Apple Announces iOS 8 with Interactive Notifications, QuickType, More [iOS Blog]

Apple announced iOS 8 at the keynote event of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference today. iOS 8 gets revamped notification features, an upgrade to the keyboard’s auto-correct functionality, and the rumored health tracking feature and companion app, called HealthKit.

Interactive notification lets users pull down notifications and interact with them to respond to text messages or other actions without leaving the current open app, or complete actions from notifications shown on the lock screen.

A new feature in the iOS keyboard, called QuickType, adds predictive typing suggestions that adapt to the current context. QuickType learns each users habits and language while protecting privacy.

Messages gets the ability to name conversation threads, add and remove people from group conversations, allow users to leave group conversations. Users can also share their location right within Messages and quickly send audio messages and add them to images, and create video messages without using the Camera app.

HealthKit is a new feature that will gather and consolidate users’ health information from multiple sources and apps, such as those from Nike and Fitbit.

Apple Updates iMessage with Improved Group Messaging and Video and Audio Messages [iOS Blog]

While introducing iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developers Conference today, Apple announced a host of improvements for its popular iMessage messaging platform, including in-line audio and video messages and new group features like Do Not Disturb and more.

The in-line video and audio messages are accessed from a small radial menu on the right of the text-entry field, allowing users to quickly choose whether they want to send a video or audio message. Like Snapchat, the audio and video messages “self-destruct” after a certain amount of time to save space. However, users can also choose to keep them if they really want to.

Users can play the media from within the message thread by pressing the “play” button or simply raising the phone to their ear, which also works straight from the lock screen.

In addition, group messages have received numerous improvements, including Do Not Disturb, the ability to name conversations and add or remove people from the group chat. Locations can also be shared, and can be chosen to be shared for a certain amount of time a day.

‘QuickType’ Keyboard for iOS 8 Offers Context-Aware Predicitive Typing Suggestions [iOS Blog]

As a part of today’s unveiling for iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced a new “QuickType” feature for the onboard keyboard which offers context sensitive predictive typing suggestions among other features.

For instance, an example message asking a user about “dinner or a movie” displayed button suggestions like “dinner”, “a movie”, and “not sure”, while the feature will also learn how a user types and suggest specific slang used over time. Apple also promised that QuickType will protect a user’s privacy when learning conversations throughout iOS, as the feature will also work in over 10 different languages.

QuickType will ship as as a part of iOS 8, which will be available later this year.

Live Coverage of Apple’s WWDC 2014 Keynote: OS X 10.10, iOS 8, and More

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off today at the Moscone West convention center in San Francisco, with the event headlined by the traditional keynote address beginning at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time. At the keynote, Apple is expected to provide the first official look at OS X 10.10 and iOS 8, discuss initiatives in home automation, health, and iBeacon technology, and perhaps make additional announcements.

Line outside Moscone Center (Source: Shara Tibken)
Apple will be providing a live video stream on its website and via Apple TV.

Live Video Stream of Apple’s WWDC 2014 Keynote

In addition to Apple’s video stream, we will be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

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WWDC 2014 Spoiler Free Video Stream [iOS Blog]

With Apple’s WWDC Keynote kicking off on today, some users are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until Apple posts the recorded video of the event so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.

For those individuals, we’ve posted this news story, which will be updated with the link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.

Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events refrain from making any posts in the thread about the announcements.

Apple’s WWDC 2014 keynote will be streamed live on Safari and Apple TV

A liveblog of an Apple keynote is great, but sometimes you just want to see the real thing for yourself (while reading our commentary at the same time, of course). We totally understand. And apparently, so does Apple, since the company is once again streaming the WWDC keynote live. The usual caveats apply: You’ll need to use an Apple product or service to view the event — specifically, Safari browser on OS X (version 4+ on Snow Leopard or later), Safari on iOS 4.2+ or a second-gen Apple TV or newer. Don’t have any of those but still curious about what groundbreaking products will be announced? No worries, our liveblog will come with all of the news, quotes, specs and photos as they come out, so be sure to go here and bookmark it.

Livestream of Apple’s WWDC 2014 keynote

Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Apple

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Apple’s WWDC 2014 liveblog!

Ready or not, here it comes: The annual WWDC keynote. This is the holy grail for Apple faithful, as CEO Tim Cook and his team of executives show off most of the company’s new firmware and — in many cases — a few pieces of hardware as well. As usual, we’re liveblogging the event, which means we’re looking at roughly two hours of Apple news. So if that’s your thing, or if you’re simply just curious to see what Tim Cook’s going to say, stay locked in right here as we fill you in on every detail!

Filed under: Announcements, Cellphones, Laptops, Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, Apple

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Apple Rises to #5 in This Year’s Fortune 500 Rankings

Fortune has just released its annual “Fortune 500″ list, which is a high-profile ranking of the largest companies in the United States ranked by revenue. This year, Apple has taken the #5 spot, up from #6 in last year’s rankings and from #17 in 2012.

The Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York

Apple’s net sales keep climbing, as the tech giant continues to sell more iPhones and digital content. But the company faces pressure in the smartphone business, as Android phones grow increasingly dominant. Meanwhile, Apple reported an annual drop in net income in fiscal year 2013, a first in more than a decade. Activist investor Carl Icahn last year disclosed a stake in Apple and subsequently pushed for the company to spend billions on share buybacks. In April, the company increased the amount of shares it is authorized to repurchase and raised its quarterly dividend by 8%, and in late May it announced it was acquiring Beats Music and Beats Electronics for $3 billion.

Wal-Mart once again beat out ExxonMobil for this year’s #1 ranking, with Chevron and Berkshire Hathaway ranking ahead of Apple’s $170.9 billion in revenue. Apple’s profit of $37 billion dollars also ranked first among Fortune 500 companies despite falling 11.3% from last year.

Apple announced last week that it would be buying Beats Electronics and the Beats Music streaming service for a total of $3 billion, making it the largest acquisition in company history. Apple is also expected to launch a number of new products this year, including a larger iPhone, new Macs, new versions of OS X and iOS, and an “iWatch” smartwatch.

Apparent Artwork From iOS 8 Banner Found on Stock Photo Site [Mac Blog]

The artwork seen on the banner for iOS 8 at WWDC 2014 has been discovered on stock photo site GreenBox Art, revealing where Apple sourced the image.

“Water Rays” artwork by Christopher Ross
Titled “Water Rays”, the apparent photo was taken by artist Christopher Ross, who is noted as being the principal photographer for National Geographic Channel’s “Expedition Great White/ Shark Men” special and taking a particular interest in depicting marine life. The artwork itself is available to purchase for $139 on a 30×20 premium canvas.

The banner displaying the artwork
The banner utilizing the artwork was first seen last week inside of the Moscone Center, as Apple will reveal iOS 8 for the first time during its WWDC keynote later today. iOS 8 is expected to retain the same general look as iOS 7, offering refinements along with new features including a new “Healthbook” app, new TextEdit and Preview apps, and possible improvements to both Siri and Maps.

Apple will be live streaming the event both on its website and on the Apple TV. MacRumors will also be providing a live blog, live tweets via the MacRumorsLive Twitter account, and a spoiler-free page for those who want to watch the full keynote afterward.