We’re well into the post-Steve world, but then Steve Jobs was never the main focus of news from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will take place June 11-15 in San Francisco, California. Rather, product announcements – the things will that define the coming year for the “Apple Cores” who hang on every move the company makes – usually garner the main share of attention. That’s definitely the case this year, and we’re readying our up-to-the-minute coverage of WWDC’s Monday kickoff with a video preview and a look at what to expect as WWDC shifts into high gear.
ReadWriteWeb’s Dan Frommer will be filing reports throughout Monday’s events. He has already tipped the major expected news to look for: version upgrades for both iOS and Mac OS (and more blurring of the lines between the two with the introduction of iOS 6 and OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, respectively), new Mac models, tighter Facebook integration with iOS, and Apple TV-related product news. And iCloud remains a developing, major Apple-related topic that will continue to affect every move the company makes in the next few years.
Those are the main themes, but Apple’s parade of likely announcements is likely to include a good deal more: A developers’ kit for Apple TV-related apps may be in the offing. The Siri voice command technology that has thrilled and baffled iPhone 4S users should find its way to the iPad. And at least some of those new Macs will sport the amazing Retina display that was introduced on the newest iPad.
Nonetheless, the real fun of WWDC is in the surprises that CEO Tim Cook and his troops may have in store. Cupertino hasn’t sprung any unintended leaks since Jobs’ death last fall, so it’s entirely possible that the conference will reveal something unexpected. Rest assured that we’ll tell you about it the moment we find out. Meanwhile, check out our video coverage and stay tuned.
