WWDC Sells Out for the First Time in History

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/05/14/180303-sold.png

Apple confirmed to Macworld (http://www.macworld.com/article/133468/2008/05/wwdcsoldout.html?t=201) that the 2008 Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) has sold out for the first time. "Response to this year's WWDC has been off the charts and we are delighted with the show of enthusiasm and support from the developer community for the new iPhone SDK," Apple spokesman Bill Evans told Macworld. "The conference is now sold out. For those unable to attend WWDC, session videos will be available to purchase on iTunes shortly after the conference."
Apple declined to provide an exact tally for the record-breaking attendance. Certainly, opening the conference up to iPhone developers has increased interest in Apple's developer conference.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/14/wwdc-sells-out-for-the-first-time-in-history/)

[callmemike20]

Amazing.


Btw, I switched to a mac back in August of 2007. Does macrumors have live coverage of WWDC? Or do I have to wait till later that day to know what happened?

[Mykbibby]

That's ridiculous... that 3G iPhone has been hyped to the max!!!

That's cool they're posting to iTunes though... but still...

3G iPhone? iTablet? MacBook Pro? So Many Questions, So Few Answers!!!

[nakile]

How many people normally attended WWDC?

[Tallest Skil]

Congrats, Apple! Bravo!

MacTablet, please.

[Shoesy]

3g iphone? That's the first I've heard of it.

Not. :)

[gcortega]

Because everyone can't wait to see the new macbook pros!!! :D:D:D

[chrismac00]

Maybe it is about the Mac tablet too! (Hopefully)
:D

[Optimus Frag]

Very encouraging. Can't wait till the new firmware and the Apps store launch within iTunes. Someone should do a sweepstake on how many apps will launch day. I'll be conservative and say between 45 and 60.

[cazlar]

This could be good news for me. I program stuff mostly for personal use at work, but can't justify paying for the full dev program, or to go to WWDC. I've always been envious of the WWDC sessions/videos though as I gather they are pretty useful. Now I can watch them online, hopefully for not too much money.

@ callmemike20:
Yep, live coverage of Keynote usually. But not the rest of the sessions of course.

[Sijmen]

Hey, that will be a great trial for the European video store ;)

[Porco]

Could this be from a rejected Apple Ad campaign?

"So if you wanted to go to WWDC 2008 but can't, but you can always call someone who is there to find out what is going on... you know, on a brand new 3G iPhone.

Um, but that's them on the new iPhone, not you, sorry."

[callmemike20]

I hope arn got his tickets in advance...

[twoodcc]

wow, this is great! i guess the iPhone has had a big impact

[Niiro13]

I wish I could have signed up =(. So expensive :(.

[Consultant]

This could be good news for me. I program stuff mostly for personal use at work, but can't justify paying for the full dev program, or to go to WWDC. I've always been envious of the WWDC sessions/videos though as I gather they are pretty useful. Now I can watch them online, hopefully for not too much money.

@ callmemike20:
Yep, live coverage of Keynote usually. But not the rest of the sessions of course.

Actually, due to the bandwidth requirements of all those interested, there hasn't been live coverage for quiet awhile now.

[arn]

ya, no live video stream. We'll be covering the keynote live with MacRumorsLive. text + photos.

arn

[nagromme]

Reminds me of this article from a year ago about developers drifting away from Windows (often toward Linux):
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=18448

If you believe that survey, the number of Windows developers is shrinking rather than growing. I bet that's not true of Mac OS X or OS X Touch (or whatever name they will eventually get around to choosing).

[Diode]

Lol I want to see people trying to scalp this event ... that will be the day.

[Rocketman]

A sellout is truly spectacular indeed. If that happens twice we will know this Macintosh + iPhone thing is not a fad.

Rocketman

[Yuppi]

I am so looking forward to see the keynote.. Only 25 days to go :)
I surely don't want to stand in that line for the keynote..
The keynote will be available online later in the evening.
Last year there were 5000 people. I don't think that it is possible to double that number.

[bigjohn]

let's hope it's not all fanboys but actual developers or actual prospective developers

[Eidorian]

Maybe someone will develop some games (http://www.hotheadgames.com/pa.php)...

