Photo: Apple

Later this evening (or early Tuesday, depending on which part of the world you’re in), Steve Jobs will go on stage at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference. With his keynote often come a few surprises, as well as a host of sure bets. Below are some predictions, graded from sure bets to possible to outlandish, on what to expect from WWDC 2010.

Sure bet: iPhone 4G

The fourth generation iPhone – what many people are currently calling the iPhone 4G – will almost certainly be on display. Unveiling it at WWDC 2010 will be in line with Apple’s strategy from recent years where the updated handset was revealed around this period. It’s also highly likely Jobs will speak on the iPad’s early success and throw a few mind numbing numbers out there just to show off.

Possible

Outside of the iPhone 4G, many expect Apple to make other product announcement. A Mac OS X update would go down pretty well considering the lukewarm reception Snow Leopard received. Those rumoured Mac Mini and Macbook Air updates may also see the light of day in a short ‘look what else we’ve been doing’ segment.

Outlandish

Photo: Apple

It would be silly for Jobs to even hint at the next iPad, so don’t get your hopes up there. We also doubt Apple’s core laptop range – Macbook and Macbook Pro – will even be mentioned, considering they’ve just been updated. What would be exciting would be if Apple’s rumoured AppleTV was unveiled, but don’t hold your breath in that department. It’s not going to happen – no way Apple will want to steal the iPhone’s spotlight.

The curse of the analysts

As critical as we are of analysts (read: guessers) here, this is our disclaimer that this is just a game and you are to take these predictions with a pinch of salt. Outside of the iPhone, which we’re confident enough to put money on it being unveiled, nothing is sure fire. Apple TV would be massive, but outside of the expected iPhone 4G reveal, WWDC 2010 should be business as usual for Steve Jobs and co.

Over to you: what do you think will be unveiled at Apple’s conference?

Photo: Apple

Just in case the physical evidence that’s been floating around the US and Vietnam isn’t confirmation enough, the iPhone 4G will have a front facing camera for video chat, and the series of commercials promoting the device will be directed by Sam Mendes.

Sam Mendes, desperate actresses

Engadget broke the story, wherein they reveal Sam Mendes, the director of the critically acclaimed American Beauty, will be directing the TV spots for the iPhone 4G (working name), which is rumoured to be dubbed the ‘Mammoth’ internally. Furthermore, one of the TV spots will feature a mother and a daughter having video chat via the front facing camera, something the iPhone 3GS oddly omitted.

The Apple kool-aid

Though this news seems exciting, one needs to take pause to remember that mobile video chat, as a technology, has been around for nearly a decade, in some parts of the world. We really should not treat this like a big deal. Just like copy-paste was not a big deal, mms was not a big deal and multitasking is not a big deal, this should not be treated like it is.

WWDC

Photo: Apple

Alas, we know that those in attendance at the World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) will applaud this feature like it is a big deal, assuming the widely held assumption that the iPhone 4G will be revealed at Apple’s annual conference. This year’s event has been scheduled for June 7^th and many believe Steve will strut his stuff for the keynote the way only he can, and reveal a phone virtually all of us have already seen. But applaud many will still do – the classic reality distortion effect in, erm, full effect.

Outside of the iPhone, Apple has been making major in-roads with its iPad, which is scheduled to release in the UK this Friday, May 28^th.

Photo: Apple

In the tech coup of the year, Gizmodo found a prototype of the iPhone 4G (G for generation) and, as is customary, moved to tear it down to confirm that it was, in fact, the real deal. It is the real deal.

The old ‘new’ feature

Though the iPhone 4G couldn’t be booted out of recovery mode, the interface of the phone revealed a few important things about the phone. The first is the long-rumoured front-facing camera, which is there. In addition to that is camera flash for image capturing in a dark environment. This would tick off yet another ‘feature’ found on many high-end phones that Apple would likely treat as a very big deal.

What’s changed

Photo: Apple

Regarding form factor, the phone is thinner than the iPhone 3GS, but with a large battery inside. The internal components have been downsized, too, contributing to the ability to reduce the phone’s size. The screen is slightly smaller than that found on previous models with the display also being given a boost in resolution.

The back of the iPhone is made with a new material, which, though some are not entirely sure what it is, seems to be either glass or some type of ceramic.

In June, we’ll know

Bets are on that the next iPhone event will be in June, so as to keep with the theme of revealing the latest handset around that time of year. With the iPhone OS 4.0 having recently been revealed at a special preview event, as well as rumours that the iPhone now finally has proper social networking functionality, it is quite likely the iPhone 4G will build on the success of its predecessors. Across the three iPhone’s released so far, Apple announced they have sold an astonishing 50 million units.

