WWDC 2016 Keynote (Monday June 13th @ 6pm)

Sad Professor

Apple keynote on Monday at 6pm.

As usual iOS and OS X (which is being rebranded macOS) will be the focus. Apple Music is getting a redesign. Also rumours of iMessage for Android and Siri for Mac. With the iPhone 6ss/se in September apparently being a minor affair, Apple will probably be doubling down on OS features/enhancements.

Hardware announcements have been ruled out, which means the anticipated MBP redesign will probably have to wait until September or later.

Any hopes/predictions?

DubDJ

For iOS, love to finally see the option of hiding some of the built in apps and removing some non-essentials to the App Store, stocks, voice recorder etc.

Love to see a system wide cache management setting, huge issue especially with some social networking apps.

Hoping for some nice surprises as per usual.

Siri for the Mac seems definite too, it's now a part of every other OS from Apple. One feature I never use from Apple though, might have to try use it more as voice assistants seem to be a big focus lately.

Sad Professor

DubDJ wrote: »

Love to see a system wide cache management setting, huge issue especially with some social networking apps.

Like a button to do it manually? Most of the apps with this issue are misleading the OS about their cached data, so it wouldn't make any difference. If the OS doesn't know something is a cache it can't clear it. They could add a setting for clearing all app data except the app itself, but that would have unpredictable results depending on the app.

I think this is more an App Store issue. Apple need to start banning bloated apps with battery-drain issues. Facebook, Spotify, anyone guilty of it should be rejected from the store. But that won't happen.

DubDJ

Maybe support for devs to implement a seperate area for cached files or a setting in the app menu for users to clear the cache.

The problem mainly exists for social media apps. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. After a few months they'll eventually rack up huge file sizes (2-3GB) forcing me to uninstall and reinstall to claim back the space.

Some apps I've used have built in their own cache system (a third party Instagram app was one) and it worked well.

Either limit the cache for apps so after a certain size it starts replacing data or have some system for clearing it out.

Sad Professor

I dunno, I think a "clear cache" button would just result in more OCD user behaviour. Like clearing all the apps in multitasking view, which actually has a negative effect on battery life but good luck trying to explain that to anyone. Maybe Apple need to tweak how caching works, but nothing is going to solve the various problems with Facebook etc. Their apps are basically tools for delivering ads and collecting user data. Everything else is secondary.

DubDJ

Funny enough I'm an OCD type of person. I regularly clear apps from multitasking. Just out of habit, been doing it since the multitasking tray was first added.

chrislad

Clear cache for Apple Music, as I've discussed earlier, is essential. It's always taking up nearly 5gigs for space for me. If I wanted that much, I'd download it!

Sad Professor

DubDJ wrote: »

Funny enough I'm an OCD type of person. I regularly clear apps from multitasking. Just out of habit, been doing it since the multitasking tray was first added.

There's really no need. It's not even a placebo since it actually has a negative impact. It means the next time you launch that app (which could be in 5 minutes) it will have to load everything back into memory again, slowing down the app and draining more battery. I never kill an app unless it's acting up and I have to.

There's a reason the OS keeps apps in memory after you've closed them, it's more efficient. Also most of the apps in multitasking view aren't even in memory. It's just a list of recently opened apps.

Doodah7

First one I won't be watching live as it clashes with the Ireland game. Although I'm not expecting much really given the maturity of both IOS and OSX ( sorry macOS)

faceman

Sad Professor wrote: »

There's really no need. It's not even a placebo since it actually has a negative impact. It means the next time you launch that app (which could be in 5 minutes) it will have to load everything back into memory again, slowing down the app and draining more battery. I never kill an app unless it's acting up and I have to.

There's a reason the OS keeps apps in memory after you've closed them, it's more efficient. Also most of the apps in multitasking view aren't even in memory. It's just a list of recently opened apps.

The only app I close when I'm finished with it is Facebook. Is there still issues with fb and battery drain, phone usage monitoring?

