Last Updated: June 9, 2015
During the keynote speech at its annual developers event, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple CEO Tim Cook announced new products and software upgrades including iOS 9, Mac OS X 10.11, Apple Music, new Apple Watch software, and more.
While previous WWDCs have focused on major new features and breakthroughs, Apple this year focused on improving, stabilizing, and securing its already wildly successful products and platforms.
Since the 2014 WWDC, clamor had grown among many users and commentators for Apple to focus on fixing bugs and improving the reliability of its platforms, something many charged (rightly so, in my experience) had suffered in the face of the breakneck pace of innovation.
Apple had previously provided such a "security and stability" update with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, but that was 5 years ago—and it had never taken a similar approach to the iOS.
The highlights of Apple's WWDC 2015 announcements include:
iOS 9
The next version of the iOS—the operating system that powers the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad—will focus on improving reliability, fixing bugs, strengthening security, and adding a few new features. Highlights of the upgrade include:
- Substantial bug fixes and stability improvements
- Proactive, Apple's competitor to Google Now that learns your behavior and anticipates it
- Improved Maps app, including mass transit directions for selected cities
- Better support for older devices; iOS 9 only requires 1.8 GB of free space to install updates vs the 4.6 GB required for older versions
- Low Power Mode, to get iPhones up to 3 additional hours of battery life
- Numerous security improvements
- Support for loyalty/rewards cards in Apple Pay
- Homekit improvements (more on that later)
- Updates to CarPlay
- New and improved apps including Notes, iCloud Drive, Move to iOS (for switching from Android), and News
Some of the coolest iOS 9 features are specific to iPad. Check out the coverage from Dan Nations, About.com's iPad Expert.
iOS 9 will be released in public beta (a first for Apple and the iOS) in July and in its final version in Fall 2015.
For more on iOS 9, check out:
Apple Music
Apple's March 2014 purchase of Beats Music entered its next phase with the announcement of the new Apple Music service. It combines Apple's existing iOS Music app with Beats' all-you-can-stream, Spotify-style system to integrate users' music libraries and Beats' huge, cloud music library into a single app on Mac and iOS. Beyond that, it adds expert-curated playlists, the new streaming Beats One station, and Connect, a social network for musicians and fans.
Apple Music will debut as part of iOS 8.4 in late June and will cost $10/month.
For much more about Apple Music, check out my Apple Music FAQ.
Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan
With the new version the Mac OS, El Capitan, Apple is introducing new user interface features, improvements to Safari, broader adoption of its Metal graphics technology, and much more. For full coverage of Mac OS X 10.11, check out the coverage from Tom Nelson, the About.com Macs Expert.
watchOS 2
Apple previewed the next version of the operating system that runs the Apple Watch, watchOS. At the device's initial release, users couldn't install apps directly to the Apple Watch. Instead, they installed apps on their iPhones and then, when the devices paired to each other, the iPhone sent the apps to the Watch. This resulted in somewhat slow, somewhat limited Watch apps.
Apple is changing that with the release of watchOS2, which allows developers to create apps that users install directly onto their phones. Other features coming to watchOS 2 include the ability for third-party apps to add complications to watch faces, new photo faces, responding to emails from the Watch, and much more.
Get full coverage from Emily Price, About.com's Apple Watch Expert.
HomeKit
While Apple had previously announced its smart-home framework, HomeKit, adoption of it has been fairly slow, with the first real wave of compatible products only just hitting the market. The pace should pick up with HomeKit now that Apple has added the ability for users to control HomeKit devices via iCloud (now you don't have to be in your house to control it) and support for Wi-Fi-connected window shades, motion sensors, security systems, and remote access systems. Also cool: HomeKit now supports Siri, so you can talk to your Apple Watch and tell it to turn off the lights as you leave a room.