When the Apple Watch was launched it supported third-party apps however, those could only work as long as you were connected to your iPhone. watchOS 2 will now bring native apps to the Apple Watch along with many other refinements, performance improvements and features.

watchOS 2 includes 3 new types of watch faces: Photo, Photo Album and Time-lapse. With the new update even App Store developers will be able to add support for complications.

Time Travel allows you to turn the Digital Crown to view complications (events, weather, car charge etc.) as it would change in future or see how it was in the past.

All new Nightstand mode is a very handy feature which is activated when you charge your Apple Watch. The display comes illuminates when you touch the screen, digital crown or the side button. You can even turn off the alarm by pressing the side button or press the Digital Crown to snooze.

Native apps on Apple Watch will bring better performance and even more capabilities. Third-party developers will now be able to use the taptic engine, digital crown, accelerometer, heart rate sensor, speaker and microphone to create unique experiences.

Apple’s built-in apps have also been updated in watchOS 2. Mail app can now be used to reply to emails by either dictating, sending an emoji or selecting relevant preset replies.

With the new update adding more friends has become easier. The Apple Watch now allows you to add multiple Friends screens, each of which can hold upto 12 contacts.

Sending hand-drawn messages to friends who also have an Apple Watch has become more colourful. The new update makes it possible to use different colors to sketch your message.

Just like in iOS 9 Maps app received new transit feature, watchOS 2 also includes Transit navigation. Apple Pay on Apple Watch has gained support for loyalty and reward cards.

Lastly, Apple has brought activation lock to the Apple Watch. In order to activate your watch in case it gets lost or stolen the watch will prompt you to enter your iCloud Apple ID and password.

watchOS 2 brings many new features to the Apple Watch. Some of the biggest enhancements include native apps, third-party complications, and activation lock. The update will be available for free for all Apple Watch users this fall.

Just like most Apple products, Apple Music isn’t the first of its kind in the market. Apps like Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio and many more have been dominating the music streaming market.

Jimmy Iovine took the stage for the first time as an Apple employee during the WWDC keynote event and shared details about Apple’s upcoming music streaming service. Apple Music will allow users to stream unlimited music, offer 24×7 global radio station and include social media integration for artists to connect with their fans.

Apple Music will recommend songs based on the music you own and offer hand-picked playlists that match your taste in music. This will allow users to discover great tracks that otherwise could go undiscovered.

Beats 1 will be integrated into the default Music app on iOS 9 and will mark Apple’s entry into the world of radio stations as it will offer a global 24×7 channel for the latest music, interviews and culture.

Another feature as a part of the new music streaming service is Connect. It’s where artists will be able to share unreleased demo tracks, acoustic version of the latest hit, video shot in the studio and much more.

Apple Music will be publicly available on June 30 on iOS and Android. The service will offer a generous three-month trial and post that it will cost $9.99 a month for an individual user and $14.99 a month for family plan.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2013) will kick off on June 10 with a keynote presentation by Tim Cook. At this years WWDC Apple will announce the next major software updates iOS 7 and OS X 10.9.

The company has decorated the venue Moscone Center with banners of the event. These banners are similar invite that Apple sent out to the developers. The photo of the banner had a tagline saying “Where a whole new world’s developing”.

More than 5000 developers attend the conference every year and Apple uses this as a platform to announce the latest mobile and desktop operating systems. In addition to previewing the future of iOS and OS X Apple will also share beta versions of the software with the developers to test the upcoming updates.

According to the rumors and reports we’ve reported in the past Apple is widely expected to unveil a redesigned version of iOS with a flatter design that lacks glossy look and 3D textures. The company could also announce new MacBook Air and Pro models during the keynote.

We’re not expecting any new iPhone during the WWDC as the focus of the entire conference will be software related. It’s not clear if Apple will live stream the event however, we will be bringing you all-in-one live feed of the keynote event as it goes live on June 10.

{via 9to5 Mac}

During Apple’s WWDC keynote event on Monday, the company introduced iOS 6 with a redesigned Maps application, built entirely from the ground up. Rumors that Apple was looking to abandon its reliance on Google’s Map data for its Maps app were around for quite some time, and now it has been confirmed.

The new and improved Maps application in iOS 6 adds a number of features not seen in the Google version included in iOS since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. All of the cartography was done by Apple, with images taken from airplanes from above for the 3D mapping portion of the data.

The new Maps app is based entirely off a Vector engine, providing smooth scrolling, panning and zooming when navigating maps. Features of the new Maps application include, turn-by-turn directions that can also be operated with Siri, local search for millions of businesses,, a crowd-sourced traffic service for real time updates on accidents and traffic issues, Yelp integration, and 3D mapping called ‘Flyover’. The Turn by Turn navigation is presented with street names, smooth, and can switch quickly from an overhead map to navigation.

