wwdc2012
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Engadget's post-WWDC live broadcast from San Francisco!
Whew, that was quite a rush. The WWDC 2012 keynote is over and the conference itself is underway, but if you missed any of the announcements from this morning's hectic action don't worry. Just like this morning's earlier broadcast, Tim Stevens and Darren Murph are here to break it down with a live video stream. It's waiting for you after the break, so click on through, won't you?
Apple's WWDC keynote video is up, play along at home (update 2: video for everybody)
Next-generation MacBook Pros? iOS 6? The new Maps app? Sure, you watched the whole thing live, but is that really enough? Apple's tossed up the Tim Cook-led WWDC keynote, so now you can experience the magic of liveblogging the whole thing all over again. Check out the video in the source link below. Update: Looks like it's only Safari users who get a peek at first: if you're on Chrome, Firefox or another browser, you'll have to sit tight for a little while longer. Update 2: The keynote video now looks to be working for most, so stream away.
Apple selects TomTom as primary iOS 6 maps provider (update: confirmed)
Been wondering exactly which data service is replacing Google as Apple's map provider? According to these leaked screenshots (shown above) from the iOS 6 developer beta running on an iPhone 4S, it appears to be TomTom. The company is no stranger to iOS, as its navigation app and car kit have been available on the iPhone since 2009. On an interesting note, the maps application specifically mentions "data from TomTom, others," which means there may be other suppliers that aren't getting called out by name. We'll keep you posted as we hear more what's going on behind-the-scenes. Update: TomTom has independently confirmed to us that it indeed "has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information." [Thanks, Anonymous]
iOS 6, OS X Mountain Lion SDKs and betas now available for dev download
Let's hope there's a lot of bandwidth available at hotels around the Bay Area, because the software development kits for iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion just became available for download. Developers will need to agree to new Developer Program License Agreements prior to being able to download or even glance at the new materials. The Xcode 4.5 Developer Preview is ready for your developer love, and iOS 6 beta version 10A5316k is available as well. Those interested in the Apple TV will rejoice in the fact that a new Apple TV software beta is available. iTunes 10.6.3 beta is ready for download, as are pre-release versions of FindMyiPhone and FindMyFriends for iOS 6. Mac developers will find Developer Preview 4 of Mountain Lion ready to go, as well as Mountain Lion Server Developer Preview 5.
Apple MagSafe vs. MagSafe 2: photos of the two incompatible power connectors
Apple quietly introduced a newer, slimmer, snazzier MagSafe connector here at WWDC, with the Retina display-equipped 15-inch MacBook Pro (yeah, the "next-generation" one) and the newly-unveiled MacBook Air machines utilizing it. Still, the original MagSafe is finding its way onto the refreshed MacBook Pro (both 13- and 15-inch), but we're guessing the original isn't long for this world. As with anything, change ain't easy -- for the two to talk to one another, you'll need an optional $10 adapter (which evidently ships gratis with the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display). It's also worth noting that the actual AC power plug returned to the "T-style" form factor, rather than the "side-style" seen in the MacBook units that were new... well, yesterday. We stacked a next-gen MBP atop a last-gen MBP just to showcase the differences; hit the gallery below if you're interested in such things. %Gallery-157968%
Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) hands-on at WWDC 2012
Not satisfied looking at the latest and best Mac that Apple has ever made under glass? Neither were we, so we tracked one down, ripped it out of its box and stacked it up against the last-generation MacBook Pro 15-inch. How does it compare? Can it compare? Is the new MagSafe 2 connector going to mean you need all new adapters? And, just how amazing is that Retina display? You'll have to join us after the break to find out. %Gallery-157961%
Apple introduces Smart Case for iPad
Apple's Smart Covers are great for covering the iPad's touchscreen, but they've left the backside unprotected. In recognition that some people want to protect the aluminum case from scratches and other damage, Apple has introduced the iPad Smart Case. It's made from polyurethane and available in six colors, most of them the same as the standalone Smart Cover. The foldover portion of the Smart Case will wake and sleep the iPad just like the Smart Cover. It's difficult to make out from the images on the Apple Store, but it looks like this case is one integrated component, with the foldover portion not removable from the backside. That means if you have an existing Smart Cover, you won't be able to integrate it with this new case -- but that may not be an issue if all you're looking for is a case the same color as the one you already have. The iPad Smart Case costs US$49 and offers free personalized laser engraving.
Apple adopts new MagSafe 2 connector, offers an adapter for your old gear
While Apple was busy unveiling a completely new MacBook Pro and a refreshed MacBook Air, it also introduced a new MagSafe 2 power connector. The new version is longer but slimmer than its counterpart, no doubt to make sure it fits in the MacBook Pro's skinnier confines, but also renders obsolete the connectors for your existing MagSafe adapter or Thunderbolt Display power connector. Not to fear if you absolutely need the connection, however: there's a new, $10 MagSafe to MagSafe 2 converter (seen above) that will keep your new laptop powered up. We're worried the adapter may crowd out wider USB devices, as you might have gathered from the above shot, but it's good to know that earlier peripherals will keep humming along. Update: Check out our hands-on photos of the new connector versus the old!
