From the Developers' Perspective: Sharing Expectations and Hopes for WWDC 2023

As the highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 draws nearby, excitement in the industry reaches its peak.

WWDC — The Worldwide Developers Conference is an information technology conference held annually by Apple Inc. The conference is usually held at Apple Park in California. The event is usually used to showcase new software and technologies in the macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS families as well as other Apple software.

In anticipation of this significant event, we reached out to some renowned and talented developers to gather their opinions and expectations for the upcoming event. Developers including Kirill Avery, the founder of Human, Arseny Vasilev, the head of IT department at Drinkit and Doner 42, Denis Karpenko, an independent developer and former iOS team lead at Numbers, as well as the iOS Urbi team, shared their thoughts and forecasts on several key aspects, including iOS, macOS, App Store, and mixed reality glasses.

What would you like to see in the new iOS?

— "With the increase of mobile malware and cyber-mercenary malware infection on iOS, I hope to see more enablement for the cybersecurity community to detect and respond to iOS malware infections. For example, additional logging capabilities and more privacy settings. As for the features side, we could leverage the device’s great cameras for 3D scanning or AR/VR recording."

— "I will be trivial, but I think that the most important thing for Apple and users of all platforms (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, etc) is the implementation of AI LLMs at the operating system level. The company has all the necessary hardware to do it even without the cloud services and Siri. We see how fast the industry is developing and I'm afraid that in a year Apple may even arrive late, looking at this not the most successful year for Google from the AI side, as well as the news that Sam invested in Humane and rumors that Microsoft, together with OpenAI, are preparing an attack on hardware. This is really one of those technological races that could become the most important in the span of 20 years, and Apple is just one of several that has a chance to compete.

Other things I think about are scaling and improving the wallet and linking it with documents, passports, etc. Continuation and subsequent integration of PassKeys deep into the Internet.

I also hope that the developers will come up with more convenient APIs for services that store users' private keys in iCloud Keychain or on the device's private vault so that crypto wallets remove this main security and UX issue."

— "Interactive widgets, so that you can interact with it without opening the app itself. Light background services so as not to activate the whole application in the background."

What would you like to see in the new macOS?

— "There is also a deep integration of Lms inside spotlight and Siri that I forecast. If Apple is really considering it, they can introduce so many "revolutionary" features that it will be enough :) One day I really hope that they will sync everything with iCloud so that the data and user behavior are synchronized between all of the devices. Now it's done partly and is not completely user friendly.

And I think AI can help with this. I really want to get Safari, Keychain, and other things that I use every day improved."

What is your perspective on the App Store? Are you expecting the possibility of installing apps through third-party stores?

— "Strictly positive, since we were one of the first to be banned, and were there for a long time. We are really looking forward to any opportunity to have a backup distribution channel for our application, independent of the whim of one person or country."

— "Honestly, I have realized that this year I have almost no expectations, except for the possible download of applications outside the App Store. It will be interesting how they implement it. I think Apple definitely won't want to just give up 30% of the commission. In the current situation in Russia, it became clear that such a function is more important than it seemed earlier."

— "Unofficial app stores present a significant security risk when installing mobile apps, largely because they don't have the same rigorous vetting processes that official stores like Apple's App Store have. This opens up a wider exposure to potential risks such as malware, spyware, or other harmful software. These rogue applications can compromise users' personal data, expose sensitive information, and even control device functions without the user's knowledge. Furthermore, the lack of regular updates and patches for these unofficially sourced apps can lead to persistent vulnerabilities, making devices more susceptible to cyber threats over time. Hence, while these unofficial app stores might offer attractive or unique applications, the risk they pose to users' security and privacy is considerably high."

— "That would be cool, but I don’t think, however, that it is possible in the not so distant future."

— "The attitude is simple: whatever happens, application developers will adjust in any case. Of course, like many people, we have more than one gray hair because of the Apple review and the lack of alternatives to reach users. We have been making an application for several months or we need to roll an urgent update with a bug fix and then a failure is a situation familiar to many. But third-party apps still won't take away a significant part of the audience, so their presence will simply add to the work on app distribution and is unlikely to significantly change the situation."

One more thing. Do you believe in the emergence of a new VR/AR product from Apple?

— "I don't want to make a prediction — I can only tell you inside. And I know that the current version of their headset is very similar to the latest Meta Quest Pro. Whether they want to release something of this quality is unknown (I tried Meta and I didn't like it).

I also know that they postpone the launch inside every year because they want to do  well and release the latest. Still, I think that releasing it right now is not as important as implementing AI in all your products."

— "I would like to believe that it will be presented, the new platform is always interesting and opens up new opportunities for developers. But I don't think this will happen at the current WWDC, they warm up the audience too little, there are no "prototypes left in the bar" and other things."

— "I want to believe in VR glasses. I use Facebook's Oculus, and the new generations are already very convenient compared to what was before. Apple knows how to make a convenient product and push it to the masses. So, I am looking forward to this one. Plus, it can open up a huge new market of opportunities for developers. I would like to be among the first to post my app for Apple glasses."

— "We don't believe in a full-fledged ar/vr, the technology is still too raw. We are really waiting, however, for a prototype headset for developers. For a very long time, Apple has presented a lot of technologies for many years in a row: lidar, the constant multiple development of neural engine in new processors, every presentation has always been a demo of AR technology, every release is a systematic improvement in the work of the AR framework – wall/floor detection / positioning by pictures. This year or next, a new step is very likely to be done."

— "As a passionate tech enthusiast, I am eagerly awaiting the release of Apple's new Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality headset. The possibility of a new benchmark in immersive technology, combining Apple's hallmark of intuitive design and advanced functionalities, is certainly thrilling. The anticipation is fueled by the potential this device has in revolutionizing our interaction with digital content, from entertainment and gaming to professional applications. I'm excited to see how this technology will blend virtual and physical realities, providing a transformative user experience that could redefine our understanding of tech-infused lifestyles."