WWDC 2009 Keynote Live Updates

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, PC / Laptop, Software

[Photo Credit]

WWDC 2009 is about to get kicked off, with Phil Schiller kicking it off with the Apple keynote. We are hanging out at our local Apple store, and will be bringing you all the notable updates as things progress!

• Things get kicked off with a new Mac vs. PC commercial, where PC tries to discourage Mac from innovating at this year’s WWDC.
• At WWDC this year there are over 5200 attendees from 52 countries.
• We are starting with Mac news. Apple says they don’t want to stop leading with way with Macbook designs.
• Phil announces a brand new 15” MacBook Pro, with the Lithium Polymer battery that the 17” model sports. 7 hours of battery life 2 hours more than before. That is 40% longer.
• The new MacBook Pro has “the best display we’ve ever shipped on a notebook.”
• The 15” MacBook Pro picks up an SD Card slot, and drops ExpressCard.
• The price drops by $300. $1699 introductory price.
• At the introductory price, you get a 2.53GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, and the SD card slot.
• The 13-inch MacBooks also get the same SD card treatment, non-removable battery, and FIREWIRE IS BACK. The unibody MacBooks are now officially MacBook Pros.
• 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1199 with 2GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, SD card slot, 2.26 GHz processor.
• MacBook Air updated as well. $1499 for the base model, $1799 with 256GB SSD. $700 cheaper than before.

• Moving on to Snow Leopard, Apple is refining more than 90% of Leopard.
• Expose is now built into the Dock. Click and hold on an app icon, and Expose will show you all the open windows of that application.
• Preview is 2x faster, and allows for better text selection in PDFs.
• Mail is 2.3x faster.
• Safari 4 features Top Sites, full history search, and is released today for Leopard, Tiger, and Windows.
• Safari is 7.8x faster at Javascript than IE8.
• Safari 4 is even better on Snow Leopard, with crash resistance, 50% faster Javascript due to 64-bit OS, hardware accelerated Quicktime.
• Quicktime get a brand new interface with QuickTime X. Looks like an iPhone screen.
• You can now step through multi-page documents and play videos right in the Finder.
• Quicktime X lets you trim and share video using a visual timeline. Share directly to YouTube, MobileMe, or iTunes.
• Safari 4 features full Spotlight search of your history, including full text search, not just URL.
• Mail, iCal, and Calendar all fully support Exchange in Snow Leopard, including Auto-Discovery of Exchange servers, and Spotlight immediately searches all data.
• Exchange requires Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
• Snow Leopard will be available for Intel Macs only. Priced at just $29 for Leopard users—$49 for the Family Pack.
• Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will be released in September 2009.

• Moving on to iPhone, Scott Forstall takes the stage.
• 1,000,000 SDK downloads, 50,000 apps in the App Store, 40,000,000 iPhone and iPod touches sold, and over 1 billion apps downloaded.
• iPhone 3.0 will have over 100 new features, including cut, copy, paste.
• MMS is also in iPhone 3.0
• Search email both on iPhone and on the server
• You can rent and purchase movies directly on the iPhone from the iTunes Store.
• Same for TV shows, audiobooks, and music videos. All over 3G. Also supports for iTunes U and Parental Controls.
• iPhone 3.0 will allow you to tether your phone to your computer.
• 22 carriers will support tethering when it launches—but not AT&T. THIS IS BAD.
• Safari in iPhone 3.0: Javascript is 3x faster on iPhone 3.0, and it support HTTP streaming audio and video, and automatically determines the best quality for your connection.
• HTML 5 support on iPhone, and even more languages.
• “Find My iPhone” allows you to log in to MobileMe and locate your lost phone on a map. You can also ping your phone and it will make a noise, even if it is on silent mode, so you can find it if it is near you.
• MobileMe will also allow you to send a Remote Wipe command to delete your data in case of a loss. Then if you find it, restore from backup on your Mac.
• iPhone 3.0 also features in-app purchases, Peer-to-peer connectivity, and Accessories.
• Getting a look at some of the new apps. Gameloft shows off Asphalt 5, their new racing game that supports peer-to-peer multiplayer, worldwide multiplayer over Wi-Fi, and looks amazing.
• Airstrip allows doctors to monitor patients remotely. Lab results pushed directly to the phone, live monitor patient vitals from anywhere.
• ScrollMotion allows you to create digital books for the app store. Customers can purchase magazines, newspapers, and books directly in the app.
• TomTom hits the stage to show off their Turn-by-Turn direction app. Works in landscape mode as well, and also supports an accessory, which charges the iPhone. Dock with a suction cup on it basically.
• ngmoco announces their Star Defense game, which is similar to a Mario Galaxy-esque tower defense game. Available now for $5.99, new 3.0 specific features available when 3.0 launches.
• There’s a new Zipcar app that will show you available Zipcars locally by dropping green pins on a map. Tap a pin, get info on that vehicle, and reserve it.
• Pretty amazing. Zipcar app gives you an on-screen keyfob that allows you to unlock the car using the iPhone.
• All paid developers get the GM seed of iPhone 3.0 today.
• iPhone OS 3.0 will be available worldwide on June 17th. Free for iPhone users, $9.99 for iPod touch.
• 2/3 of all mobile browsing is done on an iPhone.

• iPhone 3GS has been announced!
• iPhone 3GS, the S stands for speed.
• Messaging is 2.1x faster, SimCity is 2.4x faster, viewing Excel is 3.6x faster, loading NY Times is 2.9x faster.
• iPhone 3GS supports OpenGL|ES, and 7.2 Mbps HDSPA.
• Includes a 3.0 megapixel auto-focus camera.
• Autofocus, autoexposure, tap to focus, change white balance on the fly.
• Improved low-light sensitivity
• Auto macro, as close as 10cm away.
• iPhone 3GS supports video. Just flip a switch in the camera app, and you have a 30 fps VGA camcorder with audio.
• You can edit your videos with the tap of a finger, and then share it to MMS, MobileMe, YouTube, email.
• Voice Control announced for iPhone 3GS. Hold down the Home button and say “Call So and So.”
• Voice Control will also allow you to control music playback
• Built-in digital compass, and a new compass app. Maps can also be oriented to the compass.
• Nike+ built-in to iPhone 3GS
• 9 hours of Wi-Fi battery life, 5 hours 3G talk time, 12 hours EDGE talk time, 10 hours video, 30 hours audio.
• $199 for 16GB iPhone 3GS, $299 for 32GB
• Available in white and black.
• The iPhone 3G will still be available, and will sell for $99, starting today. 8GB.
• iPhone 3GS goes on sale on June 19th!
• That’s it!