Apple used to save their ‘fall’ event for music and an opportunity to release the latest and greatest iPod to bash Microsoft’s Zune further into submission. This changed when Apple moved the Spring iPhone launch to Autumn and seem to have randomised the launch schedule. Earlier this year Tim Cook alluded to the fact that Apple had a lot more up its sleeve with further launches to come through the rest of the year. This means that either the 12th September will be one hell of an event or there will be another event before Christmas.
The rumours of an iPad mini may be true but I will put my neck on the line to say that it will not be announced at the same time as the new iPhone. Apple knows more abut marketing hype than to miss a trick like this; why have one queue around the block for two products when you can have two queues, a few months apart, around the block for those two products?
So maybe a new iPod or two?
Well here lies another difficulty. The rumours have it that Apple are about to refresh the dock on the bottom of the iPhone. Does this mean that they will also change the dock on the iPad and all iPods or will they maintain two docks?
I think they will be happy for the new dock to live only on the iPhone before introducing it to the iPad next Spring and then a complete refresh of the iPod range over the next 18 months. So no iPods either, if I’m right.
MacBooks then? No. Nothing to see here. Too distracting from the main event.
How about a new Apple TV?
With that last refresh less than a year ago and the ATV2 still working beautifully in 720p I cannot see a need for another generation. But it is time to take the operating system (OS) up a notch by applying a bit of Apple polish to an ok OS. Maybe an app store, opportunity to move around built in apps and a little more control over sharing from iTunes would be welcomed by users. Additionally Apple, please make the album display a lot prettier and work on the general consistency of the experience. Overall I think there is a good chance of seeing an Apple TV announcement.
Any other software?
Possibly the launch of a music streaming service but I have never been sure that Apple would really benefit from this. Just one of those internet rumours I suspect.
Any other hardware?
Yes. The iMac is overdue a refresh but I don’t think it will be retina displays just yet. Processor and hard drive upgrades just to keep the in line with other PC makers should do until the new displays are ready.
So what’s left to talk about? The new iPhone.
- A new dock (yes)
- A bigger screen (yes – a little bigger)
- iOS 6 (yes)
- NFC – Near Field Communication (not yet)
- Better camera (improved software not hardware)
- Disappearance of native YouTube and Google map apps (yes)
- Thinner and taller (yep)
- Headphone jack on the bottom (please no!). Unfortunately it will be needed to carry the analog signal missing from the new smaller dock.
- Worldwide 4G/LTE (seems plausible)
- Larger storage (doubt it – 64GB is still pricey and isn’t this what the cloud is for now?)
- Faster processor (kept under wraps but the A6 might just be ready)
If Apple alter the iPhone 4 the critics will say the change is uninspiring and if they keep the form factor as it then they will be dull. The public will still buy it by the millions and no doubt it will be another solid launch of another solid phone.
I for one can’t wait to see what Apple has up its sleeves.