Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 began today with a presentation by Tim Cook, the first time he has addressed the WWDC meeting of the faithful in the role of CEO. He brought on iPhone’s disembodied voice Siri to help dispel any potential tension with a few suitably nerdish jokes, then got down to the business of introducing new stuff.
The star of the show instead was a new addition to the MacBook line of super-thin (0.7 inches) and light laptops introduced by Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing as “the most beautiful computer we’ve ever made.”
In a first for Apple, it also has an HDMI port – adding fuel to the online Apple TV discussions, since that adds to the options available to consumers.
Changes to the operating system were explained by Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering. Called Mountain Lion, it will have deeper integration with Apple’s iCloud, Facebook and Twitter. It also will have a new app called Airplay Mirroring will simplify the content viewing process, in part by making it easier to watch what’s on the laptop using a connected TV, and the capability to use Facetime video chat using mobile data in addition to wireless Internet.
Related links:
Apple press release – Apple Previews iOS 6 With All New Maps, Siri Features, Facebook Integration, Shared Photo Streams & New Passbook App
Apple press release – Apple Introduces All New MacBook Pro with Retina Display
Apple press release – Apple Updates MacBook Air and Current Generation MacBook Pro with Latest Processors and New Graphics
Apple press release – Mountain Lion Available in July From Mac App Store
Mercury News – Apple announces new MacBook Pro with retina display, deeper Facebook integration, Google Maps rival at WWDC
Wall Street Journal – Live: Apple’s Keynote at WWDC 2012
Mac Rumors – Apple Introduces “Next Generation MacBook Pro” with 15.4″ Retina Display, Starts at $2199
The Verge – New MacBook Pro with Retina display hands-on pictures!
Apple Insider – First look at Apple’s ‘next generation MacBook Pro’
Los Angeles Times – WWDC 2012: Apple Maps, Photo Stream and FaceTime better in iOS 6
Wired – WWDC 2012: iCloud Weighs In for Prize Fight
