The lights have dimmed, the Aretha Franklin has been muted, and Steve Jobs has just taken the stage at the Moscone Center in San Francisco to head up the 2011 World Wide Developer’s Conference.

We just got a screenshot of the notifications bar in iOS 5.

It could be fake of course, but it looks pretty good to us. And it fits with what former Engadget editor-in-chief Joshua Topolsky is hearing.

Check it out full size:

As Apple unveils new services and products at this week’s WWDC, we start another week of deals for Mac fans. First up is a 20 percent discount on iTunes gift cards, allowing you to purchase a $15 card for just $12.75, for example. Next is CleanApp 3, giving you to ability to uninstall and archive your applications. Finally, there is a sampler of Tony Award-winning songs, including such favorites as Mama Mia!, Rock of Ages, and Million Dollar Quartet.

Like always, details on these and many other items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.

Is this a leaked photograph of the new iOS 5 home screen complete with a swanky new notification bar and a revamped camera icon, or simply the work of a talented Photoshopper?

Check out these thoughtful mockups of iOS 5, the next version of the iPhone and iPad OS, which Steve Jobs is due to preview at WWDC on Monday morning.

They were created by Federico Bianco, a graphic designer from Rome, Italy. It’s a “wishlist” of all the things he wants to see in iOS 5, and includes some interesting ideas about notifications, widgets, Home Screen organization and bringing iPhoto to iOS.

Check it out:

In an unprecedented move, last Tuesday Apple outlined what they would be announcing at next week’s WWDC keynote. This, in combination with plenty of plausible rumors floating round the blogosphere, leaves little left to speculate about. But I’m going to have a go anyway. I think the main theme for iOS5 will be independence from iTunes and the Mac/PC, and the big surprise for iCloud will be Facebook-style apps.

Read on after the break.

Apple has already revealed that Steve Jobs will talk about iCloud, iOS 5 and OS X Lion during his WWDC keynote on Monday morning.

In addition, it’s rumored that Apple’s wireless Time Capsule backup/router will get a big update.

Here’s how iCloud and the new Time Capsule will work, according to a source close to the company who asked not be identified. It’s pretty surprising:

From the creators of Echofon – the popular third-party Twitter client – comes Photofon; the easiest way to browse the photos posted in your Twitter timeline. This isn’t just another Twitter client, but rather a photo browser for those who enjoy viewing all of the photos posted by their friends.

Ranky is a great application for app developers, marketeers, and those who want to keep track of App Store games and applications. It provides you with an overview of how well your selected titles are performing and their position in the App Store’s charts.

Apple’s iWork office suite for iOS has just made its way to the iPhone and the iPod touch, and just like its iPad counterpart, you won’t find an office experience as good as this from anywhere else. For getting things done on the move, nothing compares to iWork.

Find out more about thus week’s must-haves below!

In just three days, Steve Jobs will take the stage at San Francisco Moscone Center and kick off this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference, or WWDC. In so doing, he’ll announce new software, new products and end months of speculation about the new iPhone, iOS 5, iCloud music streaming and OS X Lion.

Here’s Cult of Mac’s complete overview of what we’re expecting to hear about at this year’s WWDC.

If you are looking for that perfect sound accessory for your iPhone or iPod, this is your lucky day. We have a number of items designed to give your favorite Apple device a voice. However, we start out with a deal on Mac minis, beginning with a 2.4GHz model for $599. Next is Philips’ Fidelio PrimoDock for the iPhone or iPod. The device includes a 100-watt speaker dock with two 1-inch tweeters, two four-inch woofers, dedicated iPhone app and more. Next is Sharp’s i-Elegance stereo speakers for the iPhone or iPod. The speakers include a charging dock, built-in subwoofer, carrying bag and more.

As usual, details about these devices and many more can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.