Apple has been granted a patent for a possible future iPhone with a wraparound all-glass display (via Patently Apple).
The application was submitted in 2011 but granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today, detailing various embodiments of a portable consumer device with a wraparound screen.
In one example, the device is described as having a transparent housing and a flexible display enclosed within it which is capable of showing visual content at any position inside the housing – using virtual buttons in place of physical volume controls on the handset edge, for instance.
The same embodiment is also described as having a second flexible display assembly that works in concert with the primary one to present visual content in positions beyond the main screen.
The concept images appear to show an old 30-pin connector on the device, likely because Apple's Lightning port had yet to come to market when they were being drawn up.
Nevertheless, the granted patent is timely for Apple – rumors since the beginning of the year have suggested it is looking at the possibility of adopting a curved display for the 2017 iPhone, however it is unclear whether the invention described here would be linked to any special "anniversary iPhone" Apple may be working on.
Other rumors about the 2017 iPhone, which may be called the "iPhone 8" instead of the traditional "iPhone 7s" because of the changes expected, include an edge-to-edge bezel-free display with built-in Touch ID functionality, no home button, and a glass body.
Apple has quietly dropped the requirement that tvOS developers make their games playable using the Siri Remote as a controller.
The policy change was discovered in an update to an existing Apple TV support document covering the use of game controllers, and highlighted by MacRumors' sister site TouchArcade as a revision that will surely be welcomed by developers and gamers alike.
The MFi-compatible Nimbus Steelseries Controller
The updated document now recommends to developers: "When designing a tvOS game, you may require the use of an MFi game controller, but where possible you should also support the Siri Remote."
The wording reflects a subtle but significant softening of the company's previous stance on Siri Remote controller support. At the launch of the fourth-generation Apple TV last year, Apple initially encouraged game developers to support the Siri Remote included with the device, but eventually hardened its stance by stipulating the support as a necessary requirement.
That vexed some developers who complained that the Siri Remote simply doesn't function well as a controller for more complex games that involve finer grained control and subtler movements.
The reversed stance therefore paves the way for developers to bring games to Apple TV that would have previously been considered unplayable on the platform.
On the flip side of course, it's also likely to mean that some games which subsequently appear in the Apple TV App Store will be out of reach of users who do not own a compatible third-party MFi game controller.
In related news, Apple yesterday demoed an updated Remote app for the fourth-gen Apple TV and tvOS which mirrors the functionality of the Siri Remote and also allows users to play games using their iPhone.
The company also used its WWDC 2016 keynote to announce an updated version of tvOS that includes new functionality and features for Siri, single sign-on and more.
Apple yesterday announced macOS Sierra, the latest version of its Mac software platform and renamed successor to OS X El Capitan. The first beta was released to developers following yesterday's keynote, providing early adopters with a closer look at what's new.
Apple File System
Apple File System, or APFS, is a next-generation file system for Apple products based upon the iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS software platforms, ranging from the Apple Watch to a Mac Pro.
APFS, which supports nearly all of the features of HFS+, is optimized for Flash/SSD storage and features strong encryption, copy-on-write metadata, space sharing, cloning for files and directories, snapshots, fast directory sizing, atomic safe-save primitives, and improved file system fundamentals.
Apple has posted an Apple File System Guide on its Developer Portal with technical details and other documentation.
The file system is available in pre-release beta for Apple developers on macOS Sierra and is scheduled to ship in 2017.
RAID Support
Apple has reintroduced the ability to create and manage RAID volumes in Disk Utility on macOS Sierra, pleasing a number of Mac users who were left disappointed when the functionality disappeared in OS X El Capitan.
"Anywhere" Dropped From Gatekeeper
Apple has removed the Gatekeeper option to allow apps to be downloaded from "anywhere" by default in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, resulting in a warning dialog when you attempt to open an app from an unidentified developer. "Mac App Store" and "Mac App Store and identified developers" remain selectable.
Apps from unidentified developers can normally be opened by clicking the "Open Anyway" button in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, but the macOS Sierra release notes indicate that this button does not work in the first beta. A workaround solution is to hold down the Control key, click on an application, and choose "open."
Default Text Size in Notes
Optimized Storage
macOS Sierra has a new optimized storage function that frees disk space on your Mac by automatically storing rarely used files in the cloud and keeping them available on demand. It can also help you find and remove old files you no longer use.
