irritation as well as excitement from this event. It'll be interesting to follow the reactions and I'll keep posting!

We've started full write-ups of some of the stories of WWDC, including news about Apple's plans Blackmagic and Vision Pro content creation (it might still make sense to read the earlier entries in this first) and the new AI tool to create 3D images from 2D.

Interestingly Apple's share price seemed to drop about 2% during the initial WWDC announcement, with a lot of people seeing the potential Trojan horse for Microsoft / OpenAI which Apple have allowed, but it now seems to have rallied and then some as the reaction sinks in.

Also as part of the post-match we've just published a story on how you can access the new iOS features – including Magic Eraser copy – early (and why you shouldn't).

We're seeing a lot of tweets about Apple's decisions and announcements at WWDC, not least from Elon Musk, who seems to be deliberately attempting to start some kind of CEO war. Musk seems to have, at best, misunderstood the way Apple is restricting ChatGPT's access to user's information.

Many have spotted that Siri – the voice assistant inside the iPhone and assorted Apple products – is lacking a bit in AI smarts compared to leading competitors. Now a rumor is circulating that Apple intends to catch up – but charge users a subscription fee for the privilege.

Showing up as the WWDC hype builds (but actually seen on Reddit a few months ago) this image apparently simulates an Apple sales page showing a list of features which might be reserved for 'Siri+' like 'Advanced Conversational Capabilities' and 'Proactive Assistance'...

Obviously, the 'word' of an image posted in an unofficial Marques Brownlee community on Reddit (though apparently by a developer with a couple of years standing on the platform) isn't exactly a co – and let's be fair it might well be traced further back – isn't very convincing evidence.

It certainly isn't without precedent for Apple to charge subscriptions, though. Users of the best HomeKit cameras know, for example, that paying a fee to Apple opens storage and services. And of course Apple Music and the like are available as part of  Apple One.

More reliable sources like Macrumors are being somewhat more circumspect and steering clear of this altogether, and they might be right to.

Personally, while I can see the logic the rumor-monger might have sought to illustrate, I doubt Apple would attempt to do it this way. 

I imagine trying to divide Siri in half would be a marketing nightmare: while there are undoubtedly some Apple users keen to get access to more AI features – and others keen to avoid them – Siri+ makes it difficult to sell iPhones to either camp.

Siri is a brand with amazing recognition (witness The Big Bang Theory episode 5:14 "The Beta Test Initiation") but by having to upsell customers on a subscription Apple would inherently have to "clarify" the difference – in other words tell (probably) most customers they were getting something worse than, perhaps, they thought.

We've seen that AI features can be motivating features in phone sales – the new Google Pixel 8a is partly sold on its photo editing AI. For my money that's the kind of tech we're more likely to see at WWDC, as well as some AI improvements (perhaps even a deal or acquisition to placate Apple's investors), but a subscription? We'll see.

See whether the iPhone is the best camera phone.

This year's "One More Thing...", Apple's first new product category in eight years – after the Apple Watch – turned out to be a 3D camera. Their words, not ours.

OK, the Vision Pro, as the long-awaited augmented reality goggles are being called, do have a bit more going for them (as our full coverage shows), but Apple is making a big deal of the photographic functionality. 

That includes a top button that can act as a shutter. We also saw the playback of eerie but cute 3D videos of a kids' birthday party hovering in front of the wearer as we were told it needed to be experienced. It looked much like a moment in a movie that fades back to an older, happier time. It becomes even weirder when you realised the 

Vision Pro also alerts people to the fact you're recording. What looks like a visor actually has a screen (Eyesight) that can either show your eyes or display a graphic – a bit like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica – when you're otherwise engaged. This is used to "flash" or indicate recording.

When you realise the family 3D videos were caught using Eyesight, by someone wearing the Vision Pro, it's a little harder to imagine the situation as quite so cute!

The Vision Pro design is built around a three-dimensionally formed piece of curved glass and aluminum alloy frame. This holds two displays, totaling 23 megapixels, and is held in place by a 3D-knitted headband. The headband also has spatial audio speakers built-in.

The battery is worn at belt height, or tucked into a pocket, on a trailing cable. This isn't unusual in FPV goggles, though it seems a bit un-Apple. The light seal can be adjusted and Zeis magnetic lenses added over the main 3-piece lenses for each eye.

If you want a 3D camera – which can also serve as a revolutionary new computer, eye-worn iPad, portable cinema (with 3D), and a whole lot more, you've got time to start saving. Apple announced they'll be available in the USA only in early 2024, with other regions to follow, at $3,499 (about £2,820 / AU$5,300).

Best VR headsets
Best 360 cameras

Apple's WWDC – World Wide Developer Conference – is when the company opens its heavy curtains to reveal what it's been working on, and how it sees tech moving. In theory, it is to help developers prepare, but we're all looking – and Apple knows it!

A select few are invited to Apple Park, in Cupertino, California, but the main event is online. The highlight is always the Keynote, where we expect to see product announcements and new software for the developers to get their teeth into. Since the iPhone is arguably the world's most popular camera, and the company has the power to change industries, everyone should be interested in what happens at WWDC23.

