WWDC 2008 keynote.
Monday, June 09, 2008 at 12:31 PM | Posted by kazouz
Steve Jobs appears on stage at 10:05am Pacific and announces that there are 52,000 attendees at WWDC 2008.
He starts off talking about iPhone 2.0. In the first 95 days of availability of the SDK, over 250,000 people have downloaded it and 4,000 people are in the beta program. He adds that there are three parts to iPhone 2.0: Enterprise, SDK, and new end-user features.
He then proceeds to demonstrate the iPhone’s set of APIs: Cocoa Touch, Media, Core Services, Core OS (same kernel as Mac OS X) and development tools such as xCode, Interface Builder, the iPhone simulator, and Instruments.
Jobs then invites developers on stage to demo their applications.
The Apple CEO retakes the stage and discusses new features in the iPhone 2.0 software:
- contact search with live searching
- full iWork document support
- complete support for Office documents (Word, Excel, and now PowerPoint)
- bulk delete & move for messages
- the ability to save images received
- new calculator with scientific mode when you rotate the iPhone
- parental controls
- tremendous language support
The App Store: way for developers to reach every iPhone user, available in 62 countries. It will debut in early July and will be free for iPhone owners and $9.95 for the iPod touch.
Phil Schiller then takes Jobs’ place on stage to talk about MobileMe. He says it works like ActiveSync with Push email, contacts, and calendars. MobileMe works over the air and changes are displayed immediately. MobileMe, which replaces .mac, will be available as a free 60-day trial along with the iPhone 2.0 software in early July.
Steve then replaces Phil on stage to talk about the iPhone’s first birthday. In the first year, 6 million iPhones were sold until Apple ran out several weeks ago.
He then lists the following as the challenges for the future:
- 3G network support
- Enterprise support
- Third party application support
- More countries
- More affordable
Jobs introduces the iPhone 3G:
- 3G (faster data downloads)
- GPS included
- thinner than first-gen model
- black plastic back
- solid metal buttons
- same gorgeous display
- camera
- flush headphone jack
- dramatically improved audio
- $199 for 8 GB and $299 for 16 GB
- Available July 11th in 22 countries.
Reader Comments
As a first generation iPhone owner, the results of Mr. Jobs initial PR regarding the next generation of iPhones was somewhat disappointing. I expected a lot more from the mind-trust at Apples super-secretive R&D;bunker.
The least they could have given us faithful was realtime HD video recording.
I would have also appreciated a solution which allow me to link my iPhone Internet connection with my MacBook Pro, (legally of course!).
Another suggestion for the Apple Brain-trust… How about the ability to link the iPhone to an external portable keyboard? Typing would be a lot easier.
All in all, unfortunately, I am not that impressed with anything other than the increase in speed. I traded in my 3 month old 8525 with 3G for the iPhone 1st generation, and have found it to be acceptable, but not overwhelming, compared to other similar phones available right now (with more features).
I think I might wait until the 3rd generation comes out next year, and in the meantime just continue to use my 3G express card in my MB Pro.