DubDJ

tallpaul wrote: »

First one I won't be watching live as it clashes with the Ireland game. Although I'm not expecting much really given the maturity of both IOS and OSX ( sorry macOS)

Same here, been watching (or following liveblogs) since the 2010 WWDC and this will be the first I can't watch live. Have to catch up later on. E3 will also be running with the bigger announcements happening during WWDC. The Ireland game also on during so it's a feature filled Monday.

Sad Professor

faceman wrote: »

The only app I close when I'm finished with it is Facebook. Is there still issues with fb and battery drain, phone usage monitoring?

I don't use the Facebook app, but afaik yes, though not to the same extent as before.

Sad Professor

I wonder if the Apple Music redesign will be part of iOS 10 or a separate update arriving sooner? I sort of assumed the former given that the service will be a year old at the end of the month, but knowing Apple we'll probably have to wait until September.

It annoys me how Apple continue to put all features/enhancements on the long finger. Whatever about software, but services should be receiving a constant stream of enhancements, not just bug fixes. It's one thing I like about Google services. Saving all the new stuff for the next keynote like Apple does makes no sense. Apple's drive-by approach to software updates doesn't work with services. I'm not sure it even works with software anymore.

Sad Professor

It's on now. Stream on Apple.com.

Watch stuff.

Single sign-on for Apple TV - not that that's really a problem for us in Ireland.

It's official: OS X is now macOS.

Sad Professor

macOS Sierra with Siri for Mac. Public beta in July, final release in Autumn. Most 2010 Macs or later. My 2009 MBP is now officially obsolete.

iOS 10 - looking good. Control centre and Notification Centre have been redesigned.

smash

Sad Professor wrote: »

With the iPhone 6ss/se in September apparently being a minor affair

So no 7 yet?

Sad Professor

smash wrote: »

So no 7 yet?

They might call it the 7, but the real 7/8 is apparently coming next year.

Blazer

nice improvements to watchos..badly needed

Sad Professor

Hmmm not sure about the Apple Music redesign. Larger text, more visible though which is an improvement.

Sad Professor

Apple: We're coming for you, Snapchat!

Caoimhgh1n

I like the changes made to messages.

Albert_Camus

That's that then?

horgan_p

In fairness , ios is pretty mature by now , I'd be amazed if they came up with a game changer on it for existing hardware.Interesting that ipad2 finally fell from the upgrade path, loads of them around.

Siri for macos looks like it could be interesting , but not in a "rush out and buy a mac" kind of way.
I'm very interested in seeing their reply for Amazon's echo device though...

DubDJ

Pretty underwhelming group of announcements for a WWDC. Nothing on previous years, more iteration than anything. And looks like more stock apps that can't be removed.

The lock screen redesign looks ok, but between the control centre and Apple Music changes I think it's a step back. Rearranging some of the menus is a good idea but the UI is a downgrade imo.

I normally like WWDC as it gives a lot of features for free to users but the announcements today don't seem all that huge.

Hopefully the post analysis by devs will uncover some nice details.

Albert_Camus

Engadget are even struggling with their article count with this one

Sad Professor

I need to get a better look at it at the new Music UI to judge it properly. But clarity is a big problem with the current UI, which is too small and cluttered. So on that front I'd consider the redesign a big improvement. They may have gone too far in the opposite direction – too much white space, too large text – but that can be tweaked between now and September.

Albert_Camus

Well I'm looking forward to Siri on my Macbook. Always enjoy something new!

Sad Professor

DubDJ wrote: »

For iOS, love to finally see the option of hiding some of the built in apps and removing some non-essentials to the App Store, stocks, voice recorder etc.

They didn't mention it in the keynote, but this is the beta.

Remove built-in apps from the Home screen on your iOS device with iOS 10 beta

DubDJ

Sad Professor wrote: »

DubDJ wrote: »

For iOS, love to finally see the option of hiding some of the built in apps and removing some non-essentials to the App Store, stocks, voice recorder etc.

They didn't mention it in the keynote, but this is the beta.

Remove built-in apps from the Home screen on your iOS device with iOS 10 beta

This kind of makes up for a lot for me. It's probably my number 1 requested feature so now they've added it I'm happy.

arch_stanton

I can't see it on the iOS preview site but 9to5mac say that Siri for South Africa and Ireland was included. It was probably on one of the "other additions" slides they fly through.

