Apple WWDC 2020 live blog
The Worldwide Developers Conference is where Apple outlines the new software features for the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod and the rest of its hardware. Expect news on iOS 14 and much more.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:39:08 PMHello all! Thanks for tuning in for our live coverage of Apple's WWDC keynote.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:40:07 PMThere's a little pre-show video chat happening above, and then Ian Sherr and I will be offering you live hand-typed commentary as we go.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:43:02 PMThe event itself starts at 1 p.m. ET, which is 18 minutes from now, and I believe it's the first online-only keynote Apple has held so far during the COVID-19 crisis.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:43:31 PMPrevious Apple announcements earlier in 2020 were relegated to just press releases.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:44:56 PMIf you plan on having the actual Apple livestream going in another browser window or tab, it looks like it's live now, showing a rotating image of the Earth, with some soothing drone-like music.
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Sarah Tew 6/22/2020 4:45:49 PM
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:46:11 PMHey everyone! Just finished up with Lexy, Vanessa and Patrick on CNET's watch show:
Apple WWDC 2020: How to watch today's livestream
CNETWWDC starts today at 10 a.m. PT. Tune in for live coverage of new Macs, MacOS, WatchOS 7, iOS 14 and everything else Apple announces. -
Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:46:41 PMWe'll be doing the liveshow throughout Apple's event. We can't re-stream the event unfortunately, but we'll be having live analysis as it's happening at the link below.
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:47:21 PMIf you're wondering about the biggest change we're expecting from Apple today, I predict it will be the chips inside:
Signs point to a big WWDC announcement
CNETApple's computers are about to radically change on the inside and possibly on the outside too. -
dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:47:55 PMWhy, hello Ian!
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:48:15 PMWe've been hearing rumors Apple will switch out the chips it's had in its computers for years. There're a lot of implications for this. But to set the stage, Apple's been using Intel chips since 2005, when it switched away from IBM's PowerPC
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:49:09 PMHey Dan! I bet you remember when Apple did the switch from PPC to Intel -- If I remember correctly, I saw you with slightly longer hair (but not a mullet) doing reviews of the first Intel Macs. What did you think Apple did right in that transition?
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:49:35 PMThis is exciting, I don't know that I've done a liveblog with just Ian and I before. Think of this as listening in on a behind-the-scenes convo with us, which is pretty much what it sounds like.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:49:57 PMI'll have to find that link -- one of the first things I remember working on at CNET, oh so many years ago, was the very first "MacBook."
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:50:12 PMWhich was when Apple switched from PowerPC chips to Intel.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:51:12 PMIn fact, I just did a story for CNET's 25th anniversary, looking back at our reviews of various "firsts." https://www.cnet.com/news/cnet-25-the-firsts/
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:52:38 PMIncluding the first Intel MacBooks. The Internet Memory Hole has swallowed some of those early reviews, so the best I could find was one from the first or second round of Intel updates, but that still dates back to 2006. https://www.cnet.com/reviews/apple-macbook-2006-model-review/
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:54:07 PMI remember how surprising it was how well the Intel Macs worked. Us nerds knew how much work it takes to make the apps talk to new chips -- these are not small transitions. Think of taking a group of tourists and dropping them in the middle of a new country where no one speaks the language. But Apple built a universal translation tool called Rosetta (smart name, yes) to ease the transition. It worked remarkably well. And there are rumors Apple's applied for trademarks for the tool again this time around.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:55:38 PMNow Ian, a few questions for you -- 1. Are we likely to see an actual announcement of some kind about transition to Apple-designed CPUs today?
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:56:00 PM2. If so, will Apple, or anyone from the company, use the term "ARM" on stage?
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 4:56:42 PM3. Again, if so, will this be a full line switch, or more like, "Starting next year, this one Mac will have an ARM-based variant."
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:57:58 PM1. I think we'll see the announcement. 2. Heck no. 3. I'm curious.
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:58:29 PMThere are signs that ARM chips are getting crazy powerful. Today, we published a story about how ARM chips are helping to power supercomputers now:
Worried about Arm-based Mac horsepower? The fastest supercomputer's chips show what's possible
CNETThe same processor family that powers phones and likely the next generation of Apple computers is at the heart of the world's fastest machine. -
Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 4:59:40 PMSo if I was a betting man, I'd say Apple will eventually switch over. But I'm seeing a lot of chatter in the Mac-o-sphere that it won't be over the 12-18 months Apple did the first transition. I think switching out MacPro chips for example will be tough -- a lot of people just bought that $5K computer when it was released last year. Switching now would look... iffy.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 5:00:00 PMAnd yet, this is the theme I'll be returning to a few times today, people have been trying to put ARM chips in Windows laptops for years.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 5:00:09 PMAnd they all suck.
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:01:14 PMOK, the keynote is beginning -- and it seems that it was likely prerecorded. Tim cook is beginning it.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 5:01:19 PMSounds like we're starting. Keep your browser tab right here and follow along with Ian and myself -- btw, I'm Dan Ackerman and you can always find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/danackerman
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 5:01:33 PMAs I imagined, it's basically pretaped.
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:01:51 PM"We have not stopped innovating, doing the work that will enrich people's lives for years to come." Cook says. He notes that the company continues working during the virus.
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:02:21 PMHe wants to start by talking about racism. "While the events of this past month or sadly not new. They have caused us to face longstanding institutional inequalities and social injustices," he says.
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Sarah Tew 6/22/2020 5:02:23 PM
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:02:48 PM"This country was founded on the principles of freedom and equality for all," he adds. "For too many people and for too long, we haven't lived up to those ideals."
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:03:32 PMHe notes the $100 m commitment Apple made to social justice issues earlier. He adds that Apple wants to be a force for change
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Sarah Tew 6/22/2020 5:04:07 PM
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:04:31 PMNow on to the coronavirus. He talks about the "profound impact" Apple products have had. "People are relying on them more than ever to remain connected to family and friends, to do their work, to express their creativity, to be entertained as well as to entertain others."
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:05:21 PMHe also notes that this year's WWDC is available to everyone for free for the first time. "So even though we can't be together in person, in some ways, we're going to be more together than ever. Today, we're going to push each of our platforms forward and some exciting and breakthrough ways."
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:05:49 PMNow Craig Federighi, head of software engineering, is "on stage."
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Sarah Tew 6/22/2020 5:05:56 PM
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Ian Sherr 6/22/2020 5:05:58 PMHe starts by announcing iOS 14.
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Sarah Tew 6/22/2020 5:06:00 PM
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Sarah Tew 6/22/2020 5:06:06 PM
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 5:06:15 PMJumping right in with the OS updates. Again, very highly produced, easy to follow, but clearly not as impactful as being there in front of a live audience.
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dan.ackerman 6/22/2020 5:06:58 PMReally, though, it's the right way to start, as even though we talk a lot about Apple hardware, iPhones, Macs, etc. the company's innovation is so driven by software it's really the most important thing.