Today’s hot rumor heading into Apple’s June 7 Worldwide Developers Conference is that no other than Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will join Steve Jobs for a few minute during the keynote presentation. Also in today’s App Industry Roundup, Mozilla’s Firefox browser is making its way – at least in some capacity – to the iPhone.
Steve Ballmer to present at WWDC?
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is no dummy. Now that his company is trailing Apple in market cap valuation, why wouldn’t he want to steal a few minutes from Steve Jobs during his keynote presentation at the June 7 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco?
According to Global Equities Research Analyst Trip Chowdhry (via a report in Barron’s), Steve Ballmer could have as much as seven minutes to shill Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2010 development tools on the big day. Apparently, Apple’s version of opening up its platform involves letting developers use Microsoft tools to create apps for the iPhone and iPad.
In a bizarro world where Apple is being accused of becoming the next Microsoft while younger behemoths like Google, Facebook (at least in other weeks) and Twitter continue to chip away at in the realm of public opinion, we now have an emissary from Apple’s one-time arch enemy (Microsoft’s server chief Bob Muglia may speak instead) bringing early buzz to the party.
Of course, the enemy of one’s enemy will eventually become a friend. Apple and Google have a common foe in Google and the rapidly growing Android Marketplace. It makes sense for the two companies to hold hands… for now.
Firefox Home build abode on the iPhone
A variation of the popular Firefox browser is coming soon to the iPhone. According to the official Mozilla Blog, the app will give “iPhone users instant access to their Firefox browsing history, bookmarks and the set of tabs from their most recent browser session.”
Due to a variety of technical and policy reasons, a full version of Firefox will probably not come to the iPhone anytime soon. In the meantime, check out a video demonstration of what the new app will have to offer.
An app for Shaq
Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal has a lot of time on his hands since his team the Cleveland Cavaliers was surprisingly eliminated from the NBA Finals. Why not make an iPhone app?
For $1.99, The Shaq App will provide 24/7 details of Diesel’s life on and off the court. Learn more about this cool new app in this review.