Also Apple Pay is coming to France. They didn't mention American Express and it's all gone quite about the American Express launch in Spain, probably because nobody uses it. Maybe finally they are making progress with the euro banks. I think once one or two crack and support Apple Pay the rest will follow.

Sad Professor

arch_stanton wrote: »

I can't see it on the iOS preview site but 9to5mac say that Siri for South Africa and Ireland was included. It was probably on one of the "other additions" slides they fly through.

Cool! They certainly took their time.

Edit: Here it is. Bottom right corner.

arch_stanton

It took a while to perfect the Healy-Rae algorithms

awec

I have had Siri for ages (or at least I can say hey Siri and ask her questions and to send messages), or is this like more advanced features?

FourFourRED

horgan_p wrote: »

Interesting that ipad2 finally fell from the upgrade path, loads of them around.

iPad 2 supports iOS 10.

DubDJ

So Siri is localised for Ireland now?

Sad Professor

awec wrote: »

I have had Siri for ages (or at least I can say hey Siri and ask her questions and to send messages), or is this like more advanced features?

Yes, but it's not currently localised to Ireland or the Irish accent which limits its usefulness. You can't use it to look up places, as was the whole point of the original app. Though how well it will do so with Irish places remains to be seen considering how poor Apple Maps for Ireland still is.

FourFourRED

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yes, but it's not currently localised to Ireland or the Irish accent which limits its usefulness. You can't use it to look up places, as was the whole point of the original app. Though how well it will do so with Irish places remains to be seen considering how poor Apple Maps for Ireland still is.

You reckon we'll see it pushed to Apple TV soon enough so?

Sad Professor

FourFourFM wrote: »

You reckon we'll see it pushed to Apple TV soon enough so?

No because I think the limiting factor there is the lack of Irish streaming services. The main purpose of Siri on ATV is the catalogue searching, and well, there isn't really any catalogues to be searching in Ireland. Apple don't even advertise any third party entertainment apps on the Irish ATV website – because there's only one: Netflix. And I don't see this changing anytime soon. I mean, what's the next big service likely to launch here? Amazon, who won't even do an Irish storefront? Sky is blocking everyone else. Even Apple seem to have abandoned any prospect of an iTunes TV Store.

Sad Professor

DubDJ wrote: »

This kind of makes up for a lot for me. It's probably my number 1 requested feature so now they've added it I'm happy.

Don't get too excited. Every year there's a few features that get dropped before release. And this is exactly the kind of thing that if any bugs show up between now and September, Apple will just say "screw it, leave it for next year". If they were committed to it I think they would have mentioned it in the keynote.

Creamy Goodness

Pretty solid keynote, lots of low hanging fruit and major pain points patched up. The real developer keynote (State of the Union) was even better.

Deep Thought

I would love to be able to tweak lock screen, would love to be able to add the Android Type Clock...you know the one

DubDJ

Sad Professor wrote: »

DubDJ wrote: »

This kind of makes up for a lot for me. It's probably my number 1 requested feature so now they've added it I'm happy.

Don't get too excited. Every year there's a few features that get dropped before release. And this is exactly the kind of thing that if any bugs show up between now and September, Apple will just say "screw it, leave it for next year". If they were committed to it I think they would have mentioned it in the keynote.

I think it was more of an embarrassment thing, not wanting to announce a feature letting you remove Apple's apps from phone. Plus it probably would of gotten the loudest cheer of the keynote.

I watched the event last night and I was a bit more hopeful seeing everything properly, instead of just reading about them. Some of the additions look good.

Although, after watching I still think the new Apple Music looks dreadful. Layout wise it's fine, but the new design looks so childish and doesn't fit in with the rest of the OS. Those huge bold fonts and text everywhere are a big step back imo. Some of the redesign in other areas of the OS looks similar and I'm surprised people aren't complaining more about it. I loved the iOS 7 redesign, some of this looks just as drastic and I really hope it doesn't spread to the rest of the OS.

Seemed to be no mention of sightings of Jony Ive either, wonder if he really has taken a huge step away from Apple.

awec

Does anyone actually use iMessage? I don't have a single contact on my phone who messages me via SMS, everything is WhatsApp.