Apple’s 3D Flyover feature is an excellent replacement for Google’s own Street View and allows users to pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate an almost real time 3D image. The 3D images allow for a 360° view of buildings and allows direct interaction with the picture, unlike the current version which can only be moved horizontally or vertically and is restricted at some points.

iOS 6 will be released publicly sometime during the fall timeframe of iPhone 5. Apple issued iOS 6 beta 1 to developers during the event on Monday and will release several betas before the public release.

{Image Credit: Apple}

Apple introduced Siri with the introduction of the iPhone 4S last October. During the company’s WWDC keynote event, SVP of iOS Software Scott Forstall took the stage to announce new updates to the personal assistant, Siri, to be included in iOS 6. The software update includes improved features such as asking Siri for sports scores, history of college and professional sports teams, as well as stats, and detailed info on other professional athletes. It also provides up to the minute updates on live sports games.

With Siri on iOS 6 now being able to provide sports information, users will no longer have to go to websites to see updates and scores. Apple also improved on Siri’s abilities to access applications on the device, by allowing Siri to open applications via voice command. Upon a command, Siri does not pull up a menu or navigation menu of any sorts and instead, jumps directly into the app and begins to run it.

The Cupertino company also improved on Siri’s movie and restaurant search capabilities. With restaurant searches, Siri on iOS 6 utilizes data from Yelp, giving information on prices, and reviews and is also connected with OpenTable for quick reservations. Siri is also hooked up with Rotten Tomatoes for movies, giving users direct access to reviews of the movie and the option to watch the trailer without closing the queue. Siri can now also provide quick access to information about directors of movies, actors, actresses and a variety of other details.

Other features include Eyes Free and Facebook integration. Apple introduced Eyes Free by teaming up with a number of car companies to directly build Siri functionality into new models of their cars. The feature can be directly accessed via a button on the steering wheel and will not switch on the screen of the iPhone but will entirely operate through voice commands. Facebook integration operates similarly to Twitter on iOS 5 and allows users to post photos, web pages, and other forms of media through a pop-up menu anywhere in the OS. The company also released this feature as a public API to give developers the option to build this feature into their own apps.

Forstall introduced these updates, and following the explanation of all of the features, mentioned that Siri would now also be coming to the new iPad as well, following the public release of iOS 6 later this year. iOS 6 will be introduced later this year, during the same fall timeframe that the next generation iPhone is expected.

Apple’s annual WWDC keynote event will kick off today at 10:00AM as Tim Cook takes the stage to announce the company’s latest products and updates. During this years live keynote event Apple is widely expected to unveil iOS 6, new MacBook Pro models and provide an update on OS X Mountain Lion.

Touch Reviews will be bringing you the All-in-One live feed of the keynote so you can sit back and know what’s the latest without refreshing this page. iOS 6 is the sixth version of Apple’s mobile operating system and is expected to bring many new features and enhancements that could include, deep Facebook integration, updated Siri, iCloud feature update and much more.

While in 2011 Apple’s WWDC keynote event was all about software, this year the company is rumored to introduce new MacBook Pro models and for the first time bring ‘Retina Display’ to the MacBook product line. The new models have been speculated to have design similar to MacBook Air however, the next gen MacBook Pro models could see a significant price increase.

iOS devices contribute towards the largest chunk of Apple’s revenue share so it’s safe to assume that the focus of this years WWDC live keynote event will certainly be iOS 6. During All Things D’s D8 Conference Tim Cook gave subtle hints by saying “stay tuned” when he was questioned about Facebook integration and Siri. So, we can expect those two enhancements to certainly be a part of iOS 6.

You’ll be able to download and stream the keynote soon after the event. What are your expectations from this years event? Let us know in the comments section.

Check back soon for the live coverage.

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You don’t need to refresh this page! Live updates will appear below:

Apple’s WWDC keynote event is only a few hours away, where Apple is expected to introduce new MacBook models as well the next version of the company’s mobile operating system, iOS 6. On Friday, a number of images of iOS 6 banners were posted by CNet, all of which were being set up in Moscone West, the building where Apple’s WWDC  2012 keynote event is being held.

With the images as proof of iOS 6, it is confirmed that Apple will be previewing features of iOS 6 during the keynote event. The images depict banners reading “iOS 6, The World’s Most Advanced Mobile Operating System” being put up by workers in the entrance hall of Moscone West. iOS 6 has long been rumored to be making an appearance at WWDC 2012, with the software showing up in web logs and running on an iPad.

The ‘6’ on the banner appears to have a background of water ripples, likely continuing Apple’s water theme, previously water droplets on glass in iOS 5. This means that the background and other promotional items will likely ship with this new background once iOS 6 is finally announced and later issued for public release.

Apple’s WWDC keynote event begins on June 11th and it is clear that iOS 6 will be a part of it, although specific details as to what will be included in the update is unknown. Other products such as new MacBooks are also expected to be announced. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you updated.

