The invitation features a depiction of iPhone home screen icons, and the phrase “Let’s talk iPhone,” so there’s no doubt the next smartphone from Apple will be on the agenda. We’ll be sure to be there watching closely next Tuesday, and will bring you all the news coming out of the event.

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AllThingsD is known to have good sources when it comes to early info regarding Apple products and plans, and had previously predicted that Apple would begin the sale of the iPhone 5 in October. According to today’s information, the iPhone 5 will go on sale “within a few weeks” after the Oct. 4 event, which would be in keeping with that earlier prediction.

While the iPhone 5 will be the star of the show according to the sources of the report, I wonder if Apple might also take the opportunity to refresh its iPod line. Generally, new iPod models are introduced at an event in early September intended specifically for the purpose. That didn’t happen this year, so it would make sense to see Apple address those updates at an October event, too, even if they’re just dressing for the main course that is the iPhone 5.

This will be Tim Cook’s first time leading an Apple announcement event. Even though he has occupied the CEO role in the past, Phil Schiller, Apple’s marketing chief, has taken on the maestro duties at past events when Steve Jobs was absent. Paczkowski believes that Cook must take the reins in order to hammer home to investors and consumers that he can and will successfully lead this company into the post-Steve Jobs era.

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9:52: Press are in their seats. The place is packed, Tim Cook is chatting with people, but no sign of Jobs. The event is about to get started.

9:57: Phil Schiller and Cook are near the stage, and will likely be on it, soon. Jonathan Ive is in the front row. Apple’s showing off its big iTunes win by playing lots of Beatles.

9:59: They’re about to begin, the announcer is requesting people to turn devices to silent mode. There’s a couch setup on stage.

10:02: Lights are going down in the auditorium. It’s show time. Standing ovation as Steve Jobs comes out on stage! The audience is literally going nuts.

10:04: Jobs didn’t want to miss today, he says. He’s talking about iBooks first. 100 million iBooks have been sold through the iBookstore. Random House is now part of that store, and there are now 2500 publishers distributing through it.

10:06: 200 million user accounts, with credit cards and 1-click purchasing. It’s the most anywhere on the web. Apple has paid 2 billion in App Store revenue to developers. The iPhone has 100 million shipped. Today, Apple’s here to talk about its third post-PC product, the iPad.

10:08: Jobs says people laughed when they called the iPad “magical,” but the price and nature of the device ended up making 2010 the year of the iPad. 15 million sold in 9 months, more than every PC tablet ever. $9.5 billion in 2010 revenues from iPad alone, and 90 percent market share.

10:10: App Store is 350,000 strong. 65,000 of which are for iPad. Jobs showing off some apps, CNN, The Daily, etc. These apps take advantage of the iPad’s “magical” UI. There’s that word again :)

10:12: Competitors launched with at most, 100 apps. No comparison. Jobs is now talking about how Apple Retail is a big part of the iPad’s success. Now they’re showing a video about “2010, the year of the iPad.” Schiller on video talking about how now one predicted this.

10:15: All Apple execs are talking about how amazing the iPad is in the video. There are also some example case studies, including education (iPad in classrooms), medical (doctors are using it to help them devote more time to patients and less to administrative tasks. In business, iPad lets people carry data around with them easily.

Comment from Kevin re: competitor’s app stores for tablets: “He’s being kind. He’s being kind. My post last week showed 16 apps.“

10:18 Steve is back. He’s taling about how 2011 so far has been the year of the copycats, but nobody’s even close to the first iPad. Apple isn’t resting on its laurels. Here’s iPad 2.

10:19: iPad 2 is no minor improvement, according to Steve. It is dramatically faster with an all-new design. It has a dual-core A5 chip, which is about 2X faster than its predecessor, with the same power requirements as the A4.

10:21: 9x faster graphics, front and back-facing cameras. There’s a gyroscope in the tablet, too. It’s 1/3 thinner, very curved back, and only 8.8 mm thick. Thinner than even the iPhone 4. Jobs says “it feels totally different in the hands.” Lighter, too, at 1.3 lbs (compared to 1.5 for the last model).

10:22: Rumors were true, there’s a black and a white version. White version is shipping day one, says Jobs, which the audience greeted with laughter. 3G models work on AT&T and Verizon day one (GSM and CDMA). Same 10 hour battery life as before thanks to engineering improvements.

10:25: Pricing remains the same as the previous iPad. Starts at $499, goes up to $829. Jobs says “2011 will be the year of the iPad 2.” The new iPad ships March 11 in the U.S., two weeks later in 26 more countries.

