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Apple WWDC 2012 Liveblog – Mountain Lion, Retina Macs, iOS 6 and much more!

Our live blog has started after the break! 

– We’re in our seats, doors are shut, presentation is about to start! Siri making fun of Samsung, Android codenames (Jelly Bean/ICS). Garageband for iPad making a love song. Siri says my emotions haven’t been coded yet.

=Tim Cook is out! This is our 23rd WWDC… “this is older than some of you are”

-400 million App Store accounts with credit cards and one click buying. Largest amount of credit cards on a store. 650K apps on the App Store. 225K apps built specifically to the iPad.

-30 billion app downloads. $5 billion payed out to App Store developers. App Store operates in 120 countries around the world. Later this month: Apple is adding 30 more countries to the App Store (155 total).

-Cook says nothing makes Apple happier than people using their hardware and software to better the world and share their latest and greatest ideas. Cook says there are heart warming purposes people have made apps for. Apple rolling video about this. Video discussing an app that will help the blind.

Video also discussing medical teaching apps. App does 3D rendering. iPad noted as a major breakthrough for medica apps. Especially with higher-resolution Retina Display and better/faster processing. AirBNB app being discussed.

-Video over, Cook is back out. “This is why all of us do what we do.” Cook thanks everyone in the developer community for all of the incredible apps that they have built for the App Store.

-Cook: We are announcing “Exciting new changes to our notebook lineup” and major updates to OS X and iOS. 

Schiller coming out to announce new Apple laptops! 

-Talking MacBook Air: it has changed the consumer notebook lineup.

-New Air: Ivy Bridge, 8GB RAM, up to 2 GHZ i7. Now up to 512GB! USB 3.0. USB 3.0 ports are the same as USB 2. Ports cover both types of USB. FaceTime HD. Air prices are $100 on some units. Ships today!

-Schiller now discussing the new MacBook Pros. New options: Ivy Bridge, 2.7GHZ quad core, 8GB RAM, 60% faster graphics. Kempler graphics from NVIDIA on the 15 inch. USB 3.0 as well. These are the spec-bumped MacBook Pro models. 4/8GB of RAM options. 1199 and 1499 for 13s, 15s 1799 and 2199. New MacBook Pros shipping today well.

– Here it comes… all new laptop… The Next-Generation MacBook Pro. Breakthrough in display engineering. RETINA DISPLAY. 2880 x 1800. Highest resolution notebook display ever. Glossy… but improved. Ships with a Retina ready version of OS X Lion.

-New Version of Aperture for Retina Dispay MacBook Pro. Final Cut Pro X also being updated. Retina versions of Adobe Photoshop, Diablo 3, Auto Desk coming soon. Apple is working with key developers.

Several battery packs and optimzations to get battery working well with powerful Retina Display. Up to 16GB of RAM. 768GB SSD. Two thunderbolt ports, HDMI. FaceTime HD, dual-microphones, new stereo speakers. USB 3.0. 4.46 pounds.

-Video now… Ivy and Mansfield talking the new Retina Pro. Ive talking new thermal system with asymtrical fans. OS X VP Federeighi talking Retina version of OS X Lion for new MBP.

Schiller back for pricing/configs

-Retina MacBook shipping today.

-Craig Federighi out to discuss OS X Mountain Lion. 

Wow… looks like Apple has held back some new features in ML.

-Craig discussing iCloud. Signin with Apple ID and all apps are configured with iCloud.

-Discussing Documents in the Cloud… new version of iWork with iCloud docs integration. Preview and Text Edit getting icloud docs as well.

-Craig shows new “glass” designed dock. He is demoing new Reminders and Notes app. These sync via iCloud. Discussing Messages with iMessage and “legacy” chat support. 100MB file transfers supported.

-Notification Center discussion and demo.

-Next: Apple is bringing Dictation to the Mac.

-Now there is sharing. Share buttons to access the share sheet.

-New version of Safari: fastest browser, improved URL selection, unified search/URL bar. He is also discussing iCloud Tabs. Brand-new Tab View. Gesture swiping between tabs… just like iOS. Demo time!

W0w: New tweet sheet build into Notification Center. Nice demo with Dictation.