During its WWDC 2016 keynote, Apple briefly showed slides that indicate which types of files are stored or deleted.
Old files that are backed up to iCloud include ePub books you've read, books in iBooks you've read, old screenshots, iTunes U courses you're not using, full-resolution photos, Mac App Store apps you're not using, old presentations, old PNGs and JPEGs, old RAW files, old text files, old word processing documents, old documents, languages you're not using, played iTunes podcasts, old home videos, fonts you're not using, old Mail attachments, old illustrations, movies in iTunes you've watched, dictionaries you're not using, viewed iTunes TV shows, iTunes songs you don't listen to, old clippings, old spreadsheets, and instructional system videos.
Old files that can be found and removed include redundant Mail data, previous OS X installers, Apple Music playback caches, Safari web caches, cached iBooks animations, event logs, cached Map tiles, fault and error logs, iTunes inactive downloads, cached iBooks covers, trash after 30 days, Safari Web Cache, Configurator iOS files, Quick Look thumbnails, iTunes IPSW files, state dump logs, iBooks inactive downloads, archived Safari Reading List, persistent logs, Mac App Store inactive downloads, Xcode caches, old iPhone backups, Configurator inactive downloads, iTunes orphaned database temporary files, and TTL log files.
Apple today unveiled new versions of iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS, all of which are jam-packed with new features. iOS in particular was referred to as Apple's biggest iOS update ever, with major improvements to Messages, Apple Music, Siri, and tons of other minor features.
It took Apple two hours to go over all of the features in the four operating systems and it was still a lot to take in, so we made a seven minute recap video that features all of the need-to-know highlights.
Stay tuned to MacRumors.com going forward because we're going to be sharing in-depth videos highlighting new features in iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS throughout the coming weeks, and we'll be publishing detailed roundups with everything you need to know about all of Apple's upcoming software updates.
All of the four operating systems are currently available to developers only with a release slated for the fall of 2016.
Apple today announced macOS Sierra, the latest version of its Mac software platform and renamed successor to OS X El Capitan. The first beta of the update was seeded to developers earlier today, while a public beta will be released in July.
macOS Sierra will be available as a free software update for compatible MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro models in the fall. Many 2007 to 2009 Macs that are compatible with OS X El Capitan will not be upgradeable to macOS Sierra, as the cutoff is now at least Late 2009.
The official list of Macs compatible with macOS Sierra:
Late 2009 or Later
MacBook
iMac
2010 or Later
MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
Mac mini
Mac Pro
To determine your Mac's model year, click on the Apple logo in the top-left menu bar and select About This Mac. The model year is listed in the main Overview tab.
Following its WWDC keynote address, Apple held an event to announce the winners of its prestigious Apple Design Awards. The company hands out its design awards every year during WWDC, highlighting a section of the best apps and games across Apple's various operating systems.
The design awards were created to recognize high-quality apps that used savvy design to create inventive, compelling new apps and games. Winners of the design awards receive significant recognition, a trophy and receive a selection of Apple products directly from the company.
This year's winners include popular game Lara Croft Go, 3D4Medical's Complete Anatomy, music creation tool Auxy, desktop-class writing app Ulysses Mobile and more.
Apple today announced iOS 10, the next major version of its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch software platform. The update is available in beta for Apple developers starting today, allowing early adopters to update and take a closer look at what's new. A public beta will be available in July, followed by an official launch in the fall.
iOS 10 includes a number of changes that Apple neglected to mention in greater detail on stage during its WWDC 2016 keynote, including a new Wake Alarm in the Clock app, individualized read receipts, a new option in the Music app to optimize storage, and many other features outlined below.
The apps are now available as standalone downloads on the App Store, meaning that Apple can issue updates for each app independent of iOS updates.
If you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, removing an app from your Home screen also removes that app from your Apple Watch.
Removing apps can unsurprisingly impact related functionalities such as CarPlay and Notification Center widgets.
Wake Alarm
A new Bedtime tab has been added to the Clock app with a Wake Alarm function that can help you go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. When enabled, the recurring wake-up alarm will remind you when it is time to sleep, track how many hours you slept, and provide detailed sleep analysis.
Individual Read Receipts
Read receipts can be toggled on a per-person or per-conversation basis on iOS 10, rather than be simply turned on or off entirely.
