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Topic: Apple

Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

Summary: Apple is expected to roll out its 4th generation iPhone at its Worldwide Developer's Conference in a few weeks and possibly demo a new Mac OS.

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

Apple is expected to roll out its 4th generation iPhone at its Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in a few weeks and possibly demo a new Mac OS, according to analysts projecting a gathering with few surprises. However, WWDC is likely to kick off a powerful iPhone upgrade cycle.

In a research note, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said Apple has "little room for surprise" in its WWDC agenda. Munster's volley is just the opener for what is likely to be two weeks of speculation about what Apple will reveal at its developer powwow when Apple CEO Steve Jobs delivers the keynote address June 7.

Related: Gallery: Apple adds multitasking to iPhone 4.0

Here's what Munster thinks we'll hear from WWDC:

  • Apple will launch a new iPhone that will be "significantly re-designed, with meaningful new features like video conferencing." The device will land sometime in the summer. Munster writes:

Consistent with recent media reports, we expect the new iPhone to feature a front-facing camera for video conferencing, along with a new, thinner design, an improved rear camera, and better battery life, with higher capacity (32GB/64GB) at the current $199/$299 price points. We expect the new version to be popular among current iPhone 3G owners (a 2 year-old device) with a significantly different design and feature set (unlike the 3GS).

  • The iPhone 3GS will be Apple's new $99 device.
  • The latest iPhone won't be available at Verizon or Sprint at launch.
  • Apple CEO Steve Jobs will give us a tally of iPad sales.
  • And there may be a new Mac OS demo possible. Munster writes:

Software is a key differentiator for Apple but the Mac OS has not seen the same level of innovation as iPhone software in recent years. With the next version of Mac OS X, we expect Apple to bring some of the same innovation to the Mac platform. Multi-touch technology, for example could be a key feature of Mac OS 10.7.

See all iPhone content

Barclays Capital Ben Reitzes put out a different wish list for WWDC. Reitzes had some overlap with Munster, but also had a few interesting nuggets. Among them:

  • "We wouldn’t be surprised to hear about enhanced services for Apple’s MobileMe service," said Reitzes.
  • More details about Apple's iAd product, which will be available with iPhone OS 4.0. "It seems Apple will manage the bidding process and linking up of buyers and sellers of ad," said Reitzes.
  • AT&T is likely to keep iPhone exclusivity for the rest of 2010.

In any case, Reitzes is expecting Jobs keynote to create what will be a strong iPhone upgrade cycle. Speaking of the new iPhone, Reizes said new features for the iPhone like multitasking, folders and iBooks "are significant upgrades that will likely get users excited for the next generation iPhone. In fact, some of the features will not be available to older 3G & 2G iPhones and the 2nd generation iPod Touch and earlier models, which could fuel even more demand for upgrades."

Related:

Topics: Apple, Hardware, iPhone, Mobility, Operating Systems, Smartphones, Software

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27 comments
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  • iAd...

    ...scares me to death. Hopefully there will be a jailbreak app that blocks them all. The major reason I find to jailbreak now is to be able to edit /etc/hosts to block ads. I want my phone to be my communications channel, not their advertising channel.
    txscott
    Reply Vote

    • have you actually seen how these work..?

      @shollomon - the whole point of them is to make ads that aren't annoying or take over your screen like pop-up ads.. they are in app ads and you need to click on them (opt-in) for them to open... i'm not sure what the problem is.
      doctorSpoc
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

        @dane cook I mean NonZealot

        It was funnier before you ripped your joke off from the Onion.

        http://www.theonion.com/video/new-google-phone-service-whispers-targeted-ads-dir,17470/

        I like how you accuse Apple of not coming up with anything original and right here we have proof that you are nothing but an intellectual property thief
        maskman01
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

        @maskman01
        Haven't seen that video (and still can't, it's blocked here) but if it makes fun of google phone for showing ads when trying to dial 9-1-1, all I can say is that great minds think alike!

        [i]I like how you accuse Apple of not coming up with anything original and right here we have proof that you are nothing but an intellectual property thief[/i]

        No, I accuse Apple of claiming that everything they come up with as being original when it clearly isn't. That is hypocritical. Since I've never claimed to be particularly original, I'm not a hypocrite.

        As for me being an intellectual property thief, all I can say is: prove it. Then convince The Onion to take me to court. :)
        NonZealot
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

        @NonZealot

        Listen to you. You are slinking lower then Dane Cook. You are at at Leno level.
        maskman01
        Reply Vote

      • Listen to you, nothing but ad hominems

        @maskman01
        How very telling that all you can do is (try to) insult me.

        I refuse to purchase someone else's advertising platform just so I can be hounded and harassed and annoyed by ad after ad after ad. This is what Apple is doing with the iPhone and I want no part of it. If that bothers you so much, maybe instead of answering with insult after insult after insult, you would be better off not reading my posts? Just a suggestion.

