Here’s What to Expect at Apple’s Sept. 9 Event
Apple has sent out invitations for an event scheduled for Sept. 9
in Cupertino, California, and it looks like it’s going to be a big one.
From rumors about multiple iPhone 6s to murmurs of new iPads and even
reports of the fabled iWatch, it looks like this mystery event could be
one of the biggest Apple has hosted in a long time.
We’ll be on the ground in
Cupertino live-blogging the proceedings and offering commentary on the
products Tim Cook and company unveil. But until then, here’s a taste of
what we expect to see from Apple on Sept. 9.
Two new iPhones
An artist’s mock-up of the iPhone 6. We’ll find out how accurate it is on the 9th!
Apple is widely expected to
unveil not one but two new versions of its iPhone 6, a 4.7-inch model
and a 5.5-inch model. So what can you expect from these new iPhones?
For starters, the phone’s sizes
will be significantly larger than the current iPhone 5s, which measures 4
inches diagonally. For comparison, Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the
Galaxy S5, has a 5.1-inch screen.
The vast majority of Android and
Windows smartphones on the market today offer displays that are larger
than 4 inches, and it looks like the folks at Cupertino are moving in
the same direction.
According to reports, the
iPhone 6 will sport a slimmer, more rounded design than the iPhone 5s
and a higher display resolution, meaning that photos, videos, and
webpages will look sharper. Speaking of the iPhone 6’s screen, rumors
indicate that the next iPhone may use what’s called a sapphire crystal
display, making the screen more durable and crack resistant.
There has been much talk
about whether Apple has enough sapphire crystal on hand to produce
displays for all of its 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones. Earlier this
month, The Wall Street Journal indicated that Apple might equip only its high-end models with crystal displays.
9to5Mac,
meanwhile, reported that analyst Matt Margolis believes all 5.5-inch
iPhone 6 models will get crystal sapphire displays, while only some
4.7-inch models will get them. The remaining 4.7-inch iPhones, Margolis
claims, will receive normal Gorilla Glass displays, which make up
current iPhone screens.
Beyond
their displays, the two iPhones are also expected to receive more
powerful A8 processors than the A7s found in the iPhone 5s, which could
give the next-generation iPhone a significant performance boost.
There
are also rumors that the iPhone 6 will get an improved M7 co-processor
that, in addition to measuring motion as it does in the iPhone 5s, will,
according to 9to5Mac, include a barometer and an air pressure sensor.
The folks at VentureBeat say
the next iPhone will also have a near-field communication, or NFC,
sensor that will allow owners to make wireless payments from the
handset. Of course, we expect the iPhone 6 to sport a Touch ID
fingerprint sensor just like the iPhone 5s.
Beyond
their hardware, both iPhone 6 models will come loaded with Apple’s
iOS 8, which sports an updated interface and Apple’s new HealthKit
platform for use with fitness and health apps. Speaking of which …
The iWatchApple’s
iWatch is practically a thing of legend at this point, but it’s looking
more and more likely that the fabled smartwatch will make its debut
Sept. 9. Little is known about how the iWatch will look or what kind of
features it will have, but reports point to a 2.5-inch rectangular display.
Another artist’s representation of the iWatch. This is probably not what the iWatch will look like.
Other
rumors indicate that the watch could pack as many as 10 sensors, which
would work with iOS 8’s aforementioned HealthKit. The iWatch could also
include a heart-rate monitor, as well as the ability to measure how much
UV radiation you’re absorbing from the sun.
Above all, it looks as though the iWatch will be every bit as stylish as Apple’s iPhone. Cupertino poached luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer’s
vice president of sales and retail, Patrick Pruniaux, back in July, at
which time he said Swiss watchmakers had better keep an eye on Apple.
New iPads
Though less likely to appear at
the Sept. 9 event than the iPhone and iWatch, Apple may also roll out a
new version of its iPad Air. The iPad Air 2 is expected to get a faster
processor similar to the A8 chip that is going into the iPhone 6, as
well as a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
According to Business Insider,
the iPad Air 2 could also get an improved camera sporting an
8-megapixel sensor rather than the 5-megapixel sensor found in the
current Air.
Reports also indicate that Apple is working on a massive 12.9-inch iPad Pro
that would be geared toward businesspeople, though that tablet is
largely expected to make its debut in early 2015, rather than at the
Sept. 9 event. Still, with Apple, you never know what you’ll get.
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