OS

Inside iOS 7's massive face-lift

SAN FRANCISCO -- To silence a growing chorus of discontent against an operating system design that's remained more or less static since 2007, Apple needed to go big. With iOS 7, it did. Apple's crisp, newly announced OS update gives the mobile operating system a radical new look and some first-for-Apple features for iPhone and iPad fans, like quick-access system controls, automatic app updates, and Apple's AirDrop file-sharing system.

The visual overhaul, which becomes available this fall, is a clean sweep that changes absolutely everything, from the typography and color schemes to the typical icon and button … Read more

Apple's next Mac Pro goes peek-a-boo at WWDC

Apple gave its fans a peek at the next Mac Pro desktop computer at WWDC in San Francisco.

The new desktop computer is built for Apple's "most advanced users," according to Apple executive Phil Schiller. It is the fastest and most expandable device.

"Like with the MacBook Air, our engineering team has thought about the technology today and what would be possible with a new Mac desktop," Schiller said.

This is "the future of the pro desktop," he added. Schiller also taunted the company's competitors: "Can't innovate anymore, my ass,&… Read more

With Safari updates, Apple aims to keep pace

SAN FRANCISCO -- Once again, Apple's changes to its Safari browser on OS X represent keeping up with the competition instead of forging new ground.

At the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday, the company unveiled the next version of Safari, which Apple says will have significantly faster page rendering, better security, and will make it easier to read multiple articles on the same site.

The Safari 7 update introduces to the browser stronger connections to OS X's password-management tool called Keychain. Leveraging the iCloud browser syncing that debuted in last year's Safari, … Read more

Apple by the numbers, from WWDC 2013

At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple touted the latest numbers for its devices, apps, and operating systems circa June 10, 2013.

iOS devices sold: 600 million Percentage of iOS users using iOS 6: 93 percent Mac installations: 72 million, more than double the number from five years ago Mac sales: Have risen 100 percent over the past five years, versus just 18 percent for Windows PCs Mountain Lion sales: 28 million since its debut, making it the best-selling release of Apple's desktop OS Apps in App Store: 900,000 Number of apps geared for the iPad: … Read more

The next big cat isn't a cat at all

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple announced the next version of Mac OS X today at the keynote for WWDC 2013. Named Mavericks, Mac OS X 10.9 brings more iOS features into the fold along with other tweaks including iBooks, Apple Maps, Finder Tabs, and a number of other time-saving enhancements.

Finder Tabs The new Finder Tabs work much in the same way they do in Safari. A plus sign button on the right lets you open a new tab, and you can drag and drop tabs just like in a Web browser. You could have one tab for AirDrop and … Read more

Apple now hosts 900,000 apps in App Store

Apple's App Store is now home to 900,000 apps.

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the latest stats at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday.

Among the 900,000 apps, 90 percent of them are downloaded each month, while 375,000 of them are geared for the iPad. In total, 50 billion apps have been downloaded since the App Store opened for business. July will mark the App Store's fifth birthday.

The App Store also holds around 575 million store accounts, with Cook touting that the store has "more accounts with credit … Read more

AT&T brings enhanced push-to-talk app to iPhone

AT&T has unveiled an iOS app that turns the iPhone into a walkie-talkie for the business world.

Known as Enhanced Push-to-Talk (Enhanced PTT), the new app brings two-radio features to the iPhone 5 and 4S. With PTT, mobile users can talk to one person via a private call or a large number of people though a group call. And like a walkie-talkie, a phone equipped with the app can switch between talk and listen mode with the touch of a button.

The app supports up to 250 people, gearing it for certain types of workplaces and first responders, … Read more

iOS 7 beta reportedly reveals flat design, revamped icons

Soon enough, iOS 7 users will be greeted with dramatic new changes to the familiar interface, at least according to the latest details offered up by 9to5Mac.

Based on a peek at an early beta of iOS 7, 9to5Mac said it discovered the much-rumored new "flat" design adopted by Apple. A couple of mockups created by the blog site show that Apple has taken the edge off the icons that populate the home screen. Some of the icons also sport a new logo and color.

Catch CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote, Monday at 10 a.m. PT … Read more

Apple to unveil iOS revamp, iRadio, Siri update -- analyst

Apple will unveil a new paint job for iOS and introduce its new iRadio music service at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, forecasts Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

In an investors note out today, the analyst offered his predictions on what to expect from Apple as WWDC kicks off. Several reports have already pointed to a redesign for Apple's mobile OS with iOS 7, and Munster sees that as 90 percent likely.

Catch CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote, Monday at 10 a.m. PT

iOS 7 will mark the first change to iOS … Read more

No redesigned iPhone expected this year, report says

If you were holding your breath for a redesigned iPhone this year, it appears you are going to have to wait a bit longer.

The next iteration of Apple's smartphone, which is expected to launch in the fall, won't be dramatically different than the current model, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday. The report did not indicate what the new model might be called or what would be different about it.

Catch CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote, Monday 10 a.m. PT

Many observers believe the next … Read more