Steve Sande

<p>Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. Today’s notable apps include a discount on Goatup 2; the new Sleep Smart; and an update to JotForm that brings Apple Watch support. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can.</p>

<p><span>One of the highlights of the first day of the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference is always the </span><a target="_blank" href="https://developer.apple.com/design/awards/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Design Awards</a><span> ceremony. The annual awards highlight a cross-section of the best apps available on iOS and OS X in a variety of categories.  This year, the winners included the iOS automation tool </span><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/workflow-powerful-automation/id915249334?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Workflow</a><span>, calendar app </span><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fantastical-2-calendar-reminders/id975937182?mt=12" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fantastical 2</a><span>, and even the highly addictive </span><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crossy-road-endless-arcade/id924373886?mt=8" rel="noopener noreferrer">Crossy Road</a><span>.</span></p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">The temptation of beta software is real. Please approach it with caution. </p><p>At yesterday's WWDC keynote, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that his company would release a public beta of OS X El Capitan and iOS 9 later this summer. When finished, both operating systems will feature a slew of compelling features and improvements, many of which I can't wait to try. That's "<em>when finished"</em>. Meanwhile, these betas are incomplete, imperfect and intended for people who are willing to identify problems on Apple's behalf. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.apple.com/music/">Music</a> will offer several new and exciting new features to music lovers, starting later this month. It will also mark a transition for <a href="http://beatsmusic.com">Beats Music</a> customers, as the service morphs into Apple's new offering. Here's a look at what Music means for your Beats account, and what you can expect to change. </p>

<p><span>Apple has posted </span><a href="http://www.apple.com/live/2015-june-event/">the 2015 WWDC event online</a><span>, which you can stream at your leisure. I say "event" because the day included a comedic intro with several celebrities, beautiful product videos -- three for Apple Music alone -- and a musical performance by </span><a href="http://www.theweeknd.com">The Weeknd</a><span>. The whole thing clocks in at two-and-a-half hours, so set some time aside to watch.</span></p>

<p>Apple today unveiled <a href="http://www.apple.com/osx/elcapitan-preview/">OS X El Capitan</a>, the sucessor to OS X Yosemite 10.10.  Besides overall performance improvements, the next generation desktop operating system from Apple is chock full of minor improvements to many different apps and core technologies that drive the OS. </p>

<p><span>With all of the great new things coming out for Apple devices, it's not surprising that Apple will be adding a new "Move to iOS" app in iOS 9 that will make it fast and simple for Android users to wirelessly transfer information to a new iOS device.</span></p>

<p><span>During today's WWDC 2015 Keynote, Apple senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi introduced the upcoming version of Apple's mobile operating system -- iOS 9. Key features of iOS 9 include:</span></p>

<p><span>One big announcement from today's WWDC 2015 Keynote was never actually announced at the event -- Apple quietly created a new Apple Developer Program</span><span> so that developers no longer need to pay for separate OS X and iOS Developer Program memberships.</span></p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">What's more fun than a liveblog? A livestream! Today we're getting together on-air for a live discussion of what's going on during the WWDC 2015 Keynote. Due to copyright restrictions, we won't be able to show you the WWDC Keynote - DUH! - but thanks to the miracles of modern technology, you should be able to open two browser windows simultaneously (at least on a Mac) and watch Tim Cook & Friends AND the AWT team at the same time. You can talk back to us... you won't be able to do that with Tim, Phil Schiller, and whoever else is on stage in San Francisco.</p>

<p><span>One of the pioneers of app-controlled lighting, Philips, has announced via a </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/huePhilips" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook post</a><span> that the Philips Hue line of LED lights will be compatible with Apple's HomeKit home automation framework starting this fall:</span></p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px"><a href="http://mashable.com/2015/06/08/tim-cook-apple-diversity-women-future/">Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down with Mashable's Christina Warren</a> to discuss the role of women and diversity in tech. </p><p>"I think the most diverse group will produce the best product, I firmly believe that," Cook said. Warren asked Cook about the lack of women in tech, and the notion that many simply aren't interested in a career in technology. For him, that notion is "a cop-out." </p>

<p>It’s a few hours from the start from Apple's World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) and already I can't wait to see what new innovations get unveiled for iOS 9 OS X 10.11, the Apple TV and Watch OS. In this article, I will look at some features I hope Apple brings to the table. The primary focus here will be on features that enhance usability. For the AWT staff's WWDC predictions, <a href="https://appleworld.dreamhosters.com/blog/2015/6/1/wwdc-2015-what-to-expect-from-this-years-keynote%0A">look here</a>.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">The iPhone is such a gorgeous slab of metal and glass, it's hard to imagine what it would have looked like in the days of beige plastic: the '80's and '90's. Unless you're <a href="http://www.designbypierre.com/index.html">artist Pierre Cerveau</a>. </p><p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px"><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/64751/what-iphone-would-look-if-it-had-been-created-1987">Pierre imagined what the iPhone would have looked like if it had been created in 1987</a>. Note the nine-pin DVI port on the bottom, and the heat vents on the back. It's actually kind of cute.</p>

<p><span>Our sponsor this week is a company that has been a big name in small business software for Mac and iOS devices for quite some time -- </span><a target="_blank" href="http://marketcircle.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marketcircle</a><span>. It's appropriate that a company whose products have always been available on the leading edge of Apple devices has recently introduced an Apple Watch companion app for </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.marketcircle.com/billingspro/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Billings Pro</a><span>. </span></p>