Apple at WWDC 2012: iOS 6, new MacBook Air and Pro models, Mountain Lion, and more
Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote kicks off today and we're live from Moscone Center with all of the big news. An iOS 6 preview seems a sure shot by now, and there have been rumors of a refreshed Mac lineup floating around. Check in here for every news announcement from today's event.
Apps & Software
Chrome vs. Safari browsers on the MacBook Pro's Retina display
Apple's new MacBook Pro with its Retina display is undoubtedly a breakthrough for laptops, and certain notable third-party apps have already been updated to take full advantage of the expanded resolution. However, unlike the comparatively seamless leap to Retina displays made by the new iPad and the iPhone 4, it looks like OS X apps will need specific upgrades to see any advantage from the MacBook Pro's screen.
You might find yourself switching to Safari for a while
While iOS automatically...
Facebook integration won't come to Mountain Lion until 'this fall'
When Apple's OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion is released next month, it won't ship with the Facebook integration announced at this year's WWDC. That's according to a banner on Apple's Mountain Lion page, which clearly states that desktop Facebook integration won't launch until "this fall." The company also mentioned this release schedule in a footnote to a press release issued Monday.
Apple spent relatively little time discussing the feature during Monday's keynote presentation, though it was...
Apple
Mac Pro will be redesigned in 2013, confirms Apple (update 2)
After today's incredibly tiny update to the Mac Pro, you might be wondering if Apple plans to kill off the venerable desktop. Apparently, that's not the case. New York Times technology columnist David Pogue spoke to an anonymous Apple executive who said that the company's desktops are getting a makeover, perhaps by 2013. While the internet is already abuzz with reports that the iMac and Mac Pro in particular will be refreshed, Pogue's story doesn't actually specify either of those — merely...
Apple releases Mountain Lion Developer Preview 4
As was promised in today's WWDC keynote, Apple has released OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview 4 today, a build which the company described as "near-final." 9to5Mac has posted the release notes, which indicate that the number of bugs is decreasing and Game Center is getting close to being in full working order. It's not yet known whether or not all of the new Mountain Lion features showcased today are included in this build, but Facebook integration at least can be enabled with a separate...
Apple
New MacBook Pro with Retina display vs. MacBook Air in pictures
Though the new MacBook Pro with Retina display is thinner obviously than its non-retinal Pro counterpart, what's more interesting to us is that Apple also claims it's "as thin as MacBook Air." We sized it up with our 13-inch MacBook Air (not this year's model), and in fact, the new MacBook Pro with Retina display is both thinner and thicker at parts — it all depends on that patented wedge. And that goes for both lid open and closed.
As for the new MagSafe, while we haven't exactly pulled...
Mobile
Apple using TomTom and OpenStreetMap data in iOS 6 Maps app
We've been digging through the iOS 6 screenshots that were leaked to us earlier today for more details and found an interesting tidbit among them — TomTom is one of the main providers of mapping data in Apple's brand-new Maps application. When you flip back the iOS map to reach the setting menu, it clearly says that data comes from TomTom and "others" who aren't specified on that screen. Looking at the full attributions list for Apple's Maps app shows a whole number of other mapping...
Apple
Apple's 2012 MacBook family portrait: a guide for new buyers and upgraders
As expected, Apple unveiled some massive refreshes to it's full lineup of MacBook laptops earlier today at the Moscone Center as part of its WWDC 2012 keynote — but you may still be wondering whether an upgrade or a first time MacBook purchase is worth the hit to your bank account. While you may want to wait until we've had some time to test-drive Apple's new equipment, we've got a pretty good idea of what the lineup looks like from specs alone — so let's dig in.
Click on the images below...
Apple
New MacBook Pro with Retina display hands-on pictures and video
So we meet. It's one thing to see the new MacBook Pro with Retina display behind thick, protective glass. It's another to see it up close and personal, where you can actually get a feel for the weight and thinness of the device. The laptop we're using is a 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with a 3.6GHz Turbo Boost, Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics, 8GB DDR3L SDRAM, a massive 512GB of flash storage, and of course, the 15.4-inch 2880 x 1800 Retina display — no more turning down settings to play D...
