Once again, it’s time for Apple to hold its annual global developer conference, or WWDC, where it showcases the latest versions of its operating systems for iPhones, Macs, watches, tablets and TVs.
But what’s new in Apple’s new software and the company is planning big surprises? Hardware, maybe, or even, dare I say it, a virtual reality headset? We’ve reviewed the rumors to get an idea of what to expect when the Apple conference opens on June 6 at 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT, and here’s what we found:
iOS and iPadOS 16 could get a new coat of paint and better notifications
Apple Rumor Journalist Mark Gurman predicted that iOS 16 will include “new Apple apps,” though it’s unclear if that means new Apple apps or a new look for existing apps. Gurman also predicts “new ways to interact” with iOS; I hope it is a reference to interactive widgets.
For iPadOS 16, he specifically noted the multitasking enhancements that could improve the line a bit as a replacement for the laptop.
It is also possible that Apple will review the notification system, which could mean that the company is relying on the Focus modes it introduced with iOS 15.
WWDC is usually setting the stage for the new September iPhone
While Apple will almost certainly not say anything about the iPhone 14, the software features and APIs the company talks about at WWDC usually provide at least a clue as to what its future hardware might look like. If Apple starts telling developers to get ready for a dynamic status bar, it would be a very strong clue that the rumors about the iPhone 14 Pro leaving the notch are correct.
Gurman also said that iOS 16 could carry an ever-active lock screen. This also seems like something that can be locked into the next generation iPhone, but there will be clues in the code and APIs. If your predictions that the lock screen has “widget-like capabilities” are correct, you’d see it as a pretty strong indicator that the iPhone 14 has an always-on screen. (In theory, the LTPO display on the iPhone 13 Pro might also be fine for this particular feature, but Gurman predicts it will be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro.)
One thing worth seeing is which devices are compatible with iOS 16: The iPhone 6S has received six updates, but that will be over at some point. Also, be aware of any mention of accessibility updates that Apple recently announced. Although they have already been detailed in some detail, they will probably have at least a mention and possibly even a demonstration. (It would be great to see someone using live captions or door detection.)
New versions of watchOS and macOS
As usual, there aren’t a lot of rumors about watchOS, but Apple is pretty consistent with what it adds to the Apple Watch every year: some new health / fitness features, new workouts you can keep track of, and new areas of watch. 9to5Mac also reports that there could be a low-power mode similar to the iPhone that offers more ease of use than the current power save mode (which basically only shows the time).
Apple has already shown a lot of accessibility features nearby. Image: Apple
We could see the accessibility features that Apple previously saw earlier this month, including extended tactile support gestures that allow you to move your fingers to do things like end a call, take a photo, and control media or workouts. Apple also showed a duplication mode that lets you view and control your watch screen from your phone. Apple said these features will come in software updates this year, and it seems likely that this would mean they would be on watchOS 9.
As for what the next version of macOS will bring, the rumors have been very few and far between. It is speculated that it could get the Focus Mode feature of the iPhone and could be called macOS Mammoth. Other than that, the only thing we really hope to see is support for …
New Mac backs
The current rumor (also from Mark Gurman) is that Apple will introduce at least two new computers “by mid-year.” This prediction was accompanied by a whole list of computers that Apple would have worked on, including a new Mac Pro, a fully upgraded line of laptops, and a Mac Mini or two.
The current Apple M1-powered MacBook Air could be up and running.
There have been rumors of a redesigned MacBook Air floating around for a while, and Apple has promised to introduce a Mac Pro with Apple silicon. The latter definitely looks ripe for a WWDC ad. It’s the conference where Apple brings together a large part of its professionals and enthusiasts (e.g., people who would love a Mac Pro), and it would be weird for it to mock the hardware at one event and not announce it at the next. .
As one of Apple’s most popular computers, Air would not be out of place either. But again, not a Mac Mini, especially considering the rumors that Apple wants to equip it with an M2 Pro processor.
Oh yeah, about that …
The M2 could debut
In a report detailing potentially ongoing Macs, Bloomberg also said they are likely to have next-generation silicon from Apple. While there aren’t many details on what kind of improvements M2 will make, where better to go over all the technical details than at a developer conference?
While Apple has continued to bring new variations to its chips, they have all been expansions of the M1 design it announced more than a year and a half ago. The company said that it has just introduced new M1 chips, so it seems possible that the new computers should come with a new generation of chips (although prominent analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the new Air could still have an M1 chip).
A drawing Information made from Apple headphones based on what you hear. Image: The Information
Apple could be announcing its AR / VR headphones for a long time
Okay, maybe you shouldn’t expect “exactly” this: it’s more of a “don’t be surprised if it appears” selection. Almost every year, people predict that Apple will show a headset, it is now rumored that they are capable of virtual and augmented reality, with a series of cameras (to go through real world video), a chip that is about as powerful as a Mac and dedicated software called RealityOS.
Actually, it has never happened, but there are rumors that Apple is about to announce one after years of supposedly chaotic development. According to this report a couple of weeks ago, Apple’s board of directors was able to test the headphones recently, which historically happens shortly before consumers see it.
This report stated that Apple planned to introduce the headphones to the WWDC, but that there may have been delays that would prevent this. Apple could always make fun of him, but some people suspect that he has already done so, including a person who wears glasses on his Memoji iconography for the show.
At the very least, you should expect Apple to talk a lot about AR and VR. It is clearly a focus for the company, even if it is not ready to show the hardware. And who knows? Maybe 2022 will be another kind of One More Thing year.
To say that this is a headphone track is probably a stretch, as opposed to saying that it looks like the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie 1995 poster. Image: Apple