WWDC 2009 Rumor Roundup: iPhone, Snow Leopard, Laptops?

[MacRumors]

WWDC 2009 is upon us and we've traditionally provided a rumor roundup prior to the big event to summarize the most likely rumors surrounding the Apple event.

iPhone

The product that seems to be getting the most attention ahead of the keynote is the next iPhone. Especially with the recent attention the Palm Pre as a potential "iPhone killer", everyone is eager to see what Apple is preparing for their next iteration. The Palm Pre, itself, provides some hints at what technology could realistically be delivered in the new iPhone.

The Palm Pre uses the ARM Cortex-A8 processor which represents the next generation ARM processor that is currently used in the iPhone. Apple is certain to use the ARM Cortex as it provides "the highest performance, most power-efficient" ARM processor available. Apple's job listings have also revealed that they are looking for ARM Cortex-specific programmers to take advantage of the more advanced features of the processor.

As well, Apple is believed to have licensed future 3D graphics chips from Imagination Technologies. Apple currently utilizes the 4th generation of this graphics chip, though the 5th generation is now available and ready for use. This new graphics chip will allow for more advanced 3D graphics on the next iPhone.

This information is also in line with reports by John Gruber who suggest that the next iPhone will be disproportionately faster than the current iPhone.

Other features that seem almost certain at this point based on the mounting evidence include:

- Magnetometer (MacRumors, Boy Genius Report, AppleInsider, Daring Fireball, UMPCFever)
- Auto Focus Camera (MacRumors, UMPCFever)
- Video (MacRumors, Engadget Mobile, Boy Genius Report, Businessweek)
- 4GB to 32GB sizes (Engadget, AreaMobile.de, Tweakers.net, Analyst)
- 7.2 Mbps 3G (AT&T, Boy Genius Report, MacRumors, Silicon Alley Insider, iLounge).

Surprisngly enough, this final list matches up well with an anonymous post from a Chinese forum, so it'll be interesting to see how right those details were after the event.




Despite the multitude of possible case designs that have been circulating around the internet, most of them are either believed to be fake or have been proven to be fake. The most credible case leak came in February when a matte iPhone case appeared forum sources in China. This possibility of a Matte case was later repeated by iLounge which has had a good record in the past. Meanwhile, most of the depictions of front-facing iChat cameras have been artist renditions and we feel there has been no real evidence that Apple will be launching that feature tomorrow.

iPhone 3.0 will certainly be discussed during the WWDC keynote and a launch date will also likely be announced.

Snow Leopard

Despite having such a long lead time, few new rumors about Snow Leopard have been circulating. Apple has been seeding developers with early releases over the past 12 months. While there have been minor revelations here and there, there are few major new details about Apple's upcoming operating system. Developers are expected to get the latest build of Snow Leopard (Build 10A380?) at WWDC and we hope to hear more definitive plans about the launch.

Meanwhile, the one secret change that had been rumored (Marble interface) may not be seen at all in Mac OS X 10.6.

Laptops

Finally, there had been some rumors about the possibility of notebook updates at WWDC back in April. These small updates could incorporate 3G into some of the laptops, or lower the price to stimulate sales. There has also been talk of rebranding all aluminum notebooks under the "MacBook Pro" moniker.

This sort of talk, however, has died down in the days leading up to WWDC and it would be strange for Apple to devote much time to their laptop line at their development conference. If these changes are to take place, it seems likely they would be "quiet" updates or perhaps occur a few weeks after WWDC, itself.

Live Coverage

The 2009 WWDC Keynote kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern time and will be given by Phil Schiller. MacRumors will be providing live coverage on MacRumorsLive, twitter @macrumors, and a Spoiler Free notification system.

Article Link: WWDC 2009 Rumor Roundup: iPhone, Snow Leopard, Laptops?

[JackieTreehorn]

Let's get it on at dinner time GMT. I'm ready for it!

[Chundles]

Ergh, 3am - bugger that I'll look when I wake up.

[sammich]

Originally Posted by Chundles

Ergh, 3am - bugger that I'll look when I wake up.

With you on that one. It better make my day...

[mickbab]

Originally Posted by Chundles

Ergh, 3am - bugger that I'll look when I wake up.

What?! Lazy....
My alarm is set for 2:53 to give me time to find whatever blog pages i need and pick the one i want.

[jpxdude]

Something tells me we may finally see iChat for Windows.

If the iPhone video chat rumors prove true, then this would really be a given.

[wolfie]

ill see, i may wake up and watch it.

not that fascinated, i was hoping for more laptop spec update rumours but nothing has appeared as of late.

[peterdevries]

Originally Posted by wolfie

ill see, i may wake up and watch it.

not that fascinated, i was hoping for more laptop spec update rumours but nothing has appeared as of late.