You can watch the keynote live here at 1pm EDT / 6pm BST (today, June 5, 2023) and follow along with our live build-up and analysis of the products, especially from photographers' eyes. 

It's fair to say that the rumor mill – which started with some discussion of a 15-inch MacBook Air (which could be a very nice tool for photographers indeed) – has now reached a fever pitch. Some are expecting to see Apple's long-awaited mixed-reality headset. Who knows what that could mean for photography – some say it has 12 cameras in it, while others point out it was expected last year and never appeared!

We've also seen some price cuts on Apple's monitors, which suggests the Mac Studio (rumored to be getting a refresh of its own) might get a new partner on the desk. That could be very interesting for photographers.

What you definitely won't see is a new iPhone – they are always announced at a separate event. We also suspect that, despite the invites using the tag "Swiftly developing," a new film camera is unlikely!

Stay tuned to this page to find out.

Apple monitors come along fairly infrequently, but it's a little interesting that Amazon – in the US, at least – is discounting the Apple Studio Display by 16% – big for a discount on an Apple product. Back in April we did hear some talk of a new Apple display, thought to sit between the $1,599 / £1,499 27-inch Studio Display and the $4,999 / £4,599 32-inch Pro Display XDR. Perhaps it's coming, or does this mean the Studio Display is just getting a refresh?

• Apple Studio Display discount on Amazon (US only)

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has gone as far as to put a codename – J475 – to the next iteration of the Mac Studio. The current desktop is called J375, and is powered by M1 processors, but the M2 Max has been available in MacBook Pros since January. Could this be the final piece of evidence that we're going to see an M2 Max and perhaps even M2 Ultra-powered Mac Studio on Monday?

Apple fans have been waiting a long time to see the not-yet-revealed AR headset, so you'll have to forgive them this. Made me smile too, though in all fairness the Meta Quest 3, just announced, will ship this fall and the Quest 2 can be picked up for about a tenth of what some say Apple's offering will cost... soooo.... which door will people really choose (if they ever get the choice)?
Definitely click the See More on this Tweet box so this makes sense!!

Looking at AR / mixed reality / goggles a little more seriously, we do find ourselves starting to ask about their potential usefulness in the real world. Reaching out, grabbing, and manipulating part of a data set looks great in the movies, and might actually make a lot of sense in Photoshop. Or would your arms end up getting tired?

Click the See More to see clips of how the system might work.

OK, one more on the goggles then I'll leave it for a bit. None other than Morgan Stanley reports that Apple will begin production on the goggles this October, suggesting they'll have to tell WWDC (and developers) about it at WWDC23.

There is also a bit of a show of faith in the tech – an increase of $5 to $190 as a target prices for Apple stock. Oh, and they're calling it 'Reality Pro' and projecting that Apple will be shipping 3.4 million in financial year 2026 (but initial sales as early as December this year, at least for developers, in the low hundreds of thousands).

One more thing... they say invest in the competition too (Apple's interest in a tech is good for others in the space... like Meta Quest!)

Looking over the various WWDC23 bingo designs I'm disappointed to see that almost nobody is considering a new QuickTake digital camera. Apple has done it before... in 1994. (Cue swirling mists of time music if you click that link!)

I can't keep away from Twitter, from nostalgic pictures of developers in deck chairs watching WWDC on big screens, to the seemingly thousands of announcement summary graphics, Apple style, which enthusiasts have been working on. Some show aMacBook Air 15", a stubby Mac Pro (a bit less likely), there is a 'next-gen CarPlay occasionally, much speak of updated OS and – of course – an all-new xrOS / Reality Pro.

Less frequent but perhaps more sensible we see ARKit 7 and RealityKit 2 – updates to Apple's existing augmented reality systems are bound to be in there.

USB-C Airpods? Nah, probably with the new iPhones later in the year.

OK, doing my morning (yes, it's morning where I am) Twitter trawl as WWDC hoves into view and it seems most folk are happy to just wait/sleep until the big event kicks off now! Some might not be able to sleep though...

Fans of industrial action might enjoy some fireworks at Apple Park today. The Writers Guild of America will be holding an "Apple Day of Action" targeting the Apple TV+ streaming platform. If nothing else, this might expose – as if you didn't know – the fact we'll all be watching a pre-recorded keynote, as Apple has done since 2020. Yes, that means an editor somewhere knows something you don't... but not long now...

Journaling on your iPhone? Some tell us there will be an Apple 'Journal' app announced with the iOS update at WWDC – with very tightly integrated location services. An exclusive social media tool, a diary, or a mental health feature? No one seems completely sure but be prepared for some lovers and some privacy freak-outs!

Just a bit over an hour to go. What would you sell, if anything, to buy an Apple headset? Remember it'll apparently cost about the same as a Sony A7 IV and a decent lens or two (and might not be available outside the US at launch).

Something we've not talked about yet – will Apple find a way to mention HomeKit today? We all know that it could be better, even without AR! 50 mins to go...

Drone users, and especially FPV fans might already be asking "Will Apple's goggles work for me?" It's possible they will out of the box – several people have mentioned the idea of all existing iPad apps working. So, as you use a phone as a monitor with the radio control, could it connect to the goggles? Will there be a USB-C port... or Lightning...

