During its WWDC keynote earlier today, Apple took a moment to celebrate the upcoming tenth anniversary of the iOS App Store, which opened to the world in July 2008. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that this week the App Store will hit its next major milestone: the money that developers have earned through the App Store will exceed $100 billion.
In total, Cook mentioned that there are more than 20 million registered third-party developers, and more than 500 million customers visiting the storefront on iPhone and iPad every week. Cook went on to say that over the past ten years, the App Store has enabled "countless new companies" and created "tens of millions of new jobs."
"This is beyond remarkable. The App Store is clearly the best place for you to be rewarded for your hard work and creativity."
In iOS 11, Apple overhauled the App Store with an all-new look that introduced editorialized content that points readers towards new apps and games each day. Next, Apple is bringing a similar visual update to the Mac App Store in macOS Mojave later in 2018.
There were plenty of other announcements that came out of Apple's WWDC keynote today, so be sure to head over to our recap post to catch up with the latest stories.
Where is the AirPower? That's the question on the minds of many Apple Watch and iPhone owners as yet another event passes by without a launch date for the accessory.
Apple executives made no mention of the AirPower on stage at this year's keynote, dashing hopes that a launch date for the device might come alongside the unveiling of iOS 12, macOS Mojave, tvOS 12, and watchOS 5. It's not a huge surprise, though, as WWDC is a developer focused conference that puts software first.
In past years, Apple has unveiled hardware, but this year's event was focused on software with the sole hardware product being a new Pride Apple Watch band.
It's now been almost nine months since the AirPower was first introduced in September alongside the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Apple at the time said the device would be released in 2018, and while that launch date hasn't expired, many figured it would be coming earlier in 2018 rather than later.
The AirPower is a unique Qi-based wireless charging accessory that's able to charge an iPhone (X, 8 or 8 Plus), an Apple Watch, and the AirPods (with a new Wireless Charging Case) all at once.
It's not clear why Apple's work on the AirPower is taking so long, but it could be due to the combination of different charging technologies in the device. The Apple Watch Series 3, for example, does not charge over Qi, so Apple needs to merge several wireless charging formats.
We don't know when Apple plans on releasing the AirPower, but at this point, it could be held back until September, launching alongside the new 2018 iPhones. It's also possible, though, that we'll get a surprise press release sometime this summer.
As was predicted, WWDC 2018 was entirely devoid of hardware with the exception of a single new Apple Watch band. Apple announced no new Macs or iPads, despite the fact that most of its Mac and iPad lineup is due for an update. All of these updates could come in September with the new iPhones, or Apple could elect to do another Mac and iPad-focused summer or fall event.
Apple's WWDC keynote has wrapped up for another year, and the company this afternoon posted a full video of the event on its website. With the full presentation available on Apple.com, those who might have missed the event can now catch up with all of the announcements and reveals on their own time.
Apple typically uploads the WWDC keynote to its own website first and then shares the video on YouTube, but it could take a few days for that to happen if previous years are any indication.
Alongside the full keynote on Apple.com, both individual videos that bookended the keynote have been uploaded to the company's main YouTube channel. You can check out the videos below:
In addition to the videos posted online, you can catch up with every piece of WWDC 2018 coverage by checking out our full list of keynote highlights below. This list encompass all of MacRumors' event coverage shared today, from articles about Apple's announcements of iOS 12 and macOS Mojave to CarPlay updates, new Apple Watch bands, and more.
Apple today quietly discontinued and replaced its 29W USB-C Power adapter with a new revised USB-C Power Adapter that offers 30W.
The 30W USB-C Power Adapter that's replacing the 29W version is designed for the 12-inch MacBook. It's also commonly used as an option for those who want faster charging for compatible iPhones and iPads that support fast USB-C charging speeds.
It is not clear why Apple replaced the 29W Power Adapter with the new 30W Power Adapter, but the pricing remains the same at $49. The new accessory is not yet in Apple Stores, but can be ordered today for Wednesday delivery.
Apple has not tweaked its other USB-C Power Adapters designed for the MacBook Pro lineup, with those accessories continuing to be available in 61W and 87W options for 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models, respectively.
Apple today updated its lineup of silicone iPhone cases and Apple Watch Sport Bands in three summer colors, including Peach, Marine Green, and Sky Blue.
The three new colors are available for both 38 and 42mm Apple Watch Sport Bands, with pricing the same as other Sport Bands ($49).
