Apple's WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) starts in little over a week, and almost everybody thinks that the iPhone will be launched by Steve Jobs in his keynote speech.
The speculation has been flying around the internet since the original iPhone announcement in January, so it's time for a look at the best and worst rumors on what AT&T have called the "largest commercial product launch in the history of electronics"
__AT&T will allow prepaid plans with the iPhone
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The Apple Phone Show posted a bunch of non-rumors, but this one seems fairly credible. With a decent pre-pay data package, why wouldn't they offer it? Conclusion: Probably.
User Replaceable Battery
The Vim3 blog claims to have an inside source which confirms a replaceable battery. Unlikely but possible. A non-replaceable battery hasn't hurt iPod sales, despite all the whining from the pundits, and the Nano, another flash-based iPod, lasts forever on a single charge.
__802.11n WiFi
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Again from Vim3. Quite likely; popping an n chipset in there shouldn't be too hard.
__Google applications
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The iPhone already has Google Maps. Google reader is a possibility (although if you have Safari, you could just read through that). Maybe a customized version of Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Scott Gilbertson over at our own Compiler blog has a good run down on this.
__iTunes store
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I include this, again from Vim3, as it throws some cold water on their other claims. Vim3 says "The iPhone features a variation of the iTunes Store, which allows you to buy pretty much anything already available. The service will allow you to download using Wi-Fi internet"
Unfortunately, Steve Jobs said yesterday in his Walt Mossberg interview yesterday
Conclusion? Very unlikely.
__Third party applications __
This has been one of the biggest points of contention amongst the geekier set. Until yesterday, confusion was rife. The iPhone runs the full OS X, so why wouldn't it be open to independent developers? Cries of "Lock in!" echoed over the internet. Well, now we know:
Steve Jobs said yesterday that yes, there will be third party apps, but not yet. My guess is that they are pushing so hard to get the iPhone out the door that developer support has not been a priority. Conclusion? Yes, definitely (one day).
__Steve Ballmer has pre-ordered an iPhone
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OK, I admit it. I threw this one in for kicks, and also so I could repeat his excellent quote: "my 85-year-old uncle probably will never own an iPod, and I hope we'll get him to own a Zune."
Conclusion? If he does buy one, nobody will ever find out.
Any juicy rumors or speculation? Leave them in the comments.
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