What to Expect at Apple's Biggest Event in Years

[F-22Raptor]

On Tuesday, Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will take the stage for the first time in the Steve Jobs Theater at its new campus. The location represents a new chapter for the world’s most valuable technology company, and the event will usher in a new era for the iPhone. For the first time, Apple plans to unveil three phones, including a premium model that will cast a halo over the rest of the line, and perhaps over the rest of the smartphone industry.

The devices will not only be exciting for customers, but for investors as well. The iPhone represents about two-thirds of Apple’s sales, making it critical to the bottom line. The launch means a strong holiday quarter that could also include more sales of other Apple products. The entire business relies on the gadget: It serves as remote control for the Apple TV box and upcoming HomePod speaker; it’s currently tied to the Apple Watch, syncs with the iPad and Mac, and is home to services like Siri, Maps, and Apple Music.

Beyond the iPhone, the company is also planning a version of the Apple Watch that connects to wireless networks and an upgraded Apple TV. As previewed in June, Apple is also preparing important software updates for all of its platforms – iOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS – and is likely to showcase some features from those on Tuesday.

Below, we break down what to expect at Apple’s most important event in years:

iPhone:
Apple is planning to unveil three iPhones, including two that are upgrades to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus called the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and a premium model called the iPhone X. Here’s what we know about the high-end device:

• New Design: This is the most obvious change – so your friends know you have the latest gadget. It’s an all-new look that drops the bezels around the display. Almost the entire front of the phone will be screen save for a cutout at the top for the earpiece, selfie camera, and sensors. The sides will be a continuous stainless steel band and the back will be made of glass –like the iPhone 4 from 2010. Look for the rear cameras to be vertically, not horizontally aligned, for better augmented reality apps.
  
  
• Edge-to-Edge Screen: With no bezels and no borders on the top and bottom, the focus will be on the new screen: an OLED display that more accurately reproduces colors and makes content much crisper. You’ll be able to see more texts, videos and website information without scrolling down because the screen will be taller than the one on the iPhone 7 Plus. Expect the whole screen to be slightly larger than the one on the iPhone 7 Plus (5.5 inches), but because of the lack of bezels, the phone’s overall size will be closer to the smaller iPhone 7. The screen will also feature “True Tone” technology, a sensor that allows the screen to change temperature based on the environment, according to leaked software code.
  
  
• No Home Button: Just as significant as additions to the iPhone are the pieces that are missing. A decade after debuting the home button as the main physical control on the device, Apple is removing it for the premium model. In its place: A thin virtual bar that can be dragged up to launch features like multitasking and close apps. See our in-depth story on the change from last month.
  
  
• No Touch ID: Also gone is the fingerprint scanner. Introduced with the iPhone 5s in 2013, the Touch ID feature in the home button let iPhone users unlock their devices in a split second. It also authenticated Apple Pay transactions and approved downloads from the App Store. For this next phone, the company tried to embed it into the screen itself, but faced manufacturing problems, Bloomberg reported earlier this year.
  
  
• 3-D Face Unlock: In place of Touch ID there’ll be a 3-D facial recognition scanner for unlocking the phone. It’ll aptly be called Face ID, according to the leaked code. It’s designed to scan your features within a few hundred milliseconds and can work even if the device is laying flat on a table. The sensor would also be used to authenticate payments and launch secure apps, Bloomberg reported. It will work in the dark, too.
  
  
• Inductive Charging: This is a new feature to the iPhone, but one that’s been on competing smartphones for a number of years. You’ll be able to lay the iPhone on a charging pad instead of plugging it into a charging cable.
  
  
• Faster Processor: Apple will flex its semiconductor-design muscles yet again with a new chip for the iPhone likely to be dubbed the A11. The component is said to be based on a 10 nanometer manufacturing process, which means it will be more efficient so your iPhone battery will last longer. The company has also been working on a dedicated AI chip.
  
  
• New Software: As usual, the iPhone will ship with new software. This time around it’s called iOS 11. Key additions include a redesigned Control Center, support for augmented reality apps, Apple Pay support in iMessage, maps for inside airports and malls, and a dedicated app for managing files. The 3-D sensor will also scan your face and apply your facial expressions to new animated emoji in iMessage.
  

Other Models: The other two models are expected to look similar to the current iPhones, but will have a faster processor and potentially glass backs to also support inductive charging.
Apple Watch:

The Apple Watch is set to see a much needed upgrade that partly frees the device from the iPhone.

