Top 4 Things to Expect from WWDC 2017
Earlier this week, Apple began sending out press invitations to the keynote speech at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2017, which will be taking place this year from June 5th-9th at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. The festivities will officially kick off with the keynote address, beginning at 10 am Pacific Standard Time on the morning of June 5th.
For the 28th year running, millions of developers will flock to the Golden state to take part in the four day expo, where they’ll come together to learn more about a wide range of Apple’s latest software platforms, new technologies, programming languages including Swift, and an ever-expanding array of breakthroughs in APIs including HomeKit, HealthKit, SiriKit, CarPlay, and more.
While every WWDC event is different from the last, they all have a few things in common — and there have been plenty of rumors suggesting that this year’s WWDC will be one of the most jam-packed events in Apple’s history. Here a few things to look out for at this year’s WWDC event.
4. Augmented and Virtual Realty Applications (AR/VR)
While we haven't heard about any AR/VR products launching within the first half of this year, a mere glance at Apple’s WWDC invitation might suggest that the company is working to infuse more human element into technology. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, who will deliver the keynote address, has also stated point-blank that AR/VR applications are the future, and are an integral component of gaining a better grasp on the next-generation of gadgets. Apple has also been rumored to launch its first AR/VR device, the iGlass, this summer. However it’s unlikely (though not implausible), that the gadget will be unveiled at WWDC.
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3. iOS 11
One of the cornerstone elements of WWDC in recent years has been the showcasing of Apple’s next major software updates — and this year will be no different, with an expected unveiling of iOS 11, macOS 10.13, watchOS 4, and tvOS 10. As far as what these operating systems will bring to the table, we’ll just have to wait and see on the morning June 5th; but iOS 11, in particular, could see the inclusion of several exciting new features. These include an all-new Automator app (which could also work on macOS), a new AI-based ‘Intelligent’ Low-Power Mode, FaceTime group calling, and more.
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2. Siri Speaker
Recent mumblings from the rumor mill suggest that Apple is gearing up to launch a standalone Siri-enabled speaker, which according to KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, will boast premium sound and a premium price. The device, which will be positioned to go head-to-head with similar offerings like the Amazon Echo and Google Home, could even be unveiled during the WWDC keynote, according to Kuo, who indicated in his most recent research note that “We believe there is an over 50 percent chance that Apple will announce its first home AI product at WWDC in June and start selling in the second half of 2017 in order to compete with the new Amazon Echo models to be launched.” We’re also likely to see major advancements to Apple’s SiriKit, which could spell big improvements for Siri on all of Apple’s software platforms — especially for iOS 11.
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1. Longshot: The New 10.5” iPad Pro
Rumored to be released earlier this spring, Apple’s 10.5-inch iPad Pro could also be shown off on stage at WWDC this year according to recent leaks. However WWDC, historically speaking, hasn’t been a venue for announcing new hardware products — with a few exceptions. And this year could be one of them, but we’ll just have to wait and see what Apple has up its sleeve. Learn more about the rumored 10.5-inch iPad here.