Tonight, the Apple event starts WWDC. This meeting always presents a new version of the operating system, but there are a lot of rumors about new devices. Apple is likely to show updates to iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS as every year. But there are rumors about Apple’s new laptops, iPad, and iMacs.
The annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) begins tonight at 18:00 England time in California San Jose.
1. Siri speaker
The most persistent rumor is that Apple would develop its smart speaker and would present it during WWDC. This means that the company is competing with the Amazon Echo and Google Home.
The well-known KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple’s speaker will provide better sound, made by Inventec (the maker of the AirPods) and will appear at the end of this year.
If Apple presents the speaker during WWDC, developers still have enough time to make applications for the system.
The speaker may also have a display displaying information such as the weather report. And it’s not just a talker the: the whole would consist of seven tweeters and one woofer. The speaker would fill the room with virtual surround sound. The operation is via voice commands.
2. New MacBooks
During the WWDC, updates for MacBooks are expected, Bloomberg’s well-informed Mark Gurman writes. This will enable MacBook Air for the first time since 2015 to have a new processor. The Air would still sell surprisingly well despite its low-resolution screen, the cheapest MacBook.
But also the MacBook Pro models, which were renewed last year, get new chips. They are reportedly getting Intel chips from the latest Kaby Lake generation, making them faster and economical.
Finally, the 12-inch MacBook is renewed. According to Gurman, this laptop is a better processor, but which is unknown.
3. iPad Pro
About a new iPad Pro has been rumored for a long time; Apple is aiming for a presentation on the WWDC. This information also comes from the often very reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The new iPad Pro gets a 10.5-inch screen, but in the case of the case, the tablet stays almost the same as the current 9.7-inch version. This is because the edges of the screen must become a lot thinner, giving more room for the touchscreen. The new iPad Pro may not be sold until the end of this year.
4. iMac
Let Apple be all the new iMacs? In April, it appeared that Apple is working on a new iMac specifically aimed at professional users. The cylindrical Mac Pro is also completely renewed, as it did not happen since 2013.
Much is not yet known about the computers, but there is a chance that Apple is talking about it today.
Indeed, with WWDC, Apple is experiencing a full-featured audience, exactly the audience who craves for powerful Macs and is disappointed in the lack of such devices. Although Apple has already been fully accustomed to saying that the new Mac Pro is still being developed, the more powerful iMac would be closer.
No iPad Mini
What we do not see on the WWDC is the iPad Mini. Stronger, a “source near Apple” told BGR that Apple plans to stop this model. The 7.9-inch iPad Mini appeared in 2012 and had not been updated for a year and a half.
The source says that ever-increasing iPhones have now taken over the role of the iPad Mini. That’s why Apple chooses to phase out the Mini.