Apple has announced that WWDC 2020 will be entirely virtual, with both sessions and the keynote held online. Other tech giants, like Google and Facebook, are shifting their conference structure this year as well, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic caused by a new strain of coronavirus. What does this change mean for Apple users? We’ve got everything you need to know right here.
In previous years, Apple has held the WWDC keynote in a crowded auditorium filled to the brim with developers and press. This year, we’ll all be getting a front-row seat as Apple moves WWDC to an entirely online format. This shift reflects national concern regarding the rapid spread of COVID-19. While it’s hard to know how long the current crisis will last, Apple has decided to play it safe by planning ahead.
Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phill Schiller, said, “The current health situation has required that we create a new WWDC 2020 format that delivers a full program with an online keynote and sessions, offering a great learning experience for our entire developer community, all around the world. We will be sharing all of the details in the weeks ahead.”
Presumably, not much will change for those of us who watch at home. The keynote will be live-streamed, as usual; but without a live audience, the online format may feel dry. Something that WWDC has always had in its favor has been the air of excitement from the audience. Without that key element, the speakers are certainly going to need some extra rehearsal time. However this plays out, it definitely won’t be boring. And you can bet that we’ll be online with live coverage of the event as it unfolds.
