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http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/05/31/firm.makes.unusual.pre.announcement/

Apple confirms iOS 5, iCloud for WWDC keynote event

updated 09:00 am EDT, Tue May 31, 2011

 

Firm makes unusual pre-announcement


Apple has announced that CEO Steve Jobs and several other executives will be hosting the WWDC 2011 keynote on June 6th at 10AM Pacific time. In an unusual turn, however, the company has openly admitted that it will be showing iOS 5, as well as iCloud, the company's "upcoming cloud services offering." The company normally prefers to surprise the public and the media with new products.

iOS 5 is expected to be a major overhaul of Apple's handheld firmware, solving some long-standing problems. It could for instance feature a new notification system, and receive over-the-air updates, reducing dependence on a desktop or notebook. Other rumored plans include Android-like widgets, and support for a wider range of voice controls than the ones currently supported.

iCloud is thought to be concentrated around music streaming, and may work by mirroring as much of a person's iTunes library as possible. The basic concept is similar to Amazon Cloud Player or Google Music, both of which beat Apple to the market. iCloud may also signal an end to the current incarnation of MobileMe, which costs $99 a year despite the existence of free competition which may sometimes have better options.

A less shocking part of the announcement is that Apple will show off Mac OS X Lion. The software has been demonstrated before, and WWDC could bring a more precise release date than the "summer" timeframe Apple has commonly resorted to. It remains to be seen if iCloud will be in any way be integrated with Lion or iOS 5.




by MacNN Staff

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 iPod, iPhone, Steve Jobs, WWDC, Apple, iPad, iOS, wwdc11, iOS 5, iCloud

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Comments

  1. prl99

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2009

    +8
    05/31, 09:08am | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    no surprises anymore

    Apple isn't allowed to surprise anyone anymore because of all the leaks and rumors. This disclosure might take some of the hits away from the worthless rumor sites and let Apple focus on delivering a good keynote and conference to the developers. Remember, this conference is a developers conference, not a replacement for MacWorld, so don't expect a lot of hardware announcements. Except for the keynote, what goes on at the conference is supposed to be kept under an NDA but as we all know, there isn't a website around that respects that NDA and I don't see anything different happening this time. Apple might as well not bother trying to keep any corporate plans secret, at least not to the general WWDC attendee list.

    At least now we'll be able to separate the fact from fiction.

  1. Thorgeirr

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2011

    +8
    05/31, 09:09am | report spam | Reply |

    Afraid of too hight expectations?

    A massive disappointment could be bad marketing, so better not blow the baloon too big before the show?

  1. prl99

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2009

    +5
    05/31, 09:29am | report spam | Reply |

    not a show

    @Thorgeirr. I agree that Apple might be trying to stifle the ruthless speculators who look for any way to better their position by pre-announcing some of their newer software but the schedule for WWDC has been available to attendees so except for the keynote, they know what's going to be presented.

    Again, WWDC is a conference not a show. It's the speculators who are trying to use this conference to line their pockets by providing wrong information. Apple is just trying to provide information on how to use their systems and an opportunity for the developer community to get together to discuss things. This is not a trade show attended by a bunch of kids wanting to buy things. I've been to WWDC twice and it was a great learning experience.

  1. Feathers

    Grizzled Veteran

    Joined: Oct 1999

    -7
    05/31, 09:46am | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    One more thing...

    I have a suspicion that a new iPod Touch is imminent. This is based on the fact that certain online Applestores never have current generation refurbs unless Apple are clearing inventory ahead of a new release. This is currently the case with the iPod Touch. I have never seen refurbs of current generation Touches on the Irish Applestore except when an upgrade is pending. They normally only carry previous generation that, with a new release, become two generation old devices. Stock is definitely being cleared. I suggest that this is also the case with MacPro's, as a similar pattern has also been observed. How far in advance of an announcement this occurs is anything from a few weeks to almost two months so apply the appropriate pinch of salt!

  1. wrenchy

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Nov 2009

    -52
    05/31, 09:59am | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Who's zoomin' who?


    "Android-like" widgets.
    "Android-like" OTA updates.
    "Android-like" cloud music service.
    "Android-like" multi-tasking.
    "Android-like" cut and paste.
    "Android-like" voice control.
    "Android-like" folders.
    "Android-like" unobtrusive notification system.
    "Android-like" OTA syncing.

    Everyone copies everyone. Get over it.


    Drrrroid!

    - Sent from my Android Device.

  1. sammaffei

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2004

    +1
    05/31, 10:24am | report spam | Reply |

    Apple had to announce

    Both Amazon and Google forced Apple's hand on iCloud. So, Apple had to announce to gain some traction.

    My guess is Apple will offer iCloud for free for a year if you buy and register a new music capable iDevice. Apple has always said it was about selling hardware. They'll bake the cost of iCloud into the sale of iPods / iPhones. After the year, you either buy a new device or you pay the yearly fee.

  1. c4rlob

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2009

    +2
    05/31, 10:53am | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    email domain name?

    If iCloud is supposed to replace MobileMe, will the email domain be - username@icloud.com? That doesn't seem likely given Apple's style. So I'm not so sure about it completely replacing MobileMe, unless Apple announces they're going back to "@mac" as the email domain, which wouldn't make sense since you don't have to have a Mac to have the service. Maybe they'll announce @apple" as the new email domain for customers?

  1. Feathers

    Grizzled Veteran

    Joined: Oct 1999

    -5
    05/31, 11:02am | report spam | (2 replies) Reply |

    Voted down?

    Don't know why my last comment was so heavily voted down, but in response, I will say one thing; If Steve is going to demonstrate iOS 5, he's going to have to use an iOS device to demonstrate it, no? It makes more sense to demo some of the iOS on a new Touch than presage a new iPad or iPhone that would instantly slow sales until those new devices arrive. Call it a sacrificial iOS device if you like.

  1. SockRolid

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Jan 2010

    +7
    05/31, 01:48pm | report spam | Reply |

    Infrastructure is already in place

    This is how Apple does it. They add components to Mac OS and iOS that the press completely ignores because it's too technical. Then, at high-profile events like WWDC, Apple puts the keystone in place. The final piece that everyone can understand, even the press.

    iPv6 is already enabled by default on iOS 4. And it's been an option on Mac OS X for years. iPv6 allows each internet-capable device to have a globally unique IP address, and allows them to talk to each other directly, even behind firewalls and NAT boxes.

    VPN is already available on iOS and Mac OS X. With VPN you can access remote LANs securely. Even from unsecured public WiFi hotspots.

    Put iPv6 and VPN together and you have a secure foundation for syncing your iDevices and Macs. And for streaming iCloud content from anywhere. It's all baked in.

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -1
    05/31, 04:30pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: ipv6

    IPv6 allows each internet-capable device to have a globally unique IP address, and allows them to talk to each other directly, even behind firewalls and NAT boxes.

    No, IPv6 allows no such thing as being able to directly connect to items behind NATs and firewalls. For if it were, you can be sure every corporation would immediately disable any use of it in their organization.

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