The best of Apple's WWDC 2012 event
Looking for just the biggest news and highlights from Apple's WWDC 2012 event? We've gathered the biggest announcements from Apple's keynote at Moscone Center, including the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display, a completely redesigned Maps app, an newly evolved Siri, and iOS 6 details.
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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
'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
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...
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
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 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...