• Cellular Data: The most significant new hardware feature will be a wireless option that handles fast LTE data. You’ll be able to leave your new iPhone behind because this version of the Apple Watch can connect to cellular data networks, including those from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T in the U.S. and some carriers internationally. Imagine loading directions in maps on your wrist and streaming music while on a walk through those wireless AirPods earphones. You’ll also be able to make phone calls with your iPhone’s number.
  
  
• New Colors: The Apple Watch will look physically similar to prior models, but will be offered in at least two new colors: a grey ceramic and a coat of gold called “blush gold,” according to leaked software code. The LTE models will also show a cellular connectivity meter in the middle of the watch face and include a red dot on the digital crown.
  
  
• New Bands: Since the first Watch launched in 2015, Apple has refreshed its selection of straps every six months or so. The last update happened this past March, so a new collection makes sense at this event.
  
  
• main upgrade will be support for 4K video, a standard with much higher resolution. Of course, this will require a new 4K TV. Apple has been in talks with popular video streaming apps, TV studios, and movie studios about supplying 4K content for the box.
  
  
• HDR Video Streaming: To go along with 4K, Apple is planning to support HDR video playback as well. This standard shows video with much more vivid colors.
  
  
• Faster Processor: The updated box will feature a faster processor to handle the higher-resolution video. The current Apple TV box, introduced in 2015, features the A8 processor from the iPhone 6, which launched in 2014. For comparison, the iPhone 7 includes the A10 chip.
  
  
• Improved Live TV Integration: Right now, users can access live TV streams from a number of Apple TV applications by asking Siri or launching those respective apps. Apple is testing expanding that access to its own TV app launched last December. That means no more clicking on different app icons, although you’ll still have to enter any required login details.
  

Coming Later:
Sept. 12 won’t be it for new Apple products in 2017. The company promised two major launches in the fall, a product category and a souped up Mac to appeal to the company’s small, but important, professional user base of video editors, photographers, and software programmers.

• HomePod: The Siri-powered smart speaker, introduced in June, ships to customers in December. The speaker will be a gateway to Apple Music in the home by way of speakers that can adjust to conditions in different rooms. Apple could provide more details on the speaker’s functionality at the iPhone event.
  

iMac Pro: Also shipping in December is a high-end version of the iMac. Like the current iMac, this one will have a high-resolution 5K display, but the internals are all new. The machine packs in some of the fastest processors and graphics chips on the market and starts at $4,999. Apple has also said that it’s working on a new Mac Pro (the company’s high end desktop without a built-in screen) and a new external monitor for professionals.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/what-to-expect-at-apple-s-biggest-event-in-years

 

[Jlaw]

Awesome. Apple is introducing new features for its new iPhone that mimic iPhone 4 and 5. As well as no home button! And inductive charging found in Android phones that were released two years ago .
How much would Apple users need to pay for these awesome upgrades?

 

[F-22Raptor]

Awesome. Apple is introducing new features for its new iPhone that mimic iPhone 4 and 5. As well as no home button! And inductive charging found in Android phones that were released two years ago .
How much would Apple users need to pay for these awesome upgrades?

Apple is the #1 most powerful brand in the world. The only other company that comes close is Google. Say what you want about Apple's products, but there model is working.

 

[Fennec fox]

Apple is the #1 most powerful brand in the world. The only other company that comes close is Google. Say what you want about Apple's products, but there model is working.

It's just the branding that gives it all the hype. No more innovation in its new product releases. Sure it's a big brand but not innovative anymore.

 

[jetray]

How much would Apple users need to pay for these awesome upgrades?

as per rumour $1000.

It's just the branding that gives it all the hype. No more innovation in its new product releases. Sure it's a big brand but not innovative anymore.

hype sells more and when there is no value for money you can price it at whatever range you want.
I just see a bubble waiting to burst.

 

[unbiasedopinion]

Awesome. Apple is introducing new features for its new iPhone that mimic iPhone 4 and 5. As well as no home button! And inductive charging found in Android phones that were released two years ago .
How much would Apple users need to pay for these awesome upgrades?

It's just the branding that gives it all the hype. No more innovation in its new product releases. Sure it's a big brand but not innovative anymore.

Dudes, I used to be a die hard fan of android. I am still one of its admirer. I have used android since its early stage in my phone (First being samsung S2). Last year I switched to Apple Iphone 6s. The phone costs half a lac but believe me it is must better in terms of processing and ease. The phone apart from once or twice have never hanged. It does not require restart in my 1.5 years of usage. In android I had to restart it every other week. The Android phone though admitedly has lost of user friendly features which Apple can easily adapt but not doing it dont know why, but iphone feels like classic. for similar kind of performance Android would require 6-8GB RAM where as Apple can do it in less than 2GB.

