Apple WWDC: What to expect from today's keynote
Apple WWDC is gearing up Monday morning, so it鈥檚 no surprise that the Apple rumor mill has been in full effect this weekend. We already know that at WWDC, but the specifics have so far eluded the tech community.
So far, we have what may be an early glimpse at the new notifications system in iOS 5, as well as word that Apple鈥檚 Time Capsule may get a major upgrade to work with iCloud.
The purported iOS 5 notification screenshot (right) comes from , who鈥檚 definitely hedging his bets on the image鈥檚 accuracy. It features a Twitter notification showing up on the top of the iPhone鈥檚 screen, instead of in a garish message in the middle of the screen. Siegler notes that this particular design would already fit in well with the current iOS workflow that puts tethering and mid-call notifications at the top of the screen. His sources say that the image has the 鈥渞ight idea.鈥�
Last week, we reported that who developed a replacement notification system for iOS, and last year , who spearheaded that platform鈥檚 gorgeous notification system. At this point, it鈥檚 a given that Apple has been working on revamping its iOS notifications for some time, so you can rest certain that something new will be shown off tomorrow.
Apple may also announce extensive integration between its Time Machine backups and iCloud, . An Apple source tells him that the company has developed a way to access files from its Time Capsule router and backup device (which is set up on a home network) through iCloud 鈥� potentially allowing users to access their files anywhere on iOS and Mac OS X devices (and presumably any computer with a web browser).
Time Capsule will then be positioned as a network attached storage device (NAS) instead of just a simple way to backup files. Kahney says that a new version of Time Capsule, potentially powered with iOS and running Apple鈥檚 A4 or A5 chips, could be announced tomorrow as well.
Kahney writes: 鈥淭his service will also allow you to upload photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Time Capsule. The media will be stored on the device and be made available for other devices to sync. iCloud is the 鈥渃onduit鈥� through which everything moves, the source said.鈥�
Meanwhile, adds a bit of clarity to the relationship between iCloud and Apple鈥檚 not-quite-secret cloud music streaming service (which ). 鈥淢usic storage is a feature of iCloud; iCloud is not a music service,鈥� Gruber writes. He later notes, based on 鈥渇ourth-hand information鈥�, that we should think of iCloud as a replacement to iTunes, instead of just a replacement to Apple鈥檚 MobileMe service.
Specifically, Gruber says that iCloud could erase the need to sync your iOS device with iTunes on your computer for media, apps, contacts, calendars, files and more. That certainly would cover some of MobileMe鈥檚 territory, and Apple could potentially just give up on MobileMe altogether.