People are taking their seats at Apple Park now. Skies are sunny, excitement is in the air. Not a lot of chatter about potential improvements to the camera app on the iPhone!

OK... get your drink of choice to hand and take your seats, it's nearly go time! You've got 5 mins.

Ooo... quick thought for videomakers – iPad Final Cut Pro a week or so ago, and the headset running iPad apps means could mean you can edit video simply by waving your hands around. Hope no one stood next to me on the train does that though...

Oooo.... it's started. Sort of.

By which I mean the animated Apple has started doing something different and there is music now... the stage is set...

Tim Cook and Craig are on the stage, promising incredible announcements. The video hasn't started yet.

Correction!!!!! It has!!!
There's a developer... he's imaging, with bubbles...

Lovely intro. Now Tim is promising a "Very special day of announcements" by the Apple rainbow (and telling developers they're lovely).

Biggest announcements ever promised. Exciting new products. But we're gonna start with the Mac...

John Ternus starts talking about Apple silicon, and the Macbook Air 13"... I wonder what's coming...

...Yep! a 15-inch MacBook Air. Doen't look like there's a SD Card port though.

MacBook Air 11.5mm thin / 3.3 pounds, two USB-C on the left, headphone on the right. There's a notch. 1080P camera, 3-mic array, 6 speakers (inc woofers), and M2 chip – 12x faster than Intel. 18 hours battery (not 24 folks, sorry).

15-inch is still fanless, 500-nit brightness, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU
Starts at $1,299 or $1,999 for education – available next week.

OK, well that's one prediction ticked off, now we're on the pro products – and there is a real sense of rush here in the Mac section. Must be something coming. We're on the Mac Studio, which is getting M2 Max – a 25% boost they tell us.
Also as predicted, M2 Ultra arrives with 24 cores, 76 GPU cores and 32 core neural engine. Up to 192GB unified memory supported (bet that'll cost you)!

See our full Apple Mac Studio M2 (2023) review

22 Streams of 8K Pro Res... OK, I that'd really help me out reviewing the DJI Inspire 3!!

Ah... seems like a Mac Pro is coming too... or something with PCI...

...Indeed, but no new box. A Mac Pro with M2 Ultra, which they tell us beats the Intel equivalent 3x, but adds the PCI expansion ports.
Intel does it with Afterburner. M2 Ultra will do that off the bat. But there are 8 thunderbolt ports too and 6 open gen-4 PCI ports.
Tower and rack mount versions of the cheese grater are on offer.

Mac Studio still starts at $1999, Mac Pro $6,999.

OK, that's it for Mac. Tim is back, strolling in the park. What's next? Some praise for developers... and then software platforms...

Craig stands with his legs very wide apart as he announces iOS before shifting a little for comfort. The 'Phone' app is getting an update. Looks like you can choose your own 'poster' – what the person sees at the other end – and appears on your contact card.

Phone is also getting 'Live Voicemail' – it'll transcribe, on screen, what is being said to your voicemail. Hope no one is watching the screen!

Messages is getting a refresh too... search will be less bad. Some other refinements. And 'check in' to automatically let people know you're home safely. It can even share your battery level so people will know not to bother you(?) / if your excuse about battery was true!

Photos can be turned into stickers for messaging, and Live photos into animates stickers, which you can now add to messages. Could be fun, and it's added system-wide. And it'll be there for 3rd party apps.

"NameDrop" as a way to pass content or contact data between devices like AirDrop. Better idea than name!

Oh, please, please let this one be true: auto correct to be – I'm gonna say "less bad." Apparently. It won't fight you repeatedly.

Ah, so Journals is going to be connected to the 'Memories' thinggys that Photos shows you. It will offer you 'suggestions' from your photos as well as your music – and developers can get in on the act too. You can assemble them into a Journal entry, and follow prompts like "What was the highlight of your visit?"

Sounds a bit junior school...?

Standby. A horizontal mode with a kind of alarm clock view which will go well with my Anker 3-in-1 magnetic charging point.

It's going to be a lot easier for your TV to set off all your devices. You won't need to say "Hey" before you say "Siri."
OK, on to the iPad...

Craig again. It's almost like this is edited (oh, it is). iPad OS17 will have interactive widgets. And you'll be able to personalize the lock screen like iPhone. 

Was he just a bit sarcastic about the iPad – as he shows 'multiple timers' he added "We truly live in an age of wonders." Don't break the aura, Apple.

Ooo... looks like the iPad will be able to use an external camera like the one on an Apple monitor. Nice add. OK, that's it for iPad. Now Mac OS...

Mac OS Sonoma will be the next edition. It's where wine is from. Californian wine. The first thing on the list is 'stunning new screensavers' which look a lot like a few more of the gorgeous drone videos seen on Apple TV.

Desktop widgets... that sounds a bit, well, historic. Though they can be run straight from the iPhone – example being turning on your car's AC from your iMac.

Jeremy Sandmel is now talking to me about gaming. On Macs. Sounding a bit pleading already as he asks developers to bring games to the Mac, which will have Game Mode that can optimise the game's control of the system. Stray and No Man's Sky - big Playstation Games - on the list.
And a Game Porting Toolkit. Wow, Apple really want developers to run games on Mac.