[MacWarrior]

Will the videos on iTunes cost money to watch?

[kster]

macbook pro redesign?

[imwoblin]

My little voice is telling me that this WWDC is going to be the best conference in years. I have a hopeful feeling lots of new cutting edge technology will be previewed and introduced.

[Tallest Skil]

macbook pro redesign?

Keep your pants on and don't hold your breath. I don't think so.

[kntgsp]

Session videos will be available for purchase


Uh...what? WWDC coverage clips costs money?

Yea I think I'll just watch the free clips on Engadget, Gizmodo, and the hundreds of other tech blogs that will post videos.

[Tallest Skil]

The sessions. Not His Jobsness' keynote.

[The Killer Fuzz]

this is great, Apple has been doing very well lately, so bravo for them! i still want them to redesign the macbook's hardware; i have been waiting and saving up....i already have an iPhone,so, i could care less about 3g, but whatever...

[Tom B.]

Will the videos on iTunes cost money to watch?
http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/05/14/180303-sold.png

But I think it will be just the session videos that you have to pay for. I'm sure the keynote video will be free like the Macworld ones are.

[arn]

Uh...what? WWDC coverage clips costs money?

Yea I think I'll just watch the free clips on Engadget, Gizmodo, and the hundreds of other tech blogs that will post videos.

There won't be any. Everything except the keynote is under NDA.

arn

[freiheit]

Amazing.


Btw, I switched to a mac back in August of 2007. Does macrumors have live coverage of WWDC? Or do I have to wait till later that day to know what happened?

MacRumors and other sites often have live text coverage/minutes, but Apple always posts the video feed later that afternoon for those who prefer to watch.

[Cheffy Dave]

Because everyone can't wait to see the new macbook pros!!! :D:D:D

you guys just got touch pads,:eek: it's MB and Mini's time- :rolleyes:sorry!:D

[Anonymous Freak]

<humor> What Apple neglected to mention is that they've moved WWDC to a small 15-person conference room on the Apple campus. </humor>

That is quite impressive. I wonder what percentage are new-to-Apple developers because of the iPhone, what percentage are long-time Mac developers who have never gone to a WWDC before, and what percentage are really non-developers willing to pay the large fee just to see the keynote?

Oh, and just to clarify...

Apple will likely release a video of the keynote presentation for free on iTunes as a 'podcast', as they have done with previous keynote presentations.

But the "video sessions" that are being referred to are the in-depth sessions designed for developers. The content of these sessions is covered by NDA, so these sessions will *NOT* be made public. Registered developers who have signed an NDA are allowed to purchase copies of these video sessions from the iTunes Store. (I believe they did this last year, too.) The sessions are small(er) presentations (usually) by programmers at Apple, not any of the 'big names', and are highly technical in nature. Basically, think of them like college lectures.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

Amazing.


Btw, I switched to a mac back in August of 2007. Does macrumors have live coverage of WWDC? Or do I have to wait till later that day to know what happened?

They usually have a live thread going.

[guzhogi]

Keep your pants on and don't hold your breath. I don't think so.

What if I don't wear pants? Maybe I'm a nudist.

Seriously, this is great news. Yay for Apple!

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

ya, no live video stream. We'll be covering the keynote live with MacRumorsLive. text + photos.

arn

Thanks a lot Arn. Your efforts are appriciated.

[Stridder44]

Holy crap, that was fast.

[Blunk]

I hope someone stream the live show...

list of links where they have live coverage will be intresting

[L3X]

ya, no live video stream. We'll be covering the keynote live with MacRumorsLive. text + photos.

arn
BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Get Akamai involved and MacRumors will be good to go. www.akamai.com :D

Just playing. Thanks for your work Arn.

btw...i have a ticket on ebay... :D

[kjs862]

Uh...what? WWDC coverage clips costs money?

Yea I think I'll just watch the free clips on Engadget, Gizmodo, and the hundreds of other tech blogs that will post videos.

