Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve published several articles detailing the future of iOS (the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch’s operating system), OS X (the Mac’s operating system), and Watch OS (the software that runs on the Apple Watch). Here’s a list of links to the stories we’ve written thus far about the new operating systems, and we’ll keep updating this page as we publish new and relevant details.
iOS
– Apple plans to refresh iOS 9, OS X 10.11 using new Apple Watch font: This story details Apple’s plans to utilize a new typeface for iOS 9, taking a page out of the design language for the Apple Watch.
– Apple’s planned iOS 9 ‘Home’ app uses virtual rooms to manage HomeKit accessories: This article discusses Apple’s testing of a new application called “Home” that will be used to manage various HomeKit devices within the home.
– Apple readies Transit subway, train + bus guides for iOS 9 Maps, deploys robots for indoor mapping: After not being ready for release last year, Apple is apparently finally ready to take the wraps off of its Transit directions service for the iOS Maps application. This story also details Apple’s indoor mapping initiative and special robots roaming the Apple Cupertino campus.
– Future of iPad: Dual-app viewing mode, then J98/J99 ‘iPad Pros,’ multi-user support: In this story, we detail three major iPad-centric initiatives, including planned multi-user software support, a split-screen app viewing mode coming in iOS 9, and a pair of 12-inch iPads with enhanced industrial designs.
– iOS 9 & OS X 10.11 to bring ‘quality’ focus, smaller apps, Rootless security, legacy iPhone/iPad support: This extensive story reveals Apple’s plans for using its 2015 Mac and iOS updates as a time to introduce significant performance, optimization, and bug fix-based enhancements. Apple is also planning on supporting older iPhones and iPads, while boosting their performance simultaneously.
– iOS 9 supports ‘iPhone 6S’ Force Touch, may enhance iMessage, Keyboard & Apple Pay: This story discusses how iOS 9 builds in support for the upcoming Force Touch Display feature in the next iPhone hardware upgrade. We also discuss Apple’s plans for adding new features to iMessage, the iPhone and iPad keyboard, and Apple Pay’s next stop.
– iOS 9 Transit Maps to launch in a handful of cities in North America, Europe & China: This article builds upon our initial report about the mass transit mapping feature coming in iOS 9, and specifies which regions the service will initially launch in.
– Apple’s ‘Proactive’ to take on Google Now with deep iOS 9 search, Augmented Reality Maps, Siri API: This expansive story provides an in-depth look at Apple’s development of a significant new iOS initiative internally named “Proactive.” Combining major upgrades to Siri, Spotlight, and Maps, “Proactive” is a long-term Apple strategy to combat the Google Now feature found on Android devices.
– Mystery solved: Apple vans gathering next-gen Maps data, grabbing Street View storefronts + 3D images: This story details how Apple is using mysterious vans to collect various Maps data for a next-generation version of its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Maps app. While Apple’s new, in-house database and 3D Street View features won’t be coming for at least a couple more years, Apple has planned to begin rolling out new imagery in the iOS 9 Maps app to replace Yelp’s data.
OS X
– Apple plans to refresh iOS 9, OS X 10.11 using new Apple Watch font: This story details Apple’s plans to utilize a new typeface for OS X 10.11, taking a page out of the design language for the Apple Watch.
– iOS 9 & OS X 10.11 to bring ‘quality’ focus, smaller apps, Rootless security, legacy iPhone/iPad support: This extensive story reveals Apple’s plans for using its 2015 Mac and iOS updates as a time to introduce significant performance, optimization, and bug fix-based enhancements. We also share the first details about Apple’s upgraded Swift programming language and platform for developers. Apple is also planning to add some new features to the Mac, including a Control Center panel that swipes out from the left side of a Mac’s display.
– Mystery solved: Apple vans gathering next-gen Maps data, grabbing Street View storefronts + 3D images: This story details how Apple is using mysterious vans to collect various Maps data for a next-generation version of its Mac Maps app. While Apple’s new, in-house database and 3D Street View features won’t be coming for at least a couple more years, Apple has planned to begin rolling out new imagery in the OS X 10.11 app to replace Yelp’s data.
