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Apple gears up for its 27th annual developer conference
Wed, 20th Apr 2016
FYI, this story is more than a year old

This June, Apple is bringing some of the best developers in the world responsible for a whole slew of apps to San Francisco for its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

The 27th WWDC will take place from June 13-17. At the event, Apple's developer community will learn about the future of Apple's four software platforms: iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. Monday's kickoff events, including the keynote address, will be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The rest of the week's conference sessions will take place at Moscone West.

“With four innovative operating systems and a new, intuitive programming language powering over one billion devices worldwide, there has never been a more exciting time to bring our developer community together,” says Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“WWDC 2016 is going to be a landmark event for developers who are coding in Swift, and building apps and products for iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. We can't wait for everyone to join us - in San Francisco or through the live stream.

WWDC 2016 activities include:

  • More than 1,000 Apple engineers supporting more than 150 hands-on labs and events to provide developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS technologies in their apps;
  • Access to the latest innovations, features and capabilities of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS, and best practices for enhancing an app's functionality, performance, quality and design;
  • The opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS developers from around the world - last year, 80% of developers attended for their first time, and in total, more than 70 countries were represented; 
  • A series of get-togethers for attendees focused on particular topics with special guest speakers and activities;
  • Engaging and inspirational lunchtime sessions with trailblazers and influencers from the worlds of technology, science and entertainment; and
  • The Apple Design Awards which recognise iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

Worldwide Developers Conference sessions will be streamed live throughout the week via the WWDC website and through the WWDC app, giving developers around the world access to the week's news and events.

Developers can apply for tickets via the WWDC website now through Friday, 22 April. Tickets will be issued to attendees through a random selection process, and developers will be notified on the status of their application by Monday, 25 April.

For the second consecutive year, there will be up to 350 WWDC Scholarships available, giving students and STEM organisation members from around the world an opportunity to earn a ticket to meet and collaborate with some of the most talented developers of Apple's ever-growing app ecosystem. Additionally, this year, Apple will provide travel assistance to up to 125 scholarship recipients to help aspiring developers with financial limitations have an opportunity to participate.