Apple’s non-AI WWDC plans include revamps of Settings and Control Center

Apple’s WWDC plans seem to go beyond just sprinkling fairy AI dust on everything (although that will be a big part of it, too). Along with Siri getting new control over AI-powered apps, the company also plans to overhaul things like the Settings apps for iOS and macOS, Control Center, Messages, Mail, and more..

The new “cleaner” Settings app UI will mean better organization and improved search, Mark Gorman writes in employment Newsletter for Bloomberg today. He adds that a similar revamp will also be coming to the macOS System Settings app.

Apple will also update Control Center, the quick settings drop-down menu in iOS, with a new Music widget and “improvements to how smart home devices operate.” Gorman didn’t specify what would change, but as user-friendly as the Home widget is right now, I can definitely see room for improvement — the ability to customize which devices appear there would be useful, for example.

Messages will get a new feature that lets you animate individual words in a text message, Gorman writes, while backing up the… MacRumors Report from Friday. He adds that Apple will also add new Tapback icons — reaction emoji style icons that appear when you long-press on a message. Apple will reportedly bring UI changes to Photos and update the Mail app with “several improvements” as well.

Apparently, Apple will also announce VisionOS 2.0, with native versions of first-party apps. Right now, VisionOS only has iPad versions of Apple apps like Home, Calendar, Podcasts, and Pages.

However, Gorman emphasized that Apple’s biggest focus at WWDC 2024 will be on artificial intelligence. One big rumored feature is that without any setup from users or developers, Siri can offer to perform tasks within apps themselves based on your device’s analysis of what you’re up to – a bit like the “big business model” promised by Rabbit but with… Shades of my clip. some Examples reported Have Siri show you meeting summaries, crop photos for you, or move notes in the Notes app from one folder to another.

Some AI features will reportedly be available this fall when iOS 18 is released, according to Gorman. Previously rumored iOS AI features include voice memos and notes apps that will get real-time audio transcription. There’s also an AI-generated custom emoji feature that may be coming. WWDC 2024 is set for June 10, so we won’t have to wait long to see what Apple has up its sleeve for AI, iOS, and macOS updates this year.