Apple kicked off its annual developers conference on Monday by unveiling new features on iOS 15 that cater to our lives as the world begins to emerge from the pandemic, including updates to video calls on FaceTime and digital keys in Apple Wallet.
On FaceTime, Apple (AAPL) will offer new options to let users watch movies or listen to music together during a call. It is also introducing a new grid view to better broadcast every face on a call. Android and Windows users will now also be able to join FaceTime calls.
"We've all found ourselves using video calling for just about everything," Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of software engineering, said during the virtual keynote presentation on Monday.
Apple is also introducing updates to its mobile wallet that will allow users to unlock everything from their home to their hotel room with digital keys in the app.
"You can never leave home without your keys, so we are continuing to add keys to wallet and making them even better," said Jennifer Bailey, VP of internet services and Apple Pay, citing recent additions such as car keys to unlock a vehicle from your iPhone. BMW and others will ship cars with this feature starting later this year, she said.
The company will also make it possible to store identity cards in Apple Wallet. Starting this fall, users can scan their driver's license or ID into the wallet app — in participating states — where it will be stored in an encrypted form. Bailey said Apple is working with the TSA to use that digital ID at airport security checkpoints.
The features were announced during the keynote at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, a multi-day event that's typically heavy on software news. iOS 15 will be available to the general public in the fall.
Like many tech companies, Apple and its products became even more central to our lives during the pandemic as countless households were forced to live and work more behind screens.
Apple's announcements on Monday hinted at how the company hopes to remain a key part of our lives even as many resume working and socializing outside the home.
