WWDC 2018 Keynote Highlights

Here’s a quick rundown of the new features coming to your Apple devices as announced at today’s Apple WWDC 2018 Keynote:

iOS 12

iOS 12 will be available on the same devices as iOS 11. When you combine those devices with any new devices Apple will release this fall, this will be the widest device coverage of any new iOS release.

iOS 12 has been designed to optimize performance when a device is under load. Craig Federighi shared numbers reporting loading times for certain views being diminished by 40-60%. Following suit with my first point about older device support, I’m interested to see if this release will make older devices perform faster. That seemed to be implied from the stage. I’ve got my fingers crossed, but I’m not holding my breath.

We’ll be getting controls for monitoring and limiting app usage for other members of our household. This is one thing that’s been lacking, and I’ll be glad to see them.

Group FaceTime becomes available in iOS 12 with up to 32 participants in a group call. We’ll also be able to initiate Group FaceTimes right from inside group threads in Messages.

Apple Watch/watchOS 5

Automatic workout detection – Apple Watch will now detect when you’ve been working out and offer to start a workout with retroactive credit. It will also detect when you’ve finished exercising and give you the option to stop your workout.

Walkie Talkie app – This new app will allow you talk to your selected contacts via a “tap to talk” on your watch.

AppleTV

Charter will be the first cable provider to make their service work with Apple’s new “Zero Sign On”. Simply having your Apple TV connected through your cable provider’s broadband network will authenticate all your associated apps on your Apple TV, no more entering codes you look up through the web browser on your phone.

macOS Mojave

The latest Apple desktop OS features a gorgeous looking night/low-light mode.

Screen capture – now macOS has native screenshot markup along with video capture.

iOS Camera Continuity – Craig Federighi demoed editing a doc on his Mac, right-clicking to add a photo, and then taking a photo with his iPhone. The photo was then available to insert directly into the doc on his Mac.

Much more was announced today. The above list captures the new features I’m most excited about. For more on the event, watch the replay on Apple’s website.