Apple in 2015:
WWDC 2015
Here’s what you should expect at Apple’s yearly convergence of surprises.
One year ago, Apple took the stage in what was one of the least leaked keynotes in the companies recent history. For two hours the company let out surprise after surprise — iOS 8, OS X Yosemite, Continuity, and Swift being the most notable.
That’s what is great about Apple’s yearly Worldwide Developer Conference, this year taking place from June 8–12 at Moscone West. It’s the only keynote where we are generally guaranteed surprises, as its main focus is on software updates, not hardware, which is easily leaked.
Every year, I look and attempt to analyze what Apple has in store, and possibly more importantly, what should be in store.
This year, Apple is planning to launch major updates for both the iOS operating system, as well as the OS X operating system; The first major update to Apple’s Watch OS, revolutionary new streaming services, and a long awaited software and hardware update for the Apple TV.
We’re in for a snowy summer.
iOS 9
Apple will continue its tradition of major iOS upgrades at WWDCs with iOS 9. The OS will feature a number of new features, one of which will be optimization. Apple will market this as a real “feature” of iOS 9, ala OS X Snow Leopard. As such, the main focus of iOS 9 is stability improvements across the board, making the operating system work better on the companies entire line of devices.
Aesthetically, Apple plans to change the system-wide font of iOS from the iOS 7-introduced Helvetica Neue to San Francisco, the Apple designed font introduced with Apple Watch. Apple has a long history of having one main font across the entire brand, and the new font will begin its transition through the company at WWDC.
Feature wise, Apple will have a few things to show, although due to the focus on stability will have less to show than usual.
Mark Gurman at 9to5mac reports that Apple is working on evolving Spotlight into a service similar to Google Now, internally called “Proactive”. The new service will reportedly intelligently integrate your data into a new screen to the left of the home screen, where the service will reside. It will then intelligently populate content based on three core parts of iOS: Apps, Maps, and Contacts. So, for example, if a user has a flight listed in their Calendar application and a boarding pass stored in their Passbook, a bubble within the new Proactive screen will appear around flight time to provide quick access to the boarding pass.
Mark Gurman reports that internally, Apple executives are split on wether or not to launch the service at WWDC, or launch certain aspects in small intervals.
Additionally, Apple is working on tweaks to the stock keyboard, iMessage, and major feature upgrades in Transit directions with Maps for iOS 9. Apple is also said to be launching Apple Pay in Canada for iOS 9, as well as a loyalty program for the service.
The new focus on stability will result in devices that would have previously been predicted to not get the new OS end up with an extra year of support. Apple is said to have completed a version of iOS 9 for the A5 chip, meaning support for both the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S should be avaliable.
Lastly, in preparation for this falls planned iPad Pro launch, Apple may introduce a few key features specifically for the iPad with iOS 9. Split-screen multitasking, which was worked on but never released with iOS 8, is said to be part of the launch set of iOS 9 features. Additionally, Apple is working on major updates to iOS stock features, such as Notifications and Siri, specifically for the iPad to take advantage of the extra space of the devices screen. These new tweaks may not be annonced at the event, but are sure to be launched by the release of iPad Pro.
Apple will, as usual, release the developer preview of iOS 9 during this years event, but for the first time in the companies history, the major update will be part of an open beta program, where at least a million users will get to beta test as well.
Apple will release the OS officialy at the launch of the next iPhone; the iPhone 6s. Apple is said to be considering announcing the device in August as opposed to September, the month the device has been announced since the iPhone 5, but has yet to make a decision.
OS X 10.11
In addition to iOS 9, Apple will launch a major update to its Mac operating system, OS X 10.11, at this years WWDC. The new OS will have a heavy focus on optimization, even more so than iOS 9, similar to OS X Snow Leopard.
Aesthetically, Apple plans to change the system-wide font of OS X from the Yosemite-introduced Helvetica Neue to San Francisco, the Apple designed font introduced with Apple Watch, in addition to changing it on iOS. Apple has a long history of having one main font across the entire brand, and the new font will begin its transition through the company at WWDC.
Feature wise, little is known about OS X 10.11, however expect big security changes, stability improvements, bug fixes, and the possible addition of Control Center to OS X, which, similar to Split-screen iPad multitasking and Transit Maps, was planned, however not released last year.
Apple will, as usual, release the developer preview of OS X 10.11 during this years event and will release the OS officialy at the launch of the next iPads in October.
Watch OS and Apple Watch
In addition to major upgrades to Apple’s phone, tablet, and PC operating systems, Apple is planning the first major Watch OS update since the launch of Apple Watch: Watch OS 1.1.
The update will give developers significantly higher capabilities when developing for the watch with the launch of both third-party native apps and third-party complications. Many have complained since the launch of the new device that apps that have to be linked to a phone are slow, while native apps will likely be considerably faster.
Complications are the small widgets that can be added and edited on any of the watch faces included with Apple Watch. Developers are said to be able to develop whatever they’d like to complications, assuming it is connected to an Apple Watch app.
