Apple will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on schedule this yr, with the occasion kicking off on June 7 and concluding on June 11. Like final yr, it will be an online-only affair as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. All the occasion’s choices will be free for anybody who has an Apple developer account.
The firm usually makes use of this occasion to announce new versions of its numerous working techniques (macOS, iPadOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS) and element the software program’s new options and adjustments. WWDC is typically, although not all the time, used to announce new {hardware} merchandise, too, and it is typically the occasion Apple makes use of to clarify very main adjustments in path, ought to they be imminent. For instance, Apple revealed the particulars of its custom-made silicon transition at final yr’s convention.
Apple’s press release notes that the common elements will be there. There will be a keynote to kick issues off, adopted by “state of the union” shows that drill deeper on every platform. Then, Apple will supply video classes on particular options—utilizing the Metal graphics API to make augmented actuality purposes, in a single hypothetical instance—all through the week. The convention will additionally embody one-on-one lab appointments “providing technical steering” to builders, Apple says.
As is customary for bulletins like this, Apple supplied a press release from an organization govt to coincide with the information.
“We love bringing our builders collectively annually at WWDC to find out about our newest applied sciences and to attach them with Apple engineers,” mentioned Susan Prescott, Apple’s vp of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing. “We are working to make WWDC21 our largest and greatest but and are excited to supply Apple builders new instruments to assist them as they create apps that change the approach we reside, work, and play.”
WWDC21 will additionally see the return of the Swift Student Challenge, whereby college students are inspired to “create an interactive scene in a Swift playground that may be skilled inside three minutes.” Swift Playgrounds is a coding sandbox app for Macs and iPads Apple makes use of to introduce individuals to Swift, the Objective-C-derived programming language that’s more and more used to make apps for iPhones and different Apple units. Winners of the Swift Student Challenge will obtain “unique WWDC21 outerwear and a pin set,” Apple’s press launch says.
As all the time, we’ll be masking the occasion and all its bulletins reside right here at Ars Technica.
