Jun 7, 2022

Apple's WWDC 22

Apple events are a treat to watch and yesterday's event was no different. The seamless transitions from one to the other was superbly done. I have a tweet thread on the release , and here is a summary of the Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Funny. 


The Good

  • M2 chip is launched which is about 40% faster than the M1 chip. The M1 chip is itself quite fast - so M2 is going to be absurdly fast. 
  • Macbook Airs have got the MagSafe now - so much better. And it comes in black (which they call midnight)
  • The iPhone can be used as a webcam with the MacBook. Apple does a better job of tying their various devices together than anyone else. Yes, you can use an Android as webcam and a few of my tech friends do it - but Apple makes it easier for everyone to use it. 
  • A redesigned lock screen. Android has had a few customizations on the Lock Screen for years, but the Lock Screen setup on the iOS looks just more well thought out. And you are not limited to just one, but can swipe between them. 
  • Live activities is brilliant. Instead of multiple notifications on your order, or even groping them together - these temporary widgets will show the updates realtime. Less of a notification clutter. 
  • Apple ( like other partners in the FIDO alliance ) are working on removing the multitude of passwords that we use - and which are the bane of our online hacks - by providing passkeys. I still need to look into this in detail, but this is going to be great if we can get rid of the mess of passwords. 
  • Fitness app does not need you to buy an iWatch. You can install on the iPhone and use the iPhone's gadgetry for your workout. 
  • The Car Play is a reimagining of the dashboard of the car. Simply fantastic. Its going to shut shop of most providers of the dashboard instruments as the software customizability means that they are just not needed. 

The Bad

  • Apple talked about gaming twice during the presentation. So it seems to me that they are getting serious about AAA gaming. And yet their demos were not from the latest games. The problem is that if you want to play most of the games that have come out recently, you will *need* to get Windows. A case in point is Elden Ring which does not have a Mac port. Path of Exile - another game that I played a lot also did not have a Mac port for years. Apple needs to get serious about their gaming because I believe the M chip has the capability to transform the MacBook into a great gaming laptop. 
  • Apple continues to work on the maps, but Google Maps is still way better. 
  • Apple mail still continues the catch up game. Does anyone know if it has got email threads by now ? 

The Ugly

  • Although apple talked at length about multi tasking and multiple windows even on the iPad - their tiling system just isn't up to the mark. I dislike the clutter of overlapping windows as quickly the desktop becomes a mess. I usually work with 4 windows in each quarter of the screen. You cannot do that by default in MacOS without carefully resizing windows manually. The 

The Funny

  • Craig totally nailed it. Here are a few screenshots I was able to grab at that time. 

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