Apple may also launch some small Health and Fitness improvements to the OS, one of which is alerting someone who is having an irregular heartbeat. The feature is said to be feasible with the current hardware, however the company is hesitant to go forward with it due to liability concerns.
Lastly, Apple plans to launch a new service for the watch called “Find my Watch”. The service is similar to the locating services for iOS and OS X devices with ‘Find My’ names. However, Apple is working on a new feature called ‘smart-leashing’ that will calculate location based on trajectories with the phone, in case it is not in pairing range.
Apple will likely launch the OS, as well as the new developer features, during WWDC.
Apple TV
Update 06/03/2015: The New York Times is reporting that Apple was planning, but has pulled plans to launch the Apple TV, the TVKit SDK, and streaming service at WWDC. Expect them this fall.
A few years ago, I sold my 720p Apple TV. At the time, there were rumors that Apple was just weeks away from launching a new one (this was after the 1080p came out). I figured i’d sell it, use my Xbox 360 as a replacement for a few weeks, and then buy the new one.
That was May 2013. It is now June 2015.
After multiple delays in production and shifts in executive management, Apple will launch a new Apple TV at this years WWDC. The new device, which is the first major upgrade since March 2012, is said to feature an all new design, a redesigned remote, and a completely new operating system.
The new hardware is said to be both smaller and better looking then the current model. The last Apple TV included a relatively simple remote with just 5 buttons, however Apple’s new remote is a major departure from this design. The new remote features what is supposedly a touch pad, which will make for easier navigation of the interface and possibly adapt to different apps.
The set-top box will also include an incredibly large OS update, departing entirely from the current design. The main feature of the update, however, will be the addition of an App Store and third-party TV apps. Apple is said to launch a TV-Kit SDK for developers at WWDC for developing TV apps, which will not be tied to phone apps.
Apple will likely launch the device at WWDC, with a price of $99. Apple will leave the last generation model available as well for $69. Third-party apps may arrive in a later update, but the new OS is said to be included at launch.
Music, Television, and Developers
In addition to new operating systems and hardware, Apple will spend a significant amount of time on a number of new services and tools for developers at WWDC.
Apple Music
Apple has long been working on a new streaming service with a monthly price that is set to launch at WWDC. The new service has been in the works since Apple’s acquisition of Beats, and is based on Beats Music, which will assumingly shut down after this launch, with its users going over to the new service.
The service, headed by Eddy Cue and Jimmy Iovine, will reportedly have groundbreaking prices, as well as royalty payments. Current services pay hundredths of pennies for plays sometimes, mostly because these services are startups and don’t have the capitol to not make a large profit margin. Apple’s service is said to pay significantly higher than any other on the market today, and is rumored to cost between $8 and $10 a month.
Apple’s new service will launch on all Apple platforms at the event with an updated version of iTunes for OS X and iOS 8.4 for iPhones and iPads. However, this new service will not live in Apple’s walled garden. An Android app will be announced at the event, as well as an iTunes for Windows update and possibly a web player.
Apple Television
Apple has also been working on, and is close to completing, a web-based cable competitor. The new service is said to be similar to Dish Networks Sling-TV, allowing users to pick packages of channels and pay less per month.
The service is ready to launch, with the exception of the broadcast channels, which Apple would like to be included in the service. Apple has been working hard the past few weeks to get these deals done, however, and we may very well see the service at WWDC.
The service, as of now, is said to be tailored for iOS devices, with Mac, iPhone, and iPad apps available. The Apple TV, of course, will be the main device Apple pushes for the new service, specifically the soon to be last-gen model, as it gives users a cheap way to get cable on their TVs.
As of now, it is unknown if the service will be ready in time for WWDC, but will launch no later than the end of the year.
Developers and Security
In addition to Apple’s push on stability with iOS and OS X hardware and software this year, Apple is preparing a major update to its Swift programing language, according to 9to5mac.
Since Swift is still evolving as a development language, Apple previously did not include Swift programming “code libraries” within iOS. For this reason, developers who choose to write App Store apps with Swift must include the code libraries inside each of their apps. Consequently, App Store applications written in Swift carry approximately 8MB of additional code, and the more Swift apps you have, the more storage space you lose to code library copies.
With iOS 9 and OS X 10.11, we are told that this will change: Swift is planned to reach what is known as “Application Binary Interface (ABI) stability,” and its code libraries will therefore be pre-installed within the new iOS and Mac operating systems. This means that Swift applications updated for iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 will require less space and consume less data when downloaded over a cellular connection. Users with lower-capacity iPhones and iPads or non-unlimited cellular data plans will see at least small improvements over time.
Additionally, Apple will launch a number of new SDK’s for developers, including major HomeKit updates, TVKit, HealthKit, and more.
Lastly, 9to5 is also reporting a trifecta of security upgrades to be announced at WWDC: Rootless, iCloud Drive, and Trusted Wi-Fi. All of which will improve security around the board for both developers and users.
WWDC 2015 will begin at 10 AM PDT on June 8 at Moscone West, with a livestream at Apple.com. It should be a fun one.
Follow me on twitter @bzgoldman.
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