wwdc2016
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OS X is now macOS
After 15 years of large cats and a few California landmarks, Apple's OS X is getting a new name that's actually an old name. Apple's senior VP of software engineering, Craig Federighi announced that, henceforth, the operating system on desktop and laptops will be called macOS.
Apple WatchOS 3 is faster, more intuitive and fitness-friendly
The Apple Watch might only be a little over one year old, but that isn't stopping Apple from introducing the wearable's third major release in a year. WatchOS 3 tackles some of the biggest gripes of early adopters, most notably performance: It keeps favorite apps in memory and updates them in the background. You won't stare awkwardly at your wrist while software loads, in other words.
Live from WWDC 2016!
Hello from lovely San Francisco, California! We're reporting live today from the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, where Apple is hosting its annual WWDC keynote. As you'd expect from any developers conference, today's presentation will focus almost entirely on software, with sneak peeks of iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 being the obvious shoo-ins. We've also heard tell of an Apple Music revamp, and it's entirely possible too that we'll hear news about watchOS and tvOS.
Where to stream Apple's WWDC 2016 keynote
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote presentation kicks off live from the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco today at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT. Engadget will be liveblogging the keynote right here, where we can expect the next versions of iOS and OS X to get the most airtime. We also wouldn't be surprised to learn of some big changes to Apple Music and the App Store, plus some additional updates to Apple's watchOS and tvOS.
Siri hints at upcoming Mac support
Apple may have inadvertently erased doubts that Siri would come to the Mac. Brian Roemmele has discovered that asking iOS' Siri the right question (such as "open settings in the window") sometimes produces a response saying that the voice assistant can't find the Finder app -- you know, a crucial part of the Mac's interface. Barring the inclusion of a full-on file manager in iOS 10 (not very likely), this hints that Apple is laying the groundwork for Siri in OS X.
What to expect from Apple's WWDC keynote next week
Apple's grand convocation of geeks -- also known as the Worldwide Developers Conference -- is set to kick off next Monday smack in the heart of San Francisco. We'll be liveblogging the keynote starting at 1 PM Eastern/10 AM Pacific, but really, who wants to go into a situation like this blind? No one, that's who. Curiously enough, the rumor mill has been churning more quietly than usual. It's tough to say whether Apple is doing a better job keeping its juicy WWDC details under wraps or if this is just a low-key keynote compared to previous years. We do know some things, though, so take a few moments to get caught up -- and be prepared for some possible last-minute surprises.
Apple hints at OS X rebrand in the App Store
If you think about it, OS X isn't really a great name for Apple's Mac operating system. It was just meant to be the next OS after Mac OS 9, but because it has a nice round (roman) number and used all-new UNIX-based tech, Apple has stuck with the name for nigh on 17 years. According to the rumor mill and apparent slip-up on the App Store, that's about to change, however. It now seems likely that Apple will change OS X to macOS, essentially reverting to its pre-1999 naming scheme.
Apple standalone 5K display might include its own graphics chip
To call Apple's Thunderbolt Display long in the tooth would be an understatement. It's so old that the first Retina display Macs were still a year away when it was new, and it's now easy to get a 4K display for less. At last, though, it looks like Apple might be ready to give its standalone screen an upgrade... with an interesting twist, to boot. Sources for 9to5Mac understand that Apple is building a 5K display that includes its own graphics chipset. It'd be an odd move, but it would let many Macs use the display, not just high-end models. If your Mac's onboard graphics weren't fast enough, it'd automatically switch to the monitor's GPU.
iOS 10 reportedly includes a dedicated smart home app
There's no shortage of devices that support Apple's HomeKit platform. However, managing those devices is something of a mess -- you typically end up visiting separate apps to control your lighting, security and appliances. You might not have to worry about that when iOS 10 rolls around, though. MacRumors says it spotted an Amazon review from an Apple employee (verified after the fact) who claims that the next iOS release will have a "standalone" HomeKit app when it arrives in the fall. The staffer doesn't say how it'd work, but the implication is that it'd serve as a hub for all your HomeKit-compatible smart home gadgets.
Siri reveals Apple's WWDC event will begin June 13th
When it comes to announcing plans for an event, the folks in Cupertino typically send out invites and info via email. That's not the case this year, though, as Apple is relying on its virtual assistant to inform the masses about its annual WWDC soirée. Thanks to Siri, we know the developer conference is scheduled for June 13th through the 17th in San Francisco, the event where we'll hear details on new versions of OS X, iOS and WatchOS.