It's time for the big one. Apple o'clock is here. WWDC 2023 – the worldwide developer's conference, known as 'Dub Dub' to many fans – returns at the company's Cupertino headquarters and it's expected to be a bumper issue.
We're here to blog the run-up to the event – which kicks off at 18:00 BST in the UK (10:00 PDT / 13:00 EDT) – and cover all the big product reveals right throughout the expected-to-be-two-hour presentation. So stay tuned for some major Apple announcements.
So what can you expect? Well, great banter, but of course. But, critically, we're expecting a 15-inch MacBook, possible a MacBook Pro (perhaps with M2 Ultra power), iOS 17 software features, and possibly maybe a glimpse at Apple's VR headset, codename Reality Pro. So strap in, it's going to be a choc-full WWDC...
Good morning Dub Dub-ers! T3's Tech Editor here, Mike Lowe, to kick off the blog whilst the whole T3 team gears up for the big event tonight. The clock is ticking and in under 10 hours we'll be in the thick of it.
While there's the prospect of Apple Reality Pro being revealed today – which is certainly an exciting thought – it's actually the 15-inch MacBook Air, if it turns out to be true, that I'm most attracted to. That larger-screen Mac sounds like my potential Apple dream machine.
But that's all it is for now: a dream. So let's see what else is uncovered throughout today before the event proper gets going, with Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, expected on stage. There'll be Tweets. There'll be leaks (if only the liquid from my eyes – tears of joy perhaps?). And there'll be a lot of fun along the way...
Tech Staff writer Andy Sansom on the early shift here! So what could we see at WWDC? Try saying that 5 times fast!
The big talk is all about Apple’s rumoured VR headset, supposedly called the Apple Reality Pro. This would be the company’s first foray into virtual reality and fans everywhere are giddy with excitement, even if it apparently will cost $3000. At that price, it better be the best headset on the market.
In this reality, there’s also talk that we will see a new 15-inch MacBook Air and a look at a new MacOS and iOS 17, Apple’s latest iPhone operating system. That’s not including any surprises, so there’s plenty to look forward to.
Today’s conference will be coming from Apple Park in Cupertino, California but what do you know about the swanky doughnut-shaped campus? More than 12,000 employees work in the four-story “Groundscaper” which even has its own lake in the middle. T3 Towers isn’t quite as cutting edge but it does have its own body of water when it rains, called a puddle.
The “Spaceship” as Apple’s HQ is known, is actually only 1.7 miles away from the company’s original headquarters. It has no fewer than seven cafés so you could eat somewhere different each day of the week!
If we do get a VR headset today, perhaps we could soon have our own virtual tours of the campus.
Apple’s VR headset is reportedly going to be much more expensive than its rivals, around $3000 some say. This is an increasingly competitive market with the PSVR2 launching earlier this year and Oppo and Meta announcing new headsets just last week (coincidence?).
Some are sceptical about VR’s use but having had plenty of hands-on time with the PSVR2, I could see it becoming an essential gaming device. Apple wants to go beyond that however with a ‘mixed-reality’ offering that can be used for work and play.
In other news, if you’ve liked anything WWDC related on Twitter you might have noticed the unique ‘like’ animation. Pretty cool, but we’re hoping Apple has more in store for us today.
WWDC is an ultra-slick event run by one of the biggest corporations in the world, but hasn’t stopped them from having fun in the past. Check out this mock funeral for Mac OS 9 back in 2002.
I doubt we’ll see anything like that today, but there has been talk of a new MacOS perhaps being teased. MacOS 14’s name hasn’t been confirmed yet but surely it will continue the California town naming tradition?
Of course, the most famous WWDC reveal of all is the infamous ‘iPhone moment’ when Steve Jobs revealed the phone that would change the world. Apple will be hoping its headset will do that all over again later today, but what's in store for its next phone?
There's no guarantee that we will see anything iPhone 15 but we should get a proper first look at iOS 17. A supposed early lookat iOS 17 showed customisable lock screen buttons and a revamped Control Centre among other things.
I'd also love to know how the next iPhone and the Reality Pro headset will interact with each other, could we see it used as some sort of PSVR2-style controller?
Good morning campers! T3's resident News Writer, Sam Cross, here to bring you through until lunchtime.
And while the focus thus far has all been on the new hardware and software we're expecting, how about some cool exclusive merch? That's exactly what those lucky enough to be in attendance in Cupertino today can expect.
Apparently, merchandise from the hit Apple TV show, Ted Lasso, will be on sale in the Apple Park visitor centre store. That includes the home kit of the legendary AFC Richmond, as well as scarves and other themed attire.
While we're looking away from the expected new tech for a moment, there's also a rumour of strike action taking place at the event today. That's from the Writers Guild of America – the trade body for writers across film and TV, radio and online media.
Picketers are expected to attend Apple Park later today, as well as five other Apple retail locations across the USA. Indications suggest this will be a more peaceful protest than a full march, though, with strikers handing out leaflets to event-goers.
The WGA justified the action, stating that Apple TV is a growing streaming platform which relies on writers to make its mark.
One of the things we're almost guaranteed to see is the new MacOS 14 update. Historically, these events have been used to showcase the technology, before they roll out to devices in the following months.
The update is rumoured to be a relatively light one, with nothing major having leaked in the last few months. I'm expecting the rumoured new journaling app for iPhone to make it onto MacBooks as well, though.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about MacOS is what it will be called. Every iteration has had both a number and a name, with recent examples using Californian towns as their inspiration. Apple have trademarked a whole bunch of these, which could give us an idea of what's coming – I like the sound of MacOS Sequoia, personally.
