Expectations for Apple’s WWDC 2014 Keynote [u]

The world will be watching Apple’s WWDC 2014 keynote live tomorrow morning at 10AM PDT. As always, excitement is in the air as to what Apple might unveil tomorrow. But you need to keep your expectations in check, or else you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Here’s what we expect Apple to announce tomorrow, based on what the company has done in the past and what connected insiders are saying (such as the WSJ, sometimes known as an unofficial PR mouthpiece).

  • OS X 10.10 (Yosemite?): Here’s what the WSJ is saying “According to people familiar with the matter, Ive has been working on a makeover for OS X, using some of the same design concepts introduced in iOS 7.”
  • New hardware: we won’t see the new Apple TV, smart watch or a new iPhone, as the WSJ says “don’t expect to hear about those Monday, according to people familiar with the matter.” If anything, the big and flashy products will come out in the fall. Rumours of an 8GB iPhone 5s and cheaper iMac were crushed by Jim Dalrymple.
  • John Gruber from Daring Fireball normally gets tips from little birdies on what’s coming, but they have been unusually quiet this year.
  • He has this to say on new hardware: ”I expect no new iPhones, no new iPads, and no all-new devices like watches or wristbands or whatever wearables we’re imagining. WWDC is a developer conference first, a platform for new hardware introductions only when convenient for Apple.” That darn Gruber and his spot on analysis.
  • Wildcards (a.k.a. crazy predictions)iTunes Radio announcement for Canada (it was supposed to debut in “early 2014”); some sort of new hardware announcement, and if it is coming, it’ll be from Apple’s new American plants, where secrecy can be guarded much better than their Asian supply chain (remember last year’s surprise Mac Pro?).

Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off WWDC 2013 with the company’s usual updates on mind-blowing stats; next software engineering chief Craig Federighi (by far Apple’s best presenter) unveiled OS X Mavericks; then marketing chief Phil Schiller introduced refreshed MacBook Airs, a new AirPort Extreme (and Time Capsule), and the star surprise, the new Mac Pro.

Shortly after we heard about iWork for iCloud, followed by a promo clip of Jony Ive’s mesmerizing description and introduction of the all-new iOS 7. Eddy Cue came on stage to unveil iOS in the Car (now known as CarPlay), automatic app updates and then—iTunes Radio.

Apple will most likely again dedicate two hours for their keynote and it’s usually jam-packed with demos. With this in mind, don’t expect anything out of the ordinary tomorrow (like new iPhones or an iWatch), other than the usual suspects of updates for iOS and OS X as the major focus.

Speaking at Code Conference, Eddy Cue said Apple’s upcoming product line up is the best he’s seen in 25 years at the company. Most likely these will debut in the fall to ramp up for the holiday quarter and busy shopping season (because KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo says so and his track record is decent).

While you’re getting ready for bed tonight—developers are already waiting in line for a front row seat for tomorrow’s keynote, reports the SFGate:

Santosh Shetty, an engineer with Physicians Interactive of Mumbai, India, got in line about 5 p.m. Sunday – a full 17 hours before CEO Tim Cook is scheduled to start his keynote. Shetty figured if he came such a long distance to watch the keynote, he might as well sacrifice a cold night on the sidewalk to get a good view.

“You can also see it on the website, but seeing it live is a different experience,” he said. “And when you’re seeing it live, you’d rather be in the front rather than be in the back.”

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You gotta love these guys. Come on, you’d also do the same.

Get ready for tomorrow’s live streamed keynote, set to kick off at 10AM PDT/1PM EDT. We’ll also be sending updates live on Twitter followed by full coverage of all the latest updates right here.

Update: The WSJ says Apple will announce news related to iBeacons:

Apple is expected to reveal more iBeacon plans at its World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco starting Monday, where it also intends to preview new versions of its iOS mobile-operating system and Mac OSX software. To promote iBeacon, Apple will place beacons throughout Moscone Center and offer sessions for developers on how to implement the technology.

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