Watch this: Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote video now live
If following our liveblog today wasn't enough for you, Apple has posted its video of its entire WWDC 2012 keynote presentation. The whole two-hour event is available to stream, though only if you're using Safari — we tried in Chrome and Firefox and had no luck. There's only an image that says the video will be "coming soon," so if you use another browser, you should be able to view it sooner than later. Apple also typically posts its major events as free video podcasts as well, but if you...
Apple
Apple quietly discontinues the 17-inch MacBook Pro
Amidst the excitement surrounding Apple's new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, the company quietly did away with one of the long-standing veterans of its notebook lineup: the 17-inch MacBook Pro is no longer available. You can still buy a refurbished model on Apple's store (there's quite a few different configurations), but the computer has been removed from the regular store as well as all of Apple's MacBook product pages. The 17-inch form factor was, of course, introduced way back...
Photography & Video
Aperture updated with Retina optimization and more, now shares library with iPhoto
Apple's done with today's WWDC announcements, but we're still going through the raft of updates that have just officially come through. The company has announced an update to Aperture that optimizes it for the just-announced MacBook Pro with Retina display. Besides this, it also incorporates a shared photo library for Aperture and iPhoto and automatically ports updates between them, so you can make an album or edit an image in Aperture and see the changes in iPhoto or vice versa. Some new...
Apple incrementally updates Mac Pro desktop for 2012
It's been two years since Apple's Mac Pro has received an update, but today's the day: as rumored, the 40-pound desktop, lovingly known as the "cheese grater," will be updated with fresher components than the pair of 6-core, 2.93GHz Intel Xeon X5670 processors it's been kicking around since 2010. Unfortunately, it's not much of an upgrade: you can simply get a pair of six-core 3.06GHz Intel Xeon X5675 processors rather than the 2.93GHz ones we just mentioned. The base model will start at...
Apple
Apple Store back online, get your new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air now
After being offline for most of the morning, the Apple Store's website is now back up and running, which means you can purchase all the new Mac hardware announced today including the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro refreshes along with the next-generation MacBook Pro with Retina display. Prices range from $999 for the base 11-inch Air all the way up to $2,199 for the base Retina MacBook Pro — a little expensive, perhaps, but considering the specs that Apple brought to the table today, it seems...
New MacBook Pro with Retina Display first look!
We just got our first glimpse of the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and while it's under cylindrical (and very reflective) glass, it's easy to see that the display is very, very beautiful. What also stands out is, despite the aforementioned barrier (not to mention the throngs of iPads and iPhones with the camera app open), we could still make out the impressive horizontal viewing angle. On top of all that, it really is surprisingly thin in person — you can see the new MagSafe adapter...
Apple
Apple reveals new AirPort Express with simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi, costs $99
Along with all of the news today at WWDC, Apple has announced a new AirPort Express router that features a complete hardware redesign. The new version looks like a white Apple TV and loses the power adapter look of its predecessor. It also now supports simultaneous dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi. The previous version worked with both frequencies, but could not support the two at the same time. Additionally, the unit now has two ethernet ports, so you're no longer forced to connect...
Apps & Software
iOS 6 beta available to download today for developers
Apple unveiled its latest iOS 6 software at WWDC today and developers will be able to download an early beta version for testing today. iOS 6 includes over 200 new features, with significant improvements to Siri — including sports information and scores, restaurant suggestions and ratings, integration with Rotten Tomatoes, voice-activated app launching, and the ability to Tweet via Siri. Apple is also introducing Siri for iPad and deep Facebook integration in iOS 6 with an improved tap to...
Apple details iOS 6 hardware requirements: iPhone 3GS to be updated, original iPad and third-gen iPod touch left out
On stage at Moscone West minutes ago, Scott Forstall confirmed Apple is trimming the list of hardware that will be compatible with iOS 6 when the software is released later this year. Just as rumors hinted, the original iPad and third-generation iPod touch won't be eligible for the latest update. Instead, upgrade paths for both devices will end with iOS 5. The iPhone 3GS and its 256MB of RAM, on the other hand, will be receiving iOS 6.
That brings an end to almost three years of software...
Apps & Software
Apple unveils 'guided access' in iOS 6, allows parents to lock children in apps
Apple has just unveiled a "guided access" feature for iOS 6 that will allow "parents, teachers, or administrators" to lock children within individual applications by disabling the device's physical home button and the ability to travel back out of an application. Apple specifically mentioned that the technology would be useful for children with autism, claiming that "we were surprised at how many kids with autism have been using the phones, but there are controls in apps you don't want them...
