In terms of what was announced, Apple’s WWDC event produced very few surprises, but the extent to which the changes were made, particularly with regards to iOS, have certainly left a lasting impression on the technology world. If you missed the action last week, or simply want to relive the shenanigans, then a full replay of June 10’s keynote speech at the Moscone Center is now available to view online on YouTube.
The Worldwide Developers Conference began with the usual dose of self-congratulation, with CEO Tim Cook taking to the stage to talk about just how much progress Apple has been making across the spectrum. Most of it was just bluster, mind you, with very lopsided comparisons focusing predominantly on Google and Android, but if one thing is for sure, it’s that the Cupertino company still dominates when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Obviously, the announcement most were waiting for was iOS 7, so naturally, Apple left that until last. Instead, Craig Federighi came out and introduced Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 to the world, with the big cat theme being ditched in favor of a new, California naming scheme.
In terms of the product itself, the changes announced were somewhat rudimentary, including Finder Tabs, Multiple Displays and Tags, but there was certainly enough to keep the crowd happy.
Phil Schiller was tasked with introducing a refreshed MacBook Air 2013 range, inclusive of those Intel gen-four Haswell processors, and as we learned when Intel showcased its latest and greatest chips, the key improvement arrives in the form of extended battery life. The 11-inch MacBook Air is bumped from 5 hours to 9 hours, while the 13-inch jumps from 7 hours to 12, allowing for more work and more play.
As well as the Air refreshes, Phil Schiller also gave us a look at the all-new Mac Pro 2013, which has been some years in waiting. With everything essentially doubled over the previous generation and a completely overhauled look, the machine will certainly appeal to the hardcore users and professionals, and although its specialist nature means it’s not going to get as much coverage as everything else in the blogosphere, Apple has certainly put a lot of time and effort into its production.
iWork for iCloud was also demoed on stage, which is a web based version of Apple’s famous productivity suite; iWork. Developed to compete directly with Office 365 and Google Docs, it will be interesting to see how it pans out when it’s released later this year.
iOS 7 was granted the grand encore, and with a flatter appearance and a plethora of new features, the consensus seems to be one of general positivity.
Anyway, check out the embedded video below to watch the video, and let us know of your thoughts on all of WWDC announcements by dropping a comment via the usual mediums.
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