Apple's WWDC Roundup: New Macbook Pros, iOS 6, and A Mountain Lion
OK, so we didn’t get a new AppleTV at Apple's WWDC keynote address but we were presented with a new MacBook Pro Retina model and some details on the upcoming iOS 6 as well as some of the new features in OSX Mountain Lion.
First off I'll admit I have a Geek crush on all things Apple, but the since the release of the iPad 2 their hypnotic affect on my mind has been waning. I was hoping a new AppleTV would quell some of that but alas I and many like were not so fortunate.
iOS6
What we did get was a great inside look into the upcoming iOS 6. Touting over 200 additions and updates, iOS 6 is the newest software for the company's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. It entered beta stage today with its release to developers. End users should see the official update land sometime in the fall, most likely to coincide with a new iPhone.
Here are some of the new features:
- Apple is telling Google to “go scratch” with a brand new Maps app. The 3D, vector based maps look gorgeous, and finally include turn-by-turn directions.
- Siri get’s smarter – Ask her about a sports score, movies, or restaurant and our favorite faceless voice has an opinion.
- Baked in Facebook-finally – Here is another one that has been inexplicably missing, Facebook access and sharing across the board. Now you can share photos, videos, and any other inane thoughts that pop into your head.
- Share your photo streams with specific, controlled groups. If you don’t like to share too much on Facebook you can now share different photostreams with different people. Nice.
- Passbook let’s you keep your boarding passes, loyalty card, movie tickets, and more on your phone. Your wallet just got lighter.
- FaceTime over cellular networks. No more Skype for you!
- Brand new mail client with a slew of features like attaching images right in an email (another finallymoment)
- Brand new phone app with the ability to reply to calls with text messages, etc… Some handy stuff here, nothing earth shattering.
All in all pretty nice. Siri will also be available on all of the “New iPads”… meaning not iPad 1 or 2.
MacBook Pro with Retina Display
Next is the major hardware update. Sure apple tweaked all the MacBook Pro models but none as much as the much drooled over MacBook Pro with Retina Display. The new MacBook Pro, though not as thin as a MacBook Air, which also got a refresh, is much thinner, lighter, and power packed than it’s predecessor. Only .71? thick and 4 pounds this MacBook Pro will finally fit easily into your bag, and with a 7 hour battery life you may actually be able to leave your charger at home. Add in a crystal clear Retina Display, and this thing looks like an absolute winner. The new model also boasts up to 750 megs of solid state memory, meaning even the workhorse MacBook Pro is ditching the hard drive. It looks absolutely stunning, though starting at $2100 it is firmly in the premium notebook category, MacBook Pro’s have always been premium equipment.
OSX Mountain Lion
Apple also showcased some of the new features in OSX Mountain Lion. The latest version of OS X, will offer as many as 200 new features, including many more cloud services. Apple's iCloud service already boasts 125 million registered users, according to the company. Applications like mail, contacts, calendar, Messages, Reminders, and Notes will all sync up, along with a new feature dubbed "Documents in the Cloud," which can sync documents from Pages, Keynote, Preview, and TextEdit. Mountain Lion will be available in the Mac App Store in July for $19.99.