10:27: New accessory cable available that does HDMI out. It works out-of-the-box with all apps! Definitely impressive. Supports 1080p output, rotation, the works and costs $39. That’s a huge win for Apple versus competitor offerings.

10:29: New case, which isn’t a case, it’s a cover. Smart cover, they’re calling it. Bends and folds to allow for different viewing angles when acting as a stand.

10:30: The new cover wakes the iPad when opened, and puts it to sleep when closed. It uses magnets to auto-align itself to the iPad. Very sleek, designed to add very little weight or size. Om says he loves the cover more than the device :) They’re now showing a video of how it works.

10:32: The magnets are actually in the iPad itself, the ones that make the cover auto-align. Comes in five polyurethane and five leather colors. PU version is $39, leather is $69. Now Scott Forstall is coming out to talk about iOS 4.3.

10:34: iOS 4.3 improvements are more than what we’ve already seen. Better Safari performance. iTunes home sharing means you can use AirPlay to stream from your computer to your iOS device. That’s awesome, I’ve wanted that for SO LONG. AirpLay also now works with apps and even websites.

10:36: Forstall is talking about iOS 4.3 things we already know about now. Personal hotspot allows wireless sharing from your iPhone 4 to up to 5 devices. Now he’s moving on to iPad 2 special software. Demoing Photo Booth for iPad.

10:38: Photo Booth looks cool. Nine live video streams at once being shown off, and you can add and manipulate effects using touch, then share videos with friends. Forstall is moving on to FaceTime for iPad. Works between iPads, with iPhone or iPod touch, or with Macs. You can flip between front and rear-cameras.

10:41: iOS 4.3 is coming on March 11, same day as iPad 2. Forstall says there are two more apps they’re going to show off today. One is iMovie for iPad (yay!), now that it has a camera.

10:43: Randy Ubillos, Apple’s chief architect of video applications is on stage to show off iMovie for iPad. It’s a universal app, too, so it’s replacing the iPhone only version. New home screen shows thumbnails of your films as movie posters.

10:45: You can record from within the app, or use your existing video from your library. Tapping a video clip brings up handles to let you select your timeline segment, and you can pinch zoom in to get finer control. Add and manage transitions, and check out and adjust the volume of your audio stream, too. The app features a library of sound clips for you to use in your movies.

10:47: The new iMovie lets you have up to three audio tracks beyond the original background audio track, provides additional themes, new titles and transitions. You can even play to AirPlay enabled devices over Wi-Fi or share to all kinds of sites, like Vimeo, YouTube, etc. Ubillos is now playing a demo movie.

10:50: iMovie is priced well ($4.99). iMovie demo is over, and now it’s time to take a look at Garage Band for iPad! Sounds like it has a lot in common with the desktop version, including a healthy loops library and 8-track recording and mixing. Xander Soren is on stage to demo.

10:52: Cool, Garage Band has touch instruments! Grand piano is being shown. Tap the keys like you would a real piano, there’s a button for sustain effects, which can be locked in. Soren is playing the piano now to show off how realistic it is.

10:54: The iPad’s accelerometer is used to determine how hard you hit the keys. And when you change the type of instrument, the look and features of the instrument change, too. Soren is showing how this works by switching from grand piano to classic rock organ.

10:56: He’s demoing how where you strike a key affects how it sounds. Now moving on to drums, tapping away at the screen. Smart instruments allow even people who suck at music (like me) to get in on the fun. You can set chords to autoplay and just strum away with the smart guitar. You “can’t play a bad note.”

11:01: There’s a whole lot of Garage Band demo going on. Showing off song sharing, via email or by sending to your iTunes library. Okay, that’s over with, and Steve is back on stage.

11:03: Garage Band is available for $4.99 on March 11. Steve is stressing that it’s powerful enough to do real work. That’s an amazing price for this kind of software. Jobs is repeating what’s been said about the iPad. Om notes that he’s walking quite slowly and looking seriously thin. Now they’re showing a video about the iPad featuring Jonny Ive talking about how amazingly awesome the iPad 2 is.

11:07: The video is now talking about how awesome the cover is. May be surprising, but Apple thinks the things it makes are awesome. Check out the video here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video

11:11: Jobs is talking about how Apple has a holistic approach that marries tech and the liberal arts, humanity. He says competitors who talk about speed and specs are not getting it. Post-PC devices need to be easier and more intuitive. Software, hardware and applications are all intertwined. Apple things its on the right track with its approach. Steve asked all Apple staff to stand up, and thanks everyone for supporting the company.

