Apple Kicks Off WWDC 2016 With Rebranded, Updated Operating Systems

At WWDC, Apple unveiled updated watchOS, tvOS, iOS and macOS operating systems. Here is how they will enhance the user experience when they launch this fall.

As expected, Apple made the decision at WWDC to phase out its 15-year-old OS X branding. Now, its desktop operating system will be known as macOS to keep in line with the company’s other branding (iOS, tvOS and watchOS). Despite its new name, macOS doesn’t come with a substantially different design in its latest iteration, Sierra, which will launch for free in the fall.

At long last, Siri will be available to macOS Sierra users. After installing the macOS software, users will be able to query Siri to find files, create calendar events and even analyze files to provide relevant details on a particular topic. Siri is a major addition to macOS.

Apple has delivered a new feature that will allow users who have storage issues to offload content to the cloud. Once a user wants it back, he or she can simply pull it down from the cloud. Apple also touted the feature’s intelligence, saying that when users run out of storage, macOS will help them find useless files, like duplicate downloads and caches, that can be deleted to free up space.

Universal Clipboard is arguably the simplest, but one of the most appealing, additions to macOS. The feature will allow users to copy content from an iPhone, for example, and then paste it directly to the Mac. The clipboard is essentially a cloud-based platform that allows users to synchronize content, regardless of where it originates.

In iOS 10, which launches in the fall, Messages has received the biggest refresh. Users will now have the ability to scribble messages, vary the size of the text bubble based on what’s said and even send stickers. Messages will also include app support, so third parties can build programs that integrate with Apple’s service.

The under-the-hood addition that users just may find the most value could be Siri’s deep learning capabilities on iOS. Siri will be capable of understanding a conversation’s context and delivering more accurate recommendations while users are typing. In addition, Siri and its learning features can be integrated into third-party apps, so the virtual personal assistant becomes far more useful in apps Apple hasn’t developed.

To be at the center of the Internet of things movement, Apple has built a Home app that controls all the connected devices in a house. So, any product that relies upon HomeKit will be featured in the app, giving users one spot to turn lights on and off, open doors and more. There are also built-in presets, so users can quickly have several connected devices act the way they wish at specific moments, like when they walk in the door.

It might have taken three attempts, but watchOS 3 now offers features users have been desiring. According to Apple Vice President Kevin Lynch, watchOS 3 is “seven times faster” than its predecessor, can load apps far more quickly and can respond to user inputs with ease. In addition, the user interface has been overhauled, users will be able to share activity data with friends, and scribbling messages is now offered. There’s even an SOS feature to dial for emergency services.

The operating system running on the Apple TV, tvOS, also received an update at WWDC. The operating system now includes support for many more applications, including Sling, which offers live-streaming of television content. Users will also find improved performance and a better iOS-based remote app for those who don’t want to use the hardware remote. Perhaps most importantly, Siri has been expanded to now search other video services, including YouTube.

Apple is hoping to raise an entire generation of children coders. The company at WWDC announced Swift Playgrounds, an iPad app that helps kids learn how to code in a “fun way.” Swift Playgrounds puts users into a gamelike interface, but uses coding language to help them get from one point to another. By the end of Playgrounds, Apple believes kids—and novice coders—should be able to create apps using its coding language.