Apple gives a sneak peek at upcoming iPhone software changes

Apple unveiled two laptops on Monday that will be first to use the next generation of a company-designed microprocessor, as well as a sneak glimpse at impending changes to the software that drives more than 1 billion iPhones.

Instead of the sleek devices that established Apple as a technology trendsetter and the wold's most valuable brand, Apple spent the majority of the first day of its annual developer's conference touting the next versions of software for the iPhone, iPad, Apple watch, and Mac computers, as is customary.

The upcoming version of the iPhones operating system, iOS 16, will change the look of the device's lock screen and make primarily minor changes to the present software.

As iPhone users have begun to hold on to their existing smartphones for longer periods of time than they previously did, software updates have become increasingly critical recently. One of the most apparent changes in iOS 16 will be on the iPhone lock screen.

Users will be able to anchor their favorite apps as little widgets on the lock screen with the new software, which will be available for free this fall. The new software will also allow live notifications to be displayed on the lock screen, such as the status of an Uber ride on its way to pick you up.

Other permitted alerts will come up from the bottom of the screen instead of the present distribution from the top in order to reduce clutter on the display.

As growing inflation rates strain more household budgets, Apple Pay, which is part of the iPhone's digital wallet, is adding a new financing function. Customers will be able to spread the cost of any Apple Pay purchase over four installments, each completed within a six-week period, with no additional fees.

Various new capabilities for Apple's Macs and iPads are aimed at making it easier to sync with iPhone for purposes such as video calls. Other tools will allow more apps to run side by side on the same screen to conduct multiple activities.

One of the major reasons Apple began creating Macs that run on the same CPUs that power the iPhone and iPad in late 2020 was to make it easier for users to switch from one Apple gadget to another.

Apple is now using the newest iteration of its Mac CPU in its two most popular laptops, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, which will be available at the shops sometime next month, according to the firm. The MacBook Air will cost 1,200 dollars, while the MacBook Pro will cost 1,300 dollars. The event took place at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.

(With Inputs from PTI)