17+ WWDC pre-event rumors: Which ones will come true?

Here’s your printout and keep short one-page guide to all current WWDC rumors. Tick them off as they are announced. Cross them out when they aren’t. Here’s your guide to how and where to watch the event.

Apple to announce M2 Mac mini and an M1 Pro Mac mini tower at WWDC?

US retailer B&H listed both an M2 Mac mini and an M1 Pro Mac mini tower over the weekend. Is this true?

Apple to announce new M2 MacBook Air at WWDC?

Will Apple meet this expectation? Has shipment been delayed by Covid? Will these Macs really only be available in a limited range of colors?

Apple to announce new M2 MacBook Pro at WWDC?

Has Apple really delayed this launch due to supply chain problems? Will it launch any M2 Macs at WWDC, or does it plan to introduce the first of these in fall?

Apple to announce the M1 Ultra Mac Pro at WWDC?

Will Apple move directly to the M2 chip, or does it plan one more M1 upgrade before it begins the transition to M2? Logically, it makes sense for the company to upgrade the Mac Pro at WWDC to mark two years since its transition began.

Apple will/won’t preview AR/VR headset

Will Apple preview the headset to developers? Or will it simply discuss new software features with which to build such environments? Are we about to find out what a Neural Radiance Field is and how it relates to UWB? Or skip the topic entirely (unlikely)?

Apple will/won’t announce RealityOS?

We think Apple will introduce new features in its operating and development systems that support future AR experiences. We also think the company plans to roll all thee together within something that it may call ‘Reality OS”. What we don’t know is if the company will announce that, or just stick with new APIs and system code. One more thing: Metal means Apple’s experiences will be photo realistic. Like Second Life (and Meta) didn’t.

Apple’s hatching a content play for AR

The other hot speculation in the run-up to WWDC concerns content. Principally that Apple is working with Hollywood to create video content for these headsets when they ship, probably in 2023. One can’t help but wonder how much such content Apple may already have created. Prehistoric Planet?

iPad OS 16 means iPads replace even more computers

New windowing and multitasking features for iPads could give Apple tablet users a much more productive user experience that exploits the powerful M-series chips. New lock screen and notifications like iOS 16 may also improve the experience.

We know we’ll learn more about iOS 16

Equipped with an ‘always-on’ mode on supporting iPhones, iOS 16 may also offer new lock screen and notifications along with improvements to Focus mode. Gurman predicts new social network features in Messages, wallpapers that have widgets built in and the somewhat mysterious “new health features”. I think enhancements to SharePlay are a given.

macOS 13 could be a Mammoth upgrade

The upgrade will include new apps, some say, and some of these may be exclusive to M-series Macs. System Preferences will be overhauled, Mark Gurman has said.

What is coming to WatchOS 9?

There’s not been too much speculation around this, but we all think Apple has been hatching some big improvements, including new watch faces and workouts, a lower power mode and changes to how you use and navigate the device. We may see limited emergency satellite connectivity for contacting emergency services.

Will anything happen to tvOS 16 and HomePod?

Will Apple give these devices a little love? Or will its play remain focused on use of the devices at the center of a Matter-based smarthome that safely supports and integrates a multitude of third-party devices?

Will we learn about more Apple efforts to protect privacy?

I think we will. Why? Because it’s in line with Apple’s work so far, and also because the company’s Chief Privacy Officer, Jane Horvath, is taking part in the RSA Conference to speak at a session on privacy. I imagine part of this will relate to passwords, and the future lack of them.

What about MDM enhancements?

Apple may introduce improvements to Business Manager and its support for third-party MDM. Expect a focus on privacy and security if it does.

Xcode for iPads?

Many remain in some hope. Otherwise anticipate big improvements to Swift.

Happy tenth anniversary, Apple Maps

Ten years ago Apple introduced Apple Maps to a haze of.. criticism… What will it do to celebrate that decade? Justin O’Beirne thinks it might expand high quality maps data to a range of different cities, including pedestrian camera shots in London, UK. He also speculates the company may introduced Offline Maps (for some areas) and indoor maps for stadiums and other public venues tied into ticket sales.

An Apple search engine? Siri gets smarter?

Apple already has a search engine of sorts in the form of Spotlight. Might it be about to introduce a new Siri-based search facility at WWDC? Robert Scoble thinks this is possible, calling it ‘the most expensive product launch ever’, but I can’t help but think that rather than a bona fide Google competitor, his thoughts may also represent a reengineered (and therefore, smarter) Siri. Scoble also thinks…

Did you know that an M1 Mac also has an Ultra Wide Band chip in it? This is a new mesh network that has lots of new capabilities. We've been talking about that on Twitter Spaces for months now. It's very important and at WWDC you'll learn why.

— Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer) May 28, 2022

 

Apple inside

All those Apple chips are equipped with underworked neural engines and the capacity to network wirelessly, perhaps even using UWB. Why? Perhaps Apple has a couple more surprises in store. And what about HomeKit-secured routers?

One more thing

Will there be one more thing? Has Apple finally managed to put a boundary between its plans and the regular leakers? We’ll find out later today.

So, which ones came true?

I’ll be watching the show and Tweeting furiously as I do, so drop me a line with the ones you think will be correct.

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