It’s no secret that Apple has plenty of software updates in store for WWDC, but the biggest improvements may come to its Apple Watch. Sources claim to know many of the software introductions planned for the June developer event, and watchOS would receive major updates that make it considerably less dependent on an iPhone. To start, the Apple Watch would get an on-device App Store – like Google Play on Wear OS, you wouldn’t have to load apps on your smartphone first.
You’d also see a deluge of new apps. Health fans would have access to Cycles for menstrual cycles, and Dose for pill reminders. An Apple Books app would give you audiobooks on your wrist, while Voice Memos would allow quick note-to-self moments. And yes, there would finally be a native calculator.
Many of the other rumored updates have slipped out before in some form, such as iOS’ dark mode, an iPad-as-second-Mac-screen feature and macOS’ dedicated apps for music and podcasts. However, there are still a few notable tidbits. iOS 13 could include a SwiftKey-style swipe option for the keyboard, iMessage profiles, a “revamped” Health app with hearing elements, a system-level Sleep Mode and more advanced versions of Maps and Reminders that better compete with their rivals. That Apple Music app would be a native Mac app, not just a quick port of the iOS version. Oh, and the HomePod would finally support multiple users.
These features are only likely to be available in beta form at or shortly after WWDC. If history is any indication, you aren’t likely to see finished versions until September. They’re still promising, though, even if there don’t appear to be major interface changes. And this isn’t including the possibility of hardware news, such as the long-in-the-making Mac Pro redesign and a 6K monitor. All told, the 2019 conference could be chuck full with new tech.
