No new iPhone hardware expected at Apple's software-centric WWDC - report

Jim Dalrymple at The Loop reported Monday that sources have informed him that the upcoming WWDC in June is a "software show," and "not a hardware event." This year, Apple reportedly plans to focus on iOS, which powers the iPhone and iPad, as well as the upcoming release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.

Apple set the tone earlier Monday in announcing that WWDC would be held June 6 through June 10 at Moscone West in San Francisco, Calif. In its announcement, Apple said that this year's show would be used to "unveil the future of iOS and Mac OS."

A preview of the next version of iOS is typically shown to developers at a special event prior to the June WWCC show. But Apple's announcement would suggest that the company will instead give developers their first look at the anticipated iOS 5 in June.

Apple's statement that this year's WWDC will focus on software corroborates with what sources have told The Loop. That would mean Apple will break from its annual release cycle for new iPhone hardware. Likewise, new iPad and Mac hardware were also ruled out.

"It's important to remember that this is a developer conference, not a consumer show," Dalrymple wrote. "Apple will host developers from around the world to show them what's new in their mobile and Mac operating systems."

The news follows another rumor that Apple is working on a cloud-based update to iOS that will arrive this fall. The major update to iOS will allegedly add support for accessing music, photos, movies and other content from remote storage on the Internet.