WWDC 2008 Announced

Apple unveils new products and features at WWDC 2008

Apple has announced a range of new products and features at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. The event, which runs from June 9 to June 13, showcases the latest innovations and technologies from the Cupertino-based company.

Among the highlights of the keynote speech by Apple CEO Steve Jobs were:

The launch of the iPhone 3G, a faster and cheaper version of the popular smartphone that supports 3G networks and GPS.

The introduction of MobileMe, a new online service that syncs email, contacts, calendars, photos and files across multiple devices.

The preview of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the next major version of the operating system that focuses on performance, stability and compatibility.

The announcement of new features and enhancements for the iPhone software development kit (SDK), including support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and push notifications.

Jobs also revealed that more than 10 million iPhones have been sold since its launch in June 2007, and that over 250,000 developers have signed up for the iPhone Developer Program. He also announced that the App Store, a new online marketplace for iPhone applications, will be available in July.

\"We're excited to show you some of the amazing things we've been working on,\" Jobs said. \"We think you'll love them as much as we do.\"

iPhone 3G: The second generation of the iPhone features a sleeker design, a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a built-in speaker. It also supports 3G networks, which offer faster data speeds and wider coverage than the previous EDGE networks. Additionally, the iPhone 3G has a built-in GPS receiver that enables location-based services and applications. The iPhone 3G will be available in two colors: black and white. It will cost $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model, with a two-year contract. It will go on sale in 22 countries on July 11, and in more than 70 countries by the end of the year.

MobileMe: MobileMe is a new online service that replaces .Mac and offers seamless synchronization of email, contacts, calendars, photos and files across multiple devices, including Macs, PCs, iPhones and iPods. Users can access their data from any web browser or from dedicated applications on their devices. MobileMe also provides 20GB of online storage, web galleries for sharing photos and videos, and a suite of web applications that mimic the look and feel of desktop applications. MobileMe will cost $99 per year for an individual subscription and $149 per year for a family pack that includes five accounts. Existing .Mac members will be automatically upgraded to MobileMe.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard: The next major version of the Mac operating system will focus on improving the performance, stability and compatibility of the existing features and applications, rather than adding new ones. Snow Leopard will take advantage of the latest hardware and software technologies, such as multi-core processors, 64-bit computing, OpenCL and Grand Central Dispatch. It will also include a new version of Safari that is faster and more secure, and a new version of QuickTime that supports modern video formats and high-definition playback. Snow Leopard will be available in about a year and will be compatible with all Macs that use Intel processors.

iPhone SDK: The iPhone software development kit (SDK) allows developers to create applications for the iPhone and iPod touch using the same tools and frameworks that Apple uses. The SDK includes Xcode, Interface Builder, Instruments, iPhone Simulator and Cocoa Touch. It also supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, which allows users to access their corporate email, contacts and calendars on their devices. Additionally, the SDK enables push notifications, which allow applications to send alerts to users even when they are not running. The SDK is available for free to all developers who sign up for the iPhone Developer Program.

App Store: The App Store is a new online marketplace that allows users to browse, purchase and download applications for their iPhones and iPods. The App Store will feature applications in various categories, such as games, entertainment, social networking, productivity and education. Users can access the App Store from their devices or from iTunes on their computers. Developers can set their own prices for their applications and keep 70% of the revenue. Apple will handle the hosting, distribution and billing of the applications. The App Store will be available in July and will launch with over 500 applications. ec8f644aee