[h=3]By GREG BENSINGER And JESSICA E. LESSIN[/h] SAN FRANCISCO—Apple Inc. introduced the new version of its mobile operating system iOS 7 at its annual developer event here Monday, highlighting a host of new features and a more streamlined look.
Chief Executive Tim Cook said the update was the "biggest change" to Apple's mobile software since the first iPhone was launched in 2007. The software has new fonts and more colors and will feature a new service called iTunes Radio, for listening to and sharing music.
The software will be released this fall, and will be available for the iPhone 4 and newer models.
Among the other changes to the software are more tabs in the Safari browser, easier photo and video sharing through Wi-Fi in an application called AirDrop, and the ability to organize photos based on where they were taken and when. The company said its Siri voice-activation software is also being updated to include search results from Twitter and Microsoft Corp.'s Bing browser.
The new software will also include a theft-protection service called Activation Lock, that prevents reactivation of a phone in certain circumstances.
Eddy Cue, Apple's chief of Internet services and software, said the new iTunes Radio will also be built into the Apple TV set-top box and can be ad-free for customers who pay extra.
At the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Apple also announced a new line of MacBook Air laptop computers that it promised would have "all day battery life" and faster Wi-Fi capabilities. Phil Schiller, Apple's marketing chief, said the new laptops would begin shipping to customers immediately.
Mr. Schiller also previewed a new version of the Mac Pro desktop computer, promising faster speeds and a size about one-eighth that of previous models. The computer which will be assembled in the U.S., will be released later this year, he said, without giving specifics.
[h=3]Apple's WWDC 2013[/h]
Stephen Lam/Reuters Mr. Cook took the stage at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco Monday.
[h=3]The Apple Evolution: Product Hits and Misses[/h]
Associated Press
Apple’s annual developer’s conference is expected to be a showcase for the new head of software, Jonathan Ive. But are investors less jazzed. Spencer Ante reports. Photo: Getty Images.
"Can't innovate anymore my a--," Mr. Schiller said, seeming to refer to recent criticism Apple has faced over its pace of new releases.
Earlier in the keynote address, Craig Federighi, who runs Apple's Mac and mobile software groups, unveiled new Mac operating system software, dubbed "Mavericks" in reference to a surfing spot in Northern California. It includes new ways to handle multiple windows and screens, as well as new power-optimization features.
Mr. Federighi also announced a password retrieval application called iCloud Keychain that will work across Apple products to help users login to websites.
He said the software would be available in the fall.
Mr. Federighi also announced Apple's iBooks application would be available on Mac computers for the first time. The company has 1.8 million books available for download in its digital bookstore, he said.
"Now your books are available on whatever device you choose to read them on," said Mr. Federighi.
Mr. Cook earlier announced the company's app store now has 900,000 apps available and has paid $10 billion to app developers since the app store was opened more than five years ago; about half of that in past year alone. Google Inc.'s Play store has about 975,000 apps.
Write to Greg Bensinger at [email protected] and Jessica E. Lessin at [email protected]
Chief Executive Tim Cook said the update was the "biggest change" to Apple's mobile software since the first iPhone was launched in 2007. The software has new fonts and more colors and will feature a new service called iTunes Radio, for listening to and sharing music.
The software will be released this fall, and will be available for the iPhone 4 and newer models.
Among the other changes to the software are more tabs in the Safari browser, easier photo and video sharing through Wi-Fi in an application called AirDrop, and the ability to organize photos based on where they were taken and when. The company said its Siri voice-activation software is also being updated to include search results from Twitter and Microsoft Corp.'s Bing browser.
The new software will also include a theft-protection service called Activation Lock, that prevents reactivation of a phone in certain circumstances.
Eddy Cue, Apple's chief of Internet services and software, said the new iTunes Radio will also be built into the Apple TV set-top box and can be ad-free for customers who pay extra.
At the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Apple also announced a new line of MacBook Air laptop computers that it promised would have "all day battery life" and faster Wi-Fi capabilities. Phil Schiller, Apple's marketing chief, said the new laptops would begin shipping to customers immediately.
Mr. Schiller also previewed a new version of the Mac Pro desktop computer, promising faster speeds and a size about one-eighth that of previous models. The computer which will be assembled in the U.S., will be released later this year, he said, without giving specifics.
[h=3]Apple's WWDC 2013[/h]
Stephen Lam/Reuters Mr. Cook took the stage at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco Monday.
[h=3]The Apple Evolution: Product Hits and Misses[/h]
Associated Press
Apple’s annual developer’s conference is expected to be a showcase for the new head of software, Jonathan Ive. But are investors less jazzed. Spencer Ante reports. Photo: Getty Images.
"Can't innovate anymore my a--," Mr. Schiller said, seeming to refer to recent criticism Apple has faced over its pace of new releases.
Earlier in the keynote address, Craig Federighi, who runs Apple's Mac and mobile software groups, unveiled new Mac operating system software, dubbed "Mavericks" in reference to a surfing spot in Northern California. It includes new ways to handle multiple windows and screens, as well as new power-optimization features.
Mr. Federighi also announced a password retrieval application called iCloud Keychain that will work across Apple products to help users login to websites.
He said the software would be available in the fall.
Mr. Federighi also announced Apple's iBooks application would be available on Mac computers for the first time. The company has 1.8 million books available for download in its digital bookstore, he said.
"Now your books are available on whatever device you choose to read them on," said Mr. Federighi.
Mr. Cook earlier announced the company's app store now has 900,000 apps available and has paid $10 billion to app developers since the app store was opened more than five years ago; about half of that in past year alone. Google Inc.'s Play store has about 975,000 apps.
Write to Greg Bensinger at [email protected] and Jessica E. Lessin at [email protected]