[Comprehensive] Team Cook in Front of Avatar Audience: "Providing Tools to Change the World"

Apple WWDC21 Opens on 7th (Local Time)
CEO Tim Cook Kicks Off Keynote
Focus on New OS Unveiling

No Hardware Revealed
No Clues on New Products Like 'MacBook Pro'

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] "We will provide tools to change the world."

Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized being a "developer's ally" while unveiling the new operating system (OS) at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 21 (WWDC21) on the 7th (local time). WWDC, a global festival for developers, is being held online for the second consecutive year. The event, which was once as hard to get tickets for as "catching stars in the sky," has become more accessible due to COVID-19.

At 10 a.m. local time, Cook took the stage as the keynote speaker broadcast live worldwide. In addition to Tim Cook, about ten other speakers appeared on a virtual podium. Apple employees and developers, transformed into avatars called “emojis,” also attended as the audience.

Cook stated, "Apple has been working to nurture the next generation of developers" and "has supported those who have been underrepresented in the tech field." Apple operates entrepreneurial camps for Black and female developers. It also runs developer academies in over ten locations worldwide, including Detroit, providing coding education.

This year’s WWDC focused on the core unveiling of new OS versions: iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. WWDC aims to preview the operating systems that will be installed on new products in the second half of the year to app developers. The OS updates for the second half of the year enhance video calling, sharing, and multitasking features in line with the untact (contactless) era post-COVID-19, and expand personalized convenience features such as Focus mode.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

In particular, Apple plans to introduce various privacy protection features following its efforts on app tracking transparency. Users can hide their IP address, location, and email read status in the Mail app. Apple’s internet browser, Safari, also hides IP addresses. Attempts to access data externally can be checked in the Privacy Report. Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, said, "Nothing is more important today than security," adding, "We must protect personal information and give users transparency and control over their data."

For example, iOS 15, scheduled to be released in the fall, focuses on connectivity. Android smartphone and Windows PC users, not just iPhone users, will be able to join Apple’s video calling service, FaceTime. Users can watch their favorite movies or listen to music together during video calls with family and friends. iPadOS 15 expands multitasking features and allows free widget placement to enhance convenience. Federighi explained, "We focused on core values such as staying connected, finding focus, using knowledge, and exploring the world."

However, some expressed disappointment that no hardware was unveiled. Contrary to industry expectations that the MacBook Pro or Apple augmented reality (AR) glasses would be revealed, only new OS versions were introduced. In 2019, a new Mac Pro was exceptionally unveiled at WWDC, which led to various speculations this year, especially among IT media and tipsters. There were predictions that the MacBook Pro and iPad equipped with Apple’s own System on Chip (SoC), the M1, and Apple Glasses featuring cutting-edge AR technology would be announced.

The new OS versions introduced on this day were released as beta versions, with developer versions to be released next month and public versions in the fall. During the week-long WWDC, various sessions such as student contests and one-on-one engineer meetings will be held.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.