WWDC 2020: Apple releases the unicorn

An Apple unicorn, today

What is a unicorn? In tech, it’s recognized as a new venture that reaches a billion dollars in value pretty much as soon as it starts up. Apple has created a few of these – and now seems set to release another.

Apple has a unicorn?

One shouldn’t read too much into things, I know – but take a look at Apple’s Developer app and the sticker set that accompanies that app and you’ll very quickly find yourself staring at an amusing little unicorn sat there happily playing with what looks like a MacBook Pro of some kind.

It is an amusing and iconic little image that could be seen as showing the talent and possibility that at least one of the 23 million developers attending this year’s virtual WWDC will introduce some new product or service that changes the world.

That’s probably true.

There will be some real visionaries tuned into the event this year. There always are, and we will all benefit from what they come up with. I’m pretty sure someone will have something that helps protect us from COVID-19, for example.

Apple’s iMessages sticker pack for developers.

But, what if it’s an Apple unicorn?

Take another look at the stickers Apple has made:

• A pair of eyes.
• The WWDC 2020 slogan.
• Swift
• A rainbow heart.
• A “hello”, just like the original Macintosh.
• Thumbs up.
• An old System 7-like OK button.
• A frozen head (that’s weird).
• A lovely and relaxing Apple fruit juice drink you consume with a straw – very refreshing for any Appleholic, though unfortunately not as alcoholic as apple must.
• A unicorn on a Mac.
• Laughter “Ha-Ha”.
• An old Cancel button.
• Three stars.
• A reprise to the pirate flag that flew above Mac HQ. (I’d love to use that as my logo here, Apple).
• All ending with an exclamation mark.

Look what arrived at my house this morning! Thanks @apple! Emoji Plaid! This is awesome!#WWDC20 #SwiftStudentChallenge pic.twitter.com/KcSHFDpLvK

— Chain Reaction Games (@ChainReactGames) June 17, 2020

Now, anyone steeped in Apple history will see three things that might mean the launch of something that Apple has been in development for a while (a unicorn, a pirate flag, “hello”.).

What might that be? An ARM-based Mac, perhaps? Apple Glass? Something else?

You know there’s a unicorn coming. This show is going to be lit.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.