What's new in the newly released iOS 16?

WWDC 2022, the annual developer conference, took place in the early hours of June 7th (Vietnam time). At this event, Apple introduced iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS 13, bringing many new features to Apple's product ecosystem.

In terms of hardware, Apple also unveiled the M2 processor with the first two devices being the 2022 MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Below are some of the notable highlights from Apple's WWDC 2022 opening keynote.

iOS 16 brings a host of changes.

As rumored, one of the biggest changes in iOS 16 is the ability to customize the lock screen, including fonts (typefaces, colors) and wallpaper effects. Users can add widgets or create multiple different lock screens, which can be quickly switched by swiping or changing the focus mode. Apple also added many wallpapers and effects for users to choose from to their liking.

The way notifications are displayed on the iOS 16 lock screen has also changed. Instead of being arranged side-by-side as before, they are grouped together at the bottom of the screen. The VergeNotifications containing directly changing information (travel schedules, sports scores, etc.) will be prioritized for display through a feature called Live Notifications.

On iOS 16, the Live Text feature will now support videos instead of just images as before. Another new feature allows you to select objects in photos and remove the background so you can send them to other apps.

The Wallet app on iOS 16 adds Apple Pay Later, allowing users to make purchases in installments through Apple Pay, enabling them to pay bills over six weeks without interest. Meanwhile, the Maps app supports setting up to 15 stops while traveling, and some new cities in the US will have more detailed 3D maps.

Safety Check is also a new feature that allows users to quickly revoke location access from those who have previously shared it, which is quite useful in relationships suspected of abuse. The Home app has also been upgraded with a new interface and support for MATT, a standard that helps smart home devices synchronize with each other.

With Apple News, users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia can follow sports information via widgets or the notification bar. Meanwhile, the iCloud Shared Family Photo Library feature allows users to create albums to share specific photos with their family.

The developer beta of iOS 16 was released today. Meanwhile, the official version is expected to be released to the general public in the fall. Devices that support iOS 16 include iPhone 8 and later, meaning iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone SE 2016 will no longer receive the update.

watchOS 9 adds more watch faces.

Similar to previous versions, watchOS 9 adds many new watch faces to the Apple Watch, including Astronomy, Lunar, Playtime, and a traditional face with a new font (Metropolitan).

Apple also changed the Siri interface and added some extra watch faces. Similar to the lock screen on iOS 16, watchOS 9 users can customize watch faces based on Focus mode.

For regular runners, Apple has also added several new tracking metrics such as running type, stride length, ground contact time, and heart rate zone. Additionally, triathletes can quickly switch between cycling, swimming, and running modes.

While exercising, users can rotate the Digital Crown to switch between different tracking modes, and even create custom workouts. The Fitness app will support all iPhones without needing an Apple Watch.

When synced with the Health app on iPhone, watchOS 9 users can create a list of medications and their scheduled times, allowing the device to provide reminders. The app can also warn of potential adverse reactions to medications. Meanwhile, sleep tracking now supports measuring the duration of all three sleep stages.

watchOS 9 will be widely updated starting this fall for Apple Watch Series 4 and later users. This means Apple Watch Series 3 will no longer receive software updates after 5 years since its release.

Apple's M2 chip and new MacBooks use MagSafe.

Following the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra, Apple has moved on to the M2 generation of chips with several notable improvements. Similar to the M1 chip, the M2 uses Apple's own ARM architecture, manufactured on a 5nm process with 20 billion transistors, 25% more than the M1.

The M2's CPU has 8 cores, including 4 energy-efficient cores, while the GPU can be customized up to 10 cores. According to Apple, the M2 chip offers 18% faster CPU performance and 35% faster GPU performance compared to the M1. The M2's memory bandwidth can reach 100 Gbps, supporting up to 24 GB of RAM.

According to the The VergeThe Apple M2 also features next-generation encoding and neural processing, supporting 8K H.264 and HVEC video processing, allowing for simultaneous playback of multiple 4K and 8K videos.

At WWDC 2022, Apple introduced its first two computers equipped with the M2 chip. The first is the 2022 MacBook Air, with a square design similar to the MacBook Pro M1. It features a MagSafe charging port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a 3,5mm headphone jack.

The 2022 MacBook Air is 11 mm thick and weighs 1,22 kg. Apple offers the device in four colors: silver, gray, gold, and dark blue.

The 2022 MacBook Air features a 13,6-inch screen with a resolution of 2.560 x 1.664 pixels, a maximum brightness of 500 nits, and a notch at the top for the Full HD webcam. The M2 processor ensures quiet operation without the need for a cooling fan.

The starting price for the 2022 MacBook Air is... 1.199 USD This version comes with 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an octa-core GPU. Users can optionally upgrade to 24GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a 10-core GPU for a higher price. A 30W charger is included, but users can purchase a 67W charger for faster charging. 59 USDPrice options are separate. 1.499 USD It comes with a 35W charger with two USB-C ports. The 2020 MacBook Air version with the M2 chip is still being sold at the same price. 999 USD.

The second device equipped with the M2 chip is the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Aside from performance and the energy-efficient M2 processor, the device doesn't have many changes compared to its predecessor, featuring a 13,3-inch screen, four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, a 3,5mm headphone jack, and a Touch Bar. Users can still upgrade to a maximum of 24GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. The price of the 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro is... 1.299 USDIt will be available in stores from July of this year.

macOS is coming

Following the introduction of the M2 chip and a series of new computers, Apple continued to release macOS Ventura, with its first notable feature being Stage Manager. Activated from the Control Center, this feature automatically groups open applications to the left side of the screen, while the app currently in use remains in the center. Users can tap on the left-hand side to quickly switch between applications, or drag it to the left to work alongside the main application.

The Spotlight search feature has also been upgraded with the ability to search images, text within images, and shortcuts. Meanwhile, the Safari browser has added a tab sharing feature, allowing users to view the same tab with friends in real time. Additionally, the Passkeys feature will replace passwords for logging into some websites with fingerprint recognition.

iPhone syncing features have also been upgraded in macOS Ventura. First, users can quickly switch FaceTime calls between iPhone, iPad, and Mac computer. For high-quality calls, the device also supports using the iPhone's rear camera as a webcam. However, this feature will be available later this year.

On macOS Ventura, Apple also introduced the Meta 3 API, which optimizes the power of M-series processors for better gaming performance. Capcom representatives also announced that Resident Evil 8 Village will support macOS in the near future.

iPadOS 16

The final highlight of the event was iPadOS 16, the new operating system for the iPad line. Alongside improvements in iOS 16, iPadOS 16 boasts several upgrades specifically for tablets. First is Stage Manager, similar to macOS Ventura, allowing users to manage and switch quickly between applications. This feature also supports running applications as windows on the iPad, which can be resized or overlapped with other windows.

Apple also highlighted a range of collaboration features in iPadOS 16. In apps like Pages and Numbers, users can share documents they're working on with other contacts to collaborate. The company also released APIs to allow third-party developers to integrate this feature into their apps.

A new app called Freeform will appear on iPadOS 16, allowing for group drawing and editing. Several computer features, such as folder size tracking and file extension editing, are also supported on iPadOS 16, alongside color referencing, making it easier to work with multiple monitors.

The developer preview of iPadOS 16 is released today, while the public beta is expected in July before finalization in the fall. Devices that support the iPadOS 16 upgrade include iPads 5th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, and the entire iPad Pro lineup.