Ahead of the Bell: Apple show in San Francisco

Apple Inc. has used its Worldwide Developers Conference as an opportunity to announce new iPhone software for the past few years. The conference runs through Friday.

It's not known what new features will come with the new iOS, which also powers iPads and iPod Touches. Nor is it known when it will be released to consumers.

Some speculate that Facebook could become more tightly integrated, in much the same way that Apple baked Twitter functions into its software last year. That could make it easier to post Facebook status updates from within Apple's apps.

On the Mac software side, there are fewer unknowns. Apple already demonstrated most of the features of OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" in February and said it will go on sale late this summer. It narrows the gap between the PC and phone software packages, making Mac personal computers work more like iPhones.

Cook is also expected to announce new Mac models. Intel Corp. has just updated its processor line with faster, less power-hungry chips, and most of Apple's Mac lines haven't had a major update in a year.