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Tim Cook interview on diversity suggests women speakers to present at WWDC keynote

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Mashable has conducted an interesting interview with Tim Cook on the eve of WWDC, one of Apple’s largest events of the year. Although WWDC is known for its product announcements, Apple will announce the next versions of iOS and OS X as well as a streaming music service, the interview revolved around Apple’s efforts on company employee diversity.

Asked about the lack of women at keynotes, Cook says “you’ll see a change tomorrow”. This suggests that women will indeed feature more prominently at Apple’s presentation. In the last ten years, the number of women at Apple’s events comes in at the low single digits, most recently Christy Turlington Burns. Apple’s developer sessions have better gender diversity in their speakers but these are viewable only by registered developers, not the general public.


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Simple geometric banners depicting iOS, OS X and ‘watchOS’ spotted at WWDC

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MacStories’ Federico Viticci has posted an interesting image of WWDC banners from the second-floor of Moscone West, the WWDC event venue.

These images show Apple highlighting its three platforms: iOS, OS X and watchOS. These banners do not follow the same pattern as previous years with dramatic photography in rectangular banners. These are more like full-height wall posters with simpler geometric logos. Each image has the name of Apple’s OS written in a light font-face (the image is not clear enough to see whether this is Sans Francisco) on a simple background of multicoloured translucent shapes.

What’s particularly striking about this photo is that it confirms a rebranding of Apple’s smartwatch operating system. On Apple’s current public marketing, the Apple Watch is described as running ‘Watch OS’. By these banners, it can be seen that the new name for this platform is actually ‘watchOS’.
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Apple blocks alternative WWDC conference AltConf from streaming Keynote to attendees

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In a letter received by the leaders of AltConf, it was revealed that Apple is cracking down on the live streaming of its WWDC video content at events other than its own. AltConf, which is a community-based developer conference being held in San Francisco the same week as WWDC, had planned to stream content from WWDC in its Viewing Room, but received a letter from an Apple legal representative which demanded that AltConf cease all plans to stream Apple content.

This firm represents Apple Inc. (“Apple”) in certain matters. Apple has recently learned that AltConf 2015 (“AltConf”) is promoting its intent to stream live content from Apple’s WWDC events, including the Keynote address, and is charging $300 for guaranteed spots in the viewing area for the live streams.

Publicly streaming Apple’s WWDC content in the manner in which AltConf proposes would violate Apple’s copyright rights in the content. This is particularly the case where AltConf proposes to offer the content for profit. Therefore, Apple requests that you refrain from publicly streaming the WWDC addresses.

In the letter, AltConf was told that it will not be allowed to show any content from WWDC at its event. AltConf has shown the WWDC keynote for the last several years with no backlash from Apple.
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Roundtable: What we want to see at Apple’s WWDC conference next week

We’ve already run down much of what can be expected from iOS 9, OS X 10.11 and Apple Music at the 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference, and now it’s time to run down what 9to5Mac’s editors want to see at the conference. You can find our hopes below, and stay tuned for our comprehensive roundup of what to expect at WWDC.


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Happy Hour Podcast 017 | WWDC expectations and Google’s plan to lure iOS users to its Photos app

Google I/O is behind us and brought along interesting integration for iOS users, but now WWDC 2015 is right around the corner. This week we’ll discuss some upcoming announcements and expectations including a native Apple Watch SDK and how Apple plans to take on Google Now in iOS 9. There’s also a new bug feature that made some important changes to the heart rate sensor on Apple Watch. The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed…

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Here comes Apple’s HomeKit, first products start shipping starting w/ Insteon, Lutron, iHome, Elgato and Ecobee

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Insteon, Lutron, iHome, Elgato and Ecobee have all just announced that their HomeKit products are now officially available and/or shipping to customers.

The announcements come on the heels of our report that Apple partners planned this week to launch the first products using the company’s new Siri-controlled HomeKit home automation platform, first introduced alongside iOS 8 last year. 
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Apple announces WWDC Keynote Live Stream for June 8th, updates Apple TV channel

A week ahead of the Monday, June 8th Worldwide Developers Conference kickoff keynote, Apple has announced that it will be live streaming the event, which starts at 10 AM Pacific/ 1 PM Eastern Time. The company has updated its Apple Events application on the Apple TV to feature next week’s streaming video. Apple is yet to update its website, but the company will likely stream the keynote on its website for both Macs and iOS Devices running the Safari Web browser. While Apple will be live streaming the event, we’ll have live news and analysis over the course of the week-long conference, and especially before, during, and after the keynote presentation. At the conference, we expect Apple to introduce iOS 9, OS X 10.11, Apple Music, and new Apple TV hardware.

Update: Apple has posted the stream availability to its website.


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Apple says native watch SDK preview coming at WWDC, calls car the ‘ultimate mobile device’

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Big improvements will be coming to Apple Watch apps later this year, Apple SVP of Operations Jeff Williams revealed during an interview at the Code Conference. In the current version of the Watch OS software, apps need to run on the iPhone rather than the watch itself, which puts a serious damper on performance.

However, that will change this fall, Williams said, when native watch apps are finally made possible…


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Apple confirms WWDC keynote for June 8th 10 AM PST, teases over 180 TBA sessions

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Apple has today confirmed that the WWDC keynote will be held at 10 AM PST on June 8th as usual, from the WWDC schedule in the newly-updated app. Apple will announce the next-generation versions of its operating systems, iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 with the potential for some new hardware and some surprises. Apple is expected to unveil its new streaming music service, based off Beats. It has also sent out WWDC keynote invites to select members of the press.

