Update: Apple has nearly finished the large outdoor white logo on Moscone West building and is also hanging ASCII-art theme banners on the opposite street at the Metreon. More photos below.
Apple has started decorating its venues for WWDC 2016, which kicks off on Monday, with workers starting to apply a massive Apple logo onto the side of Moscone West. Apple will use Moscone West for all of the week apart from Monday; the WWDC keynote will be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
Apple usually puts up banners teasing the announcements in the theme of the invites to build excitement for the show, often revealing tidbits about the new software OS’s. Apple has put a small logo up at Bill Graham but due to the split venue (and late scheduling), there’s a chance the banners tradition will not continue this year until after the Monday keynote at 10 AM …
WWDC 2015 may be ‘the epicenter of change’ as the announcement’s tagline presented, but it will not be the epicenter of selfie sticks if Apple has anything to say about it. Included in the WWDC 2015 Attendance Policy is a rule that stands out as a sign of the times: no selfie sticks.
After requesting that no one take any audio or audiovisual recordings (sorry Shot on iPhone 6 campaign … wait really?!), Apple drops an explicit ‘no selfie stick’ bombshell on everyone:
In addition, you may not use selfie sticks or similar monopods within Moscone West or Yerba Buena Gardens.
The section also bans “wearable recording devices” from Moscone West where the conference is held — does the Apple Watch with its microphone on your wrist classify? This line likely has another target in mind: the WWDC rebel wearing Google Glass.
While the selfie stick rule may be an extension of a Yerba Bueno policy, it’s likely for your own good. No one’s view gets obstructed by poles, no one’s head gets whacked by your iPhone 6 Plus on a rod, and you don’t have to risk the temptation of whipping yours out in public. Still too tempted to resist? Check out our roundup of the best selfie sticks for iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus on 9to5Toys.
Lining up with our earlier report, Apple has reportedly scheduled a media event for Tuesday, September 9, which we can only assume will be the unveiling of its new iPhone lineup expected this fall. Expand Expanding Close
As we expected based on our intel leading up to the event, Apple just introduced refreshed MacBook Airs live on stage at it’s WWDC 2013 keynote address today. Apple announced that the new MacBook Airs will be arriving with the new Intel Haswell chips, as expected, and spent most of the time talking about increased battery life for the devices which now includes up to 12hrs battery. The 13-inch model now boasts battery life up to 12 hours (up from 7 on the previous generation), while the 11-inch model is expected to get 9-hour battery life (up from 5 on the previous generation).
Apple also announced that the new MacBook Airs would include the faster 802.11ac with “a maximum data rate of 1.3Gbps, almost three times faster than 802.11n.” Other specs that Apple mentioned: dual microphones, a FaceTime® HD camera, a high-speed Thunderbolt port and two USB 3.0 ports.
All models will be available with a 1.3 GHz processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6 GHz and 4GB of RAM, but Apple will also make a BTO option available with a 1.7 GHz Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.3 GHz, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
Apple said the new MacBook Airs include up to 40% faster graphics, 2x GPU execution units, and more energy efficient CPUs, while the machine itself now meets ENERGY STAR 5.2 and EPEAT gold environmental standards.
Apple will be shipping the new MacBook Airs starting today starting at $999 for a 128GB 11-inch model and $1099 for the 128GB 13-inch model. An extra $200 will bump you up to the 256GB models, but Apple didn’t provide any other details on any other upgraded internals.
Apple has confirmed to AllThingsDthat this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will kickoff with a keynote address on Monday, June 10th. Apple typically kicks off its WWDCs with keynotes.
Red Sweater Software’s Daniel Jalkut speculates that tickets are being offered to those who had the item in their cart, but were unable to purchase due to the record 180 second sellout.
Apple is now calling some folks who didn’t get a WWDC ticket earlier. Not sure how many, but stay by your phone if you had tried and failed.
