Apple announces iOS 12 with a focus on managing screen time

Apple revealed all the software updates and zero hardware today at their World Wide Developer’s Conference WWDC.

While the company played up expected new features to excite and delight users like new mEmoji, AR functionality as well as even better camera and photos functionality, the key reveals were about managing screen time.

Following in the stead of Google who announced features last month to help track and manage smartphone use and screen time, iOS 12 will  similarly generate activity reports for time spent on apps, websites or social media. Ideal for parents managing their young ones’ iPad or gaming time, these metrics also serve to give a realistic picture of our online and smartphone addictions.

Also improved are the Do Not Disturb function on iOS devices that help people stay in the moment and focus on work and class as well as family time like dinner or a date. Notifications, which have become the bane of almost all smartphone users, can now be managed on a granular level and will be tied to time as well as to location constraints.

iOS 12 comes this fall but will be available as a public beta for intrepid users. Developers can get their hands on the latest build starting today.

What to expect at Apple's WWDC 2018

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple has announced that the WWDC 2018 Keynote will be livecast out of the McEnery Center in San Jose so the world can tune in to their Safari browsers (or Edge, Chrome or Firefox) or Apple TVs to see the announcements unfold. WWDC kicks off on June 4.

What's expected this year aside from the yearly updates to iOS, watchOS, macOS and other surrounding operating systems and ecosystems is more focus on Machine Learning, possibly a Siri redux hopefully making the pioneering but stunted smart assistant more of a player in the market.

Apple hasn't had a major event for 2018 but it has had various OS 11 and 11.3  issues as well as growing dissatisfaction with aspects of its hardware products like the keyboard on the MacBook Pro, reports of iPhone performance throttling due to sub-optimal batteries on older devices as well as a number of products announced but never shipped (AirPower, AirPods charging case).

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Apple offering $50 refund for out of warranty iPhone 6 or later battery replacements

Apple Canada announced an iPhone Out-Of-Warranty Battery Replacement Credit for customers who paid for an out of warranty battery replacement as a result of the performance throttling issues on older iPhones with sub-optimal battery life.

Apple is offering a $50 credit to customers who paid for an out-of-warranty battery replacement for iPhone 6 or later devices between January 1, 2017 and December 28, 2017.  Eligible battery replacements were completed at an Apple authorized service location — Apple Store, Apple Repair Center, or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

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Apple could possibly ship blue, yellow, and pink iPhones later this year according to analyst

Colour has always played a part in Apple's product strategy with certain colours being sold as exclusive or limited editions at a premium, as well as new colours, preferably red, to inject more interest into older or plateauing product lines.

For 2018, some analysts believe Apple will focus its more affordable iPhone line into more colourful blue, yellow and pink models. This will be for the possible replacement of the iPhone SE, which is the current more affordable basic iPhone which is almost two years old. StreetInsider speculates the coloured iPhones will resemble the iPhone X, but will have more affordable LCD displays,

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