 Apple's iPhone 13. Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg Apple Inc.'s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, better known as WWDC, is just about a week away. This is the event where the company outlines its software strategy for the next year. That includes Apple's next mobile operating system, iOS 16. From what I'm told, the new software—codenamed Sydney—is a fairly significant upgrade. It will be chock full of changes across the operating system, including updates to notifications, iPad multitasking, and the Messages and Health apps. The makeover also includes a part of the interface that's often an afterthought: the lock screen. Personally, I don't spend much time on my iPhone's lock screen. I can't remember the last time that I've swiped to the right on it to open the widgets panel. When I want to read through notifications, I typically unlock my phone, then view the notification panel from inside the system. I'd venture to guess my most used lock-screen feature is the flashlight button. That's probably going to change with iOS 16 and the iPhone 14. Apple is planning major enhancements for the lock screen, including wallpapers that have widget-like capabilities. Further, I'm told iOS 16 builds in future support for an always-on lock screen, something Apple was originally planning for last year's iPhone 13. This would allow the iPhone to turn down the frame rate significantly on the lock screen and display quickly glanceable information—similar to newer Apple Watches. I'm told to expect the always-on mode as an exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, codenamed D73 and D74, if the feature ends up making the cut. As I've discussed previously, other iPhone 14 Pro features include a new front-facing camera and Face ID cutout, an A16 chip and a 48-megapixel back camera. There's also the possibility of sending emergency texts over satellite networks.  The iPad split view at WWDC 2021. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg While I don't expect an iOS 7-scale redesign in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, I'm expecting major changes to windowing and multitasking, particularly on the iPad. This was affirmed by a finding from Steve Troughton-Smith, which hints that Apple is building support into its web browsing framework for better windowing support. In Messages, I'd expect more social network-like functionality, particularly around audio messages. The Apple TV operating system, tvOS, will get more smart-home tie-ins, while the Mac will get some redesigned apps and a much-needed overhaul to System Preferences to make them more in line with Settings on iOS. That includes organizing settings by app. While the Health app probably won't be expanding to the iPad and Mac, it will get plenty of new features that work with the iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple also is making significant improvements to watchOS that affect day-to-day operating and navigation. There will be changes to watch faces and the addition of a low-power mode. In terms of new hardware, we won't see that iPhone 14 with the always-on screen until September. And though Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset is full steam ahead—underscored by the recent demonstration of the device to the company's board—I'd be wary of expecting a full-blown presentation for developers and consumers next week. If there's any hardware at WWDC, it will likely be on the Mac side. The company has been aiming to launch the next MacBook Air with M2 chips at the conference. The recent supply chain crunch due to Covid-related closures in China has complicated that, but developers say that Apple employees are increasingly using next-generation MacBook Airs with their apps. That's a sign that the new Mac is close.  Apple retail employees. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg Apple boosts pay in the face of union pressure and inflation. Over the past few weeks, Apple retail employees around the US have been upping their efforts to unionize. The company, of course, is willing to do whatever it can to stop that from happening. Last weekend was phase one: new coffee machines in break rooms (seriously). This past week was a more dramatic step: an increase in the company's US minimum hourly wage by 10%, from $20 an hour to $22. Apple also is boosting its compensation budget companywide and will move up annual corporate raises for some teams. Apple's sweetening of the pot may already be having an effect. The labor group attempting to unionize a story in Atlanta said Friday that it would cancel an upcoming election.  Apple's Deirdre O'Brien. Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg Apple's pushback against unionization includes video to staff, which quickly leaks. Apple and its retail chief had held off for weeks from addressing employee unrest and the unionization campaigns. My guess is that the company—so focused on managing public perception—was wary of saying something to retail employees only for it to leak. Sure enough, within hours of Apple retail chief Deirdre O'Brien sending a video message to staff that discouraged them from unionizing, her comments leaked to the media (reported here first).  One of Apple's Lexus test cars with its self-driving technology. Source: Bloomberg Have you read this before? Another Apple car manager bolts. I'm sure at some point I'll put together a tally of how many senior managers have left Apple's car project since it kicked off in 2014—with a special section to highlight how many of those departures happened in the last year. Today's not that day, but we do have an interesting statistic: nine months. That's how long CJ Moore, a former senior Tesla self-driving leader, lasted in that same role on Apple's project. As each departure occurs, it becomes less believable that Apple will hit its goal of launching an autonomous car in 2025, but stranger things have happened. And if you want more tech news, be sure to check out Techmeme, an aggregator I like. Techmeme also has its own newsletter that you can subscribe to here.  Craig Federighi at WWDC 2021. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg June 6-10: WWDC 2022. Apple's developer conference will be held virtually and span the entire week. The big news will be on Monday, when the company holds its annual keynote address to announce its latest software and other products. Later that day, Apple will hold a developer-focused presentation known as the State of the Union. Q: Why do you think Apple car executives keep leaving?
Q: What do you make of Apple planning for flat year-over-year iPhone shipments for this year?
Q: Do you think there is any possibility Apple acquires Electronic Arts? | 
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