11:16 There’s a Q&A and a hands-on area, so we’ll hopefully have some more for you soon after Om gets a chance to poke around. Thanks for sticking with us!

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Yesterday, AllThingsD reported that its sources had indicated an event would indeed be taking place March 2, but Apple declined to make any official comment at the time. The next iPad is expected to introduce FaceTime support with at least one camera (front-facing), and a thinner, sleeker design. Many other rumors about what the update could bring to the platform abound, including improved display quality and alternate case materials.

In addition to the image of a calendar icon peeling at one corner to reveal an iPad, the invitation also includes the slogan “Come see what 2011 will be the year of.” That’s clearly a play on the assertion by many in the tech industry that 2011 was indeed the year of the iPad.

We’ll have coverage of the event and any product announcements right here next Wednesday, so stay tuned.

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Bookmaker expert Mickey Richardson, CEO of Bookmaker.com, one of the largest sports odds-making sites in the world, and his team of experts have calculated the likelihood of what we might see at the event.

So what do the pros think will and won’t happen Wednesday?

An 11-inch version of Macbook Air
YES -750 88.5%
NO +150 40%

Updated iWork & iLife
YES -500 15%
NO +100 50%

FaceTime for iChat in new version of OS X
YES -750 88.5%
NO +150 40%

Next version of OS X will be called Lion
YES +150 40%
NO -750 88.5%

Note: For those unfamiliar with sports betting, the +/- Indicates the Return on the wager. The percentage is the likelihood that response will occur. For example: Betting on the candidate least likely to win would earn the most amount of money, should that happen.

Tune in tomorrow for TheAppleBlog’s full coverage.

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Apple will do what they often do this time of year, and that’s hold a press event unveiling Mac updates. The event is called “Back to the Mac,” which is an acknowledgement that Apple’s focus has seemed to be elsewhere of late (iOS, in case you hadn’t noticed). But the teaser image reveals we could see more than just new hardware.

The official invite sports what’s clearly the image of a lion peeking out from behind an Apple logo-shaped cutout. Does that mean we’ll be seeing a new iteration of OS X, major point upgrades of which are codenamed after big cats? In short, yes. Apple will probably announce OS X 10.7, possibly codenamed “Lion” at this event. It’s hard to interpret that photo in any other way.

Mac OS X Leopard was officially announced on Oct. 16 2007, and released for sale only 10 days later. Snow Leopard was announced well before its actual release, but that was a unique case since it was basically an upgrade pack for Leopard. So, if 10.7 is on the way, we could see it hitting shelves on or shortly after Oct. 20, in time for holiday shoppers.

Also likely on the agenda at the event are new MacBooks, including the MacBook Air, which is long due for an upgrade. Rumors surrounding that piece of hardware include a new, smaller 11.6-inch screen and redesigned case to accomodate a newer style click-button trackpad.

More software updates will also probably be announced, including iLife ’11, and possibly an update to Apple’s desktop productivity software, iWork, as well. This might be a good place for Apple to reveal iWork for iPhone, too.

What are your predictions? Are you likely to upgrade if Apple announces a new OS, or are you happy with Snow Leopard for the time being?

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As usual, rumors surrounding the event run the gamut from fairly far-fetched to the safe bet. That said, the whole fun of Apple’s press events is that you can never really count out the left-field possibilities, thanks to Steve’s now famous “one more thing” stunts. Here’s a look at what rumors are being tossed around, and which ones I’m putting my money on.

iTV

Apple TV has been little more than a hobby for Cupertino to date. It’s not a bad little device, but platforms like Boxee and Netflix, which can operate on all kinds of different hardware, or support a wide variety of file formats, are limiting its living room presence.

It makes sense that Apple would target the Apple TV for a major overhaul. According to a number of sources, that overhaul will see a name change (to iTV), a smaller storage capacity (4GB) with a focus on streaming, a switch to iOS as the software that powers it, and, accordingly, the arrival of apps.

While I don’t doubt that Apple has big plans in store for the iTV, I find it very unlikely that we’ll see its introduction tomorrow. Changes this big would merit their own press event, and I don’t think Jobs would want to bury such a major overhaul amid exciting new iPods and changes to iTunes’ services. Which brings me to my next point…

iTunes

Everyone’s favorite poorly-named media management and library software will almost certainly see an update tomorrow; that much is clear. What exactly that update will entail is much less so.

