With June 2nd now creeping up on us, we're just few hours away from some significant revelations from Apple at WWDC 2014. But what are we to expect from this annual show-piece? Here, we discuss what might, and what almost certainly will be announced at WWDC, along with a few hopeful stabs in the dark for good measure.
While there were smartphones before the iPhone, none had quite managed to garner the same success as the iconic Apple handset. Gone are the days where phones are just there to make and receive calls, and the iPhone is the prime example of the handheld device that encroaches on other areas of our lives. If you've ever looked at the accessories that take iPhones and turn them into other things that would normally be a whole separate device, then you'll know what we mean.
As you'll almost certainly be aware of by now, Apple's WWDC 2014 is set to begin on Monday, and all of this week, preparations have been made within the Moscone Center venue in San Francisco. A traditional location for WWDC and numerous other Apple events, the interiors of the exhibition hall have been decorated to welcome the siege of developers embarking upon next week's event, and now, we're catching our first glimpse of some iOS 8-related signage.
With the Worldwide Developers Conference now almost upon us, and as such, it should come as little surprise to see designers and general Apple enthusiasts getting their last-ditch concept ideas in before the lock. From what we've gathered, iOS 8 will include several new features and apps, including Healthbook among other goodies, but while we don't anticipate system-wide widget support complete with live tiles, this hasn't stopped one designer from bundling it into his latest concept.
Now that we're officially less than a week away from WWDC, all the attention has rightly turned towards what Apple will announce at the event. With the Beats acquisition finally announced recently, that also means that it's one less rumor to go around, leaving WWDC to get all the attention.
Samsung and Google have already invested time and resources into the emerging smartwatch market, and with Apple widely expect to follow suit later on this year, Microsoft is also rumored to be planning a product line-up of its own. We've already seen patent filings to corroborate this notion, and now, a credible new report has offered some fresh details.
Apple finally put the rubber stamp on its deal to acquire Beats Electronics, and immediately, Apple made some adjustments to the Beats Music streaming service app on iOS. The app is, incidentally, also available to those on Android and Windows Phone, although at this moment in time, limited to those within the confines of the United States.
When it comes to all-action titles on iOS, the Infinity Blade series is one that immediately strikes a chord with us here. With explosive, fast-paced game play and exquisite visuals to match, the Infinity Blade franchise is seen by many as a great example of just what our mobile devices are capable of when pushed to the limits. Having dropped from the usual price of $6.99 to just $0.99 earlier on this month, we're pleased to report that for a limited time, Infinity Blade II it is absolutely free!
We told you yesterday on the news that some iPhone users in the United States and Australia had reported that their iPhones were being held ransom by someone going by the name of Oleg Pliss, and that the situation was somewhat unclear. With users having their devices locked remotely via Apple's Find my iPhone feature, initial thoughts were that iCloud had potentially had a breach in security with accounts being compromised as a result.
Having officially announced the acquisition of Beats Electronics, the official Beats Music app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone have seen a new pricing and trial structure with immediate effect. Although the app itself remains largely unchanged, the previous 7-day free trial of the premium service has now been pushed to 14 days, while the annual subscription has dropped around $20 to just $99 for the whole year.