Ah and as hinted at Hideo Kojima is bringing Death Standing to the Mac (so the presentation is now subtitled). Looks nice. Me, I like to compartmentalise – I have a PS5 for games – but I could be persuaded to part with it.

Video conferencing is next – apparently the AI will let you make yourself a bubble in front of your presentation. Also gesture-based fireworks animations can be triggered behind you with two thumbs up. Hmm.....

Coming up on the hour and we're now on Safari – the lovely if less-than-popular web browser. Privacy is the big play here. And, finally, profiles for the work and play sides of your life.

Web Apps could be handy though – basically a link to the website that can have an app icon in the dock. Handy in an era of web based apps.

Audio & Home next. Might not be much for photographers here as they talk AirPods...

OK, so home cameras are going to be a bit easier to find – we're told – from a revised tvOS. But the big change is that FaceTime – using your phone as a camera – will work on Apple TV. Yep, family calls on the big screen.

Looks like it might also be a way of trying to get people to watch TV together remotely. Of course they'll all need subscriptions to Apple TV+
On to WatchOS...

Again with the widgets. Slightly different designs, bit more room for developers to play with on the bigger watches. Yet more watch faces. And Snoopy. That's fun. But show me a new product. It's been 8 years since Apple entered a new product category (and that was the watch...)

OK, I take that back – cadence sensors can now be connected to my watch. Time to sell my Garmin!

Hikers / nature photographers might find the 'remembers the last place you had cell coverage' feature being added to Watch's Compass app. Not to mention the contour map. That's pretty cool and could help a lot of outdoor photographers.

Chat windows that I'm following are not being quite so enthusiastic though. People really want to see a new product.... but we're on to health...

...perhaps they're really not going to do it. Perhaps everyone was wrong. Or perhaps mental health is the last thing before.

Oooo.... now Vision Health. Now why might Apple be thinking about that? Glasses do, after all, make it difficult to wear goggles.

It'll tell you to old your iPad further away too, if it thinks you should. That's going to be annoying. Anyway....

Right, that's it for software. We're back with Craig and he looks and sounds like he's done... but he's gonna have to hand back to Tim. 

Big stage now... is this it?

ONE MORE THING!!!!!!!!!

New AR Platform - this is it! OK, it's got some cameras - looks like snowboarding goggles mixed with an iPhone.

Those renders weren't so far off. Wow!

Vision Pro

"See, hear and interact with digital content just like it's there"

Your surroundings become an infinite canvas.

Well, no need for that big TV now – if you live alone anyway. Spatial audio and a massive screen is one of the examples.

Tim very clear that this "Marks the beginning of a journey" which suggests that this is gonna be pricey and hard to get hold of.

The home view is new - round app icons, a bit like WatchOS meets iOS.
Things 'cast shadows' on furniture. You can place apps nearer or further.
OK, this looks properly amazing.

I'm wondering how much some used Google GLASS are worth right now...

So the 'digital crown' lets you block some or all of the view in front of the screen, so AR or VR or somewhere in between is an option.

No hand controllers – browse by looking, or with hands. Tap and flick.

Ah - your eyes are displayed using 'EyeSight' – it's just a screen on the front that shows your eyes, but helps people nearby see whether you're looking at them - or you're in Cylon mode.

Which suggests you can't actually see the room through them, AR style. You must be seeing everything in video. What is the latency, right? Possibly very weird?

Virtual keyboard or dictation options for typing. Or the real keyboard with bluetooth. You can also bring your Mac into play by looking at it, then expand your own 4K display in the air (was that the monitor we hard heard about?))

I saw a trailing cable in that Apple Vision Pro shot – presumably you wear a battery at belt / pocket level like a lot of FPV goggles (you know what I mean, drone fans).

If this is Apple Vision Pro, how much less with Apple Vision Studio, Apple Vision Mini, and Apple iVision cost? And how long before they come out?

Vision Pro is Apple's first 3D camera we're told!

It's easy to capture a spacial video of a fun moment, we're told, and they can be experienced afterward, though obviously you have to wear the thing to take the photos. The screen on the front will flash the Cylon eye.

Cinema environment lets you turn any room into a cinema. OK, not that surprising a feature. Is starting to make me wonder about the resolution. And which streaming services will provide an app.
Oh, and 3D movies (Avatar clip shown) will be supported.

You can play your favourite Apple arcade games. Oh, sorry, Apple Arcade. So there are 100 but most of them probably don't benefit from a big magical floaty screen!

Bob Iger of Disney joins Tim on stage... seems they're getting in on the act...

Disney have some ideas for glasses, apparently. Which means Star Wars games. View basketball from the drone camera. Have Mickey Mouse run around your house. Have DisneyWorld on the kitchen table. Hmmm... I'm actually getting less excited about the goggles already...

Only actual announcement - Disney Plus will be there on Day 1. Well, that must have kept the developers up nights.

