The Next iPhone

I don’t think anyone will be surprised by the device Steve pulls out of his pocket. Expect to see a demo of the front-facing camera and video calls — which I have a feeling will be Wi-Fi only, at least for now.

As far as the name, I see it being called “iPhone HD” or just plain-jane “iPhone.” No “iPhone 4G” or “iPhone 4.”

This version of the iPhone will be on AT&T only. No mention of Verizon, Sprint or any other carrier will be made.

I’d love if the engineer who left that Gizmodo phone at his favorite bar would be able to help announce the new iPhone. Apple needs to show it isn’t just a stone-cold cooperation.

iPhone OS 4

Scott Forstall will hop up on stage in a black shirt with his goofy haircut and outline the features of the new iPhone OS, in case someone in the audience forgot that he did the same thing just a few months ago. I plan on taking a shot each time I hear “tent pole” mentioned.

Expect to see a demo of several new apps that leverage new APIs available in iPhone OS 4. Expect this demo to be long and quite boring.

No AT&T tethering at launch, with just a passing comment on the new OS coming to the iPad.

Refreshed Mac Pros, MacBook Airs

Both of these models are due for some love — they were last updated June 2009.

If the Pro gets a substantial update, it may get some time on stage with Steve. Look for better processors, more RAM and maybe some SSD options. No Blu-Ray. That said, it will probably be a small bump — if anything.

If the Air gets bumped, don’t expect to see it in the Stevenote.

Microsoft

While Ballmer won’t be there, I do think Microsoft will be discussed. Mainly the fact that Apple’s market cap has surpassed their rival’s.

Sadly, John Hodgman as “PC” won’t be there. Moments like this won’t be relived.

Bing will be added as a search option in the iPhone OS, but Google will remain the default.

iTunes.com

With Apple’s recent acquisition of the cloud-based music service LaLa, it just makes sense that some part of the iTunes monster will end up on the cloud. I don’t think this is the time, however. Apple’s massive data center in North Carolina isn’t finished, and while the company hasn’t said what it will be used for, it’s an awful lot of horsepower for something.

The biggest question is this: what part of iTunes in the cloud even makes sense? How and why would you want media in the cloud? Apple doesn’t even have media streaming to an iPhone or iPad over local Wi-Fi, let alone the cellular network or the web.

Safari 5 and 10.6.4

Seems like a no-brainer to me. HTML5 demos will abound.

Mac OS X 10.7

We aren’t going to be seeing anything about the Mac OS this year at WWDC. Everything — right down to the artwork for this year’s event — screams iPhone. Next WWDC, perhaps.

Random Things

Apple may also release a new display (think a 27-inch, glass-covered beast) at WWDC (or quietly on apple.com).

The “Magic Trackpad” seems to be a sure thing.

The iPad’s international launch will be lauded as a huge success, with updated sales numbers given.

MobileMe may get some new features for paid members. MobileMe will be free for everyone. Log in with your AppleID email address and go to town will free syncing. No email, no iDisk. Just syncing.

No AppleTV. That’ll be this fall, along side new iPods.