iPhone 6 Release Date, Rumors; Apple iOS 8 Definitely Coming to WWDC 2014

By Richard Waelty
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The highly-anticipated iOS 8 is definitely making an appearance at the Apple's WWDC 2014 conference that is kicking off next Monday on June 2, while the iPhone 6 may be absent.

Having long been a subject of rumors, the iOS 8 is going to have major changes on the same level as previous iOS 7. One rumored iOS 8 function that will be getting a lot of attention is the Healthbook app, which allows users to organize fitness and health information. Other functions may include a standalone iTune Radio app and redesigned Apple Maps.

At this time, Healthbook along with other iOS 8 apps are still under development and may not be available for general release. It is likely though that Apple may just be showcasing iOS 8 capabilities at WWDC 2014 in time for a speculated release date for fall this year.

It is not certain if the iPhone 6 will show up to WWDC 2014. As usual, Apple has been secretive about any detail relating to the device. Most information available is through the rumor mill. Recent rumors suggest that Apple may not be showing off the iPhone 6 at the upcoming developers' conference, and will be focusing on software instead. This belief has some credibility as Apple rarely deviates from its previous launch cycles. The iPhone 5, for instance, was released in September 2012. So, it is likely that the iPhone 6 will have its launch date no earlier than September this year.

Earlier, speculations hinted at the possibility of Apple releasing a 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone 6. Later, it was rumored that the 5.7-inch version would be delayed for launch next year, and the release date for the 4.7-inch version will continue on schedule. So far, this has been the general consensus in the rumor mill.

If true, this marks a significant power play in Apple's war against arch-rival Samsung, which already produces flagship smarthphones with displays no smaller than 5-inches. The market may be favoring smartphones with larger screens as shown in a recent study done by Canalys, which found that a third of smart phone selling in the first quarter of 2014 had screen displays 5-inches or larger.

Also, iPhone 6 mockups continually surface on the internet, further fueling rampant speculation. Much of the discussion has focused on the iPhone 6 thickness, which is said to be 26 percent thinner than the preceding iPhone 5. So far, there has not been a general consensus on the actual thickness of the iPhone 6.

Perhaps the one area most hotly debated amongst the experts is regarding the actual iPhone 6 thickness. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, notable for making accurate predictions in the past, thought the phone would be roughly 6.5-7mm in thickness.  In contrast, a Ukrainian iPhone fan blog claimed they had insider knowledge indicating the device to be 6mm thick.

Still, the actual iPhone 6 spec will remain a mystery unless Apple loses a prototype like they did with the iPhone 4 years back. Given the fallout from the fiasco, this event seems unlikely to repeat itself.

WWDC 2014 will take place June 2-6 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.

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