OK, back to actually finding out about the Vision Pro:
Lightweight materials. Front is 3D laminated glass as a lens for eyesight and polished for all the cameras that perform eyesight.
Custom Aluminium frame around face.
Computer inside the front, cooled 'by performance thermal design'
Thousands of human heads studied.
Spatial audio pods
3D-knitted headband attaches with secure lock, and it can be changed (for size and, possibly, style).
Zeis lens attachments with magnets
External high performance battery connected by woven cable (did I hear 2 hours?)

Pixel time – micro OLED – 64 pixels in same space as iPhone pixels. 23 million pixels across both panels. Custom 3 element lens. Video can be true 4K at massive scale and sharp fine text, we're told.

Sound has a new integrated dual-driver system. Matches to room using audio ray-tracing from sensors.

2 cameras per eye track eyes. A lot of cameras on the outside too! Two below each eye, one on the side, and others. Total of 12 as we've heard.

M2 processor gets a friend, called R1 to process the input and 'virtually' eliminate lag. 12 milliseconds, apparently – less than a blink. To be fair that is very good, if true.

visionOS (not xrRS) it is. And it sounds like we'll hear 'Spatial Computing' a lot.

The 'digital persona' sounds a bit like a Canon idea we reported on recently, but clearly it'll be all about a more 3D version of telepresence – so popular with big bosses for international conference calls. It is 3D variant of FaceTime.

We're onto the developers tools, and 'Reality Composer Pro' – seems like a tool to help developers have a go even if they can't afford the Vision Pro!!
We're also going to get Unity games natively on Vision Pro, apparently.
And a new App Store.

Optic ID security – it looks at your Iris – takes the place of Face ID.

Ahh... feels like we're getting to the price.
And it's $3,499 – even more!
And only in the US early next year. Other countries later.

Well, that's it. Wow. That was exciting. And expensive. Very, very expensive. But I still want one. Apple can still do it. (Except the Disney bit – that was a wasted few moments).

Now Tim is doing a real wrap up...

Watching the ad for Vision Pro at the end. Already wondering how they'll show these things at Apple Stores!

OK, I'm off for a rest – will check back in with other WWDC events later.

The morning after... OK, well it's been fun listening to or watching non-tech reporters  (and even a few tech reporters) trying to get their heads around the Vision Pro and why it matters).

Lot of discussion from Apple Park about how they're not as light as you might imagine, and so perhaps that 2 hours is enough. 

Oh, and it's USB-C charging.

And, finally, despite showing Avatar 2 as a 3D movie, it's worth noting that the film is 3h12 – so the experience won't be immersive unless you sit within reach of a power point (you can connect directly to a Mac, apparently).

Apple's annual WWDC (Worldwide Developers' Conference) will be kicking off today (06 June) at 10am PDT/ 1pm EDT / 6pm BST (or 1am ACT tomorrow 08 June in Australia). While we're not expecting to see many hardware announcements, it does look like we'll be getting an official look at a wide variety of software updates, including iOS 16, watchOS 9, macOS 13, iPadOS 16 and tvOS 16. 

Apple has already had one big launch event this year. In March, in just the single press conference the Californian tech giant launched Mac Studio, Studio Display, the latest iPhone SE, and a new iPad Air.

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While we're mostly expecting software announcements today, there's still an outside chance that we'll see some Apple kit. And the news of the new operating systems will undoubtedly give us some heavy hints about the capabilities of the next generation of hardware - such as the forthcoming iPhone 14 family. 

You will be able to follow along, with the 33rd Apple WWDC event on Apple's website, or using the YouTube link above.

So what are we hoping to see later on at WWDC22? One of the segments of the presentation that we will paying close attention to will be the one on iOS 16 - the next generation of operating software for next iPhone generation. We suspect that here we will find out how much truth there is in the iPhone 14 rumor that iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have an always on LCD display. 

We may even get a sneak peak on what this might look like. An always-on display has been a feature on certain Android phones for years - but we suspect Apple will create some neat widgets that remain visible on the lock screen, with a dash of Cupertino customization.

If it is hardware you are really interested in seeing, then the hottest tip on the rumor mill is for a new generation of the MacBook Air. The MacBook Air 2022 will build on the M1 MacBook Air that was launched in November 2020 - and will almost certainly use the faster chipsets that Apple is now using in its latest Mac products.

Another bit of tech that we know Apple is working on is its own VR headset. We won't see the Apple iGoggles (or whatever they call them) today. But with virtual reality and the metaverse becoming more of an everyday reality - then developers will be keen to get hold of whatever tools that Apple will make available to them to help make the next generation of VR games and applications. The headset itself is said to scheduled for launch in 2023 - but we love this render dreamt up by visual artist Ian Zelbo

The next iPad operating system is likely to offer changes that will make Apple's iPad function more like a desktop computer - which will help the iPad defend itself better as an alternative to the increasingly popular Windows 2-in-1 laptops. As part of its multitasking features, there is a rumor that apps will have resizable windows - just like you have with Mac OS on a MacBook.

Apple CEO is up and about and already excited about his presentation later... he has just Tweeted this…

This colorful bingo card, courtesy of Basic Apple Guy, is a fun way to remind yourselves of some of the rumored announcements for WWDC22 keynote. We'd forgotten that Apple Classical - Apple Music more orchestral brother - is very likely to be one of the new services to be announced later on.

