wwdc-2010
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iPhone 4 first hands-on! (update: FaceTime video demo)
We've just gotten some face time (ha ha!) with the new iPhone 4, and let's just say this: it's incredibly sexy. We'll hand it to Apple, the phone is so thin it's kind of mind-boggling. The 3GS by comparison looks bloated. Feast your eyes on the pics below, and check out the FaceTime video demo after the break! Oh, and special thanks to hand models Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg. Some takeaways about the device: As we said, it's shockingly thin. The screen is truly outrageous -- you basically cannot see pixels on it. We're not being hyperbolic when we say it's easily the best looking mobile phone screen we've ever laid eyes on. The build quality is really solid. The home button feels much snappier, and on the whole it just feels like a tightly-packed device, but it's not heavy. The side buttons are really nice and clicky. iOS 4 is very familiar -- there's not a lot added to fit and finish. The general speed of the whole OS is way snappier. The camera app in particular is noticeably faster -- shots get snapped in an instant. Update: More pics! We've also thrown in a video demo of the iPhone 4 running its FaceTime video chat app. Check it out at the usual location.%Gallery-94611%%Gallery-94616%
iPhone 4 vs. iPhone 3GS: the tale of the tape
Apple's claiming that the iPhone 4 represents the platform's biggest advance since the original model's intro back in 2007 -- but does the argument hold water? Follow the break for a comprehensive rundown of the key differences between the newest member of the iPhone model and last year's king of the hill, the 3GS!
FarmVille to rake in iPhone audience's cash this June
During today's all-things-Apple WWDC 2010 conference, Zynga founder Mark Pincus took the stage to announce a startling (albeit not entirely unexpected) technological development for the virtual agriculture industry: FarmVille is heading to iPhone at the end of June. The app will allow you to sync up with your Facebook account and tend to your pre-existing farm on the go. Pincus teased "withering crop Push notifications," though we're not sure if that was a joke or not. We pray to any and all powers that be that it was.
Guitar Hero on iPhone today
From the "I could have sworn this was already a thing" file: Activision just revealed during Apple's WWDC 2010 event that its venerable Guitar Hero franchise is headed to the iPhone today for $2.99. The new version, which includes tracks from Queen and The Rolling Stones, has you tapping notes and swiping the screen in place of strumming. Side note: If you didn't already have this information, it means you're not following the Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote, and we're going to need you to leave your nerd badge with Sheila on the way out. %Gallery-94634%
Apple iPhone 4 starting at $199 on June 24, gyroscope added
In a shocking announcement that absolutely no one expected -- oh, who are we kidding? Apple CEO Steve Jobs just officially debuted the iPhone 4 at WWDC 2010 in San Francisco. While anyone with internet access has probably already seen the thing, we now know some of the new specs -- plus a date and pricing. June 24 for the iPhone 4 in white or black, 16GB for $199 and 32GB for $299, with a contract, of course. AT&T is extending the special pricing to any subscriber whose contract is up in 2010. Pre-orders for the iPhone 4 will open June 15. The first major gaming-related feature revealed today: what Apple is calling a "Retina Display." No, it doesn't scan your retina -- it's Apple's jargon for the iPhone 4's screen having four times the pixel density as the iPhone 3GS, or 326 pixels-per-inch. That's also 78 percent of the pixel resolution of the iPad's display. Jobs said that existing apps and games will instantly look better, but can be optimized for the screen. We'll continue updating this post as more is announced. Update: The handset is powered by Apple's own A4 processor, the same used by the iPad. In addition to GPS, a compass and accelerometers, the iPhone 4G is adding a gyroscope, providing full pitch/roll/yaw sensing in 3D space. "We've tied the gyro, accelerometer, and GPS for 6-axis motion sensing. It's perfect for gaming - and one of the reasons it's perfect is because it's built into every iPhone 4, so you know it's there," Jobs explained. He demoed the functionality with a Jenga type game. %Gallery-94649%
iPhone 4 announced, launching June 24 for $199 with new FaceTime video chat