Watch OS and Apple TV
– Apple readies first significant Apple Watch updates, ’TVKit’ SDK for Apple TV: This story details the first significant updates coming to the Apple Watch, including upgrades for third-party complications and better Apple TV remote support. Speaking of the Apple TV, this article also details Apple’s plans for a new iOS-based Apple TV to debut at WWDC.
Stay Tuned
As the early June Worldwide Developers Conference gets closer, we’ll publish a thorough roundup of everything to expect, so keep an eye out for that as well.
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Apple rumors have gotten interesting lately. Not in what they are, but how they’ve been leaked. Remember when we would full blown exposés on new software? Here’s what the icon looks like, here’s screenshots from a test device, here’s a mockup based on detailed descriptions. Now it’s mostly hearsay. Is Apple keeping a tighter lid on things?
It’s the same as always. Mark Gurman’s sources whom work high up at Apple HQ, tell him details as they become available, he puts them together, generally in pieces over a week or more, ergo more articles, ergo more clicks. The end.
I bet Tim Cook slips him an unknown cash amount every once in awhile to build up a little hype… :)
Well, you can’t really show a picture for a feature like “Rootless”, can you?
Those who know don’t tell , and those who tell don’t know…
Except that Gurman has been spot on every single time.
I sincerely hope the new font thing is a mistake
Why?
They don’t like readability.
. . But you haven’t really seen the font in action yet. . .
As a technologist, the iOS 9 and MacOS 10.11 internals updates sound incredibly awesome. Tuning is an art that can make a huge difference in terms of performance. Pushing capabilities closer to the metal and optimizing software can make a tremendous difference in terms of performance and power.
Removing the binary simplicity of all-or-nothing root security is something that is talked about a lot in CS security courses, but no vendor has bothered to implement it because it is complicated – the problem being that if you open root once to let some app perform a special function, then you can never trust anything on the machine again. Wouldn’t it be amazing if apps could do their thing without risking compromise? That’s what the so-called rootless architecture is all about. Why does MS-Office on OS X need root? Got me, but I don’t like it. If you don’t mind, then you either have a lot of faith in Microsoft or you aren’t very security conscious. Of course, the NSA, Russians, and Chinese will hate this. Congress will likely start to demand secret back doors.
I understand that some people are only concerned in new user-level features and new UI designs, but to me this kind of internals optimization will pay dividends for the next decade.
I really like this method of delivering the new rumors. Nice and succinct. Yet allowing for more detail, Keep it up!
Quality focus on ios9: read it “nothing new this year”
So…It’s all about new font on the new OS X?… I miss the old and good Apple.
Huh? These rumors talk about more than just a font change.
Apple has a very thought-out, intelligently designed roadmap for features/design changes. For example, when implementing Touch ID on the iPhone 5S, they knew they were going to also use it for Apple Pay, and they knew swiping from the left and right edges of the screen in iOS 7 was planned for the beveled edges of the iPhone 6, and Apple Watch. If you pay attention, or know the behind the scenes thought processes, you’ll see that they implement features in pieces which later make perfect sense when their plan comes fully to fruition.
I believe Force Touch, and Haptic feedback in the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, is the stepping stone for the removal of the physical home button on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and all future iOS devices. They will remove the Home Button, and it will be replaced by a lit ring when necessary, and possibly, physically feel different due to haptic feedback turning on when you’re finger nears it. You press it, and haptic feedback is the tactile feeling similar to the new MacBook trackpad. This will allow a greatly reduced bezel, I predict they virtually completely remove side bezels, and substaintally reduce the top and bottom, leaving room for the speaker at the top, and the camera and ambient light/proximity sensors, and making the bottom bezel symmetrical to that.
The only question is whether or not they’ll be able to do Touch ID through the display by then.
Any news on when the rest of the world get Apple Watch?
**yawn….. a little refresh & bug fixes? nothing remarkable here.