Two things I find encouraging for the WWDC are: Apple has recently updated (slightly) the Mac Pro's to 8 core, Apple has updated the Mac Book Pro. It seems unlikely that Apple would update the MBPs this week.
What does that mean? It means Apple usually has some announcements at the WWDC, usually more pro focused. If those were the ONLY announcements that Apple had available to make they would probably have held them off.
One therefore wonders what Apple has in store for everyone this year?
* Further Mac Pro announcements? This is most likely in my book based on history and the current state of the Mac Pro's. To me the last update doesn't qualify as an Mac Pro update, more of a stop-gap, easily added option.
* Is it Leopard? Doubtful that it would be a Leopard shipping announcement since Apple just said it was delayed.
* Leopard features? Sure they'll be discussed and devs will get DVDs, but without something truly amazing it won't be the full focus. Perhaps they are amazing, but I don't think that is enough of an announcement to be the main focus, "wow" factor. If the features ARE amazing enough, great, but that seems less likely...unless there is nothing else left to fall back on. And the fact that MBPs were updated last week when they could've been part of a bigger presentation makes me think they had a lot on their plate already.
* ZFS? Doubtful.Lol. Something else with Sun? Perhaps.
* iPods - doubtful since history is against it. It could be iPhone-family related (e.g. extending the line or moving features into other iPod type products. That is more likely to me.)
* iPhone related? Doubtful since that was covered in January and it will be coming for real in a few weeks.
* iPhone dev kit? For devs, great. For the "wow" factor, a non-event.While nice, it isn't something that Steve would say "one more thing" about.
* iMac? Perhaps. History is against it based on previous timing, but as the non-focal point, perhaps some updates, but after the MBPs last week kind of ho-hum.
* Mac Books? Possibly, but I think they would have timed it with MBs announced before the WWDC and MB Pros at it unless there are seriously amazing upgrades which I doubt. Usually WWDC is more pro oriented and if the upgrades were equivalent or close I think the reverse or concurrent release would be most likely.
* Displays? Probably will announce in the next 6 months, perhaps at WWDC, but are they a 'big enough' announcment? Maybe if they have built-in iSight, multi-touch and/or LED (not likely). A multi-touch display that can be vertical or horizontal would be a wow factor. E.g. a display that can rotate to be flat on your desk for multi-touch use or upright.
* A touch based tablet? Wild card.
* Boot camp/Windows related. Doubtful. I really don't think that integrating Windows APIs so that you can run Windows apps in the Mac OS itself is something that would be good for Apple. Yes, in the short run it would be good, I think Apple would have to worry about people relying on that instead of direct development. I could be wrong though!
* xserves. Likely given the lack of the dual quad core option there. (Mac Pro's currently have available only 1/2 the memory of xserves, so that is another reason the MPs are due).
* iLife: likely.
What is the big announcment then? Will there be one? We'll know soon enough.