Deff agree with you. Apple has some nerve charing...:eek:

[Aeroworks]

I'll bet the videos will be a premium too.. I wish i-tunes do what netflix does. I pay 6 bucks a month and have GOBS of movies and TV series i can watch anytime, unlimited.. And still get 1 DVD at a time sent to me..

[winterspan]

Why is this year's WWDC so popular? I mean, it's not like real developers actually care to learn about making iPhone web apps. And is their supposed to be a new iPhone or something?

[louden]

My little voice is telling me that this WWDC is going to be the best conference in years. I have a hopeful feeling lots of new cutting edge technology will be previewed and introduced.

I'll be there! Although at a sold out developer conference, I hate to think of the swarms around the chocolate candy table between sessions...

[Doctor Q]

Why is this year's WWDC so popular? I mean, it's not like real developers actually care to learn about making iPhone web apps. And is their supposed to be a new iPhone or something?
Perhaps Apple, with its multiple product lines, has more marketshare and mindshare that in past years. Or perhaps the market as a whole has grown.

[deggs37]

Wow, that's kind of sad. Here I am thinking this whole time that it has always been sold out?

[infowarfare]

Why is this year's WWDC so popular? I mean, it's not like real developers actually care to learn about making iPhone web apps. And is their supposed to be a new iPhone or something?

!? I hope you are joking. Though I didn't see a wink anywhere I have to assume you are either being sarcastic or you've been completely out of touch.

The reason it is so popular this year isn't because "real developers care to learn about making web apps" it's because real developers will be able to learn about making real apps with the iPhone's SDK.

Now I know you knew this, but some of the slower kids here will think you are serious... right Doctor Q?

[BenRoethig]

Considering that the iphone is a game changer for mobile computing i can understand why. Hopefully we'll be seeing a bunch of new Apps including either mobile iWork or an iPhone version of office mobile. They might also think about a new branding for the iPod touch and iPhone. They've gone well beyond their original scope.

[pellucidity]

I'll be going for the first time this year, and attending mostly the iPhone sessions. Really I'm only going because my company is ADC premier and it's a perk for me, but we may soon be working on iPhone apps.

[Ryanr14]

Keep your pants on and don't hold your breath. I don't think so.

I am planning on getting rid of my macbook pro (santa rosa if anyone is interested) in favor of an iMac and then picking up a macbook once they are redesigned, so please let the redesign happen!!

[MongoTheGeek]

Where I work we have a premier membership. That comes with an coupon for an e-ticket. What I want to know is can I still cash in the coupon for the e-ticket.

I've been to a bunch of these. I want to go back.

So much still to learn.

[queshy]

People are setting themselves up for disappointment. We will see the launch of iTunes App store, firmware update, and 3 G iPhone, but none of the other stuff like the iTablet or whatever. Mark my words!

[Phillyzero]

Here's hoping to some nice surprises during and around that time :D

[stephenli]

Great!
please bring exciting products to us on WWDC!!
I miss the phrase "one more thing" so much.

[italiano40]

can't wait for WWDC and see the new products

[dagamer34]

When do the first Mac banners go up?

[Love]

When do the first Mac banners go up?

They probably won't go up until about a week from the event.

[kjs862]

People are setting themselves up for disappointment. We will see the launch of iTunes App store, firmware update, and 3 G iPhone, but none of the other stuff like the iTablet or whatever. Mark my words!

I think you hit the bullseye, people get way too hyped up over these events. I for one feel that Apple is spreading itself thin, and paying too much attention to their iPhone instead of their mainstream computers.

[Obi-Wan Kubrick]

I am hoping for mac book redesigns, Verizon iPhone at the least.

[macman7002]

Mac Tablet would be really cool, so would a "computer desktop" docking station for the iPhone and iPod Touch!! Hey, should I wait to get a MacBook Pro until after the WWDC? Advice is appreciated! Thanks


Long live  and long live OS X!!

