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Everything else you should know about Apple’s WWDC address

So Apple hosted its WorldWide Developer’s Conference last night, outing its Apple Music service (and annoying Spotify’s CEO in the process) that’s set to launch in over 100 countries on the 30th of June.

But the world revolves around a lot more than just music, so here are some other things you need to know about Apple’s latest developments, as revealed during the conference’s keynote address.

Enter the Captain

The next version of Apple’s desktop and laptop operating system, OS X 10.11, is to be called El Capitan. It apparently offers more tweaks than a total overhaul, and focuses instead on streamlining common tasks with new gestures and improving performance with tons of improvements under the hood.

iOS 9

iOS 9 is to replace iOS 8 on Apple’s iPads, iPods and iPhones, even on older models. The new operating system introduces things like a Picture in Picture mode and a Slide Over view that lets you see a second app while using another, Newsstand becomes News and has a new Flipboard-like interface, and Passbook has been renamed to Wallet. Perhaps most exciting here is that the new OS will roll out to older i-devices as well.

South Africans who’re dreading upgrading from iOS 8 to iOS 9 will be happy to know that the update has been squeezed into just 1.3GB, which is drastically down from the 4.6GB update required for the jump from 7 to 8.

Smarter Siri

Improvements to Siri in iOS 9 mean she’ll have better contextual awareness – she’ll know what sort of things you might want from her if you climb into your car or go to the gym, for example – and offer people better ways to search for photos and videos. She’ll also be more proactive about reminders. All while keeping your data private, says Apple, “because honestly we don’t want to know”.

Bits ‘n’ bobs

Apple also revealed that Apple Pay, its mobile payment system, is making its way to the UK and will be supported by over 250 000 different vendors; the Apple Watch is getting a significant software update that will make it better to use, and that it’s adding public transit information to Apple Maps. None of these are particularly relevant for us here in South Africa, however, but they’re good to know nonetheless.

What about SA?

We’ve asked local Apple representatives, The Core Group, whether they know if South Africa is to be included in the 100 countries where Apple Music will launch at the end of June, but they told us they don’t know anything yet. More when we get it.

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