Unveiled are Multiple Whispers Regarding the Upcoming Iteration of iOS
In the upcoming Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), set to begin on June 3, the tech giant is expected to unveil significant updates to iOS, macOS, and watchOS. Previous reports have hinted at a plethora of changes, many of which will focus on the Health app and Apple's growing interest in health-related features.
Let's delve into some of the most intriguing rumors floating around, starting with Apple's emphasis on hearing health and women's health tracking.
Apple, Your Ears and Menstrual Cycle, All in One App?
Most self-quantifiers rely on third-party apps for complex health tracking, like menstrual cycles or hearing health. However, Bloomberg reports that Apple is planning to overhaul its Health app, offering native period tracking and hearing health monitoring.
For the uninitiated, Apple's Health app serves as a hub for various health-related data, such as daily activity, nutrition, and sleep. The app's current straightforward design may not cater to avid self-quantifiers who seek more advanced features.
Bloomberg's report suggests that the Health app will undergo an extensive upgrade, adding a new homepage design to better present daily activity data and offering hearable-related features. This could pave the way for more advanced hearing health tracking within the AirPods and Apple Watch, giving Apple a foothold in this burgeoning market.
Apple and Your Sleep
Apple's sleep tracking feature, Bedtime, is set for an upgrade. Users can already track their sleep patterns with the Clock app. However, the new Sleep mode reportedly will offer more extensive sleep data tracking and better integration with the Apple Watch.
These improvements might signal a longer battery life for Apple Watch models, as better sleep tracking has been a limiting factor for most smartwatches that can only track this data for short periods due to battery constraints.
Screen Time Parental Controls
As the tech industry grapples with growing concerns over screen time, Apple is reportedly developing a new parental control feature for its Screen Time feature. The update will enable parents to limit their children's contacts, providing them with more control over their children's usage and digital interactions.
In January 2020, Apple removed or restricted 11 screen-time tracking and parental control apps from the App Store, spurring speculation on Apple's future plans for built-in parental control features.
Track Your Stuff with GreenTorch
Apple is also rumored to be combining its Find My Friends and Find My iPhone services into a single app internally named "GreenTorch." While this might not seem groundbreaking, reports suggest the company is working on developing new beacon-like hardware to assist in tracking non-Apple devices.
Heads turned when iPhone sales reportedly stalled around the world, leading to questions about Apple's innovative prowess. Merging its location-based services into a single app aligns with its strategy to expand into services, as many users have come to rely on these apps for daily tasks.
iPad as Second Monitor
Finally, Apple's long-awaited desire to make the iPad a true productivity powerhouse is underway. Reportedly, the tablet will gain the ability to function as a secondary monitor for iMac or MacBook users. The iPad will also feature enhanced Apple Pencil compatibility and the ability to display notifications, further blurring the lines between tablets and laptops.
Apple has also been working on incorporating mouse input support for the iPad. These updates would undoubtedly make the iPad a more powerful tool for productivity and creativity.
In conclusion, Apple's WWDC 2022 promises an interesting lineup of updates for its iOS, macOS, and watchOS platforms. The company's renewed focus on health-related features will likely continue to set it apart from its competitors, while its expanding into services that cater to daily needs and improve productivity could cement its spot as the company at the center of our digital lives.
The tech giant's plans for the Health app include introducing native period tracking and hearing health monitoring, aiming to provide more comprehensive health data within the app. (technology, health, app, period tracking, hearing health)
Rumors suggest that Apple is merging its Find My Friends and Find My iPhone services into a single app named "GreenTorch," aiming to improve location-based tracking and device compatibility. (tech, rumors, GreenTorch, Find My Friends, Find My iPhone)
As concerns over screen time increase, Apple is reportedly developing a new parental control feature for its Screen Time feature, allowing parents to limit their children's contacts and digital interactions. (screen time, tech industry, parental control, Apple, Screen Time feature)
In the future, iOS updates might integrate the iPad as a secondary monitor for iMac or MacBook users, enhancing its functionality and blurring the lines between tablets and laptops. (iPad, iOS updates, iMac, MacBook, secondary monitor, laptop, tablet)
