Apple's Virtual Worldwide Developers Conference Will Begins on June 22nd
For the first time, Apple will host its Worldwide Developers Conference virtually, beginning June 22.
The company in March decided to make the conference, which is usually held in San Jose, California and attracts more than 5,000 attendees, an online-only event due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The slight delay to the event likely also pushes back Apple’s software testing cycle, which could be another indicator of this year’s iPhones launching several weeks later than usual, according to reports.
The virtual event will be streamed on the Apple Developer app and on the Apple Developer website for free for all developers. The company also announced the Swift Student Challenge, an opportunity for student developers to showcase their love of coding by creating their own Swift playground. Now in its 31st year, WWDC20 will be an opportunity for developers around the world to get early access to the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, and to learn from Apple engineers.
Swift Playgrounds is an app for iPad and Mac that makes learning the Swift programming language interactive and fun. Now through 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 17 / 07:59 a.m BST on May 18, student developers from all over the world can submit to the Swift Student Challenge by creating an interactive scene in a Swift playground that can be experienced within three minutes. Winners will receive an exclusive WWDC20 jacket and pin set. For more information, visit developer.apple.com/wwdc20/swift-student-challenge.
Apple encourages developers to download the Apple Developer app where additional WWDC20 program information — including keynote and Platforms State of the Union details, session and lab schedules, and more — will be shared in June. Information will also be made available on the Apple Developer website and by email.
Facebook, Microsoft and Alphabet Inc’s Google have also canceled or moved their software developer conferences online due to the pandemic.