During the tvOS section of Apple's WWDC keynote today, the company confirmed that Sling TV will be getting an app for the fourth-generation Apple TV. Now, Sling TV has confirmed that the live-streaming app is available to download from the tvOS store, "delivering a live, linear and on-demand multichannel pay-TV service all within a single app."
The Apple TV rollout will introduce a brand-new user interface that the company plans to install on other devices in the coming months. Anyone who downloads Sling TV today to join its beta multi-stream service will additionally gain access to new channels owned by Fox; across all services, new channels from Viacom will also be available.
There's a bundle discount available for users who have yet to purchase an Apple TV, and intend to join Sling TV as well. New customers will have the chance to purchase a new 32GB Apple TV for $89 (previously $150), when they also pre-pay for a three-month subscription to Sling TV ($20 per month), which would eventually equal the Apple TV's original price.
More in-depth coverage of every big piece of tvOS and Apple TV news can be found in our WWDC keynote roundup.
Apple today announced iOS 10, the next major version of its mobile operating system. The software update is compatible with most iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models capable of running iOS 9, with exceptions including the iPhone 4s, iPad 2 and 3, original iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPod touch.
iOS 10 is available in beta for registered Apple developers starting today, while the update will be seeded to public beta testers in July. The free software update will officially launch in the fall, presumably alongside the iPhone 7 in early to mid September.
Update: Apple has removed the iPad 2, iPad 3, original iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPod touch from the compatible devices list on its iOS 10 preview page.
As Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference keynote has wrapped up, the company this afternoon posted a full video of the event on its website, letting anyone who happened to miss the event catch up in their own time. Apple is expected to upload the full-length video to iTunes and YouTube later in the day.
As usual, Apple shared a few feature-specific videos within the keynote, focusing on app updates to Messages within iOS 10 and new apps like Swift Playgrounds, which we've listed below.
In addition to the videos posted online, you can catch up with all of the WWDC 2016 coverage by checking out our list of keynote highlights below, which encompass all of MacRumors' event coverage shared today. Included are detailed articles on the expansive new features of iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS, along with a few more focused tidbit pieces on the robust abilities of apps like Messages and Apple Music as well as new Siri features for macOS.
During today's keynote, Apple released several new apps into the App Store under their developer account. The apps are all stock iOS apps that presently come pre-installed under iOS 9.
If you try to download an existing iOS app, the "Get" button is greyed out, indicating you already have the app. Several readers have confirmed that you can now delete these apps in iOS 10, and later redownload them from the App Store. Apple could also choose to upgrade the apps from the App Store rather than waiting for iOS updates.
Apple has announced a number of new features for the Messages app in iOS 10, including Digital Touch videos and new chat bubble effects.
Messages now shows shared media inside chat transcripts, so that link and image thumbnail previews display, Apple Music tracks can be listened to, and videos can be played without leaving the app.
The camera functionality has also been enhanced inside Messages, allowing users to see what the camera lens is focusing on, while recently taken photos can be browsed alongside the lens view.
iOS 10 also brings emoji predictions as you type, and Messages will highlight words that have corresponding emoji characters, allowing users to tap them and instantly turn them into images. Emojis are also displayed three times bigger than previously in chat transcripts.
Another new feature is called "Bubble Effects", which enable users to expand or deflate chat bubbles in the transcript screen for emphasis. Bubbles can also be made to reveal their contents gradually for dramatic effect.
In addition, Messages in iOS 10 will support handwritten message bubbles, and includes a Digital Touch feature similar to on the Apple Watch, allowing users to sketch responses, share their heartbeat, and more.
Fullscreen animated background effects are also included in the new Messages app, such as disco lights and fireworks, while new third-party 'iMessage apps' can be added in a dedicated app drawer similar to that found in Facebook Messenger, where stickers, seals and animations reside for quick access.
iOS 10 supports all iOS 9 devices except the iPhone 4s and iPad 2, and is available to developers in beta today, while the public beta comes in July, followed by a full release in the fall.
Apple today revealed an all-new "Swift Playgrounds" app that aims to introduce users to "a new way to learn to code with Swift on iPad." The app -- which will be a free download -- is aimed for a public release on the App Store when iOS 10 launches this fall.
The library of Apple-developed programming lessons helps students learn core coding concepts, such as issuing commands, creating functions, performing loops and using conditional code and variables, and allows them to progressively build confidence and skill. Apple will regularly release new standalone challenges so students can continue to refine their coding abilities as their skills and interests grow. Educators and developers can also use Xcode® to create their own unique challenges for the app.
