What To Expect From Apple's Special Event

Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. Apple is going to be holding a special event on September 10th. Here's what you can expect. 

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So just like clockwork Apple announced the special event on September 10th. That's the same day that they have it every year. What they usually announce at these mid September events are new iPhones. This year should be no exception. Everybody is expecting a whole new line of iPhones. Now currently we have the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. So there's probably going to be a replacement for each one of those.

The big new feature for the higher end models is going to be more cameras. Instead of just the two cameras we're now going to have seventeen different cameras on the back of the iPhone. No, no, I'm just kidding! It's actually supposed to be three cameras. A triple camera system. So right now we've got a normal lens. We have a 2X telephoto lens. The new camera should be an ultra wide angle lens. So you'll be able to zoom in and zoom out with the camera. It's likely that Apple is going to use these cameras for even more than that. They love combining photos. So probably there will be modes where you will use all three cameras and get enhanced portrait mode or even some other special effects. What ever replaces the iPhone XR is going to go from one to a dual camera system on the back. So we should have a normal and telephoto lens there. That means you'll be able to do things like portrait mode with it.

Now these cameras won't just be more numerous. They should be a little higher quality too. That may translate into new functions in video shooting like being able to make adjustments live while you're actually shooting a video. 

So what will these new models be called. Some say they're going to be called the eleven using an XI. So the iPhone XI and the iPhone XI Max. Others say Apple is going to move away from that and call these Pro iPhones. So you may have the iPhone Pro and the iPhone Pro Max or Pro Plus or something like that for the larger size. No one is really speculating on what the new iPhone XR could be called. Maybe that will be called the XIR. Maybe Apple will go with one of those things where it's called The iPhone just like they did for The iPad.

It's expected that these iPhone models are going to look pretty much the same and have the same screen sizes as the current lineup. Of course there's going to be a new processor in it. Probably the A13 processor. It's also talked about that the higher end models, at least, may have a math processor or matrix processor that could make rendering of AR scenes a little bit better.There might me some other general improvements as well like a slightly better OLED screen on the higher end models. They are also all supposed to be a little bit more shatterproof and waterproof than previous generations. Another new feature may be reverse charging that works with just the new Air Pods. The new Air Pods case can charge wirelessly and it's rumored that with the new iPhones you'll be able to turn them over and put the Air Pods on them and get some charge from the iPhone to the Air Pods.

When and how much? Well, if the announcement is Tuesday September 10th then following the previous years we'll be able to order it on Friday September 13th, probably right after midnight Pacific time, and then they would be available the next week on September 20th. Not many people are talking about the prices. I expect them to be about the same. Apple has got some pressure to raise prices because of the potential of tariffs, that you're probably reading about in the news, but at the same time they're still hurting a little bit from when they raised prices to about a $1000 for the iPhone X two years ago. So maybe those will balance each other out and we'll end up with the same pricing.

In addition to new iPhones I think it's pretty much a sure thing we're going to see some new Apple watches. Now they came out with a whole new design last year so I don't expect anything major but rumors point to some new finishes. A titanium finish and also a ceramic one. So look for those. 

Now I think there's a possibility we may see new iPads here as well. Apple came out with a new iPad Mini and a new iPad Air earlier this year.  But they're due to update the base model, the low end model, which is good for schools and education. I expect them to drop the 9.7 inch screen and go to a 10.2 inch screen for this model. Also the iPad Pros they are still kind of new and fresh from one year ago but we can possibly see new versions that just have a newer processor in them. 

Now I know people are going to ask me what about new Macs. Isn't Apple going to do anything with the Macs. They don't announce anything with the Macs does that mean the Mac is dead or something. This event, the one in mid September, is always about iPhones and sometimes iPads. Apple usually announces new Macs at the World Wide Developers Conference sometimes in March sometimes in the later part of the Fall. But they almost never mention Macs at this event. That said there are rumors that at some point Apple is going to update the fifteen inch MacBook Pros to a sixteen inch model. It's going to be about the same size but the screen will go closer to the edges. So there's a slight possibility they could throw that in. But I really don't expect it. If we're going to see it this year it's going to be perhaps in October.

Now besides all the hardware we're definitely going to hear about the new operating systems. Apple has new versions of all their operating systems and we're definitely going to hear about iOS 13, because that's going to be on the new iPhones and possibly on the new iPads as well. So we'll hear about the release date of iOS 13. Those of use not buying new hardware just update our current machine. We're also going to hear about macOS Catalina although sometimes Apple leaves this out. They simply update the webpages to give a release date but don't make it a big part of the presentation because it's kind of awkward to go talking about iPhones and then jump to Mac. So they may mention it and they may not. Either way we should know at about the same time the official release date for Catalina when everybody can get it.

So if you follow all the rumors and speculation what do you think? Do you think Apple is going to do something surprising, something different? Have a "one more thing" moment at this announcement. Let me know in the comments.