Bring the noise…to acceptable levels
There are two major additions to Apple’s Health app. The first is the noise level feature, which can detect the decibel level in your headphones, or your immediate surroundings, and notify you that the sound you’re hearing could damage your hearing and if, so, how long it may take for that damage to occur. It sounds potentially obnoxious, but as someone who has definitely damaged his hearing over the years with loud music, I think it’ll come in handy.
Cycle tracking
The second addition to the Health app allows women is Cycle Tracking, which allows women to chart their menstrual cycles. Users who choose to give the app information about their menstrual cycle can track and visualize statistics about their cycles, allowing them to track irregularities and receive a notification predicting when their periods will start. There are also similar fertility focused features, like “fertile window projection.”
Given the sensitivity of that data, it feels important to relay that Apple said it does not and will not record or share any data in the Health app, so this information is theoretically private and secure.
Redrawing Apple Maps
Apple said it’s overhauling the mapping data used to generate Apple Maps. The new version, the company claims, will offer much more detail than the current Maps app. In addition to more points on the map, that increased detail will include real-time mass transit and airport information.
The revamped Maps app will also have a few new features, including the ability to add locations to “collections” or a favorites list, and a Google Streetview-like feature called “Look around mode,” which allows you to see a 360-degree ground-level view of what any point on the map looks like. You’ll also be able get address information and other location data about nearby buildings and business you find nearby.
The process of adding the new data will take time, Apple said it will have the full continental U.S. updated by the end of 2019.
Making your photos more fun to look at
The photos app is getting a full-blown renovation. The new app will offer machine-learning augmented curation tools, which will hide busywork photos like receipts, screenshots, and duplicate photos, so if you’re looking to scroll through images of friends and family, that’s what you’ll get.
It will also revamp the “events” based organization system, allowing you to sort photos by day, month, or year. By day, the app will curate your photos and create unique presentations of each photo set. By month or year, it will recognize repeat events and show you photos with common themes.
Edit your videos just like your Photos
The most useful shift is for videos: All of the photo-editing tools in Photos — stuff like rotating photos and adding filters, and other color balancing options — will now be available for editing videos as well. While it’s no replacement for a true video editor, the ability to make quick adjustments on the fly is a game-changer for the everyday videographer.
Mail, Notes and Reminders all get new looks too
Many of Apple’s other core apps will also get major revisions this year. Mail will get updated features, including a new text formatting bar that makes it easier to change text size, embolden, italicize, and underline. The app now supports rich fonts, as well, giving you the ability to add a custom font if you choose. Notes offers a more photo-friendly gallery view. Reminders has a whole new look, focusing on the ability to add details, including dates, times, and tags to your to-dos.
iOS is just for phones now
Perhaps the biggest update of the day, Apple announced that the iPad will start using its own operating system, iPadOS, when the next wave operating systems rolls out this year. The new operating system seems to split the difference between iOS and MacOS, making the tablet much more useful as a laptop alternative.
It isn’t clear how big an impact the separation will have, at least in year one. Most, if not all, of the biggest changes coming to iOS 13 will be coming to iPadOS. It also appears that some of the features Apple highlighted for the iPad during the keynote, such as an updated Files app that resembles MacOS, will be available on iOS 13. I’ll be doing a rundown of what’s coming to iPadOS, and will let you know.
So when do we get to see all this stuff?
iOS 13 entered developer beta today, which means people who pay for a developer license can download it now. Apple said a public beta will be available in July, so keep your eyes peeled for it on Apple’s public beta site. Finally, the complete version will roll out to everyone this fall.