Siri in iOS 6 brings sports, cinema, restaurant integration

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

Apple's Siri hs learned a bunch of new tricks that it will be bringing with it alongside the launch of iOS 6 later this fall. During this morning's WWDC 2012 keynote, we got a look at a few of them. First, iOS chief Scott Forstall demo'd sports integration. Siri will now be able to tell you about recent sports scores, individual players, and even odd trivia (as an example, Siri was able to answer a question that asked who was taller between "LeBrone or Kobe".) Next, restaurant reviews and reservations. Through integration with OpenTable and Yelp, Siri can now show more details about restaurants, reviews, and pricing. In addition, you can tap to make a reservation right in the OpenTable app. Siri can also show you details about movies. You can get movies reviews from Siri thanks to a partnership with Rotten Tomatoes, movie trailers, as well as local showtimes. Siri can even show you movie catalog information. While all that is awesome, we are even more excited about the fact that Siri can now be used to do things like launch apps and post to Twitter.

All of this new Siri functionality will also come to the new third-generation iPad in iOS 6 as well, adding English and French tuned for Canada, Spanish tuned for Spain, Mexico, and the US, Korean, Mandarin tuned for Taiwan, Cantonese tuned for Hong Kong, and Mandarin and Cantonese tuned for China.

17-inch MacBook Pro discontinued by Apple

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,

Apple released a refreshed line of 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks durings its WWDC 2012 keynote this morning, sporting brand new Ivy Bridge processors. Additionally, the beautiful new 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display was revealed as well. One thing Phil Schiller didn't divulge from the stage was that the company has discontinued the 17-inch MacBook Pro model. From here on out, at least for the forseeable future, it's all about 13- and 15-inch notebooks if you're rocking a MacBook Pro notebook.

iTunes 10.6.3 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Music, Software,

Apple has released iTunes 10.6.3, which includes support for Mountain Lion and the iOS 6 beta, both of which were announced at this morning's WWDC 2012 keynote. Download it now!

Read More | iTunes

iOS 6 beta 10A5316k now available for download

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS developers, it's time to get your iOS 6 beta on! Apple has just released the iOS 6 beta build 10A5316k, which they went over during today's WWDC 2012 keynote, and you can download it now. iOS 6 supports iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, the new iPad (2012), and the fourth-generation iPod touch. There are also download links for an update to the second- and third-generation Apple TV.

Watch today’s WWDC 2012 keynote video now!

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

We've been hitting you with as much coverage of this morning's WWDC 2012 keynote as you can handle, but we're sure you wanna check things out for yourself, right? Well, we've got you covered there too. Apple has just released the video of the keynote address that revealed a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mountain Lion, and iOS 6.

Read More | Apple

Apple releases redesigned Airport Express base station

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Wireless / WiFi,

Apple has released a redesigned model of its Airport Express base station. The new model looks very similar to the Apple TV, except that it's white. The new model sports a couple of features that the previous one didn't: dual Ethernet ports (compared to just one on the last one,) and simultaneous dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi. The Airport Express is $99, available today from the Apple Store.

Read More | Airport Express

Apple releases Smart Case for new iPad

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Handhelds,

Apple has announced the new Smart Case accessory for the new iPad. The Smart Case is similar to the Smart Cover that's been available since the iPad 2 shipped, but it protects both the front and back of the new iPad shell. It's available in six colors, and can even be personalized with free laser engraving, a first for an Apple accessory. The Smart Case also features the familiar tri-fold design that the Smart Cover has, allowing you to comfortably use the iPad to type and watch media. Check out all of today's Apple news coming out of the WWDC 2012 keynote.

Siri comes to the new iPad with iOS 6

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Handhelds, Software,

If you've wished that you could chat with Siri while using your new third-generation iPad, you're in luck. Apple just announced that Siri for iPad is a reality, and it will arrive alongside iOS 6. Siri will be able to do all the stuff you're accustomed to, plus more, as the company has announced new Siri abilities during its WWDC 2012 keynote as well.

OS X Mountain Lion ships in July for $19.99

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Software,

Apple just announced final details for OS X Mountain Lion during its WWDC 2012 keynote. First, the ship date. Mountain Lion will be available eclusively from the Mac App Store in July. Second, the price. Mountain Lion will be the cheapest OS X update in history, selling for just $19.99. Users running Lion or Snow Leopard will be able to upgrade to Mountain Lion using the Mac App Store starting next month.

The next-generation MacBook Pro: Retina display, USB 3.0, HDMI, ships today for $2199

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,

You know that Retina display MacBook Pro we've been waiting for? Apple just announced it during its WWDC 2012 keynote. The next-generation MacBook Pro drops a bunch of legacy features in order to make room for future technology, as evidenced by the specs. First up, the Retina display. The next-generation MacBook Pro has a 15.4-inch 2800 x 1800 resolution display, the densest display to ship on any notebook to date. That makes it 220 ppi. The computer weighs less than 4.5 pounds, making it the lightest MacBook Pro ever.

Inside you get a quad-core Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 16 GB RAM, and the NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GT 650m GPU. Gone is the HDD, replaced by flash storage similar to what you'd find in the MacBook Air, and you can go up to 768GB (although we'd bet that would be awfully expensive.)  The Ethernet port is also gone, but there are plenty of other ports to take its place: USB 3.0, HDMI, two ThunderBolt ports, SD card slot, and a MagSafe 2 connector. On the inside you get 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. A backlit keyboard and multi-touch trackpad round things out.

The next-generation MacBook Pro ships today, and starts at $2199 for a unit that packs in a 2.3 GHz quad-core i7 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage. Buy it direct from the Apple Store online.

Read More | MacBook Pro