The big rumor regarding iTunes right now is that Apple will introduce 99 cent TV show rentals, available only 24 hours after their original air date, for a rental period of up to 48 hours. It’s a definite improvement over the current price tag for owning shows ($1.99 and $2.99 for SD and HD, respectively), but you also miss out on actually owning the programs, as there’s no re-watching later.

Another rumor puts iTunes in the cloud, including streaming music and video directly to users’ devices, possibly even on a subscription-based model. This is a general rumor that’s been around for a while, and isn’t necessarily tied to tomorrow’s event. I don’t think we’ll see it tomorrow, but it’s definitely something Apple is testing the viability of, you can be sure.

iTunes probably won’t go to the cloud, but it may go to the web. According to Peter Kafka of Media Memo, the next big update for iTunes could see it relocated to the web, where a lightweight, more easily accessible version would put the emphasis on music’s social aspects, allowing users to share their tastes with one another. This would actually be a natural extension of the recently introduced web-views for iTunes store content, and I think we could see it tomorrow, though I don’t think it’ll completely replace the iTunes desktop software.

Finally, CNET is reporting that Apple is going to double song preview length in iTunes. This rumor feels pretty sound, especially since it isn’t very exciting.

iPods

We will see new iPods tomorrow. Apple always updates its iPod line in September, and it isn’t about to change that now. Among those new devices will be an iPod touch with a camera. Whether it’ll have two cameras and FaceTime is still open to debate, but likely. Recent rumors that it’ll also sport a 3G antenna are also interesting, but I would say unlikely for this iteration.

The iPod nano and shuffle could both also see updates tomorrow in what appears to be an exciting new form-factor, possibly incorporating a 1.7-inch touchscreen. Personally, I think the nano will retain its video-friendly current form factor, and the shuffle will get the updated design, which will put an emphasis on control, the main area of complaint customers have regarding Apple’s most diminutive media player.

A third possibility is that the new form factor will be an entirely different class of iPod altogether. It could be to the iPod touch what the shuffle is to the nano, i.e. a barebones, limited storage device without app support and only a few utilities in addition to the iPod music player, like a clock and calendar. I think Apple is looking to streamline, not complicate its iPod lineup, though, so if there is a new device like the one I’ve described that doesn’t get the “shuffle” moniker, expect it to replace the shuffle altogether.

Last and least, we have the clickwheel iPod classic, the old Clydesdales of Apple’s lineup. I see at most maybe a capacity boost, if Apple’s determined to keep it around, but you can bet that with its focus on iOS and touch computing, the iPod classic isn’t long for this world. Who knows? It could be “out with the old,” as well as “in with the new” on the menu for tomorrow.

What do you think is in store for tomorrow’s event?

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Apple holds a music-based media event every September, which usually sees Steve Jobs reveal a new line of iPods. This year is expected to be no different, though some also suggest an updated Apple TV, and others predict that we’ll see an update to iTunes. The new square iPod form factor has some physical evidence to back it up, though.

iLounge first spotted images which Chinese iPod case-maker X-Doria claim to be designed for an upcoming fourth-generation iPod touch, and a redesigned iPod nano or iPod shuffle.

The purported iPod touch case clearly has a design to fit a form factor similar to that of the iPhone 4, but it’s the unusual square case also pictured that has sparked debate. The case is of similar proportions to an Apple-branded 1.7-inch touchscreen that surfaced earlier this year. But what iPod could this screen and the square case house — could it be a smaller nano or a bigger shuffle?

Back in 2007, Apple released the third-generation iPod Nano, which boasted a similar square design. Yet after just one year, Apple changed the form factor back to the narrower, rectangular shape. The fifth generation, which saw the introduction of video recording, kept to the same design formula. So would Apple really revert?

The iPod shuffle, which has never had a screen, saw its most radical redesign in 2009. The miniature player lost most of its buttons, with the player controls moved to the headphones. This was not overly popular, due to it requiring users to use special headphones. Maybe Apple is hoping to make up for what many saw as a design blunder.

Personally, I think changes to the iPod nano are indeed more likely. This belief is mainly due to the possible aforementioned touchscreen being utilized, and the fact that the pictured case has a hole on the rear — a space for the camera perhaps?

Whatever changes are in store, we will find out on Sept. 1. What changes would you like to see to the iPod line? Let us know in the comments.

