Whatever your feelings on government wiretapping, it is no surprise, now, that technology firms are cooperating with the government. But Apple has just shed some light on the process thanks to a web page that details their terms for cooperating with U.S. Law Enforcement. While lengthy, the document itself is, ironically, far shorter than the iTunes Terms of Service agreement that most users gloss over on their way to downloading apps and music.

Another irony, at least to me as a developer, is that Apple describes how to track a user by their UDID, a unique identifier to each phone. This is ironic because, as a developer, we are not allowed to use the UDID for tracking as of iOS 7. There are alternative methods that Apple allows that still offer some privacy to the app user, but this document serves as a reminder that the UDID is still around and an important way to track individual users, or at least their devices. Here is the text from that section:

There are some good parts for law-abiding, security conscious users. Apple explicitly states that they can't provide passcodes or crack encryption. And unless there is a non-disclosure  order or risk to children, etc., they plan to tell users if legal proceedings are initiated. And even though they can't break a passcode, they can access some information, specifically SMS, photos, videos, contacts, audio recording, and call history. Apple cannot provide: email, calendar entries, or any third-party App data. Additionally, while email wiretaps are possible, iMessage and FaceTime are encrypted end-to-end and cannot be accessed. 

Go to Settings>General>Accessibility and toggle Button Shapes on.

Now all your buttons will reassuringly point you in the right direction!

This is the official announcement of the iPhone life Biweekly Giveaway! Be sure to enter the giveaway at iphoneLife.com/giveaways to win prizes, which we'll announce May 19th! We are raffling off tons of great accessories for FREE.

Here's how it works: Every other Friday we will announce the prizes we're giving away through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter the giveaway, go to iphoneLife.com/giveaways and tell your friends to enter too! On the following Monday morning, we will randomly select the winners. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code to redeem the app for free. If you win an accessory, send us your address and we will mail it to you.

This weeks featured items are:

1. UZBL Shockwave iPad 2/3/4 Case: Retail Price $49

Rugged protection meets beautiful style with the ShockWave Case for iPad 2/3/4. The new ShockWave Case features a six-angle integrated kickstand and a built-in screen protector. Like all other UZBL cases, the Shockwave has cushioning ribs for the most shock absorbtion.

2. NoiseHush NX26 Headphones: Retail Price $99.99

The high performance NoiseHush NX26 features handcrafted wooden housing to preserve the natural and superb sound quality. The neodymium magnet drivers and advanced engineering delivers deeper bass, lower distortion and wider dynamic range. Sleek and light weight, the soft-touch, rubberized frame offers comfortable listening for hours on end and can be used for both mobile sources and home Hi-Fi systems. The in-line microphone of NX26 is acoustically tuned to filter out external noise, ensuring that callers hear clearly even in the noisiest situations. With its control button, you can conveniently switch between phone calls and your favorite music. Crank it UP!

3. Trident Kraken AMS iPhone 5/5S Case + Bike Mount + Suction Cup Mount: Retail Price Total ≈ $90

Kraken A.M.S. Series cases are the absolute strongest, most durable cases we make. Kraken A.M.S. features a three-in-one case, transforming a heavy-duty Kraken A.M.S. case into a light-weight Perseus case. This feature allows you to choose your level of protection: Kraken A.M.S., standalone Perseus, or Perseus with Kraken front. The detachable aluminum media stand provides the option to attach a variety of interchangeable accessories, including the two accessories included in this prize, allowing you to use your device to its full potential.

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! Also check out our other contests at iphonelife.com/contests. The next contest drawing is May 19th!

Sir Jony Ive, already a British Knight, is now being honored stateside for his work on design, or at least he will be on October 30th. The New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has always had an affinity for Apple's designs, so it's only fair that the head of design at Apple get his due from the San Francisco MoMA.

Ive has made no secret of his being influenced by Braun's Dieter Rams, also a staple of the SF Museum of Modern Art. The iPhone's original calculator app looked remarkably like the Braun design, and one of their recent watchfaces allegedly infringed on a famous railroad clock, leading to a licensing deal. Ive has made his mark not only in Apple hardware, but with iOS 7 as he was recently appointed head of design for not just hardware but all Apple products.

As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day — recently topping 1,000,000 — we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest apps free or at a discount for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, appsfire, and more.

Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!

