WWDC 2008 Keynote Recap


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This year’s WWDC Keynote was completely iPhone focused. It started off with a showcase of iPhone Apps that are going to be in the App Store when it launches in early July including several games, MLB.com and Ebay apps, and a handful of medical applications among others. Games looked as good as many Nintendo DS and PSP titles, and are – at least initially – going to be $9.99.

It was also revealed that Apple has a solution for developers looking for background functionality, in the version of a push service for all developers.

After the third party application showcase, Steve covered some new features of the iPhone, including Contact Search, and full iWork and MS Office document support. Also increased language support and a scientific calculator were added.

The iPhone 2.0 software will be available in early July.

Apple also replaced their .Mac service with the much rumored “Mobile Me” service which is described as “Exchange for the rest of us.” Instant push contacts, calendards, email, and more will all be a part of the new service, as well as a web 2.0 application located at me.com. All .Mac users will be automatically upgraded to the new service which costs $99 a year. A free 60 day trial will be available with the iPhone 2.0 software.

After all of this Steve finally got around to the big news of the day, the iPhone 3G.

The new iPhone will feature 3G connectivity, 5 hours of 3G talk time, and GPS navigation. The biggest news, however, is the price.

$199 for 8GB model
$299 for 16GB model.

“Snow Leopard” was mentioned as well as something that Bertrand Serlet would be given a peak at after lunch.

All in all it wasn’t a very exciting keynote. I’m glad to be wrong about the $199 price drop, and I’m sure it will push more iPhone sales than ever before, but I do wish we’d gotten the App Store today. Ah well…

What did you think?

Thanks to The Wizard for the pic


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

6 Comments

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  1. i think that come september, i shall be visiting the apple store in nyc and walk out with 200 bucks less. 3g and gps sold it for me. and all those 3rd party apps and games look quite nice.

    interesting question though: will hacked/unlocked iphones be able to access the app store? it would be a big bummer if not; that might even make me get an official contract.

  2. I’m still disappointed that no free version of MobileMe is coming (when you can get all of its features free from competing services…). Anyway, I also think the keynote wasn’t very exciting. Everything was pretty much expected…

  3. You are welcome Michael.

    I am so happy about the price cut. I am so happy about the release date which is next month.

    I wonder where is the second front camera on that baby above though.

  4. it’s still 2 Megapixels for the camera on the back. As for the alleged camera on the front, therea appears to be none, 3G doesn’t necessarily mean video calls. Check out the apple store iPhone 3G page, if there was a front camera u’d think it’d be highlighted as a key feature!

  5. Unfortunately the iPhone SUCKS bigtime in terms of its camera.

    2 megapixels camera with no flash and with crappy quality too. (I have a Sony Ericsson K810i and I know what a mobile phone camera should be like.)

    No video support. At least not announced till now.

    No second front camera which means: No video calls! No video chats!

    Why Apple? WHyyyyyyyyyyyy?!