It’s the day before Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC), and all across the internet, theories abound about just what the company has in store for us.
Take a quick look around and you’ll find everything from predications about a new iPhone to predictions that says: Apple won’t launch anything.
That last bit IS sounding more and more like the case, but an all-software WWDC sounds a bit boring.
Last year, the tech giant did launch a flurry of gadgets and updates.
In February, there's talk about a new product lineup of a supersized hand and a cheaper iPhone from the Cupertino company.
To be fair, the WWDC is a show for software developers — but a show without any gadgets?
Would Apple actually do that?
CNET’s theory probably has the most direct take on it.
Their story says Apple will focus part of the show on getting people to put down their device.
I’m sure that will just drive the stock price through the roof, but at the same time, it is taking a stance on a growing public concern.
On the other side of the aisle are those people who say that Apple will launch a new iPhone.
To be more precise, it’s actually, an old iPhone with a lot of upgrades.
Successor to the Apple iPhone SE?
Then a successor to the Apple SE, which originally launched in 2016 and uses the iPhone 5C design, could be announced.
There has been a lot of discussion about whether a new SE would stick to the original 5C body or ditch it in favour or a iPhone X bezel-less (meaning the screen reaches edge-to-edge) design.
Apple apparently still thinks there is a market for smartphones with a 4-inch screens, as opposed to the 5.8-inch screen found on the iPhone X.
Heavy speculation on iPhone SE
Speculation about the SE has been heavy recently, and it is still the only iPhone announced outside of Apple’s normal September launch window, at least going back to 2012.
Maybe history will repeat itself.
Other heavy favourites include a new operating systems for the Macintosh and Apple’s mobile devices, although expectations for a new iOS focus mainly on stability, not innovation.
Also expect to hear news on augmented reality and Siri. Since Apple launched its ARKit development kit in September, it has set off a race between Google and Apple to develop the platform.
Most of the analysis so far suggest Apple’s announcement will focus on privacy issues for multiuser devices.
The other major tech race at the moment is the development of digital assistants, and Siri needs some big news. She is currently losing the development race to Alexa and Google Assistant.
Apple’s Homepod, a Siri-powered smart-speaker that launched last summer and was supposed to be a competitor to the Google Home and Amazon Echo, was a disappointment, with the device receiving a lot of criticism on everything from available apps to its ability to stain wooden surfaces.
There is also a long list of things not to expect at the WWDC.
Don’t count on seeing any new iPads. Apple did a big launch for the iPad just two months ago in Chicago. Also cross off your list and updates to Apple TV, Macs or MacBooks or the Apple Watch, although updates to the Watch software are a sure bet.
There has been very little news on any update to the Apple TV, which isn’t shocking. Apple TV just got an update last year, and Apple has a history of going two to three years in between.
There is a lot going on with Apple’s line of computers, but Bloomberg is reporting no announcement is forthcoming this week. We did see two updates at last year’s WWDC and there are talks about a new entry-level machine that could replace the MacBook Air, but everyone is expecting that to be announced later this year.
It seems a little early for a new Apple Watch since we saw the Series 3 launch in September last year, but Apple’s decision to focus on the Watch’s fitness tracking ability could put it on a faster development track.
A Series 4 Watch with a larger display does seem to be in Apple’s future, but probably not this week.
Gulf News Business Editor will be attending the WWDC on Monday, June 4. Live coverage atgulfnews.com and on twitter at @gulfnewsbiz will start at 8 p.m. UAE time.
