3G iPhone, Mac OS X Update Expected At World Wide Developers Conference Keynote
We hope so.
Otherwise, for the next six months you're going to have to read about how Jobs didn't roll it out while everyone waits for him to do it at MacWorld 2009, Apple's annual lovefest where the company's biggest product announcements are typically made.
Apple is throwing its 2008 World Wide Developers Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from June 9"13, and the blogosphere has been speculating in its typical fashion on "What Will Steve Jobs Do?"
The 3G iPhone is almost a sure thing. Apple Insider is reporting that Australian Apple Stores have received mysterious packages that are to remain sealed until June 10. Very curious, Apple. What else could be in there?
AT&T, Apple's exclusive carrier in the U.S., has upgraded its network to handle 3G wireless networking. It all looks like this one is a go.
In addition to the iPhone update, some think Jobs will announce the next version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system, giving it another clever cat name. This time, "Snow Leopard" seems to be a hit. It's also potentially an Intel-only OS and may be on shelves as early as January 2009.
Jobs is also expected to announce changes to the .Mac platform.
And if Jobs tosses in his famous "one more thing" line, it's anyone's guess what kind of Apple-bomb he could drop. Our personal favorite way to keep track so far is being offered up by Ars Technica. WWDC 2008 Keynote Bingo!
This year, the World Wide Developers Conference will feature a tract for iPhone developers for the first time. Earlier this year, Apple launched a beta version of its software development kit for iPhone applications. Developers pay Apple a $99 fee and Apple handles the distribution and sale of applications through iTunes. Apple takes a 30 percent cut of application fees, but those that developers want to distribute for free will indeed be free.
Apple is also launching iPhone software 2.0 this summer that will make the device compatible with Microsoft Exchange, a feature whose lack was widely criticized.