        Cue even more insults...
        NonZealot
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

        @NonZealot

        1) The ads are in the apps not the phone
        2) The apps already exist in free apps. This is a centralized system to help the developers add apps to their app to pay for the app
        2b) If you don't like it buy the app (i.e. RunKeeper which is a great app and JotNot Scanner)
        3) Other platforms have ads in their apps including Android (see Medialets)
        4) When WM7 finally shows it face you will see a duplication of what both Apple and Android have done including a Ads in apps. Why? For the developers to give away free apps.

        I don't expect a reply because this argument is researched and logical. Don't feel bad, I don't expect you to keep up.
        maskman01
        Reply Vote

    • I totally agree

      @shollomon
      This is a showstopper to me. I will not pay hundreds of dollars for a device only to be inundated with ads from the maker of that device. Screw you Apple!
      NonZealot
      Reply Vote

      • educate yourself...

        @NonZealot - the ads are in app ads... if you don't like apps with ads then don't buy those apps.. i'm sure most devs will have a pay version with no ads and a free app with ads.. these are not like pop-up ads .. they are like banners that take you into an almost app like ad.. but again they are not in the OS they are in app ads..

        but NonZealot, i'm sure you don't really care and might already know this you just want to complain about all things apple and the facts be damned..
        doctorSpoc
        Reply Vote

      • Like I said, I refuse to pay for someone else's advertising

        I can just see it now:
        I dial 911 and before putting me through, iPhone pops up an ad offering to sell me bandages.

        [i]No, I don't need bandages![/i]

        [b]How about a nice Taser today?[/b]

        [i]NOOOOO![/i]

        [b]Would you like a fire extinguisher?[/b]

        [i]Forget it.[/i]
        NonZealot
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

        @NonZealot
        Agree with you. If I download an app and it has ads I immediately take it off my iPod. I can already see others doing this same thing with iAds.
        Loverock Davidson
        Reply Vote

      • LOL! That was good, NZ

        I had to laugh and cry. Laugh because it was humorous, sad because it's probally true :(
        John Zern
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

    For all the iAd vitriol drizzled take a look around the borders of this "free" news site you just waxed vitriolic on. Yeah, those 4-5 things with text and imagery, those are called AD's. They help the people that make this site make it free for you spew nonsense all over the web. Hey see that thing called Radio, local TV, Pay TV, guess what, they are all functions of Advertising. So please think, really and seriously, think about what you post prior to posting. It will make you seem well informed, thanks.
    mrgoodall
    Reply Vote

  • iPhone Apps have always had ads....

    iPhone apps have always had ads from day 1. They have ads all over them right now... this is NOT new. iAd is simply making it simple for people to add in ads without making them run horribly or hurt the user experience.

    All the people complaining about iAds are absolutely clueless. Its a very good thing.
    doh123
    Reply Vote

    • I shouldn't be amazed anymore but I always am

      @doh123 <br><i>Its a very good thing.</i><br><br>I could understand if Apple zealots tried to convince us that constant advertising in a device we paid hundreds of dollars for wasn't a big deal but to have them actually paint it as if Apple was doing us a <b>favor</b> is absolutely amazing to me. I shouldn't be surprised since Apple zealots do this kind of stuff over and over again but I have to admit, I still can't get over just how willing they are to try and convince us that Apple is actually doing us a favor by reducing choice, suing competitors, and inundating us with ads.
      NonZealot
      Reply Vote

      • Well, advertising can pay the bills but...

        @NonZealot

        I would personally prefer to pay for apps that are free of advertising. However, I think I am not in the majority here as it seems more would rather endure some advertising in exchange for free apps as Google has adequately proven with it's business model. Sure enough, Apple is not doing this as a "favor" any more than Google's apps are really "free". It is an attempt to give app developers another tool to monetize their work, simple enough. I personally wouldn't try to make anything more of it until I see it in real life.
        oncall
        Reply Vote

      • Once again

        @NonZealot: It is at the choice of the app developer, to include ads, for more particularly dev's free versions of apps.

        But since you have such a problem with ads, why do you come to ZDNET, when they have ads on every page, or any website for that matter.

        Once again you're the double standard.
        Snooki_smoosh_smoosh
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

        @NonZealot

        I have to agree (and I'm a 1/2 Apple zealot). Touting iAd as a "feature" of OS 4 is frightening. The iPhone is a limited display device, now hampered by a metered, not unlimited, data plan. Every bit that iAd takes from the data stream I am paying for is theft as far as I am concerned and I will find a way to shut it off. No amount of benefit can be derived from "free" apps to justify depleting my limited bucket of data, and if you think this wil be limited to only "free" apps, I have a swamp I need to market...
        dksmidtx
        Reply Vote

  • AMD

    I think you'll see a few new systems also based on AMD processors, and a renewed ATI presents. While this is not a huge secret about AMD, I think Apple will finally open the door a little on AMD/ATI. I also think will NVidia having a key VP leave to AMD may signal future things all around!
    step2000
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple's WWDC powwow: Few surprises, but a big iPhone upgrade cycle

    Got news for you. Just bought a new iPod touch 3rd Generation a couple months ago to replace my first generation. True, they are the 8gb models, but that's all I can afford. On the Apple website, "3RD Generation 8GB iPod Touches will NOT get multi-tasking and a few other new features either".....
    mlbslugger
    Reply Vote
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