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Not only that, but the promotional material for the event bears the tagline “Come see our latest creation.” For those who were still skeptical that Apple would release a tablet at all, I think you should consider yourselves quite wrong. That tagline definitely wouldn’t herald a new Core i5-based MacBook Pro, and given that Apple cannot be unaware of the hype surrounding its still-mythical slate, there’s really only one thing it could refer to. Judging by my Twitter stream, not everyone thinks it’s that obvious, though.

Some people are speculating that the evidence points to a software announcement. Creative software that could produce some kind of artistic output, possibly iLife for the iPhone? That’s a reasonable enough prediction, if you don’t take into account the fact that for years now the tablet rumors have been stacking up, and Apple would realize that announcing some lame software when everyone is thinking iSlate would absolutely destroy its stock price.

Another possibility is that this will just be an announcement of the next major iPhone OS upgrade, iPhone 4.0. If the tablet is running that platform, I think we’ll see it discussed here, but Apple is not a company to use words irresponsibly. Not to mention that the last time it held such an event was March of last year, so the timing is off, and the invitations for that event couldn’t have been more obvious about the nature of the announcement. Why be coy now, when doing so could only hurt the company in the eyes of investors?

No, if you ask me, it’s tablet time. Now that we don’t have long to wait, you may want to brush up on all the latest and greatest from the rumor mill. Honestly, if I was going to link to all of our tablet-related articles, I think every word of this article would be hyperlinked, so I’ll just do this and make it much easier for all of us. Now’s the time to start getting those last minute predictions in, so that you can point back to the comments section of this post and tell all your friends “I told you so.”

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I’m really sorry. I do realize these tablet rumors are becoming tiresome, but you know, don’t you, that they’re going to get a lot worse in the coming weeks as we approach January 26 and Apple’s not-yet-officially-confirmed-but-unofficially-will-definitely-happen media event?

The latest tidbits come from Fox News’ Clayton Morris and (somewhat unexpectedly given how he should know better) an ex-Apple, ex-Google China senior executive. Let’s get started…

Fox’s Clayton Morris writes that he’s been talking with his very own private mole inside Apple HQ about the as-yet unconfirmed media event (first reported by the Financial Times) and has this to offer us:

While nothing official has been handed down from the notoriously tight-lipped company, my source took the Financial Times report one step further by saying this event will focus on the mobility space, meaning we’ll see something related to the iPhone/Touch product line. Could this be the announcement of the mythical Apple tablet we’ve been hearing so much about?

Well if it isn’t, if El Jobso doesn’t announce a tablet, if, instead, the whole event is nothing more than a high-profile sales pitch for a slightly-higher-capacity iPod shuffle, I’ll be torn between shedding bitter tears, or laughing myself sick. Maybe both.

“Focus on the mobility space,” eh? How charmingly vague. You have to wonder why these “sources” are always so…unhelpful. I mean, a real, genuine, worthwhile secret mole should be leaking specific, valuable information, right? That’s what moles are supposed to do, it’s in the job description. But when it comes to Apple’s moles, this just doesn’t happen, does it? Instead, they offer infuriatingly nebulous non-information that seems, if nothing else, perfectly suited to further fuelling speculation, rather than offering, y’know, facts.

I think of these sources as the tech community’s version of spirit mediums who, after (rolling eyes) ‘miraculously’ connecting with the dearly departed, then bafflingly waste that rare and wonderful chance at communication by playing an odd game of Guess Who? “Focus on the mobility space” might as well be “I see a man with thinning hair whose name begins with something sounding like Ste…”

I have a modest theory; these “sources” are tasked with providing fuzzy details to media hacks. It’s all part of a precise marketing strategy, pioneered by Jobs, designed to get the flames of the rumor mill burning brightly. It probably saves a fortune on actual advertising.

A Little Less Vague

Also fanning the flames today is a report by Engadget’s Richard Lai who writes that former Google China president Kai-fu Lee has claimed privileged insider-knowledge of the mythical tablet. Lee’s comments appear on Lee’s microblogging site and, translated by GadgetMix, read in part:

The Apple Tablet looks like a bigger iPhone that sports an awesome UI packed in a beautiful 10.1-inch screen. The tablet combines the functions of both netbook and kindle, an ebook reader. It has virtual keyboard for text entry and a webcam for video conferencing

Lai adds:

We’ve heard a lot of this same noise before: sub-$1000 price, an iPhone-like appearance, 10.1-inch multitouch screen, video conferencing, cellular connectivity, 3D graphics and virtual keyboard. What really got our attention is Lee’s link with Foxconn — the Apple OEM is one of the main contributors to Lee’s post-Google investment venture, Innovation Works, so there’s a good chance that Lee’s spoken to someone overlooking the manufacturing of a certain Apple device.

