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5 Predictions for WWDC 2008

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It’s that time of year again. With one week to go until the Steve Jobs WWDC 2008 Keynote, its time to sit back, muddle through all the rumor and speculation, and make a few predictions about what we’ll see at this year’s World Wide Developer’s Conference.

1. 3G iPhone release date announcement

I know, I know – this isn’t so much a prediction as it is an inevitability. We all know that WWDC 2008 is centered around the iPhone, and all signs point to the 3G iPhone being announced there. One bit of speculation that I don’t think will be true, however, is the immediate release of the phone. I think we’ll all have to wait, at the very least, a few weeks before we’ll be able to get our hands on the new phone.

Why? Apple will get more press that way. If the 3G iPhone is announced next Monday for a release in a month or so – Apple will get major media press for the announcement, for the release, and possibly even for the droves of current iPhones that will end up on eBay immediately after the Keynote. It makes more sense, marketing wise, for Apple to wait to release the 3G iPhone – so I believe we’ll get the announcement – but not the actual phone.

2. iPhone 2.0 software release

I do think, however, that we will walk away from the Keynote with something next week. The iPhone 2.0 software release will, hopefully, be available for download next Monday, including the new iPhone App store, and maybe a few surprises as well.

This software release is the biggest one yet for Apple’s iPhone, and you can expect some system improvements, and hopefully some much sought after new features, like MMS messaging, and Copy and Paste.

3. 3rd Party Application releases

To kick off the iPhone App store select 3rd parties will have Apps ready to go at launch including the iPhone AIM client, and maybe even a game or two from companies like Sega and EA. The App Store is going to need some strong content at the launch for it to really get the attention Apple hopes it will, and some highly sought after, and polished applications will go a long way in achieving that goal.

4. iPhone SDK 1.0 release

Another fairly safe prediction is the release of the first non-beta version of the iPhone SDK. I don’t expect much to change from the current Betas that are available now, but I’m sure we’ll get a look at everything you can do with the iPhone SDK.

Oh, and one more thing….

5. No iTablet

I know you want it. I know. This is the new “true video iPod” that will be talked about and rumored at every Keynote for the next few years. I agree that this Keynote would be a perfect time for it to launch – if it was going to anytime in the near future…but it’s not going to happen. Not yet, anyway.

So – what do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below.

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Kossi Adzo

Kossi Adzo is a technology enthusiast and digital strategist with a fervent passion for Apple products and the innovative technologies that orbit them. With a background in computer science and a decade of experience in app development and digital marketing, Kossi brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the Apple Gazette team.

12 thoughts on “5 Predictions for WWDC 2008

  1. I think this is very accurate especially the absence of the iTablet. That rumor is just plain making me sick, sick, sick. As if the Macbook Air didn’t have enough of a narrow target audience! At any rate, what about a refresh to some of the more outdated hardware (if there is any)? Mac mini? Not that it matters, since it’s going to be all about the iPhone, I’m sure.

  2. I find it pretty sad if the whole keynote would be around the iphone, I’m not really waiting for a whole new imac or something like that but beaing a student, in France an iPhone isn’t really the thing that I’m want from Apple at the moment. Well as long as other Apple fans are happy with it, maybe I’ll buy the iPhone 5.0 one day lol 😉

  3. Non-iPhone stuff:

    Probably I would LIKE to see this more than it would happen but here goes…

    1. A revamp and re-marketing of iWork. Apple has been slowly adding to the fledgling suite and with the addition of Bento and a tighter integration between the apps, you have a nice office for Mac without the SLOW MS office. The suite could be open with room for 3rd party plugins.

    2. A major announcement about AppleTV. A lot of tweeks to AppleTV recently which I assume has a purpose.

    3. A new interface device that would replace the mouse. I think the mouse as an input device is getting old and other technologies are available that might provide Apple another forum for innovation.

  4. This is a developer’s conference, not a MacWorld, so I don’t expect displays, AppleTVs, or other non-developer-related announcements. Obviously iPhone SDK is going to take center stage and be the bulk of the keynote. However, during the conference I expect some vague details to come out about Java-on-Mac, (maybe even .NET-on-Mac), MacOS X 10.6, SLI display adapters, virtualization/Windows compatibility, open source updates, and other information of critical interest to the developer community.

  5. Everybody’s waiting for (1) Beatles in the Apple Store, (2) Voice Dialing, (3) [long wait!] Dictation Software

  6. Any chance some talk of Mac OS X 10.6? I know Leopard just arrived but M$ is making news of its latest vaporware. Apple could show feature of two so M$ can make a shoddy copy to get everyone let down by Vista some glimmer of hope.

  7. THIN IPHONE!!

    I’ve been saying it for months every time I see a report that it will be slightly fatter. Thats not apple’s style, it will be thinner you watch.

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