Apple
Turn-by-turn navigation added to Maps in iOS 6
Apple launched its own Maps app in conjunction with iOS 6, and one of the new highlight features is turn-by-turn navigation. In addition to the standard turn-by-turn directions, and a "Quick Route" button on search results, you'll also be able to get directions from Siri. You can tell Siri where to navigate you, or even ask "are we there yet?" and find out how long it'll be before you arrive. Everything works from the lock screen, too. There's a persistent ETA at the top of the screen, and...
Apple
Apple replaces Google Maps with its own maps, turn-by-turn navigation and traffic info
Apple was widely expected to roll out its own replacement for Google Maps in iOS6, and today it's done that. Apple has just unveiled Maps. Since 2009, Apple has bought three mapping startups: Placebase, Poly9, and C3 Technologies -- the last two of which are 3D mapping companies. We do know that Apple is also making use of a lot of other companies' data for its maps too -- most notably TomTom.
Just last week Google unveiled new features including offline maps for Android and 3D mapping, at an...
iOS 6 Passbook centralizes boarding passes, movie tickets, loyalty cards, and more
Apple just announced that iOS 6 will have a feature called Passbook, which will integrate passes and tickets from all kinds of services: movie tickets, boarding passes, loyalty and gift cards, and more. It's all integrated into the lockscreen, and geolocation means the phone can pull up the appropriate pass when you get near the relevant store or location.
Apple demoed Passbook with apps from Fandango, Target, Starbucks, United Airlines, Amtrak, the W hotels, MLB.com, and — of course —...
Apple
Apple's Shared Photo Streams add social features to photos
Apple has announced Shared Photo Streams, a method to share and comment on pictures in Photo Streams on iOS, Apple TV, OS X apps like Aperture, and on a web browser. After picking photos and friends to be shared, users can share pictures in album form, and friends will get a notification when they're uploaded. From there, users can "Like" or add comments to the pictures. It's another try at social features for Apple, and one that seems more organic than the now forgotten Ping. That may be...
Mobile
iOS 6 unifies your Apple ID and phone number for improved iMessage and Facetime support
Apple just announced a new feature that'll make using iMessage and Facetime a lot more useful — you can choose to unify your Apple ID email address and your iPhone phone number, so that messages and Facetime calls are more reliably delivered across iOS devices and your Mac. Now, if someone calls your phone number for Facetime, you'll be able to answer on your Mac or iPad. The same goes for Messages — if you get an iMessage on your phone, it'll be delivered to your Mac and other iOS...
Microsoft
Apple's next-gen MacBook Pro vs. the competition
It's difficult to fathom what "the competition" to a laptop with 2880 x 1800 resolution might be, but Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro and its Retina display are still built around the same components as every other laptop, so we thought we'd square it off against the best of the rest. Check out our comparison below for the strongest alternatives to Apple's new knight in matte aluminum armor.
Apple
iOS 6 adds FaceTime over cellular networks, lets you send video calls from your phone number
FaceTime's been a Wi-Fi only affair for as long as the video calling solution has existed — it didn't even work over speedy LTE — but starting in iOS 6, the restrictions have been lifted. We don't know which networks qualify, though. Will it work over LTE? HSPA+? 3G, perhaps? Apple's not saying right now. What's more, Apple is unifying your phone number and Apple ID such that if you make a FaceTime call or send an iMessage to a person, they'll be able to call, message, or email you back...
Mobile
iOS 6 to feature 'Do Not Disturb' setting, 'Reply with message' feature for calls
Apple is expanding users ability to control how and when people talk to them on their iPhones in iOS 6. It has announced a new "Do No Disturb" feature that will continue to allow messages to come in, but your phone will not alert you to them until later. However, you can enable a setting where a second call from the same source will ring, so you're still reachable if it's an emergency. You can also set your Do Not Disturb to automatically turn on and off at scheduled times — say when you're...