Kai-fu Lee also adds in his blog that “Steve Jobs will be introducing this product in January,” lending credence to Clayton Morris’ sepulchral source at Cupertino.

Well, that’s it — another day, another round of rumors. Make of them what you will. As far as I can see, we don’t know anything more now than we did when we reached for our hot lava java this morning, but, please, don’t shoot the messenger. At least this specumor (I’m enjoying my portmanteau’s; this one’s a cross between speculation and rumor) is bolstered by what appears to be sort-of-credible evidence.

Honestly, though, January 26 can’t arrive fast enough. I’m thoroughly sick of all this guessjecture.

UPDATE: Looks like my modest theory is correct, if Fake Steve is to be trusted.

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The date of the event is set for Sept. 9, according to AllThingsD, and the rest of the blogosphere seems to have accepted this as solid fact, despite the deviation from the usual pattern Apple has of holding press events on a Tuesday. Sept. 9 is a Wednesday, but 9to5Mac points out that it also happens to be the day Beatles Rock Band ships. They don’t see that as a coincidence, and instead suggest that the Beatles catalog could finally come to iTunes at the event.

More definite rumors include the much-publicized iTunes 9 update, which is expected to be bringing a lot of new features to the Mac media workhorse. One of those improvements is the “Cocktail” music format, which could be poised to be the album of the digital age, and includes lyrics, photos, and video in addition to music.

On top of iTunes 9, expect to see new iPod models introduced. The iPod touch is well overdue for a refresh, and with cases, pictures and videos popping up all over the place purporting to show a new, camera-toting model, it’s unlikely this event will pass without an unveiling of at least that device and a new iPod nano with similar features.

Less than likely is the possibility that Apple will unveil its tablet device at the event. Its existence at this point is not often debated among the blogging community, but release timelines continue to be fuzzy, and seem more likely to extend into 2010.

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As this week comes to an end, tech watchers turn their loving gaze away from E3, and refocus their attention on the Moscone Center in San Francisco, which will host Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference beginning Monday, June 8.

Just like every year before it, we’ve seen many rumors circulate regarding what Apple will be unveiling at the media circus that is the conference’s kick-off keynote address. But as we all know from experience, a rumor does not a product announcement make. Here’s a look at what’s being said about what we’ll see at WWDC, organized by likelihood.

Bet the Farm

Because of the obsessive attention it tends to draw from devotees, Apple sometimes has a hard time surprising folks. As with most events, WWDC ’09 has some safe bets that have run the rumor mill gauntlet and been accepted as fact by some major industry players.

• New iPhone Hardware — I know it, you know it, and Walt Mossberg certainly knows it. It’s not a matter of if or when, it’s just a matter of what. A healthy list of potential iPhone features abounds, and they vary in their individual likelihood. As such, I’ll be listing them separately. The keynote Monday will see the announcement for a new iPhone, but don’t expect to get your grubby mitts on one until July.
• Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard — You won’t be able to buy it at or during WWDC, but we will see a version that’s as good as gold. Maybe not quite Gold Master, but a feature-complete, pre-release demo version that will finally end all our digging like animals through leaked developer preview screenshots posted on Russian tech forums.
• iPhone Camera, Storage Space — These two things will be improved with an iPhone refresh. Guaranteed. Anything else is less sure to occur.
• App Store Parental Controls — The settings pane already exists in the iPhone 3.0 beta preview software, but the corresponding ratings system in the App Store has yet to go live. Expect it to kick in following the official release of the firmware, which Apple has already guaranteed for June, and probably for WWDC.

Good Odds

These are likely to happen, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call them certainties. The MacBook one I’m preparing for financially, so I feel fairly sure it’ll go down.

• MacBook Incremental Upgrades — The unibody aluminum MacBook was released way back in October 2008, and hasn’t been touched since. Which means it’s just about time for a spec bump. Expect to see the notebook’s internals get their semi-annual update at WWDC, and then expect me to buy one.
• Steve Jobs Appearance — He may not be delivering the keynote, but the most respected, feared and revered CEO in recent memory doesn’t just plan for a June return to work and then sit out WWDC. Many suspect he may be part of the “team of Apple executives” that is backing up Phil Schiller for the keynote presentation.
• iPhone Magnetometer, FM Transmitter/Receiver — These are two new pieces of iPhone internal hardware that have gotten a lot of press, and seem to be fairly safe bets for inclusion in the new iteration. I also think they’re fairly safe bets because they’re not without precedent, as both have been included in other devices that compete with the iPhone (the G1 and the upcoming Zune HD, for instance).

