What's Steve Jobs got up his sleeve?
Apple's (AAPL) biggest showcase event of the year opens in San Francisco on Monday and it could go one of two ways.
- WWDC 2009 could be precisely what Apple's press release said it would be: a conference designed to bring developers up to speed on the company's two most important software platforms — Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iPhone 3.0.
- Or it could be what the speculators who have run up Apple's stock this week are anticipating: the second coming of CEO Steve Jobs — returned to health and Apple's helm after a six-month medical leave — to take the stage and unveil the latest iPhone.
The smart money is betting …
… well, the truth is the smart money doesn't know. For every plugged-in analyst and media bigfoot who implies that he's been tipped off that Jobs and the new iPhone will be there on Monday there's another who says Jobs is as likely to wait a few weeks until his scheduled return at the end of June.
If the thousands of developers and Apple watchers headed for San Francisco's Moscone Center are feeling a little manipulated right now, maybe that's because they are.
I sense the heavy hand of Steve Jobs behind all this. Nobody plays the expectations game — and the press — more deliberately than he. And I suspect he's been keeping his options open.
It could be that he doesn't want to distract attention from the new software platforms. Or that he wants to clear some more old iPhones out of inventory before releasing the new. Or that he has come to prefer introducing new products at single-purpose special events.
My guess is that Jobs is watching the launch of the Palm (PALM) Pre — a device financed, designed and promoted by former Apple execs — and waiting for his cue.
If he thinks it serves his purpose, he'll send Phil Schiller, his marketing vice president and perennial second banana, out on stage to give a keynote that he knows will disappoint.
Or he could seize the moment — and the captive audience — and step once more into the bright hot center of the reality distortion field.
To find out which it is, tune in here on Monday. We'll be covering the World Wide Developers Conference keynote live starting at 10 a.m. PDT (1 p.m. EDT).
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I own an iPhone, but am learning that the ongoing cost of maintaining it is cost-prohibitive. Recently the phone incurred some water damage, which rendered it unusable. I took the phone to Best Buy (where I bought it for $150 with another iPhone and an AT&T family plan) and was told I could get a new phone for $550 to replace it; Apple said $199 to replace; and AT&T said $399 (with upgrade of current contract). I'll probably go with the $199 offer, but plan to switch carriers when my contractual obligation with AT&T expires. I expected some sort of credit toward a new iPhone. Buyer beware!
I'm with others about the iPhone. I just switched to Mac recently and couldn't be more pleased. It's definitely the best computer I've ever used and I've used a lot of them from the TRS-80 and forward. So I anticipate that the iPhone is just as good a product. Everyone I know who owns one loves it. The problem isn't with Apple, but AT&T. I will not buy an iPhone as long as AT&T is the exclusive carrier. AT&T are liars and thieves and I'm looking for alternatives for phone, cell and internet services. It' never add an iPhone to the list of things AT&T can use to give me (yet another) screw job.
I dont really care has this is all just hype! big deal my windows mobile smartphone I have has all the features for my personal and business use. Who needs iphone has yes it true the iphone has so many lack of features and dont know why people would want to get the iphone. Maybe they purchase the iphone because of it looks? well sorry to say looks is nothing it what inside and features it offers what counts. Besides who wants get the iphone when you can even replace the battery? it is welded in ha ha ha such a terrible phone. Also iphone does not have video recording another joke has myh windows mobile has video recording, MMS, Copy & paste etc… you name it for 4yrs now. And iphone suddenly adds copy & paste feature on January? ha ha Apple is so slow on techonology and this shows why Bill Gates is King of Computers and Mobile arena. Steve jobs try so hard and sometimes fail to deliver. He just trying to pocket money from people. Also what idiot wants to line up all day to get this lack of a feature iphone? well shows what people have no life or maybe shows no job 
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I have a PREDICTION:
Apple will play a FUN little extra practical joke on the developers and especially the press !
Please, put on these rose colored glasses !!
"WELCOME TO THE STEVE JOBS REALITY DISTORTION FIELD AND YOUR FUTURE !!!"
As soon as Apple offers a different carrier OTHER than AT&T, I'll get an iPhone. But not until then.
Hey let's just make sure Steve is healthy. I love my mac and my i-phone but I love my health most of all. I hope to see him leading the charge with strength and stature.
