What to Expect From iOS 13

We are just about a day away from Apple's annual developers conference, where it's expected to unveil the next iteration of iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS. When I wrote this very post last year, little did I imagine most of it to come true. We got notification grouping, Group FaceTime, Apple News and Stocks apps came to the Mac, and even Workflow got integrated into iOS as Shortcuts. This time around, there is not a lot, although Bloomberg has leaked most of it:

• System-wide dark mode, gesture typing on keyboard, universal apps across iOS/macOS - Dark mode is indeed happening, and so is the keyboard option that allows users to swipe across letters on the keyboard in one motion to type out words.

• Improved Health, Books, Screen Time (Apple's tool for tracking device usage), and Reminder apps - Would it be too much if I ask for a world clock widget?

• Set profile picture and display name in iMessage, and choose who can see it.

• Combined Find My Friends and Find My iPhone into a single app.

• Improved Files app and a downloads manager for its Safari web browser so users can access downloads in a single place like they can on a computer. May be throw in a built-in VPN too?

• And most importantly, the death of iTunes - This has been rumoured for a while, but 2019 may be the year when it's finally happening. Apple is reportedly planning to release standalone Music, TV and Podcasts apps to replace the bloated, ponderous iTunes app. The tech giant has already removed all its content from iTunes Facebook and Instagram pages. Individual Apple Music links are now redirecting from itunes.apple.com to music.apple.com (it is unclear if Apple is planning to do away with iTunes music purchases as well), and other categories like apps, TV shows, movies and books will use links such as apps.apple.com, podcasts.apple.com, tv.apple.com, movies.apple.com, and books.apple.com going forward.

• Other miscellany - Manual mode in Camera and make camera controls available within the app, more free iCloud storage, get rid of intrusive volume HUD, and update Shortcuts app to trigger shortcuts based on date, time and location.