Apple announces WWDC 2015 to take place from June 8-12

Apple just announced their yearly World Wide Developers Conference which takes place from June 8-12 at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco. WWDC ushers in new software and operating system tools and frameworks for iOS and for Mac OS. It is at this event that Apple announces the direction of their hardware, software as well as ecosystem platforms while sometimes announcing new hardware. Since most orders of the Apple Watch should be fulfilled at that time, WWDC will likely feature WatchKit-focused applications, a first for the company.

Developers can apply for tickets via the WWDC website (developer.apple.com/wwdc/tickets) now through Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m. PDT. Tickets will be issued to attendees through a random selection process, and developers will know the status of their application by Monday, April 20 at 5 p.m. PDT. There will also be up to 350 WWDC Scholarships available, giving students and members of participating STEM organizations around the world the chance to earn a free ticket (developer.apple.com/wwdc/scholarships).

Apple Watch add-on band promises to double battery life

The Apple Watch's battery life is a major point of contention against the smartwatch. But accessory makers are trying to remedy that. Enter the WiPowerBand, an add-on band that promises to extend battery life up to two days. The band comes with a built-in 250mAh battery that you clip onto the underside of the Apple Watch. It's made with high-density polymer and soft silicone. It comes in blue, white, and black for the 42mm model, and orange, white, and pink for the 28mm version. The bands are expected to start shipping between May and June. The 42mm version will retail for US$99, while the 38mm will cost $89. If you're willing to sacrifice the Apple Watch's looks for extra battery, you can preorder it from WiPowerBand's site. They currently only accept PayPal as the mode of payment. 

Source: Mashable 

You can charge your new MacBook with a portable battery pack

You might be lamenting the single USB-C port on the new MacBook. But one of the good things about this universal port is you can now charge the MacBook with a portable battery pack. You could do it before with the MagSafe-equipped MacBooks but you needed specific battery packs or a modified MagSafe adapter. Now, you can use any high-capacity battery pack. Just make sure you have a USB-C to USB-A cable and you're good to go. Apple promises nine to 10 hours of use with the new MacBook. But if you have a high-capacity power bank, you could just extend that further. 

Source: Mashable 

Apple pulls iPhoto and Aperture from Mac App Store

With Photos for OS X now live, it's inevitable that Apple is pulling two of its photo-related apps. True enough, iPhoto and Aperture have been taken out of the Mac App Store. If you already have Aperture on your Mac, you'll still be able to use it. But that won't be getting any updates.  

What do you get with Photos for OS X then? The app is middle ground for both iPhoto and Aperture. It lets you browse through your photo gallery while offering some editing tools. But if you expect an extensive editing tool suite, sadly, you won't get that here.  

Source: Ubergizmo