Before Monday, the arrival of a 3G iPhone at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference was more than just a rumor; it was basically a foregone conclusion. Trusted gadget blogs proclaimed confirmation from unnamed inside sources; spy photos taken from the bushes surrounding supply depots were posted on the Web, and the usual lineups of fake — or possibly real — photos were easy to find. It was no longer a rumor — it was an expectation. Had Steve Jobs walked off the stage Monday morning without giving the world some firm promises, many hearts and stock portfolios would be in shambles.
