The keynote that kicks off Apple’s 2017 Worldwide Developer Conference will get underway at 10 a.m. (Pacific) today. There’s little doubt we’ll see the next versions of macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS unveiled.
New hardware usually doesn’t roll out at WWDC, but I think this year will be an exception (though rumors that the “iPhone 8” and a 4K Apple TV will be unveiled are wrong).
In addition to the Siri smart speaker, here’s what I’m expecting Apple to unveil today….
New Mac laptops. Although the controversial MacBook Pro with Touch Bar just arrived last October, Apple will break with tradition and unveil new models today. They’ll sport Intel Kaby Lake processors and raise the RAM ceiling from 16GB to 32GB. (This may be a pipe dream, but I think Apple may offer an appealing upgrade program for those who bought a MB Pro just six months ago).
Also, look for an update of the 12-inch MacBook with a faster CPU. There are rumors that the MacBook Air will be revised, but I predict that it will be phased out; having both it and the MacBook in the line-up seems confusing and redundant to me.
New iMacs. New all-in-ones probably won’t on sale today (though I’d love to be wrong). However, I think/hope Apple will at least offer some info on the next iMac. If it isn’t available in June or July, look for it in September or October, when the finished version of macOS 10.13 is released.
It will sport a Kaby Lake processor — unless Apple is among the first to receive Intel’s Coffee Lake chips (and, if this happens, the processors could appear in high-end MacBook Pros, as well). Whenever the new iMacs arrive, expect Apple to offer a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar to go along with them.
There’s also a slim chance that we’ll see a new Mac mini today, though I expect it won’t roll out until September.
New iPads. The long-rumored 10.5-inch iPad Pro will debut. The beauty of the new size of Apple tablet will be that it’s the same size as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro but with a resolution of 2,024-by-1,668 (compared to the current 2,048-by-1,536) because of a smaller bezel. This works well for Apple because it means 9.5-inch iPad Pro accessories like the Smart Keyboard can be used with 10.5-inch version.
Also, look for updated 12.5-inch iPad Pros and 9.7-inch iPad Pros (the former will finally get a True Tone display). What’s more, look for the unveiling of the Apple Pencil 2, featuring a new magnetic system that will allow it to temporarily attach to an iPad.
Come back to Apple World Today at 10 a.m. (Pacific) as we cover the big announcements. You can see how well (or poorly) my crystal ball works.