1. Keep it Green($0.99 from $1.99)

It’s hard to break a bad habit, but sometimes it’s even harder to create a good one! Ever try to get into the habit of flossing or working out?  It’s so hard! This app seeks to change all of that by helping you develop the habits you’d like to have. Just tell the app how often you'd like to do something and it will take care of the rest—but it can't go to the gym or floss for you. You're on your own with the actual execution.

2. Part Tracker(Free from $1.99)

Create amazing tutorials with this neat app! Use the camera on your iPhone to take photos of each step in your tutorial. The app is easy to use and will guide you through the process of becoming an official “expert” with your very own instruction manual and everything! Next stop: fame and fortune!

3. Emojizer(Free from $2.99)

If you enjoy using Emojis on your phone, you’ll have a great time with this app. It translates letters into an emoji alphabet to use in texts or tweets, or to customize your contact’s names. You can even use it on Instagram! Neat, right? 

At this very moment Apple is rumored to be involved in active talks to buy Dr. Dre’s Beats Electronics. At over 3 billion dollars, this would be Apple’s biggest acquisition ever, far surpassing the $429 million Apple spent in 1996 to buy NeXT, its largest purchase to date.

As first reported by the Financial Times, and since backed up by the likes of the Washington Post, CNBC, and Reuters, this acquisition would put Apple at the helm of one of the most popular premium headphone brands in the country. But it's not just a headphone company that’s included in the deal, it's also the recently launched Beats Music, which has seen remarkable early success as a worthy competitor to the likes of Pandora, Spotify, and of course iTunes Radio.

If this deal does go down Apple stands to benefit greatly from both the high-end headphone brand's stellar products as well as the consolidation of iTunes Radio and Beats’ subscription-only music streaming service. Purchasing Beats is also a shrewd business move in that it will be a significant boost to Apple's "cool-factor," as Beats are not only immensely popular and posh, but the brand speaks to a younger generation who have already embraced it and identify with it.

Hot on the heels of this latest rumor comes further word from the New York Post that Beats co-founder and CEO, music mogul Jimmy Iovine is actually in talks with Apple to join the company as "special advisor" to Tim Cook on creative matters. If you’re an Apple fan, you may even recall that prior to Steve Jobs’ passing he and Iovine were in talks about collaborating on a subscription-based music service; so in some ways this doesn't come as a huge surprise, even though news of this possible merger has taken the Internet by storm. With Iovine’s substantial contacts in the music industry, his joining the team would theoretically give Apple substantial leverage in future negotiations with record labels, among other benefits.

Stay tuned to iPhone Life and we'll keep you updated on all the details of this pending mega-merger.

Reuters reported today that the much-anticipated 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will be coming in August — a month earlier than everyone has been expecting. And the report said that the larger 5.5-inch device will make its appearance in September. This too diverges from earlier rumors, which have stated that it wouldn't arrive until the end of 2014. The source of the Reuters report was media reports in Taiwan, which were based on unidentified sources in Apple's supply chain. The report also said that Apple will build 80 million iPhone 6 units in 2014. That's in line with earlier rumors. And it does make sense that in order to sell so many phones in the remaining months of 2014, Apple would need to get it out as early as possible. Given the leaked images and all, I think there's some credibility in the report that it could come out in August. On the other hand, I suspect it all depends on how smoothly the manufacturing process goes. It could well be that Apple itself doesn't yet know exactly when the device will be ready to go on sale.

I'm more doubtful about the claim in the Reuters report that the larger 5.5-inch device will appear in September. If that were so, it seems that by now we'd be seeing some of the same sorts of leaks that we're seeing with the iPhone 6. I'm inclined to give more credence to the rumors that it will come late in 2014.

Meanwhile, according to the website BGR, the French website Nowhereelse.fr continues to post photos of iPhone 6 mockups. My understanding is that these mockups are based on official machine schematics and apparently are used by manufacturers for some purpose. The latest mockup again shows the sleep/wake button moved to the right side of the device. Earlier mockups showed the curved edges that are rumored to be a feature of the iPhone 6's new design.

Nowhereelse.fr has also posted a video of the dummy mockup:

We can look forward to several more months of rumors, but fortunately we won't have long to wait until Apple introduces iOS 8 at the Worldwide Developers Conference early next month. We should finally hear whether the rumors are true that iOS 8 will have a new Healthbook app and a greater focus on monitoring health.

