Apple to live-stream next week's WWDC keynote
In a brief message on the company's website yesterday, Apple noted that the keynote would be webcast. Apple has publicly broadcast the WWDC keynote on a regular basis and done the same with other events where it has introduced major new products, such as earlier this year when it launched the Apple Watch.
As it usually does, Apple will limit the webcast to those using Safari on OS X or iOS, or through its Apple TV box. Windows users will be out in the cold unless they have a virtual machine running OS X.
The conference runs June 8-12 in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, Apple's traditional base for its annual developer extravaganza.
Apple's WWDC keynote -- like the developer congresses hosted earlier this year by rivals Google and Microsoft -- generates a wave of news as bloggers, technology websites and mainstream media report on the carefully staged presentation, which the Cupertino, Calif., company uses to tout the impending upgrades to iOS and OS X, trumpet new services and make other big announcements.
Last year, for example, Apple used the keynote to show off tighter ties between its two operating systems. The company also introduced new initiatives to bring home automation and health into its orbit.
Expectations are that Apple will spotlight a revamped Apple TV -- but without a new television- and movie-based service -- introduce a rebranded Beats music-streaming service, and push new SDKs (software development kits) for both the Apple TV and the Apple Watch.
Unless Apple deviates from its well-honed formula, it will also preview a small number of new features in iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 -- and give a name to the latter, perhaps one that evokes last year's Yosemite, and announce that pre-release code of both will be available to developers that day.
CEO Tim Cook has led the keynote the past three years, and should reprise his role next week. Other executives, particularly Craig Federighi, who heads OS X and iOS development and has been the most comedic the last two years, will play supporting roles.
The WWDC keynote will start at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on Monday. The webcast should be available from Apple's home page as well as its events site.