Apple WWDC rumor roundup

Apple WWDC 2008 It’s early June which means Apple is set to host its worldwide developer conference in Cupertino, Calif.

Most if not all of the news to be announced over the next four days seems to have already been spilled onto the web in the form of rumours. The noise leading up to any Apple event is typically deafening.

The most widely-dispersed and discussed rumor leading up to Apple’s annual developer love-in involves, not surprisingly, the iPhone. That is to say a 3G version of the iPhone will most likely be announced when Steve Jobs takes the stage later today. It’ll be old news for anyone that has punched Apple into a Google News search field over the past three months.

Apple has signed a number of deals with carriers in countries overseas where 3G networks have been the norm for some time, hence the need for a 3G iPhone.

There is much more debate about features that may or may not be included in next-generation iPhones. The rumours run the gamut - everything from GPS functionality, a QWERTY keyboard, a wider screen, and video chat capabilities are frequently-discussed possibilities.

One other product that will surely be announced later this week is something called the Mac Fusion, according to The Unofficial Apple Weblob (TUAW). The blog posted three photos of the new device, which is apparently an updated Mac Mini. Apple hasn’t released an updated Mac Mini for almost a year, which is almost a lifetime in Steve Jobs years. The new Mac Mini, if TUAW is correct, will be flatter and contains a dual-core processor from Intel like its Macbook and iMac siblings.

It’s also supposed to make the lives of application developers easier. The ad copy, obtained by TUAW, reads like something created by Apple marketing types.

“Building your applications for the Mac has never been easier. Mac Fusion was designed exclusively for new developers wishing to port their existing programs to the Mac without breaking the bank. Mac Fusion allows you to explore the power and stability of Max OS X while keeping the ability to run alternate operating systems such as Windows or Linux, via Boot Camp.”
The iTunes App Store, a clearing house for iPhone application development, will likely go live this week. The software developer kit has been available for download for months which has led presumably to the creation of applications for the popular iPhone. Expect Steve Jobs to show off some of the new apps and the App Store at some point this week.

Commentary will be added once the Apple parade starts early this afternoon (1PM EST).

June 9, 2008 | Filed Under News Items and Commentary 

Comments

Leave a Reply