Apple is likely to reveal updated Mac computers, including new MacBook Pro and new Macbook Air, at the World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. WWDC, which is an annual event hosted by the Cupertino-based company for its developer community, will kick off at 10am Pacific Daylight Time (around 10.30pm India time) with a keynote speech from Apple CEOTim Cook.

It is expected that the new MacBooks, which are currently powered by Sandy Bridgeprocessors, will sport the new Ivy Bridge processors launched by Intel in the last few weeks. MacBook Pro is also likely to see a redesign, which will make it slimmer, and may get a very high-resolution display. If Apple decides to adopt the wedge-shaped MacBook Air design for the MacBook Pro, the company may consolidate its laptops under single brand, killing either Air or Pro.

Over the last few years, Apple has steadily emphasized digital downloads and is slowly killing the optical disks. For example, MacBook Air has no CD/DVD slot and the company's latest stable operating software OS X Lion is offered primarily as a digital download. Given this trend, it is likely that Apple's new MacBooks may not have any DVD/CD slots.

Professionals, who prefer Apple computers, will do well to keep a close watch on Apple's keynote today. The company hasn't updated its Mac Pros, the beefy computers used by power users, in nearly two years. Intel launched new powerful Xeon processors earlier this year and there is a chance that Apple may use the opportunity to give something to Mac Pro fans who are disgruntled with the company and have even started a Facebook page called We Want A New Mac Pro. The page has nearly 18000 likes.

WWDC is an event where thousands of developers gather so it is not only about hardware. On the software side, the most significant announcement is likely to be iOS 6, which will power iPhone and iPad. A few days ago a iOS6 banner was spotted at the WWDC venue and it is a safe to assume that Apple's new mobile OS is coming tonight. The software will only be available developers until next-generation iPhone hits market sometime later this year but the early announcements of the mobile OS helps Apple give its app makers a direction.

While it is difficult to predict what Apple may show as part of iOS 6, it is likely to have a deeper integration with Facebook and may feature an improved notification system. The new OS is also certain to have a new 3D map app, which has been developed by Apple to replace Google mapson iOS devices. However, the app may not be available for iPhone and iPad users in India.

Apple is also almost certain to reveal more information about OS X Mountain Lion, which is currently available to developers, and may announce new features for its iCloud service.

Predicting something in advance for Apple event is fraught with danger. There are many rumours around future Apple products but it is extremely unlikely that Apple will talk aboutApple TV, new iPhone or 7-inch iPad at today's WWDC.