Apple’s upcoming World Wide Developers Conference is about to start, but it looks like those crossing their fingers for the launch of new Apple devices are going to be disappointed.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, this year’s keynote is going to be all about the software. Well, since there are rumors that AI is going to dominate, that may not be surprising.
Even so, WWDC sometimes does have cool new hardware on display—just last year, the Apple Vision Pro was “One More Thing,” for instance. So, Gurman’s report will disappoint some.
What might have been on offer?
Well, there have been rumors of a new Apple TV box, for a start, which tipsters including Gurman have previously said would launch in the first half of 2024 (that is, before the end of June) and that the device would be powered by an upgraded processor. Other rumors have suggested that new hardware would include a camera on the Apple TV device, for FaceTime calls. But Gurman now says that a new Apple TV box “isn’t imminent.”
The report leaves a tiny bit of wiggle room, saying it’s just possible that something could be trailed as coming later. Gurman put it like this: “There’s no hardware slated to be announced at WWDC, unless Apple unexpectedly previews a new device launching later (to be clear: I don’t expect that).”
I think there’s still something to be hoped for, especially for those Apple watchers who don’t live in the U.S.
I suspect that in among all the new software releases, Apple could find time to announce the international release dates for Apple Vision Pro. It would have a certain symmetry, matching the announcement of the product exactly a year ago, and it will show Apple’s intent to make it a worldwide product quickly—previously the company had only said it would be released elsewhere some time in 2024.
I believe that a release in countries including the U.K. is likely in late June or early July, so the timeline is convincing. That said, Apple may want to separate this announcement from WWDC.
We’ll know everything in just a week or so’s time.