Apple has unveiled its new iPhone 4 after a couple wild, unprecedented months of leaks. Sure, it looks exactly like we expected it to (Steve compares it to an old Leica camera), with a glass front and back, but it's what's on the inside that counts, kids. The stainless steel band that goes around the phone is an antenna system, while also providing the main structure of the phone, though it's plugged into the same old GSM / UMTS radio you all know and love -- there's a reason they didn't call it the iPhone 4G. There's also of course that front facing camera we were all anticipating, a rear camera with LED flash, and a new high resolution display that doubles the pixels in each direction (960 x 640) for a 4X overall pixel count increase -- Apple calls it a "Retina Display." It's rated at 326ppi, which Apple claims is beyond the human eye's limit of distinction. Check out an example of the new screen up against the iPhone 3G after the break. Similar to the iPad, it's an IPS display, offering 800:1 contrast. Naturally, it's still the same old 3.5-inch size. Under the hood is the A4 processor that runs the iPad. Despite the new engine (and the 25% thinner chassis), Apple managed to make the battery slightly larger, and the new handset is rated at 7 hours of 3G talk, 6 hours of 3G browsing, 10 hours of WiFi browsing, 10 hours of video, and 40 hours of music. Oh, and that WiFi? It's 802.11n now. The camera has been bumped to 5 megapixels, with 5X digital zoom and a "backside illuminated sensor," which now can also record HD video at 720p / 30fps. On the software front, applications will automatically get high resolution text and buttons as part of iOS 4 (the OS previously known as iPhone OS 4), and with "a little bit of work" developers can make their entire app compatible with the new resolution display. Developers will also get access to a new gyroscope, giving devs "six axis" motion control between the gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass, with a new "Core Motion" API to deal with it all. Users won't be left out in the cold, however: they can mess around with that new HD video using a brand new iMovie app, if they shell out $4.99 for it. If anyone's feeling particularly frisky, iOS 4 even lets you switch your default search provider to Bing. Last but certainly not least, that new front camera is enabled for video chat using the new "FaceTime" feature. It's a WiFi-only (for now) video calling feature that works from iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 with "no setup" involved, and can flip over to the rear camera if your grandparents get tired of your face. The phone will be available in white or black, retailing at $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for 32GB. They go on sale June 24th, and AT&T will be giving some extra grace upgrade timing -- up to six months early. The 3GS will be dropped to $99 and the 3G will disappear completely. Pre-orders start in a week, with 5 countries at launch (US, France, Germany, UK, Japan), with 18 more following in July. Apple will also be selling a first party case for $29, and a dock for the same price. PR is after the break, promo videos can be found here, and we got hands-on right here. %Gallery-94580% %Gallery-94610% %Gallery-94620% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
iPhone 3GS drops to $99, 8GB only -- iPhone 3G discontinued
We've already seen the iPhone 3GS drop to under a $100 at Walmart, and Apple has now expectedly made that the official price point following the announcement of the iPhone 4. What's more, the 3GS will now only be available in an 8GB version (it's still not clear if both colors will be available or not), and that naturally also means that the iPhone 3G is now officially discontinued. Of course, there's also still quite a few of the current iPhone 3GS models floating around out there, and AT&T will be doing its best to clear those out -- you can now grab a 16GB 3GS for $149, and a 32GB 3GS for $199 on a two-year plan "while supplies last."
FaceTime video calling added to iPhone 4... and it's WiFi-only
That front-facing camera on the new iPhone 4 and a flood of leaks were a dead giveaway -- the new FaceTime app brings video calling to the iPhone. Unfortunately, it's WiFi-only at the moment, as Steve says Apple needs to work with carriers to support it on 3G. The FaceTime app is pretty cool -- you can flip the image between the front and rear cameras and between portrait and landscape orientation, and the video call system is built on open standards like SIP, H.264, and AAC so it'll work with other video calling apps as well.%Gallery-94599% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
iPhone OS 4 renamed iOS 4, launching June 21 with 1500 new features
We knew it had to happen eventually -- iPhone OS has been renamed to iOS with the bump to version 4. Some 1500 new features are coming along with the name change, including biggies like multitasking, a unified inbox, app folders, and data detectors. Although Apple is encouraging devs to tweak their apps for the iPhone 4's new Retina Display, iOS4 will also automatically redraw text and controls for existing apps to make them play nice with the new higher pixel density. Bing search integration has also been added to iOS 4 in addition to Google and Yahoo -- Google is still the default, though. The golden master is available to devs today, and Steve says the 100 millionth iOS device -- that's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad -- will be sold sometime this month. That's a lot of devices! We found out about most of the features of iOS 4 at the SDK event, so check here for the full rundown. Apple says iOS 4 will arrive for the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and the iPod touch on June 21 -- and it'll be free to iPod touch owners for the first time, which is nice. Not all features will be supported across all devices: the first-gen touch is left out entirely, and the 3G won't do multitasking, as we heard at the SDK event. We'll see if there are any other limitations and let you know. Amusingly, an iOS trademark is currently owned by Cisco -- just like the original iPhone trademark -- so we'll see if Apple's lawyers actually called ahead this time around or if they'll have to fake-tussle and make nice again.%Gallery-94591% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