Mac Pro gets an unannounced speed bump
If you were waiting for an announcement of a new Thunderbolt/USB 3.0-equipped Mac Pro, you are out of luck. However, the Mac Pro did see a bit of a speed bump today. The online Apple Store is showing new configurations of the Mac Pro. Previously, a 12-core 2.93 GHz model was the speediest Mac Pro available; now a 12-core 3.06 GHz CPU model tops the charts, featuring Xeon X5675 processors. Apple shows this as being "up to 1.3X greater than the previous-generation Mac Pro." TurboBoost is also available on the Mac Pro if you're not using all of the cores. The feature will bump up the top speed of active cores to 3.33 GHz on a 12-core system or up to 3.6 GHz on a 6-core system. The 12-core system uses two 6-core Xeon processors. It can be configured to order with up to 64 GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM, four 512 GB SSDs, and an ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics card -- without any extras, that will put you back a little over US$11,000.
Apple introduces $10 MagSafe 2 adapter
Now for sale on the Apple Store, the US$10 MagSafe 2 converter allows you to use the MagSafe connector on Cinema Displays (that includes the new Thunderbolt one as well) to charge your MagSafe 2-equipped MacBook Pro. The new MagSafe 2 adapter offers a slimmer connector than the original MagSafe power port. You can pick up a standalone MagSafe 2 85W power adapter specific to the MacBook Pro Retina for $79 and a 45W MacBook Air model for the same price. For comparison, here's an image of the two ports together, courtesy of Engadget
Apple brings new Chinese-specific features to iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion
Apple has said repeatedly that China is its next big market and several new iOS and OS X features suggest Apple plans to increasingly market its products to consumers in the Asian country. For the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, Apple announced during its WWDC keynote that iOS 6 will support additional Chinese characters, add new Chinese dictionaries and ship with eight new fonts. It'll also add support for Baidu and other Chinese websites including Youku and Tudou. An updated version of Siri will support Mandarin and Cantonese. One the OS X side of things, Apple made improvements to its input methods for Chinese characters, added a new Chinese dictionary and included eight new Chinese fonts. Chinese services like Baidu will now show up in search and the new system-wide sharing feature. Setting up email with Chinese email services will also be streamlined in Mountain Lion. You can read more about OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 6 on Apple's website.
Apple rolls out updated Mac Pro lineup with faster processors, not much else
They didn't warrant a mention during the big keynote, but those patiently waiting for an update to the desktop-bound Mac Pro weren't left behind by Apple today. The company has quietly updated the line on its website, bringing a rather modest spec bump to the familiar tower. That includes a single 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon processor on the base $2,499 model, which comes paired with 6GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, and a pair of 2.4GHz six-core processors on the higher-end model, which gets 12GB of RAM as standard and the same 1TB hard drive for $3,799. The $2,999 Mac Pro Server will give you a 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon with 8GB of RAM and a pair of 1TB hard drives. Notably lacking is the addition of Apple's otherwise standard Thunderbolt ports, or 802.11n WiFi connectivity. You can check out all the options available at the source link below. Check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!
Apple offers a peek into updated Mobile Safari, Photo Stream
During today's WWDC 2012 Keynote, Scott Forstall provided a peek at new features expected in Mobile Safari when iOS 6 ships. There's now an offline reading list in Mobile Safari, making it simple to capture web pages for viewing without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. That'll work great during those flights where onboard Wi-Fi is just a dream. And for the first time, you'll be able to upload photos to sites via Mobile Safari. Smart App Banners are another new feature that give the browser a way to link banners directly to websites. For example, if you go to a mobile site like Yelp and there's an app available, a tap on the banner will jump to the Yelp app on the App Store. Photo Stream, which was introduced with iOS 5 and OS X Lion, is getting a nice update featuring shared Photo Streams. Now you can choose to share your images or all of your Photo Stream to select individuals. Also in Photo Stream is the ability to create push notifications that link directly to photo albums so your friends will know when you've added new images.
The 2012 MacBook Air vs. the 2011 model: what's changed?
No, we didn't get the Retina Macbook Air many of us may have been hoping for, but the Apple ultra-portable did get a significant Ivy Bridge boost, including a pair of USB 3.0 ports. There's also an option to double the flash storage capacity with a 512GB SSD, along with adding up to 8 gigs of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM and Apple's new MagSafe 2 connector on the 13-inch Air. Base model pricing remains the same for the 11-incher, at $999 for the bare-bones configuration, while the larger Air will be available starting at $1199 -- a $100 drop over its predecessor. All of the new Airs will ship beginning today, but that doesn't mean it's upgrade time for you. Click on past the break for our side-by-side comparison and a closer look at what's new.
