Screenshot of USBDeviceConfiguration.plist

When Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage at D10 earlier this year, he told us that Apple would “double down on secrecy” over unannounced products. Found by TUAW, the latest beta of iOS 6 is lacking references to future Apple devices that usually are what help get the rumor mills going.

In the past, developers would look into the USBDeviceConfiguration.plist to find a list of devices of current and unreleased Apple products. As an example, in iOS 5 betas the “iPhone 4,1″ reference was a then unannounced iPhone, which later materialized into the iPhone 4S. It’s not that the USBDeviceConfiguration.plist isn’t there anymore in these iOS 6 betas, it’s needed to sync and test applications on devices over USB, it’s just that now when you open them up you are presented with the above shot.

Last year, Apple used this file to play a joke on journalists who constantly go over software looking for leaks by putting random fake products in the famed configuration file. Apple added dozens of inaccurate products listings including “iPad10,1,” “iPhone11,3,” and “iPod11,1.” Instead of doing that again, they just listed new products as “Unknown.”

What do you think? Will this slow the rumor mill or just make us look other places? Do you wish Apple would’ve left this for our entertainments sake? Let us know in the comments.

Via: TUAW