It Could Happen

Some things remain firmly in the realm of possibility, despite there being little actual evidence to support them, and it not necessarily looking likely that they’ll make an appearance. Still, without the long shots, what would we have to look forward to?

• Large-format Touch Tablet Device — We all want one, and Apple knows it, and it wouldn’t have to abandon its high-minded ideals regarding netbooks to deliver one. Just give us a really big iPod touch. That’s all we’re asking for. We know you have one lying around, anyway. Put it into production. Please.
• $99 4GB iPhone — There’s at least some evidence to suggest this could really happen, and it comes from my native land. I’m not so sure about the front-facing video camera (iChat video) that is also listed on the same slide that Fido has for this model, but maybe that was just a typo. Apple does know you sell more things by making them cheaper, but it seems not to really mind that rule most of the time.
• iPhone Capable of Background Processing — Push notification is guaranteed, but many users aren’t satisfied with that, especially when the Palm Pre supports true multi-tasking. iPhone users don’t like being behind in any significant way, so it’s possible Apple’s next iPhone could pack enough processing power to support true multi-tasking.

Not a Chance

These are things you will not see, no matter how hard you close your eyes and wish for them to be true.

• Mac Netbook — Apple hates them, and in practice, our own David Klein also hates them. I don’t really like or use mine that much. A Mac version might be different, but I’m willing to bet it would still start being a dust-collector very quickly.
• iPhone Nano — This perpetually recurring fanboi’s dream will never be real. Deal with it.
• Verizon Partnership — Choice is a great thing, but iPhone users will have to go without for at least another year, as it doesn’t look like any Verizon partnership will be forthcoming in 2009. So much for selling twice the units.

Feel free to agree, disagree, and add your own predictions below.

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Today Apple revealed some more details about the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference via a press release available on their web site. Specifically, they give a firm date and time for the keynote speech of the event, and details about who will be involved.

Many had hoped that since Steve Jobs’ medical leave of absence is set to end in June, he would once again take the stage at WWDC ’09 to deliver the keynote with the trademark showmanship that has made Apple events the media circuses they are today.

It looks like, for whatever reason, June will not mark such a comeback after all. Phil Schiller, SVP of Worldwide Product Marketing, will instead headline the bill, backed by “a team of Apple executives,” on June 8 at 10 a.m. Schiller recently took the stage as keynote speaker at Macworld in January, with mixed results. From the sounds of the press release, it looks like this time around, Apple may again use more of a multiple-speaker model, like the one that served them so well at the iPhone OS 3.0 announce in March.

Apple also partially confirmed a release timeline for OS X Snow Leopard put forward by AppleInsider by announcing that a Final Developer Preview version of the new operating system would be made available at WWDC. This official statement, which comes from Bertrand Serlet, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, should put the kibosh on rumors that the full retail release would arrive in time for the June event. Should, but probably won’t.

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New iPhone SDK

But that’s just a taste of what was revealed at Cupertino today. Developers will probably be a very happy crowd, since the new developer’s SDK gives them access to over 1,000 new APIs.

Push Notification

That includes the above mentioned push notification API, which allows developers to provide audio, text or badge icon notifications for their apps. Just to be clear, the apps aren’t actually running in the background, which Apple says is too costly in terms of battery life. Instead, updates are pushed from the developers server using Apple’s own notification system.

Google Maps

Other highlights for developers include Google Maps integration, so that maps will open right in the apps, instead of redirecting users outside to the official app. Some apps have tried to get around this by using their own maps, or maps from Yahoo, but the result has been clumsy at best.

Peripheral Support

Also noteworthy is hardware-specific app integration, which allows apps to be designed to work with different peripherals, connected to the iPhone via either the proprietary dock connector or Bluetooth. Demos of how this might work included using the iPhone as an equalizer for a stereo dock, and as a blood glucose monitor with a blood-testing device for diabetics.

P2P

Bluetooth can also now be used for peer-to-peer support, allowing iPhones to communicate with each other for multiplayer gaming, and other applications. App developer Smule showed off using this to perform a musical duet with their new Leaf Trombone instrument application.

