Apple announces WWDC as virtual event, where it will reveal latest updates for iPhone, Macs and more

Event will happen at the end of June, as usual – though entirely online

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during the 2019 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center on June 03, 2019 in San Jose, California (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Apple has announced the date for its Worldwide Developers Conference, where it will announce new updates for the iPhone, Mac and more.

The conference will begin on 22 June, Apple said. That will also be the date of its main keynote, where it shows off new software updates and products.

The company will host the event virtually for the first ever time, with developers invited to watch from home. Usually, its WWDC event sees developers come to California from across the country, but that has been cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Apple did not give precise details of what those online events would look like, and promised more updates in June.

But it did make clear that it will hold its regular keynotes, during which Apple reveals operating system updates for all of its products, as well as occasionally revealing new hardware.

Apple usually livestreams though keynotes, though in previous years they have happened in front of an audience.

“WWDC20 will be our biggest yet, bringing together our global developer community of more than 23 million in an unprecedented way for a week in June to learn about the future of Apple platforms,” said Apple marketing head Phil Schiller in a statement.

“We can’t wait to meet online in June with the global developer community and share with them all of the new tools we’ve been working on to help them create even more incredible apps and services. We look forward to sharing more details about WWDC20 with everyone as we get closer to this exciting event.”

Further information will be made available through the Apple Developer app, the company said, and that will be a hub for details including the timings for keynotes and the developer sessions. Information will also be sent out by email, Apple said.

Apple also announced that it would hold a competition on Swift Playgrounds, its iPad app for teaching children to code. Children will be encouraged to enter by creating and submitting an interactive scene, and the winners will get the jacket and pin set that would have been given to attendees if the event was happening.

The event is happening a little later in the month than usual. Apple tends to hold the event in the first week of June.