From a music streaming service, to iOS 9: What to expect from Apple’s WWDC event

TORONTO – Now that the hype over the Apple Watch is winding down, it’s time for Apple to lift the curtain on its next wave of products and software at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

On Monday, CEO Tim Cook and other executives will take the stage during a keynote speech to show off the tech giant’s latest version of its mobile operating system iOS and its desktop version OS X, as well as new tools for developers working on Apple Watch apps.

The conference is rumoured to be the place where Apple unveils first details on some new services – including a paid music streaming service expected to launch this summer.

WWDC is an event for developers; but Apple will be streaming the keynote speech for the public. You can watch the keynote event on Apple’s website starting live at 1 p.m. ET.

Here’s what major announcements you can expect from the event:

Apple’s answer to music steaming

For months rumours have been swirling that Apple is gearing up to launch its own music streaming service that would work similar to Spotify or Pandora.

The service – expected to cost around $10 per month – is likely to be powered by Beats Music, which Apple acquired for US$3 billion last year.

If the company is gearing up to launch this type of service, it will face fierce competition from services like Pandora and Spotify, which already boast millions of listeners.

Analysts say the company needs to build a robust streaming business if it wants to maintain its central role in the popular-music ecosystem. About 41 million people now pay for streaming music globally, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

READ MORE: A look at media streaming devices

Subscription revenue from streaming services grew 39 per cent last year to $1.6 billion. Overall download sales from online stores like iTunes fell 8 per cent to $3.6 billion.

But Apple’s streaming service may not be limited to iPhone and Mac users, which is usually the case with Apple products. According to some reports, there may also be an Android version of the streaming app in the works.

iOS 9

WWDC has traditionally been the place for Apple to show off the newest version of its mobile operating system iOS. Last year, users got a peak at iOS 88 – which was a big aesthetic change – but this time around the updates are said to be more focused on security and usability.

Many of the rumours point toward big improvements for Apple’s voice assistant Siri. Siri on iOS 9 is said to integrate with apps like Calendar, Passbook and Spotlight search, according to 9to5Mac.

Apple Maps is also rumoured to be getting an upgrade to include information like public transit directions.

Many also believe the tech giant has been working to ensure that the new operating system runs more smoothly on older devices. In the past, new versions of iOS have caused headaches for users with devices more than two generations old.

According to another report by 9to5Mac, iOS 9 may also allow iPad users to access a split screen in order to access two apps at the same time.

Better apps for Apple Watch

Apple’s first wearable device has been on the market for two months now, which means Apple is likely to put more focus on developing better apps for its newest platform.

Because WWDC is a developer’s conference, there is likely to be a lot of talk about developing for Apple Watch and how developers can incorporate the Apple Watch’s many sensors into their apps.

Could there be a Canadian Apple Pay release date?

Apple’s contactless payment system has been up and running in the U.S. for a while now, but Canadian consumers have yet to hear anything about the system launching north of the border.

However, some reports suggest that Apple may set a launch date for Apple Pay in the UK – which may mean there is hope for a Canadian launch in the near future. In April, the Wall Street Journal said Apple was taking steps toward launching its mobile payments service in Canada in the fall.

Small updates to Mac OS X

Apple’s laptop and desktop operating system is also likely to see updates Monday; however, details on potential new features have been scarce.

Will there be an Apple TV update?

Apple TV fans have been itching for an update to the set-top box for years, but it looks like users might have to wait a bit longer for the device. According to The New York Times, plans to unveil the new box were delayed because it simply wasn’t ready.

– With files from The Associated Press