Like last year, Apple is teasing developers with a whole host of TBA sessions during the week of the conference with ‘inviting’ names. There’s over 180 ‘secret sessions’ in total. The details of these sessions are currently secret as they rely on information about iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 that is yet to be announced, so for now they use amusing placeholder titles until the keynote is over.


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WWDC app refreshed with Apple Watch support, session schedule, more

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Apple has just released version 3.0 of its WWDC app for iPhone and iPad ahead of the big developer conference kicking off on June 8th. Notably, the updated version includes support for the Apple Watch for viewing conference info from the new device, including a WWDC glance:
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iOS 9 supports ‘iPhone 6S’ Force Touch, may enhance iMessage, Keyboard & Apple Pay

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Some of iOS 9‘s more important planned enhancements include split-screen apps on iPads, a new Home app for controlling HomeKit accessories, a new system-wide UI font, a mass transit directions service for the Maps app, and major quality, performance, and security enhancements. However, multiple sources note that there will also be some smaller, but still important, tweaks to the operating system. We spotlight some of these expected changes below…


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Apple reportedly wants to include live local programming in TV bundle, reveal next month unlikely

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The timing for the launch of Apple’s planned web-based TV service may depend on if and when the company can secure the rights to include content from local TV stations, Re/code reports. While Apple has been believed to be working on service that bundles access to a handful of channels delivered over the Internet, the new report claims that Apple wants to include live local programming from TV stations to both broaden the appeal of the service — especially with cord cutters — and satisfy industry executives…
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Apple readies first significant Apple Watch updates, ’TVKit’ SDK for Apple TV

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Nearly a month after the release of the first-generation Apple Watch with Watch OS 1.0, a proven source has disclosed a collection of upcoming Apple Watch software and hardware updates. Currently in development, the features seek to enhance Apple Watch security, connectivity with other Apple devices, health and fitness features, Wi-Fi capabilities, and integration with third-party applications. Additionally, Apple is also priming major updates for the Apple TV in both the hardware and software departments, including Apple Watch integration. Below, we detail what users can expect from Apple Watches and Apple TVs in the future…


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Happy Hour Podcast 014 | Rumored iPhone 6s features & WWDC expectations

Rumors are already floating around about Apple’s iPhone 6s and we’ve got the rundown on everything. Along with that, we discuss WWDC 2015 and our expectations for software and hardware announcements. The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed…

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Apple begins issuing WWDC scholarships to winning applicants

With its major developer conference scheduled to kick off in just over four weeks, Apple has started sending out WWDC scholarship notifications to winning applicants. Scholarship recipients avoid the limited lottery system for purchasing a ticket while the $1599 price of the ticket is waived. This year the scholarship program includes 350 slots for student developers and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) organization members. In previous years, the scholarship program has been limited to 200 tickets. Apple will reveal the latest versions of iOS and OS X during the WWDC keynote. The conference begins June 8th. You can read the full email below:


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Apple’s new music service will reportedly feature a free trial and free song sampling

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A new report from Re/code today about Apple’s upcoming music streaming platform reiterated much of what we already know about the service, which is expected to debut with iOS 8.4 at WWDC. iOS 8.4 is already in the hands of developers with a revamped Music app.

As was previously known, Re/code notes that the recent hire of BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe and other BBC DJs is a plan to help bolster iTunes Radio’s curated playlist feature by manually compiling track lists instead of allowing an algorithm to make the decisions. The site also notes that iTunes Radio will be available in additional countries, which we first reported earlier this week. A few other new details were also mentioned.


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Apple opens sign-ups for developers to test upcoming App Analytics feature (U: Access starting today)

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Apple has started offering registered developers the chance to sign-up and test its upcoming App Analytics feature first announced last year at WWDC. Developers have been awaiting the service since it was announced following Apple’s acquisition of TestFlight (and FlightPath), a service which offered its own analytics features.
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Apple boosts WWDC scholarship numbers in bid to increase diversity

Apple has told Re/code that it is increasing the number of scholarship places offered at this year’s WWDC from 200 to 350 as part of its work to create greater diversity amongst developers. Those selected get a free ticket to the developer’s conference.

The Cupertino technology giant said it will extend […] scholarships to students age 13 and older and members of organizations working to promote science, technology, engineering and math education for young women, blacks and Latinos. The National Society of Black Engineers, App Camp for Girls and La TechLa are among 20 organizations whose members would be eligible for a scholarship.

The company last year published its first ever diversity report, showing that the company is fairly typical of tech companies today: 70% male, 55% white. CEO Tim Cook said then that he was not satisfied with the numbers, and was doing “meaningful and inspiring” work with women’s and minority groups to bring about change.

Let me say up front: As CEO, I’m not satisfied with the numbers on this page. They’re not new to us, and we’ve been working hard for quite some time to improve them. We are making progress, and we’re committed to being as innovative in advancing diversity as we are in developing our products

Cook said during last month’s shareholder meeting that he would work on equality “until my toes point up.”

Apple has, however, refused to make its full federal workforce diversity data public, believed to be on the basis that the job classifications are a poor match for actual roles in the tech sector. Microsoft, Twitter and Amazon also refused.