What we learned from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference

Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in California yesterday by unveiling a series of new features for its computers and portable devices.

The Cupertino-based tech giant announced new versions of its iOS operating system for smartphones and its macOS system for computers, along with software updates for the Apple Watch and Apple TVs.

Hardware products, such as new iPhones and computers, were off the cards at the conference, or WWDC. However, Apple often unveils this sort of thing at an event that falls in either September or October.

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Here are the highlights from yesterday’s conference:

iOS 12 will speed up old phones

Apple came under fire last December after tech watchdog Geekbench discovered that the firm designed the iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and SE to slow down as the smartphones’ batteries deteriorate.

Although Apple cut the price of battery replacements for the affected handsets, the company has found a way to boost the performance of its old handsets with its iOS 12 mobile software, expected to launch later this year.

To give an example, an old iPhone 6S running iOS 12 will be capable of launching apps 40% faster, open the keyboard 50% faster, and take photos from the lock screen 70% faster, compared with the same phone running iOS 11, says Wired.

The tweaks shouldn’t reduce battery performance significantly either, because the software only ramps up the mobile’s processing power when it is needed.

Apple takes aim at Facebook

Privacy has been a hot topic for tech firms following the row about Cambridge Analytica, the consulting firm allowed access to the personal information of up to 87 million Facebook users.

At WWDC, Apple announced that it would be taking extra measures to prevent websites from tracking its users.

During a presentation of the new Safari web browser, Apple software chief Craig Federighi revealed that the “like” and “share” buttons on Facebook can currently be used to track online activity “whether you click on them or not”, the BBC reports.

The updated web browser will give users an on-screen prompt before accessing social media sites, such as Facebook, allowing them to choose whether they want to share their personal data with the website.

According to The Guardian, the update will also limit a process called “fingerprinting”, where data companies gather information about a web user’s computer.

macOS Mojave gets a new look

A new version of the macOS computer operating system is set to arrive later this year. Apple calls the new system Mojave, or “version 10.4” for tech fans.

The most notable changes include the addition of a “Dark mode”, which “turns the dock, taskbar, and the chrome around your apps into a dark grey”, says The Verge.

The App Store is also “getting a long-overdue redesign”, the tech site says. The new version takes several design cues from the iOS App Store, such as “larger billboards” advertising new apps, and some “editorial content” about the software that is available.

Apple is changing the way that users update their computers, too. Previously, users were required to issue updates through the App Store, but Mac Rumors says this option has now been moved to the system preferences menu.

Walkie-Talkie mode comes to Apple Watch

Rounding off the presentation was a glimpse at the new watchOS 5 software for the Apple Watch. Users can now control podcasts using their smartwatch, either through touch or voice commands via Siri.

There is also a “fun” new feature called Walkie-Talkie mode, which allows two Apple Watch users to talk to each other, says Engadget.

Once permission has been given to be contacted via the feature, the users tap the talk button on their watch’s display to record a voice message. This is then sent to their recipient of choice, who will be “alerted by a vibration” on their Apple Watch.