Vote now in the iPhone Life iPhone Photography Contest! The deadline is Monday, May 12th. Click HERE to choose your favorite images. The top 10 photos will be featured in an upcoming issue of iPhone Life magazine.

Don't worry if you can't choose just one; you can vote for as many photos as you like. You can only vote once per day for each image though, so make sure you vote every day from now until the contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on May 12th!

Here are some samples of the beautiful photos being submitted (click HERE to see all the entries):

The month of May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Millions of Americans wake up to face each day living with a mental health condition—myself included. Two years ago I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have good days and bad days, but for the most part I am managing my illness. 

I have to admit, at times it's more difficult to talk about having bipolar disorder than if I had a physical ailment such as diabetes. The difficulty comes with trying to explain what it's like living with a mental illness. 

That's why I appreciate the goal this month of building public recognition about the importance of mental health to overall health and wellness. The more people talk about mental health, the less stigma there is involved. There should be no shame attached to evaluating your mental health and taking action as needed. I encourage you to check out these apps and seek help if you have any mental health issues. After all, the mind is everything. 

1. WhatsMyM3 (Free)

A great app to help you do this is WhatsMyM3. In three minutes, the app will assess your risk of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD. After completing a 27-question checklist, the risk assessment can be printed, faxed, emailed, or securely accessed online by a designated health care professional who can then make a possible diagnosis. Just be aware that while sometimes a diagnosis is discovered easily, other times it's not as black or white.

2. PTSD Coach (Free)

If you are diagnosed with an illness (and even if you're not), another helpful app is PTSD Coach. This app is designed for veterans and military personnel who have, or may have, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and works for civilians as well. In addition to a self-assessment, it provides information about the disorder and how to access professional care and support. Users can also find tools that range from relaxation skills and positive self-talk to anger management that will help manage the stresses of daily life with PTSD.

3. T2 Mood Tracker (Free)

An app that I use often is T2 Mood Tracker. It helps me monitor my moods on a daily basis. My ratings are then displayed on a graph so that over time I can see where my moods have been and if I need to be wary of any patterns, such as feeling depressed. Notes can be recorded as well as any medication changes. I use T2 Mood Tracker to provide my doctor or therapist with information that can help with my treatment. 

I am an avid reader. I try to read at least 52 books a year. And up until the fall of 2011, I fought the whole e-book trend. But on September 17, 2011, I received my first e-book reader: a Kindle keyboard. And my conversion from being a print book reader to an e-book reader began.  

While I enjoyed my Kindle, there were certain things that it just can't do very well or at all. For example, while you can underline on the Kindle reader, because the screen is only black and white, it's only a thin line.

On my smartphone (at the time, sadly, I wasn't an iPhone guy), I was able to download the free Kindle reading app, but the small screen size wasn't great for reading long term on, except in a pinch. 

Then in April 2014, I purchased the iPad Air and downloaded the iPad Kindle reading app (free) and now no longer read books on my Kindle. I read all my books on my iPad Air. I love how because the iPad is color, I can highlight my e-books on the Kindle reading app in color. 

However, the Kindle reading app isn't the only e-book reading app available for the iPad. There is a little known app call iBooks (free). 

Both the Kindle reading app and iBooks are free and both are pretty similar to how they work —including giving you options to choose the screen color, font size, color, and type. They are each cloud based and allow you to download books for offline use. 

With the Kindle reading app, you cannot purchase new e-books in the app. Instead, you have to go to Amazon, purchase the e-book there and send it to the iPad.

While I am a huge Apple fan, I am sticking with the Kindle reading app for two main reasons:

1. I have accumulated many, many books on my Kindle account. 

2. The prices for e-books at Apple tend to be higher, though not always.

Of course, I've only mentioned two of the reading apps available for the iPad.

What about you?  What is your go-to reading app for your iDevice and why?  What features do like about your favorite reading app? 

Since my recent trip to London, I've shared many travel tips. But this time I'm going to just let the following images speak for themselves. They come from the technology section of the upscale department store Harrod's. Look not only at the beauty of the crystals, diamonds, and gold plating, but at the prices associated with them. Keep in mind, a gold-plated iPhone 5s covered in diamonds becomes obsolete just as quickly as your basic model at AT&T or T-Mobile.

