iOS 16: Release date and fresh details.

Apple Corporation has presented its latest developments at the WWDC 2022 event. In particular, updates for the iOS operating system for the company’s devices were introduced, as well as revamped M2 processors and several features to facilitate the lives of game developers. Resident Evil: Village will also be available on macOS along with other projects from Capcom.

iOS 16 Updates: Key Differences and Release Date

The iOS 16 update has touched on several important aspects that will positively impact the performance of Apple devices:

• Users can customize the lock screen by adding new indicators, informational blocks, or simply changing fonts.
• App developers can now customize their own pop-up notification blocks. Users can also adjust how these blocks are displayed.
• All devices will have the Live Text feature, which helps translate text in various languages using the built-in camera. The feature works instantly. Similarly, there will be an image search option, allowing you to cut out an image from a captured camera frame.
• The built-in iMessage messenger will receive new functionality for editing or retracting sent messages. Users can also mark them as unread.
• iCloud now supports multiple accounts, allowing family members to use a single storage space.

The corporation specified that some additional features will be added to the new OS only in the fall. The closed beta testing phase has already started for all developers, and the open beta for other users will begin in July.

Announcement of New MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and M2 Chip

The second important announcement at the Apple event was the presentation of the 2022 MacBook Air with an updated M2 processor:

• The processor enhancement has increased its power by 38%. Unfortunately, there won’t be an active cooling system in the device. The battery can last for 18 hours of continuous video playback without being connected to the network.
• The device features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a “notch” and improved brightness, increased by 25%.
• MacBook Air 2022 has four built-in speakers with support for spatial audio. The charging port has become magnetic.
• Changes have been made to the front camera, with an increased field of view.
• Buyers will receive an updated charging adapter with two Type-C connectors included. It also supports fast charging.

The base price for the 2022 MacBook Air in the USA will be $1199. The sales launch is scheduled for July this year.

Notably, there is also a professional version, the MacBook Air Pro, which comes with an improved M2 processor. Key changes include an extended battery life of up to 20 hours and the return of the old design with the Touch Bar. The price for this model will be $1299, and it will be available for purchase alongside the regular version.

A few words about the new M2 processor: its power has increased by 18% compared to the previous-generation M1. The base memory capacity will be 24GB, with a bandwidth of 100GB/s. Graphics core performance has increased by 35% compared to M1.

New macOS Ventura with Gaming Support

Apple has updated macOS, making it more accessible to computer game developers:

• A new Stage Manager option has been added, allowing users to remove unused windows from the sides of the screen, leaving only the necessary ones in the center.
• The Live Text feature is integrated into the Spotlight search engine for instant web surfing based on recognized text or images.
• Email now supports message recall and allows you to create a sending schedule.
• You can now use the iPhone as a webcam.
• Thanks to the new chips, Apple computers will support the latest gaming industry innovations with high graphics settings.

As new software, Apple introduced Metal 3 for video graphics work and MetalFX Upscaling for optimizing graphics display on devices. It’s worth noting that these innovations have been praised by the Japanese company Capcom. For example, they are preparing to port popular games like No Man’s Sky and Resident Evil: Village to macOS.