Apple confirms WWDC 2020 will be held online amid coronavirus outbreak

A grey background with three stickers: on the left, a sticker saying "hello" in cursive; in the center, a shiny silver Apple logo; and on the right, a sticker with "WWDC 2020" written in bold with "WWDC" in black and "2020" in green and tan colors, reflecting the virtual event organized by Apple during the coronavirus outbreak.

The new online format will be “packed with content for consumers, press and developers alike,” and is designed to protect attendees and Apple staffers from the potential spread of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The company had already put the brakes on its rumored March event, where it was due to unveil new iPhones, iPads, and even potentially a Tile-like Bluetooth tracker device, but those products could now come in June.

With Apple teasing a new MacBook in the WWDC 2020 artwork, its 14-inch MacBook Pro could be just around the corner.

Speaking of the conference, Apple said: “Now in its 31st year, WWDC 2020 will take on an entirely new online format packed with content for consumers, press and developers alike.

“The online event will be an opportunity for millions of creative and innovative developers to get early access to the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS, and engage with Apple engineers as they work to build app experiences that enrich the lives of Apple customers around the globe.”

Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, added: “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.”

Alongside the announcement of the conference, Apple has confirmed it will donate $1 million to local San Jose organizations to offset associated revenue loss as a result of WWDC 2020’s new online format. Thousands of journalists, developers, and technology fans typically flock to the area for the week-long conference, held in June.

Are you pleased to see Apple take this path? Let us know over on social media and check back soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple and everything WWDC 2020, every week. 

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