Brightwire, a global investment newswire, reported last week that the iPhone 6 will likely include a Near Field Communcation (NFC) chip, a chief purpose of which is using one's phone to complete point-of-sale transactions. You simply tap the NFC terminal at the checkout counter to make a purchase. According to the report, which is based on "a source close to the matter," the impetus for this move appears to be a deal Apple has made with China UnionPay, which Brightwire describes as "the only domestic bank card organization and interbank network in China." In short, if you want to sell lots of iPhones in China, and if the only bank card company wants NFC, then Apple does NFC. The two companies are also reportedly working together on a mobile payment system for use in Apple Stores in China.

In the past Apple has resisted NFC, saying, "It doesn't solve a problem." Apple doesn't include bells and whistles that they don't think will improve the user experience. And so far, consumers in the US haven't shown much interest in NFC transactions, especially since it's so easy to simply whip out a credit card. NFC was rumored for the iPhone in the past, but instead Apple came out with Passbook, which uses Bluetooth instead of NFC and is more versatile. The Brightwire report says that the implementation in China will still involve downloading an app to use with Passbook, but apparently NFC will be used to complete the transaction.

Earlier reports said that Apple filed an NFC-related patent in the US in January, so that makes this rumor a bit more credible. Still, Apple's iBeacons continues to be implemented by many enterprises, and it's hard to imagine that Apple would come out with an NFC-based mobile payment system rather than one based on iBeacons. Perhaps the phone will include an NFC chip, but mainly for use in China, whereas in the US they'd use iBeacons.

If Apple does indeed embrace mobile payments, they will likely do it right, and it could be just the boost that's needed to get mobile payment systems off the ground in the US. Quite a few Android phones come with NFC, but people simply tend not to use it. When I tried using NFC via my Google Nexus 7 tablet to make a purchase using the $25 credit that came with the device, each place I went said, "No one's ever tried to do this before." And in each place it didn't work because there was no local wireless network, which was necessary for the transaction to take place. I ended up just using the option of having Google send me a check for $25.

The rumored purchase of Beats by Apple has caused a fair amount of headshaking, but it makes a lot of sense. Sure, at $3.2 billion, it would be one of the larger purchases by Apple, but it's a smart move. Purchasing of Beats would give Apple several advantages, overnight. First, street credibility. With every iPhone and iPod, Apple gives away a pair of cheap earbuds. Sure, they were enhanced recently, but still there's no prestige in those nondescript white EarPods. Beats, however, made it cool to spend $300 on a pair of headphones. And their "b" logo is everywhere, even on smartphones and laptops. It must be painful for Tim Cook to have to sell someone else's headphones in the Apple stores.

I was at the original Monster press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show when Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine first introduced Beats. I remember there was plenty of speculation concerning such expensive headphones, but Monster and Beats made it work. In the passing years, Beats decided to part company with Monster, and they have continued to have great success. In addition to headphones, they rolled out Beats Music. Anything that improves on the cluttered iTunes is a plus, and Apple could benefit from a fresh approach. I would like to see iTunes become less of a Jack-of-all-trades and split up music and movies from iOS apps, the way the Mac has a separate Mac App Store.

For me, perhaps the biggest benefit Apple gets from the acquisition of Beats is credibility with the entertainment industry. Steve Jobs had always been a dominant force in the music world, and was able to convince record labels to embrace digital downloads. Since his passing, Apple TV has stagnated and Apple needs a way to speak to the Time Warners, Comcasts, and HBOs of the entertainment world, to make a universal, searchable, à la carte viewing system pay off. The purchase of Beats could be just what the Dr. ordered.

Mashing your thumb down on a soft or hard button (or attempting to) can ruin an otherwise great picture or video. Stabilizing the camera continuously through the shot will result in better pictures and videos, and make your loved ones more likely to want to view your photo roll without rolling their eyes. You could buy a tripod or stand, which are also handy for group photos (a GorillaPod is a good portable choice), but why not consider a simpler solution? Get a HISY ($24.99.)

There's nothing complicated about HISY. There's no app and no fancy configuration required besides pairing it with your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad (it does require iOS 7). Once you pair it via Bluetooth, open the camera app, and without laying a hand physically on your camera phone, you can use HISY's center button to remotely snap a picture, quick and clean.

