The news: With just under a month to go until WWDC 2022 kicks off, here are all the leaks and rumors so far.
New software
- Without a doubt, software will be the focus of WWDC (it is a software developer event, after all)
- iOS/iPadOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16 are all expected…but this event could be the first time we see homeOS materialize
iOS/iPadOS 16
We haven’t heard much about Apple’s mobile updates so far, but there will be some “significant enhancements”:
- There won’t be a redesign, and the software will look similar to how it does now
- Notifications are getting a revamp, but there’s no word of which direction Apple is taking them in
- iPadOS is getting a revamped multitasking interface
- Car crash detection will automatically dial 911 if an accident happens
- An updated Health app will feature feature better sleep tracking, new features for women’s health and medicine management with pill reminders
watchOS 9
We’ve gotten a few tidbits at watchOS 9, but it sounds like the update will once again be pretty small:
- On Series 4 or newer, improved atrial fibrillation detection is coming “to calculate what is known as ‘burden,’ or how often a person is in a state of atrial fibrillation across a certain period”
- New low-power mode that allows you to still use parts of the watch while extending battery life…there is a power-reserve mode currently, but it only shows the time
- “Many” existing watch faces will be updated (but no additional details are provided)
- More pre-selectable workouts and “additional metrics” are also in the works
- Down the road, watchOS will also support satellite connectivity like on iPhone 14, but we don’t know exactly when
Hardware
While WWDC is usually a software-only event, some sources believe new Macs could be announced very soon:
- A redesigned, colorful MacBook Air with M2 inside is the most likely to come
- But an all-new Mac mini has also been in the works for quite some time…and that could boast an M2 chip, too
- Apple could also preview the new Mac Pro (but we’re not entirely sure on that just yet)
Sam’s take: I don’t really know how to feel about dub dub yet. I think it could be great! But I also worry that it could be just as underwhelming as last year, where we saw no hardware and the smallest software updates in history.