Worldwide Developers Conference 2012: Apple Announces Dates, Tickets Sell Out

Time to get 'appy.'

Apple has set the dates for its huge summer event, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

This year's five-day gathering will kick off on June 11 at San Francisco’s Moscone West and will run through June 15.

According to a press release from Apple, the event will focus on Mac and mobile software and will offer developers the chance to attend lectures and workshops hosted by Apple engineers, in addition to other activities.

“We have a great WWDC planned this year and can’t wait to share the latest news about iOS and OS X Mountain Lion with developers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, per the release.

So will Apple trot out any new products at the conference?

Last year, Apple debuted iOS 5, OS X Lion and iCloud at WWDC 2011, so it seems likely that we'll get our first glimpses of iOS 6 on June 11 and perhaps a new look at (and possibly a release date for) the recently announced OS X Mountain Lion.

New rumors suggest that Apple may even launch new MacBook Pros at WWDC 2012.

But don't expect to see the iPhone 5. HuffPost Tech's Jason Gilbert thinks the next iPhone won't show itself until the fall. (Click here to find out why.)

WWDC 2012 tickets, which Apple sells for $1,599 a pop, sold out within two hours on Wednesday. MacRumors reports, "The quick sellout comes even as Apple imposed new restrictions this year limiting ticket sales to registered iOS and Mac developers and limiting the number of passes available per developer group."

For those unable to attend, Apple will post live streams of the event at developer.apple.com/videos.

Also on HuffPost:

Take a look through the slideshow to see some of the exciting new features in Apple's Mac OS X Mountain Lion.

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• Twitter Integration

  One of the biggest surprises is wholesale Twitter integration into the Mac operating system. Apple already shocked many with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/apple-ios-5-twitter-integration-wwdc-2011_n_871940.html" target="_hplink">its announcement that sharing to Twitter</a> -- and not Facebook -- would be baked into iOS, and now it is doubling down on that strategy with Mountain Lion OS X. Many apps, including Safari, Photo Booth, and third-party apps, will have the option to launch a pop-up Twitter window to share whatever it is you're doing. Notifications from Twitter will also appear in the new Mountain Lion Notification Center.

• iCloud Storage

  Apple is expanding the domain of iCloud, the cloud-based storage system for photos, documents and more <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/apple-announces-icloud-wwdc-2011_n_871885.html" target="_hplink">that it introduced with iOS 5 in 2011</a>. Now iCloud will automatically sync the mail, contacts, calendar and documents on your Mac as soon as you update them across all of your devices (if you want it to). Like it does when you register a new iPhone, when you register a new device with OS X Mountain Lion you will go through a sign-up process (or log-in screen) for iCloud.

• Messages Everywhere

  One of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/ios-5-download_n_1006807.html" target="_hplink">most popular</a> (and <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5880593/the-apple-bug-that-let-us-spy-on-a-total-strangers-iphone" target="_hplink">controversial</a>) features of iOS 5 was iMessage, Apple's text message killer -- any device with iOS 5 (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) was able to messages to any other iOS 5 device for free over the mobile network, totally avoiding SMS charges from the carrier. Now Apple is bringing that functionality to the Mac, with a service it's calling "Messages Everywhere." Message will replace iChat and will enable users to send Messages from the Mac to any iOS 5 or Mountain Lion OS X device for free. Conversations in Message will stay up-to-date across all of your devices, regardless of where you're sending and receiving. Those interested can actually <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion/messages-beta/" target="_hplink">download a free Beta version of Message for Mac</a> right now; no word on whether Apple has plans for a Windows version.

• Malware Defense

  Gatekeeper is Apple's defense against malicious apps from getting on your computer. Mountain Lion users will have three options for what kind of applications they can download onto their machines: Any apps at all (as on OS X Lion); only apps from the Mac App Store (the highest security setting); or apps from the Mac App Store or from those with an Apple developer ID (the new default setting). TechCrunch's MG Siegler <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/16/os-x-mountain-lion/" target="_hplink">calls this</a> the most controversial new feature of Mountain Lion: Developers now have to sign up to be a Mac developer, which <a href="https://developer.apple.com/programs/mac/" target="_hplink">apparently will cost $99</a>, before their applications will be able to be downloaded in the default Mountain Lion settings. Those settings, of course, can be changed by the user. Read more about <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion/security.html" target="_hplink">Gatekeeper on Apple's website</a>.

