Apple’s online store is down ahead of WWDC, hinting new hardware will launch
With the start of Apple’s annual World Wide Developers Conference just a matter of hours away, Apple has taken down their online store, hinting that new hardware will launch at todays event.
WWDC is all about software, it’s when developers from around the world can participate in hands-on labs with Apple engineers and attend in-depth sessions covering a wide variety of topics for implementing the latest technologies into their apps. Year on year WWDC gets bigger, with around 5,000 developers attending Apple’s 2016 keynote lead by Apple executives and special guests.
With anticipation building for the conference, here’s what to expect at WWDC 2017…
Software:
iOS 11: iOS is usually the star of Apple’s developers conference, originally unveiled in 2007 alongside the launch of the first iPhone. While no reliable leaks have pointed to what iOS 11 will bring, it’s expected that Apple will finally bring group FaceTime calls, allowing up to five people at once to be able to participate in a call, as well as peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments, enhanced Siri with possible iMessage integration, Dark Mode, which would make backgrounds black, so you don’t strain your eyes when using an iOS device at night or in other dim environments and an improved Mail app.
macOS 10.13: Mac users are hoping that macOS 10.13, which could possibly be named macOS Mendocino or macOS Mojave, will bring a list of requested features over to their machines including a control for HomeKit, iPhone auto unlock, iCloud Time Machine and a redesigned version of iTunes. Last year Apple rebranded what was OS X to macOS to fit inline with iOS, tvOS and watchOS. It’s expected Siri which launched onto the Mac last year will also be enhanced and so will continuity which allows you to seamlessly transition between working on your iOS device and your Mac.
tvOS 11: Apple is seemingly putting more energy into the Apple TV and related tvOS. This year it’s expected that tvOS will gain an array of new features including Handoff for iTunes media between the Apple TV, iPad and iPhone, a playlist for Movies and TV Shows, including “recently added” and a Home app to control your connected home automation devices.
watchOS 4: Last but not least, watchOS 4. Asides from improvements to the Activity app which is almost certain to receive tweaks as Apple continues to market the Apple Watch as a fitness/workout companion, it’s expected watchOS 4 will add a new sleep tracking feature which syncs with the Activity app, more independence from the iPhone and an all new Podcasts app.
Hardware:
10.9-inch iPad: According to KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo, dubbed the “best Apple analyst on the planet” by some, there is more than a 70% chance Apple will unveil an all new 10.9-inch iPad at WWDC in June. It’s been reported the new tablet will debut without a physical Home Button and boast a bezel-free design (a top bezel will remain for the front-facing FaceTime camera) which will allow for the 10.9-inch model to have the same overall footprint as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
Siri Speaker: Over the past couple of weeks reports have been flying in surrounding Apple launching their own Amazon Echo-like AI ‘Siri Speaker’ device that will perform similarly to Siri on iOS, allowing users to voice command the system to perform a range of tasks from controlling their home automation devices to asking for information and receiving voice feedback. In the same report which detailed the new 10.9-inch iPad, KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo said there is more than a 50% chance the company will open up a whole new product category with a ‘Siri Speaker’, something that will use Beats technology and even possibly integrate with macOS 10.13 to act as an external back-up device for the Mac.