Apple Event Set for September 12
Apple has sent out invitations to a “special event” scheduled for 10:00am PST on September 12 of 2018 to select members of the press (and no, we were not invited).
Typically, Apple fall events focus on the launch of new iPhones, but many active rumors suggest updated iPad and Mac hardware may appear at the event as well.
The event invitation, shown above via Apple, features a large golden ring against a black background. The golden ring is almost certainly representative of the new Apple Park campus, which is a shaped as a humungous circle that is visible by satellite.
Apple will be live streaming the event starting at 10am PST on September 12, so if you’d like to watch the event and whatever products are updated or launched you can do so from a web browser (typically Safari works most reliably for streaming Apple events).
Most rumors suggest the September Apple event may feature the following, though it should be noted all of this is based on speculation and rumor as Apple basically never reveals its cards ahead of a scheduled event:
- Three new iPhone models, each resembling the iPhone X in appearance, and available in three screen sizes: 5.8″, 6.1″, and 6.5″
- Possible updates to iPad Pro hardware, likely losing the Home button
- Possible updates to MacBook hardware (but not the MacBook Pro)
- Possibly an updated Mac Mini
- Possibly an updated Apple Watch
- An official release date for iOS 12
- An official release date for macOS Mojave
There are also various rumors that Apple may just release the new iPhone at this particular event, perhaps with the Apple Watch, and instead issue hardware updates to the iPad and Mac at a later time or at a later event.
The official event invitation which was sent to select press, shown below from BusinessInsider, has the text “Gather round.”
Apple often leaves subtle clues in their event invitations, and it’s likely not a coincidence that a gold color or a round image is used. For example, the event coloration could indicate that Apple plans to unveil a gold color option for the iPhone. Of course trying to read into an event invitation is basically the digital equivalent of reading tea leaves, so your educated imaginative guess is as good as any.
Update with event spoilers: Apple apparently leaked some product images of the new iPhone and Apple Watch online, which were quickly picked up by 9to5mac. Those images, which appear to show an iPhone and an Apple Watch in shiny gold colors, are seen below:
The “iPhone Xs”
The “Apple Watch Series 4”
Of course these could be mistakes and it’s always possible we’ll see something else from Apple during the event. We’ll find out for sure on September 12.
I wonder which Apple product will be rendered obsolete or nearly so. I’m using my old iPad for a cheese tray.
Any new desktops?
I read a rumor from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman who is the best Apple reporter out there by a long mile and it suggested that maybe in October there will be Mac refreshes to the Mac Mini and MacBook Air.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-20/apple-is-said-to-plan-revamped-low-cost-macs-to-reignite-sales
I used to get excited when I heard of Mac refreshes. Now I get worried, what crucial ports or features or keys will they remove next? Will they take all the ports out of Mac Mini and solder on the RAM and SSD and raise the price 50%? Will they put a horrible keyboard on MacBook Air and remove all the ports and Magsafe?
Does Apple know what Mac users want? I feel Apple is lost with the Mac, it is sad to me as a fan and user.
Here’s Bloomberg revealing the details of the new iPhone.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-27/apple-to-embrace-iphone-x-design-with-new-colors-bigger-screens
Spoiler alert: it’s basically the same as the prior iPhone, except faster, with incremental upgrades, with a gold color option. It’s the same thing every year, not like it’s hard to predict what’s coming. It’s not like one year they will surprise everyone and release something totally new and amazing like a virtual holographic hamster that dances on your coffee table. Come on people, it’s a phone.
Everyone seems to think that the circle represents the new Apple Campus, but I differ. Considering that this event is not the first one to be held there -a previous event was already held at the Steve Jobs theatre last year-, it is more likely that the golden circle represents a new round Apple Watch coming up (gold has been one of the colors featured on the Apple Watch aluminum cases since 2016, as well as on the first gen 24k gold Apple Watch edition released in 2015). Especially considering that the phrase ‘gather round’ also appears on the invitation.