Apple has also released silicone cases for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus in the new colors, with the cases also suitable for the iPhone 7 lineup. The new silicone cases are priced at $39 for iPhone X, $39 for iPhone 8 Plus, and $39 for iPhone 8.
Apple has not provided leather iPhone cases in new colors, nor has the company introduced iPad cases in the new summer shades. There are also no other new watch bands, with the exception of the Pride watch band.
The Pride watch band is a new version of last year's Pride band, using Apple's Woven Nylon band in a series of rainbow colors. Apple has also introduced a matching watch face that's available today in watchOS 4. The Pride watch band is available for $49 and can be ordered starting today.
The new watchOS 5 update, which was introduced at the keynote event of the Worldwide Developers Conference this morning, will not be available on the first-generation Apple Watch models that were released three years ago in 2015.
There were some hints that support might be dropped for the original Apple Watch, including warnings in later watchOS 4 updates after Apple stopped supporting the watchOS 1 SDK.
watchOS 5 will be able to be installed on Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watch models, while original Apple Watch models will not be able to be upgraded beyond watchOS 4.
The original Apple Watch likely does not have the power and battery life necessary for some of the newer watchOS 5 features, including Walkie-Talkie for touch-to-talk communications with friends, richer interactive notifications, automatic workout detection, and updates to the Siri watch face.
Apple this morning introduced macOS 10.14 Mojave, the newest version of the operating system designed to run on the Mac.
macOS Mojave is a major update that introduces a range of new features like a Dark Mode, Desktop and Finder improvements, new apps, and a revamped Mac App Store, but unfortunately, the update drops support for a number of machines.
While macOS High Sierra was available for some machines manufactured as early as 2009, macOS Mojave is largely limited to 2012 or newer machines, with the exception of some Mac Pro models. Here's a full list:
MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017)
Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid 2010 and mid 2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU)
As you can see, compared to High Sierra, the update drops support for the older plastic MacBooks, and MacBook Pro, Air, mini, and iMac models from 2009, 2010, and 2011.
These older machines will not have access to the macOS Mojave features, and will continue to run macOS High Sierra.
Developers can download macOS Mojave starting today, and the update should be available for public beta testers later this summer.
Following today's WWDC keynote event that saw the introduction of iOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, Apple has seeded the first beta of the new tvOS 12 operating system to developers for testing purposes.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the new tvOS 12 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS 12 brings support for Dolby Atmos, a feature that Apple TV users have been wanting since the Apple TV 4K first launched. Starting this fall, iTunes will be home to the largest collection of Dolby Atmos-supported movies, and all purchased iTunes movies will be upgraded for free.
There are new aerial screensavers on Apple TV that were captured from the International Space Station.
Starting later this year, Apple is introducing a new Zero Sign-On feature for Charter Spectrum users that will let them watch live channels and on-demand programs when connected to their Charter Spectrum broadband with no need to sign in.
Charter Spectrum users are also going to be able to place their traditional cable boxes with the Apple TV through an upcoming Spectrum TV app. These features will come to other providers in the future.
Other tvOS 12 features include autofill passwords from the iPhone to sign into Apple TV apps more quickly, and support for Home Control systems like Crestron and Savant, which will be able to be used to control the Apple TV. Apple also plans to make the Apple TV Remote a default option in Control Center on iOS devices.
The tvOS 12 update is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers later this summer. tvOS 12 will see a fall launch alongside iOS 12, macOS 10.14, and watchOS 5.
Apple this morning announced watchOS 5, a new version of the software that runs on the Apple Watch. The first developer beta of watchOS 5 has now been released to developers for testing purposes.
To install the beta, you'll need the proper configuration profile, which can be obtained through the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 5 beta can be downloaded using the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update.
To install the beta, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. It would be wise to install the beta on a secondary device instead of a primary device given that this is an early version of the watchOS 5 software that still has bugs to be worked out.
watchOS 5 is a huge update that brings Activity Competitions so you can compete on workouts with friends, Walkie-Talkie with push-to-talk functionality for quickly communicating with the people you talk to most, and auto workout detection to make it easier than ever to start and stop workouts.
Other new features include an improved Siri watch face with support for third-party apps, a dedicated Apple Podcasts app, new Workout types that include Yoga and Hiking, new features for runners, and enhanced notifications, which will make notifications on the Apple Watch interactive.
watchOS 5 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers (because there's no way to downgrade Apple Watch software), so non-developers will need to wait until the software is officially released in the fall to try it out.
