Apple's WWDC - 2012

[Rico]

Apple's big worldwide dev conference is next week.  Here are some things we might hear and get from it:

1) iOS and OS X. Apple has said it plans to discuss OS X and iOS with its developers. That means OS X Mountain Lion, which was released in preview form for developers in February. And it may mean a developer beta of iOS 6, or a preview of iOS 6 to be released to developers at a later date. Mountain Lion is mostly a known quantity. Though there are sure to be a few surprises, Apple has provided details of the major new Mountain Lion features on its website. iOS 6 remains an unknown quantity, except perhaps for its expected shift away from Google's map technology, seen in the Maps app available on all iOS devices. Google's announcement on Wednesday of offline Maps for Android and improved 3D terrain for Google Earth--weeks before those features will be available--appears to be an effort to ensure that Apple's anticipated foray into mapping doesn't woo iPhone and iPad users away from Google Maps, which should remain accessible in user-installable iOS apps from Google.
Apple is believed to be ready to unveil its own map technology, which presumably will include new APIs for developers, an updated Google-free iOS map app from Apple, and perhaps a similar OS X app.

2) Mac Pro. High-end desktop workstations haven't exactly been where Apple or its competitors have been focused of late. Laptops and mobile devices have been what consumers and many businesses have been buying. But the professional graphics and content creation market remains an important one. Designers and other content creators have been some of Apple's most loyal customers and Apple takes loyalty very seriously. New Mac Pro models are coming, likely with Intel Xeon E5 chips.

3) MacBook Pro. Refreshed last October, the MacBook Pro is said to be getting a high-resolution Retina Display. Introduced in Apple's iPhone 4 and added earlier this year to Apple's third-generation iPad, the Retina Display offers exceptionally vivid graphics and has yet to be matched by competitors, despite being made by a major competitor, Samsung. The MacBook Pro might also be getting a USB 3 port, in addition to its presumed Thunderbolt connector.

4) iMac. With a design dating back to October 2009, the iMac also is ready for a refresh, despite processor improvements since then. The primary feature of the two new iMac models, aside from an up-to-date processor, is expected to be the addition of a Retina Display.

5) MacBook Air. Apple's ultra-thin notebook, the MacBook Air, also is expected to get a Retina Display and processor upgrade, for both the 11-inch and 13-inch models. The MacBook Air remains one of Apple's most popular models because of its portability--it lacks a bulky on-board optical drive--and its reliance on flash memory, which allows it to boot quickly.

6) AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme. Next-generation 802.11ac wireless routers have begun to appear in the market and Apple is likely to want to remain competitive with the rest of the industry, particularly because faster home Wi-Fi makes for better iTunes media consumption. The leaked Apple price lists indicate an AU $119 product, which could be either an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme.

7) Siri. Apple's Siri voice assistant is available exclusively on the iPhone 4S. That's likely to change, if only because Apple wouldn't have invested in speech recognition as a single product's differentiating feature. Apple sees strategic value in voice input--not just because it messes with Google's search revenue stream--and can be expected to make it more widely available sooner or later. WWDC would be the logical time to introduce a Siri API, to allow developers to integrate Siri into their own iOS and OS X apps.

8) Apps for Apple TV. Though there's scant evidence for this, apart from a single unnamed source, it has got to happen, if not at WWDC then later this year. Google has made a big deal out of Google TV apps, without much to show for it. Apple has a more mature apps ecosystem and can presumably learn from Google's early stumbles. It's a logical extension of iTunes for Apple, not to mention an opportunity to stick it to Google by actually succeeding in the television arena.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/240001734

[Bromptonboy]

I have a new Apple TV, and have been wondering when I could get some apps. 

[Bryancd]

Today is the day. Tim Cooke is giving his speech in about 15min.

[Dangelus]

I'm go smacked the 3GS is getting the update but not the iPad 1!!

Still not sure what iOS 6 features the 3GS will support....

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Fairly behind the scenes stuff for iOS6 this go around. Maps was perhaps the biggest "visual" change to iOS6, which I'm not complaining mind you, I've wanted turn-by-turn navigation in Maps for the longest time. It's also significant that it's not Google Maps anymore either. The overhauled App/Book/iTunes store will be welcome too, that's been a need.

Overall, iterative update. I plan on upgrading to iOS6 though, a lot to like (and not in the FB way ;))

King

[Rico]

Round up of the news here:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/handheld/240001904

[Rico]

New MacBook Pro details here:

http://www.gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/technology/gadgetbox/hands-macbook-pro-retina-display-absolutely-beautiful-crazy-fast-824942

[Feathers]

Having seen only a single shot of the two maps apps beside one another, I think I'm going to find the loss of Google maps rather annoying.

Having taken a few leaps in display detail over the years, do we really need to junk it now in favour of something less capable? I actually think I need to do a little more research since, at the moment, I haven't heard of anything that really entices me to update.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Having seen only a single shot of the two maps apps beside one another, I think I'm going to find the loss of Google maps rather annoying.

Having taken a few leaps in display detail over the years, do we really need to junk it now in favour of something less capable? I actually think I need to do a little more research since, at the moment, I haven't heard of anything that really entices me to update.

As far as the maps app is concerned (now that I've read into the details more) I agree, I'm getting more and more annoyed at this rivalry between Apple and Google which led to this divorce of the Google Maps. I honestly think it was a giant waste of resources for Apple to build their own mapping service when they could have worked together with Google to create one of the best map apps in the industry. And I'm further annoyed by Apple's forcing people to upgrade to better technology to enjoy turn-by-turn navigation in the maps app. That was completely unnecessary for them to do that.

I will be less than amused if Apple continues to pull core functionality out of their iDevices like YouTube and such that belongs to Google in the future.

King

[X]

someone at work recently gave me a 3GS and a 4 ... I gave someone else the 4 and traded in the 3gs for some 360 controllers.

As to your point King, I agree, but what did you expect? Apple's business model is designed for you to want or need to upgrade to get the better stuff even if the old stuff can support it without problems. They get their piece of the iTunes sales, but they also get paid when you upgrade your iDevices every other year.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

someone at work recently gave me a 3GS and a 4 ... I gave someone else the 4 and traded in the 3gs for some 360 controllers.

As to your point King, I agree, but what did you expect? Apple's business model is designed for you to want or need to upgrade to get the better stuff even if the old stuff can support it without problems. They get their piece of the iTunes sales, but they also get paid when you upgrade your iDevices every other year.

That business model unfortunately can be placed on pretty much all the major phone companies. Some (Emphasis on some) of the droid companies are actually worse because they won't upgrade their phones, hence the fragmentation problem. I think the only major OS developer that isn't encouraging upgrades this time around is windows 8. (I kid...somewhat ;))

Disregarding that, well, we encouraged this business model by going with these 2-year contract deals. So we have no one to blame really but ourselves =\.

King

[QuadShot]

Ok, so for Tim, X and everyone else who consistently complains about the "Apple business model", here's a fool proof solution for you: DON'T BUY APPLE. So simple even a child could figure it out.

[billybob476]

The one thign I find interesting is the Retina MacBook Pro is even less upgradeable then previous models. The SSD is proprietary and even the RAM is soldered directly on to the logic board. If you're going to buy one of these, max it out on purchase! Still a great looking machine but I'm content with my 2011 MBP.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display-Teardown/9462/1#.T9n2JLVYvoQ

[Rico]

Did they mention anything specific about an upgrade coming soon for the iMacs?

[billybob476]

Next year.