WWDC has gone online-only thanks to COVID-19, but Apple is still kicking it off on June 22nd with a bang. That bang being a keynote presentation streamed from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino.
The keynote usually introduces new versions of Apple’s operating systems and sometimes new hardware. After that, Apple’s formerly in-person classes and introductions to new developer tools will be online-only. While the keynote will be open to everyone, the developer sessions will only be available with an Apple Developer account. For engineers used to paying thousands of dollars to attend WWDC, this is certainly a money saver, but can’t capture the fun and excitement of a developer conference.
We can expect updates to iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and potentially a new iMac. Apple will provide a public livestream on Apple’s website, the Apple Developer app, and the Apple Developer website. They’ll stream other events exclusively in the Apple Developer app and website, btu the keynote livestream is for everyone.
Software-Side
On the new software side, we can expect iOS 14, macOS 10.16 (I really wish they’d just go to 11, as they don’t call it “OS X” anymore anyway), tvOS 14 (it’s based off of iOS), and watchOS 7. We don’t know a much about these yet. However, thanks to a few leaks, we know more about iOS 14 than the other platforms.
iOS 14 will likely include a new home screen with widgets and more customization capabilities. It’ll also add support for Apple’s new Find My app capabilities and Apple’s “Tiles” for tracking items like keys and wallets. It may involve improvements for AR, as Apple will be focusing on AR in the next few years. We also may see translation within Safari.
Hardware-Side
Not much is known here. We do expect that, if Apple reveals new software for their Tiles, that, obviously, their tracking Tiles will make their debut. Outside of that, we could see some huge changes on the Mac.
First, the iMac may finally get an update that makes it look different than the previous generations. Slightly different, anyway. Supposedly, the new iMac will copy the design language of the iPad Pro. That means we could get a device with slim bezels, flat edges, and a floating display design. I still wish we could get the iMac G4 with a 21-inch or larger touchscreen surface with Apple Pencil support, but Apple’s been reluctant to release anything that adds touch or Apple Pencil support to the Mac, despite demand from artists. It would be the perfect studio tool, I’ll never understand why Apple has shied away from it.
Secondly, Apple could introduce their first ARM-based Macs. While these would be terrible for developers, and could splinter the Mac platform, they would offer outstanding speed and battery life for Apple’s MacBook Air lineup. These slim, consumer-level Macs would work perfectly with Apple’s ARM-based processors, which we usually see in their iOS devices and the Apple TV. As a software engineer, I’m not excited about this prospect, but many users would love to have a device that’s fast and battery efficient, something Intel’s processors haven’t been able to provide.
June 22nd, 10am PDT, 1pm EDT
No need to fly to sunny California! You can attend WWDC from you home office. Or your couch. Okay, fine, your bed, because, honestly, why even leave bed these days? For those of you who have lost track of the date, the day of the week, or time itself, welcome to the club! We’ve been meeting for the past unknown number of time units. But if you want to tune in to WWDC 2020, it’s in 10 days, on June 22nd. That’s a Monday. Not this Monday, which is in just 1 weekend away, but the Monday after that. It’ll start at 10am on the west coast, which is 1pm on the east coast.
What are you most excited for?