It’s summer, so you know what that means: it’s time to talk about the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)! Each year, Apple welcomes about 5,000 to the Bay Area (and many more online) for a four-day tech showcase. Last year, software (especially iOS 10 and Siri) stole the show. However, this year’s WWDC 2017 event showed that Apple’s hardware division has been very busy, indeed.
Macbook upgrades
First and foremost, Apple’s Macbook line of laptops received welcome upgrades across the board. Apple promises the newest Macbooks will be significantly faster than previous devices. By incorporating Intel’s seventh-generation processor (codename: Kaby Lake), expanded SSD storage (which Apple claims will be 50% faster), and increased RAM capacity, we have every reason to believe Apple’s new Macbooks will deliver on that promise.
Accordingly, the Macbook Pro will get similar hardware upgrades, while the less-is-more Macbook Air will receive only a much-needed upgrade of its processor.
iMac upgrades
Second, the iMac line of desktop computers will join their portable siblings in adopting Kaby Lake technology and faster SSD storage. Also, iMacs will get a boost to their RAM capacity and improved graphics cards.
Apple also announced the iMac Pro at WWDC 2017, the most powerful computer they’ve ever produced. The Pro model comes with a 27-inch 5K display, up to 18 processor cores, and up to 128 GB of RAM. All of this adds up to 22 teraflops of computing power, which is roughly 4 times that of the standard iMac. However, these impressive machines aren’t for the casual consumer, as the line starts at about $5,000.
iPad Pro
Next, Apple announced the iPad Pro range will feature a new CPU and GPU, which will be 30% and 40% faster, respectively. An enlarged 10.5-inch device will also be replace the previous 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
HomePod
Finally, Apple also introduced an entirely new device at WWDC 2017: the HomePod. This long-expected device will compete with Google Home and Amazon Echo devices as a smart home hub. However, the HomePod’s early advantage lie in its music-playing abilities and sound quality, which has received positive early reviews.
Software
While hardware upgrades may have been more exciting, Apple also announced a number of software updates for its product lines.
Quickly, here are the software highlights announced at WWDC17:
- macOS: rather than replacing the current version with a new one, Apple says they’re “perfecting it” in the new update, dubbed ‘High Sierra.’
- watchOS 4 announced: updates include a Siri-powered watchface, enhanced fitness features, and improved ability to connect with other gadgets.
- tvOS: Apple TV is finally getting an Amazon Video app!
- iOS 11: the latest version doesn’t boast any game-changing features, but a few users will receive welcome improvements. For example, our text-happy readers will be glad to know that messages will no longer take up storage. Lovers of high-quality audio will be thrilled with the inclusion of FLAC support. Read more about iOS 11’s features here.
Those were our highlights from Apple’s WWDC 2017; what were yours? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!