Apple axes 17-inch MacBook Pro, giant laptop owners weep
As we suspected when Apple updated traditional MacBook Pros, Apple has quietly dropped the 17-inch MacBook Pro. From here on out, it's either the 13- or 15-inch models if you want Apple's conventional form factor. The next-generation MacBook Pro is now your best option if you want more than a 1680 x 1050 resolution in a portable Mac, and there's no internal recourse for an ExpressCard slot if you lived on it. That said, we imagine Apple is counting on two pairs each of USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt on the new system to take care of ExpressCard's former duties. We'd add that it's also the end of an era: Apple was one of the first with a 17-inch widescreen laptop, and it's now one of the first to bow out.
Apple launches all-new AirPort Express
Though it apparently wasn't worthy of a mention during the WWDC keynote, Apple has in fact launched an all-new version of its AirPort Express wireless base station. Featuring an updated design that looks almost exactly like a white version of the Apple TV, the new AirPort Express has two new features over its predecessor: two Ethernet ports compared to the old version's single port, and simultaneous dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi. The AirPort Express is still just US$99, and available today.
Apple intros new iPad Smart Case: clever enough to cover both sides, priced at $50
And we're still not done. A new iPad case has managed to sneak onto the Apple Store's online shelves, and it'll protect your precious slab on both the back and front. The Smart Case appears to augment last year's Smart Cover with an additional (polyurethane hardshell) coating for the back of your iPad. Priced at just under $50, the case fits both second and third-generation iPads and will arrive in six different color options. And yes, you can still get that ever-pressing message engraved onto it too. [Thanks Nikhil] For more coverage of WWDC 2012, please visit our event hub!
The 2012 MacBook Pros vs. the 2011 models: what's changed?
Since the epic rise of the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro has become something of a dark horse in the Apple notebook family. Sure, it may not be Cupertino's thinnest, sexiest product, but it has the heavy-duty internals to handle intense graphics for artists and gamers alike. Apple just announced its updated 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros -- not to mention a new 15-inch model with a brilliant Retina display, and these new machines boast some pretty impressive upgrades. There's no shortage of spec changes to keep track of, so check out our comparison charts below to see what the new models bring to the table (hint: highlights include USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge and a thinner design for the new Retina model). 15-inch MacBook Pro (2011) 15-inch MacBook Pro (2012) Retina display MacBook Pro (2012) Dimensions 14.35 x 9.82 x 0.95 inches 14.35 x 9.82 x 0.95 inches 14.13 x 9.73 x 0.71 inches Display Resolution 1440 x 900 1440 x 900 2880 x 1800 CPU Up to 2.4GHz quad-core Core i7 (Sandy Bridge) Up to 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) Up to 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6750M / AMD Radeon HD 6770M Intel HD Graphics 4000 / NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GT 650M with up to 1GB of memory Intel HD Graphics 4000 / NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GT 650M with up to 1GB of memory Memory Up to 8GB Up to 8GB Up to 16GB Storage Up to 750GB Up to 1TB or a 512GB SSD Up to a 768GB SSD Ports Thunderbolt, FireWire 800, two USB 2.0, SD card slot, MagSafe power port, Kensington lock slot, audio line in, audio line out Thunderbolt, USB 3.0, FireWire 800, SD card slot, MagSafe2 power port, Kensington lock slot, audio line in, audio line out Two Thunderbolt, HDMI, two USB 3.0, SD card slot, new MagSafe2 connector, Kensington lock slot, headphone port Battery life 7 hours 7 hours 7 hours Weight 5.6 pounds 5.6 pounds 4.46 pounds Price $1,799 (2GHz Core i7, 500GB hard drive) / $2,199 (2.2GHz Core i7, 750GB hard drive) $1,799 (2.3GHz Core i7, 500GB hard drive / $2,199 (2.6GHz, 750GB hard drive) $2,199 (2.3GHz Core i7, 256GB SSD) / $2,799 (2.6GHz, 512GB SSD)
WWDC 2012 keynote roundup
If you didn't have the opportunity to follow along with us on our liveblog of the opening keynote at WWDC 2012, fear not -- we've put all the juicy deets together into one place. There was a lot to cover today: Retina displays on next-generation MacBook Pros, refreshes for the rest of the MacBook lineup, a full helping of new features coming in OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 6. Head on below to catch up on the latest news from the Moscone Center! Also, don't forget to check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!
Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012
Heh -- rumor didn't have this one! We just wrapped our eyes around Apple's new 15.4-inch "next-generation" MacBook Pro here at WWDC 2012, and while it was under lock and key, it doesn't take a touch to see that this thing is devilishly thin. For all intents and purposes, this is the 15-inch MacBook Air that many have been waiting for. Gone is the optical drive, and in are two USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt sockets (side-by-side, instead of one on each edge), a full-size HDMI socket, a 3.5mm headphone port and an SD card slot. Oh, and a MagSafe 2 power connector. On one hand, it's great to see Apple finally embracing USB 3.0; on the other, it's obvious by the duo of Thunderbolt sockets that it'd prefer use those. Whatever the case, the new Pro is quite the looker, and we're guessing Apple won't have any issues moving too many of these beauts -- even at $2,199 (and up). Unfortunately, there's no new Pro sitting around outside of a case, but you can enjoy a few glass-enclosed glamor shots in the gallery below. %Gallery-157930%