iPhone 4 does 720p HD video, iMovie
A backside-illuminated 5 megapixel sensor is about to grace the new iPhone's rear, equipped with an LED flash and 720p / 30fps video recording. Tap to focus while recording video will also be rolled out in the iPhone Quattro, and Steve Jobs is keen to impress on us all that although the megapixel count has grown, the quality of images has apparently improved. That's what they all say. iMovie for iPhone will add more sophisticated video editing options, but they won't come for free -- a $4.99 tithe will be required. This is moving things along, to be sure, but why is the iPhone 4's upper storage limit still stuck at 32GB? A more generous apportionment of memory would've gone very nicely indeed with that HD video mode.%Gallery-94584% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
WWDC 2010: Netflix for iPhone coming this summer
During the WWDC 2010 keynote with Steve Jobs, the CEO of Netflix. Reed Hastings, came on stage to discuss the impending release of Netflix for iPhone. The app is slated to be available this summer and features the ability to both manage your queue and stream movies from your Instant queue. Additionally, Netflix for iPhone will be able to resume streaming a movie where previously left off from your iPad. The iPad app has been extremely popular, and the iPhone app will bring Netflix's popular service to even more places while you're out and about. Movies will even stay synced over multiple devices, so you'll be able to start a movie on your Mac, switch in place to your iPad, and then start it up on your iPhone when you want to. Sounds awesome -- we'll keep an eye out for the app and let you know when it comes out.
Steve Jobs live from WWDC 2010
It all starts today at the times below! 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (June 8th)
Farmville and Guitar Hero announced for iPhone
You knew it was bound to happen sooner or later -- Farmville is heading for the iPhone. But that's not all, Activision was also on hand at WWDC to announce an iPhone version of Guitar Hero, which packs classic rock from the likes of Queen and The Rolling Stones, and is available in the App Store today for $2.99. Check out a shot of it after the break, and look for Farmville to be available by the end of June -- or don't, it's up to you. Update: Guitar Hero press release, with the complete tracklist and add-on packs, is now after the break. %Gallery-94573% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
Netflix app headed for the iPhone
After two months of burning up the iPad, Netflix is ready to devour its latest platform: the iPhone. Just like the iPad app -- where it reigns as the number one downloaded entertainment app, Netflix will have you know -- it's free, and you can pick up your playback from the last spot, as with all Netflix players. Unlike the iPad, the UI actually looks fairly optimized for the platform, including an app-optimized search of your instant queue. It also features "seamless" switching between networks, with 3G streaming apparently a go. It launches this summer. %Gallery-94571% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
iPad corners 22 percent of ebook market, iBooks gets iPhone version and PDF reader
Apple has just announced that the iPad has collected 22 percent of ebook sales since its launch and is about to get new features too. A PDF viewer is going to be thrown into the iBooks app later this month, and will be accompanied by new bookmarking and note-taking functionality. Yeah, they're basic enhancements at best, but we're still trying to wrap our minds around this idea that Apple is already responsible for nearly a quarter of all ebook sales. Then again, as Steve points out, a cool five million of the darn things have been downloaded in the first 65 days of the iPad's availability. Update: Seems like even five mill ain't gonna be enough for Apple, which is set to massively expand its iBooks user base by bringing the app to iPhone and iPod touch users. You'll be getting the same note-taking, same bookmarking -- same everything -- just on a smaller screen, and at no extra charge. Users will be able to purchase a book on one device and then consume it across the full range of iDevices, with bookmarks and progress getting synced across the ether.%Gallery-94570%%Gallery-94595% Check out more from WWDC 2010 in our liveblog!
Apple's Magic Trackpad revealed?
