WWDC

Apple's Worldwide Developers’ Conference is scheduled to kick off on June 2 in San Francisco, California. The company is expected to unveil iOS 8 and possibly introduce Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre in their new executive roles. According to Billboard.com, the duo will make an appearance if the rumored $3.2 billion deal between Apple and Beats Electronics goes through like it is supposed to later this week. However, the main focus of the event should be on iOS 8 which will introduce a slew of new features for Apple products.

On Tuesday, an unnamed 9to5Mac source revealed that the iPad will finally receive multitasking capabilities. The new feature will allow users to access two apps simultaneously and give developers a way to design apps that can interact with each other.

Keynote presentations have a time limit, and it's a good thing because discussing 1500 new iOS 7 APIs could get tiring. iPhone owners are now used to hundreds of improvements and new features added in every major iOS release, and iOS 7 is no different. Not only has the entire interface been redesigned, but as developers test the beta release changes that Apple didn't have time to mention are discovered.

Towards the end of the WWDC presentation Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, quickly mentioned a few iOS 7 features in passing. FaceTime audio calling, notification sync across devices, per app VPN and message/call blocking to name a few. He went into a bit more detail when describing activation lock, which makes it harder for thieves to use stolen iOS devices.

Apple announced today that the Worldwide Developers Conference will be held June 10 through June 14 in San Francisco. Tickets for the annual five-day conference will cost $1,599, and go on sale April 25 at 10 a.m. PT. Developers who can't afford or make it to WWDC will be able to watch videos of the event during the conference.

Last year's WWDC sold out in less than two hours, and event videos were only made available weeks after the conference had ended. Apple announced the decision to post the videos during the event on the WWDC general info page.

"Can’t make it to WWDC? We'll be posting videos of all our sessions during the conference, so Registered Apple Developers can take advantage of great WWDC content."

iOS 6 rumors are heating up now that the WWDC is about a month away. Here is what Apple is expected to unveil or at least preview at the event.

AllThingsD has confirmed an earlier report by 9to5Mac that claimed Apple would ditch Google Maps in favor for a new Maps app.

“Sources tell 9to5Mac that Apple will abandon Google’s mapping backend in the next major iteration of iOS, replacing it with a brand new mapping application powered by Apple technology. We’ve independently confirmed that this is indeed the case. Sources describe the new Maps app as a forthcoming tent-pole feature of iOS that will, in the words of one, 'blow your head off.' " - John Paczkowski from AllThingsD

Apple has just announced that the 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off on June 11 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Tickets for the five-day conference can be purchased via Apple's website for $1599. Apple will publish all technical sessions on their Apple Developer website for developers who can't afford a ticket or are unable to attend the conference this year.

“We have a great WWDC planned this year and can’t wait to share the latest news about iOS and OS X Mountain Lion with developers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The iOS platform has created an entirely new industry with fantastic opportunities for developers across the country and around the world.”

Developers are hoping that Apple will preview iOS 6 at the event.