• Synched Reminders

  Another new app with iOS 5, Reminders is a to-do list that will also come to OS X Mountain Lion and will also stay synced across Mac devices with iCloud.

• Notification Center

  The Notification Center from iOS 5 will also come to the desktop on Mountain Lion. Unlike on iOS 5, where your Notification Center appears when you swipe down from the top of the screen, the Notification Center in Mountain Lion will appear from the right side of your monitor. Small notification banners will also pop-up in the upper right hand corner of the screen as the notifications appear, much as they do now.

• 'Share Sheets' Button

  Apple is inserting the Share button from iOS -- the company is calling it "Share Sheets" -- into many of its Mountain Lion apps, most notably Safari. On any webpage, you'll be able to click the Share button and send a link to Twitter, Mail, iMessage, Flickr, Vimeo and several other apps. This was one of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/13/windows-8-pictures_n_960301.html" target="_hplink">big features being touted by Microsoft in Windows 8</a>, and it appears that Mountain Lion OS X will beat them to release with Share Sheets.

• Game Center

  For those that use Game Center -- the Apple social gaming network available for many of the most popular games on iOS devices -- here's some good news: Now you'll be able to sign in and play your Game Center games on your Mac with Mountain Lion. Your Game Center account is the same as your Apple ID and will sync up across all Apple devices.

• AirPlay For Your Mac

  AirPlay for iOS devices allows iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad users to transmit their screens onto their televisions through their Apple TV boxes. Now Mac computers will get AirPlay with Mountain Lion, which Apple is touting as a useful feature for Keynote (its slideshow presentation app) and iMovie.

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Comments

[JohnBryansFontaine]

03:24 PM on 04/26/2012

Ferrari President Meets With Apple’s Tim Cook, Remains Bullish on Hybrid Supercars
By Damon Lavrinc

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/04/ferrari-president-apple/

[bongstradamus]

03:08 PM on 04/26/2012

App-enabled iTV. Going to slaughter Sony and maybe even eat at console sales. Games are the highest selling Apps on both Android and iOS.

[Joel Holloman]

11:31 AM on 04/26/2012

The isheep keep being led..

[1denita]

10:19 AM on 04/26/2012

I meant complaining!

[1denita]

10:18 AM on 04/26/2012

Oh and as for those living wages,thats exactly what they are in those countries.I am tired of everyone complaing.Those ppl line up for those jobs because there are none and it is
good pay for them there!

[1denita]

10:15 AM on 04/26/2012

I am sorry but I love Apple.I tend to think those of you who complain have either never tried or cant afford their products!

[GoWings1771]

11:51 AM on 04/26/2012

Why pay hundreds of dollars more for an apple logo? Apple is over priced and anyone who knows anything, knows that, I wouldn't expect that much from an iSheep..

[bongstradamus]

03:02 PM on 04/26/2012

Performance, quality, consistency. The closed system guarantees better performance for the end user with fewer incompatibilities, hardware variants and OS conflicts.

Its why Apple's sales have grown during a recession. Customers spend a little more to get better quality. Advertising a product as a "cheaper" alternative does not improve the value position, it just leads to decreased margins and lower profits.

[1denita]

03:28 PM on 04/26/2012

Apple products are cutting edge.I dont mind paying more for what I want when I want it not waiting for a knock off brand to come out.Luckily I am a little more fortunate to enjoy the things I want!

[ramonbatt]

09:44 AM on 04/26/2012

NEXT BIG RIP OFF? PLEASE!!!!!! iphone was nothing much different of any other with same aps!! How ever they could have done a better job with some of the most basic keys. Like send is next to (O) & (P) They could have done a better job with arrows to delete. This is just a few!!

[James F Barry]

08:38 AM on 04/26/2012

So Apple going to pay its workers a living wage??????.....I would say no.......

[bongstradamus]

03:05 PM on 04/26/2012

Is your comment going to get the other 99% of the high tech industry also assembling devices at Foxconn to pay the same workers a living wage or move production to America?

