Apple WWDC Wrapup

a1sx2_Thumbnail1_WWDC-2014_20140606-190443_1.jpgWell WWDC 2014 has come and gone and while there was plenty of exciting news about the future of Apple’s operating systems, both on mobile and desktop, there were no announcement for new devices as many rumor experts had predicted. If you were like the millions of others that tuned in to see this year’s live stream of the keynote, you may have zoned out while Tim Cook and friends were showing off the bevy of new features coming to iOS8 and OS X Yosemite this fall. WWDC, for those that might not know, stands for World Wide Developers Conference, and this year it was all about the developers. Much of the conversation on the keynote stage was directed at the development crowd. Apple unveiled a ton of new tools and improvements to others for the developers that make apps for our favorite devices. Which means that we should be seeing some great innovation when it comes to apps in the very near future. One of the biggest things that Apple announced is the ability for developers to now access the fingerprint ID which has, up until now, been only for Apple. This means that very soon you may be able to sign into your bank app with just a touch of your finger! Beyond the excitement that the developers were feeling, we the common users have plenty to get jazzed up about too! The new iOS 8 looks to build upon the solid base of iOS 7 and continue to improve with new gestures and a much more integrated platform between your Apple devices. Plenty of smart type features and a better notification center. And for desktops, we will be getting the latest version of OS X, named Yosemite. Seems like the days of naming the operating systems after cats is now behind us as we enter the world of Yosemite which will bring us an updated interface and a more integrated experience between Apple devices. Apple showed us how we will be able to start typing an email on our iPhone while on the go and be able to pick up on our Mac to finish it, pretty neat stuff!  There’s so much little stuff in these new OS’s that they add up to big news and I look forward to this fall when we can all get our hands on them. Stay tuned to this blog for updates on when Apple will finally announce new devices, like the long rumored iPhone 6.

What to expect at WWDC 2014

a1sx2_Thumbnail1_WWDC-2014.jpg This year’s WWDC at Moscone Center in San Francisco is going to be busy and bustling with developers from all around the world, who make their way to see the upcoming features that the company has laid out for them into both the code side and hardware side. This year’s big announcements is also probably going to have a new high-profile member added to the center stage with the acquisition of Beats Electronics, makers of the awesome and trendsetting Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. According to Billboard, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are most probably going to make their presence known by appearing next to Apple’s CEO Mr. Tim Cook to make the official live broadcast announcement, just my guess. In terms of products….strong possibility that this year’s emphasis is going to be on Mac OS X.  Since we are currently on 10.9 I would take a guess that its going to be called 10.10.  Since Mac OS has been mostly, but quite efficiently, ignored over the past few years, rumors have been circulating the mac walls on the internet that a huge upgrade is in the works with more seamless compatibility with iOS. On a side note of naming conventions, I’ve always said, versions numbers are cheap!  We can make any software or app any version we want… Does anyone think it might even be called OS11? Like usual, I bet developers will be able to download it on day of the announcement but my guess for the proper Apple-style release date would be October 10th 2014 (10.10.14). On the Hardware front, Mac Mini’s haven’t been updated in a while and we think the Apple version of iWatch, will also quite possibly make an appearance with actual release date later in the year.  It was Steve Jobs favorite thing to do…announce a amazingly brand new product and let the audience just soak it in for a moment and then hear the thunderous applause that followed.  If this new piece of hardware were to be announced at WWDC, This would be Tim Cooks’ first New Product announcement.  How do you think he will handle it?  I’ve seen him over the years evolve into the “Steve Jobs style of walking and talking” so he may do it in the same manner…we’ll see! Last year he did do iOS7, so I’m expecting that this year will be iOS8 on a bigger size iPhone model to compete with the larger Android devices like the Note and Tab from Samsung.  I love my Apple iPhone, and I just wish they don’t make it too big that it’s awkward to hold in one hand.  Since the market is demanding larger screen smartphones, Apple has no choice to actually provide it now to its loyal fans. Now Apple can surprise us all and make a Mac OS X iPad form factor tablet.  They have the technology, they have the hardware so what’s stopping them? One things for sure, since they just update the Mac Pro and the Mac Book Pro last year, they sure won’t be updating that product line. Untill next time (After WWDC…)