[trevelyn]

I think that place is going to be packed. I think it's going to be bigger than a U2 concert and a potential soccer riot. I expect many hundreds of thousands of people to be there. There are going to be people crowded outside the building all pissed off because they can't get in since the place only holds about 100 people. If Jobs doesn't announce a 3G iPhone I expect the destruction of property, bricks being thrown at passing motorists, looting, the tipping over of cars and molotov cocktail galore. :apple:

[lostngone]

I think that place is going to be packed. I think it's going to be bigger than a U2 concert and a potential soccer riot. I expect many hundreds of thousands of people to be there. There are going to be people crowded outside the building all pissed off because they can't get in since the place only holds about 100 people. If Jobs doesn't announce a 3G iPhone I expect the destruction of property, bricks being thrown at passing motorists, looting, the tipping over of cars and molotov cocktail galore. :apple:


What are you talking about???

What "place" only holds 100 people?

[supaben34]

Although WWDC is getting pretty popular, I find it hard to believe that it is sold out. The conspiracy theorist in me says that this is just a way for Apple to milk some money on iTunes for the session webcasts.

[Bakerman]

Although WWDC is getting pretty popular, I find it hard to believe that it is sold out. The conspiracy theorist in me says that this is just a way for Apple to milk some money on iTunes for the session webcasts.

I doubt it since they would probably make more money on the hefty registration fee ($1300 or so, can't remember) than selling a few sessions on iTunes.

Anyway, this year will be my first WWDC and I'm really looking forward to it!

[trevelyn]

What are you talking about???

What "place" only holds 100 people?

So if you met a guy that could rip a telephone book in half, balance a ladder on his teeth and whistle flight of the bumblebee note for note in 10 seconds the only thing you would question is why he wore a yellow suit?

You need to step back and realize that the entire concept is ridiculous and just simply walk away with understanding you have read something that can not be argued in a logical sense. :D

Anyway. If a tablet and 3G phone is announced and released, I will be buying both! :apple:

[digitalbiker]

Mac Tablet would be really cool, so would a "computer desktop" docking station for the iPhone and iPod Touch!! Hey, should I wait to get a MacBook Pro until after the WWDC? Advice is appreciated! Thanks


Long live  and long live OS X!!

Definitely you should wait. Rumor has it that an all new redesigned macbook pro built around the intel montevina chipset will be introduced at WWDC.

Who knows if the rumor is accurate but I would definitely wait since WWDC is so close. I am going to wait, plus I am hoping that Apple might even introduce a 15" MBA built around the Montevina chipset since it is low power and about the same size as the special chipset used by the MBA 13".

[k2spitfire88]

Great!
please bring exciting products to us on WWDC!!
I miss the phrase "one more thing" so much.

can't wait for WWDC and see the new products

Not to get people upset, but WWDC=World Wide DEVELOPERS Conference, so be careful about anticipating new products, as the whole thing may be all or mostly about current apps and developing apps for :apple:

[Quillz]

Yes, it's a developers' conference, but, after Macworld, it's also probably the best known Apple event. Most people expect a memorable "Stevenote" at WWDC. Besides, WWDC has seen a few product launches. Obviously last year we saw the iPhone, and in 2006 both the Mac Pro and Xserve were announced. And in 2004, just after WWDC, the G5 iMac was released. So clearly over the past few years, WWDC has slowly become larger in scope as Apple has become more popular.

And it makes sense. After all, a developer needs hardware to develop, do they not?

[Quillz]

Reminds me of this article from a year ago about developers drifting away from Windows (often toward Linux):
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=18448

If you believe that survey, the number of Windows developers is shrinking rather than growing. I bet that's not true of Mac OS X or OS X Touch (or whatever name they will eventually get around to choosing).
The number of Windows developers may be shrinking, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that there are exponentially more developers + software on Windows than there is on Linux and Mac OS X. It's equivalent to saying how Mac OS X is gaining market share, yet it still has a tiny amount (still anywhere from 3-7% or so.)

Also, I do believe Apple just calls it the "iPhone OS," as it's basically a modified version of Mac OS X. But the versioning scheme shows that Apple considers iPhone OS to be its own thing, as the upcoming version is 2, as opposed to a 10.5.x deviation.

[Quillz]

There won't be any. Everything except the keynote is under NDA.

arn
Not to mention the videos won't appeal to anyone other than developers, anyway. The average consumer may want to watch the Stevenote, but the actual session videos are largely technical and boring.

