by
Mark Ollig
“Write
the code. Change the world.”
This
was the theme for the 2014 World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC), hosted by
Apple.
It’s
the 25th year Apple has met with the software developers (programmers) who create
the applications (apps) used on Apple’s operating system (OS) computing
platforms.
In
1990, 1,300 developers gathered to talk about the Apple computer System 7 OS.
Today,
Apple has 9 million registered developers.
More
than 1,000 Apple engineers were available to talk with the developers who came
from 69 countries.
These
app developers came to get an in-depth look at the latest in Apple’s iOS and OS
X operating systems.
They
use this to create new and improved apps, which will be of benefit to those of
us who use devices containing these operating systems.
Last
week’s 2014 WWDC included more than 100 conference breakout sessions for app
developers and Apple engineers.
The
WWDC allowed programmers to check out Apple’s newest software designs and
applications.
They
also brought their own programming code to review with Apple programmers.
App
developers took advantage of the 120 labs available, for working with Apple
engineers in improving their software coding techniques.
This
year’s keynote address began with a smiling Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, taking the
stage to loud applause from the folks in the capacity-filled Moscone West, in
San Francisco.
Cook
pointed out the youngest app developer in the audience was 13 years old.
He
also noted the current installed base of Apple Mac computers is now 80 million.
Craig
Frederighi, Apple’s VP of software engineering, later addressed the audience
about the new Mac computer operating system.
It
is called OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
Laughter
erupted from the audience, when Frederighi jokingly said they almost named the
new operating system “OS X WEED.”
Yours
truly imagined this could have turned out to be a real “smoking” operating
system for Apple.
Some
of the features in Yosemite include a new translucent design, providing a
distinct visual appearance of depth, and transparency.
Another
is its system font, Sans Serif, which is optimized for Retina displays. It’s
thinner, rounder, easier on the eyes, and very clean looking.
This
version has translucency; meaning, the images, toolbars, content, and the
applications in the background, will faintly show up through the desktop
wallpaper.
Using
Dark mode, a user will see the menu bar change into a translucent, black shade
in the background, instead of the brighter white theme normally seen.
The
translucent background is a way to keep a computer user focused on their
current program application.
The
Notification Center will better utilize the calendar, allowing customization
for weather and other apps, such as the ESPN ScoreCenter.
An
improved Spotlight was featured. A single keystroke launches this search tool.
Spotlight
appears in the middle of the screen; you then type what you’re searching for
inside the search bar within Spotlight.
Search
results come from Bing, Wikipedia, the iTunes Store, Apple Maps, and other
sources.
AirDrop
works between the mobile iOS and desktop OS X computers using Continuity, which
is a proximity awareness technology.
Features
of this technology include a user wirelessly transferring documents, and phone
information between an iPhone and Mac.
It
allows the iPhone caller ID information to be seen on your Mac. You will be
able to answer a phone call ringing on the iPhone from your Mac computer.
The
Mac could also be used as a speaker phone.
A
new user cloud-based storage medium, iCloud Drive, works with Apple’s iCloud.
The
iCloud Drive is integrated into Finder, allowing a Mac user to browse through
and add or remove files as if they were on the Mac’s physical hard drive.
The
iCloud Drive will even be available to users of the Microsoft Windows OS
platform.
Apple’s
new Mac Yosemite OS has improved integration with their mobile devices using
iOS, making for a more seamless use of applications between the two.
Yosemite
will become available to Mac users this fall at no cost – it was available to
the app developers last Tuesday.
Frederighi
also presented Apple’s new iOS 8 for its smart mobile devices.
Here
is the list of the Apple mobile smart devices iOS 8 can be used on when it
becomes available this fall:
•
iPhone 4s
•
iPhone 5
•
iPhone 5c
•
iPhone 5s
•
iPod touch 5th generation
•
iPad 2
•
iPad with Retina display
•
iPad Air
•
iPad mini
•
iPad mini with Retina display
The
HomeKit app, installed on an iPhone, uses Siri to control the connected smart
devices within a home.
There’s
also a Healthkit app, which partners with the Mayo Clinic.
This
app monitors a person’s vital statistics as collected by third-party wellness
apps.
The
information Healthkit collects can be forwarded to your healthcare provider; if
you choose to do so.
Healthkit
also comes with the Health app, which includes a virtual dashboard where you
can monitor all of your own pre-defined health metrics; and obtain informative
feedback.
The
iOS keyboard texting app was also overhauled using QuickType; a predictive
typing suggestion feature.
QuickType
is personalized. It learns “how” you type; suggesting words while you are
texting.
Apple
continues its journey of slowly transitioning itself from the Steve Jobs era.
For
more, visit https://developer.apple.com/wwdc.
