WWDC 2006 banner revealed from within Moscone

Damn well, here we go again with the tea leaves. Someone snagged a picture of a massive banner over at the Moscone Center in San Francisco where WWDC is taking place next Monday. While it doesn't give us too much to work with, we can clearly see the usual set of Mac icons, what could maybe possibly be the aluminum nano (it's just not quite as white as the iMac beside it to these eyes) and two very out of place images: a "64-bit" logo, and what appears to be a PowerMac. Of course, the easy thing would be to conflate the two and say that a 64-bit Intel Mac Pro is set to be debuted, but we're hesitant -- though we know they wouldn't give the most prominent spot on that massive banner up to an old fuddy duddy G5 box. So maybe there will be a Mac Pro, but maybe it won't be as visually overhauled as everyone is hoping (then again maybe not), and maybe that 64-bit business is regarding their Xserve line. What's up with that shielded area over on the right though, the bit that's covering the MacBook Pro? How they love taunting us all. (Click on for bigger versions.)

[Thanks, Ravi]

Update: another banner image added from another angle! Doesn't help much though, very little yet-unseen detail. Thanks Benjamin!

[korey @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:09PM]

maybe Stevie will adress the iPhone rumors get me sum apple smartphone or an appleberry based on previous rumors

[screth @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:09PM]

Here's a bigger shot on flickr

http://static.flickr.com/63/205727741_ad9cc5b565_o.jpg

[TeleCustom @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:10PM]

WHERE'S THE iPHONE???

[matt @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:10PM]

the OS X disc has leapord spots on it.

[tfelder @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:15PM]

The read link is down... :(

[Signal Eye @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:18PM]

Finally Aug 7 arrives. Hope Leopard give us many things. Hope it will kick Windows Vista far away. Lets hope Apple will come with some PDA`s and Tablet Books. Why didn`t they make some PDA yet? That would be the bomb.

I don`t think that that 64bit INTEL would outperform that G5. Cuase first the Intel doesnt hase such a good memory bandwidth yet. and its also requiring to much power.
Apple really has to work hard on their iPod to come with something big.

[Andrew @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:18PM]

I bet it'l wind up being a Core2 DUO PowerMac and a larger capacity iPod Nano but I'm doubtful of much more.

[beelzebub123 @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:20PM]

it better not be a Core 2 Duo MBP at the right, cause i just got a MBP early july, and somthing like that has already happened to me like that with my ipod, i get an ipod photo thinking apple wont have a video ipod, a few months later, what do they have? a video ipod
me:"GODDAMNIT!"

[rkolsen @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:22PM]

It is a mazing of how quick Apple takes these sites down. Is it not? Well we expected Leopard to be released, and I am hoping for Core 2 DUO PowerMacs or Mac Pro's. Hopefully a new video iPod.

[Matt @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:23PM]

Take a look at the black notebook. It looks like a Macbook, but the keyboard looks like it's backlit. And it looks a little big for a macbook.

Blackbook Pro?

[Mack Swift @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:23PM]

They're just showing off the new OS X icon set.

Seriously though, this WWDC is up in the air for me. Apple has a lot of 'projects' on the table, but a lot of those projects have been pushed back (such as big name vendors getting their programs ported to Intel x86 - like Adobe's CS). Although I do see a Core 2 Duo or a Xeon based Mac Pro workstation announced.

I see Apple quite possibly skipping this holiday season with any type of iPod change (particularly a 6G iPod). There's a lot coming down the pike this holiday season (Wii, PS3, and a price dropped X360).

[Vlad_777 @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:24PM]

I think the 64-bit logo refers to the coming of the 64-bit Core 2 Duo to the iMac and the MacBook Pro as it is located right next to these products. The Mac Pro will be 64-bit either way just like most high-end desktops.

[Joe Loy @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:26PM]

If thats displaying all the things they are updating, this will be the best WWDC EVER!

[Otis @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:30PM]

Maybe the clamshell under the dashboard logo is the ellusive "iPhone" but its just going tot be a clamshell.

