Well, it is the developer conference — the focus is always on software. Hardware announcements at WWDC are never guaranteed.
I think the next typical time of year they do hardware announcements is fall, like around August, though that doesn't happen every year. And then iPhones are almost always in September.
Well, it is the developer conference — the focus is always on software.
I read on one of the rumor sites that 65% of WWDC keynotes also introduce hardware. I don't know if that's true, but it could indicate why so many people thought new computers were coming today.
2013: The "trashcan" Mac Pro, AirPort TimeCapsule/Etreme
2017: iMac Pro, HomePod
2020: M1 MacBook Air and 2-port 13" MacBook Pro
Hardware announcements do happen at WWDC, but there's no real pattern to it besides, perhaps, having a Mac available that developers would be interested in.
Post-M1 MacBook Pros (and bigger iMacs) are almost certainly around the corner, but presumably they're just not ready now.
You are correct. I was going off someone else's list and didn't double-check that. They announced Apple Silicon at WWDC2020, but didn't actually announce hardware!
I don't know what the actual breakdown is, but since ~iPhone there's almost always if not always been a hardware announcement at WWDC, even if only because the iPhone is a hard schedule and Apple has a limited number of events annually.
Well, developers need a hardware to develop on :). While hardware might not be the focus of the WWDC, the big MB Pro routinely would be refreshed ahead of the WWDC, as this is a very popular hardware for many developers. That they didn't do it this year is especially annoying, as it is still waiting for the transition to ARM. Apple wants to have developers develop for ARM, but only offer the Mini or the Air. They definitely are great machines, but Apple should really hurry to get their higher end offerings transitioned to ARM quickly.
Apple Silicon (M1) was announced at WWDC '20. It's reasonable to believe there would be another major hardware announcement at WWDC '21.
And as a developer who has used 2 monitors for almost 20 years, actual multidisplay support, and not a DisplayLink hack, is a reasonable demand. Even at a developer conference.
But the hardware with M1 in it wasn't announced until the Fall event. So the comment about "new MBP" wouldn't apply. The only reason M1 was announced at WWDC is because it requires work from developers. New MBP doesn't require 6 month lead announcement for developers.
Agree, though I think it'll be shipping well before Christmas (though not in July, as some have speculated... if it were gonna be ready in July, they would have announced it).
I expect the new MBP will have the M2, which should be available in quantity soon. Besides the (presumed) hardware improvements, the M2 will be a marketing-friendly way of differentiating the MBP from the MB and MBA, and persuading people to pay a premium for it.
I think the next typical time of year they do hardware announcements is fall, like around August, though that doesn't happen every year. And then iPhones are almost always in September.