WWDC 2007 dates set

Apple has updated its Developer Connection website with the date of its 2007 World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC), planning to hold the event from June 11-15th in San Francisco. "This June, the center of the Mac universe will be in downtown San Francisco, as developers and IT professionals from around the globe come together for the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with Apple engineers, get a firsthand look at the latest technology, and spend a week getting the kind of inspiration you won't find anywhere else," wrote Apple. WWDC attendees can work side-by-side with Apple engineers responsible for the features in Mac OS X to resolve code-level issues and refine long term development plans. [updated]

The conference is aimed at software developers, Web developers, scripters, system administrators, and IT managers to provide exclusive technical insight and to inspire all users of Apple technologies.

Apple's WWDC is historically the one event where the usually tight-lipped Cupertino-based company provides a product roadmap of sorts to industry insiders who hope to glimpse the future of the elusive Apple long-term strategy. All conference attendees are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement to ensure confidentiality, and are frequently exposed to non-public beta versions of Apple software.

Apple offered previews of its next-generation Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" operating system at last year's WWDC conference in August, which was held several months later last year than the announced June dates for 2007. At least five Apple Store staff members were fired after a leak of the pre-release Leopard began turning up in the hands of the public, which was traced back to the employees who were overheard discussing the beta software.

by MacNN Staff