Apple Inc. debuted iOS 13, its privacy-focused next-generation mobile operating system, and announced the end of its iconic iTunes service, among other updates June 3 at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
The new mobile operating system, set for release this fall, is designed to create more transparency about the types of data apps collect from iOS users. Apps will only be able to access users' location once, for instance, and must ask again for subsequent access. The new iOS also includes a "Sign in with Apple" feature that allows people to log in to third-party apps without revealing their personal information. The service produces an automatically generated random email address provided by Apple.
Apple also said it will be teaming up with security-camera companies to offer tools to protect the privacy of those who use home security devices.
"We believe privacy is a fundamental human right and we engineer it into everything that we do," Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said at the event.
The company's new Mac operating system, MacOS Catalina, also set to debut this fall, will replace the company's long-running iTunes media service with three separate applications focused on different types of media: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts.
"Customers love iTunes and everything it can do. But if there's one thing we hear over and over, [it] is can iTunes do even more?" Federighi said.
MacOS Catalina will allow users to access iPad apps on Mac devices, among other capabilities.
Apple introduced a new Mac Pro at the event with an updated display, a new Intel Xeon processor and system memory of up to 1.5 terabytes. The new desktop computer for professional users starts at $5,999 and will be released this fall.
Turning to the iPad, Apple said its tablet line will be getting its own operating system, iPadOS, with new multitasking functionality, such as allowing users to view two Microsoft Word documents side by side and more seamlessly switching between apps.
The Apple Watch is getting its own app store and some new health-monitoring capabilities, including alerting users about certain environmental noises that could pose a risk to their hearing.
Shares of Apple slid 1% to close at $173.30 on June 3.