Along with other features, the app has custom "learn to code" lessons from Apple that focus on crafting visual cues around numeric coding data to slowly introduce kids into the world of coding. Multi-touch on the iPad helps coding in the app more straightforward, but Apple also crafted a new coding keyboard to add in new code in just a few keystrokes.
Starting today, Swift Playgrounds is available to Apple Developer Program members, and will additionally be available in the iOS 10 public beta this July. The final version of the app is expected to launch for free on the App Store sometime in the fall. All iPad Air and iPad Pro models will be compatible with the app, as well as iPad mini 2-and-later devices.
Today at its WWDC keynote, Apple announced a redesigned version of Apple News, which the company says has 60 million monthly active users and over 2,000 publications. The new Apple News includes a simpler, bolder interface similar to the Apple Music redesign. It also includes new features like subscriptions, breaking news alerts and more.
Apple News now includes subscriptions, allowing users to read news from select publications within the News app. The For You section also comes broken up into smaller sections to make it easier to follow, including a trending news section and the topics a user follows. News can also create new topic sections based on what you read. There are also featured stories hand-picked by Apple's editors.
The new app can also send breaking news alerts to a user's lock screen, allowing readers to quickly and easily get the news they need.
The new Apple News will be a part of iOS 10, which will debut in the fall.
Apple today revealed an all-new HomeKit-centric app called "Home," which will make its debut in iOS 10 this fall. The app will act as a hub for a user's HomeKit-enabled devices, regardless of their manufacturer, letting users control everything from smart light bulbs to garage door openers from one app. HomeKit will be built into Control Center now as well, letting users tap through their smart home devices without unlocking their iPhone.
Support for HomeKit™ continues to expand globally with nearly 100 home automation products adopting HomeKit this year, bringing support for thermostats, lights, window shades, door locks, video cameras and more to the Home app. Later this year, leading home builders, including Brookfield Residential, KB Home, Lennar Homes and R&F Properties, will begin integrating many of these HomeKit devices into new homes.
Users can group accessories into "scenes," or control them individually, and each device will be able to react to Siri voice commands. Apple confirmed that each device can be controlled remotely or even set up for home automation on Apple TV, "and can respond with automatic triggers set by time of day, location or action."
Check out our iOS 10 WWDC keynote recap for more information on HomeKit, Messages, Apple Music, and more.
Apple has unveiled extensive new functionality, multiple language support, and Siri-enhanced features for the QuickType keyboard in iOS 10.
The update brings significantly expanded contextual awareness to the QuickType keyboard when responding to messages, with a number of suggested replies offered directly from Siri.
For example, if someone texts you a question like "Where are you?" Siri can offer to send your current location. Likewise, if you receive a message like "What's Sue's address?", Siri can offer to send the information with a single tap.
Intelligent scheduling has also been improved, while users can now switch between multiple languages on the fly without having to manually change keyboards.
Other Siri assistive keyboard features include contact information, calendar availability, recent addresses, and contextual lookup options.
At WWDC today, Apple revealed an all-new Apple Music redesign while also confirming that the service has officially reached 15 million paid subscribers. The redesign introduces a bright and simplistic aesthetic and a new "Library" launch tab on the bottom left.
According to Apple, the new design language brings "greater clarity and simplicity to every aspect of the experience." The Library, For You, Browse and Radio tabs have gone through a design change that will give the user "an even greater sense of place."
The company has also begun to better differentiate streaming and downloaded songs in the new iOS 10 version of Apple Music, with a specifically designated "Downloaded Music" section located within the app. A few other minor additions include a new lyrics feature and revamped "For You" tab with daily curated playlists aimed at each Apple Music user.
At its WWDC keynote today, Apple announced that it would open Siri up to third-party developers with a public API, allowing users to use Apple's personal assistant AI to summon third-party services and apps hands free.
Siri now supports a multitude of app types, including popular third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat. Like with iMessage, Siri can be used to send texts to contact by uttering voice commands like "WeChat Kevin and tell him I'll be late." Siri can also be used for payment apps, VoIP apps and ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft.
The public API for Siri will be available for developers in the iOS 10 preview today, and will be available for users when iOS 10 launches in the fall.
Apple today announced macOS Sierra, the latest version of its Mac software platform and renamed successor to OS X El Capitan. The first beta of the update was seeded to developers earlier today, while a public beta will be released in July.
Apple today 