Apple this morning introduced the latest version of macOS, macOS Mojave, and the new software is now available for developers to download for testing purposes.
The new macOS Mojave beta can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
As this is brand new, early release software, it should not be installed on a primary machine.
macOS Mojave brings multiple new features to Apple's Mac lineup, including a new system-wide Dark Mode, an entirely revamped Mac App Store, and a Stacks feature for organizing files on the desktop.
Several iOS apps are coming to macOS Mojave, including Apple News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home, which will let you control your HomeKit devices on the Mac. As with iOS, Group FaceTime is available on the Mac with Mojave.
macOS Mojave is limited to registered developers at this time, but later in the summer, Apple plans to make a public macOS Mojave beta available, giving public beta testers a chance to try the software before it sees a public launch in the fall.
Following the conclusion of today's keynote event, where Apple introduced new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, Apple has made the first beta of iOS 12 available for developers for testing purposes and to build new iOS 12 features into apps ahead of the software's public release.
Registered developers can download the first iOS 12 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air after installing the proper certificate.
iOS 12 is a major overhaul to the iOS operating system that introduces tantalizing new features like Group FaceTime, local multiplayer shared AR experiences, new Animoji, and a Memoji feature that's designed to let you create a personalized Animoji that looks just like you.
Animoji, stickers, text, and more can be used in FaceTime and the Messages app, and there's a new Screen Time feature to help customers understand and manage the amount of time they're spending on their iOS devices.
Siri has been improved in iOS 12 with Siri Shortcuts, which is designed to allow Siri to work with any app.
Under-the-hood improvements to iOS 12 will make everyday tasks on the iPhone and iPad faster and more responsive, with the camera launching up to 70 percent faster and the keyboard showing up up to 50 percent faster.
Only registered developers are able to download the iOS 12 beta at this time. As Apple has done in the past, a public beta for public beta testers will be provided later this summer after the software has gone through a couple rounds of developer testing.
iOS 12 will be available as a beta for several months as Apple works out all of the kinks and bugs. The update will see a public launch in the fall alongside new iPhones. iOS 12 will be available on all devices able to run iOS 11.
In iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, Apple's Safari browser will include some powerful new privacy features. When viewing sites in Safari, "like" and "share" social media buttons, as well as comment fields, embedded on pages will be prevented from automatically tracking users until they're interacted with.
When users do interact with these items, they'll be shown an alert warning them that they may then be tracked.
There will also be new security measures to prevent digital fingerprinting, or the use of things like installed fonts and plug-ins to help track users across the internet even with privacy settings active. Websites will be given a stripped down, simplified system configuration so every user's Mac looks like every other user's Mac.
Safari will also gain new password organizing features that automatically creates and stores passwords and flags reused passwords between sites so they can be changed.
The new Safari will be released this fall for iOS and macOS.
Apple says that in 2018 it is "turning its attention" to the Mac App Store, bringing the desktop-based storefront more in line with the one found on iOS devices. The Mac App Store has been redesigned from the ground up for macOS Mojave, the company says, with a new sidebar that has Discover, Create, Work, Play, and Develop tabs.
Like on iPhone and iPad, the Mac App Store will have articles written by Apple editors to showcase useful apps and games currently popular on the App Store. This will be found in the Discover tab and include stories, interviews, tips, app collections, and more.
“Since its launch in 2011, the Mac App Store has become the single largest catalog of Mac apps and today remains the safest and best place to get Mac apps for users around the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We are excited to usher in a new era for the Mac App Store with a beautiful new look, unique editorial content and emphasis on human curation that complements the ways people are using their Macs today.”
Users can still browse by Categories on a dedicated tab, and app pages now have more useful information like video previews and large screenshots. Ratings and reviews have also been made front and center.
The company also mentioned that later this year, apps like Office from Microsoft, Lightroom CC from Adobe, BBEdit from Bare Bones, Transmit from Panic, Live Studio from Snap Inc. and Houseparty, among others, will be made available on the Mac App Store.
On the topic of Office coming to the Mac App Store, Microsoft corporate vice president Kirk Koenigsbauer said, "We're excited to provide our joint customers with easy access to downloads and updates by bringing Office to the newly redesigned Mac App Store."
Apple is bringing Student ID support to iOS 12 and watchOS 5, streamlining how students access everything on their college campus.