Microsoft
New MacBook Air vs. the competition: by the numbers
Apple's just upgraded it's MacBook Air line with speedy SSDs and Ivy Bridge cores, but in terms of overall specs, it's a mixed bag when comparing to the competition. Apple has brought the Air line at least up to par on the processing front with top-of-the-line ultrabook competitors that have recently adopted Intel's 3rd-generation Core i5 and i7 chips. The 13-inch Air's base clock speed of 1.8GHz looks nice against the competition, with competitors like the Envy Spectre XT following closely...
Apple
Apple brings Siri to the iPad
Apple announced that as part of iOS 6, Siri will be available on the iPad in addition to the iPhone. It's part of a larger update to Siri, allowing the voice-controlled app to now do everything from launch apps to report the batting average of your favorite baseball players. Apple's Scott Forstall mentioned that Siri was coming to "the new iPad," so it sounds like older iPad owners might need to upgrade to get all the new features.
Developing. Check out our Apple WWDC liveblog for the latest...
Apple
'Eyes Free' Siri to be built into cars within next 12 months
Apple has announced partnerships with auto manufacturers to integrate a new "Eyes Free" Siri feature to their cars. The new feature allows drivers to use the dictation and search features of Siri without taking their hands off of the steering wheel — for example, you could send a tweet with the new version of Siri without looking at the screen, and you would only have to press a button on the car dashboard to activate the talking assistant. Apple emphasised that the screen will remain off...
Siri in iOS 6: iPad support, app launcher, new languages, Eyes Free, Rotten Tomatoes, sports scores, and more
Apple has updated Siri in sync with its introduction of iOS 6, now adding sports scores and stats to the things the companion app can inform you about. The data is provided by Yahoo! Sports, and includes player bio information as well, with the Siri demo on stage at WWDC showing it providing an answer to the question, "who's taller, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant?"
A most welcome new addition for the voice assistant is the overdue ability to launch apps — you can now tell Siri to "play Temple...
Apple
iOS by the numbers: 365 million devices sold, 150 billion iMessages sent, 80 percent of users on iOS 5
Scott Forstall is out to introduce iOS 6, but first he's giving some details on the state of the platform. He took a moment to note the state of the iOS installed base compared to Android — about 80 percent of iOS users are running iOS 5, while a similar percentage of Android users are running 2.3 Gingerbread (which we know is well over a year old) — he also noted how only about seven percent of Android users are currently running the most current Android version. All in all, some 365...
Apple
Apple announces iOS 6, coming this fall; developer beta available today
Apple has officially unveiled iOS 6 at its Worldwide Developers Conference today, the next version of its mobile operating system used by the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV. iOS has consistently received a significant update every year since its introduction in 2007 — and by all appearances, version 6 will continue that trend with a claimed 200-plus new features. It'll be available for the iPhone 3GS and later, the 2nd- and 3rd-generation iPad, and the 4th-generation iPod touch in...
Apps & Software
Apple demos Safari 6 with iCloud tabs, Smart Search Field, and Tab View
Apple just demoed Safari 6 's new features — some of which we've already seen in our Mountain Lion preview — like a unified address bar and something called the Smart Search Field. This feature works like Google Chrome's Omnibox, where search queries can be lodged in the new unified address bar. Apple also demoed Safari 6's iCloud tabs, a tab-syncing mechanism that populates across devices using iCloud as the name implies. These tabs will be viewable in Apple's new Tab View interface,...
Apple
Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will be $19.99 in July: adds Facebook integration, PowerNap updates, dictation, mute switch for notifications
Apple just announced that OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will cost $19.99 when it's released in July, and users can upgrade from both Lion and Snow Leopard. Customers who buy new Macs from today on will receive free upgrades.
Most of of the details of the new OS are the same as in the preview build we saw in February, there are some new features: a new silent-updating system called PowerNap, a mute switch for notifications that lets you work in peace, and dictation, which lets you talk to type...
Apple
Apple announces 26 million copies of Lion shipped, 40 percent adoption
Following in the wake of its record quarterly profit, Apple has released some more numbers on adoption of Mac OS X Lion. After nine months, 40 percent of users are on the OS, for a total of 26 million copies shipped and a total Mac install base of 66 million. That's quite a growth over WWDC 2011, when Apple announced an install base of around 54 million. For Lion, it's also a much faster adoption rate than Microsoft enjoys with Windows 7, as Apple demonstrated for us with a slide showing the...
