At this year's WWDC24 event in June, Apple is announcing major innovations and improvements that are sure to rock the tech community. Among the most anticipated updates are those related to artificial intelligence (AI), as well as hardware refreshes, including possible new Macs. And of course I appreciate iPhone models.
Among the wide range of predictions and speculations surrounding the upcoming event, one of the most exciting is the potential launch of a new, more affordable iPhone. But let's go in order.
iOS 18 and other operating systems
One of the key upgrades that Apple is planning is the introduction of RCS (Rich Communication Services) to the Messages app in iOS 18, which will improve communication between iPhone and Android device users. This means that sending photos and videos to Android users from iPhone will no longer cause errors, and group chats will work better. Features such as cross-platform emoji reactions, read receipts, and real-time typing indicators will also be added.
We can also expect early glimpses of iOS 18, MacOS 15, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, HomePod Software 18 and visionOS 2. Apple continues to use California landmarks to name MacOS versions, so it's interesting to guess which name it will choose next.
Artificial intelligence in the development environment and applications
For developers, working with AI might involve helping out in the Xcode development environment, using AI to predict and complete blocks of code, which could simplify coding. These AI changes could also extend to Apple's iWork applications.
Apple is rumored to be considering more than just its own AI features in upcoming operating systems, including the ability to access AI apps in an improved AI App Store. Apple may be in talks with several AI companies, including Google and Baidu, to help with its AI processing.
A cheaper iPhone?
It's been a long time since the last iPhone SE update, which was in March 2022, so the market is ready for a refresh in Apple's range of more affordable phones. The new iPhone SE (fourth generation) is expected to retain the design of the iPhone XR released in 2018, which means that with the new model, Apple will ditch the signature home button and offer Face ID instead. In addition, the new model will be slightly larger than its predecessors, which may not be the best news for those who like smaller phones. This shift reflects Apple's effort to modernize its phone lineup by incorporating more advanced technologies and larger screens, even in a more affordable price segment.
Hardware - New Macs
Although WWDC is usually focused on software, Apple also often announces major hardware updates aimed more at developers than consumers. Among those announcements could be Mac Studio and Mac Pro refreshes with M3 chips. Rumors claim that the updated Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra chip could arrive in mid-2024, which would be in line with the WWDC announcement. Airpods Max 2 are also announced, as well as another surprise.
