Apple unveils new MacBook, Macs, operating systems at WWDC

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, as CEO Tim Cook promised a full slate of key hardware and software announcements -- even as observers waited through early announcements for news of an entry into a new category, a super-premium mixed-reality headset.

In the early going, Apple execs raced through a number of hardware and software releases.

MacBooks: The company rolled out a bigger 15-inch version of its MacBook Air. The company had rolled out a revamped 13-inch version of the lightweight laptop at last year's WWDC, and had planned at that time to introduce a larger version but postponed it.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is based on Apple's own M2 silicon (not the newer M3 chip) and features a liquid Retina display at 15.3 inches; it starts at $1,299 ($1,199 for Education). It's orderable today and available next week, Apple said.

The 13-inch MacBook Air stays in the lineup at $1,099 (down $100) and the 13-inch Air with M1 stays in at $999.

Macs: The company introduced the Mac Studio with the new M2 Ultra chip, a machine targeted at video producers and 3D artists with a graphical processing unit up to 76 cores. The computer is six times faster than the most powerful Intel-based iMac, the company said.

The Mac Pro will come with M2 Ultra and a hefty 192 GB of RAM.

The new chips "join our other processors to give our users the most powerful and capable lineup of pro products that Apple has ever offered," said senior VP of Hardware Engineering John Ternus. "This completes the transition to Apple silicon which has completely transformed the desktop and laptop experience, and we're just getting started."

Operating systems: The company announced iOS 17, which will bring changes to some key user interfaces with iPhones -- notably phone, FaceTime and messages, senior VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said.

It's also upgrading AirDrop sharing to include NameDrop, for trading contact information with another iPhone or Apple Watch, and to easily transfer photos and shared music by bringing devices into close proximity.

A new "StandBy" feature turns an idle iPhone into something of a smart display, offering up contextual information like clocks, sports scores in a highly visible interface.

As for iPadOS 17, the newest iteration of its tablet operating system, the company is upgrading information widgets (for more direct action) and the tablet's lock screen.

In the new MacOS Sonoma release, the OS adds new pinnable widgets as well as screensavers similar to Apple TV. It adds gaming power as well as enhanced videoconferencing (along with a number of the updates mentioned for iOS and iPadOS). It also includes an iteration of the company's latest Safari browser.

AirPods: Apple says it has significantly enhanced the earbuds' flexibility in dealing with ambient environmental noise when taking calls, for example.

TVOS: Apple is bringing its FaceTime videoconferencing to Apple TV, allowing callers to tap the biggest screen in their home.

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