Apple (AAPL) Makes Six Big Announcements at WWDC22

Apple Inc. (AAPL) made six significant announcements on June 6, 2022, the first day of WWDC22, its annual World Wide Developers Conference. These include: a new MacBook Air and a new MacBook Pro 13", both powered by Apple's new M2 chip, plus new operating systems for the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch that support additional functionalities.

Apple's stock closed at $146.14 on June 6, 2022, up by 76 cents, or 0.52%, on the day. For the year-to-date, its shares are down by 19.7%. Apple's most recent earnings report was for the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2022, which represents the the second quarter of its 2022 fiscal year. Revenues set a new record for this quarter, up by 8.6% year-over-year (YOY) and beating analysts' estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) also were above expectations, up by 8.6% YOY as well. Services revenues, which are of growing importance for Apple, matched the estimates.

Apple's WWDC22 Announcements

Below are summaries of the six key announcements made by Apple at WWDC22.

MacBook Air has a new ultra-thin design and is powered by Apple's next-generation M2 chip. It has a 13.6 inch liquid retina display, a 1080 pixel FaceTime HD camera, a four-speaker sound system, and up to 18 hours of battery life. Prices start at $1,199 ($1,099 for education). Shipments will start arriving in July.

MacBook Pro 13" has the new M2 chip, features a retina display, a FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality microphones, and up to 20 hours of battery life. Prices start at $1,299 ($1,199 for education). Shipments will start arriving in July.

iOS 16, the new operating system for the iPhone, allows users to personalize their lock screens with photos, customized widgets, and the way they get notifications. Users also can create a shared photo library to share photos and access new features in messages and mail. These include recalling sent messages and scheduling mail, among others. Members of the Apple Developer Program can access a preview version now, a public beta version will be available in July, and users of the iPhone 8 and up can get a free software update sometime in the fall.

macOS Ventura is the latest version of the operating system for the Mac. Stage Manager gives users a new way to stay focused on a task while seamlessly switching between apps and windows. It allows easy handoffs of FaceTime calls from one device to another. Continuity Camera allows using an iPhone as a Mac webcam. Members of the Apple Developer Program can access a developer beta now, a public beta version will be available in July, and Mac users can get a free software update sometime in the fall.

iPadOS 16 is the latest version of the operating system for the iPad. Key features include switching between multiple overlapping apps and creating a personalized workspace with its Stage Manager feature. It also supports connecting to an external display, as well as dragging and dropping files between devices. Members of the Apple Developer Program can access a preview version now, a public beta version will be available in July, and users of select iPad models can get a free software update sometime in the fall.

watchOS 9 is the latest version of the operating system for the Apple Watch. Key features are more customizable watch faces, an enhanced workout app, sleep stages, and an all-new medications app. It also has a feature that tracks atrial fibrillation (AFib), for suffers of that heart condition. Members of the Apple Developer Program can access a preview version now, a public beta version will be available in July, and users of select Apple Watch and iPhone pairings can get a free software update sometime in the fall.

Upcoming WWDC22 Schedule

The WWDC runs from Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 10, 2022. Over 150 sessions are scheduled, starting on June 7, with videos and transcripts to be posted each day. Watching session videos, viewing related documentation and sample code, and posting on the forums are available to anyone. Lab appointments and digital lounges are restricted to current members of the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program, or to 2022 Swift Student Challenge winners.