Apple WWDC 2012 LIVE Video: iPhone 5, Siri for iPad, iOS 6 and Apple Maps (+ Live Video and Audio)

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READ HERE FOR POLICYMIC'S LIVE COVERAGE OF THE iPHONE 5

Apple’s 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be kicking off this Monday from California and, as it’s customary, Apple will showcase its new software and technologies for developers, as well as offering hands-on labs and feedback sessions.

The number of attendees is expected to surpass 5,000 developers and media. For weeks now there has been a fair amount of speculation on what will actually be presented, as the entire Macintosh line is supposed to be updated.

Apple's WWDC 2012 will announce the anticipated iOS6 system as well as the inclusion of intelligente personal assistant and knowledge navigation software Siri into Apple’s iPad.

However, what has the tech community abuzz is the fact that Apple may finally ditch Google Maps in favor of its own mapping software for the next version of iOS, as a new major feature of iOS 6.

The event starts at 1 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. PDT). Bookmark and refresh this live blog for regular updates.

Live Video here (updates below, video is a bit delayed):

Follow PolicyMic's live coverage of Apple’s 2012 keynote to learn all the details about OS X Mountain Lion, the new 15-inch Macbook Pro and the new Apple TV among other wonders.

LIVE Updates: 4:30 p.m. Recap: WWDC's 3 Biggest Winners:

Apple’s 2012 annual Worldwide Developers Conference opened on Monday, leaving many excited for all the new updates, software, and hardware Apple will offer. 

Techies everywhere are having a field today, and I have to admit that I sat in the office today posted to the live blog of WWDC. Can you blame me? The newest features and gadgets are exciting and are enough to convert even the most die-hard PC fan.

The conference lasted about two hours, and non-stop information was given to us about everything Apple has developed. Here are a few favorite items announced today:

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro will now feature faster graphics, more memory, and USB 3.0 ports. The USB 3.0 ports allow for faster transfer speed, more bandwidth, and are just all around awesome. The next best part is that both USB ports will function as USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports.

MacBook Pro is also getting a makeover. The newest generation will be like the lovechild of the MacBook Air and the original MacBook Pro. You get the best of both worlds. It is thinner than the regular Pro, and has an SD card slot, Quad-Core processors, 7 hour battery life, Retina Display, and HDMI! The starting price for the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is $2199. Yes, the price is a bit disheartening, but with all the new additions and features, it may very well be worth every penny.

OS X Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion will be the updated version of Mac OS X Lion, the current operating system for Macintosh computers. It will have over 200 new features, and each one is just as neat as the next. These features include things like diction, which will work system wide, a sharing feature that will make it easier to send updates to 3rd-party apps like Twitter, Facebook, and so forth.

One of the other major changes will be to Safari, which has definitely been lacking up to this point. I stopped using Safari almost immediately and just stuck to Google Chrome. Hopefully the new Safari will give Chrome a run for its money. You will now be able to use the pinch gesture to view all your tabs on one page, which promises to be a useful feature.

One final feature that should have gamers excited is the new game center, which will support turn-based and head-to-head gaming. The feature will work for Mac-to-Mac, and Mac-to-iOS games.

iOS 6

The new iPhone has so many new features, I don’t even know where to begin. There is a more improved Siri, which allow her to launch apps, and will now also be available on iPad. They also have gotten more serious about Facebook integration. You can now access Facebook once and can post from websites and apps more efficiently. You can also use Siri to update Facebook. I am not sure how I feel about this particular addition, and I can see a few ways that it could lead to potential privacy issues in the near future.

Apple has also created their own version of Maps, which will surely put Google Maps to the test. With features like a 3D button, info cards for more than 100 million businesses, traffic services to tell you where there is an accident, turn-by-turn navigation, and re-routing you when you are stuck in traffic, Google needs to watch out.

There are a lot of enhancements to the phone apps that are already in place too. When you receive a phone call now, you will have the option to reply with a message, or remind you later, in addition to answering or rejecting the call. There will also be a Do Not Disturb function that will not interrupt you, but still allow you to receive phone calls and messages. You can tweak the settings that best fit your needs. One last feature that is different is guided access, which will let you get rid of certain buttons, or put the phone in a single app function mode. This will allow anyone with special needs to use the phone more effectively.

2:56 p.m. "Only Apple could make such amazing hardware, software, and services. We are so proud of these products. They are perfect examples of what Apple does best. Ultimately, it's why people come to work at Apple, and with Apple. To create products that empower people. To make a difference. The products we make, combined with the apps that you create, and fundamentally change the world."

And that's it.

I guess there is no "one more thing," no new iPhone. Some other cool gadgets and features including Apple TV, Mountain Lion, Apple 3D maps, Siri updates, new iOS, and a new mega MacBook collection.

2:50 p.m. Oh AND ONE MORE THING .......

2:49 p.m. In business news, the Apple stock price has risen $1.82, to $582. Should have bought Apple stock.

2:45 p.m. And here's Apple Maps, and it's pretty freaking cool. It has a 3D interface. Is Apple about to over take Google Maps?