Believe me there is a difference.

 

[F-22Raptor]

It's just the branding that gives it all the hype. No more innovation in its new product releases. Sure it's a big brand but not innovative anymore.

That's up to worldwide consumers to decide. Lets not forget that its only been 10 years since the release of the iPhone, a product that revolutionized the smartphone industry and the world. To disparage Apple's innovative capability is foolish IMO. They've proven themselves over time.

 

[Clutch]

On Tuesday, Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will take the stage for the first time in the Steve Jobs Theater at its new campus. The location represents a new chapter for the world’s most valuable technology company, and the event will usher in a new era for the iPhone. For the first time, Apple plans to unveil three phones, including a premium model that will cast a halo over the rest of the line, and perhaps over the rest of the smartphone industry.

The devices will not only be exciting for customers, but for investors as well. The iPhone represents about two-thirds of Apple’s sales, making it critical to the bottom line. The launch means a strong holiday quarter that could also include more sales of other Apple products. The entire business relies on the gadget: It serves as remote control for the Apple TV box and upcoming HomePod speaker; it’s currently tied to the Apple Watch, syncs with the iPad and Mac, and is home to services like Siri, Maps, and Apple Music.

Beyond the iPhone, the company is also planning a version of the Apple Watch that connects to wireless networks and an upgraded Apple TV. As previewed in June, Apple is also preparing important software updates for all of its platforms – iOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS – and is likely to showcase some features from those on Tuesday.

Below, we break down what to expect at Apple’s most important event in years:

iPhone:
Apple is planning to unveil three iPhones, including two that are upgrades to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus called the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and a premium model called the iPhone X. Here’s what we know about the high-end device:

• New Design: This is the most obvious change – so your friends know you have the latest gadget. It’s an all-new look that drops the bezels around the display. Almost the entire front of the phone will be screen save for a cutout at the top for the earpiece, selfie camera, and sensors. The sides will be a continuous stainless steel band and the back will be made of glass –like the iPhone 4 from 2010. Look for the rear cameras to be vertically, not horizontally aligned, for better augmented reality apps.
  
  
• Edge-to-Edge Screen: With no bezels and no borders on the top and bottom, the focus will be on the new screen: an OLED display that more accurately reproduces colors and makes content much crisper. You’ll be able to see more texts, videos and website information without scrolling down because the screen will be taller than the one on the iPhone 7 Plus. Expect the whole screen to be slightly larger than the one on the iPhone 7 Plus (5.5 inches), but because of the lack of bezels, the phone’s overall size will be closer to the smaller iPhone 7. The screen will also feature “True Tone” technology, a sensor that allows the screen to change temperature based on the environment, according to leaked software code.
  
  
• No Home Button: Just as significant as additions to the iPhone are the pieces that are missing. A decade after debuting the home button as the main physical control on the device, Apple is removing it for the premium model. In its place: A thin virtual bar that can be dragged up to launch features like multitasking and close apps. See our in-depth story on the change from last month.
  
  
• No Touch ID: Also gone is the fingerprint scanner. Introduced with the iPhone 5s in 2013, the Touch ID feature in the home button let iPhone users unlock their devices in a split second. It also authenticated Apple Pay transactions and approved downloads from the App Store. For this next phone, the company tried to embed it into the screen itself, but faced manufacturing problems, Bloomberg reported earlier this year.
  
  
• 3-D Face Unlock: In place of Touch ID there’ll be a 3-D facial recognition scanner for unlocking the phone. It’ll aptly be called Face ID, according to the leaked code. It’s designed to scan your features within a few hundred milliseconds and can work even if the device is laying flat on a table. The sensor would also be used to authenticate payments and launch secure apps, Bloomberg reported. It will work in the dark, too.
  
  
• Inductive Charging: This is a new feature to the iPhone, but one that’s been on competing smartphones for a number of years. You’ll be able to lay the iPhone on a charging pad instead of plugging it into a charging cable.
  
  
• Faster Processor: Apple will flex its semiconductor-design muscles yet again with a new chip for the iPhone likely to be dubbed the A11. The component is said to be based on a 10 nanometer manufacturing process, which means it will be more efficient so your iPhone battery will last longer. The company has also been working on a dedicated AI chip.
  
