It’s 9 days to Apple’s second biggest event of the year, World Wide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) 2018, which will take place at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California where Apple will make its’s major announcements on the products and services for its users.
This will be the 29th annual WWDC and it will run from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8 hosting developers from across the world.
Apple will be joining the likes of Microsoft, Facebook and Google that recently announced their new technologies in the Microsoft Build 2018, Facebook F8 Keynote and Google I/O 2018 events.
Unlike the aforementioned Apple three tech gaints, Apple Inc. holds two events, the second one being in September where it launches new hardware products mainly the iPhones and iPads.
The mid-year WWDC is mainly for software announcements but recently Apple has also been making some hardware announcements.
The WWDC tickets come at a cost of $1600 (about Shs5.9 million) but for those that cannot make it, Apple will live-stream the event.
For the first time, Chrome or FireFox browser will be able to livestream the event.
In this article, SautiTech’s Julius Wasajja takes a look at major announcements to be expected from this year’s WWDC 2018.
iOS 12
The excitement that came with iOS 11 was short-lived among most iPhone users as the system version has continuously been characterized with bugs and glitches including the previous update that had issues with the volume button.
Apple is set to announce the release of iOS 12 during the WWDC which is rumored to have a complete iOS redesign. iOS was last redesigned 5 years ago (2012) with the launch of iOS 7. It is however rumored that Apple may also postpone the redesign of the operating system to 2018 and focus on performance improvements in iOS12.
Surrounding the pressure Google that have integrated their systems with Artificial Intelligence, Apple will also focus on including A.I technologies in Ios 12.
The platform is also expected to run Mac OS apps which will be a turning point for Apple users that may see users run Mac OS apps like Final Cut pro on their iPads.
Other features expected include, Animoji (animation emoji) in FaceTime, Group FaceTime, a new Photos App, Parental Controls and performance improvements and bug fixes.
iOS 12 will have its beta version released during the WWDC and the final version in September.
Other software announcements include the Mac OS 10.14, for Macs (also expected to run iOS Apps) with a developers’ beta expected on Monday, June 4. The watch OS 5 for Apple watches that shall focus on more on health and fitness support and finally the tvOS 12 for Apple Tv.
iPhone SE 2
We have waited for over two years for the next release of the iPhone SE (a smaller version of the company’s latest phones) and yes, the iPhone SE 2 is expected to be released during the WWDC.
It is expected that the phone will have a 4.2 inch display (0.2 inches more than previous version), 32GB and 128GB storage options, 3GB RAM, a maintained touched ID and maybe a glass back design to facilitate wireless charging.
It is expected to cost around $450 being the most affordable iPhone on the market.
The expected releases of iPhones in September are iPhone X and iPhone XI+ with 5.85-screen and 6.46-inch screen respectively.
iPad Pro X
Rumors suggest a new iPad X is set to be released with an 11-inch display, 8 core A11 apple processor, FaceID, removal of the Home Button, including gestures and reduced bezels to create a bigger screen.
Like I said, with the integration of Mac OS app with iOS 12, the iPad X will be in positon to run Mac OS apps which will be very amazing.
An entry-level new iPad 2018 with a 9.7-inch screen is also on its way joining the entry level ipad 2017 that was released last year.
Other products to be announced are; the AirPower wireless charging pad that Apple announced in September 2018 but seems to be delayed, a redesign of the Mac Book Pro, the new Home Pad mini.
