In one week from now, 5,000 developers will be patiently lining up outside Moscone West in anticipation of this year’s Keynote speech. Everyone is wondering whether Steve Jobs will indeed make the usual appearance or not. Judging by the apparent push, by Apple Executives, to get as many journalists as possible to the event this year – I would safely say that Steve is bound to make an appearance. I mean after all, this is a major launch event. Two new operating systems, for a number of different platforms and potentially new hardware and new cloud services. COME ON! Steve will be there with bells on!

So our first rumour predication for this year’s Keynote is Lion. Well this is not really a rumour, when people like myself have installed the preview versions. It is more than guaranteed that Lion will be let free some time during June. Apple has just released another build of the upcoming Snow Leopard 10.6.8 update. One subtle addition to this build, is an improvement of the Mac App Store in preparation for Lion. Apple is certainly making Lion available through the App Store, all the previews have been exclusively available on the App Store only.

If I had to predict on something ground breaking for Lion, it would have to be something to do with Apple’s new North Carolina Data Centre (remember that one!). I have a feeling that the so called “iCloud” stuff, that Apple has been spending billions of dollars on, will be something of a glue between Macs & iOS devices.

Even though it is only very early in the morning still in San Francisco, I know exactly what I will be doing in exactly a week from now. Lining up for one of the top seats at Moscone West. See you there devs!