The predictions of what Apple may announce during the upcoming World Wide Developers Conference are mounting quickly. The latest, coming from analyst Gene Munster, is that there will be no new hardware announcements.Munster is an analyst with Piper Jaffray. Here's what he said, pieced together from AppleInsider:

We believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard at WWDC. While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June. Rather, we expect Apple to host a special event in late June or early July to launch a family of iPhones. We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan. Such a model could also be used in Apple's launch of the iPhone into China as soon as the end of summer '09.

Some interesting ideas in that quote. Let's take a look at the first theory, that Apple will not announce new hardware at WWDC. Apple has made it clear that it will discuss iPhone OS 3.0 and Snow Leopard. What Munster discounts is that new hardware equals new APIs. Since WWDC is a developer conference, they are probably going to be schooled on those APIs. It would be pretty tough for Apple to get developers to remain mum about new hardware features once told they exist. In other words, if there's going to be new hardware, Apple needs to use WWDC to reveal it.

Next up, let's tackle Munster's though that there will be a "family" of iPhones announced at some other time. A family of iPhones has been bandied about the blogosphere since last year. The idea of Apple introducing new high- and low-end iPhones is certainly appealing.

Many believe the spec jump, discussed yesterday, is not enough of a leap for Apple to make such a big fuss about it. Sure, the faster processor, expanded memory, larger storage, and higher-quality camera are all nice, but they are evolutionary updates, not revolutionary.

Whatever Munster thinks, most are convinced Apple is set to drop some new hardware come 10 AM June 8.

Tick tock tick tock .