"Gather round" - Apple event scheduled for 12th Sept - what to expect

Apple is all set for their keynote on 12th September 2018 to announce the next set of hardware. They are unveiling their new venture of iPhone at the ‘Gather round’ event whose invite was posted by Kif Leswing on 30th August on his Twitter account. He posted an invited poster that shows a gold ring with the main tagline as ‘Gather round’. The event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, Cupertino.

The meaning of the poster is still unclear. Apple’s invitations are generally cryptic but have a hint of what to expect at the event.

Nevertheless, speculations galore as to what we can expect from the event. As per Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Martri who mentioned a “strong growth from iPhone [sales]", it is certain that phones will star at the event. This year, the semi-cryptic invite will keep audiences speculating till the presentation is done.

Here’s what we think Apple will announce at the event

iOS 12

Lets get the obvious out of the way. iOS 12 will be included in the launch since it was unveiled at WWDC. It is definitely not the star of the event. But will be used to highlight all the features of their new iPhone collection.

New iPhones

As per buzz in the air, it is possible to see up to three new models of the iPhone in the launch.

According to news, the latest iPhone will be an evolution of iPhone X of the plus type with 6.5 inches of the screen which is only 5.8 inches in iPhone X. however, the OLED screen will be the same as old version. Two out of the three iPhones will be following these features. Clearly, iPhone will have its own range just like the previous model but with larger screen plus version.

The last one will be the replacement for the iPhone 8 model with more upgraded development and design. The screen size will go up to 6.1 inches which was only 4.7 inches in the iPhone 8 model and 5.5 inches in iPhone 8 Plus model. Another expected aspect for this model is that it will come in several colors a la Apple iPhone 5C.

New iPads

The special event of September might be the showcase of the iPhone and is very unlike to see anything else but Mac. But there might be a possibility to see an updated iPad Pro as well. It is highly expected to take design cues from the topmost iPhone model – iPhone X that will be presented in the smaller yet amazing bezels.

The headphone jack and home button removal are frankly a bummer, but well, this is Apple we are talking about. In addition to this, there will be new features added to the list of existing features or some will be upgraded to have a more advanced technology background. It is possible to the updated iPad will have FaceID in place of touch id.

Apple Watch update

If we consider the regulation-required documentation that was filed with the Eurasian Commission, we might be witnessing the launch of several Apple Watches with the latest technology. Already Apple Watches present in the market come in two different sizes, both with and without LTE.

It will be fun to see what new things they might have added to the package - the design of the new Watches might be more upgraded and different from the previous models. The change can also include size alterations that will bezel on the watches giving you more room to display.

The Pods & Pads

AirPower - the wireless charging pad for compatible iPhones, is a much awaited device. It is possible that you might get a glimpse of the product in the event since it was announced during the WWDC.

New AirPod cases are also expected to be announced. The cases are specifically designed by incorporating new features that can charge it with the help of the AirPower pad. On top of that, it is possible to see an upgraded version of AirPods as well since its release two years back.

It is advisable to keep your expectation limited or none in case of HomePods though.

Updated macs

Updated version of iMacs are long overdue. Supposedly, Apple will announce the new iMac at the event. The 6-year-old iMac design will now be given a fresh look after being the same for quite some time now. In 2012, the slim design was introduced with no changes in it after that. If we go way back then it was 2004 when the real development of the case was done.

It is possible we will see refreshed versions of the iMac and iMac Pro. Although, don’t be disappointed if they don’t launch the latest iMac in this event. It can have its own October event or a press release.

Mac Pro roll might not be up for sale even now, but it is possible to get a sneak peek of the product in the launch just like the iMac Pro last year. Well, Apple surely knows how to keep the audience hyped up with new products. However, Apple has already passed out a statement that they will be releasing Mac Pro in 2019. But still, there is MacBook Air, MacBook and Macminis.

There are many things that are predicted to be launched in the event. But no official statements are yet out on the products or services. We are all geared up for the keynote on 12th September. Can’t wait for the “One last thing” this time around!

Is your app ready for iOS 12 and does it use auto-layout to ensure it works on all different iPhones and iPads coming out? If not, now is the time to get them updated.