WWDC 2023 – live: How Apple’s ‘revolutionary’ $3,499 Vision Pro could read your mind

Every Apple platform updated at WWDC 2023 – alongside the introduction of a whole new one

Apple reveal augmented reality headset described as ‘most advanced device ever’

Apple held one of its biggest events of the last decade on Monday, launching a product that could redefine the way we look at the world.

The company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) began with a keynote from Apple Park in California led by CEO Tim Cook, who described the company’s new $3,499 (£2,800) Vision Pro headset as “revolutionary”.

The device combines virtual reality and augmented reality, with Apple claiming it heralds a “new era of spatial computing”.

The world’s most valuable company also used the keynote to unveil a major overhaul of its Mac lineup, as updates for its other platforms. This year, that meant the release of iOS 17 for iPhones, WatchOS 10 for Apple Watch, and a new iPadOS.

The Vision Pro also came with its own software, called VisionOS, which supports many of the same apps found on iPhones.

You can read how it unfolded here, as well as follow all the latest updates from our on-the-ground coverage of WWDC 2023.

Key points from WWDC 2023

• Watch live stream of WWDC 2023
• Apple unveils ‘revolutionary’ Vision Pro headset
• All the big announcements from WWDC 2023

[6 June 2023 05:30 · Vishwam Sankaran]

New VR headset has special chip to reduce motion sickness

Apple’s new Vision Pro VR headset has a specialised chip named R1 which enables the device to process data from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones.

The chip processes the data from the devices within 12 milliseconds, several times faster than the blink of an eye, the tech giant claims.

The speed at which the chip processes the incoming information means there would be no latency and this could reduce issues of motion sickness, commonly reported by users of many other virtual reality headsets.

Due to the range of vision and sensor data being processed at high speed by the device, Apple says it doesn’t need controllers, but instead can use just hand gestures and eye tracking to direct user experience.

You can read more about the Vision Pro headset in this report by The Independent’s Tech Editor Andrew Griffin:

[6 June 2023 05:00 · Vishwam Sankaran]

New iOS 17 feature warns users if they receive nude photos and videos

Apple is releasing a new iPhone feature that lets users know if they receive a photo or video they may not want to see.

The Sensitive Content Warning feature appears to be specifically designed to warn adult users about nude photos and videos with a pop-up asking if they want to see the content.

“Naked photos and videos show the private body parts that are usually covered by underwear or bathing suits. It’s not your fault, but naked photos and videos can be used to hurt you,” the pop-up explains.

In addition to choosing into or out of seeing the shared content, users can tap on “ways to get help.”

“As with Communication Safety, all image and video processing for Sensitive Content Warning occurs on-device, so Apple does not get access to the content,” Apple noted in a blog post.

In addition to this feature, the tech giant also announced a range of other upgrades to iOS 17. You can read more about them here:

[6 June 2023 04:30 · Vishwam Sankaran]

New tool to search for recipes directly from photos

Apple has launched a new iOS 17 computer vision feature that lets users search for recipes directly from a photo.

While the tech giant didn’t launch any significant AI updates during the conference, the new Visual Look Up feature was announced on Apple’s website.

There aren’t many details on how the feature works, but it appears photos of food will be identified on iOS 17 to enable users to find similar dishes and their recipes.

Users can pause videos to look up information on a subject by tapping on an info icon.

In a photo explaining the feature on Apple’s website, photos of a bowl of quinoa lead to recipe suggestions for other quinoa meals.

This marks another example of Apple redirecting users away from Google Search.

[6 June 2023 04:00 · Vishwam Sankaran]

New feature to tell friends you've reached home safe

Apple’s new “Check In” feature lets users tell friends or family members they’ve reached their destination safely.

Once turned on, it automatically detects when the user has reached their intended destination and lets selected contacts know via Messages.

If something unexpected happens, Apple says the feature can recognise that the user is not making progress toward their destination and checks in with them.

“If they don’t respond, the feature will share useful information — like the user’s precise location, battery level, cell service status, and the last active time using their iPhone — with the contacts the user selected,” the tech giant noted.

The feature lets users choose whom they share their information with, including the destination and time duration, and the session can be ended at any time.

Information sent via the feature is also end-to-end encrypted, Apple noted, adding that only the user’s family member or friend can read it, “not Apple or anyone else.”

[6 June 2023 03:30 · Vishwam Sankaran]

'Just a tap to transfer contacts'

Apple launches a disruptive new feature for iPhone and Apple Watch users to share business cards with each other by just holding the devices near one another.

Apple’s Namedrop is being seen as a disruptive feature for the event industry.

Attendees at events could potentially share their business cars or other content with each other or with exhibitors by just tapping iPhones to transfer their info to someone else.

“With NameDrop, a new AirDrop experience, a user can hold their iPhone near another to share their contact information with only their intended recipients,” Apple says on its website.

“Users can also share content like photos or links the same way,” the tech giant noted.

The feature is also available for Apple Watch users.

The new features, according to Apple, securely share content over an encrypted connection.

[6 June 2023 03:03 · Andrew Griffin]

Writers Guild of America leaflets outside Apple launch

There was lots going on at Apple Park today. One of the more unusual things was a leafleting effort from the Writers Guild of America, as part of its strike. They were stood there throughout the day – as the crowds left the campus after the presentations.

(Andrew Griffin)

You can read more about the day of action – and the WGA’s dispute with Apple and other studios and streaming platforms – here.

[6 June 2023 03:00 · Andrew Griffin]

When will Apple release its new software? (For those that can get it)

Here’s the details on the release date of iOS 17 and others. And also which devices they will support.

[6 June 2023 00:16 · Andrew Griffin]

Apple doesn’t mention AI

It’s one of the buzziest terms in tech. But Apple didn’t mention AI today.

Here’s some speculation on why that might be.

[5 June 2023 21:36 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple event: All the major announcements from WWDC 2023

While the Vision Pro headset will understandably get most of the headlines from today’s WWDC keynote, there were plenty of other major announcements that would ordinarily be the main talking points.

We have stories on all of them:

• Apple finally releases new version of its most powerful computer

• Apple reveals big version of its smallest laptop

• Apple adds a host of new features for iPhones with iOS 17 update

• Apple reveals potentially its most important product since the iPhone

[5 June 2023 20:59 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple share price drops following Vision Pro unveiling

All the market gains Apple made in the days building up to WWDC 2023 were wiped out after the announcement of the Vision Pro headset, suggesting investors are not that hopeful that the new device will be a hit with consumers.

This is not necessarily a reflection of how they perceive the technology, which was impressive during the demos and went beyond many of the rumoured capabilities, but it could suggest that the price is too high for it to achieve mass market appeal like the iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.

It could also be that the delayed release date means any revenue boost won’t be seen until next year.

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