WWDC 2015 keynote highlights 6/9/15

By Chris Johnson

Yesterday, Apple announced a bevy of new capabilities for the OS X, iOS, and Watch OS at WWDC. I was particularly impressed by these new features:

  • iPads will support side by side apps 1, and picture-in-picture video playback.
  • iPads also get a cool new keyboard mode where two-finger swipes act like a trackpad while editing text.
  • iPhones will now guess the name of unknown callers. It’ll do this by searching your phone’s data for clues linking a name to the unknown number.
  • WatchOS gains a nifty alarm clock mode while the watch is charging.
  • Developers will be able to make native Watch apps and watch face complications. 2
  • Apple Maps users will now have access to mass transit directions and schedule information. 3
  • Safari on the Mac gains pinned tabs and tab silencing.
  • All iOS users should see some more free space with App Thinning, where the App Store will only install the assets necessary for your device. 4

If you’re curious, you can watch an official video of the Apple event here.

  1. Unfortunately, I’ll need to upgrade from my retina iPad mini before I can try the side by side apps. I’m guessing the retina iPad minis are too RAM constrained to run two full apps simultaneously. 

  2. In my first couple weeks with an Apple Watch, I’ve found complications to be far more useful than standalone apps. 

  3. At first, transit functionality will only be available in Baltimore, Berlin, Chicago, D.C., London, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Toronto. 

  4. Currently, app downloads could include 1x, 2x, and 3x sets of artwork even though your device will only ever use one of them.