Less than hour to go until the Apple WWDC keynote for 2022…

With the cost of living crisis starting to bite around the globe - will we hear about the much rumored Buy Now, Pay Later scheme for iPhones and Macbooks? This will let you get the latest tech without having to stump up the full cost up front? We suspect is Apple does roll out a leasing service, it will prove really popular amongst working photographers and content creators.

There are currently 114,902 for Apple's YouTube stream to start…

175,756 now waiting - and the countdown music has just started. Get set everyone…

And we're off!

Tim Cook says there are 34 million Apple developers... that's some number!

iOS 16 is the first up... and the All New Lock screen.

So you can alter fonts, and scale the background photo to suit. And add widgets on top, such as the weather. And you can have a stack of different ones to suit your mood, or the time of day

Notification will now roll in, so they don't fill up your screen if you get lots of messages or push notifications.

Focus will now be able to change your Lock Screen - so a different look and background picture for work and play.

Messages are getting three highly-requested features:
- Now you can edit a message after it is sent
- You can unsend a message
- And there is now a way to mark a message so you know you have to go back to it later

Facetime will allow you to access SharePlay from within FaceTime - but also from messages. So you can send an invitation to watch a movie together, say

Dictation will now keep the keyboard open - so you can combine voice and typewriter to create your missives.

Live Text comes to video - "great for copying code samples", we are told

We'll need to see that again - you can cutout something from a photo, and then add it to a message - just by pressing on the element in the photo. That's AI magic

Tap to Pay with iPhone will start this month. We wrote about this before - so get the skinny here

Apple Pay will also start offering a pay later option - and a new order tracking service

Ben Wood, Chief Analyst, at CCS Insight - has just shared some views on the latest announcements:

Apple Pay

““Apple Pay Later” looks a lot like popular “buy now, pay later” service @Klarna. US Apple Pay users will be able to spread payments over 8 weeks. Apple’s challenge will be to ensure it does not generative negative optics if users get into extra debt by using the service.”

Lock Screen

“Many of Apple’s Lock Screen updates close the gap with capabilities already available on Android but they will be widely welcomed by iPhone owners overloaded with notifications and wanting more info at a glance.

“The Lock Screen tools Apple had unveiled for developers will lead to a flurry of app-related widgets appearing in the next twelve months.”

iMessage

“Apple is determined to ensure iMessage remains competitive with WhatsApp and other messaging apps. The addition of “edit” and “undo send” underline this and will be welcome additions.”

648,512 of us watching this on YouTube now

A better way to share photos?
Yes, using iCloud Shared Library - that allows up to five people to share and collaborate on an album.

You can share image direct from the iPhone camera - so great for a group holiday, or a wedding, where everyone is taking shots of the same event.

So now Apple's latest take on the Smart Home - and a new cross-platform communication standard called Matter. Apple's own HomeKit is one of the standards supported. 

43 minutes in - and the iOS section is over. Now it is time for Watch OS - and four new watch faces is the first feature we are being told about.

Next up Mac OS

Next generation of Apple Silicon - and a big hello to M2

20 billion transistors - 25% more than M1
And up to 24GB of unified memory!

18% greater performance than M1, whilst using a quarter of the power

Up to 10 cores - two more than M1

15.8 trillion operations per second - 40% increase on M1

Macbook Air will be the first with the M2 chip - so at least that part of the rumor mill was right! And we have our first new piece of hardware of the keynote :)

11.3mm thick and four colors - but not a pastel shade in sight

New 13.6 in display

38% faster with Premiere Pro - 20% faster with Photoshop (over M1)

New fast charger option - 50% power in 30 minuteS

M2 also coming to Macbook Pro - we didn't see that one coming!

Upto 24GB of unified memory - so 3x faster for ProRes processing

New MacBook Air M2 will cost $1199

$1299 for MacBook Pro M2

So new MacBook Air is $200 on the existing M1 Air

Apple is aiming to eliminate passwords for good - with the launch of Passkeys. And the aim is to make this cross-platform

Ben Wood, Chief Analyst, at CCS Insight has been back in touch again with his take on the latest announcements:

Apple Silicon

“Apple Silicon has been centre stage at WWDC since it was unveiled in 2020. It now spans the entirety of the Mac line-up. The speed and execution of this transition has been startling and is a major concern to Apple’s competitors.”

Apple Watch

“The updates to watchOS tick the boxes in a number of areas, notably for sleep tracking and better sports tracking. Perfect for putting more competitive pressure on Fitbit (Google) and Garmin. Let’s just hope Series 8 comes with much better battery life.

“It’s great that Apple is adding more granular sleep data – but it certainly looks very similar to Fitbit’s sleep tracking app. The Apple Watch will definitely need better battery life to make it really compelling.”

My Home

“Interesting that Apple appears to consider the advent of the Connectivity Standards Alliance #Matter standard as a good opportunity to reinvigorate its efforts in the smart home space – it certainly needs to close the gap with Amazon and Google.

“This cross-industry initiative, supported by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung and many others, is compatible with HomeKit. This is good news for consumers given the fragmentation of smart home standards to date. To support this, Apple has revamped the “My Home” app to make it more intuitive. Users can see their entire range of smart home devices in a single view as well as being grouped into categories such as climate, lighting, security and more.”

