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Apple Watch gets new Pride band and more

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In time for Pride Month.
In time for Pride Month.
Photo: Apple

June is Pride Month and Apple has issued a rainbow woven nylon watch band for Apple Watch wearers to express pride or show support for the LGBT community.

The band, which comes in both 38 and 42 mm, is part of a new line of summer bands Apple quietly released on a day the bands were overshadowed by the opening day of WWDC 2017.

First look: From cute to badass, Apple’s new hardware impresses

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The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
Photo: Apple

Three of the new hardware products Apple unveiled today at WWDC 2017 won’t be available until then end of 2017, but thanks to a hands-on section Apple hosted to developers, you can already get an idea of what it’ll be like to use the new iPad Pro, iMac Pro and HomePod.

Press members have been busy playing with the new products all afternoon and the early impressions are overwhelmingly positive. Of course, some issues on the iMac Pro and HomePod may still need fixing before launch, but it sounds like fans will love them.

Hardware, software and surprises: Key takeaways from Apple’s WWDC 2017 keynote

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Tim Cook WWDC 2017
Tim Cook uncorked a load of surprises during the WWDC 2017 keynote.
Photo: Apple

If you felt worried about Apple’s supposed lack of innovation, today’s action-packed WWDC keynote should have allayed your fears. Apple execs sprinted through a 2.5-hour technology showcase filled with hardware updates, serious software upgrades and even a whole new product category.

The whirlwind presentation showed the end result of a busy company with almost unimaginable assets. Far more than a sleepy kickoff to an annual developers confab, today’s stunning presentation showed the magical output of an innovation machine firing on all cylinders.

Anyone who pegged Tim Cook as asleep at the wheel better think again. Here are the key takeaways from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2017 keynote.

Halide makes manual photography easier than auto

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halide for iPhone
Halide is packed with neat features that are intuitive to use.
Photo: Halide/Cult of Mac

Halide is yet another iPhone camera-replacement app, only this is one you’re going to want to use. Why? because it not only adds extra control to the stock camera app, it is also easier to use than Apple’s built-in app. In addition to being one-handed simple, Halide adds power features like manual focus and RAW capture. It’s quite a feat.

HomePod leads to string of Twitter jabs

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HomePod
Samsung doesn't want to fight HomePod... yet.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s HomePod is sure to fit in our surroundings. It already resembles a couple of items found around the home, as many astute Twitter users pointed out when Phil Schiller unveiled the new smart speaker at WWDC 2017 Monday morning.

Many thought it looked like a ball of string while at least one saw its look inspired by a roll of toilet paper.

How to convert currency from your lock screen

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currency conversion iOS
Spotlight might be the quickest way to convert currency on iOS.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Traveling? You need a currency conversion app then, right? No! If you’re carrying your iPhone, you can do those conversions quickly, using Spotlight, without even unlocking your iPhone. Better still, you can do those currency conversions while offline, which might be essential when you’re roaming in a foreign land.

Apple busts out fresh new ads for iPad Pro and iMac Pro

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The new iMac Pro brings awesome firepower to the desktop this December.
The new iMac Pro brings awesome firepower to the desktop.
Photo: Apple

Hot on the heels of it’s big batch of software and hardware announcements at WWDC 2017, Apple has published a series of new ads to its YouTube channel promoting its new products.

Apple fanboys won’t even be able to by the new iMac Pro until the end of 2017, but for now you can lust after it by watching Apple’s teaser ads over and over. There are also some new ad spots for the powerful new 10.5-inch iPad Pro.

Check ’em out:

11 awesome iOS 11 features Apple didn’t bother to mention

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The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
Photo: Apple

Developers just got an early preview of Apple’s upcoming iOS 11 update for iPhones and iPads today during the company’s WWDC 2017 keynote in San Jose.

The new update packs some huge new features that make iOS more powerful and easier-to-use than ever. Apple’s update is so jam packed that some of the best new additions didn’t even get some stage time at WWDC.

HomePod smart speaker will totally rock (and control) your house

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Apple's new HomePod smart speaker is ready to rock your house.
HomePod will launch in December, but supplies will be constrained.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s upcoming HomePod smart speaker will “reinvent the way we enjoy music in the home,” says Apple exec Phil Schiller, who offered a sneak peek at the product today.

Calling it a “breakthrough home speaker,” he outlined how the 7-inch wireless speaker will work seamlessly with Apple Music — and totally rock the house, while also giving you a way to control your house.

New 10.5-inch iPad Pro is Apple’s best tablet yet

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wwdc 2017
Meet the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and improved 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple just unveiled the 10.5-inch iPad Pro we’ve all been waiting for. It delivers a faster 120Hz display for smoother motion and enhanced Apple Pencil performance, but Apple’s latest A10X Fusion processor for the best performance on an iPad to date. 

iOS 11 brings big UI changes, smarter Siri and much more

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iOS 11 is Apple's biggest update in years.
iOS 11 is Apple's biggest update in years.
Photo: Apple

Developers received an early look at iOS 11 today, Apple’s next big update for iPhones and iPads that adds a host of new features and user-interface changes to make iOS devices better than ever.

“Today we’re going to take the world’s best and most advanced operating system and turn it up to 11,” said Tim Cook.

