WWDC 2011 Sells Out in Under 12 Hours

[cvaldes]

Ok, but they are only utilizing Moscone West. Why not rent West and North, South or all three. That would allow them to expand without moving.

Perhaps there's something about the North Hall and South Hall facilities that don't meet Apple's approval.

There's also a possibility that Apple is at a human resources limit for staffing the event. Many of the hands-on individual sessions probably scale poorly. Perhaps most of the qualified engineers are there and throwing extra bodies doesn't improve the event. Apple's engineering team is very small for a company of its size.

It's not like Apple can bring aboard the holiday part-time help from the local retail stores to help teach developers how to utilize the CoreLocation API.

Since Apple has participated in large tradeshows before and have been successfully running the WWDC for years, I assume they have looked at various factors before signing these Moscone Center contracts.

 

[marco114]

Ok, but they are only utilizing Moscone West. Why not rent West and North, South or all three. That would allow them to expand without moving.

Or just expand it to 2-3 weeks and repeat the event so all can come who want to. I am sure Apple wouldn't mind making a few million more off the event

 

[reden]

And yet, no new iPhone will be present ... I predict a lot of attending hearts will be broken!

It's called a World Wide Developers Conference for a reason. It's not New Apple Hardware Announcements Conference. Get over it.

 

[X2468]

And yet, no new iPhone will be present ... I predict a lot of attending hearts will be broken!

Glad I ordered right away, I haven't missed a WWDC yet. Something told me it would be insane this year with Steve's health like it is, it may be his last.

I'm seriously hoping this will be a traditional software only event. Apple has a lot to cover now that they're blending OS X & iOS.

An iPhone announcement would ruin the experience. The longer Apple delays the next iPhone the better the chances are it will be their best. I'd like to see Apple use their best efforts and build a drama free new phone. If they focus they're capable of amazing things.

None of the wonky crap like they pulled with iPhone 4. Apples better than that and it's time to prove it, not just talk about it. A really great iPhone would be fantastic.

Yes I know the current one is selling like crazy, but that only reinforces the fact that Joe Average will buy anything Apple.

 

[JGowan]

Are we under the assumption that the Lion upgrade will be $29?

I haven't been around for a release past Snow Leopard so I'm not sure what to expect.

It'll be $129 — the same as ALL of the past upgrades except for Snow Leopard which was Leopard but just a slimmed-down, rewriting of the OS. Apple felt that without a lot of core new features being added, they would give the public a break and just charge a nominal fee for Snow Leopard, rather than the typical $129.

Don't listen to anyone who says differently. It will be $129.

 

[stuffradio]

It'll be $129 — the same as ALL of the past upgrades except for Snow Leopard which was Leopard but just a slimmed-down, rewriting of the OS. Apple felt that without a lot of core new features being added, they would give the public a break and just charge a nominal fee for Snow Leopard, rather than the typical $129.

Don't listen to anyone who says differently. It will be $129.

It will be $99.

 

[JGowan]

It will be $99.

la la la la... I'm not listening.

 

[lostngone]

It's called a World Wide Developers Conference for a reason. It's not New Apple Hardware Announcements Conference. Get over it.

Wait a Second! "Apple Hardware Announcements Conference". Brilliant Apple can charge $1500 for people to come and watch Apple announce new hardware. Of course at that cost the hardware they announce would not be included.

Some how I doubt that many people would pay that much.

 

[iRobby]

2 Tickets on Sale on eBay!

Apple WWDC 2011 tickets on eBay

 

[HMFIC03]

iPhone 5

According to Pocket-Lint, Apple will be revealing the iPhone 5 at their keynote on June 6th.

http://www.slashphone.com/apple-iph...ed&utm_campaign=Feed:+slashphone+(SlashPhone)

 

[USAFA16]

That's very good for apple.

 

[NAG]

Apple WWDC 2011 tickets on eBay

That is just sad. It's a developer conference, not a media event (it just happens to have one at the start when Apple shows off all the new software). I wouldn't go to WWDC even if I was given free tickets because I couldn't benefit from the conference as much as a real developer (I doubt messing around with XCode for fun counts). Trying to resell tickets like that hurts the platform.