Although I do recall someone leaking a vid onto YouTube that basically talked a lot about the underlying technology of Time Machine.

[jettredmont]

let's hope it's not all fanboys but actual developers or actual prospective developers

A WWDC ticket is a lot of money to spend on just being a fanboy!

[tm1000]

Deff agree with you. Apple has some nerve charing...:eek:

Sometimes I wonder how many people actually LISTEN or READ?????

:confused:

[queshy]

I think you hit the bullseye, people get way too hyped up over these events. I for one feel that Apple is spreading itself thin, and paying too much attention to their iPhone instead of their mainstream computers.

ALso, remember last years WWDC? People were speculating...new iPods? MacBook Pro redesign? Ultraportable? etc. Last years WWDC was surely the most disappointing Apple event in a while....half of it was pretty much a recap of what we ALREADY saw about Leopard!

I mean, I'd love some cool new product announcements as much as the next person, but we shouldn't get all riled up about these ballpark expectations some are having. I hope I'm wrong, though, hah.

[winterspan]

That is quite impressive. I wonder what percentage are new-to-Apple developers because of the iPhone, what percentage are long-time Mac developers who have never gone to a WWDC before, and what percentage are really non-developers willing to pay the large fee just to see the keynote?


Just thought I'd share that I'm a recent convert that is just starting to get into OSX development. It's funny because in the 15 years of using computers (I'm 24 now) I had never owned a Mac, except for a powerbook for a very short time. I remember when I was a little kid my Dad took me to a local reseller shop as we needed a new computer. We looked at the Macs they had that were at the time running "soft windows" or whatever, and TV tuners had just become a big fad. We almost ended up buying one, but my father just couldn't get himself to "cross over to the dark side" , as he also had used PCs since the dark ages. (and no, he's a physician, not a geek.) So I grew up exclusively on DOS/Windows, only using Macs in junior-high and high-school --- I had sworn to never buy a Mac. Over the last 5 years or so, as I got more involved with web development and software development in california, I started to follow the progress of Macs up through the G5.

Fast forward a few years and I now spend an unhealthy amount of time following every post on multiple Apple rumor websites, not least because I have a decent long position in APPL. The next computer I buy will no doubt be the Nehalem Mac Pro and probably the 2nd generation of the Macbook Air (when it has an expresscard slot for 3G modem and USB3/Firewire 3200). I am also starting to become an OSX developer, and am very interested in experimenting with the iPhone.
I am confident that Apple will have an amazing next five years, and we'll see a fundamental shift in the broad computer and consumer electronics market, i.e., anything to do with servers/workstations/home PCs/laptops/ultra-portables/UMPCs/MIDs/cell-phone/etc. Apparently, I took less of a sip, and more of a chug of the kool-aid. :) I know a lot of this is fairly obvious, but I think a big part of this shift that I've also seen in other Windows or Linux eco-system people has been caused by a few things:

1) Macs now use Intel processors. Suddenly, you could continue to use XP for development and for certain crucial apps (Visual Studio, etc) while learning to use OSX on the same machine.

2) Open source software and cross-platform development gained a lot of momentum, including Linux and BSD. You can now run all three major operating systems on one machine.

3) Windows XP lingered for years without any major update.

4) The disaster that is Windows Vista is released upon the world.

5) The iPhone is released, and every developer (and consumer) wants one. It highlights not only the incredible interface design of Apple, but also the strengths of OSX.

end result == More Apple customers and developers than ever, and a sold out WWDC. Also, my PC-stalwart father is going to buy an iPhone and a Macbook Air soon. I think Apple will do just fine over the coming years. :)

[Orup70]

This could be good news for me. I program stuff mostly for personal use at work, but can't justify paying for the full dev program, or to go to WWDC. I've always been envious of the WWDC sessions/videos though as I gather they are pretty useful. Now I can watch them online, hopefully for not too much money.

@ callmemike20:
Yep, live coverage of Keynote usually. But not the rest of the sessions of course.

