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WWDC 2015

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Remember that crazy WWDC opening video? Apple just shared it on Youtube

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Apple did something out of the ordinary to open WWDC this year. Before CEO Tim Cook took the stage, the company played a bizarre opening video that showed a behind the scenes look at the opening number it had planned but that never came to fruition. Featuring Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader, the video seemingly pays homage to the popular 2014 hit film Birdman.


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New iOS 9 ReplayKit will screen record gameplay & app videos without need for Mac or third-party SDK

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You’re about to hear a lot more about gameplay and in-app screen recording as Apple implements an API for the first time in iOS 9. ReplayKit, a new framework that arrived for developers with the introduction of iOS 9 this week at WWDC, will enable screen recording for gameplay and other apps without the need for a Mac or a third-party solution.

With ReplayKit, developers will be able to offer users the ability to screen record gameplay or other apps automatically or manually with a single tap. Users will then be able to share recorded content through an iOS share sheet directly to social networks and video sharing sites. Apple pauses all incoming notifications and anything that might ruin the gameplay video experience, and only users will have access to the recorded videos.


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Everything you need to know about Apple’s WWDC announcements | Happy Hour 018

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WWDC has brought a ton of announcements for Apple’s software and services. This week, we’ll discuss the important topics, what you need to know, and how we feel about iOS 9, watchOS 2, OS X El Capitan, and more. The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed…

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Phil Schiller talks 16GB devices, ultra-thin design, Apple Music, and more during interview

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Apple’s SVP of marketing Phil Schiller this evening gave an interview on John Gruber’s podcast The Talk Show during which he addressed a variety of different topics. Gruber and Schiller together discussed Apple’s WWDC announcements, such as watchOS 2 and Apple Music. The two also talked about many of Apple’s decisions over the past couple of years, including the company’s obsession with making the thinnest devices possible and how on earth they still sell 16GB devices in 2015.


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Opinion: These were the 10 game-changing WWDC 2015 announcements

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There were so many announcements during the WWDC keynote yesterday that even people who follow Apple for a living (and expected most of the details) were overwhelmed. New versions of iOS, OS X, and watchOS were only three of the biggies, alongside the official debut of Apple Music and a lot of small but interesting new details.

Since the keynote ended, I’ve been sorting through all of the stories, as well as all three new operating systems. What follows are my picks for the ten most game-changing WWDC 2015 announcements, some of them requiring more explanation than others. They’re not in rank order, but there’s definitely one that I thought was the biggest of the bunch. Share your picks in the comments section below…


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This song is actually a pretty good roundup of the WWDC keynote (Video)

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Jonathan Mann has been running his “Song a Day” YouTube channel for quite some time now, and without fail, you can navigate to his channel on the day of an Apple event and find yet another song-ified version of Apple’s announcements. He’s a self-proclaimed Apple fanboy, and he was the guy that wrote the song played during the opening to the Antennagate press conference.
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Top 10 iOS 9 Features (Video)

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Apple’s WWDC 2015 keynote was full of software announcements. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much on the hardware side of things, but we have some important updates for Macs, Apple Watch, and iOS devices. Today we’re checking out the Top 10 features in iOS 9. There’s not much of a redesign happening here, but there are a handful of noteworthy features you should know about…


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OS X El Capitan can remember your password for free app downloads

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With the release of OS X El Capitan later this year, Apple will bring a setting that has been part of iOS for some time over to the Mac. The setting allows users to determine whether they want to enter their password every time they download a paid app or in-app purchase, or if they would rather only have to enter it once for a given 15-minute window.

A second setting will also allow users to permanently save their password for free downloads, ensuring that you never have to login to download another free app. Of course, both of these settings can be configured to require your password every time.

Apple announced OS X El Capitan earlier today alongside iOS 9.

