What to Expect
Apple's annual conference designed for developers will be held from June 2 to June 6 at the Moscone West convention center in San Francisco, California. While the event is focused on developer workshops, the company typically uses the opportunity to debut operating system upgrades and new products.The first day of the Worldwide Developers Conference begins with a keynote from Apple, where the company shares information on operating system updates, new services, and new products.
Ahead of the keynote event, Apple has begun preparations at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, with the first banners appearing in the lobby of Moscone West with the tagline "Write the Code. Change the World."
During this year's event, Apple is expected to preview both iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 ahead of their prospective fall releases. Developers often receive immediate access to beta versions of the operating systems in order to begin working on new apps and features, with public launches coming later.
The company may also introduce Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, both of whom are expected to join Apple following its possible acquisition of Beats Electronics, and recent rumors have also pointed towards the debut of a home automation platform.
Apple has multiple products on the horizon in 2014, but it appears that many will not be ready to be shown at the company's keynote event. An new Apple TV set-top box, Apple's rumored 12-inch Retina MacBook, and the iWatch all appear to be set for later at the earliest.
Apple updated its WWDC app for 2014 on May 21, offering up a new orange theme and details on some of the events that will take place, including the keynote on June 2 and the Apple Design Awards later that same day.
Live Coverage
Apple has announced that the keynote presentation, which begins on June 2 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, will be broadcast live via its website and on a channel on the Apple TV. MacRumors will also provide live updates of the keynote, both on the homepage of the site and via the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Expected Software Updates
While little information is available on iOS 8 at this point in time, it may focus on refining the major visual updates that were introduced with iOS 7 and adding new functionality to the operating system.
Major Siri and Maps improvements could be key features of iOS 8, along with a rumored "Healthbook" app that aggregates various fitness and health related information. Rumors have suggested Apple might introduce improved third-party app integration for Siri, and Maps may gain public transit options.
iTunes Radio may be separated out into its own app with iOS 8, instead of being bundled into the existing Music app. Apple is also said to be preparing a new song identification feature for the operating system in partnership with Shazam. Such a service would be built directly into iOS 8, integrating with apps and Siri to allow users to identify songs playing on the radio or via other sources.
Apple has also hinted that a new mobile payments system is on the horizon, which might leverage the company's Touch ID feature first introduced with the iPhone 5s.
OS X 10.10
If there's little information available on iOS 8, there's even less available on OS X 10.10. It isn't clear what Apple has in store for the operating system, but with OS X Mavericks introducing relatively few UI changes, it's possible that OS X 10.10 will bring some significant visual improvements.
A January report from 9to5Mac pointed towards a "flatter" interface, but with changes that won't be quite as drastic as iOS 7's complete transformation.
Smart Home Platform
Apple may be planning to launch a new software platform that will let the iPhone directly control lights, security systems, and other household gadgets at WWDC, according to a recent report from The Financial Times .
Apple's move into smart home technology may include partnerships with device makers that gives them official approval to support iOS devices with iOS 8, much like the company's "Made for iPhone" program does for accessories like headphones and speaker docks.
Beats Electronics
In early May, a rumor from the Financial Times suggested Apple was in talks with Beats Electronics over a possible acquisition that would see Apple purchasing the company for approximately $3.2 billion. The rumor was quickly confirmed by other notable publications like The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The New York Times, with several sources pointing towards an imminent announcement of the deal.
Follow up reports have indicated that the deal will include Beats' thriving headphone business, the Beats Music service, and an acquihire of both of the company's co-founders, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, aka Andre Young.
Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are both expected to take on senior roles at Apple following its acquisition of Beats, and Iovine may step into the role of Apple's music chief, handling relationships and negotiations with music labels. As both Beats' co-founder and chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, Iovine has significant connections in the music industry that could potentially benefit Apple.
According to a report from Billboard , Iovine and Dre may make their first appearance at Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, which will kick off on June 2. It is unclear what role the two may play at WWDC, but it would be an opportune moment for Apple to introduce them to both Apple fans and developers.
While Apple has not yet announced its acquisition of Beats Electronics, news of the deal is expected to hit as early as this week.
Possible Product Unveilings
Apple's Mac Mini is long overdue for an update, having seen its last refresh in October of 2012. Apple's plans for the computer are unknown, but a refresh could bring Haswell processors with Iris integrated graphics and 802.11ac WiFi support.
Products Not Yet Ready
Apple has several other products rumored to be in the pipeline, but recent rumors have suggested that they will not be unveiled at WWDC.
Rumors have suggested that a redesigned set-top box is in the works, with support for iOS games and possibly a full App Store. While initial chatter pointed towards an April release date for the product, it has seemingly been delayed even beyond WWDC.
Apple TV concept by Curved Along with support for games and iOS 7 controllers, the set-top box is expected to feature an improved processor, possibly the same A7 chip used in the iPhone 5s and the current iPads. There's also a possibility that Apple has a major content announcement in the works, as the company is said to be working on deals with Time Warner and Comcast.
Apple introduced the radically redesigned Mac Pro at the Worldwide Developers Conference last year and this year, and while some have held out hope that the company will give us a look at its highly rumored iWatch, it looks like that will not be happening.
The iWatch is expected to include several health-related sensors and capabilities, based on Apple's multiple hires in the health and fitness fields. Along with tracking steps taken, sleep quality, and calories burned like many standard fitness devices on the market, Apple's device may also incorporate advanced features like heart rate measurements and hydration monitoring.
Along with its health and fitness tracking functionality, the iWatch will likely integrate with the iPhone and iOS devices, allowing users to receive notifications and messages, possibly accessing various features through Siri integration.
While Apple's hires have pointed towards possible iWatch capabilities, little else is known about the device. There have been no design leaks, giving no indication of what Apple's wearable might look like. A release date is also up in the air, although it seems that late 2014 is the focus of current rumors.
Apple is said to be working on an updated 12-inch MacBook that includes a Retina display. Said to be even slimmer than existing MacBook Airs, it is unclear whether the product will join Apple's MacBook Airs lineup or whether it will be in a category of its own.According to KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo, the 12-inch MacBook boasts the portability of the 11-inch MacBook Air with the productivity of the 13-inch MacBook Air, offering a high resolution display along with an improved clamshell structure.
Additional rumors have hinted at a revamped trackpad design without a mechanical button and the lack of a fan assembly, resulting in silent operation. Digitimes has also suggested that Apple is working on a Retina MacBook Air to be released in 2014, but it is unclear whether the publication was referring to the 12-inch model referenced in previous rumors or an updated 11 and 13-inch Retina version.
Apple has just updated the MacBook Air with a price drop and a very minor processor speed bump at the low end, suggesting that an unveiling of Retina versions at WWDC is unlikely. A more likely timeframe for the 12-inch Retina MacBook would be later in the year, perhaps around Apple's usual October Mac update window.
Past WWDCs
2013
At last year's WWDC, Apple unveiled iOS 7, OS X Mavericks, iWork for iCloud, the Mac Pro, and new MacBook Airs.
2012
2012's event saw the introduction of the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, iOS 6 and its standalone Maps app, OS X Mountain Lion, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air updates, and a redesigned AirPort Express.
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