Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that Apple’s WWDC 2018 keynote on June 4 will be missing a few things that some were expecting. Namely, announcements of new MacBooks and iPad Pro models.
The company is working on refreshes to the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook with new Intel Corp. chips, and is planning a new low-cost laptop to succeed MacBook Air. But those won’t be ready until later this year, according to people familiar with the plans. Apple is also working on a redesigned iPad Pro line with Face ID, but that’s also expected later.
Citing the ever-popular “people familiar with the plans,” the well-connected journalist says we will see a new “Digital Health” initiative as part of iOS 12, which is an unspecified “series of tools to help users monitor how much time they spend on their devices and inside of certain applications.” Gurman notes they’ll be included in a menu in the Settings app in iOS 12.
While that may seems like Apple is shooting itself in the foot, the company is simply responding to critics, including investors in the company. Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System have criticized the addictive nature of Apple’s iOS devices.
However, there will beannouncements that will show the Cupertino firm still wants users to keep coming back for more, as they’ll debut “ARKit 2.0” which will include a new mode that will allow players to play AR games against each other in the same virtual arena. Another mode can drop objects in an area and remain virtually in place.
