New versions of Apple's iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS platforms will be announced at WWDC 2019, which starts on June 3 and runs through June 7.
Right on cue, the tech giant sent out media invites for its 30th annual WWDC keynote. Like previous years, the developer conference keynote starts at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.
The invite is enclosed below and ... includes a unicorn?! What could that mean?
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Apple is expected to announce updates to its many software platforms with iOS 13, macOS 10.15, and watchOS 6 headlining the keynote.
As always, it's anyone's guess what new features Apple will announce and whether or not there will be any hardware announcements. In past years, Apple used WWDC to introduce new MacBook Pros, the iMac Pro, and HomePod.
Internet leaks, however, might provide some insight into Apple's plans. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shared a trove of information on what to expect from new versions of Apple's software.
iOS 13
iOS 13, codenamed "Yukon," will reportedly come with several interface tweaks such as a "new animation when launching multitasking and closing apps" and a redesigned widgets panel. A much-asked for dark mode will also be one of the big new feature. iOS 13 might also include a swipe-based keyboard similar to SwiftKey, revamped Apple apps (Reminders, Apple Books, Maps, Mail, Home, etc.), and more nuanced Screen Time settings.
For iPad, users might be able to use their tablets as a touchscreen display when it's connected to a Mac. Additional updates to iOS's interface on iPad for "multi-tasking, tweaks to the home screen, and the ability to cycle through different versions of the same app" are also expected, according to the report.
macOS 10.15
On the Mac, Apple will likely announce macOS 10.15. Bloomberg's report says the main news will be iPad apps running on the Mac — a feature Apple announced at last year's WWDC. This year, though, we should see the fruits of its labor and perhaps third-party iPad apps optimized to work on Macs.
A new Apple Music app could also be introduced during the keynote. The app is said to be a standalone app for the company's streaming music service and lessens the need to use iTunes.
Other features on iOS, such as Screen Time, iMessage stickers and effects, and Siri Shortcuts (to name a few) will reportedly also make their way to the Mac.
If Apple announces any hardware, it could be the long-anticipated Mac Pro redesign first announced and teased in 2017.
watchOS 6
As for watchOS 6 for Apple Watch, Apple is said to be planning one of its biggest updates for the smartwatch yet.
Bloomberg says Apple will finally give the Apple Watch its own App Store instead of having users install Watch apps via connected iOS devices.
Along with several new watch faces, Apple will reportedly add more "complications" to make it easier to view glance-able app data from right on watch faces.
The Apple Watch is also expected to get a new Apple Books app for listening to audio books, a calculator app, two new health apps (one for reminding users to take their medicine and another to track menstrual cycles), and Animoji and Memoji stickers.
