The 2015 WWDC will be held in just over a month, and Apple fans are already going insane speculating what exactly we will see when CEO Tim Cook takes the stage. Below, we break down what to expect at this year’s WWDC based off of past conferences and popular rumors.
iOS 9
A new iOS is one of the most anticipated topics at every WWDC. Apple has been known to make groundbreaking changes to our beloved OS, as can be seen with the releases of iOS 5 (giving us iMessage, notification center, and iCloud) and iOS 7 (changing virtually everything). They’re generally received with open arms and excited fans- with the exception of iOS 7, but even then, we learned to appreciate it more than we knew was possible.
iOS 9 isn’t expected to be much different than its predecessor, except: we expect the only major changes to be a revamped music app in which iTunes Radio will be replaced with Beats Radio following Apple’s acquisition of the company last May. We also expect the addition of the long-awaited split-screen mode on the iPad and iPhone 6 Plus.
The switch between OS’s should be relatively easy, with Apple promising to try to make the size of future OS downloads more manageable.
Unfortunately, it’s expected to only be released for iPhone 5S and newer, leaving those of us with a 5c or older stuck with the older OS.
This writer is personally hoping for more personal customization, with a customizable Control Center and Notification Center. It would be nice to be able to have the ability to put app shortcuts where the lesser used Airplane Mode, Do Not Disturb, and Calculator shortcuts currently stand.
OSX 10.11
The next most anticipated topic at the WWDC would have to be the release of a new Mac OS. Much like iOS 9, OSX 10.11 is also expected to focus more on performance, stability, and security. While it’s welcomed by Mac users, it leaves some of us computer nerds who were looking for new features kind of disappointed.
Apple TV
Apple hasn’t released a new Apple TV in over 3 years, making it hard to compete with newing sets like the Amazon Fire TV and Roku. It’s also fallen behind in the new trend of cheapering sticks on the market, such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast. However, this year, that’s all expected to change. Apple is expected to put switch the focus to their Apple TV, suggested by the increased popularity of that market in the past year and also by the photo on the official WWDC website (look closely- the black box is extremely identical to the design of the Apple TV Box). They’re proected not only to release a new box, but a new stick. The box will reportedly feature a new televisioning service, which is projected to have about 25 channels and cost around $30-40 a month. Apple has confirmed that they have already made deals with Fox, NBC, and ABC. The stick will reportedly share the same features as the current set-top box with improved stability and a price projected to be as low as $49.99. With these new features, the Apple TV will most likely change the face of the industry it’s ignored for the past 3 years.
iPad Pro
Rumors of the iPad Pro began with the release of the iPad Air, with people speculating it would follow the same platform the MacBook did, with a cheaper, simpler MacBook Air and a more advanced MacBook Pro. Anticipated features include a 12.9” Retina display, 2GB of RAM, a fingerprint scanner, Force Touch, NFC, and an A8X chip. It’s also expected to include a Bluetooth stylus.
15” MacBook
Rumors are flying around about Apple releasing a 15” MacBook at this year’s WWDC, but it’s quite unlikely after last month’s release of the 12” MacBook. If released, it’s rumored to contain the Intel Broadwell Processor and a new touchpad with Force Touch, similar to the 12” MacBook.
A good combination of potential hardware and gauranteed software at WWDC this year will keep Apple' fans satisfied.
