The honeycomb app screen has always been a pain. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is looking to move away from the honeycomb-style app selection screen that debuted on the first Apple Watch.
With the new watchOS 4 software update coming to the public later this fall, Apple added an option that lets Apple Watch owners change the way they view and select apps.
All this week, illustrator and senior UX/UI designer Andy McNally will be sketchnoting Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference for us.
My markers and pens worked overtime to capture all of the news and announcements in this year’s WWDC keynote. I captured three pages of notes on watchOS 4, macOS HighSierra, the iMac Pro, the new 10.5 inch iPad Pro, and iOS 11. The artist in me is excited about trying out the new iPad Pro to test the improved Apple Pencil latency. You can check out all of Apple’s announcements and details here.
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.
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!
Here's what we expect from Apple's next big update for watchOS. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple’s WWDC event is less than a week a way, where it is expected to release big upgrades to its family of operating systems. The youngest Apple platform, watchOS, got some serious improvements in watchOS 3. With the fourth interaction, Apple is expected to squash some of the biggest problems while breathing life with new features too.
Full details on watchOS 4 still haven’t been revealed, but we’ve got some ideas of our own that we’re really hoping made the cut this year.
Will Apple produce anything spectacular? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s first major event of 2017 is right around the corner. WWDC will deliver our first previews of the next big upgrades to its software platforms, with the possibility of new hardware thrown in for good measure.
But with three months left to wait for the iPhone 8, will the event really be all that exciting? Will Apple’s improvements to iOS and macOS be all that significant? And is anyone actually looking forward to a 10.5-inch iPad Pro?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we discuss whether WWDC 2017 will be worth watching.
Apple hasn’t exactly given the iPad first priority when it comes to iOS updates, but that could change next month at WWDC where the company is expected to unveil iOS 11.
Most of the iOS 11concepts we’ve seen have been all about the iPhone, but iPad power-user Federico Viticci and Sam Beckett created a beautiful concept that shows some big and simple changes that would transform the iPad from a fun tablet into a pro machine. Features like Finder, Drag and Drop between apps, multi-channel audio and more are on display in the fantastic mockup.
Apple, if you’re reading this, please steal these features:
The new MacBooks will probably look the same on the outside. Photo: Apple
Apple fans craving more powerful MacBooks may get their wish next month at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
The company is allegedly planning to unveil a new lineup of MacBooks, according to a report that claims the new machines will pack Intel’s new Kaby Lake processor to bring more speed than ever.
It's now even easier to pay for your gas. Photo: Juuk Design
ExxonMobil stations throughout the U.S. are now accepting Apple Watch payments.
Customers will need to download the Speedpass+ app, which lets you settle your gas bill with a tap of your wrist. You’ll have the option to use Apple Pay, or input your credit card information manually.
Future iPhone displays could all be made by LG. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Just an hour after I finished installing the third iOS 10.3.2 beta on my iPhone, Apple has dropped a fourth. Alongside it comes new betas for macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1, and watchOS 3.2.2 — all of which are available to download now if you’re a developer.
Here's how watchOS 4 could improve Apple Watch for fitness buffs. Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Apple puts fitness front and center in its advertising for Apple Watch Series 2, even going so far as to claim the device is a “superior sports watch.” But in reality, it is not a sports watch at all. It’s a smartwatch. And that’s a massively important distinction.
Sports watches, like the TomTom Runner or Garmin Forerunner, are cheaper and more reliable at logging workouts, while smartwatches are jacks of all trades, which usually means they are masters of none. Or at least, not masters of fitness.
The sad fact is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, it’s mostly the software that is letting Apple Watch down. That’s why I’m hoping that with its next major software update, Apple will finally get its smartwatch into shape for fitness fans. Here’s what I want to see in watchOS 4, which Apple will likely unveil at its Worldwide Developers Conference this June.
Developers just received a big batch of beta updates today for every single once of Apple’s platforms.
The third beta builds of iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1 and watchOS 3.2.2 are available to download from the Apple developer center, bringing a host of new bug fixes and performance improvements to every single Apple platform.