At supported schools, students will be able to add their Student ID to an iPhone or Apple Watch and gain access to everything from dorms and dining halls to gyms and libraries, along with campus events or attending class, making purchases from campus retail shops and bookstores, and paying for laundry and items from vending machines.
The program launches this fall with support from Duke University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma. Temple University, Johns Hopkins University, and Santa Clara University will add support by the end of the year.
Following the launch of a Pride Band for Apple Watch last summer, Apple today has revealed an all-new Pride Band for Apple Watch, which will be available to purchase today on Apple.com. The band has the colorful hues of the rainbow, with white stripes between each color.
In addition, users will be able to set a new Pride Apple Watch face on their devices at the end of the keynote.
Apple's iOS 12 update will greatly "reduce interruptions" and help users manage their digital device use, which has been an increasingly focused topic of conversation in recent months. For its implementation, Apple at WWDC announced a new section of the Settings app called "Screen Time" that breaks down how much time you spend on your iPhone or iPad each day and week. Screen Time is found under Do Not Disturb in Settings.
Data includes how much time is spent in each app, app usage across categories like Games and Social Networking, and more. The app will also show the "Most Used" apps and the time spent in each, and you'll be able to set App Limits so that your iPhone can warn you when you've been using Instagram or YouTube too much.
At night, there will be a Do Not Disturb during Bedtime mode aimed at helping you get a better night's sleep. The feature does this by dimming the iOS device's display and hiding all notifications until prompted in the morning, with the time and date the only thing appearing during that period.
Notifications can be edited right when they appear, so you can turn them off with a button or choose to "Deliver Quietly" so they bypass your lock screen and go directly to Notification Center. Over time, Siri will make suggestions for notifications settings based on previous actions and settings you choose.
Parents will also have detailed controls with a feature called "Downtime," which they can set as a block of time to limit their child's iOS device use. During Downtime, notifications aren't displayed and a badge appears on apps to indicate they are not allowed to be used, but parents can choose to allow access to important apps like the Phone.
Screen Time, new notifications, Do Not Disturb during Bedtime, and all of the new digital health features will arrive in iOS 12 this fall.
WatchOS 5 will receive new new Activity and workout-focused features when it's released this fall. Competition challenges between friends, new workout types, and workout auto-detection are the key additions.
Friends will be able to challenge each other to weeklong duels, earning points for closing the three activity rings (standing, exercise, and calories burned), while allowing users to compete and motivate each other through progress updates, scoring tables, badges and awards.
Yoga and Hiking have been added to the Workout app, with the latter recording statistics like pace, elevation gain, and heart rate to accurately reflect calorie burn.
Also in the Workout app, the Outdoor Run mode has been enhanced with new rolling mile (speed of the last mile) and cadence (steps per minute) statistics, and pace alerts can be set to ensure that distance runners keep at the right speed.
Currently, Apple Watch owners who forgot to manually start a workout in the Workout app would not have their progress tracked. Now, in watchOS 5, the app will automatically detect workouts through increased motion and heart rate. It will prompt users to begin the workout, offering retroactive tracking to the beginning of the activity. It will also prompt to end the workout, once motion and heart rate decline.
These aren't groundbreaking innovations, but they represent significant quality-of-life improvements for Apple Watch owners.
As expected, Apple today revealed a multitude of features coming to iOS 12 that will improve the user's digital health and "help you limit distractions." These features will be built into iOS 12 and feed back into a new area of the Settings app called "Screen Time," found under Do Not Disturb.
Beginning with a new Do Not Disturb during Bedtime feature, you'll now be able to "get a better night's sleep" by dimming the iPhone display and hiding all notifications until prompted in the morning. When enacted, DnD during Bedtime enhances the time and date to act as more of a bedside alarm clock as well.
In an effort to reduce interruptions, iOS 12 will give you more options for controlling how notifications are delivered as well. You can instantly manage notifications so they can be turned off completely or set them to be delivered directly to the Notification Center, bypassing the lock screen.
Over time, Siri will "intelligently make suggestions" to alter notifications based on your interactivity with these new granular controls and by judging how long it's been since you've opened or used an app. Notably, iOS 12 also introduces Grouped Notifications to iPhones and iPads, which Apple says will "make it easier to view and manage multiple notifications at once."
In the new Screen Time settings, you will find a detailed daily and weekly Activity Report that breaks down device usage across categories of apps, how many notifications you receive, how often you pick up your device, and more. With App Limits, you can set a specific amount of time to be in an app, and a notification will warn you when time's almost up.
