Apple swings at other tech companies with new apps at WWDC2024

All the focus was on AI at Apple’s latest event, but the tech giant also released some killer apps that could destroy other tech companies.

Apple is the world’s second-most valuable company with a market cap of $4.81 trillion and so its every move is closely-watched.

A lot of people tuned in as the tech giant made big announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in Cupertino, California on Monday (local time).

All the attention was rightly on Apple Intelligence, the company’s new artificial intelligence platform that will be rolled out to more than a billion iPhone, laptop and iPad users in coming months.

Apple Intelligence wasn't the only big thing at WWDC 2024.

Apple Intelligence was developed in partnership with tech darling OpenAI and will boost Siri with ChatGPT to enhance the digital assistant in various ways.

However, what many missed was a raft of other momentous changes announced at WWDC - and how Apple may have rang a death knell for some of its nascent competitors. 

‘Tap to cash’

As part of the new iOS 18 operating system, Apple will allow people to send and receive Apple Cash by touching two iPhone devices together, dubbed ‘Tap to Cash’. 

The exchange can take place without sharing an email or phone number. Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said the tech was part of Apple’s journey to replace physical wallets. 

Watch out Venmo and Revolut.

Head nodders

People are sure to get some strange looks as they seemingly-randomly shake or nod their head in public thanks to the new capability coming to AirPods Pro headphones called Siri Interactions.

Users can “gently” nod or shake their head to respond to Siri announcements, for example to answer or dismiss a phone call.

This is especially useful for people in situations where they may not want to speak out loud, explained Ron Huang, VP of Sensing and Connectivity, such as in crowded places or business meetings.

Ron Huang explains the new hands-free tech on the AirPods Pro. Picture: Supplied

New passwords app

In what may be worrying news for password manager 1Password, Apple has a new passwords app of its own.

Using the Keychain foundation, the new app will help people access account passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords and two-factor authentication codes.

It will also alert you if your password has a weakness, has been leaked or can be easily guessed.

iPhone Mirroring

As part of Apple’s upcoming macOS Sequoia, people will be able to gain full access and control of their iPhone from macOS.

This can be done wirelessly through iPhone Mirroring.

Once you have full control of your phone, you can use it normally including to swipe screens and open apps. Except this is done through the computer instead of on the iPhone.

You can also get iPhone notifications, which will appear next to the Mac notifications. 

iPhone Mirroring in action. Picture: Supplied

Maths Notes

This geeky product is so cool to see in action, and will likely be a concern for calculator app Soulver.

Maths Notes allows people to write down complicated equations on an iPad, and will spit out an answer when you write equals.

When you change the equations, the answer changes as well.

Click on the video below to see it for yourself.

Apple Maps upgrade

Another company that might be feeling the pinch is walking companion guide Alltrails.

Apple is moving in on the game by allowing people to “save their favourite national park hikes, custom walking routes, and locations to an all-new Places Library and add personal notes about each spot”.

Messages via satellite

Messages via satellite allows people to message others directly from iMessage and SMS even when out of range or without Wi-Fi.

Messages are instead sent over satellite, with users automatically promoted to connect to a satellite, and the messages protected by end-to-end encryption.

When you’re out of range, you can connect to a satellite. Picture: Supplied

Writing Tools

Circling back to Apple Intelligence, the new Writing Tools product, which is built into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, leans heavily into the large language model of ChatGPT.

It can assist people “rewrite, proofread, and summarise text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps”.

The bosses at typing assistant company Grammarly will probably be watching on warily.

Recording and summarising calls

TapeACall is another company in the crosshairs, with Apple now allowing users to “record, transcribe, and summarise audio”. This will be particularly helpful for the journos out there, as well as lawyers.

Anyone on a call will be notified when recording starts.

Apple Intelligence then produces a summary about the key points of the conversation.

Credit to @juanbuis and @0xashesonchain who posted threads on social media explaining some of the new tech.