Rounding up Apple's WWDC keynote

Now that Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote is over, it's time to sit back and slowly absorb all the information that's been released. There are updates aplenty for both Mac OS X and iOS, while a new service, iCloud, replaces MobileMe.

iOS 5
(Credit: Apple)

iOS 5 has plenty to offer this time around, offering features like a new Notifications Center, iMessage, a much improved camera UI and most importantly, smaller over-the-air (OTA) updates that aren't the huge over-150MB downloads that are currently required.

The Safari mobile browser also gets a buff, while Twitter is now integrated, allowing you to tweet and share information about your location, photos, music and books that you are reading. Find out how iOS 5 stacks up against the competition here.
You may also want to check if your iOS device is upgradable to iOS 5, which will be available as early as end September 2011.
iCloud

(Credit: Apple)

iCloud is basically MobileMe 2.0, allowing you to sync your contacts, calendars, photos, email and documents across devices, while also automatically backing up your data every day into Apple's servers.
If you buy apps on one device, it will also automatically be pushed to other devices sharing the same account, and the same applies if you buy music from iTunes. Those with access to the iTunes music store may want to check out the US$24.99 a year iTunes Match service (read more about it here).

Now, you would expect the iCloud service to cost quite a bit, but Apple has stated that iCloud will be free and will be launched at the same time as iOS 5.

OS X Lion

(Credit: Apple)

OS X users will see 10.7 come July, and the update brings many new tweaks to the operating system, including a more iOS-like experience in the form of Launchpad, while getting tweaks to Exposé via a new Mission Control. There's also a cool new AirDrop feature that lets you easily share files wirelessly with other users.

The update is expected to cost US$29.99 and will be available via the Mac App Store (which also means you will have to upgrade to Snow Leopard first).(cnt)