Turn-by-Turn Navigation

The iPhone will also be able to support turn-by-turn navigation when 3.0 is released, although developers will have to provide their own maps due to licensing issues. Still, expect to see Garmin or some of the other big names jump on this bandwagon early.

Business Models/Payment Schemes

Last but not least, apps will be able to offer paid content, upgrades, and subscriptions from within, sidestepping the App Store altogether. This means the doors are open to a whole host of new business models, which could decrease a lot of the current clutter with regards to different versions of apps depending on price, and the litany of stand-alone book and comic apps. EA demoed the Sims 3 to show how this system can be used in terms of additional downloadable content in games.

iPhone 3.0 for End-Users

Copy/Cut/Paste

Developers aside, iPhone end-users will be pleased to find that many of their prayers have been answered. A full, cross-app, platform-wide Copy/Paste solution is present in 3.0, and it works exactly like Kevin Rose described yesterday. HTML copy is supported, as is image cutting, copying, and pasting, and you can now paste multiple images into an email as attachments.

Landscape Typing

The landscape keyboard can now be used in Mail, Notes and the new Messaging app, which replaces SMS. Good news for the chubby-fingered, like myself. This is a huge plus, since it’ll decrease some app store clutter and free up some space on my home screen.

MMS and A2DP

Messaging now supports MMS (iPhone 3G only), including picture, audio, contact and location messages. A2DP stereo support is also now present for owners of the 3G model iPhone, so you can break out those neglected Bluetooth headphones and enjoy being wire-free.

Voice Memo

A new Voice Memo app takes the place of the many third-party recorder apps currently available, allowing you to record, save, and email audio files natively.

Spotlight

Also completely new is Spotlight, and iPhone version of the Mac’s integrated search. Accessible by swiping left from your home screen, it gives you one-stop searching across your phone. Search is now present in Mail, SMS and basically every default Apple application. Spotlight will also search the names of third-party apps, so you can use it as a launcher if you have lots of pages on your springboard.

Overall, iPhone 3.0 seems like a long overdue correction of a number of oversights, with some exciting development tools thrown in. Don’t get too excited yet, though, since most of us will still have to wait for summer to take advantage of the new features. Developers can get their hands on a development beta right now, though. When it does drop, the update will be free for iPhone users, but iPod touch owner (both generations) will have to pay $9.95 for the update.

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When we first brought news of the rumored “boutique” app store, it was supposed to be reserved for games only. The latest rumors, courtesy of Wired.com, don’t limit the premium section to games, although it does say they will make up most of the section’s offerings. Wired doesn’t cite a source for the renewed rumors, but they do claim the possibility that the premium app store will be introduced alongside iPhone 3.0 at tomorrow’s official Apple event.

The base price for apps in the new section would start at $20. Considering the cost of the average DS or PSP new release, iPhone users would probably still be getting a better deal than most. Hopefully this will see iPhone and iPod touch users getting the best of both worlds, since the vast catalog of cheap apps will still be available, but there will also be ample room for better quality apps to occupy their own competitive space.

An introduction of this service at the iPhone 3.0 event does make sense, since it isn’t really news enough to merit its own separate event, but it will help add to the buzz surrounding the upcoming software overhaul. Add the fact that EA hasn’t introduced a big name title since Sim City, which makes it seem likely that there’s a reason they’re waiting, and I’d say the chances are pretty high that we will see the App Store get a little more classy in the near future.

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The event next week will mark a little over a year since the reveal of the original iPhone SDK, and the timing is probably not coincidental, since part of the 3.0 announcement will include the revelation of a new SDK for developers to work with. And considering the wording of the invitation, 3.0 will likely mirror 2.0 in that the firmware won’t be immediately available. “Get an advance preview of what we’re building” definitely suggests that Apple isn’t ready for a public release just yet. We might see a timeline similar to last year, with the actual release being timed to coincide with the introduction of new iPhone hardware in June.

A key feature promised early but still missing from the iPhone firmware is support for third party background notification. Recent rumors speculated that Apple might be opting to instead allow one or two applications to actually run in the background, which would probably tax the existing iPhone’s processor. Likely we’ll find out which solution Apple is going to choose at next week’s event.

Turn-by-turn navigation was another feature floated early that has yet to appear, and there’s a long laundry list of user complaints that Apple still hasn’t addressed, like the lack of copy and paste, and MMS. We’ll see Tuesday just how deaf they really are to customer feedback.

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