Sad Professor

Most of my frequent contacts are iMessage. I don't currently have Whatsapp or any other messaging apps installed, though, so anyone contacting me via text has to use either SMS or iMessage.

I may reconsider Whatsapp given the greater integration coming in iOS 10, but tbh I couldn't be bothered with all these different messaging services. Part of the appeal of iMessage to me is the seamless integration with SMS. I don't want a dozen other apps with questionable revenue streams and dodgy privacy policies doing the same thing.

DubDJ

I really do think it depends on your personal group and their preferred choice. For me, I rarely use iMessage, however regularly use Facebook Messenger. The fact I can use it on any platform, including the browser, makes it my favourite. And with over 1 billion people on FB the chances of a friend or contact not being on it is small. All other messengers have the problem of not having everybody available or using certain services.

Sad Professor

DubDJ wrote: »

Seemed to be no mention of sightings of Jony Ive either, wonder if he really has taken a huge step away from Apple.

I wouldn't call it huge, but he probably has stepped away a bit. But it's not like he was ever very present at keynotes and there generally isn't any big hardware announcements at WWDC requiring his presence. The Apple Music redesign is apparently being spearheaded by Reznor. Ive would have a rubber-stamping role in it at best.

Creamy Goodness

awec wrote: »

Does anyone actually use iMessage? I don't have a single contact on my phone who messages me via SMS, everything is WhatsApp.

All my frequently text contacts are iMessage. I refuse to install WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, Messenger, Hangouts, Allo etc. just to talk to those green bubble friends :pac:

DubDJ

Sad Professor wrote: »

DubDJ wrote: »

Seemed to be no mention of sightings of Jony Ive either, wonder if he really has taken a huge step away from Apple.

I wouldn't call it huge, but he probably has stepped away a bit. But it's not like he was ever very present at keynotes and there generally isn't any big hardware announcements at WWDC requiring his presence. The Apple Music redesign is apparently being spearheaded by Reznor. Ive would have a rubber-stamping role in it at best.

I'd of expected him at WWDC as he's in charge of the software as we'll as hardware design teams. I'm still not a fan of some of the new UI changes, the actual layout changes of both music and the OS, including watchOS seem a lot better though.

Sad Professor

The layout was the main thing they need to fix about Music, though. The important thing is that they are on the right path:

- Search is now a separate tab.
- The more options (three dots) menu now makes sense.
- The interface elements, such as the Now Playing bar, are larger and easier to tap.

What they need to change:

- The title font is too large, bold and print-like. I think this is main thing that's bothering people about the new design, but it's easily fixed.
- Too much white. Invert the colours of the bottom tab bar. Maybe make the Now Playing bar darker. But the white background everywhere else helps with clarity.

DubDJ

Sad Professor wrote: »

The layout was the main thing they need to fix about Music, though. The important thing is that they are on the right path:

- Search is now a separate tab.
- The more options (three dots) menu now makes sense.
- The interface elements, such as the Now Playing bar, are larger and easier to tap.

What they need to change:

- The title font is too large, bold and print-like. I think this is main thing that's bothering people about the new design, but it's easily fixed.
- Too much white. Invert the colours of the bottom tab bar. Maybe make the Now Playing bar darker. But the white background everywhere else helps with clarity.

One thing I noticed is they changed the screens to demote the heart (like) button that helped customise the recommendations. It's now behind the context menu. Also, do they now offer an alternative to Spotify's discover weekly playlist?

murpho999

Sad Professor wrote: »

Most of my frequent contacts are iMessage. I don't currently have Whatsapp or any other messaging apps installed, though, so anyone contacting me via text has to use either SMS or iMessage.

I may reconsider Whatsapp given the greater integration coming in iOS 10, but tbh I couldn't be bothered with all these different messaging services. Part of the appeal of iMessage to me is the seamless integration with SMS. I don't want a dozen other apps with questionable revenue streams and dodgy privacy policies doing the same thing.

I use both imessage and Whats App, as not all of my contacts are on iPhones.

I do not send SMS unless necessary.

What's the problem with What's App and their revenue streams and privacy?