Apple is hosting one of its invite-only unveilings in San Francisco on Wednesday, and onlookers say CEO Tim Cook will likely announce updates to the iPhone and Apple TV that are poised to again push the envelope on what consumers expect from commercial tech.
Gadget geeks have their sights set on the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the 7,000-seat venue that will host Mr. Cook and company early Wednesday when Apple will raise the curtain on the Silicon Valley giant’s latest offerings.
Apple is predictably keeping quiet ahead of its annual producer unveiling, but people close to the company say announcements concerning the latest iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and a new “force touch” pressure-sensing technology are all in the cards.
Industry experts say Mr. Cook will likely introduce the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, updated versions of the smartphone unveiled at Apple’s product launch last fall that have since proven to be among the company’s most successful products.
It’s been widely reported ahead of Wednesday’s event that the newest iteration of the iPhone will boast a faster processor, more RAM and a better camera. According to Mac Rumors, a website that tracks Apple news, the new mobile phone could include a rear-facing camera that clocks in at 12 megapixels instead of the current 8. Other reports suggest the devices could adopt the “force touch” technology already included in the Apple Watch that would allow the user to perform different functions depending on how much pressure is applied to the screen.
Mr. Cook is also expected to announce updates to the Apple TV, its streaming media player, that reportedly could also involve a processor upgrade and integration with Siri, the voice assistance technology that’s already found on the iPhone. Siri itself may also undergo a revamp to make the service more intuitive and ubiquitous across Apple’s product line, according to media reports.
Wednesday’s event will begin at 10 a.m. PT and will be streamed online, but Apple says the broadcast will only be available on iPhones, iPads and through its Safari web browser. It is expected to be the first major product announcement from the company since the unveiling of the Apple Watch in March. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus — the predecessors to the “6s” models expected to be shown off this week — have since sold a record 183 million models, according to The Associated Press.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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