HISY comes with a lanyard, which has a plastic audio-port insert attached so you always have it at hand (though I might simply secure it to a key chain instead). It runs on an internal replaceable watch battery, and really only does one thing; keeping you from having to mash a finger down on your camera when instead you should be aiming it steadily at the object you are capturing. I reviewed a free app last year that does the same thing called Remote Shutter, but you need two iDevices to use it (who wants to always drag around two devices anyway?) HISY lets you roam around at a distance of up to 90 feet and still grab rock-solid photos!

The Verdict
Easy peasy HISY gets top honors as one of the coolest, smallest, and amazingly simple Bluetooth accessory ideas to come down the pike this year. Want a ready-to-use remote shutter gadget for your iPhone? Grab or check it out at the links above.

Pros

• Small, simple remote shutter
• No app required

Cons

• None that I can find

If you are serious about iPhoneography and like using all kinds of filters, you will probably want to look into getting some high quality photography apps to aid in your image capturing. But if you are a casual iphoneographer who likes to capture the occasional photo of your family and friends, you may be happy with the built-in filters offered by your iPhone or iPad camera.

The filters can be accessed by tapping on the trio of circles to the right of the shutter button. You will be able to preview the different filters and can have a lot of fun playing around with them. If you find that you prefer one filter for most of your shots in a specific mode (photo, square, panoramic), set that filter while in that mode and it will stay set to that filter every time you use that mode.

Don't worry if you forget to select your preferred filter before you take your photo though, you can also add filters retroactively when editing in Camera Roll. Just choose the filter icon from the options bar at the bottom of the screen, choose the filter you want, tap Apply in the upper right corner, and save.

Apple and Samsung have had a love-hate relationship for quite a while. Despite the ongoing litigation between them, they are codependent on each other for the iPad's success.  A new report, referenced by cnet, shows that Apple relies on Samsung for a majority of the iPad's screens, with LG responsible for a smaller percentage. While both parties are trying to use the courts and the free market to gain an advantage, Samsung still profits from every iPad, and Apple needs a thriving Samsung to meet demand. This seems crazy, but it's the highly leveraged, co-opetition model that is prevalent in so many industries today.

To their credit, Apple has purchased companies and acquired technologies that are critical to their success. Apple has recently acquired PrimeSense, the people behind Microsoft's Kinect, and they are expected to acquire Beats for $3.2 billion. The next iPhone or iWatch should have a sapphire coating thanks to Apple's new factory. Displays are one of the most significant areas where Apple is reliant on outside sources, and the display quality and Retina brand is something Apple relies heavily on. To have their primary supplier be archenemy Samsung may be causing angst for Tim Cook, the Apple CEO known for his supply-chain prowess. I would not be surprised to see a move in the display area at least a switch to a more independent provider.

With all my music, now on my iPhone, my old iPod has been displaced. But there's one area where I have stuck to a non-Apple MP3 player, and that is swimming. I had a cheap but (allegedly) waterproof MP3 player that my wife and I used while swimming laps. However, not only did it have limitations in terms of storage and navigation, the darn thing broke.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to try the DryCASE waterproof case for my iPhone. The DryCASE ($39.99) is a heavy-duty clear pouch with a waterproof jack and internal audio cable. Using a pair of waterproof earbuds, like the DryBUDS from DryCASE, you can listen to music and even talk on the phone thanks to the built in microphone.

I'm not sure I would carry on a conversation while swimming, but it's certainly great for the hot tub or beach. Speaking of swimming, my wife's concern was the armband was a little too bulky for active swimming given her smaller build. But for me, I liked knowing that it was substantial and would not slip off easily, especially in the ocean. I lost my wedding ring snorkeling in Hawaii, and would not want to go through that again!

With support for up to three meters of water, you can do some rather deep swimming or snorkeling while taking photos and listening to your personal soundtrack! DryCASE has a secret advantage over copycat cases. There is a port that can be used to extract air from the inside of the case, using the included handheld vacuum pump. This makes the screen easily accessible by eliminating air pockets, and it does the job. There are cheaper waterproof cases but most of them are nothing more than a glorified Ziplock bag. The DryCASE has a solid seal and removes excess air, making the touchscreen usable. The inline headphone jack makes it possible to listen to music as long as you have a waterproof set of headphones. I no longer need to rely on an MP3 player with limited storage, and I don't have to worry about updating it or remembering which songs are in MP3 format. Now my iPhone can go with me wherever I go, and the DryCASE is flexible enough that it can accommodate a variety of phones and iPods.

