Inside Apple's Big June Headset, Mac and Software Launch
Apple’s?June Worldwide Developers Conference?is shaping up to be one of its biggest product launch events ever — and not just because of the long-awaited mixed-reality headset. Also: The company announces the death of its?longtime communications chief, new?Macs show up in testing, and Apple’s?first?India stores are set to open.
The Starters
Apple Inc.’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June will be one of the most critical events in the company’s?history — an opportunity to herald a post-iPhone era while also making its existing devices more attractive.
The mixed-reality headset will be the?star of the show, but the annual conference will be packed with other products too.?That includes?new Mac laptops?and the biggest update to the Apple Watch’s software since the first version was introduced in 2015, I’m told.?
Altogether, the company is planning to unveil:
The updated versions of iOS and iPadOS aren’t likely to offer major new features — unlike last year’s software, which ushered in a?new lock screen. But they should satisfy?a checklist of user requests with?more minor improvements. I’m also not expecting major macOS or tvOS changes.?The new Apple Watch operating system, however, will bring bigger enhancements, including an updated interface.
领英推荐
With the Reality headset —?which I?detailed in-depth here?— Apple is preparing for a future?beyond the iPhone and iPad. I’m told the device will come with a clear story for developers —?in terms of how they’ll want to use it — and much of the weeklong conference will showcase?the headset’s?on-board App Store and accompanying tools.
Many executives at the?company believe the device?will?have a slow start?but eventually?has?the opportunity?to replace the iPhone. In any case, the?headset is unlikely to go on sale for several months after its unveiling, giving developers time to create mixed-reality apps and services...
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