  
• New Software: As usual, the iPhone will ship with new software. This time around it’s called iOS 11. Key additions include a redesigned Control Center, support for augmented reality apps, Apple Pay support in iMessage, maps for inside airports and malls, and a dedicated app for managing files. The 3-D sensor will also scan your face and apply your facial expressions to new animated emoji in iMessage.

Other Models: The other two models are expected to look similar to the current iPhones, but will have a faster processor and potentially glass backs to also support inductive charging.
Apple Watch:

The Apple Watch is set to see a much needed upgrade that partly frees the device from the iPhone.

• Cellular Data: The most significant new hardware feature will be a wireless option that handles fast LTE data. You’ll be able to leave your new iPhone behind because this version of the Apple Watch can connect to cellular data networks, including those from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T in the U.S. and some carriers internationally. Imagine loading directions in maps on your wrist and streaming music while on a walk through those wireless AirPods earphones. You’ll also be able to make phone calls with your iPhone’s number.
  
  
• New Colors: The Apple Watch will look physically similar to prior models, but will be offered in at least two new colors: a grey ceramic and a coat of gold called “blush gold,” according to leaked software code. The LTE models will also show a cellular connectivity meter in the middle of the watch face and include a red dot on the digital crown.
  
  
• New Bands: Since the first Watch launched in 2015, Apple has refreshed its selection of straps every six months or so. The last update happened this past March, so a new collection makes sense at this event.
  
  
• main upgrade will be support for 4K video, a standard with much higher resolution. Of course, this will require a new 4K TV. Apple has been in talks with popular video streaming apps, TV studios, and movie studios about supplying 4K content for the box.
  
  
• HDR Video Streaming: To go along with 4K, Apple is planning to support HDR video playback as well. This standard shows video with much more vivid colors.
  
  
• Faster Processor: The updated box will feature a faster processor to handle the higher-resolution video. The current Apple TV box, introduced in 2015, features the A8 processor from the iPhone 6, which launched in 2014. For comparison, the iPhone 7 includes the A10 chip.
  
  
• Improved Live TV Integration: Right now, users can access live TV streams from a number of Apple TV applications by asking Siri or launching those respective apps. Apple is testing expanding that access to its own TV app launched last December. That means no more clicking on different app icons, although you’ll still have to enter any required login details.

Coming Later:
Sept. 12 won’t be it for new Apple products in 2017. The company promised two major launches in the fall, a product category and a souped up Mac to appeal to the company’s small, but important, professional user base of video editors, photographers, and software programmers.

• HomePod: The Siri-powered smart speaker, introduced in June, ships to customers in December. The speaker will be a gateway to Apple Music in the home by way of speakers that can adjust to conditions in different rooms. Apple could provide more details on the speaker’s functionality at the iPhone event.

iMac Pro: Also shipping in December is a high-end version of the iMac. Like the current iMac, this one will have a high-resolution 5K display, but the internals are all new. The machine packs in some of the fastest processors and graphics chips on the market and starts at $4,999. Apple has also said that it’s working on a new Mac Pro (the company’s high end desktop without a built-in screen) and a new external monitor for professionals.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/what-to-expect-at-apple-s-biggest-event-in-years

Yawn... apple is no longer the innovative company it once was post Steve Jobs...

It's riding it's past glory into the sunset...

The forward looking companies are google, Tesla, and Amazon with their diversified portfolio in AI, Automation, Electric cars, and alternative energies... these companies excite now!

Apple is too scared to take the risks needed to innovate beyond its current comfort zone.. Apple.. Nice phones... but that's kinda getting boring... where's my next car, my next AI, my next tech hat does everything..

Apple is now the Microsoft of the mid 2000s!!

 

[Fennec fox]

Yawn... apple is no longer the innovative company it once was post Steve Jobs...

It's riding it's past glory into the sunset...

The forward looking companies are google, Tesla, and Amazon with their diversified portfolio in AI, Automation, Electric cars, and alternative energies... these companies excite now!

Apple is too scared to take the risks needed to innovate beyond its current comfort zone.. Apple.. Nice phones... but that's kinda getting boring... where's my next car, my next AI, my next tech hat does everything..

Apple is now the Microsoft of the mid 2000s!!

I would put my money on tesla and Amazon. Especially on amazon cloud services, that's where the future lies. To some extent Microsoft cloud services is trying to divert their business focus here too.bit it's just a recent change and we gotta wait and see how they will do. Microsoft is still in race.

 

[jetray]

product that revolutionized the smartphone industry and the world

there was blackberry and then there was legendary nokia. to say apple makes revolutionary product is not correct. They are many other reasons like being elitist or posh that may be apt description. Please tell me what does revolutionary mean according to you?

