Apple Software Announcements

On Tuesday 8 June, Apple announced some very cool features in their upcoming system updates for iOS15 and macOS Monterey (as well as iPad and Apple Watch).

Care of the Proformac Technologies team, here are our top five features from the announcement that has our team buzzing.

1. Live Text: This development exists inside the Camera app allowing you to photograph text (even handwritten text) and it will recognise the words and allow you to copy and paste it as normal text. It can even take a phone number and turn it into a clickable link to make an immediate phone call!

2. Universal Control: This is one of those developments that looks really cool, but the usage of it will vary across different users. How it works is that you can place your iPad next to your Mac and seamlessly work between the two screens using just the one mouse/trackpad and keyboard. So, for example, you’re a designer who’s just sketched up something using the pen on the iPad, now, with your mouse, just drag and drop that sketch over to your Mac and start manipulating it in Illustrator. The use-cases for this feature are endless!

3. SharePlay: When you’re watching sport or the latest binge-worthy TV series, how cool would it be to interact directly via video with a friend, no matter where they are in the world? This is what Share Play will do via FaceTime. Apple have opened up the API for all streaming providers to adopt this function within their apps and Apple already have Disney+, ESPN+, HBO Max, Hulu, MasterClass, Paramount+, Pluto TV, TikTok, and Twitch onboard with many more to follow suit.

4. Big Privacy Updates: In this update, Apple continue to roll out more privacy features, including blocking pixel tracking when you’re using the Mail app (pixel tracking allows email marketers to know who opened their email newsletters and what links they clicked), iCloud+ which provides enhanced browsing privacy in Safari, and the Hide My Email function that allows you to use unique, random email addresses that forward to your personal email.

5. FaceTime Updates: What if you want to FaceTime a friend but they use a Windows or Android device? Now, you can send them a link and they can join you on FaceTime just like you do on Zoom. And it’s still end‑to‑end encrypted, so your call is as private and secure as any other FaceTime call. Plus, FaceTime will have an audio function that filters out other noises, meaning despite someone vacuuming in the background, people can hear just your voice. And the Portrait mode in the Camera app is coming to FaceTime. Pretty cool!