Apple’s WWDC is happening this year after all—but it has a new format

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Enlarge / Apple's header graphic for this year's WWDC event. (credit: Apple)

After weeks of speculation that Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) would be canceled this year because of social distancing efforts in the United States meant to stop the spread of COVID-19, Apple announced today that WWDC 2020 will proceed. However, it will have a new, online-only format.

As usual, the event promises early access to “the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS." In the past, that meant talks by Apple engineers and partners on the inner workings of new features in Apple's various software platforms and its developers' toolkit, plus a live keynote for top-level announcements. Apple's press release on WWDC 2020 says there will be "content for consumers, press, and developers" in this 31st annual conference.

“Additional program information will be shared between now and June by email, in the Apple Developer app, and on the Apple Developer website," Apple says. Apple has in the past offered the in-person sessions at WWDC as video streams or downloads in any case, so for the majority of Apple developers—who don't travel physically to WWDC—it seems like things may not look all that different in practice.

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