Car Play

“Apple might not be making a car, but its vision for #CarPlay certainly shows it want to play a big role in the automotive space while ensuring that iPhone and the Apple ecosystem is front and centre for consumers.”

Apple Pay

““Apple Pay Later” looks a lot like popular “buy now, pay later” service @Klarna. US Apple Pay users will be able to spread payments over 8 weeks. Apple’s challenge will be to ensure it does not generative negative optics if users get into extra debt by using the service.”

Lock Screen

“Many of Apple’s Lock Screen updates close the gap with capabilities already available on Android but they will be widely welcomed by iPhone owners overloaded with notifications and wanting more info at a glance.

“The Lock Screen tools Apple had unveiled for developers will lead to a flurry of app-related widgets appearing in the next twelve months.”

iMessage

“Apple is determined to ensure iMessage remains competitive with WhatsApp and other messaging apps. The addition of “edit” and “undo send” underline this and will be welcome additions.”

This is very cool - you will be able to use your iPhone as a webcam for your MacBook. A neat accessory lets you clip the phone to the phone

Deskview will let you show your desktop and your face with just the one camera!

The holders are being produced by Belkin for APPLE

And now (and perhaps finally?) it is time for iPad OS

Collaboration is the main message, and we are now being given a sneak peek of a new brainstorming tool called Freeform. It will come to iPad, iPhone and Mac later this year... looks like mood boards on the move.

Reference Mode promises a color-calbrated workflow for iPad Pro - we look forward to hearing more about that

Stage Manager promises multi-tasking on iPad to a new level, we are told.

So you can see the open windows of recently used apps at the side, so you can switch quickly - and remember what you are doing!

Allows up to eight apps running on screen simultaneously - if you are using an external display

Back to Tim for a summation - and promises that all the new OS's will be launched this fall, with Betas available imminently for developers.

And that's a wrap!

It's that time of year again! The WWDC 2021 event is officially underway, kicking off with an Apple Keynote that's introduced iOS 15 to Apple iPhones. This new software update features some great new camera and photo features, including updates to FaceTime, Live Text and Photo Memories.

With over a year of constant video calls under our collective belts, it's clear that Apple felt a substantial update to FaceTime was warranted. Billed as "more natural, comfortable and lifelike", the new FaceTime features are all about making it sound as if the people you're video calling are in the same room. 

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This is partly due to 'Spatial Audio', which spreads out the sounds of multi-person video calls to make it sounds as if their voices are coming from the position they're spaced on your screen. Apple has now added a Voice Isolation feature, which uses machine learning to distinguish sounds and prioritize your voice so that it comes through crystal clear. Meanwhile, the 'Wide Spectrum' option is able to pick up a "wide symphony of sound". 

Meanwhile, the video aspect of FaceTime has also seen an update, with users being able to select a Grid view option that enables you to see every face on the call. Plus, FaceTime now incorporates Portrait mode, giving users the ability to naturally blur the background and put the focus on you. 

If you often take business calls on your iPhone, then you'll be pleased to hear that users will now be able to schedule calls with FaceTime Links. These links can be shared via iMessages, email and more. Plus, Android users can even join FaceTime Links as well. 

Alternatively, if you prefer to use your iPhone for play rather than work, this next update is for you. SharePlay enables users to listen to music and watch videos with their friends over FaceTime. Platforms such as Disney Plus, HBO Max, TikTok and more will be integrated with FaceTime, enabling users to explore their favorite video content together. 

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Apple's annual WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) will be kicking off today (07 June) at 10AM PDT/ 1PM EDT / 6PM BST / 1AM ACT (08 June). While we're not expecting to see many hardware announcements, it does look like we'll be getting an official look at a wide variety of software updates, including iOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS 12, iPadOS 15 and tvOS 15. 

Apple's Spring Loaded event in April heralded the arrival of the iMac M1 2021 and iPad Pro 2021 – both of which have been very well received. It also saw the hotly-anticipated arrival of AirTags, which are Bluetooth trackers perfect for keeping tabs on your wallet, keys or camera kitbag.

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While we're mostly expecting software announcements today, there's still an outside chance that we'll see some Apple hardware – although this isn't a certainty. Read on below to discover the five things you can expect from the WWDC 2021 – and the one thing we can't expect, but we could end up seeing. 

5 things to expect from WWDC 2021

1. iOS 15

Apple's latest iOS update will likely be the biggest announcement of WWDC 2021. Rumors suggest that we'll be seeing updates to Messages, Safari, Health and Maps – but you won't be able to enjoy these improvements unless you're using an iPhone 7 or later. While we'll probably be seeing iOS 15 announced today, it's unlikely that the actual update will be officially rolled out until September. However, there will likely be a developer beta and public beta launched before that point. 

2. iPadOS 15

iPadOS 15 is also expected at WWDC 2021, featuring multitasking improvements and the ability to put widgets anywhere on the home screen (according to these rumors). We would expect iPadOS 15 to be pretty similar in functionality to iOS15, as it usually is. We'll also be expecting separate developer and public betas before the official launch around September 2021. 

