What do you expect from Thursday?

Is apple thinking of ever releasing the new cinema displays? Fingers crossed.

I really hope that they announce the iPhone more cellnetworks overseas after all it is called a roadmap which i rather hope will be aus NZ and some parts of asia after all to meet there first quarter of 08 will have to be meet soon, every time Apple anounces the iphone it takes about 3 months for it to come out

And i also hope that they make the SDK open to everyone as some great app's are made by people under 18 years old and you can only buy ADC if your over 18. Just give us all acess to the SDK

It's in Apple's best interest to allow developers full and unconstrained access to the platform. They have a small head start on Android and can take advantage of it if they decide to encourage instead of penalize developers for choosing the iPhone.

I'd like to see Apple take the same route they did with music and iTunes, becoming a distributor instead of a publisher. Apple should release the development tools for free, then charge developers a small fee who want to sell their wares through iTunes... without forcing them to. Allow and encourage hobbyists to create free software. Apple could even take control of the homebrew community by making it easier (and less risky) to use Apple's tools rather than jailbreaking. Apple can only profit from the homebrew community's efforts by selling more iPhones.

I think Apple would be more than willing to take this route if it weren't for AT&T, who probably wants people to use its network and is probably scared to death of programs like Skype or iChat taking advantage of its unlimited data for the iPhone and completely bypassing their per-use services... SMS and talk time.

Practically, I'm guessing Apple will do either one of two things:
1) Release the SDK for free with restrictions (probably the cellular data stream and DRM data).
2) Allow unfettered access to the hardware while charging for the SDK (included in the ADC?) as well as charging for distribution and software DRM through iTunes. This could pacify AT&T if Apple shared some of the profits from these sales.

Apple may also do both... similar to what Microsoft does with Visual Studio, offering an 'Express Edition.' Or perhaps a mish-mash of both ideas, charging for a homebrew 'enabler.' Ah, well. Only a few more days before we find out much they want to gouge us.

I am going to contradict all of you, but only slightly.

I don't think they are going to announce pricing, availability or when a 3G iPhone is coming out, but I do think they will acknoledge that a 3G iPhone is in the works. Another thing that I think that will happen at this town hall style meeting will be that the iPhone SDK will be available to the public. Methinks that Apple won't be foolish and greedy enough to limit the iPhone development to ADC. With an OS that is understandable, with a mobile device its not about the hardcore developer, but the small independant developer. Apple, hopefully, understands this.

The OP hits on the right questions, but one I am curious about is whether Apple will require that it becomes the sole distributor of an application as part of a release agreement. In other words, will developers have to choose between official channels and jailbreak-only -- or, can both co-exisit. I guess we will all know more in 3 days (or 3 months).

@Tedious

Honest question. I've not seen any of the items you mention in any articles about contracts. Is that information just an educated guess/speculation or do you know it for a fact? I'm asking as I, pretty much, agree with everything else you had to say. To go point by point.

No 3G, obvo. :)

MMS is very likely a combination of AT&T and Apple, I see it being added later.

Skype seems kind of obvious also.

The real question I have is about IM/IRC. I see no reason why that shouldn't be allowed or why carriers and/or Apple would care.

Having said that. While I'm looking forward to the SDK I'll remain jailbroken. Not for apps, although they are nice, but because even at home I have to be staring at the phone to hear any of the damn SMS ringtones and the only way to get one on there that I can hear is to jailbreak it.

Guys, it's Xcode not XCode.

I'm afraid Windows development support won't be announced, however :(

On the enterprise side: Exchange support, deep integration with Google services like calendar and google apps (recent release of Google Sites would be a good introduction to what they will release for the iphone)

Small apps will probably be available on itunes wifi music store.

I don't think Apple will let developers access the core features because then the code has to be easily removable in case of bugs, restoration etc. Hoping for Google Calendar Sync, RSS Feeds, Flash (it's 2008, come on), GPS of some kind (Enterprise feature for tracking transport etc). Some sort of online collaboration app ( Google Sites?). Online radio? Google Talk?

My biggest concern is whether Apple will allow developers like Mozilla, Opera or Microsoft to play ball. Guess not..

I expect WPA Enterprise support finally - 802.1x is sorely missing...