2:39 p.m. Apple Helps You Not Miss Your Flight: 

2:35 p.m. "Next up is a brand new app called Passbook." This is a place to collect boarding passes, store cards, and movie ticket apps.

2:30 p.m. Helping you understand the multitude of new features and jargon, some quick recaps: 

- Facetime (the video calling app) is now available through cellular. You don't have to be on Wifi anymore.

- Pretty full Facebookification of iOS.

- Photo Stream sharing with friends. Choose the photos, choose the friends — friends will get a notification. The photos will appear in an album... and friends can comment. Weird, this is like a Facebook feature. Almost like Apple's own social network.

Likes in App store; phone numbers and emails from Facebook appear in contacts; events appear in calendar -- yes even birthdays. Get ready for more birthday posts on your timeline.

2:25 p.m. AND Siri is coming to the new iPad! (That's the one that came out in March)

2:23 p.m. Siri Bones Up on Other Languages: 

2:20 p.m. Updates to Siri: "Siri has only been out 8 months, and it does so much for you. Siri is fantastic. But she's been studying up. Here's what she can do in iOS 6."

You can ask more detailed questions: 

"Who is taller: LeBron or Kobe?"

Siri: "Lebron appears slightly taller."

2:14 p.m. "Nearly half of all the photos come from iOS 5."

Mountain Lion is coming next month in the Mac App store. Price: $19.99.

2:02 p.m. Get ready to talk to your computerDictation is coming to the Mac and yes "third party applications like Microsoft Word."

1:57 p.m. The gist of the Mountain Lion demo so far: Your computer can act like a phone. Notifications, messages, etc.

1:55 p.m. From PolicyMic pundit Mark Kogan: "I'm not a big Apple guy, but this new Macbook Pro completely changes the game. What an unbelievable amount of power crammed into such a tiny machine."

 1:48 p.m. Oh cool: When you sign in with your Apple ID, Apple apps are updated with all your iCloud data.

1:41 p.m. Schiller is now bragging about the bottom of the MacBook Pro. It's super cool, super sexy. There is 786 GB of internal flash storage...Battery life: up to 7 hours, or 30 days of standby. (Roughly the same as the Air).

Schiller and his new toy:

1:36 p.m. The 11-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.7 GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 64GB of flash storage starting at $999, and 128GB of flash storage starting at $1,099.

The 13-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.8 GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at $1199, and 256GB of flash storage starting at $1,499.

1:33 p.m. The MacBook Will Have a Retina Display: Schiller shows us that even when closed, the MacBook Pro is thinner than his finger. (The device is rotating on a pedastal). And, drum-roll please, it has a retina display, which means you eyes can't see the pixel.

1:30 p.m. PRICE CUT! Apple shaved $100 from the price of most of the MacBook Airs with the exception of the entry level model which is still at $999.

1:28 p.m. The new Macbook pro is just .71 inches thick, which is 25% thinner than the current MBP model and roughly in line with the MBA. 

1:27 p.m. Agenda at Apple’s WWDC 2012 includes:

– About 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of technology-specific topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and OS X technologies;

– Hundred hands-on labs staffed by more than 1,000 Apple engineers providing developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS and OS X technologies in their apps;

– The opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iOS and OS X developers from around the world—last year more than 60 countries were represented;

– Engaging lunchtime sessions with leading minds and influencers from the worlds of technology, science and entertainment; and

– Apple Design Awards which recognize iPhone®, iPad® and Mac® apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

1:20 p.m. New Macbook line-up  features:

- It's getting an Ivy Bridge update, as expected, with up to 2.0 GHz dual-core i7. Up to 8GH of 1600MHz memory.

- MacBook Air has a port on each side, with USB 3 and USB 2 support. 

- FaceTime HD with a 720p camera -- this is going to make my parents to happy to see me in high def

- $999 and $1099 for the 11-inch, $1199 and $1499 for the 13-inch

1:18 p.m. New Macbook Line-up: There will be a new Macbook Air.

Tim Cooke: "It's revolutionized the notebook. It's a breakthrough. Everyone is trying to copy it. They find it's not so easy."

1:12 p.m. Tim Cooke says there are more than 1,000 Apple engineers at the developer conference this week.

Here comes the app store numbers. Have a guess? The last public number was about 580,000 apps a few months ago.

Today: More than 650,000 are in the App store. Of those, 225,000 specifically designed for the iPad.

1:08 p.m. The Apple Store Economy: The Apple store really is a massive ecosystem. To date 30 billion downloads have been made, with checks for over $5 billion being paid out to devs. 

That's a lot of jobs Apple has helped sustain.

1:03 p.m. Siri is the EmCee: Siri introduces Tim Cooke. Pretty freaking cool.

12:59 p.m. The Big Mac Rumors: Ready for the new Macbook? We have seen the leaked specs of a 15-inch Macbook Pro that purports to have a high-resolution Retina-class display--2,560 x 1,600 pixels. Other important details include Radeon discrete graphics, a Thunderbolt connector and up to four USB 3.0 ports.

