3 things you can expect from Apple today…but 3 reasons you'll be disappointed

3 things you can expect from Apple today…but 3 reasons you'll be disappointed

Apple kicks off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) today, and it's fair to say that a lot of anticipation has been built around what might be announced.

Some predictions hold true from early releases that didn't appear at previous Apple events, such as the M2 system-on-chip, Apple's next generation of silicon after the incredible success of the original M1 chip.

Others have been talked about for so long that it started to feel like Apple was cheating us (where's my purple MacBook Air Tim?).

With all that excitement comes the almost certainty of disappointment. While there are a few things that we think Apple will announce at today's keynote, there are also some rumors that we think are unlikely to surface later (if ever).

If you want to watch alongside hordes of other Apple fans waiting around the world, tune in to the WWDC 2022 live stream at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm ET.

So this is what we are waiting for...

1. Rainbow MacBooks are on the horizon

The MacBook Air (2022) laptop comes in a colorful variety. Shown here on a striking pastel background

(Image credit: Jon Prosser/Future)

The colorful posters of the event. Rainbow decoration and logos. Heck, it's even LGBTQ+ pride month.

You won't want to miss it! #WWDC22 pic.twitter.com/k1TEnWIEAYJune 4, 2022

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The stars are aligned when we finally have confirmation that Apple will release its next generation of redesigned 2022 MacBook Air laptops, in a color range inspired by the original iMac G3 released in 1997.

This won't be the first pushback, as the M24-powered 1-inch iMac desktop also comes in a range of bright hues, but people have been waiting years to lay their gloves on a pink or green MacBook.

It's possible this is just an announcement and the rainbow versions of the new MacBook Air may have a delayed release (we'll get to the reasons for that later), but what about an actual reveal? We all cross our fingers and toes, and the fact that the Apple Store is closed today helps make that idea even more real.

2. The M1 gets a gaming-ready shine / Debut of the M2

M1 Ultra Interconnect

(Image credit: Apple)

We're cheating on this one, but caution should be exercised because we all know that Apple likes to throw a curveball.

We anticipate that a final version of the M1 chip will be announced for specialized graphics projects such as game development and visual effects, as many animation studios are equipped with Apple hardware, or the M2 will be announced and a version of this chip will work. in the same way

There is even a chance that we could see both eventualities. Apple has been the butt of jokes for years when it comes to gaming hardware, which is a shame given its roots.

Apparently the original Halo was going to be a Mac exclusive, until Microsoft acquired Bungie, and many games were first released on Apple computers before other brand offerings in the late '80s and early '90s.

It's safe to say that Apple has lost its lead in the gaming race, but launching a system optimized for gaming and graphics could close one of the few hardware gaps the computing giant still has. In any case, we will see who is laughing at the end of the presentation if Apple decides to recover part of the video game market.

3. Software, software everywhere

Apple store placeholder with animated heads on a black background looking at a Macbook

(Image credit: Apple)

Hardware predictions may be flimsy, but our belief that software and app updates will roll out is, well, unshakable. This is a developer conference after all.

iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS 13 are sure to be introduced at this year's event along with a host of new features. We assumed macOS 12 would be called Mammoth or Monterey, and it turned out to be the latter at WWDC 2021. However, Mammoth could still be in contention for macOS 13.

iOS 16 is expected to bring a new range of lock screen apps and notification updates and is rumored to launch in the third quarter of this year, but Apple is as tight-lipped as ever about official details. If you want to know what updates will be released across most of Apple's hardware ecosystem, tune in to the WWDC stream later today.

And now that we've covered the positives, here's what will make Apple fans very sad:

1. No updated 13-inch MacBook Pros…yet

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

(Image credit: future)

Hardware releases are expected to be stereotypical, and in some cases, that's correct: iPhones have released at a fairly steady rate over the last 10 years, for example, many people assume that because the original M1 chip was released Along with newer models of the Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro we could see a similar lineup with the M2.

That's not too much of a stretch, but manufacturing delays in China could mean the pint-sized MacBook Pro will show up later.

The design, when it appears, is thought to be largely unchanged from the version we saw released in 2020, with a few exceptions - notably, it will apparently be the MacBook that features the controversial Touch Bar.

In recent weeks, only two computer products have been suggested to appear at WWDC, believed to be the MacBook Air and a version of the Mac Mini (or potentially a new Mac Pro), leaving fans of the stations Apple's laptops work in the dark for a few more months, but as they say, good things are worth the wait.

2. The Apple VR headset will be disappointing, or won't be there

(*two*)

(Image credit: The Information)

Is it really an Apple event if some kind of virtual reality technology doesn't show up? WWDC 2022 is no different, and there have been plenty of whispers about upcoming mixed reality headsets in recent weeks as the ever-imminent threat of the Metaverse begins to infect all major tech brands.

Thing is, we don't think the Apple VR headset will be ready for quite some time, so if we see anything later today, it's likely to be slapped at the end of the show like its One More Thing bombshell.

We imagine Tim Cook donning a prototype helmet to prove his existence, but an actual live demo could be months away, and it will actually (sorry) be 2023 before we see anything, thanks to reported battery issues. technology.

3. Beware of Rainbow MacBook rumors

Yes, we appreciate this being rich given that the colorful MacBook Air update that was teased so much appeared first on our list of expected announcements, but it really does look like we're likely to be ghosting again while we're at it. add one to our cart after the show is over.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts we could still get an all-new MacBook Air with the shiny new M2 chip, just not in pastel or neon hues.

Instead, Apple's analyst predicts the laptop will sport the usual shades of space gray, silver, and gold, with an additional navy blue hue borrowed from the 24-inch iMac's colorful update.

The widespread idea that the new MacBook Air comes in a range of "multiple colors" is probably overstated. Currently, it is available in space grey, silver and gold. I wouldn't expect more of these colors (although the new gold looks more like champagne) other than my favorite iMac color. pic.twitter.com/vYl56FOikgJune 3, 2022

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We 100% believe rainbow-hued MacBooks are coming, but it could be a delayed release due to manufacturing restrictions causing the fruit-themed company trouble after many of its factories and assembly lines have been seen. affected by the strict Covid-19 lockdowns in China.

It makes more sense for Apple to reduce the number of SKUs initially to deliver the actual product, and if that's the case, we can expect an announcement within the next 12 months on which shades will be available.