Apple traditionally kicks the five-day conference WWDC with the keynote address from Tim Cook, his chief lieutenants and a number of important third-party developers, and it seems this year will be no different. Apple has sent out invites to its WWDC keynote address on June 5, confirming the time and location of one of the biggest events in the Cupertino calendar.
Apple is widely-expected to debut new versions of iOS and macOS as well as boosts to its tvOS and watchOS platforms.
While WWDC is traditionally a software focused event, there’s a growing expectation Apple will announce its Siri-powered smart speaker.
“Technology alone is not enough,” it begins. “Technology must intersect with the liberal arts and the humanities to create new ideas and experiences that push society forwards.
“This summer we bring together thousands of brilliant minds representing many diverse perspectives, passions, and talents to help us change the world.”
The wordy invite could be a pushback against anti-liberalism and anti-globalism sentiment engulfing the political scene in the US and across the world.
WHEN IS WWDC 2017?
The whole thing gets underway on June 5 and will run until June 9. Apple says the event “will inspire developers from all walks of life to turn their passions into the next great innovations and apps that customers use every day across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac.”
HOW DO I GET TICKETS TO WWDC 2017?
Registrations will open for developers on March 27. Once developers have registered, there will be a lottery to select the attendees, so registering is no guarantee of a place.
For those that can’t make it to the actual venue, the conference will be live-streamed through the Apple Developer website and on the WWDC app for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM WWDC 2017
Here are our top predictions for WWDC 2017:
1. iOS 11: The most likely announcement will be a new version of Apple’s iPhone software, likely called iOS 11. However, while iOS 11 may be announced in June, it almost certainly won’t become available until September, when it will debut on a new iPhone – the iPhone 7S or iPhone 8, probably.
2. MacOS 10.13: WWDC usually plays host to a new version of Apple’s Mac software. This time we’re expecting MacOS 10.13, although the brand name remains a mystery. Given the last versions were called Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra, expect a decidedly Californian moniker.
3. TVOS 11: We haven’t seen any specific leaks relating to TVOS, but there’s no reason why Apple wouldn’t mention its Apple TV operating system at a conference dedicated to software.
4. WatchOS 4: Apple’s WatchOS 3 was a major release, but that doesn’t mean improvements can’t be made. WWDC could be the perfect occasion to make some refinements in the form of WatchOS 4.
5. Apple Siri Speaker: There’s been no shortage of rumours about a smart speaker being built by Apple. The so-called Siri Speaker is an alleged competitor to the Amazon Echo and Google Home, and is tipped to be nearing launch – cue a WWDC debut?
6. iMessage Expansion: A major rumour circulating for WWDC 2017 is the expansion of Apple’s iMessage app onto Android. This would allow Android users to message iOS users over the internet without relying on a non-Apple service like WhatsApp.
7. General Product Refreshes: There’s also a chance we may see refreshes for products from various categories. That means possible hardware improvements on devices like the iPad, MacBook, or Apple TV.
