It’s finally official: Apple will hold a product announcement event in San Francisco on September 9. The rumors says we’ll see a new iPhone and maybe an Apple TV. But the big question is, who will be the musical guest? Taylor Swift has a concert in Texas that day, so she’s out. I’ve made my prediction; do you have one? Let us know in the comments below. In the meantime, you can see all the important headlines here in this slideshow. Want to get more details on a story? Click on the link.
As usual, the phrasing is coy and vague, but based on Apple events of yore, we know a few things: There will be new iPhones, and we will see final updates to iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan, which will be released in the fall.
Also: • iPhone 6s rumors: Overhauled camera with 12-megapixel sensor and 4K video support (Macworld) • iPhone 6s rumors: Hello rose gold, goodbye iPhone 5c (Macworld) • Apple Is About To Lay Down Its TV Cards (TechCrunch) • Apple TVs (plus iPods & Cinema Displays) hitting obsolete status day before new hardware on Sept 9 (9to5 Mac) • Reading The Apple Event Tea Leaves With Actual Witches (BuzzFeed)
Apple has posted a support page on its website acknowledging that certain iPhone 6 Plus cameras have a component which could fail, along with a way to see if you’re eligible for a free replacement.
In addition to Apple Watch 2, Apple will also unveil a new line of smart bands for the current generation of the Watch. These smart bands will be equipped with sensors designed to track health data in new or more accurate ways.
Also: • Currys and PC World Gearing Up to Sell Apple Watch in UK (MacRumors)
Cook and co. seem confident that China remains a safe bet, but Apple watchers will be keeping a close eye on the country going into the holiday quarter. If the Chinese middle class isn’t buying up new iPhones, that would be very bad news for Apple.
Also: • Apple CEO Tim Cook may have violated SEC rules with Jim Cramer email (MarketWatch) • Apple’s Tim Cook Says Student Have Right to ‘Great Public Education’ (Good Morning America) • Apple’s Cook awarded $58M worth of AAPL stock for meeting performance goals, sells none (Apple Insider) • Talking Apple in the Enterprise with Tim Cook at BoxWorks (Box Blogs) • Jony Ive and Jimmy Iovine to be Interviewed at this Year’s Vanity Fair Summit in October (Patently Apple)
Once a political neophyte, [Apple CEO Tim] Cook now occupies a public role in politics unlike any CEO in Silicon Valley, and his unique approach has rewired his company’s political strategy.
Also: • Apple is helping the U.S. defense department develop wearable tech (IDG News Service)
Apple cites “fewer customers” signing up for One to One as the reason behind the service’s upcoming closure.
Also: • Apple redesigns Workshops scheduling system in minor website update (AppleInsider) • Apple rolling out, encouraging mobile Apple Watch try-ons across stores (9to5 Mac) • Apple Restructures Store Displays by Removing iPad Smart Signs (Financial Buzz) • Apple’s Customer Service Lags In Q2 (ValueWalk)
The Financial Times reported Friday that [Ian] Rogers resigned unexpectedly just two months after helping to launch Apple Music. But he’s not leaving to work for a streaming music rival—Rogers is going to work for a European company in an entirely different industry.
During its debut quarter in the wearables market, Apple shipped 3.6 million Apple Watches compared to Fitbit’s 4.4 million fitness trackers.
Also: • Best Buy is an Apple Watch believer after strong early sales (Macworld)
Judges on Tuesday said that the iPhone maker’s method didn’t reach a level of sophistication needed to award patent protection — backing an earlier patent tribunal ruling in favor of Lenovo Group Ltd.’s Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.
Also: • Apple, Samsung battle to the end over damages payment (IDG News Service)
A first poster has arrived online for Steve Jobs, director Danny Boyle’s upcoming biopic starring Michael Fassbender as the Apple co-founder…
Snapchat began monetizing geofilters as ad units in June. Apple promoted Apple Music in New York City’s Times Square a couple of months ago, while the company has placed ads for the service on buildings and bus benches around the world.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.