Apple WWDC Event 2021 Key Announcements: iOS 15, macOS Monterey, watchOS 8 and new privacy features

-watchOS 8 brings Portrait watch face, sleeping respiratory rate tracker, and more

-Apple WWDC 2021: Why iOS 15 is the ideal pandemic update

-WWDC 2021 highlights: Everything Apple announced at its big keynote presentation

Cook is back on stage. Developer betas are coming today. Public betas are coming next month. Final builds for all software is coming this fall. 

Apple says it has paid $230 billion to app developers since it was launched. App developers will be able to show customer screenshots, logos, depending on the user. Apple is adding a new 'In-App Events' which will be shown on the App Store so that users will know when an app is hosting a special event. 

Apple is now highlighting features for developers, such as API, which will make it easier for them to create their apps. Object Capture will turn 2D images into 3D images easily and get an AR preview of the model. 

Apple is bringing Web extensions to iPhone and iPad as well on the Safari browser. 

Safari is getting a complete redesign on the latest version of macOS. There's a new streamlined tab bar on Safari. There's a new tabs groups feature, where users can create a set of tabs depending on the kind of websites/links they contain. Tabs Groups get reflected on other devices as well such as iPad and MacBooks. 

Shortcuts app from iOS is coming to Macs as well. Users can link together a series of actions on Shortcuts on their Macs as well. 

AirPlay to Mac will let users AirPlay anything from your iPhone or iPad to the Mac. More fluidity, across Apple devices with this version of macOS. 

Continuity: Universal Control lets users rely on the same keyboard, trackpad to control different devices be it your MacBook and iPad. Users can even drag and drop files between devices. It will work with more than two devices, according to Apple. 

macOS Monterey is here. It has the new FaceTime support, SharePlay and Shared with You feature and better notifications as seen on iOS 15. 

This is big. Apple will let other accessories add support for Siri as well.

Apple users will be able to use their iPhone or Watch to unlock their home, provide it has a Smart Lock with HomeKit compatability. Apple TV app will also show what movies or shows your friends are watching on the app. Users will also be able to select HomePod mini as the audio output for their Apple TV 4K. 

A new Portraits watchface. Now users can pick their Portrait shots as watchface. The Photos app has also been redesigned on watchOS 8 and will show Memories as well on the watch. It also makes it easier to send messages from the watch, and add lots of emojis as well to a reply.  

Tai Chi and Pilates workout are being added to the Apple Watch. Apple Fitness+ is adding new workouts as well. It is also adding a new Artists Spotlight series for the Fitness+ subscription service. 

Sleep app will now track respiratory rate as well. More details will be shown in the Apple Health app. 

In watchOS 8, the Breathe app has gotten some improvements. Apple is adding a new Reflect feature to help users reflect on positive emotions. The Reflect and Breathe sessions will be part of the new Mindfulness app. 

Apple users will be able to share health alerts and data with their family members. This could be useful in tracking the health of an aging parent, according to Apple. According to the company, all data will be encrypted in transit.

Apple Health app will now help users understand their lab results better. Apple is also adding trending on long term changes such as resting heart-rate, steps, glucose, etc.  

Walking Steadiness: Apple is adding a new feature which can look at your risks of a fall based on how you walk. A number of metrics are used to figure out your stability and determine walk risk. Users can see their risk in the Health app. Users could receive a notification if their steadiness is low. The app will also have exercises to reduce your risk of falling. 

Apple is adding an account recovery so that family and friends can get a code in case you lose access to your account. Apple is also adding a digital legacy program so that users can pass on information to their family members, after they are gone. There's also a new iCloud subscription, which has features like Private Relay for more secure browsing. All traffic leaving your device is encrypted, so that no one, including Apple can see what sites you are visiting. Hide my email will let you hide your email id as well. iCloud will also let users add HomeKit Video support.  

Apple is adding on device speech recognition for Siri. This is to avoid unwanted user recordings. One device processing will speed things up as well, say Apple. 

Privacy is getting a dedicated segment in today's keynote. Apple is adding more privacy focused features. Apple is adding Mail Privacy Protection to hide IP address and prevents senders from seeing when and if you opened the email. Apple is also hiding IP address from trackers in Safari. Apple is adding a new App Privacy Report in Settings. Here you will be able to see how apps are using the privacy settings to which you've granted them access. So often does an app use your location, photos, etc. 

This will let users quickly take a note on their iPad such as noting down a number. They can they just swipe it down and the quick note will be gone. Users can also add text, links to their quick notes. It is sort of like a floating windows, which is visible even if you open other apps. 

Splitview will now let users see two apps next to each other on the iPad screen. With multi-tasking controls users can even open their email app on top of these two apps, which are open. A new Shelf feature, which will let users quickly switch between multiple apps quickly. 

Now users can add a lot more widgets to the Homescreen on iPadOS. Apple is also adding a larger format for widgets given the iPad has a bigger screen compared to the standard iPhones. App Library is also coming to iPad. Access to this library is built into the dock as well. Users can also hide pages they no longer need or even re-order them. 

Apple AirPods Pro will get a conversational boost. Apple is also adding announce notifications on AirPods. Users can choose which apps to enable, so Siri will only read out notifications from those apps. Apple says it is also improving how users can find their AirPods Pro with the Find My network. New promixity view will also let users know when they are close by. 

Apple is also adding Spatial Audio experience to TVOS as well. It is also come to M1 powered Macs as well. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music will start rolling out today.  

Apple Maps is adding 3D directions as well, again similar to what Google Maps offers in select cities. 

