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Apple WWDC 2012: what to expect

Posted: , by Nick T.

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Apple WWDC 2012: what to expect
Sandy beaches, umbrella drinks, and good old-fashioned summertime fun – this is what normal people usually associate the month of June with. But that does not apply to hardcore geeks, for there is a pretty significant event to look forward to. We are talking about the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is held annually in California around this time of the year.

The 2012 WWDC is scheduled for Monday, June 11, and it seems like the event will be worth following, as it has been over the past years. That is because quite a few important announcements are expected to be made during the opening keynote. Most importantly, Since iOS 4 was unveiled in June of 2010 and iOS landed in June of 2011, it is pretty certain that we'll meet iOS 6 for the first time on Monday. Of course, we have little knowledge as to what it will look and feel like, yet the rumor mill has been filling in the blanks for us over the past weeks.


Facebook integration

The new version of Apple's mobile platform is expected to be tightly connected with the world's biggest social network, much like the way iOS 5 became a lot more socially active thanks to Twitter. The deep Facebook integration will allow users to easily share content with their buddies online, especially when it comes to photos. Also, "liking" apps in the App Store will be possible, according to recent rumors: apps that users "like" will appear on their Facebook Timeline for the world to see.


New Maps app

Another major change that Apple is likely to introduce with iOS 6 is the addition of a new maps application (iMap perhaps?). Rumors accompanied by leaked screenshots indicate that Cupertino has developed a replacement for Google Maps; a replacement that will include detailed maps in 3D, POI, traffic data, as well as navigation features. In a nutshell, expect your iPhone to become a full-fledged in-car GPS device. Hopefully, there won't be a premium price attached to any part of this feature, but we guess we'll have to wait until Monday to know for sure.


Siri on the iPad

Apple WWDC 2012: what to expect
Yes, there is a chance of Siri arriving on the iPad with the new iOS 6, or at least on the tablet's latest iteration. We know that because an image of the voice-guided assistant apparently working on the iPad leaked not long ago. We cannot say for sure whether the iPad 2 and the first-gen iPad will get the feature too, but knowing Apple, that doesn't seem likely. After all, having more selling points to push new hardware is definitely in Apple's interest.


Redesigned iTunes, iBooks, App Store, Camera, Photos apps

Nothing too exciting here. Just some rumored visual changes that will be made to iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store. Not that their current versions are bad, but apparently, Apple wants to improve the way users interact with these apps. It believed that the upcoming tweaks are going to come along with the integration of social features, such as sharing content. As for the Photos and Camera apps, some say that interface alterations are inbound, along with faster social network sharing functionality. Sharing photos and videos via iCloud is also not out of the question.
 

iWallet

We once had a rumor suggesting that Apple was working on its own mobile payment system. Sure, no current Apple hardware sports an NFC chip – the chip that such systems use for communication between a mobile device and a POS terminal, but one might not be necessary. That is so because the Bluetooth 4.0 standard could be used instead. Nevertheless, since evidence in support of this claim is extremely scarce, we don't really expect seeing iWallet unveiled on Monday.


FaceTime over 3G

Apple WWDC 2012: what to expect
There is no denying that FaceTime is a pretty neat feature, yet it has one serious limitation – it requires a Wi-Fi connection in order to work. However, if a recent screenshot of an error message is to be believed, FaceTime chats over 3G might be possible pretty soon. Technically, you can use it right here and now, as long as you have a jailbroken device and install some additional software. Also, if you connect with your iPhone or iPad to a 3G mobile hotspot, FaceTime will still work, so we see no reason for Apple to keep on limiting the functionality of its app since the network load is well capable of handling it.


What not to expect

We think it is highly unlikely for Apple to unveil a new iPhone or a smaller iPad model at WWDC 2012 (although we won't mind if they do). The next iPhone iteration and the speculated smaller iPad are probably going to materialize in September at the earliest. Be patient, folks!

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1. kabukijoe posted on 08 Jun 2012, 09:11 12

iWallet, iMaps (?) and video chat over 3G? Isn't Apple the "sue happy" company that takes every company to court for "copying" them? And here they are coming out with things that Google has had for quite some time....

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4. taco50 (banned) posted on 08 Jun 2012, 09:52 7

If they make them look and work just like Google's it's copying. If they implement it in a unique way it's not copying.

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23. whothisperson posted on 08 Jun 2012, 13:40

True, if they create the same product but do so differently as in no features or specification conflict with Google's patent description then it should be fine.

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31. E.N. posted on 08 Jun 2012, 18:52 4

So is google the only company that is allowed to video chat over 3G? Hasnt turn by turn navigation existed waaaaaay before Android. Let's not be stupid here.

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35. darkkjedii posted on 09 Jun 2012, 00:54 5

Nokia was the first to have video chat not google. So apples not copying google.

