Here’s what to expect today at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference
Apple Inc. is set to kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference Monday morning and although the company is renowned for surprise announcements, most of what is set to be revealed is already reasonably known.
WWDC 2018 starts at 10 a.m. PDT. You can watch the keynote online here. Here’s what to expect:
iOS 12
Apple is quite certainly going to reveal iOS 12, as it unveils major updates at the event every year. Along with bug fixes and refinements to the underlying code, the new version will also introduce enhanced support for augmented reality and digital health.
As SiliconANGLE reported May 31, iOS 12 will deliver a new set of tools designed to help consumers keep their mobile usage in check as part of its Digital Health initiative, with a dedicated section becoming available in a new section of the iOS 12 settings menu.
Apple is also expected to unveil a heavily upgraded version of ARKit, the development toolkit it provides for building AR-infused iOS apps including a mode designed to “let users play AR games against each other in the same virtual environment.”
According to MacRumors, other changes coming in iOS 12 include support for cross-platform apps, a feature that will allow developers to design a single app that will work on iPhones, iPads and Macs; enhanced animoji support including new animoji characters and support for Facetime; expanded near-field communication capabilities that would allow developers to access the NFC chip in an iPhone for enhanced payment support functionality; and horizontal support for Face ID.
MacOS 10.14
Apple is expected to launch MacOS 10.14 at WWDC, although the update will mostly be security-related. Reports over the weekend claimed the new version has a new a systemwide dark mode and a new Mac News app icon. Xcode, Apple’s programming platform, is reported to be getting an upgrade and, as per the iOS news, Apple will also likely add support for cross-platform apps on macOS.
Siri/ HomePod
Exactly what Apple plans with its smart assistant Siri is not 100 percent clear, but as SiliconANGLE reported May 21, there’s a strong possibility that Apple may be announcing enhanced conversational artificial intelligence for the service.
The same source for the speculation — Siri itself via cryptic messages — also suggested that Apple may be launching a smaller, cheaper version of its HomePod smart home speaker. There are some reports out of China that the new model may have already gone into production. With disappointing sales figures since HomePod was released Feb. 9, Apple may be looking at broadening the range to appeal to more price-conscious consumers.
watchOS 5/ tvOS 12
Apple is expected to launch new versions for both its Apple Watch and Apple TV operating systems at WWDC, but perhaps reflective of their much smaller user bases, there’s not a lot confirmed in terms of what the versions may include.
Support for third-party watch faces is reported to be part of watchOS 5, along with an enhanced focus on health and activity features but most coverage of the update tends to come in the form of wish lists versus anything concrete.
Hardware
Apple was not previously expected to release any new phones or computers at the event, but the rumor mill has suddenly gone into overdrive with speculation Sunday that Apple may launch a new version of its iPhone SE, its cheapest base-model iPhone.
Leaked pictures of screen protectors show the model, if it exists, having an iPhone X-style notch, albeit about half the size. Apple traditionally releases it new phone models in September, but the first iPhone SE was launched in March 2016, though at a separate event.
Less likely but not utterly impossible is the announcement of new Mac computers. Slashgear claimed Apple might have a new MacBook Pro to show off. Described as its “biggest and baddest laptop so far,” it’s said to have a hexacore Intel Core i7-8750H.
WWDC runs June 4-8 at San Jose Convention Center.
Image: Apple
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