Are you too excited about Apple’s annual WWDC or Worldwide Developers Conference?
Guys, the event is about to start, as it kicks off today at 10 am PDT on 7 June (10:30 PM IST). Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event will be strictly virtual. For the second time in a row, Apple will hold its WWDC virtually.
In addition to the software updates, Apple might also reveal some new hardware. At WWDC, we should get the first look at iOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS 12, tvOS, and iPadOS 15.
Here’s how to watch the keynote live, but we’ll also be covering all the announcements in a live blog.
There are a few things Apple won’t announce – because the company revealed them during its April Spring Loaded event, including the new M1-equipped iMacs and iPad Pros, as well as the Tile-like AirTags trackers. In other words, Apple can focus on software at WWDC 2021, but there could also be some hardware surprises.
On this page, you can find the full schedule for WWDC 2021, along with the highlights of all the new software you can expect to see, from iOS 15 to macOS 12. It is worth mentioning that the final versions of these updates won’t be released until later in the year, but beta versions of many of them may appear at or around WWDC.
There is even a possibility we’ll see new Apple hardware. It is difficult to predict this, but we have listed some possibilities below.
What are the WWDC 2021 dates?
The World Wide Developer Conference kicks off today (June 7) at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST, or at 1am ACT in Australia on June 8. Throughout the course of the week, we will be covering all the announcements. Stay tuned guys!!
According to Apple, WWDC 2021 will be held from June 7 to June 11. Like last year, the event will be held purely online. Although the event lasts multiple days, we expect the majority of announcements to occur on the first day.
We’d already predicted those dates, as it occurs every year in June, and usually takes place during the first full week of June, which will be June 7-11 this year.
How to stream this event live?
Apple has already set up a YouTube link for the event. A link for the event is also available on the page for viewers who want to set reminders. You can also watch the Apple developer conference live on the company’s official website.
According to Apple’s official page for the event, the stream is best viewed with an iPhone 7 or later, iPad (5th generation) or iPod touch (7th generation) running Safari on iOS 12 or later; or an Apple Mac running Safari on macOS Mojave 10.14 or later.
What to expect at WWDC 2021?
Software is the main theme of WWDC, with Apple’s next version of all their major operating systems will be typically showcased. That means we have at least a general idea of what the updates will be, even if we don’t know exactly what they will include. Here are the things you can expect.
iOS 15
The release of iOS 15 is almost certainly going to be announced at WWDC 2021, but it’s not likely to happen until September. In any case, the developer beta will likely be announced soon, with the public beta following not too long after.
It is likely that Apple will update and improve its core apps and services, such as Siri and Maps. Inside sources have mentioned that Messages, Safari, Health, and Maps are in line for major updates.
The iOS 14 update introduced some major new features like an App Library and home screen widgets, but whether iOS 15 will bring any fundamental updates or if it will focus on improving what’s already there remains to be seen.
iPadOS 15
As well as iOS 15, Apple is expected to announce iPadOS 15 at WWDC 2021. According to recent rumors, iPadOS 15 features future multitasking improvements and the ability to customize home screens with widgets.
Apple is likely to include many of the same features and improvements in iOS 15, along with some specific updates targeted at tablets as well.
We’d also expect iOS 15’s developer beta to begin soon after the announcement, followed by the public beta and then a full launch in September.
macOS 12
Apple will also probably introduce macOS 12, the next generation of its popular operating system, at WWDC. As is the case with the other software that’s been revealed, this is likely to not hit computers until well after the end of the year in its final form.
watchOS 8
WWDC 2021 won’t just bring new software for phones and tablets – wearables, including watchOS 8, are expected to make an appearance there.
It is anticipated that every new Apple Watch model that gets watchOS 8 (i.e. Apple Watch 3 and newer) will support it. It’s possible that one of the updates will include an app devoted to your mental health, called Mind.
Furthermore, we expect there to be new watch faces, and we believe the Health app from iOS will make it across – but that’s only speculation.
tvOS 15
The latest version of tvOS is probably also going to make an appearance at WWDC 2021, especially since tvOS was mentioned in Apple’s announcement of WWDC 2021.
Verifier reports that this may feature a refreshed design and children’s mode complete with parental controls and tools for managing screen time. However, we should take all of that with a pinch of salt until further notice.
New devices
Even though WWDC is primarily an event about software, sometimes we also see hardware there.
In terms of what we might see, there’s no real news and there’s no guarantee there will be any hardware, though some possibilities include a new MacBook Air or maybe just a new Mac chipset.