Laptops are usually updated quietly (speed bumps etc), unless coupled to a major innovation or redesign, which will just not happen anytime soon. After all the unibody was introduced just last year.

The introduction of 3G to some of the laptops is another thing though. They might announce it as a side-note in the keynote. Or they might choose to announce it through a press-release at some point.

I'm not expecting any major news around laptops or tablets this WWDC. It will be mostly iPhone and hopefully Snow Leopard.

[hiimamac]

Originally Posted by mickbab

What?! Lazy....
My alarm is set for 2:53 to give me time to find whatever blog pages i need and pick the one i want.

Hnestly. Wait tip it's over. First :45 minutes us always Sekt praise and how well the app store has dine. No new things until almost the end. Unless jobs fines back. Then the stick tanks fir a few days and rebounds several days later. You wiuks think after all this time we would gave live video footage.

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by hiimamac

Hnestly. Wait tip it's over. First :45 minutes us always Sekt praise and how well the app store has dine. No new things until almost the end. Unless jobs fines back. Then the stick tanks fir a few days and rebounds several days later. You wiuks think after all this time we would gave live video footage.

Drunk or typing on your iPhone?

Or both

[Batman101]

I love you, macrumors!

[igazza]

cant wait, so excited

[amacisbetter]

Very curious about this new iPhone. I'm hoping Apple has a few tricks for us all. What are the odds the 3.0 software would be released tomorrow for current iPhone owners? Haha, who am I kidding...

Also, this rumored UI could be very interesting if true. I guess we'll have to wait 9 more hours to know.

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by mickbab

What?! Lazy....
My alarm is set for 2:53 to give me time to find whatever blog pages i need and pick the one i want.

Been there, done that.

I value my sleep much more now that I know as soon as I get to work Joe Q. Public is going to be calling to whinge about/rant about/check if we have in stock, the announcements from 3am.

I'd much rather be rested at that stage than 100% informed, very hard to Google the answers to their questions when your eyes are all blurry.

[mickbab]

Originally Posted by Chundles

Been there, done that.

I value my sleep much more now that I know as soon as I get to work Joe Q. Public is going to be calling to whinge about/rant about/check if we have in stock, the announcements from 3am.

I'd much rather be rested at that stage than 100% informed, very hard to Google the answers to their questions when your eyes are all blurry.

For someone reason I like getting up to read the liveblogs rather than waiting the few hours (when I would be asleep anyway...) so I know as soon as it happens.

Anyway.

[iGeRmAn]

Originally Posted by mickbab

What?! Lazy....
My alarm is set for 2:53 to give me time to find whatever blog pages i need and pick the one i want.

Maybe you could get 5 minutes more sleep, by having at least a 24" and trying this http://9to5mac.com/livepanel.html

[mickbab]

Originally Posted by iGeRmAn

Maybe you could get 5 minutes more sleep, by having at least a 24" and trying this http://9to5mac.com/livepanel.html

Well that is interesting!

I normally go with the Engadget live blogs, thinking I will try the MacRumorsLive page this time around, haven't used it before.

What does everyone else here use?

[jake.f]

Originally Posted by mickbab

What?! Lazy....
My alarm is set for 2:53 to give me time to find whatever blog pages i need and pick the one i want.

Well someone needs to get a life, its not even a live feed!



Anyway,
If they make an iPhone with 8GB for less then $250 AUD i will buy it. I would get a Palm Pre when they come out here but the iPhone app store will offer more choice and it doesn't have a slide out keyboard.

[arkitect]

Originally Posted by jake.f

Well someone needs to get a life, its not even a life feed!

True that, but apparently for some people it is more of a life line…

[ruinfx]

glad to see the roundup was kept conservative. i think it will prove to be accurate.

[mickbab]

Originally Posted by jake.f

Well someone needs to get a life, its not even a life feed!



Anyway,
If they make an iPhone with 8GB for less then $250 AUD i will buy it. I would get a Palm Pre when they come out here but the iPhone app store will offer more choice and it doesn't have a slide out keyboard.

Ha I was wondering when you would get on here.
Anyway it's live enough for me.

I think if they could make a cheap (2-300 AUD) pre-paid iPhone, they would go wild here in Australia (not sure what the rest of the world is like).

[jbgh]

Originally Posted by jake.f

If they make an iPhone with 8GB for less then $250 AUD i will buy it.

the 8gb is $799 on optus prepaid right now, i really cant see a 70% price cut...

[bobbleheadbob]

Only 3 more hours. I can't wait to find out what they've got for us!

[carve]

I'm pretty stoked Going to order my Veggie Jimmy Johns sub at 11:30 so it's here by the start of it!

[nemaslov]

If there are no 240GB iPods, what's the point.