Apple teases ‘seriously badass’ iMac Pro and other new Macs at WWDC

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imac pro
The iMac Pro looks amazing!
Photo: Apple

Developers got treated to a new lineup of Macs today at WWDC 2017, including a sneak peek at a “seriously badass” iMac Pro coming later this year.

Apple updated both the iMac and MacBook Pro product lines with a bunch of new internal features. The new models bring brighter displays and more powerful CPUs that will make the Mac a VR gaming-machine — and they’re shipping today.

macOS High Sierra will turn your Mac into a blazing-fast VR machine

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wwdc 2017
macOS High Sierra was one laid back macOS update.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s next major update to macOS will be named… High Sierra. Seriously.

But don’t get hung up on the name, because there’s plenty to be excited about, including big improvements to Safari and Mail, support for the new Apple File System, and other big changes that will make your Mac a blazing-fast virtual reality machine.

Apple unveils watchOS 4 with new clock faces and UI changes

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Kevin Lynch shows off the new Siri watch face for Apple Watch.
Kevin Lynch shows off the new Siri watch face for Apple Watch.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s software vision for the Apple Watch was unveiled during the company’s WWDC 2017 event today in San Jose, revealing a host of new features coming to wearers’ wrists later this year.

With watchOS 4, Apple’s designers have focused on making the device more personal than ever. Siri is more powerful than ever thanks to some new machine learning tricks that make the personal assistant absolutely indispensable.

Amazon Prime Video is coming to Apple TV this year

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apple tv and siri remote
Grab the latest tvOS 11 update now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has persuaded Amazon to bring its Prime Video service to Apple TV.

Prime subscribers will be able to enjoy the service later this year, Tim Cook told us during Apple’s WWDC keynote this morning. But there was no mention of tvOS 11.

Liveblog: Apple unveils new software lineup at WWDC 2017

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Get ready for WWDC 2017.
Get ready for WWDC 2017.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference is set to kick off in just a few short hours, and rumors indicate we could be in for the iPhone-maker’s most action-packed keynote in years.

Not only is Apple expected to unveil iOS 11, macOS 10.13, tvOS 11 and watchOS 4, but today’s event could also showcase some fresh new hardware. Cult of Mac will be here to liveblog all the festivities with up-to-the-minute analysis on all the new software, hardware and more.

Tim Cook and company take the stage today at 10 a.m. Pacific in San Jose, California, but we’ll be kicking off the fun a little early. Come join the action!

Iron out the weak spots in your Wi-Fi signal [Deals]

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NetSpot Home- Lifetime License
Optimize your home or office Wi-Fi connection with this powerful analysis app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We all know the parts of our home or office where the Wi-Fi works best (and worst). In this wireless age of ours, there’s no reason to take a step and suddenly be cut off from the internet. With NetSpot Home, you can scan, visualize, optimize, and troubleshoot your wireless networks with any Mac. It’s a super useful tool for anyone who relies on their wireless internet connection to do work or stay entertained. And right now, you can get a lifetime license to NetSpot Home for just $19 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Modified Apple-1 will go up for auction later this month

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a_working_apple-1_personal_computer_palo_alto_1976_d6082916_006g
Have a spare $500k sitting around? This could be yours.
Photo: Christie's

A working Apple-1 computer will go under the hammer at a Christie’s auction later this month, with an estimated value of between $300,000 and $500,000.

Not only is the Apple-1 motherboard one of relatively few working units still in existence in 2017, but it also includes some unusual modifications by its original owner — with the original 4K of RAM boosted up to a whopping total of 12K.

Siri could be used to control Apple’s rumored smart glasses

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri could be key to Apple's augmented reality plans.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has updated its Siri design patent in the European Union and Hong Kong to also cover “smart glasses” as a category.

Ahead of a WWDC event where Apple is rumored to be introducing a standalone Siri speaker to take on the Amazon Echo and Google Home smart speakers, the news suggests that Siri could also be a key part of Apple’s future augmented reality plans.

Apple ‘Files’ app could bring file management to iOS 11

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Finally iOS will offer a better way to manage files.
Photo: ITunes

In a spoiler for what Apple might unveil today at its Worldwide Developers Conference, a placeholder app has appeared for “Files” in the App Store.

There are no details about exactly what the app will offer, but it supports only 64-bit architecture, in line with reports that Apple will ditch support for 32-bit apps.

Apple Music exec Bozoma Saint John may be leaving the company

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Bozoma Saint John
Bozoma Saint John joined Apple with the Beats acquisition.
Photo: Apple

Bozoma Saint John, head of global consumer marketing for Apple Music, may be on her way out of Apple, a recent report claims.

Saint John is probably best known to Apple watchers as the person who took the stage at last year’s WWDC event to show off Apple Music’s then-new user interface — which included attempting to get the crowd to somewhat awkwardly clap along to The Sugarhill Gang’s song “Rapper’s Delight.”

Subdivision Infinity, Microsoft Planner, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s updated Swift Playgrounds app, giving would-be coders the chance to learn to program by controlling a robot, is just one of the great titles we’ve picked out for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup.

We’ve also got a fun space blaster, a big Wonder Woman-themed upgrade to a fun RPG battler, and a useful multi-person planning app. Check out our picks below.