Friends, position yourself for an epic WWDC.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (opens in new window), which begins on the fifth of June at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, is the level at which many of Apple’s software platforms shine. We’ll probably see new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
But this year, Apple is also expected to offer an entirely new product category, starting with a truly combo headset, most likely called the Reality Pro, and the new xrOS that comes with it.
Oh, and if that were not enough, there are also rumors about a new MacBook Air.
Nothing is official right now, but it went through all the rumors and reports we can find to combine a list of things we might see at this year’s WWDC. Let’s dive in.
This one was a long time coming. In fact, there were credible reports that Apple would launch the real combo headsets at WWDC last year, but the company didn’t say anything about it.
This time, however, it will be (probably) different.
Reality Pro is the most likely choice for Apple’s combo true headphones (or virtual/augmented truth, choose). But from what we’ve heard, it’s going to be very different from typical Apple product launches. expensive (think $3,000) and will cater primarily to developers. And reports suggest it’s possibly not as trendy as we were used to with Apple products; It will be smooth and comfortable, but it will have to be connected to an external battery via a cable.
But the new helmet will be powerful. It will most likely work with an M2-level chip and feature 4K OLED displays and more than a dozen cameras (inside and out) to track eye movements and hand gestures.
As for the xrOS that comes with it, reports imply that it will have the same feel as Apple’s other operating systems, but in a very different environment: one in which it combines tracking eye movements with hand gestures to perform various tasks. It also deserves to have its own app store and the ability to run iPhone and iPad apps. It’s very exciting; despite the many virtual truth systems like Meta Quest and Sony PlayStation VR, as well as augmented truth attempts like Google (now discontinued) Google Glass, we’ve never noticed Apple attempt anything like this.
By the way, rumors say that this is just the first line of several AR/VR/MR products that Apple is running on, but the others are very close to launching right now.
It’s wonderful, both figuratively and literally. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims (opens in a new tab) that Apple will launch a 15-inch MacBook Air at WWDC, the first time Apple’s thinnest and lightest computer has a screen larger than 13. 3 inches. The imaginable lifestyles of a 15-inch Air are a bit of an oxymoron, as the core of this device has always been that it’s incredibly portable, which a 15-inch computer normally isn’t. we’re a little skeptical about it, but if it does, we’re very excited to see how Apple has implemented it.
Apple updated its MacBook Air lineup at last year’s WWDC, which lent more credibility to the concept of the arrival of the new Air, regardless of the size of the demo.
In terms of specs, the new MacBook Air will likely feature Apple’s M2 chip and 8GB of RAM at a minimum, and a demo with the same performance as Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro (i. e. 3024 x 1964 pixels).
While we’re on the Mac, it’s conceivable that Apple will release an updated Mac Pro and a new iMac, though the chance of it going down is low. Apple also runs on the new M3 chip, but most likely will. arrive by the end of this year.
Unlike the devices discussed above, the advent of a new iOS is something we’re pretty sure about. Since WWDC is a convention for developers, it’s where Apple regularly introduces new versions of platforms they can play with. one that powers the iPhone, this year’s updates may seem a little disappointing. This is partly due to the helmet; Reports suggest that much of what Apple is doing with iOS revolves around integration with the upcoming integrated headphones.
Other innovations we’ve heard about come with Control Center updates (opens in a new tab), as well as new features for the dynamic island, though those are only iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max owners. We might also see a new registration app with a cool codename: Jurassic (opens in a new tab). It would give users the ability to record their behavior and activities, with a focus on intellectual health. Apple Maps may also take advantage of an update that will allow users to get directions on their lock screens.
According to European regulations, Apple could finally start providing sideloading, which means installing apps from Apple’s app store.
Rumors aside, we know quite a bit about Apple’s upcoming accessibility features, which will likely be part of iOS 17. These come with Live Speech, Assistive Access and Personal Voice; You can read more about it here.
Apple has also invested beans in the iPad versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, which have been redesigned to play nicely with a touchscreen and Apple Pencil for the first time. These arrive a few weeks before WWDC, so Apple has a lot more. waiting for the actual announcement of iPadOS 17 on June 5.
iPadOS is very similar to iOS, so we’ll likely see many of the same innovations in both operating systems. Oh, and the Health app, which until now was only available on the iPhone, would also be available on the iPad.
We don’t know exactly what it will be called, but we can assume that macOS 14 will be named after a prominent California landmark, just like many of its predecessors. Apple has registered many California position names, so you can check out the list below.
However, we bet it’s possibly not macOS Mammoth. In fact, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims (opens in a new tab) that macOS 14 will be a fairly minor update, with most of the work done under the hood to make sure apps and presents paintings the same way on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
We have very little to report on the new tvOS, in fact, a new edition is coming. He regularly appears very little time in Apple’s WWDC announcements, with generally minor innovations.
Interestingly, Gurman claims that watchOS 10 will get the most significant update ever (opens in a new tab), which may also make this edition the most attractive yet. Apple would refocus on widgets and make them a “core” component of watchOS. interface. The simplest way to believe this is to look at the Siri watch face, which is now available on Apple Watch. It has a list of cards that you can scroll through using the crown of the watch, each. corresponding to a quick application or feature of that application. If Gurman is right, the Watch’s new interface will look similar to this one, though the previous app-centric edition will possibly remain optional.
Knowing what to expect from an Apple convention is great, but watching it live is much more exciting. To log in, point your browser to Apple (opens in a new tab on June 5).
Our non-public selection browser for streaming Apple keynotes is Safari, but you can do this on other browsers and platforms; for example, Apple also has a YouTube stream, as well as a stream on its Apple TV app.
Stan is editor-in-chief at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. It has more battery-powered devices and organization t-shirts than you. Write about the next revolutionary thing. Usually, it’s a phone, a coin, or a car. Its purpose is to know something about everything.