Latest news with #developerconference
Skift
01-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Microsoft Build Joins Wave of Tech Conferences Leaving Longtime Host Cities
Microsoft's decision to move its flagship developer event out of Seattle marks a significant shift for the company and the city's events economy. The new location for Build 2026 has yet to be announced. Microsoft is ending its nearly decade-long run of hosting the Build developer conference in Seattle, signaling a potential shift in the company's event strategy and adding to a growing trend of tech events leaving traditional host cities. The most recent Build conference was held May 19–22 at the Seattle Convention Center. It drew 3,200 in-person attendees and more than 100,000 participants online. Build, which launched in 2011, has taken place in Seattle since 2017 and has regularly attracted tens of thousands of developers, engineers, and technology partners. 'Our plans for Build 2026 have changed, our vision to empower builders and developers at a major event next year remains the same,' a Microsoft spokesperson said. 'We thank the city and the community for their support over the years.' Microsoft Build Conference Important to Seattle Visit Seattle did not respond to a request for comment. According to industry estimates, the event has generated roughly 9,300 hotel room nights per year, an economic impact the city will now lose. Seattle's proximity to Microsoft's Redmond headquarters made it a logistically convenient location for the company's engineers and executives. While Microsoft has not disclosed the reason for the move, a spokesperson said it was not related to conditions or experiences during this year's event. In addition, the spokesperson said, 'We do not have anything further to share about our plans for Build 2026.' Shift in Tech Event Geography Microsoft is not alone in changing the location of its flagship gathering. Across the tech industry, companies are re-evaluating how and where they host major events, driven by rising costs, shifting audience expectations, and strategic goals around reach and visibility. HubSpot's INBOUND conference, held in Boston since its launch in 2012, will move to San Francisco for a one-time edition. The event is scheduled for Sept. 3–5 at Moscone Center. HubSpot said the change reflects feedback from a growing global community and an effort to meet customers where they are. The plan is for the conference to return to Boston in 2026. The 2024 event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, attracted approximately 12,000 attendees. Other major tech conferences have made more permanent changes. Google Cloud Next relocated from San Francisco to Las Vegas in 2024, with events now confirmed at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center through at least 2026. Oracle also moved its flagship CloudWorld conference from San Francisco to Las Vegas after its 2022 event. This year's edition will take place Oct. 13–16 at The Venetian Conference and Expo Center. Canva shifted its annual Canva Create conference from Sydney to Los Angeles in 2024. Held at Hollywood Park—home to SoFi Stadium and the YouTube Theater—the event drew more than 4,500 attendees, with 100 speakers and 60 sessions. Apple, meanwhile, has transitioned its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to a primarily digital format since 2020. While the event remains free and globally accessible online, Apple now includes a limited in-person experience at its Cupertino campus. Attendance is by invitation or lottery and capped at a small number of developers, students, and media. What It Means Microsoft's departure from Seattle reflects a larger redefinition of how tech companies engage developer and partner communities. As event formats, audiences, and expectations evolve, even long-standing location ties are no longer guaranteed. For destination marketers and convention centers, the message is clear: competition for major conferences is intensifying, and loyalty to place is giving way to flexibility, scale, and strategic alignment.
The Verge
10-06-2025
- The Verge
Which WWDC 2025 announcement was our favorite?
WWDC 2025: all the news from Apple's annual developer conference See all Stories Posted Jun 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM UTC
Bloomberg
09-06-2025
- Bloomberg
Apple's Liquid Glass Shatters Tim Cook's AI Dreams
Save This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a design guru of Bloomberg Opinion's opinions. Sign up here. Eeeek! Apple kicked off its annual developer conference not with an update about the iPhone maker's progress on artificial intelligence — the thing everyone in the tech world is worried about — but with an announcement about ' Liquid Glass.' The company's 'broadest design update ever' looks eerily similar to the Windows desktop I was using in 6th grade computer lab class:
CNET
09-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
Apple Goes Retro for Its Logos on New WWDC Merch and I'm Here for It
Apple dropped limited edition merchandise for WWDC 2025, its annual developer conference. The opening keynote address starts in just a matter of hours at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, but one of the yearly rituals for WWDC is the release of Apple-branded clothing and souvenirs at the Apple Park Visitor Center Store. This year's offerings, hoodies, t-shirts and baby onesies, feature riffs on Apple's original rainbow logo on a black or white that truly makes it pop. There's another version of the logo with the word Apple written in the Apple Garamond font, which you don't need to be a font nerd to appreciate. I am all for this retro-ness! Of course all of this is to help get developers and Apple enthusiasts excited before Apple CEO Tim Cook takes his first step onstage. The new limited edition merchandise has even popped up on social media. Seeing the company embrace its past for Apple fans is exciting, especially ahead of one of the more significant WWDC keynotes. There is a lot at stake for the iPhone maker. Analysts question Apple's progress with Apple Intelligence. The US Department of Justice and 16 state attorneys general have a suit against Apple alleging that the company locked iPhone owners into its ecosystem through monopolistic practices. And President Donald Trump has threatened a 25% tariff on the iPhone if Apple doesn't move iPhone manufacturing to the US. Aside from WWDC 2025 merch, we expect to see previews of the next generation of iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch software (and more). Rumors point to Apple changing how it names the software. Instead of iOS 19 and WatchOS 12, we'll likely get year-centric names like iOS 26 and WatchOS 26. Also, the company is expected to bring an unifying visual overhaul to all of its OSes that is inspired in part by VisionOS, as reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. CNET has editors and writers attending WWDC 2025 in person to report on developments as they break.
CNET
08-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
Apple Releases Its Most Comfortable Products Ahead of WWDC 2025: New Merch!
WWDC 2025, Apple's annual developer conference, kicks off in just a matter of hours with a keynote at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 9. But before Apple CEO, Tim Cook, takes his first step onstage at Apple Park, the company has dropped a bunch of new limited edition merchandise as documented by a number of people on social media. One of the quieter yearly rituals for WWDC is the release of Apple branded clothing and souvenirs. The Apple Park visitor center has an Apple Store that usually has a number of limited edition shirts, hoodies and more that WWDC attendees can buy. This year's offerings feature riffs on Apple's original rainbow logo on a black or white hoodie that truly makes it pop. There's another version of the logo with the word Apple written in the Apple Garamond font which you don't need to be a font nerd to appreciate. Seeing the company embrace its past for Apple enthusiasts and developers is exciting, especially ahead of one of the more significant WWDC keynotes. There is a lot at stake for the iPhone maker. Analysts question Apple's progress with Apple Intelligence. The US Department of Justice and 16 state and district attorneys general have a suit against Apple alleging that the company locked iPhone owners into its ecosystem through monopolistic practices. And President Donald Trump has threatened a 25% tariff on the iPhone if Apple doesn't move iPhone manufacturing to the US. Aside from WWDC 2025 merch, we expect to see previews of the next generation of iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch software (and more). Rumors point to Apple changing how it names the software. Instead of iOS 19 and WatchOS 12, we'll likely get year-centric names like iOS 26 and WatchOS 26. Also the company is expected to bring an unifying visual overhaul to all of its OSes that is inspired in part from VisionOS, as reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. CNET has editors and writers attending WWDC 2025 in-person to report on developments as they break.