APFS arrives in 2017. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June 30, 2016, but has been updated with new info since the release of iOS 10.3)
It’s hard to believe that Apple’s speedy Macs are still using a file system that was developed more than 30 years ago, when floppy disks and spinning hard drives were considered cutting-edge technology.
But that’s going to change in 2017 with the new Apple File System — or APFS — that debuts in iOS 10.3 and macOS 10.12.4. Here’s everything you need to know about APFS and how it’s going to make your life better, no matter what Apple device(s) you use.
Apple's got some new beta software out. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
A new batch of beta updates are ready for developers just one day after Apple published its first big software releases of 2017 to the public.
The first beta builds of iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1 and watchOS 3.2.2 are available to download for the first time ever, bringing a host of new bug fixes and performance improvements to every single Apple platform.
Apple's new iOS update is nearly ready for primetime. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Developers received new beta software updates today for iOS 10.3 and macOS 10.12.4, possibly signaling that a public release is just around the corner.
The new updates come just a few days after Apple dropped the last betas of macOS 10.12.4 and iOS 10.3 on developers. Both updates come with a number of bug fixes and under the hood improvements to go with new features that were added in previous versions.
The iPad needs support for multiple users. Photo: Jacek Zięba
Now that we know the date for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, it’s officially time to start dreaming of new features that should be added to iOS 11.
Concept designer Jacek Zięba kicked off the dreamfest with one of the coolest iOS concept videos we’ve seen in a while. Check it out:
Apple Watch is no flop. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
2016 was a fantastic year for Apple Watch, according to the latest info from the International Data Corporation that shows Apple’s wearable just experience its best quarter ever.
In its latest report, IDC analysts say Apple Watch is finally closing the gap on Fitbit, which just experienced its largest declines ever in the fourth quarter.
iOS 10.3 is full of new features. Photo: Ste Smith
Developers received two new beta builds from Apple today for iOS 10.3, watchOS 3.2 and macOS 10.12.4, just one week after the last versions were released.
The new builds for iOS 10.3 beta 4 and macOS 10.12.4 beta 4 can be downloaded by registered developers directly from the Apple’s dev portal. iOS 10.3 beta 4 can be installed directly to your iPad or iPhone if you have the previous build on your device.
Prepare for iOS 11, macOS 10.3, and more! Photo: Apple
Apple today confirmed details for its 28th annual Worldwide Developers Conference, where it will preview its next major updates to macOS, iOS and its other software platforms.
This year’s event kicks off June 5 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, and you can apply for tickets starting March 27.
Whatever happened to Nike+? Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
At the most essential level, a running app should provide a reliable way to log your workouts: when, where, how fast and how far you run. Fancy features are all very well and good, but let’s be honest — if an app doesn’t get the basics right, it sucks.
Nike has been busy adding new bells and whistles to its Nike+ Run Club app recently. Which is great if you want stuff like photo sharing and news feeds. But all I want is to log my runs, and thanks to my Apple Watch Nike+, that critical function has become pretty unreliable.
There are a lot of new goodies in iOS 10.3. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The second beta of iOS 10.3 is now available for download. Apple seeded the new software update to developers this morning, alongside watchOS 3.2 beta 2 and tvOS 10.2 beta 2.
All three updates contain under-the-hood improvements as well as new features, including Theater Mode for Apple Watch, Find My AirPods and some UI tweaks for Apple TV.
Theatre mode finally makes its way to the Apple Watch. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s latest beta software for Apple Watch brings two new handy features in addition to the general bug fixes we expect to see with each release. Check out the video below to see watchOS 3.2 beta 1 in action.
SiriKit is one of the biggest features in watchOS 3.2. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The first beta build of watchOS 3.2 has finally been made available to developers today, less than a week after iOS 10.3 beta 1 and macOS 10.12.4 beta 1 came out.
Among the new features in watchOS 3.2 beta 1 is a new Theater Mode that makes wearing an Apple Watch in movie theaters a little less annoying for fellow film watchers.