Steve Jobs (pictured), Apple's charismatic CEO and master showman, is still on medical leave and not due back until July. -- PHOTO: AFP
SAN FRANCISCO - APPLE Inc kicks off its annual developers' extravaganza on Monday under a tight lid of secrecy, with investors expecting the electronics maker to unveil new or cheaper versions of its popular iPhone.
Thousands of customers, developers and investors are set to convene in San Francisco for Apple's Worldwide Developers' Conference, hoping to catch a glimpse of its latest high-tech wonders.
But while Apple made waves with its unveiling of the 3G iPhone at last year's event, this year's takes place against a more uncertain backdrop.
Steve Jobs, Apple's charismatic CEO and master showman, is still on medical leave and not due back until July. And the first credible challenger to Apple's iPhone, Palm Inc's new Pre smartphone, makes its grand debut on store shelves just two days before Apple's gala.
While many analysts believe Apple has a variety of new gadgets in the pipeline - from new iPhone models to a long rumoured, so-called tablet mini-PC - the company has said the conference will focus on important but less sexy software operating system upgrades.
Others on Wall Street believe the stage is set for a surprise product announcement. A few Internet blogs have cited allegedly thin iPhone retail inventories as a tell-tale sign that Apple is clearing the decks to release a new model.
Speculation on a new iPhone has ranged from a model with a physical keyboard to handsets that boast more flash memory and faster processors.
A less expensive, US$99 (S$143) iPhone is also on wish lists, as is the possibility of a model with a cheaper data plan or one sold through a carrier other than AT&T Inc, with which Apple has an exclusive distribution agreement.
Given the proximity to the launch of the Palm Pre smartphone on Saturday, some analysts reckon Apple will hold off on announcing any new iPhones.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects new iPhones to ship in July, regardless of whether or not Apple announces them at the conference or a later date, while he has forecast a 2010 release date for an Apple tablet PC. -- REUTERS
