Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 kicks off next week on June 10, and the rumour mill is churning faster than a MacBook Pro on render day.
During this year’s developers conference, the tech giant is expected to bring some major software changes to iOS and iPadOS and finally join the AI bandwagon. However, before Apple officially announces its latest developments, we decided to bring all the WWDC24 rumours under one roof.
WWDC 2024 Software Announcements
From iOS 18 to macOS 15, here’s everything we know so far about the Cupertino Giant’s upcoming software announcements:
iOS 18
With iOS 18, Apple is expected to bring a major revamp to iPhones, backed by AI. The company is expected to introduce generative AI features across various applications, focusing on enhancing Siri’s functionality using AI models like Ajax. The new Siri is expected to be more conversational, natural, and personalised, offering smart responses based on personal details and cross-device media control.
Moreover, Apple is also expected to make the iOS experience more customisable. It will likely bring significant improvements in Home Screen customisation, allowing flexible placement of app icons and colour changes.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s latest report states that Apple is working on a feature to create live custom emojis based on what the user is typing. We can also expect AI-powered replies in Messages, improved Safari capabilities, AI-powered Photos app editing, smart recaps, and eye-tracking functionality.
Interestingly, Gurman also stated that the company will allow AI chatbots to integrate more deeply into its operating system. OpenAI’s ChatGPT will be the first one to get on board. However, it’s not just OpenAI; the company is also in talks with other players, such as Google for Gemini and Anthropic for Claude.
Regarding availability, the forthcoming iOS 18 will debut in September with the latest iPhone 16 lineup, following the usual timeline of previous iOS versions.
iPadOS 18
We all know that Apple has significantly upgraded its iPad lineup this year, with all-new iPad Airs with M2 chips and the mighty iPad Pro with a super powerful M4 chip. However, the current generation of iPadOS does not comprehend the true potential of this powerful chipset. As a result, it is expected that Apple will make some major changes to its iPadOS with the latest iteration.
It is expected to enhance the iPad’s functionality, particularly for power users, with features catering to professional workflows and productivity tasks. In addition, just like iOS 18, Apple will also bring a host of new AI magic to the iPad.
Moreover, iPadOS 18 is rumoured to give more customisation capabilities to the Home Screen, allowing users to place app icons anywhere on the grid and change the colour of app icons for a more personalised experience. Besides, new accessibility features like Eye Tracking, Vehicle Motion Cues, Music Haptics, and Vocal Shortcuts are expected, along with improvements to CarPlay accessibility features like Sound Recognition are likely to be in the pipeline.
If we follow Apple’s typical release schedule, the first beta of iPadOS 18 will be released in June, with the stable release likely happening in the fall, like iOS 18.
macOS 15
While iOS and iPadOS are rumoured to receive major overhauls, macOS 15 might take a different approach. Instead of introducing entirely new features, Apple might focus on refining existing functionalities. However, the AI influence will not be entirely absent. We might still see subtle touches of AI sprinkled throughout the update.
Apps like Music, Photos, Notes, Messages, Mail, and more are expected to receive AI updates. Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, Live Speech organisation, and more are rumoured to receive subtle improvements.
There are also improvements expected in Maps, such as custom route creation and topographic maps, a redesigned Siri menu bar icon, and potential enhancements to Safari with features like Intelligent Search and Web Eraser.
Conclusion
While it’s evident that this year’s WWDC will likely feature significant OS-level changes, particularly focusing on AI, it is still important to remember that the company has not officially revealed any details until now, so take all this information with a pinch of salt. Of course, knowing Apple, all eyes will be on the surprise element.
