Apple’s annual World Developers Conference (WWDC) begins Monday, June 6, at 10 a.m. PT, and while the main focus is usually on software, there is reason to believe that some hardware will be available.
Apple tends to announce many software features for its wide range of consumer devices, but updates that appeal to creative professionals usually appear on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
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iOS, iPadOS and macOS
As a developer conference, WWDC tends to rely more on software messaging than hardware, and it’s almost certain that Apple will introduce new features coming to iOS in the fall. Mark Gourmet of Bloomberg, who is a fairly reliable source when it comes to rumors about Apple and was absolutely right with his predictions for the latest Apple event, says that iOS 16 will include new Apple applications, as well as a new way to interact with operating system.
“From what I’ve been told, the new software – codenamed Sydney – is a pretty significant upgrade,” Gourmet said in his weekly newsletter Power On. “It will be full of changes to the operating system, including notification updates, multitasking on the iPad and the Messages and Health apps. The transformation also includes a part of the interface that is often late: the lock screen.
This could mean that Apple plans to add more widgets or adjust the way users interact with them, which can help Apple users feel they have more to do before unlocking their devices. Gourmet says he rarely interacts with his iPhone when it’s locked, and suggests that is the case for many other users. Apple may want to change this with iOS 16 and also add the “always on” feature to the next iPhone and add software that uses this feature.
iPadOS is also likely to get an upgrade around multitasking:
I know better than to be excited about iPad improvements because we’ve been burned so many times …
But WebKit has just added an iOS multitasking infrastructure that certainly looks like a system switch that allows freely resizable windows.
– Steve Troutton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) May 26, 2022
The update will likely make adjustments to allow windows to resize freely and may allow for different form factors for iPad devices. While Apple seems reluctant to put the full MacOS capability on the iPad, it could be a big leap that will allow compact devices to compete more directly with two-in-one PC offerings like Microsoft Surface.
WWDC may be updating macOS as well, but very little has been rumored, except that it could get something similar to iPhone’s focus mode and could be called macOS Mammoth.
Macbook Air, M2, Mac Pro
The rumors surrounding the hardware come again with the kind assistance of Gourmet, who predicts that Apple will release at least two computers around the middle of the year.
While some believe this could mean Apple’s next-generation M2 processor in the new MacBook Air, The Verge seems to believe that WWDC’s audience of developers, professionals and enthusiasts makes it a great place to release the promised Mac Pro.
During the event in March, Apple said that Mac Studio would not be the last machine to be powered by M1, and hinted that it would be Mac Pro. Since most expect the M2 to come out this year in lower-end machines, it makes sense for Apple to limit the M1 series to a big bang.
VR headphones
The latest major hardware device to be seen at WWDC is Apple’s long-awaited virtual reality headset (VR). While it’s certainly not something you’d expect, it may come along with the announcement of VR software support, which will fit in well with the WWDC audience.
Join the keynote address of the WWDC on June 6 at 10:00 AM PT.
Image Credits: Title Image via Apple
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