[John Williams @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:30PM]

The Leopard disc looks hot

[Brandon @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:32PM]

at work (CompUSA) where after reading this article I noticed that the sku# for the quad is A-05, which is pre-discontinued product status, A-01 is current product status. Could this be an indicator of things to come on Monday?

[hjp @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:32PM]

wonder what's before "nt platform"

[Ben Freedman @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:34PM]

Will they release a built-in TV tuner for the iMac? It's a Mac-PC liabilty exploited in this new Apple Ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_kJPxhOd8U

Best,

Benjamin

[craig @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:38PM]

Here's hoping for Leopard to be released soon after (looking at the discs), a possible MacBook price drop and a 'new' nano (possibly from the pics, though not too sure). Hopefully these are true as I'm planning to pick up a MacBook and a student-discounted nano.

One thing though what are the two symbols above left of the Xcode symbol? The 'X' and the planet like thing?

[tim @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:38PM]

Wow! That Apple Hammer is hot. Can't wait to smack me some electronics with the Apple Hammer ;)

[donut @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:41PM]

"Maybe the clamshell under the dashboard logo is the ellusive "iPhone" but its just going tot be a clamshell."

it's a MacBook Pro displayed in an open position like the picture on the MacBook Pro box

[kory @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:45PM]

am i the only one that's noticed that there's no ipod on the banner other than the (aluminum??) nano on the left? why is the staple of apple's growth for the past handful of years missing??

...curious (;

[Davey @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:50PM]

I saw this while I was riding my bike home last night. There is also a GIANT white apple logo on the outside of the building.

[scott @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:52PM]

it's not a blackbook pro - at least not based on current macbook pros. look at how the keyboard extends almost completely to the casing of the laptop. that's not how it is on current macbook pros.

cinema display - anyone think it's odd that they're showing a tiny picture of one from the back (look to the right of the leopard disc). that doesn't seem to bode well for a new display...it seems almost forgotten in that banner.

"nt platform" - could be for "and now, a diffent platform." with an iphone or itablet to the left of the text. i just don't buy it - any iphone would have to go through the fcc, and that place is horrible about leaking info. the itablet seems more likely, based on the recent touchscreen patents filed. but is there really a need? how often do you see people using a tablet xp laptop??? maybe it is something small like an ipda, but that would be questionable without phone service attached. does anyone use a plane jane pda these days?

[KawF @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:56PM]

That "nt platform." looks very much like "ht platform." to me...

[tazzik @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:57PM]

What could be before the "nt platform"... "a different platform" could this be an announcement of a new language or support for .net? or just a reminder of intel being a "diffent platform"

[Mhuh @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:58PM]

the x is the x11 icon and the "planet" is that core image stuff (isn't it?)
i wonder whats that icon under the automator icon. any ideas?
whats the icon left of the green core xx icon (right to the leopard disc)?
i can't wait for monday!

[Jim @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:59PM]

It's not "...nt platform" but "....ht platform". Could be:

Right, Height, Fight, Light, Sight (iSight), Eight, Night, Thought.....

[Dolomite @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:02PM]

FUCK YEAH! Looks like we are in for some big stuff and I am sure Steve is FURIOUS at this leak. Some nice little nuggets in that banner!

[ben @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:04PM]

there is another shiled at the left side of the image as well. I dont think they are being used to keep us from seeing anything important at this point.

[RDS @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:04PM]

What's the big ying-yang icon? It's HUGE compared to the rest of the icons.

And what's the plate with 4 balls on it?

[scott @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:07PM]

then again, it could just say "the intelligent platform."

[Jeff @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:08PM]

"What could be before the "nt platform"... "a different platform" could this be an announcement of a new language or support for .net?"

You guys are really grasping. Look at the larger image; it's clearly an "h", not an "n". My guess is it's "right platform" at the end of a longer slogan, as in "correct platform"... meaning they've got the solution for any need you have. I seriously doubt it's referring to any specific new product or service - it's referring to the images that are placed to the right of it.

This is a very work-centric banner, which is probably why the iPod is de-emphasized. They're emphasizing tools (including the literal icon of a hammer). The iPod is there - it has to be, as part of their full product lineup - but the MacBooks and Mac Pros or whatever they're calling them are bigger, as is OS-related stuff.

