WWDC 2008 Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers

[MacRumors]

After each major event, MacRumors provides a wrapup of rumors to reveal the sources of the most accurate (or inaccurate) information.

iPhone 3G

As widely expected, Apple released the iPhone 3G at WWDC 2008 at $200 with 3G and GPS but no front sided video camera. The specs for the iPhone had been well predicted, and, as we had warned, the evidence was weakest for the front-sided video camera.

From a spec perspective, both Scott Mortiz of Fortune (and subsequently Cult of Mac/Kahney) accurately predicted a number of details about the new phone, including price point, flush headphone jack, case design and features. Their seemingly conflicting "thicker" vs "thinner" case predictions could both be interpreted with some truth since the edges of the iPhone 3G are thinner but the center is negligably thicker.

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[Roller]

It's hard not to be disappointed by any Apple announcements these days, since the advance rumors always top what actually is announced. In some ways, it was more fun in the old days when we often had no idea what was coming.

[gusapple]

Ha ha, isn't it funny how people said that black cased iPhone was a fake? I thought of all of those people when Steve Jobs announced it.

[kabunaru]

WWDC 2008: Most boring WWDC ever.
Can't wait for the iPhone 3G though.

[tba03]

regarding the mini, maybe apple will do as they did this winter with an announce every tuesday for a month or 2 around macworld, we'll see tuesday i guess

[avigalante]

FINALLY! I've been waiting for this wrap up!

Although it was a lame WWDC, I think the most forgotten aspect is that the conference is for developers and not a site for a full-out product launch. In terms of OS X development, the breakthroughs were quite pivotal in providing more color on the Mobile OS X platform.

As far as the front-sided camera is concerned - I never did expect a front sided camera to make way to the iPhone, it just sounds too last century for Apple. I did however expect video conferencing through the use of this patent here.

I'm sure Apple is working away on that patent (at least one can hope); there's always next year...

[k2spitfire88]

I was a little disappointed that my first WWDC I was aware of only had iPhone and Snow Leopard discussed. SJ wasn't even on stage much for the keynote, was he not feeling well or something? Anyways, it's only gonna get better, cause the new intel chips should be something special.

[CWallace]

The iPhone 2.0 software and Snow Leopard both sound intriguing to me, so I was not disappointed.

[Doctor Q]

I love Rumor Wrapups. Some sources get to take a bow. Others get their comeuppance.

[aLoC]

"Mac Fusion Developer Mac" - VMWare recently announced that VMWare Fusion will be able to run OS X in a virtual machine. They say it will be good for developers who can test all platforms.

Could this information have become the "Fusion Developer Mac" through the "Chinese Whispers" effect?

[irun5k]

Oddly, after last week, I now think the best deal going is if you can find a 1st gen iPhone for a couple hundred bucks, new in the box.

Why? First, because you'll still get the 2.0 software update, the same exact thing that the 2nd gen iPhone has.

Second, the old phone will save you money every month.

Lastly, the only true new features that the new phone has that the old one doesn't is faster speeds and GPS. And both features will cost you precious battery life. So unless you really need 3G or GPS, the 1st gen iPhone never looked better!!!

Truthfully, I might find GPS handy on rare occasions. I've gotten used to using EDGE-optimized iPhone sites though, and most of my browsing is via WiFi anyway. To me, it seems like the new iPhone is actually worse for a lot of people. If you could tether, 3G might be worth more.

[Rivix]

Need a MacBook Pro or a Mac Mini! An update would have been nice...

[belisle]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Unfortunately, a large number of fake images were posted by a few over-eager blogs. With the increased attention surrounding Apple, sites have become quick to post even questionable photos, which comes at the cost of their future credibility.

Arn has spoken. Let this serve as a warning to future generations.

[bretm]

Originally Posted by irun5k

Oddly, after last week, I now think the best deal going is if you can find a 1st gen iPhone for a couple hundred bucks, new in the box.

Why? First, because you'll still get the 2.0 software update, the same exact thing that the 2nd gen iPhone has.

Second, the old phone will save you money every month.

Lastly, the only true new features that the new phone has that the old one doesn't is faster speeds and GPS. And both features will cost you precious battery life. So unless you really need 3G or GPS, the 1st gen iPhone never looked better!!!

Truthfully, I might find GPS handy on rare occasions. I've gotten used to using EDGE-optimized iPhone sites though, and most of my browsing is via WiFi anyway. To me, it seems like the new iPhone is actually worse for a lot of people. If you could tether, 3G might be worth more.

But for those reasons they're still selling for $500.

[ckurowic]

DUHHH like I've said: touch devices bigger than the iPhone are FREAKING USELESS! Why do some people continue on this quest of proving that touch screen computers are useful? I'm not sure. Logic=0%. Clumsy, cumbersome, and down-right stupid is what they are. I was right once again. Thank you very much. HAR HAR HAR HAR ah yuk yuk yuk here I go touching my MacBook screen yuk yuk yuk har har har.

[benlee]

Originally Posted by ckurowic

DUHHH like I've said: touch devices bigger than the iPhone are FREAKING USELESS! Why do some people continue on this quest of proving that touch screen computers are useful? I'm not sure. Logic=0%. Clumsy, cumbersome, and down-right stupid is what they are. I was right once again. Thank you very much. HAR HAR HAR HAR ah yuk yuk yuk here I go touching my MacBook screen yuk yuk yuk har har har.

