WWDC brings updates galore to your iPad and new hardware

Written by Rob Mead-Green

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) got underway on 6 June, and this year there were tons of new features and hardware reveals in the opening keynote. The event kicked off with Tim Cook discussing the new Apple Developer Center opposite Apple Park and the company’s initiatives to help developers around the world and from under-represented groups.

The first software updates concerned iOS, with plenty of details shared around iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. These included personalisation features for the Lock Screen (iOSonly), as well as updates to the Wallet and Home apps, and a lot more.

Sharing and collaboration were major themes. SharePlay now works in more apps and you can transfer photos into a shared iCloud folder that can be automatically updated. Child accounts in Family Sharing will become easier to manage, and Apple teased a collaborative drawing and brainstorming app called Freeform.

M2 splashes down

Apple turned its attention to many of its own apps, with long-awaited updates and surprise features coming to Mail, Safari, Photos and FaceTime. Maps is finally getting the ability to add additional stops to your journeys, while News will let you more easily stay up to date with your favourite sports teams.