Unfortunately they will cost you 'a lot of money'. The only way to watch all the WWDC 2007 sessions is to be a premier member ($3,499) or to have a WWDC ticket to watch the missed sessions afterwards. Last year you could watch the Leopard specific sessions (only) as a select member ($499). Apple also sells a package of sessions targeted to 'IT professionals' at $499 (don't need to be developers I think). I don't know how apple will price the sessions this year – but I suspect they will make a package for iPhone developers at least, but they will most likely not come cheap anyway.

You have to remember the WWDC is completely under NDA and you aren't allowed to even blog about what's happening or is presented – except for the keynote speak. Apple presents a lot of confidential information about future features/releases at WWDC and we all know Apple's policies regarding information about future products... :o

But you have all my sympathies! I was in your situation last year and badly wanted to watch the session and other confidential developer documents and information as a "hobby programmer"...

/ Påhl

[Shagrat]

Sometimes I wonder how many people actually LISTEN or READ?????

:confused:

I remember someone once saying something along the lines of...

"We are now living in a post-literate age. It's not that people CAN'T read, it's more that they can't be bothered..."

Wish I could remember who it was!

[chickenninja]

well that makes deciding whether to go very easy

[urbanlung]

So if you met a guy that could rip a telephone book in half, balance a ladder on his teeth and whistle flight of the bumblebee note for note in 10 seconds the only thing you would question is why he wore a yellow suit?

You need to step back and realize that the entire concept is ridiculous and just simply walk away with understanding you have read something that can not be argued in a logical sense. :D

Anyway. If a tablet and 3G phone is announced and released, I will be buying both! :apple:

Har har, great post great comeback, write more you make me laugh.

[RoDe]

All I care about is a 3G iPhone with GPS and a completely overhauled MBP.
Do you think they'll show some 10.6.X features all ready? Maybe a bit early but you never know, just to tease MS :D.

[hhaeschen]

My little voice is telling me that this WWDC is going to be the best conference in years. I have a hopeful feeling lots of new cutting edge technology will be previewed and introduced.

I hope so, since Macworld '08 was rather disappointing!

[ruckus]

Because everyone can't wait to see the new macbook pros!!! :D:D:D

wwdc is mostly attended by developers to go to the workshops available there. The ticket price is pretty hefty if u are only interested in the keynote.

[frdmfghtr]

I don't understand the hardware predictions, except maybe the iPhone. Why would Apple announce hardware updates at a software developer's conference? How does a MacBook Pro update/refresh, new Cinema displaym etc. affect software development?

The only hardware announcements I can understand are new hardware platforms with new features for developers to utilize (some sort of new tablet for example) but most anything else would be outside the scope of a software development conference.

Mind you this all is coming from a non-developer, so is there something I don't understand about the WWDC?

[ipo]

The only hardware announcements I can understand are new hardware platforms with new features for developers to utilize (some sort of new tablet for example) but most anything else would be outside the scope of a software development conference...

how about Macbook pro with way more multitouch gestures...
isn't that a bunch of new feats on the platform ??
or a "Newton" ...also a relatively new platform.
or a new Mighty mouse - with touch interface ??
...etc :D

[bytethese]

Lol I want to see people trying to scalp this event ... that will be the day.

I guess today is the day. :)

http://tinyurl.com/4goac6

[jellomizer]

3g iphone? That's the first I've heard of it.

Not. :)

3g thats old news I am waiting for 3D iPhones

[Kwill]

Perhaps in the future, Apple will need to host two conferences - one for Mac and another for iPhone.

[swingerofbirch]

Apple can't keep anything in stock these days! ;)

[nick9191]

Because there are various people not just Steve doing the keynote, they can't all talk about the same thing (SDK), which leads me to believe that various things hopefully including a new redesigned mini/macbook/pro will be introduced.

[whoami]

All I care about is a 3G iPhone with GPS and a completely overhauled MBP.
Do you think they'll show some 10.6.X features all ready? Maybe a bit early but you never know, just to tease MS :D.

I agree!
We're due for a 10.6 tease...
They need to give OS X some love with all the iPhone development taking over WWDC. Either way, I don't think it will be as lame as the keynote last year! ;)

[liberty4all]

So what is the "sold-out" number of people? How about some real investigative journalism, MOSR...

