WWDC 2022 could be really interesting
WWDC 2022 could be really interesting
Expect some eye-catching announcements at the show on Monday.
It’s finally June, which means two things: the pool is open at my house, and Apple’s annual World Wide Developer Conference is right around the corner.
WWDC is always pretty exciting, albeit not the most exciting for general consumers. It’s a time when a lot of nerds, developers (ofc), tech press, and Apple fans tune in to see what Apple’s annual onslaught of software updates will deliver in the fall. For 2022, it seems like there will be a lot to talk about, especially when it comes to iOS 16 and iPadOS 16.
Bloomberg has been reporting that some major changes will be coming to these two operating systems. iOS 16 is getting a new lock screen with widgets, redesigned stock apps, improvements to Messages, and more. It’s also expected to lay the ground work for an iPhone with an always-on display, likely coming exclusively to the iPhone 14 Pro later this year.
But it’s iPadOS 16 that I’m the most excited about because of how significant its rumored feature list is.
A report from Bloomberg suggests Apple is gonna make multitasking on the iPad much more like a laptop with iPadOS 16. There will be new ways to juggle all the apps you have open, switch between them, and even float them around in resizable windows. These are all features many iPad users have been asking for for years, especially since the iPad Pro line switched to the ever-powerful M1 chip.
Over the past couple years, we haven’t had any meaningful iPadOS updates. They’ve all had a few nice features here and there, but mostly to bring it in line with whatever iOS was doing. WWDC 22 seems destined to change that. And thank God, because all of the power under the hood of the latest iPads is a crime to waste with its limited software as it exists today.
Granted, these are all rumors and Apple could wind up disappointing by making iPadOS 16 much more lackluster than we’re expecting, but reporter Mark Gurman’s track record is pretty good with these types of leaks, so I’d say to at least expect something interesting in the iPad world.
Elsewhere, WWDC 2022 should deliver some solid improvements for the Mac in macOS 13. There will be a new System Preferences interface that’ll bring it further in line with iOS, and I’m sure there will be upgrades to other apps and some new features sprinkled in. The Apple Watch will get watchOS 9 which is expected to feature a low-power mode and improved navigation, while the Apple TV’s tvOS 16 will offer new integration with other smart home platforms.
If there’s one area where general consumers might get excited as the curtain closes on Monday, it’s hardware. Apple has been rumored to be preparing a redesigned MacBook Air for release around the middle of this year, and along with it the introduction of the M2 processor which it’ll run on. Those two pieces of hardware seem to be the most likely to appear at WWDC, if Apple is planning on showing off any hardware at all during the show.
And I’m not gonna go this whole newsletter ignoring the long-standing, looming rumor that is the company’s mixed reality headset. Apple has been working on it for years, all while never locking it down enough where it can bring it to market. Over the past 12 to 18 months, that seems to have changed as the headset came together in a way worthy of showing off to the board of directors. With all the buzz around it, there’s a chance Apple will give developers a sneak peak during this year’s WWDC, but I wouldn’t bet money on it only because of how uncertain we are that it’ll start shipping in the near future.
Overall, WWDC 2022 should be a really good show. As per usual, I’m sure Apple has a few surprises up its sleeves and we won’t know what they are until the company takes the stage on Monday. I’ll be live-blogging the event this year (link coming shortly!), so if you wanna tune in without actually watching the event, stay tuned.
This week sort of felt like the calm before the Apple storm next week (mostly because of Memorial Day), but there were a few stories that stood out to me.
Dell’s Studio Display alternative has a price: The world (a.k.a. tech bloggers) has been waiting to see which companies build new monitors that directly compete with Apple’s fancy Studio Display, and one of its first challengers is Dell with its UltraSharp 32 4K Video Conferencing Monitor (by no means the sexiest name). Originally unveiled during CES, it has a 31.5-inch 4K display with IPS Black technology for better contrasts and colors, a wide variety of extra ports, dual 14W speakers, and an integrated 4K webcam that can be adjusted separately from the angle of the display itself. It’s not a one-to-one comparison to the Studio Display, but its price is at $1,599.99. It’ll start shipping in July, and you know I’ll be working on getting a review sample to see if it’s the real deal. (9to5Mac)
Google is screwing around with messaging again: How many times a year do I have to write about another communication app shake-up in Google? Apparently, it’s far too often for just about anyone to count. Now, the company has decided to combine Google Meet (a video call app for meetings) and Duo (a video call app for everything else) into a single app called “Google Meet” which will replace “Duo” and bury what will soon be “Meet (Original).” Yes, it’s a bit confusing, and no, I’m not even sure I have a grip on the whole thing. (Matridox)
Leaks are simply out of Google’s control: Guys, Google literally announced the Pixel 7 five months before it’s gonna ship. Yet somehow, it’s still not able to avoid major leaks, such as one that occurred on eBay when someone tried to sell a Pixel 7 prototype. Others have now started posting Pixel 7 Pros on Facebook, which is apparently the backstory of the person who took the photos of the Pixel 7 prototype - he bought a 7 Pro on Facebook thinking it was a 6 Pro, proceeded to take pics of the 7 and upload them to the internet, and then had his phone wiped once Google caught wind of them using it. You can’t make this stuff up, folks. (Matridox, 9to5Google).
Shameless plug: I recently published my review of the OnePlus Nord Buds on CNN Underscored. If you’re unfamiliar, these earbuds made headlines by being priced at just $39.99. Admittedly, I didn’t have high expectations for them because of that price, but I was secretly hoping they’d be half decent since they carried the OnePlus brand, a name that’s notorious for shipping high-quality gadgets at low prices.
Lo and behold, these earbuds really managed to surprise me. Their sound quality is excellent for the money, with deep bass and good overall clarity, while the battery life was also stellar. The design was comfy enough for wearing during long periods of time, but it’s muck bulkier than other earbuds on the market. You also don’t get virtually any smart features besides some touch-sensitive controls on the earbuds themselves.
Still, I was really impressed with the Nord Buds, and I think anyone shopping on a budget should check them out (that is, assuming you have an Android phone because the experience using them is pretty abysmal on the iPhone).
Next week, I’m introducing a Q&A section for Wiretapped! You can send me questions by emailing me at max@matridox.com or by tweeting me @LegendaryScoop. I’ll try to get to as many as I can each week.