Whilst the Apple Spring Special Event is always exciting, the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is another event in the calendar that gets everyone in the industry talking.
The former saw no hardware updates, so it was music to our ears when WWDC announced a major one, along with some significant software advancements. Here, we detail the most exciting and relevant upgrades announced…
The new macOS
There’s a fresh operating system, ‘Catalina’, and with it comes a whole host of new features that will benefit businesses. Last year, iOS users were able to track their phone and iPad habits using Screen Time. Now people can monitor other devices, and therefore work out ways to optimise their battery life.
Amongst the other new functionalities is improved usage for those with accessibility needs – both Catalina and iOS will have complete voice control capabilities.
The operating system also aims to reduce interest from thieves. There’s a new ‘Find My’ system, which can anonymously use Bluetooth from other people’s iOS devices to locate offline Macs. Catalina has an Apple T2 security chip too, so users can set up an Activation Lock like they can for their iPhone. Catalina is anticipated to come into circulation in the autumn.
Specific operating systems
Another upgrade due to be released in the autumn is the new ‘iPad OS’. Having previously shared the same operating system as iPhones, this is now changing. iOS will remain with the iPhone, but the iPad will receive a brand new one named ‘iPad OS’. This will feature tighter home screen app grids, along with a functionality that allows users to pin widgets onto it.
Plus, you’ll be able to copy and paste in a new way. It’s a simple three-finger pinch gesture to copy, spread to paste, and then swiping to nullify an action. And the multi-window feature that comes with the Mac will be available too. You’ll also be able to swipe to stack multiple slide-over apps and switch between them.
With flash drive and memory card support, and an upgraded Safari, the new operating system for the iPad will make using it similar to a Mac desktop. So those business owners who like this set up can have it when working remotely too.
Improvements to the Mac Pro
Whilst the iPad will be boosted with a desktop feel, the new Mac Pro has finally been revealed and promises to offer an enhanced experience. It will be able to support up to 28-Core Intel Xeon processors, 1.5TB of Ram, plus eight PCI expansion slots and modular configuration.
There is also the addition of the new MPX Module, which is a custom graphic system that can support two pairs of AMD’s Radeon Pro Vega II cards. Plus, you can benefit from a Pro Display XDR screen. At 32 inches with a 6K resolution, the HDR LCD screen will prove valuable to those who edit videos.
Whilst these new updates are likely to please Apple users, one thing that can still be a struggle is the high price tag. Take digital agency Impression, for example. They, like other businesses, had to balance maintaining a positive cash flow with the value of the MacBook. Thankfully, they found a way to have both: leasing Macs with Lease Loop.
We provide a variety of leasing options, and we’ll make sure you find once that suit the needs of your business. To discuss leasing in more detail, get in touch with our friendly team today.