Photo: Admob

Reuters reports that a source close to the FTC has indicated that the Federal Trade Commission is preparing to recommend the government block Google’s attempted acquisition of Admob for $750 million (£487,5 million) on anti-trust grounds.

Too much power

This comes in the wake of various anti-trust investigations in Europe on Google’s operations, as well as growing scrutiny in North America, especially regarding privacy. In addition to recommending the move not go through, the FTC has indicated it is prepared to sue, and has already established an internal litigation team for that very purpose.

So much for that iAd leverage

Photo: Google

It was suspected that Google would embrace Apple’s expected announcement of its advertising platform, iAd, in an iPhone 4.0 preview event they’re held on 8 April. This, people believed, would give Google enough wiggle room to say ‘look, there are viable competitors in this space’, which would be sufficient for convincing the FTC it isn’t anti-competitive. But it appears this acquisition may be rejected regardless of Apple’s iAd.

Google is, of course, the biggest advertising company on the planet. With over 75 per cent of the global search market, which commands over 40 per cent of worldwide online advertising revenue, every time Google so much as makes a move to fortify its position in advertising, the company will come under scrutiny. It is, in many people’s eyes, the new Microsoft.

Is it really anti-competitive, though?

Photo: Apple

In Google’s defense, it is questionable whether this Admob acquisition would be anti-competitive. The company commands a large share of the global mobile search revenues, yes, but this platform, which drives in-app advertising on popular smartphone platforms, is a nascent market owned by no one company, at present. If the FTC is likening iPhone and Android App advertising to mobile web advertising, they’re mistaken.

If, however, the FTC’s recommendation is accepted, Apple may find itself leading the mobile applications advertising competition with iAd. Which, ironically, would do to Google what Google did to Apple by entering the smartphone market. Not only that, it’s widely documented Google all but snatched AdMob from under Apple’s nose, so this would be doubly satisfying for the Cupertino-based company.

Photo: Apple

Apple has announced their new iPhone that will support 4G technology. The new design will top the first, with an ultra-sleek look, and a slimmer frame. The 4G iPhone is being bombarded by rumours due to the lack of information Apple have provided on it. The reason for Apple’s secrecy could be the recent release of the iPad; with too many products coming out at once, the next generation iPhone may overshadow the iPad. The rumoured release date of the 4G iPhone looks like it may be around June/July, just in time for summer.

Possible features to expect

The new 4G iPhone will have a 5 megapixel front facing camera, a step up from the previous 3 megapixel iPhone 3G. With an OLED backlit display, pictures can be displayed in HD. Multi-tasking is now possible with the 4G iPhone, and you’ll be able to check what’s happening on Facebook while you play the wide variety of games on offer. The front facing camera also allows you to talk to friends and family with video chat. Downloading is easy and fast with high speed Internet, and you’ll never run out of space with 64 gigs of memory. The new iPhone 4G also has a built-in GPS system.

Photo: AT&T

One of the main reasons the new iPhone 4G has been kept under wraps is the unknown network provider. At the moment, Apple has a contract with AT&T, but this contract is due to end pretty soon, and a possible change to Verizon Wireless could be in the works.

4G technology

The next installment in network technology is 4G, which will improve Internet speed, and incorporate better programming. This is still new technology, and only a few mobile phones are equipped with it so far. With 4G technology, mobile phones have the ability to be slimmer, and the IP will enable video/audio streaming. This means that video blogging will be possible with the new iPhone 4G. The extension from 3G technology will provide a wider spectrum for Internet usage anywhere in the world.

iPhone users

Photo: Apple

People who already own an iPhone may be looking to upgrade soon. The 4G iPhone will offer higher quality with all the new technology it’s said to have, and be slimmer than ever. With improved functions like the camera, and a sharper visual display, this might be the phone that sees Apple garnering an even bigger share of the smartphone market.

Photo: Apple

The iPhone is currently Apple’s talisman in its aspirations of remaining the world’s largest mobile devices company, with recent rumours indicating two new iPhones may be coming, one of which will be a CDMA Verizon iPhone.

AT&T monopoly to end?

Many countries have the iPhone on one carrier only, making whichever carrier has it something of a monopoly. In the US, where AT&T has been the exclusive carrier since 2007, this has brought much criticism Apple’s way since its user base believes AT&T delivers substandard service.

Photo: Apple

To this effect, the on-again off-again rumour that there will be a Verizon iPhone is back in the air again. Verizon, which uses the CDMA communications format – as opposed to GSM – cannot carry the iPhone in its current state and would need an adapted version to do so. But what would make it very worthwhile for Apple to launch this other iPhone on Verizon – making it available to a host of other CDMA carriers – is that the company has 91 million users in its subscriber base.

