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Apple CEO Tim Cook.
- Apple will kick off its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 3, where it's expected to unveil new software features for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac computers.
- It will be an important moment for the company as its App Store and its relationship with developers has been in the spotlight in recent months.
- In addition to revealing new software for its product lineup, we will also likely hear Apple address hot-button topics such as user privacy and its relationship with developers and consumers.
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Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is always an important event for the iPhone maker, but this year's gathering is likely to be watched particularly closely.
That's because the conference comes just as Apple's widely popular App Store and its relationship with developers have been in the spotlight for a couple of reasons. Earlier this month, a Supreme Court ruling allowed iPhone owners to pursue a lawsuit against the App Store, in which the Apple customers argued that the 30% fee Apple charges developers makes apps more expensive for consumers.
Some app developers are also concerned that the company is unfairly using its position as the operator of the App Store to gain a competitive advantage. Spotify, for example, filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission over Apple's App Store policies, which it says gives the iPhone maker an unfair edge.
Several developers behind screen-time-management apps also interpreted Apple's decision to pull their programs from the App Store following the launch of Apple's own similar feature to be a targeted move, as The New York Times reported. (Apple says it removed these apps to protect consumer privacy).
As such, it wouldn't be surprising to hear Apple tackle these topics in some way on stage during its opening keynote, possibly by discussing how it prioritizes the interests of its customers and developer community.
Privacy has also been a prominent topic for Apple as well as other big tech firms such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon in recent months. Apple has been very vocal about its privacy efforts through a slew of ads and public comments as of late, and we're likely to hear more about this at its upcoming conference.
And, of course, among the most anticipated announcements are the new features coming to Apple's line of products, from its iPhones to the Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, which the company will preview on stage.
Here's a closer look at what to expect.