Live updates: Apple unveils new products at WWDC 2023 event

"Alexa"

"Hey, Google"

"Hey, Siri."

"Hi Bixby"

What do the smart assistant launch phrases all have in common? They're three syllables.

But Apple announced two new updates to Siri on Monday during its WWDC presentation, including dropping "Hey" from the Siri launch phrase. When iOS 17 launches later this year, you'll be able to trigger Apple's digital assistant just by saying "Siri."

Apple also announced that Siri will allow you to carry on conversations with it after giving you an answer. So instead of...

"Hey, Siri, how tall is Shaquille O'Neal?" "Hey, Siri, how old is Shaquille O'Neal?"

You should be able to say:

"Siri, how tall is Shaquille O'Neal?" "How old is he?"

That kind of continued conversation has been a Google Assistant feature for a few years and makes conversations with digital assistants more seamless.

And you still have to use three syllables to trigger Siri's competitors.

Adding to its suite of new social-focused apps, Apple's new NameDrop tool lets users share their contact information by holding two iPhones close together to contacts.

The feature works alongside AirDrop, Apple's existing wireless service that lets users transfer files between supported iOS and Mac computers.

Get ready for "NameDrop me?" to be a thing we say now.

Apple is building on the popularity of its Memories photo widget by launching a new app that will help users collect memories in one place on their devices.

The Journal app will use on-device machine learning to suggest what users might want to input and write about in their digital journal.

When users go on a trip, for example, Journal might suggest that they place in the app their locations, photos and the music they listened to while they were there. It can also provide writing prompts to encourage users to make notes about the experience.

With Journal, users can also schedule notifications to remind them to write. Apple said the Journal app will have on-device processing and end-to-end encryption, with the option for users to lock their journals.

Some existing lock screen features for iPhone are coming to the iPad. This includes the ability to personalize wallpapers, such as adjusting the font and color. There will also be more wallpaper options -- hello, more backdrop planets to choose from.

But perhaps one of the more anticipated upgrades is the addition of interactive widgets that will allow iPad users to get more information at a glance and perform quick actions.

Another add-on: the ability to add multiple timers at once, which sounds potentially both productive and very exhausting.

Apple teased some changes coming to iOS 17 later this year, including a handful of new tools to make calling and messaging others more personalized and customized.

iOS 17 will now get contact "posters," allowing iPhone users to design a custom image to appear when you call someone or receive their call.

A new feature called Live Voicemail transcribes a caller's message in real-time, so users can decide whether to ignore it or take the call. Apple also showed off a new FaceTime feature that lets users record a video message that the recipient can play later.

Building on its safety features, a new inline location tool will enable check-ins directly within Messages; new information can now be shared with contacts such as how much battery life they have left (in case you don't hear from them) and if they've stalled or haven't started their commute yet.

Apple is introducing a check-in feature for iOS.

Starting a check-in with a family member or friend lets them know when you get home safely, according to Kim Beverett, senior enginerring program manager at Apple's internet technologies.

"As soon as you arrive, check-in automatically detects that you're home and lets your friend know," Beverett said.

It can also recognize if you're not making progress toward your destination and check in with you. If you don't respond, it can share information like the route you took, battery level and cell service status so your friend or family member can know if you can take a call.

Say goodbye to the option to pick silly photos to pop up when you receive a call from your friends and loved ones.

As part of its iOS 17 update, Apple is rolling out a new feature that will let users choose their own caller ID photo, allowing them to have a "consistent look" no matter who they're calling, the company says.

iPhone users will be able to personalize their contact card "poster" with a photo or "memoji" of choice, as well as text.

Apple introduced the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips as updates to its Mac Studio.

Jennifer Munn, director of engineering program management, introduced M2 Max as a "performance powerhouse."

Developers can build new apps at immense speed with up to 25x faster performance than M1 Max. M2 Max is also 4x faster than the most powerful intel-based iMac, according to the company.

Apple also added M2 Ultra in its chip family. "It doubles the performance of M2 Max," Munn said, adding that it will deliver 20% faster CPU performance than M1 Ultra.

M2 Ultra can support 192 GB of unified memory — 50% more than M1 Ultra.

The first hardware product unveiled on Monday is a 15-inch MacBook Air with Apple's custom-made, lightning fast M2 processor.

Apple said the new MacBook Air is the world's thinnest laptop, at just 11.5 mm. It also weighs just 3.3 pounds.

The new MacBook Air promises 18 hours of battery life, significantly faster performance than Intel-powered MacBook Airs and a six-speaker sound system.

It starts at $1,299, and $1,199 for education. Pre-orders start today and start shipping next week. Meanwhile, the13-inch MacBook Air with M2 is now $999.