Apple WWDC 2021 is officially underway and while most of the major news surrounds iOS 15, iPadOS 15, a new version of macOS and some updates for watchOS and tvOS as well — you knew there would be some interesting news in regard to Apple Music, lossless streaming, and future Apple audio products that support it.
Changes with Apple iOS 15
Apple is bringing Spatial Audio to FaceTime; an interesting new feature that will improve sound quality during your video calls by enlarging the soundstage in every direction. Your video FaceTime calls with mom and your kids when you are away on a business trip will no longer sound like you’re speaking from inside a closet.
SharePlay Lets You Share What You’re Listening to
SharePlay is a very interesting new feature for FaceTime that allows you to share what you’re listening to with your friends on the call. We suspect that Apple Music is going to have some specific features that will make it work a lot easier than other digital music streaming apps but Apple announced during the address that other “apps” will work with SharePlay. We shall see. Disney+ has already been announced but we’ll see if that applies to Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music HD, or Qobuz.
SharePlay for Playlists is another interesting feature announced. It will allow Apple Music subscribers to share and import their playlists via texting (iMessage). Think of this as the modern way of sharing a mix tape with a friend.
SharePlay will be huge for artists because it will allow listeners to share new music with their friends and family.
Apple Music and Memories Collide
Do you ever wake-up and discover that Apple has pushed a memory on your iPhone front and center? As a parent, I love seeing old photos of my children and I’ve often wished that I could create a more personalized music soundtrack that better matches the images.
Apple Memories will now allow you to access your Apple Music library and select specific songs to create the soundtrack that you want. You can even pause the video and the music will keep playing.
New Apple AirPods Features
Changes to iOS 15 will enable some great new features on your Apple AirPods Pro earphones. Apple will be extending Spatial Audio to tvOS so that you can watch movies on your AirPods Pro in Dolby Atmos with motion tracking so that when you move around the room, the soundstage will move with you.
Apple Music with Spatial Audio is available starting today as well.
Siri will now provide notifications through your AirPods Pro earphones so that you know when DoorDash or Uber Eats are delivering your dinner or when you have an important new message from someone.
We’re going to be covering Apple WWDC 2021 all week so check back daily for new coverage that impacts music steaming, audio products, and media delivery.