Apple is expanding its new Maps to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Australia. In iOS 15, Apple will showcase more details in Maps for cities. It will also add a new Night time version. Apple is adding more details to roads in Maps so they can see more details such as bus lanes, bike lanes, etc. 

Apple Weather is getting a new design based on the weather conditions, air quality, etc. More backgrounds as well. Weather app will show fullscreen weather maps in iOS 15. 

Apple Wallet will soon support keys to unlock hotel rooms. Apple will be partnering with Hyatt as well and let users tap to unlock their hotel rooms. Apple is also adding ID information to the wallet and it will be encrypted as well. Users in the US will be able to use wallet to showcase their digital ID to the TSA at the airports as well. 

Apple is adding improvements to the Memories feature of Photos. Users can mix and match Memories as well with more intelligent music suggestions playing the background. Personalised recommendation for users. 

Spotlight search now supports Photos. Apple is also making it richer with better results as well. Spotlight is the universal search on iOS. 

It looks like iOS is finally getting a Google Lens like feature where it can identify text in a photo and allow a user to copy it. Live Text will let users recognise text, phone numbers, links, etc. It will work on screenshots, quick look and understands seven languages. It will work on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Users can also look up information such as a breed of a dog or landmarks, etc. 

Notifications are getting better. So you could set up a dedicated mode, so that messages don't disturb you. However, urgent messages can still make their way through. There's also a new Focus mode, where users could set up a focus mode where notifications and alerts from only certain apps are shown to your during a set time of the day. When you use Focus one device, it will automatically setup on your other Apple devices.  

Messages is getting a new update. There's a new Shared with You section, which shows links, playlists and photos in a neat section in Messages. Users will also be able to pin a message which is important.  

SharePlay will let you watch videos or listen to music with your friends on FaceTime itself. SharePlay can be used across multiple devices as well. SharePlay works with Apple TV+ and Apple Music now. Developers can bring their own apps to FaceTime. Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Twitch, TikTok, Masterclass are some of the other players bringing their app to SharePlay.  Apple is also adding Screen Sharing to FaceTime. 

We're starting with iOS 15 as Apple Senior VP Craig Federighi is on stage. FaceTime is getting Spatial Audio, so that the call is more comfortable and natural. Apple is adding voice isolation as well to the microphone to block out ambient noise, during a FaceTime call, so that your audio is clear. There's a new wide spectrum as well which will pick up audio from around you. 
A new Grid View shows people in same sized tiles when you have multiple callers on your FaceTime. Portrait mode is also coming to FaceTime. Users will also be able to create links for FaceTime call. 

And Apple is expanding the ability to add Android and Windows users to a FaceTime call with these links. 

Tim Cook on stage addressing an audience of memojis. Last year's WWDC had 25 million viewers, he says.  

The keynote has begun with a goofy movie/video from app developers. 

Just under five minutes left for the keynote to start. Users can watch it on the official Apple website or stream the event on YouTube. The stream is working fine on both Google Chrome and Safari. 

The keynote livestream has gone live on Apple's website for those who are waiting to watching the event. The YouTube livestream still shows another 15 minutes to go before Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook come on stage and start with the announcements. 

According to a reports on MacRumors, a new mental health app might be on its way for watchOS 8. The leak comes via developer Khaos Tian, who noticed that Apple accidentally updated the App Store manifest with new app ID bundle identifiers and one of these includes reference to com.Apple.Mind. Given Apple doesn't have a mind app yet, this is being taken as a hint that this app could be on its way. 

Going by the teasers, Apple's iMessage is expected to get a revamp with iOS 15. Will it finally go cross-platform? Unlikely since it has remained a coveted iOS-only app for so long. 

Rumours indicate that iMessage might become more social in nature, though exactly how this will be done is not clear. But we should expect some new features to make their way to iMessage. Of course, iMessage is still restricted to iOS, and it can't really take on other messaging apps such as WhatsApp until it is made available on Android. 

According to Thomas Husson, Vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, while Apple might announce the MacBook Pro, expect WWDC keynote to focus on software itself. He also said it is too early to expect any announcement around the much rumoured Apple AR headset. Read on to know what analysts expect from the keynote tonight. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook has tweeted ahead of the WWDC keynote and going by the video it looks like iMessage will indeed get some major upgrades this time. Memojis are also a central part of the WWDC 2021 keynote going by the teasers so far. 

Apple founder Steve Jobs took the stage one last time 10 years ago at WWDC 2021 before his unfortunate demise in October 2011. Check out the video here.

Apple is expected to launch a new variant of its Mac Mini computer that is powered by the M1X chip. Leaks over the web have also pointed to a refreshed design and more ports. 

According to reports, this will likely be a minor update. Last year's Big Sur was a massive design overhaul for macOS, and introduced multiple changes, including around design. We do know that the name macOS 12 has leaked, and given Big Sur was macOS 11, this logical progression in numbering was expected. 

With iOS 15, Apple is expected to revamp notifications and will include more privacy-focused feature, including a new control panel which will let users what data is being accessed by each app. Further, it looks like users will be able to set a status, such as driving or sleeping or working, and restrict notifications based on each of these statuses. Apple will also introduce a new notifications banner for incoming messages, according to reports. 

Apple will also focus on iPadOS as well, which will get some new features as well, including a revamped homescreen, ability to add widgets anywhere on the screen, etc. Reports have also talked about how Apple will add more features to iMessage, many of which could put it in more competition with other apps such as WhatsApp. But we will have to see what these changes look like to be sure, given iMessage is limited to Apple devices.