Despite some hints toward a possible Apple smart display with its new StandBy feature for iPhones, Apple's WWDC was underwhelming for the smart home. But Apple did announce one noteworthy addition, Siri will soon handle "multiple commands" in succession without you having to say its name again.

This might seem like a small update, but for anyone who uses voice control in the smart home, saying, "Siri, turn off the dining room lights," then "Lock the front door," then "Turn off the fan," will be an improvement. However, it's also another example of how Apple is still playing catch-up in the smart home.

Read the full story at The Verge.

For a lot of developers, watching WWDC is a trepidatious affair where they wait to find out whether they've been "Sherlocked" - that is, their apps have been outmoded by Apple building their features into its operating systems. We saw it this year when Apple announced Journal, which many have compared to the third-party app Day One. Last year, it was Continuity Cam, which is a lot like smartphone-as-a-webcam-app Camo, and before that, there was Screen Time, which gobbled up traits from Moment.

We're used to seeing Apple's new features come from some currently popular app. But it's less common for Apple to reach back and find inspiration in …

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Apple TVs will get native VPN app support in tvOS 17, according to an Apple press release (via 9to5Mac). It's one of many features that didn't make it into the keynote at WWDC 2023, but it could be a big deal for some folks. Assuming native VPN apps on Apple's streaming box work as they do elsewhere, you might not have to wait to get home to catch up on streaming shows when traveling with an Apple TV 4K in tow.

Right now, in tvOS 17, to use a VPN with your Apple TV, you'll need to do something like install a VPN on your router to do it, and not all routers support this. Native VPN support is one of the rare advantages Google's Chromecast or …

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Apple used the Vision Pro's $3,499 price tag to give the headset every advantage over the competition. It has dual 4K displays, runs one of the best laptop chips in the business, and comes with sophisticated eye- and hand-tracking technologies. But it also has one advantage money can't buy: Apple's developer ecosystem. Perhaps the headset's single biggest advantage will be the ability for iPhone and iPad developers to easily plug their existing apps into the device's operating system using familiar tools and frameworks.

Already, the system stands in stark contrast to headsets from Meta, Valve, PlayStation, and HTC, which mostly rely on apps …

Read the full story at The Verge.

This week’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) wasn’t all about operating system updates and Apple’s new mixed reality headset. Apple also revealed a number of new Macs, including a 15-inch MacBook Air as well as revamped versions of the Mac Pro and Mac Studio with Apple Silicon. All three will be available on Tuesday, June 13th, though you can currently preorder them from Apple, Amazon, and other retailers.

Where to preorder the 15-inch MacBook Air

Apple claims the newest MacBook Air is “the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop.” Its 15.3-inch screen boasts 500 nits of brightness, but it’s otherwise similar to last year’s redesigned 13-inch model. It comes equipped with a 1080p webcam, a MagSafe charging connector, and Apple’s base M2 chip, which is the same processor found in the 13-inch MacBook Air.

The base model starts at $1,299 and comes with an eight-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. For an extra $200, you can jump up to 512GB of storage, while the 1TB version will cost you $400 more. The largest storage configuration — the 2TB version — costs $800 more than the base 256GB configuration. You can also configure the memory; it’s an extra $200 for 16GB of RAM and an extra $400 for 24GB of RAM.

Right now, however, Amazon is discounting the laptop, selling the base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $1,249.99 ($50 off). If you prefer a different retailer, you can also currently preorder the 15-inch Air from Apple, Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Expercom ahead of its release on June 13th.

It’s also worth noting that, if you prefer a smaller machine, the 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple’s M2 chip is still available and now starts at $1,099. That’s $100 less than its previous list price, though, it’s also on sale at B&H Photo for $999. Apple is even still selling the older M1 MacBook Air from 2020 for $999, which is also on sale at Amazon and Best Buy right now for a mere $799.99 ($200 off).

Where to preorder the 2023 Mac Studio

For power users, Apple also announced the new Mac Pro and Mac Studio, which the company calls the most powerful Macs it has ever made.

The Mac Studio features Apple’s M2 Max and new M2 Ultra processor. Apple says the new Mac Studio, which dons the same design as the M1 model from last year, should be three times faster than the last-gen model, depending on the configuration you buy.

The desktop machine won’t be available until June 13th, but you can already preorder it from Apple, Best Buy, and Expercom with an M2 Max chip, a 12-core CPU, a 30-core GPU, 32GB of RAM, a 16-core neural engine, and 512GB of storage starting at $1,999.

Alternatively, you can preorder it from Apple, Best Buy, and Expercom with a more powerful M2 Ultra chip, a 24‑core CPU, a 60‑core GPU, 64GB of RAM, a 32-core neural engine, and 1TB of storage starting at $3,999. This particular model also supports up to six Pro Display XDRs and comes with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

Where to preorder the 2023 Mac Pro

Like the Mac Studio, the new Mac Pro comes with Apple’s new M2 Ultra processor and sports the same design as the prior model. As a result, it can support up to 192GB of unified memory and should be significantly faster than its Intel-equipped predecessor. It’s also more capable than the previous model, with eight Thunderbolt ports, six PCI expansion slots, and two HDMI ports that support up to 8K resolution and up to 240Hz frame rates.

The new Mac Pro starts at $6,999 with a 24-core CPU, a 60-core GPU, 64GB of RAM, a 32-core neural engine, and a 1TB SSD. You can preorder it from Apple, B&H Photo, and Expercom ahead of its June 13th release date.

Related:

Mark Zuckerberg doesn't seem fazed by Apple's introduction of the Vision Pro.

In a companywide meeting with Meta employees today that The Verge watched, the CEO said Apple's device didn't present any major breakthroughs in technology that Meta hadn't "already explored" and that its vision for how people will use the device is "not the one that I want." He also pointed to the fact that Meta's upcoming Quest 3 headset will be much cheaper, at $499 compared to the Vision Pro's $3,499 price tag, giving Meta the opening to reach a wider user base.

"I think that their announcement really showcases the difference in the values and the vision that …

Read the full story at The Verge.