Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off in just under 2 days, with Steve Jobs' annual keynote taking centre stage on Tuesday morning at 3AM (AEST). This edition of Weekend News covers the last minute rumours and speculation that WWDC always brings.
John Gruber hinted strongly last week that the latest update to Safari would feature Extensions support (Google Chrome for Mac and Linux Is Out of Beta - Daring Fireball) but a leaked list of 'new features' (typical of what you'd find inside a Software Update dialogue box) suggest an Instapaper-like 'Safari Reader', better HTML5 support, speed and address bar improvements and Bing search support is in store for Safari 5 (Exclusive: Mac OS 10.6.4 and Safari 5 for WWDC - MacGeneration).
Speaking of HTML5, Apple launched a showcase of what the web standard offers to developers and users yesterday. There's a nice range of demonstrations, but for a page that talks exclusively about the open web, it strangely only works fully in Safari. Go figure (HTML5 - Apple).
Downright crazy technology analyst and writer Rob Enderle just got a whole lot crazier with his latest piece, which educates us on Apple's secret Column 5*of inside men who sabotage the poor folks over at Microsoft, Dell and other tech giants. He forgets to mention that some of those companies also just happen to be his clients, but it's a good idea not to let facts get in the way when you're reading this mess of a report, which ends with his "product of the week" - yet another iPad killer! (I Want to Believe! - The Macalope Weekly).
WWDC attendees take note of the official iPhone app for the event, released yesterday and available as a free download from Apple Developer - meanwhile, the rest of us can take a look at how the app works with this collection of detailed screenshots (Apple Launches Official App for WWDC Attendees - MacStories).
Meanwhile, Marco Arment has a list of tips and tricks for going to WWDC that serve as good background reading for anyone interested in one day attending the biggest Apple loving congregation in the world (My WWDC tips, after only having gone once, especially for iPhone developers - Marco.org).
The next iPhone is all but announced, but for those who can't remember what Gizmodo unveiled when they "received" that prototype, here's a lovely series of mock-up photos that show what the fourth JesusPhone might look like (New batch of iPhone 4 mock-ups come out of Nowhere - 9 to 5 Mac).
Apple always does a wonderful job of dressing up Moscone West, the conference hall where WWDC is held in San Francisco year after year. Photographer Adam Jackson took a bunch of photos of the venue yesterday, including the shot on the right of your screen (WWDC 2010 - Flickr).
Last week we talked about the possibility of a cheaper, more accessible Apple TV to be announced shortly, and while details seem too vague for a release as soon as Tuesday, Chris Foresman has written about where this could potentially take Apple's "hobby" to something much more serious (Could streaming move AppleTV from hobby to serious business? - Ars Technica).
Sydney-siders might want to take a trip out to Global Mundo Tapas at the Rydges hotel in North Sydney - they've started using iPads to replace the paper menus at their restaurant. According to one manager, "We have something that presents really well, sells our food really well and is absolutely dynamic". I'm sure everything will go along swimmingly until someone drops one (Sydney restaurant replaces menus with iPads - News.com.au).
Finally, whenever you become frustrated with your iPhone and start thinking "I bet Android is really awesome", allow me to present to you this amazing info-graphic (How to take a screenshot - Adams Automajick Blog-o-machine).
Photo from Adam Jackson on Flickr.
Weekend News