 

[NoNothing]

Apple is neither software nor a hardware company.

I'm not sure many would agree with you on that. Apple has always been a hardware company. Just because their software drives their hardware doesn't mean they are software focused. If they were primarily a software company, they would have gone the way of Microsoft and put out MacOS to run on any generic PC box. But we all know their take on that. Just to drive my point home, when was the last time Apple released a piece of software that people went nuts about and stood in lines for hours to get?

The iPad 2? Do you really think it just he hardware?

I am going out on a limb here and say you are both wrong. Hardware. Software. Hardware. Software.

The truth is Apple is neither a hardware nor a software company. They are what we in engineering call a Systems Company. A systems company is a company that designs both the hardware and software of disconnected devices. A systems integrator is a company that designs systems of disconnected devices without actually designing the hardware or software. A company like Boeing is a systems integrator. They do not actually build many of the piece parts and write little, if any, of the software on planes like the 787, they simply assemble systems delivered by various vendors. Dell is a systems integrator.

Apple, on the other hand, designs the software in the form of OS X, iOS, XCode, Aperture, iPod OS... and they do design the hardware in the form of custom ASICS for memory controllers, the Apple A4/A5, batteries, cases, specify screens (retina is not COTS) and so on.

They also design protocols for communications like AirPlay, FaceTime, Bojour and so on. These are the pieces to put the individual parts together. This is what makes Apple one of the few system companies left in the world. This is what gives Apple their competitive advantage. This is what makes Apple so amazingly hard to duplicate. Apple's primary competitive advantage is most higher-ups simply do not know what a systems company is. It is a lost art in companies leaving the crazies of the Jack Welsh school of management scratching their head.

 

[NoNothing]

Google IO sold out in 59 minutes.

Next Year is going to suck for buying tickets.

If we went from 8 days to 12 hours what will next year be like?

Granted, it is over $1000 cheaper and basically only 2 days but still.

 

[Laird Knox]

Apple WWDC 2011 tickets on eBay

It sure would suck if you need matching ID and company credentials to get your pass - like they do with CES.

 

[lostngone]

That is just sad. It's a developer conference, not a media event (it just happens to have one at the start when Apple shows off all the new software). I wouldn't go to WWDC even if I was given free tickets because I couldn't benefit from the conference as much as a real developer (I doubt messing around with XCode for fun counts). Trying to resell tickets like that hurts the platform.

It is only 2 so far so it hasn't evolved into a major scalping problem just yet.

Maybe a dev that was away from the net for half a day really needed to go and missed registration.

I know after last year, I didn't dare wait however if work had been really busy today I wouldn't have had a chance to register in time.

 

[X2468]

No hardware in WWDC '11? Apple always said they are about Software and Hardware, well then it wouldn't make sense for them to omit hardware from the conference.

Or am i missing something?

WWDC stands for World Wide Developers Conference.

That means it's for those of us that are software engineers. It's been that way since it began.

The problem is Steve couldn't control himself last year and confused the newer people by talking about the iPhone.

If indeed they keep it on topic this year, there will be no talk or time wasted on hardware. We only have one WWDC each year, hopefully this year Jobs will control himself.

 

[lostngone]

It sure would suck if you need matching ID and company credentials to get your pass - like they do with CES.

From the FAQ:

You will be required to present your passport or other government-issued photo identification before being admitted to WWDC. Please make sure you bring your identification with you, as you will not be admitted without it.

and

Conference badges are not transferable. The full conference fee will be charged to replace a lost badge.

When you register you get an activation code. I think any other Dev can use it because I purchased mine with my MobileMe account and then activated it with my ADC account. Those accounts are not linked as far as I know.

 

[NoNothing]

Apple looses lots on these events.

Or just expand it to 2-3 weeks and repeat the event so all can come who want to. I am sure Apple wouldn't mind making a few million more off the event

They bring in about 7.5 million. Sounds like a lot, right? Let's look at it.

