Apple's WWDC Conference Today: iOS 7, Mac OS X Previews, New MacBooks Expected
For first time in six months, Apple will hold a big event today.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 10, 2013 — -- The day has come. Apple will hold its first event in more than six months today to unveil the next versions of its iOS and Mac OS X operating systems.
At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at the Moscone West Center in San Francisco, Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook, will share with more than 1,000 attendees the changes it plans to make to its two major software platforms. And the changes coming to iOS are expected to be the biggest ever made to the software for the iPhone and iPad.
What will Apple really announce? Find out today at 10 a.m. PT /1 p.m. ET in our live blog
According to reports, the software, which is now under the direction of Apple Design Chief Jony Ive, will scrap much of the textures and design elements that most users are familiar with for a flatter design. According to 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman, the yellow notepad-inspired Notes app and Leather-bound Calendar interfaces on the iPhone and iPad will be scrapped.
Apple is not expected to release the next iPhone or iPad at the event, but only talk about the software that will be coming for them later this year. Apple might, however, discuss its rumored iPhone trade-in program.
While the focus is on iOS 7, Apple will also discuss its Mac OS X operating system. Leaked details on the Mac changes have been slim, but Apple has consistently been bringing over features from iOS to the Mac software.
Apple is also expected to release some Mac hardware at the event. While the new rumored MacBook Air and Pro computers likely won't run the new software, they are said to be thinner and faster, thanks to Intel's new Haswell chips. The new processors offer better battery life while providing faster processing power.
Lastly, it is rumored that the Cupertino, Calif.-based company will talk about its radio service, dubbed by the press iRadio. The New York Times has reported that Apple is working hard to finalize music deals to announce its streaming music and radio service at the event.
According to that report, the service will compete with apps like Rdio, Pandora and Spotify with streaming radio based on your music preferences. It is said to be free and have integrated advertising.
After the event today, Apple plans to hold independent sessions for application developers who write software for its two major software platforms. The cutthroat competition between Google and Apple's mobile operating systems is at an all-time high. In May, Apple announced that 50 billion apps had been downloaded from its App Store.
Google announced around the same time that 48 billion apps had been downloaded. According to a report released by Pew last week, 28 percent of all cell owners are Android users, while iPhone owners now represent 25 percent of the cell-owner population.
ABC News will be liveblogging the event right from the Moscone Center today. Tune in at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET here to find out what Apple really has up its sleeve.
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