Apple promotes WWDC 2017 with sponsored Snapchat filter
Following up on last year’s Snapchat geofilter, Apple continues this year with a new sponsored filter for WWDC 2017. Snapchat users near the McEnery Convention Center will be able to use the new filter when sharing photos.
Comment: Travel apps are where I most want to see Siri support, what about you?
I wrote a feature request back in 2015 calling on Apple to give Siri access to third-party apps. Six months later, Apple gave me part of what I’d asked for in the form of limited Siri support for six app categories.
For iOS 10.0, the Siri API will only work with six kinds of application: ride booking (think Uber), messaging, Photo Search (find photos and videos in a particular app), payments (‘Send $100 to John with SquareCash’), VoIP Calling (e.g: Skype) and Workouts (for starting health and fitness activities).
We’re now hearing that Apple plans to announce that it is expanding Siri support to more app categories, and there’s one of these that’s right at the top of my wish-list …
WWDC 2017 Hub/Live Blog: Apple expected to announce iOS 11, macOS 10.13, Siri Speaker, new iPad Pro and more
It’s WWDC day and it’s expected to be a big one. Apple is set to announce new versions of its software platforms, iOS 11, macOS 10.13, tvOS 11 and watchOS 4.
We are also expecting new Mac hardware, a 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the unveiling of a ‘Siri Speaker’ home voice assistant. There will probably be other surprises as well. The keynote kicks off at 10 AM PT — 9to5Mac will be covering the whole thing live.
Follow along below for our live blog of the WWDC 2017 keynote, news links, and coverage of all the announcements …
Facebook wants to be ‘hostile’ to terrorists as British government issues confused call to ‘regulate cyberspace’
Facebook has told CNBC it wants to be a ‘hostile environment for terrorists’ as the British government issued a call to ‘regulate cyberspace’ after the terrorist attack on London Bridge …
Foxconn confirms that Apple will ‘chip in funds’ to aid company’s bid to buy Toshiba business
Foxconn chairman Terry Gou has confirmed that Apple would be supporting the company’s bid to acquire Toshiba’s chip-making business. Interestingly, Amazon is also said to be contributing to the bid.
We first learned back in March that Foxconn was planning a bid to acquire Toshiba’s semiconductor business, which mostly makes flash storage chips. The following month, it was said to have increased its bid to $27B in an attempt to defeat rival bids, and it was later suggested that Apple would be seeking its own direct stake in the business …
Apple Store goes down ahead of new MacBooks and iPad Pro expected at WWDC 2017 keynote
The Apple Store is down! We are expecting Apple to launch a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and refreshed MacBooks later today at WWDC 2017.
Although WWDC is focused on software announcements, this year we are expecting a couple hardware surprises. The new iPad will no doubt be demoed alongside the new iPad features in iOS 11.
Comment: Apple’s ‘problem’ with the iPhone 8 is much more of an opportunity
One of the charts within an influential presentation on the state of the tech union at last week’s Code conference illustrated a ‘problem’ with Apple’s apparent plans for the iPhone 8. The company is believed to be aiming to sell the first ever $1000+ iPhone at a time when global smartphone shipments are essentially flat.
Business Insider argues that the problem shown in the chart by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers analyst Mary Meeker is this. Apple has historically taken around 15% of the smartphone market. When the market as a whole was growing, Apple could happily take its premium slice and see continued growth. But when the market is stagnant, growth can only be achieved by either growing its share, or boosting the overall smartphone market.
Can the company really do this, asks the piece, while trying to push its prices even higher … ?
How & when to watch Apple’s WWDC keynote presentation live today
Today’s the day that Apple will show us the new goodies to expect in iOS 11, macOS 10.13, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 as the annual Worldwide Developer Conference kicks off. But while the event may have a software focus, we’re of course also expecting to see some new hardware.
In particular, a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro, fitting a larger screen into a casing only marginally larger than the existing 9.7-inch model thanks to smaller bezels; MacBook refreshes; and a Siri Speaker competing with Google Home and Amazon Echo …
Feedback app references ‘Drag and Drop’ feature as Apple readies iOS 11 announcements later today
It seems the best place to find last-minute leaks is Apple itself. Earlier today, a listing for a new iOS 11 app, ‘ Files’, was found in the App Store. The Feedback app has also spilled the beans on another feature, confirming that Drag and Drop will be coming to the iPad with iOS 11.
‘Split View/Drag and Drop’ is listed as one of the available preset options that beta testers can use to report bugs. Obviously, this addition has been made a little prematurely as the company won’t be announcing iOS 11 officially until its keynote in about 8 hours from now.
TV app appearing for some users in UK and Australia ahead of WWDC keynote
Ahead of Apple’s WWDC keynote later today, the TV app appears to be spreading to more countries. We have received reports from Apple users in the UK, Australia, New Zealand that they are finding their Videos app replaced with the TV app.
Up to now, the TV app has been exclusive to US users. It seems that part of the WWDC announcements will be an expansion of the TV app to other countries …