I'm tired of seeing "i" in front of everything – I think it's time for "o" to take center stage – I hope Jobs unveils the new O-phone – it would fit well with O-bama
"You are going to see the new iPhone
with iChat video enabled and much more"
@Dinusha,
Exactly, and they'll video chat with Steve Jobs.
I think that will be the big surprise of the day.
I'd love to have an iPhone but refuse to change carriers. When it becomes available elsewhere I'll probably nab one because they are incredible pieces of technology.
Come on everybody who knows about Jobs knows his work and position are number one in his book. Thats since the very beginning. Jobs would much rather make the big entrance at a spot where everybody is going to be and introduce the new features in the spotlight. I like Jobs and I for one am anticipating his return on that day ; >
my guess is that when apple announces their new iphone lineup & its features, the pre wannabes that were gullible enough to buy one will collectively heave their now outdated phone in the nearest body of water and claim it was stolen.
WWDC invitations and press releases did never include any hints at hardware announcements, still, there have always been some.
The article does also insinuate, that there will only be an iPhone announcement, if SJ is present. That lacks all logic. Apple has to prove to the shareholders that they do fine without Jobs if needed, and for the last six months they have succeeded at that (stock is up over 60%), why ruin it now and go back to square one? And, btw, the stock started to go up steeply long before the latest rumors of Jobs showing up even started. Schiller is not even second, but he certainly is no "banana". He presented the Macworld Expo and the iPhone OS 3.0 events flawlessly. He may not be Jobs, but he is still doing a lot better than most CEOs I have seen appearing at Apple events (remember that AT&T guy, he should not leave home without sub-titles…).
Shoot, I don't even care that much about what they introduce or not. I'll be excited about whatever upgrades the iPhone has and just a faster Snow Leopard without added features is fine with me. I'm a diehard Mac and iPod fan. I'll buy whatever they're selling. Right now I'm more excited about the three-ring circus atmosphere of the event. They can introduce the new iPhone whenever they're ready to. I can wait.
I really just want to see a healthy and heavier Steve at least make a cameo appearance even if he doesn't do any product introduction. I want him to show those doubting investors and analysts that he can still mesmerize a crowd by just being there. Just to show them he still ready to take control as Apple's head honcho. It should be enough to carry the stock price higher until the iPhone is ready to hit the streets. It would be nice if he gets to announce the China Unicom iPhone deal since the CHU 3G network should be ready to go with the updated iPhone by now. If this happens then WWDC will be a success in my book.
Phil will 'just one more thing' the new iPhone, and then call Steve up for a two way video call. Either that, or it will be all about new the new os's and the crowd will refuse to go home until something big is announced!
My guess is that Phil Schiller will demo some sort of iChat session (either Mac or iPhone), where he remotely connects to Steve Jobs. That will be the extent of it.
It just makes no sense NOT to announce the new iPhone at the developers conference, as Apple will surely want those developers to learn and take advantage of whatever new features are in the phone. Unless there are no new hardware features in the next phone …
And what does Apple gain by waiting two weeks to announce? The added buzz from having another PR event; does Apple need more buzz later when it can have megabuzz now?. Avoiding having Snow Leopard and iPhone OS 3.0 overshadowed, but only developers really care about that; consumers want to know about things they can buy, and will care more about Snow Leopard later when it's actually available to buy.
My conclusion: iPhone intro is happening Monday with or w/o Jobs.
PED
No way is SJ basing his decision on what Palm does this weekend. Schiller is giving the presentation. Doesn't mean SJ won't make a cameo appearance as an Apple exec. The whole Palm Pre thing does not pass the logic test. Apple saw what Palm demoed in Jan and they had a good idea of what was in the pipeline. Any reaction was behind the scenes in software/hardware development or Marketing (handset price, carrier contracts). The meat of the WWDC keynote presentation was probably decided months ago so the minions could put together the slides and such. As far as display of new hardware at WWDC, that has everything to do with marketing, but the best time to show new toys is in front of a rabid audience. I be surprised if they don't roll-out a new Iphone.
Relieved to know that Steve Jobs is gaining his health back.We got to do something Steeve to do away with disposal PET bottles and styro foams etc. etc.known for spreading cancers