Short answer: no.

p.s. $25k a year aint bad in China. Many consider that a living wage.

[James F Barry]

04:25 PM on 04/26/2012

Cop-out......you need to start some where....and according to the WSJ...Apple pays $43 in labor and $141 in parts for each IPad....(remember sub-contractor take a cut of labor cost for there share)......and they charge $699 + sales tax state side.....If your happy making Apple rich...please keep buying from them....I'm sure you also have no issues with Wal-Mart.....

[Deborah Thomas Welch]

07:47 AM on 04/26/2012

apple overrated and overpriced as always

[born 2b different]

08:23 AM on 04/26/2012

I guess that's why their products sell so well.

[GoWings1771]

11:55 AM on 04/26/2012

Hi, would you like to buy this pencil for $1?
or would you like to buy this pencil with an apple logo on it for $100. Yet most of you idiots pick the $100 pencil, even though the $1 pencil does the same thing, if not better things.

[ramonbatt]

09:45 AM on 04/26/2012

I will not be buying their over price CRAPPPP!!!!

[Onutz]

11:37 AM on 04/26/2012

((I will not be buying their over price CRAPPPP!!!!)) But apparently you will be screaming about it.

[Onutz]

02:19 PM on 04/26/2012

((I love McDolalds. At McDonalds you get what you pay and more))

Well, there you have it. You choose pre-fabricated mystery-meat, that's cold and turns to cardboard before taking your first bite, over a decent meal.
Nuff' said. That explains everything.

[Deborah Thomas Welch]

07:47 AM on 04/26/2012

they should invite the families of the 4 dead workers who died making there products for them

[Ryan Tippens]

08:02 AM on 04/26/2012

you've got to be a dem,everything on earth makes you a vicDEM.

[westsider555]

08:56 AM on 04/26/2012

Did you hurt yourself thinking that one through?

[breakingpoint]

07:27 AM on 04/26/2012

anyone seen these Chinese fake Apples, they look great, work just as well and cost half the price

[nightfly4257]

06:28 AM on 04/26/2012

I come to a conclusion, every event is a big event for Apple.

[ramonbatt]

09:49 AM on 04/26/2012

100% right.

[GoWings1771]

12:07 PM on 04/26/2012

The even newer iPad. It's 2 month newer than the OLD one! We didn't change anything besides the background. $10,000 for the 512mb.

[nightfly4257]

09:43 PM on 04/26/2012

I be the first one in line to buy it , after I get a loan from the bank.

[Point Pelee]

03:39 AM on 04/26/2012

Apple is raising the bar for IT, but they don't do it in a vacuum. Competition is the engine driving that innovation ... tech consumers need MS, Google etc, whether they like them or not!

[opantxm]

03:21 AM on 04/26/2012

Steve Balmer should be removed at Microsoft. Everyone on the windows team should be fired.

Windows 8 looks like a toy. It cant figure out if it wants to be an ipad or a real OS. So they're craming them into one crappy product.

Microsoft sucks at everything they do. I cant wait to see them go under completely. Windows 8 will be their last OS.

[William Jamison]

09:51 AM on 04/26/2012

what's interesting is the figures for R&D, Apple vs MSFT.

Microsoft spends twice as much annually, and comes up with nada.

[GoWings1771]

11:59 AM on 04/26/2012

Windows 8 can't figure out if it wants to be an iPad or a real OS? My question for you Mr. Mac fan is, how can software become hardware?

[opantxm]

04:21 PM on 04/26/2012

I use PCs. I dont own a single Mac.

The point is, Microsoft is destroying the desktop with their obsession with the ipad.

[opantxm]

03:19 AM on 04/26/2012

Whats microsoft doing? Dying.

[Mailman]

07:41 AM on 04/26/2012

Remember they said the same thing about Apple in the 90's.

[opantxm]

04:23 PM on 04/26/2012

And they were right!

The difference though is, Apple in the 90s was run by a former Pepsi CEO that knew nothing of technology. They had NO OS, they went begging to Steve Jobs to bring him back because he had NextOS... which has now become MacOS.

Apple only survived because they brought Steve Jobs back. Microsoft on the other hand, can only survive if they get rid of Steve Balmer