![]() WWDC is all about software updates with new hardware sprinkled in from time to time. More importantly, an event structure reminiscent of a movie premiere offers a good combination of virtual benefits such as the well-polished taped presentation with animated transitions that can never be replicated in real time and in-person perks like a product demo area. Apple has gotten really good at putting on these massive events. ![]() All-in-all, the format worked well, with meticulous planning and preparation throughout. Apple likely hopes it will be able to host the event inside Steve Jobs Theater. My suspicion is that Apple will rely on the event structure again, including in September with the upcoming product event. However, the face-to-face interactions and social elements that developers experience have been sorely missed the past two years. There are clear benefits found with having a virtual WWDC, such as a significant increase in accessibility. The largest screen that Apple relied on to show the presentation was shockingly good – the clearest big screen I have ever come across, while the sound system made it seem like I was in an indoor event.Īs for why Apple went through the trouble of having ~1,000 developers come on campus despite having an all-virtual WWDC with labs and sessions occurring online, the company missed the community aspect that had become a WWDC tradition. The delay seemed intentional, possibly as a way to encourage live blogging / tweeting since there didn’t seem to be any other reason for starting it early. Interestingly, Apple began airing the taped keynote three minutes earlier than the public streaming. For those events, Apple was careful not to have any visitors stray to other parts of the campus. All prior Apple Park events for the press took place at Steve Jobs Theater which is located on the other side of Apple Park. The event also served as Apple’s first “open house” for its massive circular ring building at Apple Park. In terms of Apple employees, my best count was that 2,000, possibly even as many as 2,500, watched the keynote. As for developers, there were approximately 1,000. My estimate is there were 200 to 250 members of the press and media in attendance, including some international press. There was a waiting area for press, hundreds of Apple Retail greeters with an infectiously-positive mood, and a product demo area for the media following the keynote. Excluding the masks and hand sanitizer stations, it felt like a usual in-person Apple event. ![]() The best way of describing the event at Apple Park was Apple getting back into the swing of hosting in-person events. Earlier this month, I flew out to Cupertino to attend Apple’s in-person WWDC event.
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