Rollout

The usual Apple trend of releasing a new GSM iPhone at the beginning of summer – June – is expected to continue, with the reportedly thinner and faster iPhone 4G handset to launch. AT&T’s relationship with Apple has been crucial for the carrier, with iPhone sales explosions contributing almost exclusively to its quarterly growth.

Feeling the heat

Photo: HTC

With Apple recently suing HTC – which on all accounts is actually an attack on Google – and Google Android handsets enjoying a lot of press and positive publicity, it seems as if Apple is fortifying its lead, as well as living in fear. Add that to the fact that HTC’s recent handsets have been phenomenal, and Microsoft’s Windows 7 looks great, too, the unchallenged dominance of the iPhone is certainly coming to an end, so it may make sense for the oft-rumoured Verizon iPhone to finally surface.

Tags for this article: iPhone, htc

Photo: Apple

The iPhone is the fastest selling consumer electronic device in history, and for good reason, too. It revolutionised the smartphone industry by integrating hardware and software closely, as well as created a platform for thousands of others to develop businesses on the platform. It is not perfect, though, and Apple looks to silence its most vocal critics by introducing multitasking to the device with the iPhone 4.0 software update.

Hello multitasking

Photo: Apple

Possibly the biggest criticism of the iPhone is its inability to multitask – to allow multiple apps to be open at once or to allow apps to run in the background when tasks like picking up the phone or going to the home screen are performed. AppleInsider reports the oft-demanded feature will be available on the iPhone 4.0 software.

Preventative measures

While many have assumed these measures were put in place due to technical reasons, the truth is Apple have had multitask prevention measures in place for security reasons. If applications – especially network connected ones – cannot run in the background, malware and spyware cannot make their way onto your device without you knowing it.
The classic Apple strategy

This could also mean that the iPad will feature multitasking as well at a later stage, or very soon after launch, which will go a long way to dealing with the criticisms leveled against that device. And since iPhone 4.0 is expected to be released on the same day as the iPhone 4G, multitask will be available on from day one.

Photo: Apple

The allowance of a rudimentary function like multitasking and then punting it as if it were a massive technical achievement is perfectly in line with Apple’s iPhone strategy of introducing features that have been around for a long time and making them seem new. They did so with tethering and MMS on the iPhone 3GS, and to expect the marketing team at Apple to do the same with the iPhone 4G and with iPhone 4.0 is not unreasonable.

If Apple’s iPhone release strategy continues uninterrupted, the iPhone 4G and its necessary software update should be announced around June 2010.

Photo: Apple

The omission of a webcam on the iPad has been noted as one of the device’s biggest failings, with users and technology sites lamenting this seemingly shortsighted move. But if lines of code found in the just-released iPhone 3.2 SDK are to be believed, this will soon change for both the iPad and the iPhone 4G.

Code never lies

Photo: Apple

Astute developers looking through the company’s SDK code have unravelled many of Apple’s product development strategies. In doing so now with the recently released iPhone 3.2 SDK, evidence has emerged that Apple intends on propping a front-facing video cam into both the iPhone 4G and the iPad, with developers seeing early signs on how they can implement their software to take advantage of that hardware. This revelation comes from code in the TelephonyUI.framework, revealing strings with ‘VideoChat’ clearly referenced. After further digging, developers found specific reference to iChat, which suggests that this will be Apple’s native application to take advantage of this functionality.

The distortion effect

Photo: Apple

Additionally, why this is unsurprising is because Apple has, in the past, omitted functionality that is standard across all devices in its category, to only release it much later to an inordinate amount of fanfare. MMS, copy-paste, and tethering are examples of mobile phone functions that have been around in Nokias and other cellphones for nearly a decade and Apple released these during the life of the iPhone 3G, with tethering arriving late last year on the iPhone 3GS. This strategy seems to have served the company well, and it appears it will roll over into the iPad as well.

iPad dissipating hype?

In terms of expectation, Apple’s iPad had an impossible amount of hype to live up to and, as stood to reason, it could not. Since the device’s reveal, what many pundits have said is  near-on identical to what they said about the iPhone: it’s either over-hyped, or the second generation device will be the must-have iPad. Whether the first claim is true remains to be seen, but the second, with the iPhone 3.2 SDK hinting at a feature people thought would be there out of the box, puts the iPad more in line with people’s expectations. The iPad is set to be released during March with the iPhone 4G announcement coming in June.