Each week, there are dozens of rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but many are totally bogus. As always, we’ve parsed the rumors, ranking them in order from "utterly ridiculous" to "duh, of course." First up…
DON'T COUNT ON IT: Taiwanese Pop Star Leaks iPhone 6 Images
Apparently, Taiwanese pop star Jimmy Lin posted photos of himself with a current iPhone and a purported iPhone 6. Back in August of last year, he shared a similar shot of himself holding an iPhone 5c prior to its launch. While the device he's holding could share the same design as the final iPhone, it's likely that it's just a mockup or prototype created based on reports of the next iPhone's looks and specs. It looks exactly like other "iPhone 6 photos."
ASK AGAIN LATER: Future Smart Covers Could Include Light-Up Notifications
If notifications are going to completely change how we use our mobile devices, imagine how convenient it would be to get those updates without even needing to turn that device on? A newly published Apple patent, "Integrated visual notification system in an accessory device" describes how a Smart Cover could act as both a screen protector and alert system for iPad users. With built-in, low power LEDs or electroluminescent panels, the cover could display notifications either by connecting to the device via Bluetooth or another wireless method, and using electric power contacts or inductive charging to stay powered. Alternatively, the cover could have translucent panels that could utilize light from the iPad's display to reveal notifications, which could appear as text or symbols. To dismiss an alert, users could simply tap hardware buttons like the volume controls or power button on the sides of the iPad.
ASK AGAIN LATER: iPhone 6 to Include NFC, Wireless Charging
Two things we've seen in Android phones and Windows phones for years now, NFC and wireless charging, may finally make their way to the iPhone, according to sources with VentureBeat. I still maintain this doesn't make sense for Apple given its huge investment in iBeacons, but perhaps NFC is needed as an addition to the platform in order to offer a more secure way of handling payments. Wireless charging has long been on many of our iPhone wishlists, and while VentureBeat is unclear of what standard Apple would go with, it would make sense if Apple implemented PowerMat's wireless charging system given that Starbucks just announced it will begin including PowerMat wireless charging stations in its coffee shop locations. How cool would it be for Apple to be the only smartphone maker whose phones can sit on a Starbucks table and charge while you sip your Vente Caramel Macchiato? Wireless charging Windows Phones use a different standard, Qi, for their charging needs, so you can bet Apple won't use that.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Next-Gen iPad Air Going Into Production This Month
Last fall Apple introduced the iPad Air, and if things are on schedule, a new version will be announced this fall. Word has it Apple's going to start production on the super thin, Retina display iPad this month. The next gen iPad Air will reportedly include an A8 processor, which should not only speed up processes but also improve device battery life. The tablet is also expected to get a rear-facing camera upgrade from 5-megapixels to 8-megapixels, and a front-facing camera upgrade from 1.2 to 1.5-megapixels. This year's flagship Apple tablet will probably include a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the home button as well.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Possible iMac Refresh Next Week
Apple sometimes makes small hardware announcements---like a MacBook update---at WWDC. While it didn't happen this year, it looks like Apple's iMac desktop computer line could be getting a refresh as early as next week. The report comes from French Apple blog MacGeneration, which correctly anticipated Apple's MacBook Air update earlier this year. There aren't many details about the iMac refresh though. Likely, it would just be a small processor boost, rather than something major like an upgrade to a Retina display-quality screen.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple Considered Abandoning Apple Menu for Control Center
Code in Yosemite shows that Apple seriously debated a significant change to its desktop OS: ditching the traditional Apple Menu for an iOS-like Control Center. In addition to the common settings accessible in the iOS Control Center (Airplane mode, Do Not Disturb, Bluetooth, Airplay), this Apple Menu variant would have included things like system preferences, About this Mac, as well as options to log out, shut down, and restart the computer. It would also provide access to the new Continuity and Handoff OS X features. It's possible Control Center could make a reappearance in OS X at some point.
WITHOUT A DOUBT: iPad Split-Screen Mode Will Come, Eventually
Yeah, Apple didn't show it off at WWDC last week, but the signs are there. Code in iOS 8 shows that split-screen mode (and a handful of other features) are lying in wait, and iOS developer Steven Troughton-Smith even hacked iOS 8's iPad Simulator to partially demonstrate the feature with Safari taking up one portion of the screen. Troughton-Smith documented this in a YouTube video you can check out here. In the video, you can see apps can either take up half the screen, or 1/4 and 3/4 of the screen. The feature is definitely in development, so it is practically guaranteed to arrive in iOS sometime.
