APPLE'S 2015 Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is just a week away, and will kick off in San Francisco on 8 June.
"We've got incredible new technologies for iOS and OS X to
share with developers at WWDC and around the world, and can't wait to
see the next generation of apps they create," Apple said.
The company has confirmed that it will be live streaming the
event, having updated its "Apple Events" channel on Apple
TV. The stream, which will kick off at 6pm UK time on 8 June, will
also be able to watch via the Safari browser on iOS and OS X devices.
We've rounded up everything you can expect from Apple's developer
conference, with the imagery for this year's conference (above)
giving very little away.
Apple Music
Likely landing himself in trouble with Apple, Sony Music CEO Doug Morris has confirmed that Apple's music streaming service will debut at WWDC.
Likely landing himself in trouble with Apple, Sony Music CEO Doug Morris has confirmed that Apple's music streaming service will debut at WWDC.
Apple Music, which likely will be a reworked version of Beats
Music, is expected to be priced at $10 a month with a three-month
free trial period. There will be no ad-based offering, unlike that
offered by rival Spotify.
iOS 9
Apple typically unveils the next iOS milestone at WWDC, which all but confirms that we'll see iOS 9 at this year's event.
Apple typically unveils the next iOS milestone at WWDC, which all but confirms that we'll see iOS 9 at this year's event.
If speculation is to be believed, the next iteration won't offer
too much to get excited about, as Apple
is reportedly set to shun new features in favour of performance and
stability improvements.
According to 9to5Mac's sources, Apple will also look to
reduce the size of future software updates with iOS 9.
While Apple is set to hold back on new features, rumours claim
that iOS 9 will introduce support for Force Touch, hinting that this
will be a major feature on the so-called iPhone
7. According to reports,
Force Touch will replace some long press and hold button interactions
on the iPhone, and Apple is also said to be working to let
developers integrate it into their apps.
iOS 9 is also tipped to debut a new Maps app which will reportedly
improve on the current, controversial offering with public transport
directions and indoor mapping abilities. This has been further
fuelled by Apple's
acquisition of GPS company Coherent Navigation, which was
developing a 'high-precision navigation service.'
Apple's
long-rumoured Beats Music streaming service is also set to arrive
at WWDC, following
the delivery of a revamped Music app in iOS 8.4.
9to5Mac
reports that a smart home app will also debut in iOS 9, allowing
users to control HomeKit-compatible accessories from their iPhone or
iPad. In terms of functionality, the app reportedly will let users
wirelessly discover and set-up HomeKit devices, use the Apple TV as a
hub connecting HomeKit devices and to help find new
HomeKit-compatible gadgets.
iOS 9 is also expected to bring a split-screen mode to the iPad, a
feature which was tipped to debut in iOS
8 last year.
Newer rumours suggest that iOS 9, along with Apple's next OS X
release, will get a mild design refresh, with the firm set to equip
it with the same font used on the Apple
Watch.
Apple's software updates have until now been largely universal,
but speculation claims that it won't support the older iPhone
5C or fifth-generation iPod Touch. Instead, it will support
devices with 64-bit A7, A8 and A9 processors only.
Apple Watch SDK
Apple has confirmed that it will launch a new Apple Watch software development kit (SDK) at WWDC that will allow developers to create native apps for the wearable.
Apple has confirmed that it will launch a new Apple Watch software development kit (SDK) at WWDC that will allow developers to create native apps for the wearable.
Speaking at Re/code's
Code Conference, Apple operations chief Jeff Williams
revealed that developers will soon be able to offer Apple Watch
wearers more than a souped-up version of the iPhone app.
The incoming SDK update will allow apps access to the wearable's
sensors, including plethysmograph, gyroscope and heart rate monitor,
and the Digital Crown. New tools for game developers have also been
promised.
Mac OS X 10.11
The follow up to Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite is widely expected to debut at WWDC this year, and is likely to arrive as OS X 10.11.
The follow up to Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite is widely expected to debut at WWDC this year, and is likely to arrive as OS X 10.11.
While it's strongly rumoured that the software will debut in San
Francisco in June, no information about the next-generation OS X
software - other than talk of an upgrade in the security department -
has yet spilled online.
Virtual Reality
Apple's recent acqusition of augmented reality started Metaio suggests that the firm might detail its virtual reality (VR) plans at WWDC.
Apple's recent acqusition of augmented reality started Metaio suggests that the firm might detail its virtual reality (VR) plans at WWDC.
Some speculate that Apple is working on its own VR headset to
rival those from Microsoft and Samsung, having patented a
head-mounted VR set that uses an iPhone as the display and computing
component earlier this year.
9to5Mac has reported that Apple is working on an augmented reality
feature for the new Apple Maps app also tipped to debut during its
keynote.
Hardware
WWDC is a conference largely centred on software, but Apple has in the past shown off new hardware at the event, such as the Mac Pro in 2013.
WWDC is a conference largely centred on software, but Apple has in the past shown off new hardware at the event, such as the Mac Pro in 2013.
Talk of the iPad
Pro has resurfaced, with reports claiming the business-focused
tablet could see an official reveal at this year's WWDC. This,
according to speculation, will feature a 12.9in Retina display, A8X
chip, 2GB RAM and a baked-in fingerprint scanner.
There's also
talk that Apple might showcase new Macbooks at WWDC, which will
come with an Intel's Broadwell processor under the hood.
It's unclear whether the firm will do so this year, and it's
probably unlikely given Apple's
recent unveiling of the first 12in MacBook.
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