What to Expect

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference begins Monday, June 11, and Apple has promised more than 100 technical sessions presented by engineers; 100 hands-on labs offering developers code-level assistance; information on the future of iOS and OS X; engaging and inspiring lunchtime sessions with brilliant thinkers; and the announcement of the Apple Design Awards, recognizing the best apps for iPhones, iPads and Macs.

There has been talk of an Apple television since purchasers of the Steve Jobs biography did a thorough reading between the lines. Most recently, Jefferies analysts reported that Sharp, at a June 8 analyst day in Tokyo, said utilization rates of its LCD panels will be 90 percent, instead of the current sub-40-percent. "The target levels were met with skepticism, however the company does not foresee any LCD panel oversupply issues and believes there are lots of opportunities in the TV market." Hmm...

The analysts went on

The analysts went on: "Given Apple management's increasing public comments regarding its ‘hobby' Apple TV, we remain convinced that iTV is an announcement for 2012. Whether or not the product is unveiled on Monday remains to be seen, nevertheless we believe it will launch in the fall."

Piper Jaffray analysts expect an Apple television to revolutionize how people consume content in their living rooms. Selling for between $1,500 and $2,000-even though a subsidy is always possible-they expect it to integrate Siri, be compatible with third-party devices, help consumers to get a better value out of their cable subscriptions and be an attractive, "stand-out centerpiece" in a home, they wrote in a June 1 innovation note.

Look at iOS 6

Apple confirmed there will be a look at iOS 6. The rumor mills say that look will include a new in-house mapping application that will allow Apple to ship iPhones and iPads without Google Maps on board. Apple's purchase of C3, a Swedish company that uses declassified missile targeting research to create 3D maps, is said to be the brains behind the app.

Also, Siri is beta-it's time for the real deal. Apple CEO Tim Cook, at the All Things D event May 30, told Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, "There's more we can do [with Siri]. We have a lot of people working on this. You'll be as a matter of fact pleased with the things you'll see over the coming months."

It's said that Apple's Retina Display will expand beyond iPads, and that the MacBook Pros will be thinner and lighter than current models. Not a high-stakes guess.

The works based on its new Ivy Bridge processors

Intel executives have said that there are more than 100 Ultrabook designs in the works based on its new Ivy Bridge processors. It would be very un-Apple-like, to all intents and purposes, to not show off a slim, clean-of-line, Retina Display-including response to this PC trend.

This is arguably the most iffy of all the guesses. If Apple does show off a new iphone, but, chances are excellent it will include a 4-plus-inch display.

Michael Oh, an Apple Care specialist, has said he expects, "He's not going to go up there and try to do something like Jobs. ... He's taken a step back and [will] let the substance be the driver of the message."

Analytics firm Flurry said in June 7 report that Apple and Google combined have "a market cap of roughly three quarters of a trillion dollars." The degree to which those dollars get moved in one direction or the other has a lot to do with developers.

The outcome of Apple's WWDC

The outcome of Apple's WWDC, and Google' I/O developer conference June 27-29, the Flurry report added, "can largely impact the fate of some of the most prolific, innovative forces in the world's economy today."