WHAT'S NEXT FOR EVERYTHING APPLE IN 2020

Apple’s first virtual WWDC packed in a lot of announcements, big and small, for developers and the rest of us. Join us for a look at the highlights

- Adam Banks

Suffice to say, it’s been a pretty weird year, and despite the familiarity of sitting down to watch Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on live stream – after all, only a lottery-selected coterie ever got to attend in person – there was little sense of normality when Tim Cook walked out on stage in an empty Steve Jobs Theater. But what followed, in an impeccably produced two-hour keynote and more than 100 online video briefings, was a reassuringly Apple-like picture of progress, polishing and surprises.

For the Mac, not only does the long-expected shift to Apple’s own chips finally become official (see p6), but macOS takes a leap forward to version 11 with what software chief Craig Federighi called a “major new design” delivering “unmatched levels of power and beauty… the biggest change since the introduction of macOS X”. iOS 14 is also transformed, with a whole new way of organising apps and widgets. Upgrades under the hood to Maps, iMessage, HomeKit and Siri bring benefits across all platforms, and there’s even more protection for your privacy and security.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

macOS Big Sur MacBook (2015), MacBook Air (2013), MacBook Pro (Late 2013), Mac mini (2014), iMac (2014), iMac Pro, Mac Pro (2013) or newer

iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 Any iPhone or iPad that could run iOS 13 or iPadOS 13

watchOS 7 Apple Watch Series 3 or later

tvOS 14 As for tvOS 13, an Apple TV HD (aka 4th gen) or Apple TV 4K

By the time you read this, public betas of all OSes should be out (register at beta.apple.com), with full releases in the autumn, depending on hardware launches.