Apple Gearing Up for Largest Worldwide Developer's Conference Starting June 22

WWDC20 to include keynote address, Platforms State of the Union, 100+ engineering sessions, all-new Developer Forums, 1-on-1 labs with more than 1,000 Apple engineers, and more

Kicking off with a keynote on June 22nd at 10 a.m. PDT, Apple’s WWDC20 will be the biggest WWDC to date, bringing together the global Apple developer community of more than 23 million in an unprecedented, virtual way, from June 22 to 26. In its 31st year, Apple’s WorldWide Developer Conference (WWDC) includes a familiar line up and schedule with additional engineering and hands-on sessions.

Special Event Keynote
June 22, 10 a.m. PDT

Apple shares its latest updates and innovations coming to all Apple platforms later this year. Streaming directly from Apple Park via apple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple Developer website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube, this session will also be available for on-demand playback after the conclusion of the stream. For viewers in China, the keynote will also stream on Tencent, iQIYI, Bilibili and Youku.

Platforms State of the Union
June 22, 2 p.m. PDT

Dive deeper into the latest advances across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS with Apple’s engineers. The State of the Union will be available on demand via the Apple Developer app and the Apple Developer website. It will also be available for playback on Tencent, iQIYI, Bilibili and YouKu for viewers in China.

100+ Engineering Sessions
June 23 to 26

Starting June 23, developers can learn how to build the next generation of apps with more than 100 technical and design-focused sessions helmed by Apple engineers. Videos will be posted each day at 10 a.m. PDT and will be available in the Apple Developer app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, as well as on the Apple Developer website.

All-New Apple Developer Forums
Redesign coming June 18

The all-new Apple Developer Forums will connect the developer community with more than 1,000 Apple engineers to answer questions and engage in technical discussions. Starting the first day of WWDC, anyone can search and view the forum discussions to follow along, and Apple Developer Program members will be able to post their own questions and learn directly from Apple experts.

1-on-1 Developer Labs (by appointment)
June 23 to 26

Developers will be able to request an appointment with the Apple engineers who helped build the latest advances in Apple platforms, offering one-on-one technical guidance and in-depth details on how to implement new features. Developer Labs will be open to Apple Developer Program members as space is available.

On June 16, Apple will celebrate student developers from all over the world with the announcement of finalists in the Swift Student Challenge, an opportunity for students of all ages to showcase their love of coding by creating their own Swift playground.

Developers are encouraged to download the Apple Developer app where additional WWDC20 information will be shared ahead of June 22. Information will also be made available on the Apple Developer website and by email.

View our previous WWDC coverage here and by searching our site. We’ll provide more insight and in-depth coverage during the event!

How Can Spotify Offer a Great Podcast App? Let’s Take a Look

The streaming music giant has shared its ambitions of becoming the world’s biggest and most popular podcasting platform. Here are six suggestions.

Image via Spencer Camp at Prototypr.io — Image via Spencer Camp at **Prototypr.io**

Spotify recently announced its acquisition of both Gimlet Media and Anchor, boosting up its podcasting abilities significantly. The podcasting industry is expected to grow to $700 million by 2020 in the United States alone. While Spotify has declared its intention to dominate the podcasting space, there are some things the company will need to do to become a podcasting haven.

Separate podcasts and music

Spotify’s web app works very well, but once you go to mobile, the podcast tab currently is unwieldy. Finding your podcasts is not easy either as you have to go to your library and search in there. Spotify can benefit from clearly distinguishing between podcasts and music and making podcasts easier to discover and explore.

Create charts, reviews and ratings

Spotify currently offers top charts for music, but is very limited when it comes to podcasts apart from an annual best list, trending and top podcast charts. Some possible improvements include adding top charts for every show category and top podcasts, like Apple does. Other possible features include allowing people to rate shows and leave reviews.

Offer personalized playlists

Spotify made discovering personalized music easy and fun with its weekly playlists through Discover Weekly. Creating something similar with podcasts could help users find new podcasts. Often listeners find about podcast shows through friends, but having a direct, personal way to discover music would be appealing. NPR One app already offers this feature with personalized playlists based on a person’s listening habits.

Offer monetization options

Prior to its acquisition by Spotify, Anchor had announced a sponsorship feature where any podcaster could request a sponsorship. This allows a podcast creator to earn some money, while Anchor took a 30 percent fee. Podcasters usually have to partner with a larger podcast network to receive any ads or work very hard to even be noticed.

Provide private feeds

Private feeds enable individuals and companies to build and release internal podcast shows. Currently, Spotify does not offer this option. Apple lets you add podcasts via an RSS link.

Add call-in features like Anchor currently has

Similar to radio, Anchor offered users the opportunity to interact with their hosts. A podcast creator can field calls from listeners and even add people to conversations. When the call is completed, the podcast host can share transcribed video on social media.

By addressing the essential needs of podcast creators from content creation to distribution, monetization and interaction with listeners on one unified platform, Spotify can become a podcasting haven.

The App Economy

If the Industrial Revolution was transformative, consider how much the App economy has changed the world. Apps can be used in any industry today, while offering personalized experiences.

Time to reach 50 million users:

Electricity - 100 years

Television - 13 years

AppStore - 17 months

Apple reported that customers spent over $322 million in the App Store on New Year’s Day 2019 alone, setting a new single-day record.