Apple on Friday alerted watchers to set the date, March 21, as it prepares to spring forward with new products and accessories.

The event was previously expected to take place on March 15. However, the invites and the new landing page on Apple's website confirm the event will arrive a day after spring instead of March.

"Let us loop you in," reads the invites sent to consumers from the occupants of One Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California.

Apple will kick off the media event at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on March 21. For those who'd like to be looped in via the web, Apple is livestreaming the event and is even supporting some Windows users this time.

The Apple HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) will support both Safari and Microsoft Edge browsers.

The Next iPhone
It might be called the iPhone 6C, the iPhone 5SE or simply the iPhone SE. Apple watchers haven't come to a consensus on what it'll be called, but there seems to be much more agreement on its form and the fact that it'll be a phone.

The next iPhone to debut at the spring event is expected to be a throwback to Apple's older phones. It'll have a 4-inch display like the iPhones that came before the 6 series.

While it's assumed to be smaller than Apple's current lineup of handsets, the new iPhone is expected to have guts as big and as bold as the iPhone 6SIt'll be driven by Apple's latest A9 processor and the M9 motion coprocessor. It'll have Touch ID and will, of course, support Apple Pay. It is also likely to sport an 8 MP rear camera.

However, the iPhone isn't expected to include 3D Touch.

There will be a 16 GB and a 32 GB version of the phone and will come in colors that include gold, Rose Gold, silver and Space Gray.

As far as price, KGI Securities expect the iPhone SE to come somewhere in between $400 and $500. As a result of the phone's pricing, it's projected to push down the price of the iPhone 5S to around $250

Up In The Air: The Pro Mini Or Air 3
The confusion of naming isn't limited to the next the iPhone. Apple has apparently done a good job with the next iPad in keeping the leakers guessing.

The iPad Air 3 was expected to debut at the spring event, but now all signs are pointing to the expansion of Apple's recently launched Pro line.

The next iPad Pro is assumed to have the same horsepower as the one that birthed the series last fall. However, instead of having a 12.9 inch display, the next iPad Pro will reportedly sport a 9.7 inch screen.

The smaller iPad Pro will support the Apple Pencil and it'll include a Smart Connector. Apple is rumored to be working on a more compact Smart Keyboard for the smaller Pro pad.

Counter Programming
The spring event will be more than just an opportunity for Apple to drive hype for its products ahead of its annual developer's conference this June. It'll also serve as an opportunity for the company to defend its products.

The fire is still at Apple's feet in the saga over the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone. The U.S. government responded to a motion from Apple asking the court to vacate the order for the tech company to create a backdoor to iOS

The Department of Justice hinted that it may pursue a "less palatable" measure to crack company's resolve. If Apple won't create the back door that'll allow the feds to break into the terrorist's iPhone, it may seek to get its hands on one of the company's most valuable and protected possessions: the source code to iOS.

All eyes are always locked on the world's most valuable tech company whenever it holds a presentation. With a global audience held captive by the spring event, it'll be Apple's chance to score a crucial victory in the court of public. 

ⓒ 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join the Discussion