The Obligatory WWDC 2015 Predictions Post

WWDC (and AltConf, which I’ll be going to) is coming next week. You know what that means: prediction time!

The Apple TV

it's time to get our hopes up for an Apple TV game console! Also some other stuff. But mainly the Apple TV thing. And I might sound like a broken record saying this, but I think this might finally be the time.

Right off the bat, we have the recent price drop on the Apple TV. A $69 price tag is very low for an Apple product – it feels like the entry price for a product line. An upgraded model would fit at $149. Apple seems to agree. Their website advertises the Apple TV line as "starting at $69" — an odd thing to say considering that the product line also finishes at $69.

We also have the countless remarks about how terrible TV in its current form is. Supposedly off-hand quotes from Apple executives don't exactly confirm that an update is coming, but it's hard to argue that they aren't suggestive. And there is a tangible amount of progress that transcends rumor. The recent addition of channels from new networks – HBO especially – shows that communication channels between Apple and the TV networks are open.

But what might an upgraded Apple TV look like? Will it run native games, or will it merely be an upgraded AirPlay client? That's the big question. The answer to that will determine what hardware goes into the box.

aTV 1: The Upgraded AirPlay Box

First, the less-interesting "upgraded AirPlay box" option. Either due to philosophical reasons, a desire not to stretch themselves too thin with the Watch app SDK coming soon, or content deals that aren't ready yet, Apple might want to release an interim Apple TV with a minor spec bump and no App Store.

In this case, I'd expect to see the existing product upgraded with an A7, A8, or new A9 processor, minimal integrated storage, and 802.11ac WiFi. Basically, exactly what we have today, but with better specs.

There have been rumblings of a new remote, possibly with a bluetooth connection or a touchscreen or trackpad. This type of thing wouldn't require a significant Apple TV hardware upgrade, but might still be enough of a headline feature to push people to the higher-end model.

This type of update would still be significant for gaming. Upgrading the WiFi and graphics hardware and drivers could enable an Apple TV capable of streaming h265 HEVC video at faster bitrates and higher quality than even the Lightning-to-HDMI cable is capable of. It wouldn't quite be the same as native code, but it could be significantly better than the current AirPlay implementation¹.

There are many, many iOS games currently available that play great via AirPlay to the Apple TV. Upgraded hardware would encourage even more developers to optimize their games.

aTV 2: The Full Apple TV Game Console

A minor spec bump to the Apple TV would always be welcome, but the thing us gamers are hoping for is more significant than that. We're hoping of a high-end game console style box, outfitted with the latest and greatest hardware, fully compatible with MFi controllers, and featuring a full SDK and App Store. I'm not sure whether or not this is the time for such a box, but I think there's a better chance now than ever before.

If it happens, expect to see less conservative parts than the current Apple TV has. I'd be shocked if it shipped with anything less than an A8X chip – battery life isn't a concern, and the iPad Air 2 already proves this chip is a powerhouse at greater-than-HD resolutions.

On the wireless front, I'd still expect this box to include 802.11ac and upgraded AirPlay. Even with a native App Store. Apple wouldn't want to ignore AirPlay, which is still a critical feature.

MFi controllers (and MFi controller forwarding) are absolutely guaranteed for a game-playing Apple TV. The only mystery to me is whether Apple makes their own game controller, and if so, whether it comes with the Apple TV. I tend to think no to both; that Apple would rather let third parties handle this, and that even if Apple did make their own, they'd rather charge extra for it.

Lastly, an integrated App Store suggests greater storage requirements. The 8 gigs in the current Apple TV aren't going to cut it. This is where Apple could expand the Apple TV product line even further. Perhaps they offer a $149 Apple TV with 32 gigabytes of storage and no controller, while also offering a $249 Apple TV with 128 gigabytes and an included gamepad. The only thing I'd rule out is a traditional-style hard drive – it might work for the PlayStations and Xboxes, but Apple will never use a spinning disk with iOS.

Of course, this is all speculation. The only thing we know for sure is that WWDC will bring updated operating systems. And on that note…

iOS 9 and 10.11

I think the OS updates will be relatively straightforward. Rumor sites keep leaking the same thing: these will be mostly performance and security updates, with a few new features thrown in. Too much smoke here for there not to be fire. The timing of the rumors, coming right after public outcry from various Apple blogs, suggests Apple sourced these rumors themselves.

Beyond performance fixes, iOS 9 will probably get better maps, a new Music streaming service, Siri improvements – the expected stuff. Mac OS 10.11 will hopefully get functional networking and a framerate closer to what it was under 10.9, before Yosemite made everything choppy. I don't know, I can hope, right?

It wouldn't surprise me to see iOS 9 get ONE big feature, at least on certain hardware: split-screen multitasking. It's no secret that Apple has been testing this feature. The latest iPad Air 2 hardware is more than capable of handling it. I think we might finally see it. I'm not the least bit sure how it'll function, though – something to look forward to!

New iOS and Mac Hardware

I'd be shocked if we saw much in the way of hardware this time. The Mac line just received major refreshes over the past several months, and Intel doesn't have anything new to justify any further refreshes. If anything, a spec bump to the Mac Pro or Mac Mini could happen. But I doubt it.

New iOS hardware is slightly more likely. I've always thought WWDC would be a perfect venue to release new iPod Touch hardware², and it wouldn't shock me to see Apple finally refresh that product line. A newer iPad is also possible – we've been hearing rumblings of a 12-inch iPad for years now, and it would fit nicely with the split-screen app reveal. Maybe they could finally spec-bump the iPad Mini at the same time, though I wouldn't expect it to get split-screen apps.

Other Possibilities

If Apple does release a 12-inch iPad, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple also made an optional stylus or keyboard for it. The keyboards from the new MacBook would seem to lend themselves perfectly to an iPad³, and it wouldn't surprise me to see such a product released.

If Apple releases a major upgrade to the Apple TV, they could release new MFi controllers at the same time, either first-party or in partnership with other companies (probably SteelSeries). These controllers would be pitched as designed for the Apple TV, but would almost certainly work with iPhones and iPads. The list of MFi controllers is large, but an Apple-designed or Apple blessed entry would be worth consideration.

There will be no new iPhones, of course. Those come in September.

Apple will be live-streaming the keynote address to all manner of devices, and I'll be watching this stream live as it happens. I won't be attending WWDC this year, but I am in San Francisco, and will be visiting AltConf. If anyone is interested in getting together for some coffee and/or gaming, that could be arranged.