wwdc
Latest
Apple Music's web player now streams whole songs
To date, playing full songs on Apple Music has meant firing up iTunes or the mobile app. You could listen to samples on the web, but that wasn't much different than playing iTunes Store clips years ago. This appears to be changing, though. Reddit users have discovered that Apple Music's embeddable web player now plays complete songs as long as you sign in to your account. You can even add albums and playlists to your library without having to leave your browser.
We're liveblogging Apple's WWDC 2018 event tomorrow at 10AM PT
Oh, hey! Did you enjoy this short holiday work week? Having a relaxing weekend? Good -- because things are about to get busy. First thing tomorrow, Apple kicks off its annual developer conference, and Engadget will be doing what it always does: reporting live from a packed auditorium. We already have our liveblog page timed up here -- bookmark that and be sure to tune in at 10AM Pacific / 1PM Eastern. As usual, I'll be joined by my colleague, senior editor Chris Velazco (you might know him from all of our iPhone, iPad an Apple Watch reviews). Also as usual, we expect Apple to spend at least a few minutes on each of its major platforms and initiatives: iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, HealthKit and ARKit, among many other things, we're sure. But will this be a hardware year as well? It's always tough to say. Last year's WWDC saw us getting a demo of the HomePod, an iPad Pro and some iMacs immediately after the keynote ended. Other years, we finish the keynote and go eat lunch. What will this year's event bring? Only one way to find out.
What to expect at WWDC 2018
It's officially June now, which means it's time for us to pack our bags, get on a plane to California and take in the second major developer conference of the season: Apple's WWDC. We'll be on the ground at San Jose's McEnery Convention Center next week scrounging up insights from as many presentations and developer sessions as we can crash. But as always, the show's focal point is the Monday keynote, during which Apple lays out its future in software. Be sure to keep your browser locked on our liveblog when the keynote begins on Monday, June 4th at 10AM PT/1PM ET — until then, read on for a primer on all the things we expect to see once the keynote unfolds.
Apple’s 2018 WWDC keynote happens June 4th
Apple has announced the dates for its annual developer conference, WWDC. The event is scheduled for June 4th through 8th and like last year, it will take place in San Jose's McEnery Convention Center. We're sure to see previews of upcoming iOS, MacOS, WatchOS and tvOS versions and rumor has it we may even get to see some new hardware like possibly a long-overdue MacBook Air update and a new iPad. Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program members have until March 22nd to register through the WWDC website for a chance to buy tickets.
Apple’s AR strength is making it available to everyone
Apple is finally getting serious about augmented reality. Amid iOS improvements and new hardware announcements at this year's WWDC, Cook & Co. also launched ARKit, the company's first-ever stab at an augmented reality platform. Since ARKit is baked into iOS 11 and there are already so many iPads and iPhones on the market, Senior Vice President Craig Federighi had the audacity to say onstage that this would be "largest AR platform in the world." That's a pretty bold statement for a newcomer to the AR space. But Apple could very well be the company to pull it off.
Mac VR support is more confusing than you think
Early on in yesterday's WWDC keynote, Apple announced VR support in OS X, along with an external GPU dock for Mac developers. That news excited a lot of people. External GPUs, for what it's worth, work right now in macOS Sierra without huge issues (Bizon has been selling external GPU enclosures for a while). What Apple's new High Sierra OS brings is full support for GPU docks in its graphics API. Couple that with NVIDIA's commitment to release graphics drivers for macOS and it's suddenly going to be a lot easier for Apple users to boost the power of their machines. Immediately after Apple's VR announcement, a colleague remarked that adding an external GPU would be "dope if you're buying a MacBook Air or a low-powered machine" -- you'd have an ultraportable that you plug into a dock for VR and high-end gaming. That dream isn't realistic though. It feels like many people don't quite understand what a GPU does and why adding one to an underpowered machine won't make it VR ready.
Don't compare Apple's HomePod to Amazon's Echo
When Apple unveiled the HomePod at WWDC, it was tempting to draw immediate comparisons to the Amazon Echo and Google Home. And I wouldn't blame you if you did. They're all smart speakers, of course, and there's a good chance that you might cross-shop them in the right circumstances. However, it's increasingly clear that a one-for-one comparison doesn't hold up. If anything, Apple is consciously avoiding direct competition with Echo-like speakers -- it's playing up its strong point, audio quality, while downplaying the importance of its AI assistant. This strategy certainly has its risks, but it may also help the HomePod stand out where it would otherwise drown in a sea of rivals.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro: What's changed?
It's been only seven months and nine days since Apple unveiled its first MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and we're already looking at a refresh. It's not a redesign, so we need to peek under the hood to see what's been souped up or tweaked. The big change is the addition of Kaby Lake, Intel's latest generation processor. However, the amount of RAM remains the same, which is unfortunate for anyone hoping for a boost past 16GB. Check out the chart below to see if this upgrade is worth your time or if you'll be just fine with last year's model.
The new iPad Pro vs. the 9.7-inch iPad Pro: What's changed?
The iPad Pro's new 10.5-inch screen size may be a bit bigger than the 9.7-inch model it's replacing, but it's still sleek and svelte. However, a larger display and a new chassis aren't the only differences. Inside you'll find upgraded specs belying the device's thin frame. Take a peek at our table to to see how much of a difference that extra 0.8 inches of screen makes between smaller iPad Pro models.