12:54 p.m. Developers and media rushing in now, music blasting, palms sweaty with excitement. Can't wait!

12:25 p.m. Apple TV Cometh? We may see a special announcement about Apple television come out of the show, as ZDNet reported

According to the Washington Post, Jefferies & Company analyst Peter Misek said that he expects to see a $1,250 television set called the iPanel at the show Monday, possibly with a $500 cable subsidy. Apple is expected to do some interesting things in the television space, but has been tight-lipped about whether it will continue to develop its current set-top box or go into television production. (More on Apple TV at the bottom of this blog.)

12:15 p.m. Tom Cooke Won't Headline: Bloomberg has reported that Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook will not be the emcee at Monday’s show, giving that honor instead to product marketing head Phil Schiller. 

Cook has taken a more delegated approach to his keynotes in the past, a departure from late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’s all-but-one-man shows. 

12:05 p.m. For Apple fans around the world, here's a convenient schedule for when to expect WWDC in your neck of the woods:

07:00AM - Hawaii

Monday 9:10 p.m. What will Apple Maps looks like? The app will reportedly include a 3D mode from C3 Technologies, which Apple acquired last year. Apple's Maps app will also provide a “cleaner, faster, and more reliable experience,” according to unconfirmed sources.

C3's technology reportedly uses “declassified missile targeting methods” to create detailed 3D maps that the company once described as “Google Earth on steroids.”

The launch would be a problem for Google because as much as 40% of Google Map users come from Apple subscribers who use the Google service as a default from their iPhones and iPads. Given that Apple has been acquiring companies for their map data for some time now, and that the company is competing fiercely with Google's Android OS in the mobile space, it's inevitable that we'll see Apple doing this in-house.

Monday 8:55 a.m. The show will start at 1 p.m. EDT. This will be the first WWDC without Steve Jobs. Tim Cook will be on stage instead, along with the usual Apple presenters, such as marketing chief Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice-president for iOS.

Sunday 10 p.m.The BIG Rumors: iPhone 5 Will Be Tiny, New 'iPad' Will Be Game Changing: From PolicyMic Tech Blogger Wyn Hou:

Apple, the tech industry's key innovator and the world's sleeping giant is slowly waking from its deep slumber. Want to know what it has been cooking up in the secret halls of 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino? Wait no more, here is your scoop on the latest and greatest rumors, and what to expect from the biggest player in the tech industry.

5. The Next iPad: With the new iPad out the window, attention focuses on the next iPad. Apple has clearly adopted Intel's "tick tock" development cycle, meaning with every tick cycle, the product is tuned and tweaked, as with the new iPad, whilst their veteran engineers focus on a completely new device for their tock cycle. While rumors about the next iPad are scarce, PolicyMic's trusted sources inside Apple have described it as "completely game changing and nothing comes close." Take what you will from that quote, we can't say more.

4. Retina Display Macbooks and iMacs: Continuously trying to bridge the gap between tech and liberal arts, Apple focuses on pushing out devices that blur the line between digital and analogue. A retina display, in this case, will make pictures, websites, and documents look like they were printed on glossy paper. While these immense screens work on tiny devices like the iPhone and iPad, any engineer would tell you adding it to the iMac or Macbook Pro would be a fools errand.

Apple on the other hand would tell you otherwise, as rumors are abound that they are hitting markets sometime this summer with absolutely mind-boggling resolutions like 3840 x 2400, that's 4 times larger than your HDTV. To cut costs, Apple is rumored to be removing the seldom used DVD-ROM and replacing their aging Harddisks with the more modern SSD. Expect these insanely fast super computers to be out during Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference starting June 11th

3. iPhone 5: While Android phones reiterate year after year with the same designs and incremental hardware changes, Apple isn't standing by and allowing the competition to crawl its way to the top. The new iPhone is incorporating on-screen touch, meaning they have been able to cut the thickness by about 30%. The iPhone 5 is expected to be no thicker than the steel bands you see on your iPhone 4 whilst having a 4-inch screen or larger. Other rumors such as edge to edge screen (no white bezel) and aluminum unibody enclosure have propped up here and there. Expect this phone to be out sometime in late fall, as Apple ramps up production during the summer.

2. WWDC: The annual Apple Developers Conference is usually aimed at more technically minded folks. However, with the lack of any product announcements this year since the New iPad, many are keeping their eyes peeled. Time to set that alarm clock, keynote is at 9:00 a.m. PST on June 11th.

1. Apple TV: The million dollar question everyone has been asking since Steven P. Jobs said in his biography that he's "cracked the television." The scuttlebutt is that it will have a Retina Display, making it the first 4K HDTV (4000x2000 resolution, twice that of Blu-ray), that it will be completely voice operated through Siri, and on demand television shows through iTunes with an extremely sexy design influenced by high end German design companies. In any case, I wouldn't hold my breath for this absolutely game changing device, as the relatively fresh Tim Cook still has yet to make any large moves into any new markets.

In anything, now is the time to load yourself with some Apple stock, and reward yourself with some new gadgets when it hits the $1,000 mark sometime in 2013.