Figure about 1000 employees supporting it. Remember there will be offsite support as well. Average cost is about $150,000/year. For 1 week. There goes 2.8 million.

Now, these things do not prep overnight. In fact, employees are already starting the planning on the sessions. My guess is you will have another 2000 employes prepping for 40-80 hours over the next 10 weeks. There goes another.. we will say.. what... 4.5 million. We are 7.3 and we still don't have the Moscone center rented for a week. Lost productivity. Work interruption...

 

[lostngone]

Keynote line

Now the question is when will the line start forming for the keynote this year?

Last year a few people were already standing in line the night before(I think around 9pm). My guess is if Steve is going to be part of the keynote this year people will be there even earlier.

 

[srathi]

Sold out in 8 hours??? What on earth is this? A Hannah Montana concert? Dang it, I was gonna go too

What about Google I/O then? It was sold in just 59 minutes!

Apple is doomed!TM

 

[lostngone]

What about Google I/O then? It was sold in just 59 minutes!

Apple is doomed!TM

I am sure if Apple only charged $500 for WWDC they could have matched it.

 

[cav23j]

It'll be $129 — the same as ALL of the past upgrades except for Snow Leopard which was Leopard but just a slimmed-down, rewriting of the OS. Apple felt that without a lot of core new features being added, they would give the public a break and just charge a nominal fee for Snow Leopard, rather than the typical $129.

Don't listen to anyone who says differently. It will be $129.

well if its $129 then people would just pay $99 for the mac developer program and get it $30 cheaper

$79 or less

 

[JGowan]

Why would anyone think there would be an iPhone 5 announcement there?

Exactly!

To offer hardware at the same time as WWDC mixes the message to developers and (mostly) to the world at large -- unless, UNLESS it deals with something that developers need to know -- the iPhone 4 was announced during WWDC 2010 for one BIG REASON --> Retina Display.

This was a big deal. It meant that all iPhone apps' graphics would need to be adjusted in order to take advantage of the additional resolution in order to look great. Apple announced the iPhone 4 so that all the iPhone App developers there and elsewhere would know to get busy on updating their apps and pronto!

Apple wants the world to focus on the Software — right now, there is big debate raging over Apple software VS Google software and Apple wants to keep the focus on how they're better in the software arena.

The problem is Steve couldn't control himself last year and confused the newer people by talking about the iPhone.

If indeed they keep it on topic this year, there will be no talk or time wasted on hardware. We only have one WWDC each year, hopefully this year Jobs will control himself.

U R Full of (a) Crap (b) Hot Air (c) It... Take your pick. Steve announced the iPhone because of the Retina Display and to finally put the GIZMODO thing to rest. Why do people like you try to be so Anti-Apple/Steve. This used to be OUR boards. And the goons took over.

 

[66318]

It'll be $129 — the same as ALL of the past upgrades except for Snow Leopard which was Leopard but just a slimmed-down, rewriting of the OS. Apple felt that without a lot of core new features being added, they would give the public a break and just charge a nominal fee for Snow Leopard, rather than the typical $129.

Don't listen to anyone who says differently. It will be $129.

I doubt it. The $129 upgrades were back in the era before the iOS platform took off. The iPhone, and iPad are really accelerating Apple's income and profits, so they don't need to price OS upgrades that high. Snow Leopard brought a bunch of new tech to the table for developers to play with, and $29 was the easy way to ensure most people had that tech. Apple is likely much more interested in moving the platform forward then they are with $100 extra from each person. The more people stay current, the more developers can actually use the latest toys. Also consider that for Intel 10.4 users, the "$29 upgrade" worked fine, even though Apple could have blocked that and forced it to be a Leopard only upgrade.

Notice how Apple moved away from paid iOS upgrades for iPod Touch users. They saw enough people hold back that it was going to be an issue with the apps in the App Store. Now iPod users get their updates for free.

I'm going to predict $29 for Lion, with an option to even just grab it from the App Store like how they distributed it to developers. Possibly even a little cheaper off the App Store, and $29 for the in store disc based copy.