Apple Shifts Focus to Software with Major iOS, macOS, and watchOS Updates
Apple highlights its software future at WWDC with the introduction of iOS 13, a standalone iPadOS, and enhanced native apps. Key updates include system-wide Dark Mode, a Street View competitor in Apple Maps, and advanced photo and video editing tools.
Apple showcases a strong focus on software, services, and content at this year's WWDC keynote as hardware sales slow. iOS 13 brings the most significant changes to the lineup, headlined by a system-wide Dark Mode that reduces eye strain and preserves battery life. The dark theme applies to native apps and will extend to third-party apps through future development platform updates.
Apple Maps receives a major upgrade with Lookaround, a highly polished competitor to Google Street View that uses seamlessly stitched photographs for easier navigation. Imaging also takes a big leap forward as the Photos app gains professional-grade editing tools for adjusting white balance, contrast, and noise reduction, while intelligent features prevent saturation changes from affecting skin tones.
The iPad finally breaks free from iOS with the introduction of a dedicated iPadOS, unlocking enhanced multitasking capabilities for larger screens. Users can now open multiple windows within the same app, take advantage of improved gesture-based highlighting, and use better cut-and-paste functionality to maximize their productivity on the tablet.