Apple's Attempts to Eliminate Various Features at WWDC 2019
For each new innovation Apple unveils at their annual WWDC event, a few developers cringe and lament, "No way." That's because Apple has a history of taking solutions developed by third-party apps and giving them a Cupertino-approved spin. So here's our sixth year of delving into the latest features Apple plans to target.
Cycles and Women's Health
If you've ever searched for a period tracking app, you know the App Store is littered with options - not all of them great. Apple aims to change that with the addition of female health tracking to the Apple Watch, allowing users to log symptoms and get period and fertility window predictions. This feature will also be available for non-watch users via the Health app.
Apple is placing a strong emphasis on privacy here, as some popular women's health apps have received less-than-stellar press regarding the handling of sensitive data. Plus, integrating it into the Health app means you won't have to pay for a basic tracker or dig into privacy concerns.
Quenching the Thirst for SwiftKey
One of the updates in iOS 13 is SwiftKey-style typing called "QuickPath Typing." It lets you slide your finger from one letter to the next without lifting a finger. It's a nice nod to SwiftKey, a featurethat was previously too cool for Apple to copy.
Exploring New Territory with Apple Maps
Apple Maps is getting a facelift with "Look Around," a feature that lets you explore your surroundings in 360 degrees and 3D. It's essentially Apple's version of Google Streetview. The ongoing Apple-Google mapping feud is well-documented, and "Look Around" is nothing if not an attempt to lure iOS users away from Google Maps.
Keeping it Private with Sign in with Apple
Apple's privacy crusade continues with their "Sign in with Apple" service. It's basically the same as social logins from Facebook and Google, but without the tracking. Instead of providing your email, Apple generates a random address, shielding your actual address from being shared. It's like sending Apple's eyes-emoji to Facebook and Google, followed by the nails-emoji.
HomeKit Takes on Smart Security Cameras
HomeKit's getting love this WWDC, mainly in the form of the HomeKit Secure Video API. It's Apple's response to the numerous Nest hack stories, promising on-device processing and end-to-end encryption. Best of all, it offers 10 days of free storage on iCloud at no extra cost - a feature that often makes people hesitate before buying a security camera.
Sketching Out New Creativity with Sidecar
If you're an artist or photographer who prefers a mouse and keyboard over a drawing tablet, we have some news for you - prepare to live in a world of unnecessary frustration. A good drawing tablet can be pricey, especially when it includes a screen you can draw on with a stylus. With macOS Catalina's new Sidecar feature, if you own an iPad and an Apple Pencil, you already have a decent drawing tablet - one that works wirelessly. Any Mac app with stylus support will now be able to use an iPad as a tablet.
- The future of technology in Apple's hands is evident with their advancements in privacy, as demonstrated by the introduction of 'Sign in with Apple' which aims to protect user data, similar to Apple's eyes-emoji shielding actual email addresses.
- The tech giant is targeting the future of women's health management with the addition of a female health tracking feature to the Apple Watch, allowing users to log symptoms and receive predictions, avoiding concerns of data privacy that some popular apps have faced, represented by the nails-emoji shielding sensitive information.
- In the realm of technology, Apple is drawing attention to its upcoming feature 'QuickPath Typing' in iOS 13, which resembles SwiftKey's typing style, a feature Apple had previously overlooked, symbolizing Apple's crosshairs on addressing popular demand and improving user experience.
- Apple's crosshairs are also on the mapping industry with their introduction of 'Look Around,' a 360-degree, 3D exploration feature for Apple Maps, aiming to compete with Google Streetview and lure users away from their long-time map rival, symbolizing a direct confrontation in the tech world.
