San Francisco: Apple kicked off its annual conference for software developers in San Francisco on Monday, unveiling plans for a music-streaming service, new apps for its smart watch and the overseas expansion of its mobile payments system.
A look at some of the announcements:
1. Apple Music
The service will combine a 24-hour, seven-day live radio station called "Beats 1" with an on-demand music streaming service. It will cost $10 a month for one person or $15 a month for a family of up to six people. The first three months will be free.
2. Apple Pay Expansion
The mobile-payment system, which had only been available in the U.S., will expand to the United Kingdom, next month. Apple Pay will also start working with some store-issued credit cards and let users track and use rewards from some merchant loyalty programs.
3. Expanded Watch Apps
Developers will now be able to make apps specifically for Apple Watch and interact directly with the watch's sensors and controls, such as the dial. Third-party apps for the watch had been limited to being extensions of apps that run on the iPhone.
4. Mobile Update
Apple Maps will get public-transit information as part of an update to the iOS mobile operating system due out in September. The update will also bring better battery life and improved security. Apple is also adding "multi-tasking" capability for iPads, allowing users to split the screen between two different apps and use both at the same time.
5. News App
The app will feature a personalized feed based on a user's interests and choices. It pulls text, photos and video from a variety of sources.
6. El Capitan
The update to Apple's Mac operating system - dubbed El Capitan after a landmark in Yosemite National Park - will include features like the ability to run multiple apps in split-screen mode and pinning frequently visited sites on a bar at the top of the Safari browser.
Comments
0 comment