Less than two weeks remain before Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference, or WWDC, which is slated to be held on June 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, and with so little time remaining, eager technophiles are speculating on what special secrets might be revealed at the gathering. Though an interesting assortment of events seems to be on the program, what Apple enthusiasts are actually thirsting for is new hardware – the amazing gadgets that capture the human imagination more than any mere program can.
Thus far, there are no hints or leaks from the Cupertino firm that anything fresh will be unveiled at the Conference. This might indicate that Apple (AAPL) has nothing to reveal, and is waiting until the actual retail launch later in the year for any new devices to put in an appearance. However, many new pieces of hardware have been previewed to the public at WWDC events in the past, so Apple may simply be keeping mum to make the surprise all the more notable.
In the past, WWDC has served as the venue for some important “first looks” at new hardware. Cinema displays were revealed in 2004, while 2006 witnessed crucial updates about the Mac Pro. The iPhone 3G put in an appearance at 2008’s conference, followed a year later by the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the iPhone 3GS, while the iPhone 4 made its debut at the 2010 WWDC. Finally, the MacBook Pro’s Retina Display upgrade was showcased at WWDC 2012.
What is notable about this list is that new hardware seems to be revealed at the WWDC either yearly or every other year. With nothing new on offer during the 2013 WWDC, this means that 2014’s even probably has a much higher chance of being used as the venue for some kind of exciting hardware preview or announcement. Possibilities include the iPhone 6 with 4.7 inch screen, the iWatch, or some as yet unknown product set to take the world by storm.
Two major labs during the WWDC have been revealed – the Women in Technology Get Together and the Apps for China Get Together. There is a whole slew of events and labs that currently appear on the WWDC app as playful titles, however, teasing attendees with the promise of mysteries and intriguing, unexpected things. The titles include “We’re Not Telling Just Yet,” “All Will Be Revealed Soon,” “Our Lips Are Sealed on This One,” “Good Things Come to Those Who Wait,” and many similar titles. The odds seem to be strongly in favor of one of these coyly named events featuring a sneak peek at some innovative physical technology.
