AppleInsider Staff
Apple late Monday posted to its website a full version of this year's WWDC keynote address, which clocked in at just under two and a half hours from Bill Hader's comedic intro to a musical performance by The Weeknd.
Apple CEO Tim Cook started things off with a brief introduction before handing the reins over to SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi. As expected, Federighi debuted a new OS X version dubbed El Capitan, which boasts a number of under-the-hood performance improvements and user interface tweaks.
For example, the new Mac OS sports the Metal API for advanced graphics processing, a smarter Siri with contextual search engine and natural language input, new gesture support and redesigned first-party apps.
Up next was iOS 9, which also boasts enhanced Siri and Spotlight search capabilities that deep dive into app data to surface results. Industry pundits likened other enhancements such as contextual reminders to Google Now, Android's competing virtual assistant.
iPad is getting a bit of extra attention with iOS 9's multitasking features. Taking full advantage of the device's larger display, Apple built in support for quickly accessing a limited set of first-party app functions called Slide Over, while iPad Air 2 users will be able to run two full apps side-by-side in split screen mode.
WatchOS 2 was also announced today and promises to grant developers deeper access to Apple's wearable device. Along with UI features, like "Time Travel" and a new Nightstand mode, WatchOS 2 opens up hardware API access to third-party developers looking to implement Digital Crown controls, heart rate sensor readings and more. Also supported are third-party watch face complications, a much-requested feature left out of the initial Apple Watch OS build.
Finally, Apple Music was announced as Apple's answer to paid streaming music services. The subscription-based product features a free-to-stream Beats 1 radio station with live DJs and human-curated music, while a paid tier folds in selections from iTunes' massive catalog of songs.
Apple's WWDC 2015 keynote is available to stream through the company's website.
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39 Comments
After the AI editorial on how WWDC was going to be so much better that Google's equivalent, now I can watch 2.5 hours of features that other platforms already have, but Apple was overdue adding.
I know that everyone here will say that, "Apple waited for just the right time to implement," or, "Apple did it better," but honestly, the keynote announcements were kinda ho hum.
At least there is the exciting news of a switch in iOS fonts!
After the AI editorial on how WWDC was going to be so much better that Google's equivalent, now I can watch 2.5 hours of features that other platforms already have, but Apple was overdue adding.
I know that everyone here will say that, "Apple waited for just the right time to implement," or, "Apple did it better," but honestly, the keynote announcements were kinda ho hum.
At least there is the exciting news of a switch in iOS fonts!
Life is just one boring blur for you, isn't it.
More like Snoozapalooza 2015... I haven't been this utterly bored by the lack of news coming out of Apple like ever... And that is going back almost 20 years.
I just watched Twit's live video of this event and even though I don't always agree with Leo Laporte I think he was spot on today. He said the event lacked cohesiveness and Apple didn't really tell a story, that it was just a bunch of stuff thrown together. I have to agree. This event just felt off to me. Like that new News app. Looks interesting and I'm sure I'll try it out but what's the point of it? Apple doesn't want me using Flipboard or RSS readers? They're going to incorporate it into Proactive? They told me the what but not the why. And with Apple Music, it looks like a compelling service but it was ruined by a horrible presentation that was 15 minutes too long. On his podcast tonight Jason Snell said it was the worst presentation in an Apple keynote he can remember. Again there didn't seem to be a cohesive story around it. Jimmy Iovine just mumbled a bunch of stuff that didn't make much sense, Drake was supposed to sell Connect but failed to do so and Eddy Cue spent way too much time demoing the music app. It's unfortunate because they didn't make the service as compelling as they could have. There wasn't one thing that made me think about giving up my Spotify subscription. The 24/7 radio station (which seems to be a rip-off of BBC Radio 1) doesn't require a subscription. So really I have no reason to switch. What's sad about this WWDC is I think a lot of great things were announced but the presentation and someone tying it all together was lacking. We got none of that from Cook. Which is unfortunate.
[quote name="KindredMac" url="/t/186651/apple-posts-full-wwdc-2015-keynote-extravaganza-online#post_2733038"]More like Snoozapalooza 2015... I haven't been this utterly bored by the lack of news coming out of Apple like ever... And that is going back almost 20 years.[/quote] Why? Because no new hardware was announced? Is that the only thing newsworthy? What news were you expecting that you didn't get?