Apple WWDC to tout new features for iPhone, iPad

LOS ANGELES — In case you haven't heard, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. Life hasn't been the same since, right?

If you agree, and even if your wallet doesn't, Apple will give you a peek at what the next version of iPhone (sometimes dubbed iPhone 8, X or even 10) will look like Monday.

That's the start of its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., when the folks who make apps descend into MacLand to find out how to adapt the new features into their apps. Apple will tease updates to the iOS mobile operating system as well as those for Macs, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Developers usually get to download a beta version of the new iOS during WWDC, so expect to hear a lot about the new additions.

Any big vision features would top last year's incremental announcements, when Apple introduced Stickers to iMessages as a way to improve the text experience, and more significantly, opened up the Siri voice-operated assistant to app developers. Apps like Uber, Lyft and Shutterfly could, for the first time, respond to Siri.

Apple fan blogs speculate that new features to the next iPhone could include wireless charging, a bigger screen, removal of the bezels, improved camera and more. Apple could also follow rivals Google, Facebook and Microsoft into unveiling augmented reality features, a technology most probably know from last year's Pokemon Go craze, but which might actually end up being useful, albeit more boring (like helping on DIY projects).

This year, Apple may show off some new MacBook Pro laptops and iPads and even tip to an Amazon Echo-type speaker. But the focus will be on software.

This year’s Siri update could bring more accuracy to the assistant. Apple acquired artificial intelligence companies in the last year, and the more you use Siri, the better it learns. Thanks to the three new AI companies, "this year you'll see a much more advanced version of Siri introduced at WWDC," says Apple analyst Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies.

Additionally, Apple is expected to add group messaging to FaceTime video calls, letting up to 5 people be on a call together. This is common with Skype and Google Hangouts, and the Apple Music app will get a new coat of paint, to better showcase video.

Beyond the software, Bloomberg has reported Apple could introduce its answer to Amazon Echo, in a talking speaker, but most analysts believe that's more likely at the fall event.

I'll be joined at WWDC by Jon Swartz and Marco della Cava in San Jose, where we'll have a full lineup of reports, analysis, live video updates and #TalkingTech podcasts. Check out our WWDC preview video report.

Meanwhile, our week in tech: 

—Speaking of hot new phones, Andy Rubin, the creator of the Android mobile operating platform, unveiled his latest, the Essential phone. He said he wanted to solve consumer problems with current phones, with a new one that is almost indestructible—no case is needed for the titanium body, it has a more advanced camera with two sensors instead of one, and it's cordless—dongles snap into the back of the phone. But at $699, it's rather pricey. The Essential will be available in June. Check out the video preview.

—Hillary Clinton gave the most detailed roadmap to date about just how widespread the hack attack against her candidacy was, in a chilling portrait at the Code conference near Los Angeles. Echoing her famous complaint about the "vast right-wing conspiracy" out to get her and husband Bill back in the 1990s, she told Code attendees that "the vast majority" of posts written about her on Facebook were "fake," and suggested that the Russians involved in the hack didn't act alone. "The Russians, in my opinion ... could not have known how best to weaponize that information unless they have been guided ... by Americans,” Clinton said.

—Who's ready to finally ditch the cables and switch to wireless charging of our smartphones? uBeam, a new Los Angeles start-up, gave USA TODAY an exclusive look at how its wireless charging works, using ultrasound and optical lasers to charge multiple phones at once at a distance of up to 10 feet. The vision, as outlined by Marco della Cava, is that one day, "people will walk into a uBeam-outfitted room, say a coffee shop, and within seconds, phones will be getting juice."

—Last week we waxed poetically about that cool new drone from DJI that operates via hand gestures, and what that portended for the future of computing. Wave at the smartphone anyone? This week, we got to actually spend some time flying the Spark and attracting crowds, who thought I had become the Jedi master as I willed a device to come to me by gestures. Fun stuff! Check out my video review of the very first flight with the Spark.

Don't leave without listening to the week's worth of #TalkingTech podcasts.

—How to make up to $20,000 a week webcasting live with the Live.me app.

—Turn your drone into a fully-functional land camera with Polar Pro

—Meet the Essential phone.

—Apple WWDC preview.

—Finally, a big thank you to 26 years of fine, smart writing about technology by Walt Mossberg, the former Wall Street Journal, Recode and the Verge columnist who is retiring this month. We sat down with him recently for an extended #TalkingTech chat about the next 10 years for tech. It's a fun listen—don't miss it.

As always, if you haven't subscribed to the #TalkingTech newsletter yet, here's a great opportunity--just click this link, usat.ly/2qaIVVQ 

You can listen to the #TalkingTech podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Tunein and wherever else you like to hear great online audio. 

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, @jeffersongraham and let me know how you like the new newsletter. I look forward to hearing from you!