[MongoTheGeek]

So what is the "sold-out" number of people? How about some real investigative journalism, MOSR...

Fire Marshall limits the 3rd floor to 6075. Figure 75 Apple/Convention Staff. The would make a limit of 6000 participants watching the keynote. This is a bit more than the 5500 odd people last year.

[hayesk]

I don't understand the hardware predictions, except maybe the iPhone. Why would Apple announce hardware updates at a software developer's conference? How does a MacBook Pro update/refresh, new Cinema displaym etc. affect software development?

I agree, however, the Mac Pro was introduced at WWDC in 2006.

[emulator]

let's hope it's not all fanboys but actual developers or actual prospective developers
Don't bet on that. There will be standing ovation after each sentence of SJ.

[Prom1]

I don't understand the hardware predictions, except maybe the iPhone. Why would Apple announce hardware updates at a software developer's conference? How does a MacBook Pro update/refresh, new Cinema displaym etc. affect software development?

The only hardware announcements I can understand are new hardware platforms with new features for developers to utilize (some sort of new tablet for example) but most anything else would be outside the scope of a software development conference.

Mind you this all is coming from a non-developer, so is there something I don't understand about the WWDC?

Simple if the hardware doesn't appeal to consumers enough to purchase ... and sales DROP, where do you think the developers will go? They too have to pay the mortgage, not just lawyers. Adversely if hardware sales pick up - which they have for all mac IMMENSELY the past 4qtrs - obviously significant enough to sell out THIS years WWDC - then more developers and software teams will develop their software for the Mac.

Simple as that. To think that hardware sales and software are not linked is preposturous. Even Microsoft highlights hardware company's on the PC, Mobile smartphone, and UMPC platforms at their developers conference.

[lostngone]

Don't bet on that. There will be standing ovation after each sentence of SJ.

Wait a minute!!!!

Can't someone be an "actual developer" AND a fanboi at the same time???

[hazmatzak]

Why would Apple announce hardware updates at a software developer's conference? How does a MacBook Pro update/refresh, new Cinema displaym etc. affect software development?The current set of Cinema Displays was, in fact, announced at WWDC 2004 (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jun/28displays.html).

[gmoney550]

Aluminum macbook w/ multitouch anybody? :D

[BenRoethig]

And they'll keep selling them until they either run out of their stockpile of panels and the Mac userbase stops paying top dollar for obsolete displays.

[invalidname]

let's hope it's not all fanboys but actual developers or actual prospective developers

At about $1300 per attendee, plus $200/night times five nights for a hotel room in San Francisco, plus airfare, plus membership in ADC ($500 or $3000) or iPhone Dev Program ($99 or $299), I doubt there'll be anything but actual developers there.

FWIW, I'm going. My first.

--invalidname

[ElBerserko]

I agree, however, the Mac Pro was introduced at WWDC in 2006.

The Mac Pro signified the completion of the transition from PowerPC to Intel. It was very relevant for a software developer conference.

Announcements of refreshes to existing product lines is unlikely. The only reason 3G iPhone is a candidate is because firmware 2.0 will be a huge topic and there may be changes to the SDK to take advantage of new iPhone's features.

[GeeYouEye]

A few fact checks:

Lots of hardware has been announced at previous WWDCs. Cinema displays, the G5, the switch to intel and the DTK, etc. No reason to automatically believe there won't be new hardware. That said, the MBP was updated quite recently. That said, they've updated the MBP within two months of release before; no reason they can't again (and if they do, I really hope it'll be in stock when the keynote is over, since I'm planning on getting a replacement for my 2004 PowerBook this summer).

It wasn't publicized much but the 4(3? 5?)00 students who got scholarships last year did not get to see the keynote live because of a lack of seating. In the year prior, some lazy people who paid for their tickets but didn't get in line early complained that they had to be seated in overflow rooms. This pissed the students off to no end (especially those of us who got up early and made the line by 6:45 AM), but I don't imagine it'll change with the entire conference sold out. Also, about the first 1/5-1/4 of the ~6000-seat room is reserved for press, VIPs, and Apple Engineers. So I think it's fair to say that the sold-out number is probably 7000 ± 1000. Going to be a lot of unhappy people come Monday morning. If the students can get into the live keynote via first-come-first-served, I may camp out the night before; there's a Starbucks and a Mel's diner nearby, both open 24/7.