I Disagree. In 4 years everything is going to be touch screen. Well not EVERYTHING, but you get my point.

[honeycrisp]

Originally Posted by Roller

It's hard not to be disappointed by any Apple announcements these days, since the advance rumors always top what actually is announced. In some ways, it was more fun in the old days when we often had no idea what was coming.

I agree that it's more fun to not know what's going to happen. I used the spoiler-free setup this year, and really really enjoyed it. I think that's the way to go.

[viccles]

I'm sad that we have to wait until July 11 for the iphone

[honeycrisp]

Originally Posted by kabunaru

WWDC 2008: Most boring WWDC ever.
Can't wait for the iPhone 3G though.

Really? I actually thought last year's was pretty boring. Leopard features for an hour and a half got old for me.

[PcBgone]

Originally Posted by ckurowic

DUHHH like I've said: touch devices bigger than the iPhone are FREAKING USELESS! Why do some people continue on this quest of proving that touch screen computers are useful? I'm not sure. Logic=0%. Clumsy, cumbersome, and down-right stupid is what they are. I was right once again. Thank you very much. HAR HAR HAR HAR ah yuk yuk yuk here I go touching my MacBook screen yuk yuk yuk har har har.

I guess your not a Trekkie...Touch Screen computers are the wave of the future. Keyboards and mice are last century. One day we will have touchscreens where everything we need to input into the computer will be right there on the screen. I wouldnt knock it if I were you. It only shows lack of understanding.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by avigalante

FINALLY! I've been waiting for this wrap up!

Although it was a lame WWDC, I think the most forgotten aspect is that the conference is for developers and not a site for a full-out product launch. In terms of OS X development, the breakthroughs were quite pivotal in providing more color on the Mobile OS X platform.

Several Apple products got announced at WWDC, but usually they were the "pro" computers.

As far as the front-sided camera is concerned - I never did expect a front sided camera to make way to the iPhone, it just sounds too last century for Apple. I did however expect video conferencing through the use of this patent here.

I'm sure Apple is working away on that patent (at least one can hope); there's always next year...

They have front facing cameras on most of the computers they sell now. Why don't you go and tell them that their way is too "last century".

Your expectations were unrealistic for this year, and I doubt they are realistic for next year as well. That patent really isn't protecting an invention or any actual research, it's just a fantasy idea that's protected. Patents like that defeat the point of the patent system. The patent for the idea is the easy part, actually making it is hard. The processes to make camera sensors appear to be incompatible with pretty much every process for making displays. Making tiny holes and somehow bonding photosensors to it doesn't sound like a process that's cost-effective any time soon. Not only that, you'll have a dark spot wherever there is a photosite, the screen will look like it has an array of dark holes in them, as if every x pixels in an array were dead.

A front facing camera is probably going to be the solution to make video conferencing available for several years still.

[archi17]

Originally Posted by Roller

It's hard not to be disappointed by any Apple announcements these days, since the advance rumors always top what actually is announced. In some ways, it was more fun in the old days when we often had no idea what was coming.

I know, i feel the same. I am thinking of not coming to rumor sites around big events so I get some surprise.. But its just so addicting!

[bacaramac]

I agree that 3G is a waste if you have nothing that really needs it. I think tethering and video chat would be the only real reason to have 3G. I was really hoping for front camera over the GPS, but I knew I was setting myself up for disappointment by reading all the rumors. Oh well, I will be happy with the new iPhone.

[THX1139]

Originally Posted by PcBgone

I guess your not a Trekkie...Touch Screen computers are the wave of the future. Keyboards and mice are last century. One day we will have touchscreens where everything we need to input into the computer will be right there on the screen. I wouldnt knock it if I were you. It only shows lack of understanding.

Touch screens won't work with every application. Imagine the hassle it would be doing creative development with only touch screen. How is that bezier tool in Illustrator going to work? I like the mouse... I can rest my hand/arm and with a quick click, a few keyboard strokes, or slight movement of my wrist get a lot done. Now, if I had to wave my arm around like they had to with the interface on Minority Report, that would suck for most things. Instead of carpal tunnel... the new illness would be "waving arm syndrome"

[TwinCities Dan]

Originally Posted by irun5k

Oddly, after last week, I now think the best deal going is if you can find a 1st gen iPhone for a couple hundred bucks, new in the box.

Why? First, because you'll still get the 2.0 software update, the same exact thing that the 2nd gen iPhone has.

Second, the old phone will save you money every month.

Lastly, the only true new features that the new phone has that the old one doesn't is faster speeds and GPS. And both features will cost you precious battery life. So unless you really need 3G or GPS, the 1st gen iPhone never looked better!!!

Truthfully, I might find GPS handy on rare occasions. I've gotten used to using EDGE-optimized iPhone sites though, and most of my browsing is via WiFi anyway. To me, it seems like the new iPhone is actually worse for a lot of people. If you could tether, 3G might be worth more.

Yup, iPhone 1.0 might become a hot commodity soon!