Apple WWDC 2018: What to expect from the biggest event of the year

Apple’s annual WWDC conference is on the horizon and the tech industry is excited to see what’s in the Apple product pipeline this year. Last year saw Apple revealing the new iMac Pro, a range of new iPads and introducing the smart speaker HomePod. This year, the five-day show will draw the roadmap ahead for the next operating systems, software, and a few hardware updates. From the sounds of early leaks, the keynote is also set to make announcements on evolving technologies such as AI, AR, VR, and a lot more. Not much is known about what Apple has up its sleeve, but we bring you what could be expected from the tech giant at the WWDC 2018 that will commence on June 4 at San Jose.

Software

New versions of iOS, macOS and watchOS are the main highlights at the keynote as usual. With iOS 12 we expect a highly improved AR, Cross-platform functionality, ARKit, a redesigned Stocks app, deeper Siri integration in Photos for search purposes, digital health along with more robust parental controls, and enhancements to FaceTime and NFC capabilities. Recent reports stated that iOS 12 would expand NFC capabilities beyond mobile payments and securely unlock doors too.

Apple was also expected to revamp the CarPlay interface, implement improvements to core apps such as Mail, a new app grid design for the Home screen, and updates to the camera software, photo editing, and a few others. However, the company could delay it to next year to make better performance oriented iPhones.

There isn’t much for macOS; however, rumours state otherwise. Apple could introduce a new universal app feature for both macOS 10.14 and iOS 12 that will allow developers to create apps that work seamlessly on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Tech giants Google and Microsoft have already played their cards well in terms of Google Assistant and Cortana, now it remains to be seen what Apple has in store for Siri. The virtual assistant is powering smart home speakers and Apple Watch LTE, the company needs to make Siri more open towards third-party apps. We also expect an improvised Siri making a debut with HomePod 2 this year.

Hardware

Apple is also expected to show off the iPhone SE 2 at the big event. The iPhone SE sported similar internal specifications witnessed in iPhone 6s, including an A9 chipset, 12MP camera, and support for Apple Pay. The second generation iPhone SE could allegedly sport an edge-to-edge display, akin to iPhone X, and probably a notch too. Furthermore, the device is also rumoured with a glass design. The iPhone SE 2 could be powered by an A10 Bionic chipset with a larger battery, an improved camera, and 32GB/128GB storage options.

Apart from the SE 2, Apple is also expected to unveil a new range of iPads and MacBooks. Rumours state that Apple’s TrueDepth camera array, bezel-less screen and Face ID could trickle down to the iPad and MacBook too. In addition, an upgrade to an A11X chipset and other performance improvements is also expected on the iPads.

Similarly, a newer MacBooks, including Mac Mini-series, are also expected. We could get to see a 13-inch MacBook, and Apple may phase out the MacBook Air. It’s also anticipated that the new MacBook could feature an Apple-designed chip instead of using Intel’s chips. There’s a possibility that the Touch Bar could be added to the MacBook too. A cheaper new MacBook with a Retina display is also expected. As for the MacBook Pro, it will probably see its processor updated to Intel’s Coffee Lake.

While these are just simple predictions based on rumours, talks and previous events, Apple could probably cut short some or add more to the list. Come June 4, we shall finally get a final glimpse at what the Cupertino giant has for us ahead.

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