Apple keynotes - page 2

The 7 biggest shockers from Apple’s ‘Spring Forward’ event

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Only the sticker shock mattered. Photo: Apple
Only the sticker shock mattered. Photo: Apple

The biggest surprise about today’s big Apple Watch event? That Cupertino’s upcoming wearable didn’t really steal the show.

We got a few new details about the smartwatch, but Tim Cook and crew really blew our minds with several other big announcements. Here are the most important revelations from the show at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

‘Scarf Guy’ steals the spotlight at Apple event, but who is he?

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Tommy Krul. Image: courtesy Apple.
With a scarf and a certain air, Tommy Krul grabbed the spotlight at Apple's big event. Screengrab: Cult of Mac

The Apple Watch and iPhone 6 event yesterday in Cupertino may have been Apple’s most fashion-forward event ever. In addition to the usual schlubby tech journalists, there was Vogue editrix Anna Wintour leading a pack of fashionable scribes into the squat Flint Center as if it were a runway show in Paris or Milan.

It was Tommy Krul, however, who stole the show. He took the stage during the glitchy keynote to demo his company’s latest game Vainglory. Standing off to one side of the stage, his role was just to play the game on an iPhone 6 while co-founder Stephan Sherman of Super Evil Megacorp talked it up behind a huge video screen showing the action.

But Krul, the company’s CTO — sporting a chunky purple infinity scarf that brushed against a collar-length pageboy haircut — quickly became all anyone talked about.

Apple takes security to highest level for Sept. 9 event

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CUPERTINO, California -- What's inside the mystery building Apple is fabricating for its big September 9 event? The giant construction project is almost as big of an enigma as what the iWatch will actually look like or do.


The boxy structure, which sprang up behind the Flint Center for the Performing Arts here on the De Anza College campus, looks like a cross between an igloo and a winning confection on Cake Wars.  Naturally, the enormous two-to-three story building sparked intense curiosity among the Apple faithful when pictures emerged Thursday, so we had to go take a look for ourselves.


Will it hold something as mundane as a demo area where tech journalists can fondle Apple's latest, greatest gear? Does it contain a full-size home of the future to show off amazing HomeKit implementations? Will it house a runway for an Apple wearables fashion show or a giant stage for a post-announcement Dr. Dre concert?


Whatever it holds, it is truly a massive undertaking. It's surrounded by green fences and countless security guards. We, like you, can't wait for Apple's big reveal — here's what we saw walking around the outskirts of the secretive project Thursday afternoon.
Apple is taking security for its big Sept. 9 event to a new level. Phones are being searched, cameras are covered in special tape and everyone is "super-paranoid." Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

With less than 24 hours to go, security precautions for Apple’s big press event Tuesday have been taken to unprecedented levels.

Apple has wired the entire event auditorium — the Flint Center for the Performing Arts — with a brand new, state-of-the-art security system to lock down access and prevent leaks.

The auditorium is crawling with 24-hour security personnel. Anyone working at the massive show, from caterers to construction staff and technicians, is required to submit their phones to Apple’s security team. The phones’ cameras are being covered in special tamper-proof tape, which changes color if removal is attempted.

“If it changes color, we’ll be fired on the spot,” said one person who is working at the show but asked to remain anonymous.

Get your Apple keynote bingo cards!

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Apple bingo card, courtesy Appency.com
Apple bingo card, courtesy Appency.com

We’re in a frenzy of anticipation about Apple’s September 9 event. Just like you, we’re expecting big and bigger iPhones, the iWatch and something to take the stage of that immense box Apple has constructed outside the Flint Center auditorium.

As we tweet, liveblog and take you hands-on with new products from what may be the most important Apple event in years, you can play along with this awesome set of free bingo cards, courtesy mobile PR firm Appency.

Spoiler alert: For some Apple fans, rumors ruin product launches

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For some people, rumors and leaks about Apple's upcoming products ruin the inevitable reveal. Photo: Neerav Bhatt/Flickr CC

Many people routinely avoid spoilers for TV shows and movies, but some also steer clear of clues about Apple’s upcoming product announcements.

Next Tuesday, Apple is expected to reveal two new iPhones and an iWatch. While the long-rumored wearable remains shrouded in mystery, many details of the next-gen iPhones are all but confirmed, thanks to an avalanche of rumor reports and parts leaks. So comprehensive are the leaks, some have even managed to build a working iPhone 6 from parts — and the device is still weeks away from shipping to customers.

But some Apple fans remain blissfully ignorant of the details.

How Apple can rekindle the magic of the Stevenote

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(Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac)You know that saying about someone being so smart that they've forgotten more about a subject than the average person has ever known? Much the same could be said for Apple and good ideas. While not every concept in the company's history has been a winner, there are a good few we'd love to see Apple take another crack at revolutionizing -- whether it's because there's an obvious market out there waiting, or simply because it would make us happy to see them.Which ones made the grade? Check put the gallery above to find out.
How can Apple craft a successful sequel to the Stevenote? Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Nearly three years after Steve Jobs’ death, Apple’s keynotes have become pale imitations of their former glory. The last major keynote — November’s introduction of the iPad Air and Retina mini — was a major international snoozefest.

Utterly devoid of excitement, it served only to stoke the pervasive rumors of Apple’s lack of innovation after Jobs (which aren’t true, but nonetheless).

It’s time for Jony Ive to take over.

Grab Your Passbook Ticket For Today’s iPad Mini Event Right Here

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"Apple Special Event," indeed.

Apple probably didn’t invite you to today’s iPad mini event, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel left out. You can get your own novelty iPad mini event Passbook ticket right on your iPhone so you can feel like you’re totally legit.

To get the iPad mini event ticket, just open this link in Safari. If you’re opening the link from an iOS device, iOS 6 will automatically preview the ticket and allow you to import it into Passbook.

Here’s what the ticket looks like:

Learn How to Use Keynote for Your Startup For FREE [Deals]

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CoM - keynote-logo

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make mockups, prototypes, sales videos, cartoons and more to help you communicate your dream to the world, then Cult of Mac Deals has something for you. It’s a course that will teach you how to use Apple’s Keynote to help lift your message about your startup to new heights. When you’ve completed this course you’ll have actionable steps on how to get the most out of that amazingly effective piece of software.

And – as a token of our appreciation – we’re giving it to you for free.