Slashdot Mirror
Apple's 2014 WWDC Keynote Will Be Streamed Live; Hopes For a Microconsole?
SlappingOysters (1344355) writes "Grab It is reporting that Apple will stream its 2014 WWDC keynote live at 10am PST on June 2. The site speculates that a recent update to showcase title and previous keynote star Real Racing 3 could confirm a rumoured microconsole announcement. The App Store has seen a dramatic rise in the quality and frequency of AAA spin-off titles over the last year, giving Apple a good platform to make a move into this emerging space."
The site speculates that a recent update to showcase title and previous keynote star Real Racing 3 could confirm a rumoured microconsole announcement.
Could confirm? Seriously... if it's still questionable then it is still unconfirmed.
Brought to you by Frobozz Magic Penguin Fodder.
Apple is known for limiting the number of different products. IMHO Apple is unlikely to ship a "microconsole" and continue to ship the Apple TV.
Much more likely: the "4th generation" Apple TV, which will not only do everything an Apple TV does, but will also play games if you buy a controller.
According to Wikipedia, the current Apple TV uses a single-core ARM chip. For gaming, Apple should put in a more powerful chip, which may imply a price hike. Perhaps Apple will continue to sell the current generation as a less-expensive model, for those who don't care about games.
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
I am curious why Apple is having their WWDC convention in the early summer (before the Google I/O event even), when normally they are in the fall.
If they announce a console, they should merge AppleTV and it, so one product does all the set top love in a residence. Maybe even add a Blu-Ray drive, so one only needs it and the TV.
Other things that might be useful as Apple announcements:
1: A security standard for devices, and more than just SSL or "just trust us". Apple upping the bar in the security arena would mean good PR. Perhaps an app to device standard that helps secure communication via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Perhaps some way to share public keys so an IoT device only will speak to authorized devices, and no other, no CA, no third party.
2: A return back to schools with deep discounts and an active presence. Apple made themselves a foundation by having low priced machines in the educational setting. These days, a Mac discount is 10% last time I checked. It may not profit the next quarter... but it will have a lot more people who will buy them later on.
3: A rackable desktop/server. The only reason MS is existing is because of their presence in the enterprise. If Apple can get into this market, even a bit, it is a stable income base.
I normally don't like looking at Apple Rumor sites at all, or reading about them.
But a story like this seems REALLY pointless. What on earth is the point of publishing the story days before we know for sure what will happen? Just so people can swagger in with last minute "guesses" that hardly count because of last minute leaks?
Much better to discuss the meaning or use of what actually is to come, rather than some possibility which will be potentially dissipated in mere days.
In other words, let the cat at least settle down in the box before you open it.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
of Apple's cultural bankruptcy. Jobs died and they haven't come up with ANYTHING of importance. He's been gone for almost 3 years. He wasn't that active the last year or so, so technically he's been out of the picture for almost 5. Apple needs to do something big and smart. I don't see that happening with Cook at the helm. They could do something small and smart, like PUT COVER FLOW BACK INTO ITUNES. But I don't think that will happen. I think they'r just going to minimax themselves into triviality.
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
Not true. You could get a Chromebox or any number of little computers running normal Linux (including on that Chromebox instead of ChromeOS).
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Hackintosh.
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
Apple's iTunes division could work around studio bureaucracy the same way Netflix did: vertical integration. Invest in a TV studio to produce original programming. Or what am I missing?