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36. applejack8645 posted on 09 Jun 2012, 13:05 2

LOL ANDROID FANBOYS

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2. Bridgep0rt posted on 08 Jun 2012, 09:16 1

Edit 2nd paragraph Moday = Monday :)

Im waiting on the Mac Book Pro 2012

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3. Cerberusa2a posted on 08 Jun 2012, 09:44

some how I feel if apple is involved there will be a person handing out lawsuits... or maybe just have a room full of people waiting for news about apple, one guy walks out on stage and says EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS GETTING SUIED!

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6. taco50 (banned) posted on 08 Jun 2012, 09:54 4

I'm hoping to see Siri gets some nice enhancements. One thing that I'd like is allow Siri to control phone settings like Bluetooth and wifi on/off. More language support would be cool. I don't know if they'll do it now, but eventually it will have 3rd party app support.

I'd like to see a wow feature, but they'll probably save that for the iPhone launch.

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8. Sackboy117 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 10:01 1

The wow factor on the new iPhone is the 4" screen and maybe 4G data speeds

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9. taco50 (banned) posted on 08 Jun 2012, 10:07 3

You don't know that. No one expected Siri last year. Apple usually has something up their sleeve. We will see though

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18. iami67 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 11:56 3

Hey taco siri is very old has been out for years. The old apple 3gs had siri on it by the original owners and even the iphone 4 had siri. apple bought siri from the third party then took the app off there site and re released as something brand new and tweaked it a little to make it there new stand out thing for the 4s. and blackberry had there version for about 10 yrs

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19. taco50 (banned) posted on 08 Jun 2012, 12:00 3

Yes I know to you nothing about does is original even though you love android phones who follow Apple's lead.

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21. xtian1103 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 12:48 2

siri worked differently when it was still an app than now it's integrated into iphone's software.

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37. aikonix posted on 10 Jun 2012, 13:36 1

yeah thats because its "beta" and when it was an app, it wasnt beta..

taco is a welcher

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10. ananya22 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 10:22 9

The new revolutionary thing in ios6 would live wallpapers, widgets and a file manager maybe. And apple would sue google for all those things saying they have been working on them for a 50 years and google stole their plans. And also apple sucks

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12. taco50 (banned) posted on 08 Jun 2012, 10:49 2

Try to be more original with your trolling

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24. Non_Sequitur posted on 08 Jun 2012, 15:13 2

Maybe Apple should try to be more original when they troll Google with their "revolutionary" products and make the ignorant public believe that it's never been done before.
Oh, and maybe they should try to be more original when trolling the public and do something different instead of locking down their devices so much.
Oh, and maybe they should be more original when trolling everyone else and not sue the crap out of all of the other companies to try to knock them out.
If "try to be more original" is the only comment you have, then maybe you need to be more original.

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29. taco50 (banned) posted on 08 Jun 2012, 16:15 2

I don't argue with kids

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33. InspectorGadget80 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 19:25 1

you troll on everything taco50

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38. aikonix posted on 10 Jun 2012, 13:40

hes not trolling.. your apples new "notification bar" has been on android forever, and now that apple has it, they are probably gonna patent it and sue google stating they made that revolutionary idea... now look, their OS is looking MORE and MORE like an ANDROID?? Poor iSheep, especially Taco, hes the biggest one of them all.

Taco your a WELCHER!!

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11. Raymond_htc posted on 08 Jun 2012, 10:34 4

I'LL EXPECT MORE LAWSUITS... Apple please.. stop!

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34. InspectorGadget80 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 19:25

YES STOP WITH THIS B.S. LAWSUITS AND INJUNCTIONS AND BANNING OUR PHONES

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16. satydesh posted on 08 Jun 2012, 11:43 2

New generation of iPods thats cool!!!

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17. satydesh posted on 08 Jun 2012, 11:43 2

New generation of iPods thats cool!!!

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20. theoak posted on 08 Jun 2012, 12:20 1

The SIRI on the iPad picture ... since when did the iPad come with a native weather app?

Add a native weather app to the list then too.

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27. eman99 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 15:42

what to expect: expect nonsense

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28. InspectorGadget80 posted on 08 Jun 2012, 16:11

I expect the same design just the same home button just ecept a crummy 4" screen nothing else change.

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30. Sinaps posted on 08 Jun 2012, 18:41 1

I don't buy apple products but I am always excited for WWDC.

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39. siva239 posted on 11 Jun 2012, 05:38

lol i love reading comments than the article

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40. clevername posted on 11 Jun 2012, 08:37

Fanboys take this s**t way too seriously. Everyone borrows from everyone. Its business. Who cares who came out with a feature first or who made it better. If you like a set of features buy the phone. If you don't mind the downfalls of a phone buy it. If you think the device is pretty buy it. stop vehemently defending things that you have nothing directly to do with . It makes you look like a loser.

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