Screen Time is built for both individual users and families, allowing parents to see their kid's Activity Reports right from their own iOS device. Other parental controls include features like Downtime, to set a block of time to limit a child's iOS device usage, and the ability to choose specific apps that can be used during Downtime, like Books or Phone.
"In iOS 12, we're offering our users detailed information and tools to help them better understand and control the time they spend with apps and websites, how often they pick up their iPhone or iPad during the day and how they receive notifications," said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. "We first introduced parental controls for iPhone in 2008, and our team has worked thoughtfully over the years to add features to help parents manage their children’s content. With Screen Time, these new tools are empowering users who want help managing their device time, and balancing the many things that are important to them."
Shifting from digital health features to a few augmented reality-focused updates, iOS 12 is updating Animoji with numerous overhauls this year. The big new addition is "Memoji" for iPhone X, where you can build your own personal Animoji character to look just like you and add in fun accessories like glasses and hats. Then, the Memoji can be used like normal Animoji in Messages, but also as a filter in FaceTime and video Messages.
The existing set of Animoji is also expanding with Ghost, Koala, Tiger, and T-Rex, and all Animoji and Memoji characters now feature winks and "tongue detection" so that they can capture even more of your facial expressions.
iOS 12's augmented reality features will be powered by the new "ARKit 2," enabling shared experiences, persistent AR experiences tied to a specific location, object detection and image tracking, and more that will make AR apps "even more dynamic." Apple worked with Pixar to create a new open file format, USDZ, so that it's easy to experience AR "nearly anywhere in iOS," ranging from apps like Messages to Safari, Mail, Files, News, and more.
Then there's Group FaceTime, which will enable audio and video chats with multiple people (up to 32) at the same time. Apple explains that participants can be added at any time, join later if the chat is still active, and choose to join using video or just audio from an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch (for audio).
In other new app news, there's "Siri Shortcuts" which aims to help users build fully customizable workflows from third-party apps. In the app, you'll be able to customize Shortcuts by building a voice command that initiates the task, or use the UI of the app to simply tap your personal Shortcuts and begin the series of actions you have created.
In Photos, Apple is making the app a bit more akin to Apple Music and Apple News with a "For You" tab that surfaces favorite moments in one place. A new sharing suggestions feature will make it easier to send photos and videos to friends, and iOS 12 will prompt friends who receive photos to share back any of their own that they took from the same trip or event. Otherwise, there's also improved search so you can combine multiple terms "to find just the right photos."
In general, Apple says that iOS 12 is "faster and more responsive" and has been designed to make everyday tasks much more streamlined. According to the company, the Camera launches up to 70 percent faster, the keyboard appears up to 50 percent faster and typing is more responsive, and apps launch up to twice as fast.
The company also promises that enhanced privacy and security "remain a top priority in iOS 12." For Safari, this means that Intelligent Tracking Prevention will block social media "Like" or "Share" buttons and comment widgets from tracking you without permission. The app will also automatically create, autofill, and store strong passwords when users create new online accounts and flags reused passwords to point out when you should be a bit more secure.
Below you'll find a list of a few other features coming to apps like Books, News, Wallet, and more in iOS 12:
- Apple Books is redesigned to make it easier to discover and enjoy books and audiobooks, and the Book Store tab makes it easy to explore new titles and browse the top charts, curated collections and special offers. - Apple News is redesigned to make it easier to discover new channels and topics or jump straight to favorites, and on iPad, a new sidebar makes navigation even simpler. - Stocks comes to iPad and illustrates how the market is moving with easy-to-understand quotes and high-quality news (pulled from Apple News). - CarPlay adds support for third-party navigation apps displayed right on the car’s dash — joining music, messaging, calling and automaker apps. - Voice Memos is now available on iPad and adds iCloud support to sync recordings and edits across devices. A new design makes it easier to capture, share and edit recordings. - Siri translation expands to more than 40 language pairs and brings more knowledge of sports, celebrities, food and nutrition. Siri can also surface favorite photos by person, place, event, time and topic. - Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch adds support for student ID cards, making it more convenient to access everything on campus.
Apple says that iOS 12 will be available this fall as a free software update for the iPhone 5s and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation and 6th generation, iPad mini 2 and later, and iPod touch 6th generation.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
In iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, Apple's Safari browser will include some powerful new privacy features. When viewing sites in Safari, "like" and "share" social media buttons, as well as comment fields, embedded on pages will be prevented from automatically tracking users until they're interacted with.
