The Internet Has Strong Opinions About Apple's Many Updates
On June 5, Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park in California, announcing many new products, features, and programs.
This year, there were quite a few exciting things revealed, and people on the internet are now having their say.
One much-desired feature that Apple has finally added is the ability to leave FaceTime video messages for others, like a video voicemail.
Someone who watched the conference in real-time shared a video of a crowd's reaction when this was announced, captioning it, "Omg finally!" and people were definitely excited.
While even more people shared the same excitement in the comments, some felt like it came a little too late, with one writing, "I love how apple makes us wait years for things that could’ve been available for years ??."
Another commented that they were thankful it didn't come earlier: "thank god this feature wasn’t launched when i was in college my drunk voicemails did enough damage on their own."
"My mom's been doing this for years. she just records a video and sends it to me no contexts, it's minutes long," wrote another TikTok user.
Apple also shared that it has dropped the "Hey" requirement from "Hey Siri," and now you can just say "Siri" to initiate the service.
Similarly to the FaceTime message feature, some felt like Apple was behind in doing this, highlighting the fact that Amazon's Alexa already works like this.
Others questioned whether this might have unintended consequences, as one person tweeted, "I don’t like this. It’s too easy for Siri to be turned on. What if I’m speaking about Siri in a convo?"
I don’t like this. It’s too easy for Siri to be turned on. What if I’m speaking about Siri in a convo?
— Mid Nut Adveristy (@shuteyeTC) June 5, 2023
Another suggested, "It would have been so much better if we could customize the name of our iPhone and call it by the name rather than SIRI."
It would have been so much better if we could customize the name of our iPhone and call it by the name rather than SIRI
— myKING???????? (@dafenone_) June 5, 2023
Apple introduced some other long-awaited features, like the ability to display the iPhone like an alarm clock, crossfade between songs and SharePlay on Apple Music, and set up customizable call screens.
While many people shared how other programs or types of phones could do the same before Apple, most are simply excited that the features are finally here.
A different new feature called NameDrop allows you to share your contact by bringing two phones close to one another.
Some are apprehensive of NameDrop in case people will be able to get your information without your permission, with one reaction reading, "waiting to see how it works in more detail cause this makes me kinda nervous."
waiting to see how it works in more detail cause this makes me kinda nervous https://t.co/434rKsxE3s
— troye thee mermaid? ?? (@houseoftroye) June 5, 2023
But arguably, the biggest announcement of the conference was the $3500 VR headset with many amazing features.
A lot of people called out the high price: "Not Apple selling a $3500 VR/AR headset when VR can barely sell at $500. Talk about a big yikes."
Not Apple selling a $3500 VR/AR headset when VR can barely sell at $500. Talk about a big yikes.
— Dan Holo ???? (@thedanholo) June 5, 2023
The negative reaction might be represented in today's stocks as well, as a tweet said, "The market does not like the $3500 VR headsets."
The market does not like the $3500 VR headsets pic.twitter.com/II36M4BpHN
— Josh Bobrowsky (@JoshBobrowsky) June 5, 2023
Quite a few also noted similarities between the VR headset from Apple and the one in Steven Spielberg's film Ready Player One.
Apple really did the thing pic.twitter.com/Rem8qPfG0n
— Morning Brew ?? (@MorningBrew) June 5, 2023
We will have to wait and see the final consensus on the VR headset when it launches early next year.