Apple will hold its infamous Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) from June 2-6 in San Francisco at the Moscone Center. It is expected to reveal the first details about iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 and might even unveil retina display MacBook Air laptops.
Normally, as soon as Apple announces the dates for WWDC, the company opens its website to ticket purchases for the event. However, this year, Apple is taking a page out of Google's book and giving the event a ticket lottery instead. That way, Apple can avoid delivering the soul-crushing blow to its fans that it is all out of tickets after just a few minutes. Apple hopes that the lottery will make it easier for developers to get tickets. After all, WWDC is a developer's conference, not a news conference.
Developers who want to go to WWDC must register for the random ticket drawing by 10 a.m. PDT on April 7. Apple will send an email out to all those who won the lottery before the day is out. Even though tickets are expensive at $1,599 a pop, that has never dampened enthusiasm. Last year, WWDC ran out of tickets in less than 3 minutes. Apple also plans to give away 200 tickets to full-time students who are 13 or older. All the students have to do to be eligible is create a native iOS or OS X app to submit along with their information.
WWDC will then kick off on June 2 with a keynote speech by CEO Tim Cook. Cook and his crew will then show off iOS 8, OS X 10.10 and perhaps even some new devices. Many rumors indicate that Apple may introduce retina display MacBook Air laptops at the event.
However, the best part of WWDC is really what it leads up to. In the past, Apple has shown off its new mobile OS at the conference and then launched a brand-new iPhone at its next big event in the middle of September. If Apple debuts iOS 8 this June, the iPhone 6 is almost guaranteed to launch in September. Recent rumors already indicate that Apple plans to present at least one model of the iPhone 6 this September.
The long-awaited 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is expected to debut first in September, with a second 5.5-inch iPhone to launch shortly thereafter. Supply shortages are reportedly to blame for the rumored fractured release of the two iPhone 6 models. Even if Apple can only release the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in September, it's sure to revolutionize the way people perceive Apple.
For years, Apple has fought tooth and nail against the biggest (no pun intended) trend in mobile technology: phablets. Now it seems that Apple is jumping off its conservative ship and into the great swirling waters of what is trendy. Apple already broke the Ten Commandments of Steve Jobs when it launched the 4-inch iPhone 5 and the cheaper, plastic iPhone 5C - not to mention the 7.85-inch iPad Mini. It seems that Cook has finally shrugged off Jobs' mantle and taking Apple's future into his own hands - and it might just work.
