The biggest news from Apple WWDC yesterday was certainly a new iOS 7, but this is not everything that Apple had in mind on the first day of this event. These are only some of the highlights from the WWDC 2013:
OS X Mavericks
OS X Mavericks is the tenth version of the OS X operating system and the latest version comes with many new features. One of the biggest news is tabbed navigation in the Finder. Now you can also tag files, for easier sorting and easier way to find them again. Another interesting feature is the multi-screen use – this means you can use two monitors at the same time and you may also have full-screen applications on multiple monitors. The new operating system of Apple is also supported by new technologies that save energy and thus provide better battery life.
Apple unveiled a new version of its Safari browser, which will come with OS X Mavericks. There is a “Shared Links” section that displays links shared by people you follow on Twitter and the like, and Reading List now scrolls smoothly between elements. Safari has also improved the browser’s memory usage and JavaScript handling, while AppNaps function will stop the processes of tabs running special battery-draining websites or web apps to improve battery life.
New Mac Pro
The new MacBook Air model promises better battery life, thanks to Intel Haswell CPUs. The 11-inch model promises 9 hours of battery life, while the 13-inch model promises 12 hours. MacBook Air models will be available as early as of today.
The new Mac Pro is a small, black cylindrical machine that will be manufactured in the United States. It is powered by a new Intel Xeon processor, ECC memory with up to 2x faster performance, PCIe-based flash memory with 1 Gbps write speed. Apple says that it is 10 times faster than any previous Mac Pro models. The unit can be extended by using external devices over connections using Intel’s new Thunderbolt 2 technology, running at 20 Gbps per port and up to six devices per port. The new Mac Pro model will come later this year.
iOS 7
It was no surprise that iOS 7 was made public yesterday, and it has a lot to boast about. “This is the biggest update of iOS since the iPhone”, said Tim Cook on presentation of iOS 7. The new design provides a much cleaner look than the previous version with the intent to better utilization of screen width.
The iOS one is now based on swiping. If you want to delete messages from the Inbox, you can do so by simply swiping them.
iOS 7 also offers better multitasking, iOS 7 detects which applications you use most, and gives the applications several background update. A new interface for multitasking lets you watch live applications as you switch between them, which provides an overview of the content instead of icons. iOS 7 will probably come with the new iPhone.
