Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is scheduled for June 7, and on Monday the iPhone-maker revealed that the all-important keynote address for WWDC 2021 will be held at 10 a.m. PDT on that day. This is almost certainly when they wraps will come off the next major upgrades for iOS, macOS and the company’s other operating systems.
New hardware is possible but far from certain.
The conference is virtual this year because of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. But that opens up attendance to far more people. Apple says WWDC 2021 “will be available free to the more than 30 million Apple developers from 227 regions around the globe.”
Looking forward to iOS 15, macOS 12 and more
When Apple first announced the date for this conference, it promised, “unique insight into the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.” WWDC is the traditional venue to announce the next version of each of these. And that’ll surely happen in a glitzy keynote starring CEO Tim Cook, software chief Craig Federighi and other executives.
Expectations are high — especially for iPadOS 15 — but Apple has kept a tight rein on rumors. Little is known about what’ll be in iOS 15, macOS 12 or any of the other platforms.
WWDC 2021: It’s all about developers
While the WWDC 2021 keynote will attract most of the attention of iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch users, the conference is primarily for developers.
Also on June 7, at 2 p.m. PDT, Apple will deliver its traditional Platforms State of the Union. During that event, the company will “take a deeper dive into the new tools, technologies, and advances across Apple platforms.”
During the week-long conference, Apple will host more than 200 in-depth sessions, one-on-one labs and more. Beginning June 8, session videos will go up each day. They will be available in the Apple Developer app and on the Apple Developer website.
Plus, those in the Apple Developer Program can request one-on-one access to Apple engineers and designers so they can write better software for iOS 15, macOS 12, etc.
New for WWDC 2021 are virtual Pavilions intended to provide an easy way for developers to explore relevant sessions, labs, and special activities for a given topic. These include SwiftUI, Developer Tools, Accessibility & Inclusion, and more.
New hardware?
The Worldwide Developers Conference is not a typical place to unveil new Macs or other hardware. It’s supposed be be focused on software. But it has certainly happened. Apple unveiled the 2019 Mac Pro at WWDC, for example. And the HomePod debuted at the 2017 event.
It might happen again: Apple tipster Jon Prosser suggested recently via Twitter that new hardware might be on the docket for Worldwide Developers Conference 2021.
remember how we usually don’t get hardware at wwdc?
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) May 21, 2021
Source: Apple
