Apple WWDC 2017 conference: a smart HomePod speaker, new iPad, MacBook and iMac, Keynote announcements
With HomePod, Apple finally unveiled a "smart" speaker competing with Google Home. This Monday, June 5, Apple also formalized its new iPad, MacBook and MacBook Pro, an iMac cut for virtual reality and iOS 11. Back on the main ads.
As often, rumors have come to fruition. After the Apple Watch in 2014, Apple launches a new product line with its connected and intelligent aka HomePod speaker. A dense keynote, long and largely driven by product announcements with renewal on the MacBook, Pro and Air ranges and a brand new iMac Pro that will replace the aging Mac Pro. IPad-rated ads and of course software, the WWDC addressing historically to developers. On Pentecost Monday, Apple has spoiled its tribe with exciting novelties.
The main announcements to remember:
tvOS
- Amazon arrives on Apple TV in the year
Apple Watch
- Arrival of WatchOS 4
- New Watchface with Siri
- New fitness app interface
- Using NFC in Gyms to Retrieve Machine Data
- New music app
Mac OS
- MacOS Update "High Sierra", released this fall
- Safari faster, blocking videos in autoplay, limiting tracking
- Mail: optimizing disk space, highlighting important messages
- Photos: new editing tools and new interface
- New file system "Apple File System"
- Hardware Acceleration for H.265 on the latest mac
- Metal 2 supports external GPUs
New iMac
- Better Bright Screen
- Intel Kaby Lake Processors
- Up to 32 GB of RAM on the 21.5 "model, 64 on the 27
- Faster SSD, up to 2TB - 2 ports Thunderbolt 3
- IMac Retina 4K with Radeon Pro 555 and 560 GPUs and 27-inch Radeon Pro 570, 575, 580
- From 1099 dollars, 1299 in 4K and 1799 in 5K 27 inches
MacBook Pro
- Intel Kaby Lake processors on all models
- New configuration for the MacBook Pro 13 ", at 1299 dollars
IMac Pro
- Released in December, starting at 4999 dollars
- More powerful: Intel Xeon processor with 8, 10 or 18 cores
- GPU Radeon Vega 22 Tflops
- ECC memory up to 128 GB
- Up to 4TB SSD
IOS 11
- New interface
- Messages in iCloud for better sync between devices
- Apple Pay integrated with iMessage
- Improved Siri voice, more natural, translations toolHeif photo format, enhanced photo app for low light
- New improved control center
- Same appearance on locked notification screen
- Possibility of loops on Live Photo
- Apple Maps: Maps for shopping centers and airports
- HomeKit supports Bang and Olufsen, Devialet, Libratone, Bowers & Wilkins speakers
- Arrival of Metal 2 and HEVC
App Store
- New design
- New "Today" and "Games" tabs
- Highlighting in-app purchases
- Tutorials built into some apps
IPad Pro
- New "New iPad Pro" models 10.5 inches and 12.9 inches
- New true tone screen, fewer reflections, up to 600 nits
- True Motion 120 Hz Display
- A10X Fusion processor more powerful
- Camera 12 million pixels
- 10h of autonomy
- Available next week from 649 and 799 dollars
- New Mac OS Dock
- New "Files" app to manage files
HomePod
- Sonos Intelligent Speaker that fires with a "Hey, Siri"
- Color black or white
- Processor A8
- Sound quality
- Adjusts the sound according to the shape of the part
- Works with Apple Music to stream songs
- Same functions as Siri on iPhone
- $ 349 in December for US, UK and Australia
The crystal ball of before keynote:
Apple will host its annual developer conference June 5-9. And in accordance with the custom it will open this evening, Monday 5 to 7 pm, Paris time on a keynote. This year should have a special flavor.In addition to the traditional presentations of iOS 11, MacOS 10.13, and Watch OS, the firm could announce a new category of products. Already expected and even hoped for last year , this 2017 edition could be the right one for the intelligent enclosure animated by Siri.
Always in hardware announcements, Apple should renew its tablet line with a new format for the iPad and refresh its MacBook Pro and Air that still sell very well and give a little more attraction to its MacBook 12 inches by rewarding them A more solid configuration.
A connected speaker; Apple Home
If WWDC 2017 was the opportunity to launch a new product category? This is believed to know the famous analyst Ming Chi-Kuo . He estimates that there is a "50% chance" for Apple to respond to Google Home speakers and Amazon Alexa. The enclosure would of course be animated by Siri. No name was given, but Apple Home would be consistent with the current trend. Bloomberg also goes in the direction of the analyst.
A new iPad in 10.5-inch format
The tablet market is declining, and Apple would need to re-launch the iPad to resume growth on this category. The firm could announce a new iPad in 10.5-inch format . It would therefore be placed between the two already existing iPad Pro. It remains to be seen whether it will bring something really new.
A MacBook Refresh (Air)
This seems rather unlikely, but there has been talk of refreshing its other laptops . If the MacBook Pro were renewed in November, MacBook and MacBook Air did not. Suffice to say that they are starting to seriously age. That being said, it is still more likely that they will be refreshed in the fall.
OS as usual
Developer Conference. The new versions of the various Apple OS will be presented in a long and wide. On the menu: iOS 11, Mac OS 10.13, Watch OS 4, and TV OS. Operating systems have been the subject of very few rumors so it is difficult to get an idea of what they will propose. On the other hand, if the artificial intelligence is at the heart of the conference, with the connected speaker, it will probably also be at the heart of the different OS.
- tags:
- Apple
- WWDC
- iOS
- Mac OS
