Last week was this summer’s big Apple conference, where they announced a load of new stuff that’ll be coming later in the year. I won’t bore you with all the technical details, but I thought you might be interested in a few highlights.
The biggest news at these things is always what’s coming up in the new version of iOS (for iPhones) and iPadOS (for iPads). Not a great deal this year, actually – although that might well be good news if you’ve just got your head around using one of these things! The changes won’t be coming until September, but here’s what you’ve got to look forward to if you have an iPhone or iPad:
- The lock screen that you get when you turn your phone or iPad on is getting a re-design. You’ll have a lot more control over what it looks like and what information it shows you. You’ll even be able to choose a completely different lock screen design for when you’re working, relaxing or getting ready for bed. If that floats your boat. Or you could ignore it entirely – up to you!
- They’re bringing in some changes to the Messages app. You’ll be able to edit or delete a message if you send it by mistake or realise there’s a particularly daft auto-correct blooper in there. You’ll only have 15 minutes to change your mind, though – and bear in mind that the other person might have read the message before you get a chance to change it.
- Similar changes are coming to the Mail app (so you’ll be able to “unsend” an email if you send it by mistake), along with a redesigned search feature and various other techy bits and pieces.
- Shared photo libraries are coming to iCloud photos – so you can share your photos easily with the family.
- And a whole load of little techy changes to other things that you’ll probably never notice (but tech writers will probably get very excited about).
Apple also announced a new version of the MacBook Air – their light, portable laptop. It’s even lighter, thinner and shinier than the last version. That also means that the current model of MacBook Air (which is still really good) is likely to be coming down in price soon as retailers clear old stock. Worth keeping an eye out, anyway, if you’re looking for a new MacBook.
There are also a few changes coming to the MacBook “operating system” – MacOS. The next version is going to be called Ventura, and it’ll be arriving some time in late autumn. The biggest change that’s likely to affect most home users is a new way to organise and switch between open apps called “Stage Manager”. It’s an optional thing though (you’ll be able to turn it on and off in Control Panel) so if you don’t like it, you can just ignore it.
Right, that’s it from me from the glitzy showbiz world of Apple conferences. See you next week.