Preview of Apple's World Wide Developers Conference

AAPL's stock is rangebound and near recent highs as the firm's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off on Monday. 

Courtesy of The Sunday Times, here is a look at some of what we can expect, beyond software updates for Apple's main products. 

- The next desktop operating system: OS X 10.11

The new OS X 10.11 is expected to be light on new features and big on core improvements such as stability. Apple will also likely strengthen existing functions like Continuity so that working across devices is more seamless.

The OS might be given a new system font to look more in line with the Apple Watch, which now sports the the San Francisco typeface.

- A feature-packed mobile operating system: iOS 9

The new iOS 9 is rumoured to have Force Touch features. We first saw Force Touch being implemented in Apple Watch where the device reacts to different amount of pressure exerted on the screen. The Force Touch feature has since permeated to the trackpads found in recently-refreshed Apple laptops.

If Force Touch goes full blast on iOS 9, we can safely predict the next iPhone's display is going to be Force Touch-compatible, just like the Apple Watch.

The new iOS might also sport a new feature called Proactive, a report from 9to5Mac is suggesting. Proactive is said to combine the voice assistant Siri with iOS' search engine Spotlight to give users an entire assortment of information from their apps, contacts and maps under one roof. Put simply, it's Apple's answer to Google Now.

- A new Apple Watch SDK

One of the criticisms levelled at Apple Watch is its lack of native apps. Currently, Watch apps need to run from a connected iPhone causing some apps to be very sluggish. Moreover, the Apple Watch needs to be within range of the iPhone.

In a recent interview, Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice-president of operations, revealed that a new software development kit (SDK) will be released to developers during WWDC 2015 to enable the creation of native Apple Watch apps. Developers will likely get greater access to the Watch's hardware, including the Digital Crown dial of the watch.

Releasing the SDK earlier will also give developers more time to familiarise themselves with it for the launch of native Watch apps later this year.

Of course, Apple might have more up its sleeves. Here are some of the other items that has been brewing in the rumour mill and might be unveiled at WWDC:

- New HomeKit

Introduced in last year's WWDC, HomeKit is Apple's home automation platform that allows household devices, such as locks, thermostats and lights, to be connected and controlled by iPhone, iPad and even Apple Watch.

It was only last week that the first HomeKit-compatible devices, such as Ecobee3 Wi-Fi thermostat and iHome SmartPlug, hit the market.

The new HomeKit SDK is likely to include an app, simply called Home, as part of iOS 9. It will allow control over these HomeKit-compatible devices, instead of using each home appliance manufacturer's app.

- Revamped Beats Music streaming service

With Apple's US $3 billion purchase of Beats Music last May, many industry analysts say Apple had been more interested in the Beats Music streaming service than its headphones. A revamped music streaming service by Apple has been long-rumoured. No surprise given the success of services like Spotify and Deezer.

Apple's Beat Music streaming service is said to feature exclusive behind-the-scenes videos with big-name artists such as Taylor Swift, leveraging on the connections of Beats Music founders Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine.

But Apple is apparently still negotiating with record labels over terms just days before the start of WWDC 2015, according to reports by Bloomberg.

The record labels usually take 55 per cent of Spotify's monthly US$9.99 rate. But these labels are pushing for closer to 60 per cent from Apple, according to industry insiders.

- New Apple TV

Rumours were rife that a new Apple TV will be announced in this year's WWDC, but our hopes aren't too high.

The Apple TV set-up box has not been updated since 2012. In the tech world, that's an eternity. The new Apple TV is rumoured to have a re-designed interface and comes with its own App Store supporting native apps and games. It is thought to feature an A8 processor found in iPhone 6, Siri support, more internal storage space and a touch-based remote control.

Coupled with the rumours of Apple's own Netflix-like web television streaming service, the new Apple TV will be the centrepiece of the Apple's inroads into the media streaming business.

But reports from New York Times and Re/code said that the Apple TV has hit a major roadblock after talks with content providers broke down. Thus, the new Apple TV might not make an appearance this time.

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