We’re simply days away from Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention keynote. Final week the corporate despatched out media invites for its annual convention. It is a signal that we’re one step nearer to WWDC 2024, which formally runs June 10 to 14 at Apple Park. Whereas Apple hasn’t stated what to anticipate, if previous WWDC keynotes are any indication, we’ll doubtless see previews for iOS 18 and MacOS 15, in addition to different Apple working techniques – and perhaps new {hardware}.
There’s hypothesis that Apple will share its plans for utilizing generative AI in software program and {hardware} on the convention. Rumors level to potential integrations for coding, as reported by Bloomberg in February, in addition to consumer-facing options like bettering privateness and safety and the flexibility to create customized emojis based mostly on a textual content thread, once more as reported by Bloomberg.
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One in all my favourite components of any Apple occasion is decoding the invite for a deeper understanding of what to anticipate. Usually, this entails taking a protracted take a look at Apple’s invite picture and tagline to divinate cryptic themes and even merchandise that may be dramatically unveiled. This yr, all we have now to work with for potential Easter Eggs are 4 rainbow-colored rings. However I’ve concepts.
Beneath these rings, the invite does supply one very important piece of data that we did not know for positive: the time. The WWDC 2024 keynote will begin at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 10, which contrasts the early 7 a.m. PT begin time for Apple’s digital Could iPad occasion and the late 5 p.m. PT time for final fall’s Scary Quick Mac occasion.
It is Apple Park — no duh?!
A photograph of Apple Park simply earlier than sundown.
Let me get the plain out of the best way. The invite’s colourful circles seem like the define of a top-down view of Apple Park. And it might be so simple as that, particularly because the convention takes place at Apple Park.
A brand new and improved Siri
Siri is at present represented by an orb.
However let’s spitball. That is purely for enjoyable.
I’ve to present credit score to CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti for this one — she thinks the invite may be a delicate nod to enhancements coming to Siri. And this makes full sense. We have heard iOS 18 rumors for months about how Siri is getting an AI-powered glow up, and the invite’s colourful circles might be a reference to that.
At present, summoning Siri makes a colourful orb pop up on Apple units, and perhaps Apple desires to distinguish an AI-powered Siri from the Siri of the previous with these new rings. Al-Heeti’s concept makes much more sense whenever you see the animated model of the invite the place the rings morph into totally different colours in an analogous rhythm as Siri’s present on-device orb.
An Apple sensible ring
Samsung teased the Galaxy Ring earlier this yr. Might Apple be subsequent?
Hey, Samsung teased its Galaxy Ring in a “yet another factor” type reveal on the January Galaxy Unpacked occasion, so who’s to say that Apple would not be subsequent? Apple usually previews new merchandise at WWDC, just like the Imaginative and prescient Professional, to present builders time to construct and optimize software program.
An Apple sensible ring will not be that arduous to think about. The corporate prides itself on well being, health and wellness monitoring options throughout its units, particularly the Apple Watch. A hoop-based wearable appears inevitable, particularly if it had been priced to match the low-end of the present Apple Watch lineup.
HomePod redux
The brand new HomePod now options an edge-to-edge Siri show
Whereas Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman thinks there will not be new Macs launched till the tip of this yr and in 2025, for the previous few years Apple has usually proven off new {hardware} at WWDC. And that may turn into true, as a result of we noticed Apple announce the M4 chip earlier this month for its new iPad Execs.
So if Apple had been to announce {hardware}, may we see a brand new HomePod or HomePod Mini, which had been up to date in 2023 and 2020, respectively? The invite’s circles are harking back to a top-down view of a HomePod’s Siri display screen or perhaps a easy speaker.
I feel that is fairly unlikely. And on that observe, this is a wonderful place to finish our hypothesis. What’s beautiful is that WWDC is lower than two weeks away. So we do not have to attend lengthy to search out out what Apple is definitely doing this yr.
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