-Incredible new “Power Nap” feature. While your computer lid is shut, it will still take your email, do system/app store updates, all iCloud downloads, and backups to Time Capsule. OPeration is totally silent. Works only on the Retina Display MacBook Pro and newer MacBook Airs.

-Discussing AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring in Mountain Lion.

-Game Center: turn games, demo of racing game against Mr. X.

-Apple is highlighting features for China. Improved Chinese input methods.

-Mountain Lion shipping in July: $19.99. Upgrades from Lion or Snow Leopard. Agressive. Those buying new Macs today will get free Mountain Lion. Near Final Developer Preview available today! 

IOS 6 TIME: Scott Forstall is out. Talking iOS 5: 1.5 TRILLION notifications push. 140 million iMessage users.

-Scott introducing iOS 6 now

Tentpole 1: Siri — Signifiant enhancements in iOS 6. Sports scores. Integrates via Yahoo Sports. Asking about individual players across different sports leagues.

Siri also gets improved restaurant integration. OpenTable integration (they’ve partnered). Reservations, average menu prices. Movie-related questions. “What movies are playing at” a local theater. Watch trailers within Siri. Siri can now launch apps. “Play Temple Run.” and it immediately opens. Tweeting and a new feature called “Eyes Free.” Apple is working with car manufacturers to build in Siri buttons into their steering wheels. BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Toyota, more have committed to add these buttons within the next 12 months. Apple is also adding English/French (Canada, eh), Spanish (Spain, Mexico, U.S.), Italian, Switzerland, Korean, Mandrain, Cantonese. Local search is now international. iPad support as well! Just like our mockup!

Facebook integration announced. System wide, tweet about Apps from the App Store. Redesigned iTunes and App Stores! Blue status bar, not silver :D

-New phone features: Slide up incoming call slider to choose to be reminded to call person back or to text them a reply. WHen you reply with a message, there is a list of pre-made replies. You can even add customs. Remind me later. Do Not Disturb switch is in settings! Bluetooth toggle is also now more visible in settings. Fine gran controls in Do Not Disturb. Choose which phone calls that can come in while you are sleeping. This is super cool.

FaceTime Over Cellular in iOS 6. Phone number and Apple ID merging… people can FaceTime your phone number and it will come to your iPad. Same story with iMessage. Works across Macs and iOS devices.

Safari: iCloud Tabs and Offline Reading list is in. Photo uploading. Smart Banners: if you go to a website who also has an app, the developer could choose to throw a banner on Safari to be able to install the app from the App Store. Full screen Safari in landscape.

Photo Stream: shared photo streams. Easy way to share photos with your friends.

Mail VIPs in Mail. Attach photos and videos. Open password-protected PDFs, attach Pull to refresh in mail. Scott smiles.

Now discussing PassBook: this is the “Organize” app we discussed previously. This looks like a virtual wallet. Ticket passes: travel, movies, food, etc.

New guided access features. Single app mode, so kids/students can’t leave apps. Great for test taking on iPads, museum guided tours. Guided access allows people to block off certain parts of apps.

NEW MAPS.. 3D mode, this works world wide. Traffic service. Traffic view that shows where slow traffic and incidents are. Crowd sourced. Amazing turn by turn directions. Live re-routing depending on traffic. Works from the lock screen as well… like if you are plugged into your car. Full Siri Integration.

Scott is demoing 3D (iPad + iPhone). They did fly overs to get the imagery. Vector based Maps. Very smooth, very beautiful. Yelp integration. Sydney Operah house.  That is Flyover.

Turn by Turn: Simulator Coit tower – quick routes, 3 options – route 2.  Siri does Turn by turn voice.

Other stuff: Game Center challenges. Redesigned Apple Store. HEaring Aids. Different Account signatures in Mail. Lost Mode for Find my iPhone.

Send phone number to find my iPhone

Also Chinese updates that were in Mountain Lion.

iOS Beta 6 is out today for Devs. Hits iPhone 3GS and above, iPad 2,3, newest iPod touch.

Tim Cook out recapping “Only Apple”.  Ultimately people who do the best work of their lives to affect people around the world.

“Change the world”

And that’s it.

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