3. macOS 12

We haven't seen many rumors regarding macOS 12, but we're still expecting the latest generation of macOS software at WWDC 2021. However, don't expect to see the software on your computer until later on this year.

4. watchOS 8

It looks as if the Apple Watch lineup will be receiving a software update as well, with watchOS 8 due to be announced at WWDC 2021. One of the potential updates to watchOS 7 is the introduction of a Mind app that's designed to help boost mental wellbeing. There's also speculation that the Health app will be added too – and we're likely to see some new watch faces as well.

5. tvOS 15

It seems pretty likely that we'll be seeing tvOS 15 appear at the WWDC 2021 event. According to The Verifier, we might be seeing a refreshed design and a children's mode with full parental control and screen time management tools. However, we'll have to wait until the event later on to see how accurate these rumors are.

1 thing NOT to expect from WWDC 2021

As previously mentioned, WWDC 2021 is usually primarily a software-based event – and this year doesn't look to be any different. So, you shouldn't expect to see any new hardware at the event… but that doesn't mean that Apple might not have a few tricks up its sleeve. 

01. MacBook Pro (2021)

We've heard a few exciting rumors that a new MacBook Pro might be appearing. It's also been rumored the the MacBook Pro (2021) will include some version of the Apple M1 chip – possibly called 'M1X' or 'M2'. These 10-core Apple silicon chips are expected to include eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, along with 16 or 32-core GPU options and support for up to 64GB RAM. Rumors of a new MacBook Pro appearance are mixed, with some predicting a launch in the second half of the year, so don't get your hopes up too high…

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The Apple WWDC 2020 event is Apple's yearly software conference where it unveils the latest upgrades that will be coming to Apple phones, tablets and computers. For the first time, the 2020 WWDC event will be online-only due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, we're still set to see some exciting new developments unveiled by the technology giant.

The biggest announcement we're expecting concerns the upcoming iOS 14. However, we will also likely hear about iPadOS 14, watchOS 7 and macOS 10.16. There were initially some rumors that Apple were going to announce some new hardware, with our sister website TechRadar even postulating that it could be the Apple AirTags that have been rumored for a while.

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However, prolific Twitter leaker Jon Prosser has scuppered those hopes with a recent tweet suggesting that hardware announcements for WWDC 2020 have been cancelled. Interestingly, this implies that there was at least one hardware announcement planned, so we wonder what may have happened to cause this to be scrapped. 

This is definitely unfortunate to hear, as it would have been interesting to see some fresh Apple hardware at WWDC 2020. However, there's still some exciting announcements rumored to be on the agenda.

One of the most obvious, and the most highly-anticipated, is the launch of iOS 14. This will be a new update for every iPhone back to the iPhone 6s and original iPhone SE. There are rumors it could even be called iPhone OS to help distinguish the software and bring it in line with the naming convention that the rest of the products follow. Some of the rumored features include widgets on the home screen, improved password management and improvements to some of the first-party apps, including Podcasts.

We're also expecting to see an iPadOS 14, which will largely be similar to the iOS 14 update for iPhone. However, the features will be specifically tailored to the iPad tablets. 

Apple watches are set to get a pretty significant update, with sleep tracking, new watch faces and a Kids mode all rumored to appear on the upcoming watchOS 7. Meanwhile, it's reported that we'll be seeing Mac software receive a variety of password management tools, a built-in translator within Safari and improvements to first-party apps such as Messages in macOS 10.16. 

The last software update that's rumored to appear at WWDC 2020 is tvOS 14. This next version of software for Apple TV is rumored to bring in improved Apple TV Plus integration that will make it easier to watch that content. There's even the rumor that it might include profiles for children too.

While we'll have to wait until 10AM PT to see how much of this exciting information will be officially unveiled, we're sure Apple will have a few interesting tricks up its sleeves.

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Apple's latest substantial operating system update for the iPhone is due to be launched at the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), which will be held online this year. The launch of iOS 14 will surely bring some exciting updates, but there's one question that users of older phones, such as the iPhone 6s and iPhone SE (2016), will be pondering – how many iPhones will be supported by this latest iOS?

Luckily, those hanging onto older phone technology will be pleased to hear that iOS 14 will reportedly support every device that's currently running iOS 13. This is good news for anyone who was worried that being shut out of a new iOS would force their hand into buying a new phone.

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This news comes via The Verifier, who found clues in early development code of iOS 14. The publication was also able to verify this with an unnamed trusted source from the system development process. The total list of devices that will be able to run iOS 14 is as follows: 

• iPhone SE (2020)
• Phone 11
• iPhone Pro Max
• iPhone Pro
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• Phone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPod touch (7th generation)

While this is great news for iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone SE users, there is a dark cloud hidden in this silver lining. Apparently, there will be no further updates for both of these phones and they won't be included in the line-up for iOS 15. However, if you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, then you can expect to receive updates until iOS 16, so you'll be protected for the next two years.

So what can we expect from the iOS 14 update? Apparently, one of the upcoming features we could see is called 'Clips', which will allow you to run apps without having to install them. There's also talk of a list view option for the home screen, which could also be an interesting shake-up for iPhone users.

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