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A look at iOS 9’s comprehensive support for right-to-left languages [Gallery]

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A feature that went unmentioned during Apple’s main WWDC keynote this morning was the addition of comprehensive support for right-to-left languages in iOS 9. While Apple didn’t mention the addition this morning, it detailed the support during its Platforms State of the Union address this evening. Apple also notes of the feature in the official iOS 9 changelog:

iOS 9 brings comprehensive support for right-to-left languages, which makes it easier for you to provide a flipped user interface. For example:

  • Standard UIKit controls automatically flip in a right-to-left context.
  • UIView defines semantic content attributes that let you specify how particular views should appear in a right-to-left context.
  • UIImage adds the imageFlippedForRightToLeftLayoutDirection method, which makes it easy to flip an image programmatically when appropriate.

To learn more about providing a flipped user interface, see Supporting Right-to-Left Languages.

While this feature may not seem incredibly useful for everyone, it will definitely be welcome in areas of the world where right-to-left languages are more widely used and it’s certainly nice to see Apple working to add support for features that are maybe not as headline worthy, but undoubtedly needed.

Below are some screenshots of the comprehensive support for right-to-left languages in iOS 9:


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Hands-on with iOS 9’s split-screen multitasking on the iPad [Gallery]

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During its WWDC keynote this morning, Apple announced new “Slide Over” and side-by-side features that allow users to run two iPad apps in a single window. The features, which we originally reported on more than a year ago, are similar to a feature also available in the latest Mac operating system, OS X El Capitan.


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iCloud Drive gets its own app on iOS 9, but it’s hidden by default

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A new iCloud Drive setting in iOS 9 enables a hidden app that lets you manage your entire file library. You can find the setting at Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Show on Home Screen. After activating it you’ll find a new icon on your home screen for the iCloud Drive application.


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Apple combines iOS and Mac developer programs into single Apple Developer Program

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Apple has ended its separate iOS and Mac developer programs that required software makers to buy two different memberships in order to publish across the company’s various platforms and replaecd them with a single combined Apple Developer Program.

The $99 program will allow developers to have access to the SDKs for (and prerelease builds) of OS X, iOS 9, and watchOS 2. Apps can be distributed in App Stores across all platforms through this new program. A support page detailing the transition process for existing members has been created but is currently unavailable.


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Wireless CarPlay coming in iOS 9, auto makers will be able to create apps to control car features

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Apple has announced that CarPlay in iOS 9 will allow users to wirelessly connect to their vehicles. The change will require compatible cars, which won’t be on the market until much later. The update will also allow auto manufacturers to create apps that let users control features of the car, such as the air conditioning, without leaving the CarPlay UI.


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Apple introduces News app in iOS 9, replaces Newsstand

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As reported this morning, Apple officially announced a new News app as part of iOS 9. The app takes the place of Newsstand and allows users to easily view and read the news they care most about. With an interface similar to Flipboard, Apple highlights the rich typography.

Apple also touts how users are prompted to pick specific topics in which they are interested and then the app propagates with content relating to those selected topics. Users can also add specific websites and blogs. Some images are below:


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Apple announces new features for Notes app coming with iOS 9 including photos and checklists

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Apple announced today that a new version of its Notes application will be coming with iOS 9. The update will allow users to add photos and checklists to their notes, along with text formating features for creating headers and and other common formats.

Users can also add hand-drawn sketches, and import images and links through a sharing extension.

The main list view will also allow users to view image thumbnails for their images, allowing them to quickly find what they’re looking for.


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Numbers from WWDC: Siri gets 40% faster, more accurate, 2500 Apple Pay banks, iOS/OS X growth, more

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Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the company’s WWDC keynote presentation today with its usual update on numbers and growth since last checking in. The big numbers so far from today’s event: Siri is now 40% faster and more accurate, the company now supports 2500 banks for Apple Pay, and iOS and OS X adoption continues to outpace the competition. 

Head below for a full roundup of notable numbers and company stats announced during today’s event (we’ll be updating as more come up):
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