Today brought an extra long keynote for Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, and in addition to the expected macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS updates, Apple announced a slew of hardware, including refreshed iMacs and MacBook Pros, a 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and an updated 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Also in the hardware pipeline is a high-end iMac Pro and Apple’s entry in the smart speaker race, the HomePod. We’ve been writing hard all day, so apologies in advance for any rough edges that we didn’t have time to smooth out! Notable software releases this week include Evernote 6.11.1, Quicken 2017 for Mac 4.5.6, Fantastical 2.3.8, DEVONagent 3.9.7, DEVONthink/DEVONnote 2.9.12, Caboodle 2.0.3, iMovie 10.1.6, BBEdit 11.6.6, and HoudahGeo 5.1.9.
Apple has again stealthily updated the AirPods firmware. Josh Centers reminds you how to go about updating the firmware in your AirPods.
The Apple TV will finally get an Amazon Prime Video app, but Apple TV fans will have to wait for it and any other new features Apple is planning.
At WWDC, Apple unveiled the HomePod, its entry into the smart speaker market. Due to ship in December for $349, the HomePod promises to provide high-quality audio and virtual assistant capabilities via Siri. We’ll just have to wait until then to see how it compares with the Amazon Echo and Google Home devices.
The bad news is that the 9.7-inch model of the iPad Pro is history. The good news is everything else, including a 10.5-inch iPad Pro, improvements to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model, and iPad-specific improvements in iOS 11. The new hardware is available this month; we’ll have to wait until fall for iOS 11.
Apple today announced that macOS 10.13 High Sierra will include important under-the-hood improvements, as well as targeted tweaks to Apple apps. The free update to macOS will run on all Macs that can run macOS 10.12 Sierra.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an overarching theme to iOS 11. This release will focus on dozens of small refinements, but they could turn into key features in the future.
Apple has announced the fourth major update to watchOS for the Apple Watch. Improvements include person-to-person payments, enhanced fitness tracking, and updated music controls, plus new watch faces.
Notable software releases this week include Evernote 6.11.1, Quicken 2017 for Mac 4.5.6, Fantastical 2.3.8, DEVONagent 3.9.7, DEVONthink/DEVONnote 2.9.12, Caboodle 2.0.3, iMovie 10.1.6, BBEdit 11.6.6, and HoudahGeo 5.1.9.
In ExtraBITS this week, Walt Mossberg pens his last weekly column and patent trolls have been dealt a major blow in the U.S. Supreme Court.