Of all the surprises we expected to hear about in the WWDC keynote, a multitouch trackpad peripheral didn't exactly pop into our brains. But -- whoomp -- here it is. What we appear to be looking at is a brand new input device that Apple has dreamed up which connects to desktops (and laptops, if you like) via Bluetooth, much like the Apple Keyboard. If you take what you see in the photos at face value, it would seem that the folks in Cupertino are making a play for finger-based input in a big way -- taking the work they've done on Mac laptops and the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and translating it to the desktop realm. This weirdly lines up perfectly with rumors from earlier in the year, emanating from both John Gruber (of Daring Fireball fame), and MacRumors -- the former reporting that Apple was set to release a "Mentioned-Nowhere-Else-But-in-This-Very-Headline Multi-Touch Trackpad Gadget for Desktop Macs," and the latter taking notice of an Apple trademark application for the "Magic Trackpad." It certainly all makes sense given that the company has made not-so-subtle moves away from standard input devices to finger-friendly options in many, many of its recent products. Whatever the case may be, we're potentially just hours away from the truth, so feast your eyes on the photos, and get ready for the big reveal. Update: New images received with a claim that the device supports handwriting recognition in addition to "every feature you can find on a Magic Mouse (and possibly features of a MacBook Pro trackpad)." This, from a person who claims to be personally testing it. Something we hope to do for ourselves before the day is through. Update 2: Reader Dan Berte made a quick little cardboard mockup using his Apple keyboard and Magic Mouse for relative sizing and he's estimating the tracking area to be around six inches diagonal. Makes sense -- check his handiwork after the break.%Gallery-94516%
Steve Jobs's WWDC keynote live today at 10AM PT / 1PM ET!
C'mon guys -- you know what time it is. It's WWDC 2010 time, and we'll be there liveblogging the hell out of the opening keynote where Steve Jobs will maybe-kinda-sorta introduce some crazy new phone. Or not. You never know. That's why you have to tune in! Below is all the information you'll need to track the best live coverage on the internet -- starting bright and early on Monday morning. Don't miss this -- it's going to be epic. Here's the info: The keynote will start at 10AM PT on Monday, June 7th. Here's the URL that you'll want to be planted at for the proceedings, and below is a handful of timezone information, just in case you hate doing the math. 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (June 8th)
Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote live tomorrow, 10AM PT / 1PM ET!
C'mon guys -- you know what time it is. It's WWDC 2010 time, and we'll be there liveblogging the hell out of the opening keynote where Steve Jobs will maybe-kinda-sorta introduce some crazy new phone. Or not. You never know. That's why you have to tune in! Below is all the information you'll need to track the best live coverage on the internet -- starting bright and early on Monday morning. Don't miss this -- it's going to be epic. Here's the info: The keynote will start at 10AM PT on Monday, June 7th. Here's the URL that you'll want to be planted at for the proceedings, and below is a handful of timezone information, just in case you hate doing the math. 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (June 8th)
Safari 5 to join Steve onstage Monday for WWDC?
According to a report from French blog MacGeneration, one of the announcements on tap for Monday's WWDC 2010 keynote (which we'll be covering live, by the way) is a major update for Safari -- namely, version 5. If you believe the docs the site has obtained, there are more than a few big changes coming, including Bing now alongside Yahoo! and Google search options, a new "Safari Reader" for better / easier RSS reading (we're hoping they're taking a cue from Google on this), 25 percent faster JavaScript performance and DNS prefetching (hello, Chrome), improved HTML5 support (no big surprise there), and new developer tools which we assume will be along the lines of Firebug or Chrome's developer helpers. So we hope. The update will allegedly also add hardware acceleration for Windows PCs, an address field that auto-predicts URLs (they're calling it a "Smart Address Field"), and a handful of other minor tweaks and snips. Furthermore, there's an expected minor bump to Snow Leopard (10.6.4) which will resolve some nagging issues, though nothing really more than that. As we're sure you're aware, the next 48 hours or so are going to be filled with all sorts of nutty rumors about what's happening at Monday's keynote -- we'll try and separate the wheat from the chaff for you.
Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote live on Engadget this Monday, 10AM PT / 1PM ET!
C'mon guys -- you know what time it is. It's WWDC 2010 time, and we'll be there liveblogging the hell out of the opening keynote where Steve Jobs will maybe-kinda-sorta introduce some crazy new phone. Or not. You never know. That's why you have to tune in! Below is all the information you'll need to track the best live coverage on the internet -- starting bright and early on Monday morning. Don't miss this -- it's going to be epic. Here's the info: The keynote will start at 10AM PT on Monday, June 7th. Here's the URL that you'll want to be planted at for the proceedings, and below is a handful of timezone information, just in case you hate doing the math. 07:00AM - Hawaii 10:00AM - Pacific 11:00AM - Mountain 12:00PM - Central 01:00PM - Eastern 06:00PM - London 07:00PM - Paris 09:00PM - Moscow 02:00AM - Tokyo (June 8th)
