1. Dictation

While I rarely use dictation on iOS, I now realize I might be overlooking its advantages. As a new dad, I understand why many parents find hands-free tech invaluable.

The enhancements to dictation in iOS 16 are particularly appealing. The feature now transitions seamlessly between dictation and regular typing, addressing the frustrating start-stop nature of the previous version. Automatic punctuation and emoji insertion could finally entice me to fully embrace dictation.

2. Apple Pay Updates

It's worth noting that the new Apple Pay features won’t be available in the UK when iOS 16 launches, which is disappointing. However, I'm optimistic that they will come eventually, as Apple Pay's future looks promising.

For example, small businesses will benefit greatly from the ability to accept payments via just an iPhone. The Pay Later option allows customers to split purchases into four equal, interest-free payments, simplifying the shopping experience. Additionally, order tracking will be integrated into the Wallet app, enhancing the overall user experience.

3. Family Checklist

A number of new features for Family Sharing were unveiled, which is fantastic but may complicate management for parents. To address this, Apple introduced the ‘Family Checklist’ in iOS 16. This feature consolidates all available Family Sharing tools into a manageable to-do list, helping parents discover and utilize features they might otherwise overlook.

4. Safety Check

Apple has collaborated with various organizations in the U.S. to enhance user control over shared data and location access. While sharing aspects of your digital life with a partner can be beneficial, it poses risks in abusive relationships. Apple is rolling out new controls that make it easier to revoke location sharing and reset privacy settings, which is crucial work that deserved attention during the keynote.

5. Matter

Apple's new smart home connectivity standard, Matter, has been in development for a while, and it was finally revealed to the public during WWDC 2022. Anyone who's struggled with setting up smart home devices from different manufacturers knows how frustrating it can be. Matter aims to simplify this process, regardless of the device maker.

Currently, 130 products are in the works, and while the timeline for Matter's benefits remains uncertain, the concept is promising. I eagerly await its launch.

6. Spatial Audio Improvements

This announcement was easy to miss amid the flurry of information. Hidden within the iOS 16 updates was a new enhancement to Spatial Audio, which utilizes the true depth camera on your iPhone to create a personalized listening experience. This improvement aims to make Spatial Audio even more precise, although Sony has been offering similar features for a while.

7. watchOS Podcasts Update

In my pre-WWDC articles, I suggested that we shouldn't expect major changes to the Apple Podcasts app, and I was right—Apple’s native podcast app remains a mess. However, hope lies in the watchOS 9 podcasts app, which will introduce new content discovery methods. While it's frustrating that the focus seems to be only on watchOS, this attention may bode well for future iPhone improvements.

8. macOS Ventura Mail

Many announcements regarding macOS Ventura may have been overshadowed by the buzz surrounding the M2 chip and MacBook Air. For instance, you might have overlooked the updates to Mail, which appear enticing for those who have long abandoned Apple's email client. Features like the ability to undo and schedule sends, alongside a revamped search function, might just draw me back to Mail.

9. iPadOS 16 Reference Mode

Details were sparse, but iPadOS 16 introduced updates aimed at professional users. The Reference Mode is designed for those working with color-accurate content, allowing users to leverage the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR display for standalone use or as a secondary screen for color grading and compositing tasks.

10. ‘Desktop-class’ iPadOS 16 Updates

For a moment, I thought we might see Final Cut Pro on the iPad, but instead, Apple introduced ‘desktop-class’ updates for iPadOS 16. These improvements aim to make the iPad feel more like a Mac with updates to the Files app, enhanced undo/redo capabilities, and an extensive list of changes that will significantly affect everyday iPad use.

Apple has been gradually making the iPad more Mac-like over recent years, and it’s encouraging to see these familiar features making their way to the platform. With the addition of Stage Manager on M1 iPads, we may finally be making progress.

Final Thought

The M2 MacBook Air captured most of the attention this week, prompting me to spotlight some less-publicized announcements from Craig and his team. I recognize that I may have missed additional highlights from the keynote, so feel free to share what stood out to you from WWDC 2022 in the comments below.

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