I also don't see that the iPod nano looks any more "aluminum" than ever. It may be, but you can't tell from this image. Just looks white to me there.

btw, not sure anyone's notice but there is also a black nano on the other side of the banner. Which, together, strikes me as suggesting they're not updating the look or materials of these models.

[Bob @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:10PM]

Theres a tiny little airport express looking thing in the right hand corner of the second picture next to the half of a mac book pro. i would like to see video transmitted please!

[Azhar @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:11PM]

I saw a picture earlier on dont know where it is but it said. "your at the right paltform" its nothing important

[Chris @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:11PM]

I don't think anything's covered up. Notice the ladder? They just haven't finished putting up all the panels yet.

[Mike @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:13PM]

I have to agree with the comment that the nano may not be aluminum for the conference... if it was I think they'd probably show the whole spectrum of color choices like they did for the iPod mini (assuming they'd be offering similar color choices for an aluminum model)

[RolandG @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:15PM]

"One thing though what are the two symbols above left of the Xcode symbol? The 'X' and the planet like thing?"

The 'X' represents the X11-environtment a lot of GUI-based UNIX programms use.
The planet like symbol represents some Core-technology - there are two others on the banner: a green one under the black MacBook and a blue one to the left of the Bluetooth symbol.

But what is the symobl under the Automator icon? Has the iSync symbol turned red (symbol on the far right, under the finder symbol)? It seems there are no changes made to the Finder (at least not Icon wise).

Is there a higher-res version of this photo available somewhere? I'd like to read what is printed on the black symbol Apple uses for processors lately (next to the G5's/MacPro's upper-left handle).

[Wry Cooter @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:16PM]

Jim,

HT could be hypertransport.

Is that still a consideration in the intel age?

[javaflash @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:16PM]

Benjamin, I'm with you.

I mean how hard it is to punch a TV turner into Mac Mini or iMac. Give me a solder or a phillips, let's go.

[OSpazX @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:22PM]

Silly people..

The hammer.... is XCode. The Ying-Yang... is the logo for Universal (Apps)

The plate with the circles on it.... could it be Apple's new product... iBalls

[Woody @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:22PM]

"but maybe it won't be as visually overhauled as everyone is hoping"

Its a side shot of the tower, and in the other photos, it looks identical. So how can you say that its not the same as what we've seen?

[Vince @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:26PM]

Nothing new on this banner except the banner itself and the Mac OS X DVD!!! What R you all guyz seeing in this banner. aren't there any banner like adverts in your countries "billboards etc." ?!

[Mike @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:27PM]

If there was really going to be an "aluminum" nano released, don't you think they'd probably show the different color options that they'd be releasing - like they did with the mini (assuming they'd have similar colors for an aluminum nano)?

[Vince @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:29PM]

The icon under otomator is the xgrid icon!!!

[RolandG @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:29PM]

"One thing though what are the two symbols above left of the Xcode symbol? The 'X' and the planet like thing?"

The 'X' represents the X11-environtment a lot of GUI-based UNIX programms use.
The planet like symbol represents some Core-technology - there are two others on the banner: a green one under the black MacBook and a blue one to the left of the Bluetooth symbol.

But what is the symobl under the Automator icon? Has the iSync symbol turned red (symbol on the far right, under the finder symbol)? It seems there are no changes made to the Finder (at least not Icon wise).

Is there a higher-res version of this photo available somewhere? I'd like to read what is printed on the black symbol Apple uses for processors lately (next to the G5's/MacPro's upper-left handle).

[Coasterjob @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:30PM]

Could it be "....present platform". As in "The present platform", inferring there is a new platform? This is the WWDC, do it's supposed to be about developement..?

[z @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:31PM]

the ipod on the left is the iphone running ichat... ;-)

[greg @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:33PM]

Does anybody know what the four orb icon below the automator robot is? That stands out as a new feature for OSX to me, it's right up there with Spotlight and Quicktime, but I've never seen it before.

[maaaaark @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:34PM]

It says:

You've come to the right platform.


http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Home/216DACC1-F488-4EB6-8965-ADECFC743998.html