Apple
Retina MacBook Pro vs. the pixel density competition
Now that Apple has announced its first MacBook with a Retina Display, we thought we'd take a quick look at laptops past and present to see how the new MacBook Pro stacks up against the competition.
Apple
Apple adds Thunderbolt adapters: FireWire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet
Apple has announced two new Thunderbolt accessories for its new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. They've detailed a FireWire 800 adapter and a Gigabit Ethernet adapter. Apple may have a history of leaving legacy ports behind, but with the number of professional applications for FireWire 800 and faster Ethernet, it's good to see Apple making the extra effort. Previously, 10/100 Ethernet was as fast as Apple's official accessories had gone. We do think it's a little disappointing that you'll have...
Apple
Apple announces MagSafe 2 power port, goes back to T-connector style (update)
Apple has shown off an updated version of its MagSafe power port, dubbed MagSafe 2. The new port was shown off on the side of the new, next-generation 15.4-inch MacBook Pro. Apple said that it was "thinner," and upon close inspection of the picture we can see that the edges appear to be curved off compared to the last-generation port. The power contacts themselves appear to be the same — there are still five of them — so we'd hope that there's some sort of backwards compatibility. It's...
OS X, pro apps, and games updated for new MacBook Pro Retina Display
Apple just announced that OS X 10.7 Lion and 10.8 Mountain Lion will be updated to support the new 2880 x 1800 Retina Display in the next-generation MacBook Pro, which ships today. The entire OS has been tweaked to support the higher resolution, as have most of Apple's apps, including Mail, Safari, Aperture, and Final Cut Pro.
Apple's also touting a number of key third-party apps that have been updated for the new display, like Adobe Photoshop and AutoCAD. There's also a new version of Diablo...
Apple announces next-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, ships today for $2,199
Apple has announced what it calls a "next-generation" MacBook Pro, with a Retina display. It goes along the rest of the MacBook line, but Apple is looking foward with this model: removing the optical drive to enable a laptop that's only 0.71 inches thick. The premiere feature, however, is clearly the Retina display, which packs a 2880 x 1800 pixels into 15.4-inch screen, which adds up to 220 ppi. The new MacBook weighs under 4.5 lbs, making it the lightest Pro laptop Apple has ever produced.
P...
Apple
MacBook Pro upgraded with Ivy Bridge CPUs, Nvidia graphics, shipping today
Apple has just revealed its new line of 2012 MacBook Pro laptops, upgrading them to Intel's Ivy Bridge processors and Nvidia's new Kepler-based GeForce GT 650M graphics. All new models are shipping today.
The big highlight of today's show is actually the introduction of a so-called next-generation MacBook Pro with an incredible 2880 x 1800 display, however that's happening quite aside from Apple's regular hardware refresh. You'll still find your usual 13-inch MBP with a 1280 x 800 screen,...
New MacBook Air models officially unveiled with Ivy Bridge upgrade
As rumored, new 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models have just been officially announced by Apple at WWDC 2012. Unsurprisingly, Apple is keeping pace with competitors with the addition of Ivy Bridge to its slimmest line of laptops. The 11-inch models will start at $999 with a 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, 64GB flash storage, and 5 hours of battery life, with a higher-tier model for $1099 that contains 128GB of flash storage. The...
Apps & Software
Apple by the numbers: 30 billion app downloads, 650,000 apps available in the App Store
As per usual, Apple kicked off its WWDC keynote with some stats on the company's performance in recent months, and the news is unsurprisingly upbeat. For starters, CEO Tim Cook gave us some updates on the App Store — there's over 400 million registered store accounts, up from 225 million at WWDC 2011. The App Store is now home to over 650,000, with over 225,000 made specifically for the iPad. That's up from 425,000 apps last year, with some 90,000 specifically designed for the iPad.
P...
Apple
Our live blog of Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote starts at 10AM PT, 1PM ET
Read the live blog right here!
Are you interested in iOS 6? How about a refreshed Mac lineup? Let's not forget that new iPhone backplate that's been floating around. We can't promise that we'll see any of those things at Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote on Monday, but we'll be at San Francisco's Moscone Center to bring it to you live. Our live blog is going to kick off shortly before 10AM PT on Monday, June 11th, 2012 — join us, won't you?
In case you missed it during E3 last week, we've got a...