They've proven themselves over time.

yeah if making money is the only objective then china is also better,as they export more than US.
apple is more powered by US dollar dominance and elitist brand that it built years ago (and of course apple fan boys who will eat nothing but apple for lunch even if the apple is rotten).






.

Yawn... apple is no longer the innovative company it once was post Steve Jobs...

It's riding it's past glory into the sunset...

The forward looking companies are google, Tesla, and Amazon with their diversified portfolio in AI, Automation, Electric cars, and alternative energies... these companies excite now!

Apple is too scared to take the risks needed to innovate beyond its current comfort zone.. Apple.. Nice phones... but that's kinda getting boring... where's my next car, my next AI, my next tech hat does everything..

Apple is now the Microsoft of the mid 2000s!!

Apple is a one trick pony. They should be happy that iphone is doing well. It is a careful nurturing and milking of specific segment.
Compare the same with their elitist laptop which has not broken the win laptop market you know where they stand.

Its like those unbeatable australian cricket team who always used to get favors from umpires on the basis of their past reputation.

 

[KAL-EL]

I confess I'm a pretty big Android fan and all of my phones have been Android based since my first Droid phone in 2010. I much prefer the much more open and customizable OS.

That being said, for the first time ever, I am actually giving serious consideration to possibly going iPhone 8 when I upgrade from my Note 5.

Original plan was to go with a Note 8. But I'm a bit disappointed in the specs. It's essentially a Galaxy S8 Plus with an S Pen. Not worth paying that huge premium for for a premium phone that doesn't do all that much to distinguish itself from its little brother the Galaxy S8.

Also looking at an LG v30 which looks really promising. Especially to audiophiles like myself because it has a quad DAC. Or I'll just end up with a Galaxy S8 Plus.

I'm not an Apple fan in general, and know that many of its users are practically cult-like. I mean Apple could release a cement brick and call it a new iPhone, and many of the iCult would still buy it up in droves.

But I still have to give credit where credit is due. Apple has made some quality products for sure

 

[lastone]

@KAL-EL . I too had a note 5 which i find is pretty good. Great battery and screen.
Why go for s8 plus and not a s8 ? S8 already has a 5.8" screen , 6.3" screen of a s8 plus is too large.

 

[F-22Raptor]

there was blackberry and then there was legendary nokia. to say apple makes revolutionary product is not correct. They are many other reasons like being elitist or posh that may be apt description. Please tell me what does revolutionary mean according to you?

yeah if making money is the only objective then china is also better,as they export more than US.
apple is more powered by US dollar dominance and elitist brand that it built years ago (and of course apple fan boys who will eat nothing but apple for lunch even if the apple is rotten).






.


Apple is a one trick pony. They should be happy that iphone is doing well. It is a careful nurturing and milking of specific segment.
Compare the same with their elitist laptop which has not broken the win laptop market you know where they stand.

Its like those unbeatable australian cricket team who always used to get favors from umpires on the basis of their past reputation.

Nokia and Blackberry? Where are they today?

The original iPhone wasn't revolutionary? What planet are you on? They upended the whole smartphone industry. I'm no Apple fanboy, but I look at the facts. Right now, they're the #1 most valuable brand in the world. They're way out in front. You don't get there without being innovative.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Apple is the #1 most powerful brand in the world. The only other company that comes close is Google. Say what you want about Apple's products, but there model is working.

They are working in the way Apple wants, not in the way the customer wants.

It is ridiculous that you cannot send an SMS from an iPad, or make a phone call.
Why no micro-SD slot.
The list is endless...

Nokia and Blackberry? Where are they today?

The original iPhone wasn't revolutionary? What planet are you on? They upended the whole smartphone industry. I'm no Apple fanboy, but I look at the facts. Right now, they're the #1 most valuable brand in the world. They're way out in front. You don't get there without being innovative.

Nokia was destroyed by a US Microsoft mole.
They should have continued on their path to make a true Linux phone.
Apple have been i Copycat mode for quite some time.
Their original phone idea with a touch screen was violating critical touch screen patents,
but they paid their way out of that problem.

 

[KAL-EL]

@KAL-EL . I too had a note 5 which i find is pretty good. Great battery and screen.
Why go for s8 plus and not a s8 ? S8 already has a 5.8" screen , 6.3" screen of a s8 plus is too large.

I'm a huge fan of the Note 5. It has served me very well.

And I would go for the S8 plus and not just the regular S8 because I want a bigger screen. All about personal preferences my friend.