Apple rumours aplenty as we approach WWDC2014
Over at 9to5Mac the usually reliable Mark Gurman has just posted up a whole bunch of rumours relating to what we can expect from Apple this year. Read on for an executive summary.
The rumours come ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next month – in which pilgrims travel from all over the world to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Steve (Profits Be Upon Him). Here’s what we can expect.
iPhone and iOS
This year we’re expecting to see the launch of iOS8 – the latest iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system, but word is that a number of the key features are having to be held back for iOS8.1 – including the likes of the much-anticipated Healthbook, separated out iTunes Radio and much needed updates to Apple Maps (you might remember Apple went on a shopping spree and bought a bunch of companies that could improve its handling of public transport data).
The other big improvement – and we’re not sure if this will come with iOS8 or 8.1 is that apparently Siri will start recognising songs. Apple have apparently partnered with Shazam, to make identification even easier. Top stuff.
So could the big keynote announcement be a bit of a damp squib, as we watch Tim Cook play Flappy Bird for an hour?
Mac
The reason for the iOS delays is thought to be because resources were instead being pushed towards sorting out the next iteration of Mac OS – codename “Syrah”. Apparently this is a big deal, with a huge number of visual changes to the operating system. Think similar to how everything changed with iOS7 – and similarly this next iteration looks set to take its design cues from the mobile operating system. Though unlike Microsoft’s attempts at having the same experience on every platform, the two will definitely still remain separate.
Apple TV
Finally Apple are also apparently working on Apple TV. Presumably they’re taking more of an interesting now that rivals Google and Amazon are actively pushing the Chromecast and Fire TV. Word is an update will enable Siri-style voice controls and there will finally be broad support for third party apps.
We don’t have any other details yet but things should become clearer when WWDC kicks off on June 2nd.
