Business Insider is quoting Piper analyst Gene Munster as saying:
No New iPhones [at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference]. As indicated in today’s press release, we believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard at WWDC. While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June. Rather, we expect Apple to host a special event in late June or early July to launch a family of iPhones. We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan. Such a model could also be used in Apple’s launch of the iPhone into China as soon as the end of summer ‘09.
Analysts are about as accurate as weathermen when it comes to predictions one month out, so take this with the usual Mac Pro sized grain of salt. Apple has used the last two WWDC events to showcase the iPhone, and introduced the iPhone 3G and MobileMe at WWDC 2008. If they stick to pattern, we should see an update on iPhone 3.0, the next generation iPhone, and perhaps a MobileMe refresh at WWDC 2009.
However, WWDC being an developer-focused event, it’s not impossible Apple will focus on their Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard and iPhone OS 3.0 exclusively, leaving the hardware for a sexier consumer event later in the month.
As to a family of iPhones, we still don’t see Apple breaking the software platform, which means a low end iPhone could only be a low-storage iPhone 3G (8GB?) at $99?, with the next generation unit (at 16GB and 32GB, along with other new features) taking the established $199 and $299 positions.
With the new hardware dropped last week, and an Apple Special Event still in the rumor-mill or March 24, we’ve naturally been hoping for a sneak peek at iPhone 3.0, just like we got for iPhone 1.0 and 2.0 for the past 2 years. But now Sevenmac.de (via MacRumors) is raining on our parade with a report of what the even might actually focus on:
software. More precisely, Apple’s video Pro Apps should receive updates or see new versions.
Pro apps are way past due for an update, no argument there. What with Apple pulling out of NAB even before they pulled out of Macworld, a Special Event makes the kind of sense that does. Still, we want us our iPhone news! stamps foot and throws tantrum
Doubtful anything Final Cut Studio Pro or any of the other Pro Apps have on tap will be directly iPhone related. Unless anyone has any ideas to the contrary?
Just a rumor for now, according to World of Apple and My Apple Guide (via Engadget), and it will likely be a “Spotlight Turns to Desktops” with architectural bumps for the Mac Mini, iMac, and/or Mac Pro to bring them in line with the Nvidia chipsets and latest gen Intel procs the laptops received last fall, and maybe a new 30″ LED display, but March 2008 did see the iPhone SDK Roadmap event, so we’re not above hoping there may be some iPhone news on our horizon.
When Apple announced they’d no longer be attending Macworld, they also said they would be calling their own news events on their own schedule, so likewise the March 24 data has to be seen as fluid and depending on the final readiness of the product(s) and service(s) to be announced. Since Apple rarely sends out invitations until less then a week before the drop date anyway, all we can do is wait… and maybe drool…
Won’t be Steve Jobs, of course, as he’ll still be on leave, but Phil Schiller did the last keynote, and also the last new iMac form-factor reveal (while Jobs was on his previous leave) so there’s some history to suggest he may be the main man on stage again.
Meanwhile, what do you expect to see at a March Apple Special Event, and what do you really want to see?