Glass screen protectors for mobile devices are becoming very popular, with a variety of manufacturers offering their own take on the product. I had the chance to try out three, each from different brands, and each brings something different to the table.

Armorz Stealth Extreme Lite($34.95)

At just 0.2mm thick, this offering from Armorz is the thinnest I tested. The company states that each screen protector's chemical strengthening process allows it to exceed the hardness of steel. That scratch resistance paired with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating makes this a very appealing candidate.

Cons:

• Thinness can be an issue (I cracked mine while trying to install a case.)

Z Nitro Glass Privacy($49.99)

There are a number of screen protectors that offer "privacy" by distorting what's on your device's screen while viewed at an angle, but this is the first glass one I've seen. This tempered glass screen protector is crystal clear when viewed head-on and does a great job of obscuring your phone's screen from any other angle.

Cons:

• Any tilt-based games or apps will be much more difficult to use normally

Bodyguardz Pure($39.95)

Arguably my favorite glass screen protector at the moment, Bodyguardz Pure offers amazing clarity, high touch sensitivity, and flawless performance. At 0.4mm thick, it hardly adds any bulk to your phone. The smudge-resistant coating does a great job of keeping fingerprints at bay and is very easy to clean.

Cons:

• None

Verdict:

There are several factors to consider when spending upwards of $30 or more on a glass screen protector, but the price can be justified by the unmatched protection glass offers over plastic. The protectors I tested each have their pros and cons, but the Bodyguardz Pure comes out on top for its clarity and strength.

Emoji symbols add a touch of whimsy to text messages, notes, and emails. But did you know that they have names besides "the pink flower," the other pink flower,""dead dudes one and two," and "the not-quite-full moon—is it waxing or waning? I can can never remember"? The easiest and most hilarious way to find out what the Emojis' official names are is to have your iPhone read them out loud to you.

First go to Settings>General>Accessibility>Speak Selection and toggle Speak Selection on. 

Next open Notes and type in the Emojis whose names you want to know.

Tap and hold anywhere in the Emoji text to bring up the options menu and tap Select All and then tap Speak.

Your iPhone will now read you the names of the Emojis.

You can, of course, also use the Speak Selection to read any selectable text on your iPhone in Notes, Mail, Safari, Notes, and other apps, but it will not be nearly as much fun.

Several days ago, Dr. Dre sent out a tweet noting that he may become the first billionaire rapper. Ever since, there has been unbridled speculation around the possible Apple acquisition of his Beats company (Which he owns with partner Jimmy Iovine) for $3.2 billion. With less than three weeks until WWDC, it looks like Apple may be delaying the announcement of their Beats acquisition until then.

It would certainly be a musical, if not magical, keynote address with Tim Cook, Dr. Dre, and Jimmy Iovine on stage. Music and musicians have always been a large part of Apple's events. Steve Jobs dated Joan Baez, and was a huge fan of the Beatles and Bob Dylan and was able to work with them to bring their music to iTunes. More recently bands like U2, Coldpla,y and other artists performed at Apple events, especially events focused on the iPod or iTunes. I've attended a couple of WWDC events and there is always a private concert for the developers. They simply have "The Bash" listed on the event schedule, but that's understandable, as the band is usually a mystery. Perhaps Dr. Dre will perform this time? If you're in San Francisco, you can't get in without an exclusive WWDC pass; but the venue is usually outdoors at the Yerba Buena center, so you can listen from the sidewalk!

The Beats acquisition is not all about fun and games. While many musicians resisted digital downloads, for fear of piracy and lost revenue, Apple convinced the record labels they needed to embrace the technology and make it part of their business model. It could be argued that iTunes saved the music industry—from themselves. Now, without Steve Jobs, Apple needs a strong leader in the entertainment industry who can make deals with music, movie, TV, and cable firms. The Beats acquisition would result in Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre joining Apple as senior executives, and their phone calls will get returned.

Finally, WWDC is often about new products. The iPhone 6 might not be announced until August, but Apple could announce an iWatch. Beats could become the brand name of Apple's wearable products, as Samsung uses "Gear." After all, headphones were the first "wearable" accessories, and Dr. Dre made them a fashion statement. If he can do the same for Apple with smartwatches, that could be magical.