The rumor about a new iPhone 5 / 4S has spread across the web and has caused many to believe that it may just be Steve Jobs’ “One More Thing”. Apple earlier in the week announced that during the WWDC keynote event Jobs will offer an extensive look at Mac OS X Lion, iOS 5 (next iteration of iOS) and iCloud (Apple’s upcoming cloud based service).

An event based entirely on software is a very unlikely move for Apple. The rumor mill believes that iPhone 5 / 4S could be unveiled at this years WWDC as a surprise. Fifth gen iPhone according to various reports we’ve published will feature a dual-core A5 chip, an 8 megapixel camera and support both GSM and CDMA networks on one global device.

Unlike previous years Apple has already shared details about the conference in their press release. Could this be a calculated move to suddenly unveil the next gen iPhone when everyone least expects it?

Apple might not introduce an all-new-design for its smartphone this year and A5 chip has already been introduced with iPad 2. So, the basic hardware changes Apple could be looking at might just be ready for the next gen iPhone.

Whether the iPhone 5 / 4S is revealed or not, Apple will definitely be putting on a big event for investors and customers alike, improving their services and exploring new environments with cloud based offerings.

The latest offering from Twitter not only allows you to upload and share images but also presents them in search results using hashtags. Given the interest in photography apps and iPhone being the most used device to upload images to flickr we can certainly see the system-level twitter integration being a huge hit among avid twitter users.

If rumors are to be believed then Apple could be looking at building somthing called “MediaStreams” which will allow users set up “Photo Streams” and allow users’ friends to ‘subscribe’ or ‘follow’ for updates. The Cupertino based company could also be looking at introducing “Find my friends” which will be closely tied to the new social networking features.

We have been reporting on various rumors which outline the upcoming features in iOS 5. It is widely believed that iOS 5 will introduce a new notification system, widgets, cloud services tied and a completely revamped MobileMe.

Twitter and other social networking platforms being integrated at a system-level in iOS 5 certainly sounds very exciting and it will be interesting to see what Apple has in store for us.

We have been discussing Apple’s upcoming cloud services called “iCloud” for a while and now just before the WWDC keynote event its showing all signs of coming to life. Patently Apple recently reported that Apple Inc. has applied for “iCloud” trademark in Europe under “12 distinct international classes” which cover a wide range of services the company could offer. In its application Apple mentions services like delivering digital music by telecommunications, electronic storage, online social networking services, multimedia content for a fee or pre-paid subscription, computer software, electronic books and magazines, entertainment, photographic services, business management and advertising services, games, headgear and digital devices/computers.

Google and Amazon already have a head start over Apple in cloud based services however, only Apple is believed to have secured license deals with major music labels which include Sony, Warner Music and EMI. This will give Apple an edge over its competitors. iCloud could simply scan the computer and automatically sync songs, movies and TV shows to the cloud giving access to the content you own anytime and anywhere.

Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off with a keynote event by Steve Jobs and other Apple executives. Unlike, previous WWDC this year the primary focus will be software where the “next generation software” will be unveiled. Mac OS X Lion is believed to have reached final stages of testing and could be made available after the event on June 06. The latest developer build of Snow Leopard updates Mac App Store so that your Mac is ready for the upgrade.

With a constant flow of news and reports Apple certainly has been successful in building up the excitement as the event is now just 4 days away. On Tuesday, iWork suite of productivity apps were updated to a universal binary which means that now you can install Pages, Keynote and Numbers on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Are you excited about iCloud and iOS 5? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

The least we will see, apparently, is the ability to pull Facebook contacts into your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch directly from Facebook. But as Business Insider themselves say, this is a no-brainer. It’s little different than Apple offering automatic setups for Yahoo and GMail email accounts, for example.

It’s interesting to note that this last week or so Facebook have been busy altering some aspects of the way their security and privacy works. Quite often to the chagrin of their users, as things have not always gone smoothly (if Tweets I am seeing are anything to go by). I have to wonder if this is partly because of pressure that Apple may have put on Facebook before they commit, and the short time frame to the WWDC.

Other sources say that it’s possible that we may see some Facebook integration into the iPhone SDK, so that app developers can integrate social networking features more easily directly into their products.

Another rumor is some kind of Facebook messaging integration, or even a feature that ties phone caller info and Facebook profiles together.

It is worth noting, as Business Insider also point out, that Apple’s iPhoto app already offers Facebook features. And that some 34.2 million people were using the Facebook iPhone app as of last month. So it shouldn’t be surprising if the two companies decide to work together to some greater or lesser degree.

I am no fan of Facebook personally. But from a business perspective it seems Apple perhaps would be silly to ignore a service which is obviously so popular with the masses.

Will you welcome tighter Facebook integration on your iPhone? Let us know in the comments.