It is customary for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference to set the tone for the company’s future, and in 2023 it may be even more so. Many anticipate that the business will unveil its first mixed reality headgear along with a new platform during the event. The wearable is not the only significant announcement anticipated at WWDC this year, though. A bigger MacBook Air, a significant watchOS upgrade, and even software sideloading on iOS have all been mentioned in rumors. This is what you can expect to see on June 5.
headset for mixed reality
One of the worst-kept secrets inside Apple is its first hardware venture into mixed reality, or the blending of the real and virtual worlds. Tim Cook has not been shy about his ambitions in augmented and virtual reality, and the Apple titan has been purchasing headset-friendly firms for years. However, a headset now seems to be prepared for a WWDC debut – Apple’s event logo even makes a lens-related reference.
If the allegations are true, Apple’s standalone gadget, said to be dubbed Reality Pro, might outperform the Meta Quest Pro and many other high-end headsets. With at least six cameras giving a view of the outside world and complete body motion tracking, it may provide a 4K resolution per eye. It could also make use of an M2 chip, which is more powerful than the mobile CPUs used in most standalone headsets. It is anticipated that it will need an external battery pack and have a two-hour battery life, but that it will be rather lightweight and thin.
The software, though, could be the real star. A new platform (perhaps named xrOS) created with mixed reality in mind will supposedly operate on the Apple headset. Instead of using controllers, you would navigate the UI using hand gestures, gaze detection, and Siri voice commands. You could text in midair and switch between AR and VR using an Apple Watch-style crown.
This first gadget is thought to be productivity-oriented, and VR-ready versions of popular Apple applications like Pages, iMovie, and GarageBand are reportedly in the works. You could even use full-body avatars for one-on-one FaceTime video conversations or use Siri to create straightforward applications. However, there may still be a ton of more fun choices, such as games, exercises, immersive video, and meditation. It is possible that you can use your favorite software without removing the headset as many existing iPad and iPhone apps are believed to operate with very little tweaks. Just do not anticipate a lasting virtual world like a metaverse; Apple has reportedly disqualified it.
Later in the year is when Apple’s headset is anticipated to be on sale. Not that many fans will necessarily find it feasible. According to rumors, the initial model will cost about $3,000, which is three times what the Quest Pro costs. Although a more cheap version is purportedly in the works, the initial release may be specifically targeted towards early adopters, experts, and developers.
a MacBook Air 15″
Up until now, if you wanted an Apple laptop larger than 14 inches, you had to spend a lot of money on a high-end MacBook Pro. After WWDC, that might not be required. According to rumors and developer logs, Apple is about to release a 15-inch MacBook Air that will make big-screen portable Macs more affordable for a wider audience.
Although the 13-inch MacBook Air’s current edition is around a year old, the anticipated 15-inch model would continue to employ a derivative of that system’s M2 CPU and may include 8GB of RAM as a standard feature. A display with a better resolution was visible. Although it lacks a 120Hz refresh rate, the display will be comparable to that of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and it will not be shocking if the larger chassis enables a larger battery.
17 iOS iPads and iOS 17
Apple’s most significant software update for the iPhone and iPad this year may give users more options. Since months, there have been rumors that iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 may support sideloading, or downloading programs outside the App Store, in compliance with European Union competition laws. You may download programs straight from the web or through third-party shops, much as on Android. That would make things conceivable that are not permitted by Apple’s current policies, including web browsers that utilize their own engines rather than WebKit.
Perhaps sideloading is not the only noteworthy aspect. According to MacRumors, Control Center will be updated in iOS 17. The Health app also featured mood monitoring and a life writing tool similar to Day One. There have also been rumors that the firm will simplify the Music and Wallet applications, upgrade Maps’ lock screen user interface, and enhance Dynamic Island’s capabilities on the iPhone 14 Pro. Due to rumors that iPadOS 17 may have a tablet-specific Health app and inherit iOS 16’s lock screen customisation, the iPad may fall behind in certain areas.
Another factor that can be significant is accessibility. A number of iOS innovations that make the iPhone easier for individuals with impairments to use were recently showcased by Apple. For those with cognitive difficulties, Assistive Access offers a simpler user interface, while Live Speech and Personal Voice have iOS read aloud printed content during conversations. Your phone may even say what it reads from buttons and text. Although Apple has not directly stated that iOS 17 will have these capabilities, the fact that it will be released “later this year” implies it is quite plausible.
Apple may use WWDC as an occasion to unveil the updated CarPlay user interface that was hinted at during the previous conference. The business has previously claimed that the platform can handle additional in-cabin equipment, but it has not yet provided any details on how. Apple does not have much time to get developers ready for the upgrade because the first vehicles adopting this experience will not be arriving until later this year.
Updates to iOS and iPadOS usually go live in September or October. However, public betas should be accessible much sooner and often come within a few weeks.
OS 10
The biggest software upgrade in the history of the Apple Watch may soon be released. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, watchOS 10 will be revamped around widgets, reintroducing remnants of the previous OS’s Glances along with components of the Siri watch face. Although apps will not likely disappear, they could be less prominent in favor of fast glances at information. Gurman hypothesizes that Apple could first make the interface optional to aid consumers in adjusting to the change.
MacOS 14
The next significant Mac platform upgrade is still mostly unknown, although it is reasonable to assume that macOS 14 will launch at WWDC. Apple frequently incorporates functionality from its iOS platform into upgrades to its PC platforms. Betas are often made accessible in late spring or early summer, with upgrades typically coming around October.
M3 and further Macs as wildcards
The general consensus around WWDC is that Apple will not introduce its M3 system-on-chip there, therefore the 15-inch MacBook Air is likely using the M2. Having said that, an introduction can not be ruled out entirely. If so, a denser 3-nanometer manufacturing process is ready to help the new chip achieve performance and efficiency advantages.
It will not be surprising to see additional Macs debut with the Air if the M3 does appear. According to Gurman, a new 13-inch Air is in development, and an iMac with an M3 processor may debut in the second half of 2023. But professional machines are unlikely. According to Gurman, an M3 Pro-based MacBook Pro will not appear until 2024, and we would not anticipate any updates to the Mac Pro or Mac Studio.
