14 DAY TRIAL // Those expecting to hear about the iPhone and maybe see some more of it at Apple's World Wide Developers's Conference are going to be disappointed. It is very unlikely that Apple will be talking about its consumer products at the developer conference.
Though it has happened before, it seems unlikely that this year Apple will be giving consumer products any time during WWDC. Both the Leopard delay and the so far unimpressive or inexistent updates to the Mac line have left many Apple customers a bit deflated. Dedicating time to consumer products would only add insult to injury. Apple needs to impress everyone with the Top Secret features in Leopard and make such a good impression that it lasts until October when the operating system finally ships. The delay did not cause any significant problems for the company, but if the crowd is disappointed with the offerings, it will only further tarnish Leopard's image.
PiperJaffray analyst Gene Munster is also skeptical about Apple touting its iPhone at the conference. Instead, the analyst expects to see new MacBook Pro models and possibly a revamped iMac desktop lineup. Rumors have been talking about new portables with LED-backlit displays and the new Intel Santa Rosa chipset. With the recent MacBook update, many are expecting these new models to be out soon and are putting off any purchases. Considering the fact that Apple has been recently announcing products like Apple TV and iPhone a long time before they actually ship, it is not that unlikely for Apple to unveil the new models even if they are not ready. Also of great interest is the future of the Mac mini, which rumors have been saying will be put out of commission. So far Apple has stayed silent on the matter, but the lack of updates to the models speaks for itself. If Apple does decide to retire the mini without any replacement whatsoever, many will be sorely disappointed.