July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Imagine all the things you’ve ever wanted iOS to do.

Quick settings from the lock screen, widgets that let you make changes in running apps without opening them, true multitasking in which you can see and flip through all open apps, multiple desktops, the ability to download files and store them locally in a user-accessible location, and much more.

Now, make an awesome video showcasing all those. That’s just what Federico Bianco did:

What’s certain about iOS 7 is that we’re going to see something new and updated under the leadership of Jony Ive. He’s not a fan of the kind of skeuomorphic design that Scott Forstall favored – design that connects the new to the old with decorative but unnecessary elements. So we’re pretty likely to see something streamlined, simple, and elegant.

The question is: Will Ive edit iOS while leaving the core of the mobile operating system’s design ethic intact, or will he massively revamp it and come with a new overall concept?

And whether it will contain these or similar elements, only those in Apple know.

Image credit: Federico Bianco/Flickr; Hat tip: Cult of Mac

OK, that is actually not a shock, and is pretty much expected, normal, and standard operating procedure for Apple. In fact, the only shock would be if the company was not working on new models and software.

However, it is somewhat surprising that Apple has allowed devices with the new model designator to venture uncloaked into the digital world. According to The Next Web, developers are seeing “iPhone6.1″ and references to iOS 7 in app analytics logs — from an IP address apparently originating in Cupertino.

This is NOT iPhone 6.

Which could easily be explained, of course, by Apple testing popular apps with updated versions of its mobile operating system on prototypes of the company’s upcoming phones.

Given the company’s penchant for privacy, however, one would expect Apple to spoof an older phone’s identifiers, thereby concealing the new hardware and software from public awareness.

Unless, of course, the fruity California company is turning over a new leaf and entering a new era of corporate transparency.

Now that would be a shocking bit of news.

Image credit: Ciccarese Design