'Monument Valley 2' is now available on iOS
Monument Valley is one of the greatest mobile games ever released, a brilliant puzzle jaunt through an MC Escher landscape punctuated with lovely chimes and audio accents. Nobody expected a sequel to come around any time soon, so Apple nonchalantly announcing the game at WWDC today is a delightful surprise. Monument Valley 2 is officially live on the App Store for $5.
iOS 11's Photos app uses AI to make your shots better
Apple's iOS 11 promises to be a big upgrade for shutterbugs. It's improving both the Camera and Photos apps to take some of the headaches out of snapshots and photos. For instance, the Photos app's Memories section can make use of machine learning to automatically reorient images when you change your phone's orientation -- it knows what to focus on. Live Photos also make use of this AI-like technology for effects. And Live Photos should be decidedly lively with new visual tricks, including a long exposure blur effect, the ability to pick a key photo, video looping and a Boomerang-style "bounce" effect.
macOS finally supports VR
Until now the only way to run a high-end VR system on a Mac was by booting into Windows, but that didn't solve the fact that Apple had yet to offer a GPU option that was actually good enough for VR. The next best thing was to plug in your desired NVIDIA card via an external enclosure like the Razer Core, but you'd still be stuck with Windows. Thankfully, Apple has finally decided to take matters into its own hands by adding VR graphics support to the upcoming macOS High Sierra due this fall, and it's also offering a Thunderbolt 3 external GPU dev kit as of today at WWDC.
Apple’s iMac Pro is its most powerful computer ever
Apple has another iMac to reveal. The iMac Pro is a powerful, familiar-looking all-in-one, decked in Space Gray -- and the company says it's the most powerful Mac ever. Period. The pro-level computer will ship with up to 18-core Xeon processors as well as Radeon Pro Vega graphics (a new GPU and high-bandwidth memory). That's apparently enough for up to 11 Teraflops of single precision (or 22 Teraflops at "half precision") processing power. You can also cram in up to 4TB of SSD storage, with a row of USB ports lining up with four Thunderbolt ports. These (and all the rest of the connections) can be found behind a 27-inch Retina 5K display, with all-flash memory architecture and an all-new thermal design, adding 80 percent more cooling capacity to match all that processing power.
Apple's watchOS improvements focus on fitness and Siri
Apple definitely isn't slowing down with watchOS updates now that the Apple Watch is relatively established. It's introducing watchOS 4, a big update that overhauls both the look and several key features -- including the watch face itself. To start, there's a new Siri-powered watch face that automatically displays updates based on context. You'll get traffic alerts if you're about to head out to work, for example. There are also kaleidoscope and Toy Story faces if you're feeling particularly trippy or youthful.
Apple stops showing 32-bit iOS apps in your search results
Apple has been nudging iOS app developers toward 64-bit code for years: it started by requiring 64-bit support, then told users that 32-bit apps might run poorly, and lately has been warning that 32-bit apps wouldn't work in "future versions of iOS." Now, however, it's pulling the plug. TouchArcade and others have noticed that 32-bit iOS software no longer turns up in App Store search results. You can still use direct links, but that's about as far as you can go. And you can probably guess why Apple is making this move right now.
What to expect from Apple at WWDC 2017
As a rule, Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference is predictable: New versions of iOS, macOS and watchOS are the stars of the show, and anything else is gravy. WWDC 2017, however, is shaping up to be different. Although there hasn't been much talk about what the new software will entail, the rumor mill has kicked into high gear with word of new Macs, new iPads and even a smart speaker. All told, operating systems may actually be the least exciting part of Apple's keynote. But which products are likely to steal the spotlight, and which ones are just wishful thinking? That's what we're here to sort out.
Apple reportedly begins production of its Siri speaker
Those rumors of Apple unveiling a Siri-enabled speaker just got a little more tangible. Bloomberg sources claim that Apple has started manufacturing the voice-controlled device. It might be announced at WWDC on June 5th, the insiders say. Just don't expect to buy one right away, though. If the rumor is accurate, the speaker "will not be ready" to ship until later in the year. Your patience may pay off, though, as there are reportedly a few features that will help it stand out next to the Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Apple reportedly announcing a slew of MacBook updates next month
Apple's annual developer conference hasn't been a venue for product launches in four years, but it might produce a bumper crop of laptops this time around. Bloomberg sources hear that Apple is planning to upgrade at least the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro line when WWDC kicks off in June. The Pros would get improved 7th-generation Core (aka Kaby Lake) processors with little to no external changes, while the 12-inch system is only said to be getting a "faster Intel chip" (our money's on Y-series Core i5 and i7 CPUs). However, the biggest deal may be an update to a system many thought Apple had left for dead: the MacBook Air.
Apple's fabled iPad redesign may arrive at WWDC
Apple could have more than one hardware treat to unveil at WWDC this year. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a mostly solid track record for Apple predictions) now believes that Apple is likely to launch a long-rumored 10.5-inch iPad redesign when the developer conference kicks off on June 5th. Kuo understands that mass production is supposed to start in the late second quarter (aka June), so it only makes sense for the tablet to launch around the same time. As for what the device would entail, provided the report is accurate? To no one's surprise, Kuo mostly focus on the display.
Apple's Siri speaker could be the 'one more thing' at WWDC
You might not have to wait too much longer to see Apple's fabled smart speaker... though buying it may be another matter. Well-connected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple will introduce its Siri-equipped speaker (labeled by Kuo as Apple's "first home AI product") at its Worldwide Developer Conference in early June. And to no one's surprise, it would be pitched as a premium alternative to the Amazon Echo -- a subwoofer and seven tweeters would deliver "excellent" sound. It would also tout a more powerful processor (comparable to the A8 or A9 in previous-generation iPhones) and, naturally, tight integration with other Apple devices.