[winterspan]

A few fact checks:

Lots of hardware has been announced at previous WWDCs. Cinema displays, the G5, the switch to intel and the DTK, etc. No reason to automatically believe there won't be new hardware. That said, the MBP was updated quite recently. That said, they've updated the MBP within two months of release before; no reason they can't again (and if they do, I really hope it'll be in stock when the keynote is over, since I'm planning on getting a replacement for my 2004 PowerBook this summer).

It wasn't publicized much but the 4(3? 5?)00 students who got scholarships last year did not get to see the keynote live because of a lack of seating. In the year prior, some lazy people who paid for their tickets but didn't get in line early complained that they had to be seated in overflow rooms. This pissed the students off to no end (especially those of us who got up early and made the line by 6:45 AM), but I don't imagine it'll change with the entire conference sold out. Also, about the first 1/5-1/4 of the ~6000-seat room is reserved for press, VIPs, and Apple Engineers. So I think it's fair to say that the sold-out number is probably 7000 ± 1000. Going to be a lot of unhappy people come Monday morning. If the students can get into the live keynote via first-come-first-served, I may camp out the night before; there's a Starbucks and a Mel's diner nearby, both open 24/7.


Students? "scholarships" meaning Apple lets certain students into WWDC? Or "scholarships" as in Apple gives out real scholarships for E.E./computer science and those recipients get in to WWDC? can you explain...

[manilikesmac]

thats a lot of money for apple.
hahahah.
its ticket is just like a computer.

[BenRoethig]

I don't think they make profit off a convention. There are a lot of expenses involved.

[ingenious]

Why is this year's WWDC so popular? I mean, it's not like real developers actually care to learn about making iPhone web apps. And is their supposed to be a new iPhone or something?

I really hope you're being sarcastic...

[louden]

That Steve Jobs will come on stage ranting:

"Developers, Developers, Developers...."

I don't think Tech Ed is selling out...

[queshy]

How long are the keynotes usually? From experience (i.e. past few years) never over 2 hrs I don't think.

Think about it...realistically...3G iPhone, iTAS, new firmware, that will all take at least an hour to talk about with all the demos and all!

All I can say is I'll be watching MRlive...

[Sbrocket]

If the students can get into the live keynote via first-come-first-served, I may camp out the night before; there's a Starbucks and a Mel's diner nearby, both open 24/7.

Yeah, I've heard about the overflow rooms in past years too and I figured that's where we'll end up.

Since our badges are a different color than either the normal attendee or engineer badges, I'm sure we can't get in the normal line to get in the keynote. It would be nice, but I doubt they want to displace what they probably see as "developers in industry" for students with a free ride.

Hey, its still live though, just not in the same room. Oh well.

Students? "scholarships" meaning Apple lets certain students into WWDC? Or "scholarships" as in Apple gives out real scholarships for E.E./computer science and those recipients get in to WWDC? can you explain...

http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/students/

[winterspan]

I really hope you're being sarcastic...

Had to mix it up a little... :p:p

http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/students/


Thaaaank yah, sir.

[littlewaywelt]

I am hoping for mac book redesigns, Verizon iPhone at the least.

You're never going to see a Verizon/CDMA iPhone.

[louden]

I see ticket for sale on ebay - closing in less than a half hour for 2500 or so.

That doesn't even cover the ticket, adc membership, airfare and hotel I already booked for the trip, so I wouldn't sell my ticket...

[nikiski]

Are any of you student developers planning to camp out tonight or meet up early tomorrow morning? I'm in San Jose at the moment and I'd love to meet up with MacRumorers :P

[louden]

Camp out? Don't you want to stay awake for the keynote?

[nikiski]

Camp out? Don't you want to stay awake for the keynote?

I guess... :p

I was just wondering if there's anybody that is going to camp out for the night or something :o

I guess it's set for tomorrow morning then. I'll be there as early as possible (gotta take the train!).