We're also expecting to see an update to the Apple CarPlay system.
Last year, at WWDC 2022, CarPlay got a pretty substantial update, which saw the software take over all of the screens on your car. It could even interact with data from the car itself, allowing you to control climate settings or radio play from a unified interface.
Given such a large update was present last time out, we're tempering our expectations this time. I'd expect to see the company give a little more information about models where the new technology will be implemented from launch, though.
One of the big questions surrounding the event is whether we'll get a glimpse of the M3 chip. It would make some sense – the M2 chip debuted last year at WWDC 2022, after all.
It's a big deal, too. If rumours are to be believed, the new processor will be among the first to use a 3nm architecture. That should offer enhanced performance and thermals.
I'm not holding my breath, though. While the M2 did debut this time last year, the M1 arrived at an event in November 2020, so there's not a clear historical pattern. We've also heard that production is starting later this year, so it seems unlikely.
An M2 Ultra, though, is a very real possibility – particularly with talk of a powerful new Mac Studio on the way.
With a regularity you could time your watch to, the Apple Store has once again gone down prior to WWDC 2023. Don't panic – this is entirely normal, but does mean we're going to see some new hardware at the event. Yay!
So, what's it likely to be? I'd expect the rumoured 15-inch MacBook Air to be in the fray, as well as the up-spec Mac Studio models which have garnered attention in the past week or so.
Could the Reality Pro headset also be in there? I wouldn't like to guess, but I'd wager it's slightly less likely than the Macs. Anything is possible, though.
The sun is still around an hour away from rising in Cupertino, but already eager attendees are on their way for WWDC 2023. Some even got the chance to check in early last night – bagging some cool freebies in the process.
Check out the tweet below from one person, who snagged a branded tote bag, cap and an array of badges. Lawn chair – we suspect – not included.
This year’s swag from Early Check-in at #infiniteLoop #WWDC23 #wwdc pic.twitter.com/H9wdGxKslmJune 4, 2023
Will this year finally see the Mac Pro line-up given a refresh? That's the question on the lips of every Mac power-user around the world.
The current generation of of the Pro is the only model in the Apple product range which doesn't offer an in-house chip. Many have called for that to change, bringing the power and performance of Apple Silicon to Pro users.
Whether it rears its head today or not is unclear though. Some wagered that recent leaks pointed towards it, but that looks more likely to be a top-spec Mac Studio. Still, if there was ever a place to debut one of the most powerful devices you've ever made, a keynote with an audience full of keen developers isn't a bad option...
Afternoon, Andy Sansom back here again (I can't stay away!). I was just recalling how much of Google I/0 was devoted to AI. Artificial intelligence is the in thing at the moment, from ChatGPT to Photoshop everything is introducing AI now.
Could Apple have a similar approach? Will we see any AI features introduced in Mac or iOS updates? VR may be the most exciting subject of today, but AI could be the most useful (Google already are stopping us from having to write emails).
We're all hoping that Apple will present the VR headset as a release-ready product, but that may not be the case. One such doubter is our Editor-in-Chief Mat Gallagher, who quite soundly reasons that because with not even one leaked picture of the headset, it might not be ready yet, at least in a form we can get our hands on.
If it is coming, then kudos to Apple for keeping a ship tighter than my spending habits after forking out the rumoured $3000 pricetag for the headset. I guess we'll find out the answers tonight.
With the show set to start at 6 pm BST/1 am ET/10 am PT, you might want to start getting set up for the live stream. Of course, you'll be staying with us while T3 Tech Editor Mike Lowe brings his live expert analysis as the conference unfolds but if you want to watch for yourself it's easy peasy.
Try Apple's own YouTube channel, live on Apple's website or the TV app on Apple TV, Mac, iPad or iPhone. Google had a dancing duck warming up their conference last month, so it might be worth tuning in a bit early to catch any shenanigans.
If you are in Australia and don't think you can make it till 2 am AEST, you have our permission to go to bed, we'll fill you in later.
As a big gamer, I have two questions for tonight's conference. Firstly what are the gaming ambitions for the Reality Pro headset? Apple wants it to be for work and play, which suggests to me that maybe I should stick to the PSVR2 for a more 'true' gaming experience. The App Store really opened up game development for the masses so hopefully, we should see a flood of new VR games in time.
Secondly, will I be able to play Fortnite on iPhone? Or more accurately, will we hear anything about the rumoured side-loading of iOS 17 that Apple has been instructed to start allowing? I doubt they'll be willing to say much on it but fingers crossed.
Good afternoon, all. Mat Gallagher here taking you through to the event now before Mike Lowe takes the final shift as the proceedings start. I honestly don't think there's been a WWDC event with this much excitement to it in the history of WWDC events.
Apple is certainly preparing to announce more than just software today, though exactly what we'll see is still shrouded in mystery. Well, it's at least not confirmed. There are plenty of rumours on the hardware front, as well as the potential of a new OS unveiling in the RealityOS for Apple's much anticipated mixed reality device.
So let's start with some stuff that we do know. What is at least 99.9% certain is that Apple will show features of the new operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac. While these updates won't be fully available until September/October time – normally tied to the launch of the next iPhone – there will be Beta versions available for testing shortly after WWDC.
These new features are unlikely to give anything away for the physical features of the iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 or any new iPad, Mac and Apple TV models, they are likely to make use more powerful chips and could perhaps give hints to what else might come.
