With the rumored September 10th Apple keynote just weeks away, the rumor mill is in high gear and, as per usual, expectations will be soaring higher than ever as the date nears. For some products, a refresh or introduction is all but confirmed. For others, there only exists speculation or mere wishful thinking for even a mention at the keynote. Below you’ll find the opinions of some 9to5Mac staffers.
Mark Gurman:
I think the September 10th event will be an iPhone and a software event. At WWDC, Apple set the stage for several major software launches to occur this fall, but did not share final details or specific launch information. The company announced iOS 7, OS X Mavericks, iWork for iCloud, and announced (but did not demo) all new releases of iWork for Mac and iOS. I think the first part of the event will discuss software, while the second half of the event will talk iPhone hardware.
I would not be surprised to see Apple Senior VP of Software Craig Federighi re-cap many of the major new features of iOS 7. With iOS 7 including an all-new design, it will be important for Apple to talk the changes in a non-developer-focused environment (like WWDC). Apple, in the past, has re-discussed its major iOS updates at iPhone hardware events.
I would also expect Apple to announce a formal launch date for iOS 7 during this portion of the keynote. With Apple focusing on iPhone iOS 7 development prior to WWDC and many beta users saying that the iPhone version is more stable than the iPad version, I would not be surprised to see an iOS 7 for iPhone/iPod touch launch in mid-September and an iPad iOS 7 release in October alongside the new iPad 5 and iPad mini(s?).
After iOS 7, I think Apple will talk about its other major operating system release this year: Mavericks. With OS X Mavericks including many features that work hand-in-hand with iOS, I would expect Federighi to announce a launch date for Mavericks that is within the two week period in which the iOS 7 release will occur. With OS X Mountain Lion, Apple had some surprise features up its sleeve for launch (Dictation, PowerNap, etc), but with Apple putting a lot of attention on iOS this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mavericks features that debuted at WWDC being the entirety of what’s in store for the Mac OS this year.
To round out the software discussion, I would imagine that Apple VP of Productivity Software Roger Rosner will give a quick overview of iWork for iCloud and announce a release date (perhaps even the event date or in-line with Mavericks and iOS 7). I think Rosner will also give a quick demonstration of the new OS X and iOS iWork apps, along with a release date in-line with iWork for iCloud, iOS 7, and Mavericks. The event would also be a perfect venue to perhaps announce that iWork is now free (like iLife on OS X).
As for Mac hardware, Apple has Haswell MacBook Pros, Mac minis, and iMacs in the pipeline, but I think those could be easily saved for the October event (like in 2012 when Apple talked Macs and iPad at its October keynote). Mac Pro tech specs, pricing, and launch month could also be saved for October or even an Apple.com press release.
On to iPhone hardware, I think most of the chatter shared so far is correct: Apple will launch an iPhone 5S and a plastic, lower-cost iPhone that comes in various colors. Like past “S” phone upgrades, I am expecting the same design as the previous iPhone (iPhone 5 in this case), along with major enhancements to the camera and voice capabilities. I’m thinking that the iPhone 5S camera specs will be in-line with the iPhone 5: Perhaps around 8 megapixels. Apple has continuously said that megapixels don’t matter, so I don’t think Apple would have said that within the past few months for nothing. What I do think will separate the iPhone 5S camera apart is the software-perhaps a slow-motion mode– and a dual LED flash for improved low-light pictures.
In terms of voice, I would not be surprised to see the iPhone 5S gain some on-board voice parsing capabilities à la Android. I don’t think Siri is ready for on-board processing (this year), but I’d say Local Dictation makes sense for the 5S.
Many are expecting the new iPhone to sport a biometric fingerprint sensor. Based on SDK evidence, Apple’s purchase of Authentec last year, and other variables, I’d say that this is likely. The only thing holding me back from thinking this is a 100% certainty is the absolute lack of supply-chain evidence for a fingerprint sensor. If Apple is producing tens of millions of fingerprint sensor equipped Home buttons, why hasn’t one piece leaked? Plastic iPhone shells in every single color, iPhone 5S back plates and camera parts have leaked by the dozen. Then again, the iPad mini barely leaked in terms of hardware parts, so we never know for sure based on this.
From what I could glean, if the new iPhone does include a fingerprint sensor, I’d say with near certainty that it would be exclusively for unlocking the phone. Perhaps even as a conduit for unlocking the new iOS 7 iCloud Keychain feature. Apple is a hardware + software + services company, and fingerprint sensor integration into that (well-timed) feature would be sensible. I highly doubt that fingerprint sensor technology has reached a level of reliability to be suitable for conducting payments. I also don’t think Apple is ready to launch a payments service this year. I think that could be a long-term strategy of sort, but nothing suitable for 2013.
As for the plastic iPhone, I think that Apple will shoot for pricing under $350 sans contract. With contract, I’d say either free, $49, or $99. To ditch iPhones without Lightning and 4-inch screens, I’m thinking the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 are out of the line-up. With the iPhone 5S being similar to the iPhone 5, and for margins sake, I’d even go as far as to say that I think the iPhone 5 might even be done come next month. Perhaps the 2013 iPhone lineup will be the iPhone 5S and what some are calling the “iPhone 5C.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see the “iPhone 5C” come in one or two storage capacity options at most (perhaps 8GB and 16GB), and three for the iPhone 5S: 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. For every “S” iPhone launch, Apple has doubled the iPhone storage capacities, and Apple’s launch of a 128GB iPad earlier this year should only add some more smoke to that possibility.
Ben Lovejoy:
The focus of the event being the iPhone 5S seems as near certain as can be, with a 95 percent likelihood of a fingerprint sensor as the key differentiating hardware feature – though I too definitely expect a lot of focus on iOS 7.
Launching the iPhone 5C at the same event seems far more likely than not, though I do wonder about the naming. If Apple retains the existing iPhone 5, we’d then have a line-up that goes 5C, 5, 5S. That’s a pretty confusing nomenclature for the average consumer (ie. the ones who don’t hang out here), especially for a company that prides itself on usability. I think we might see a different name for either the 5C or 5S. There’s a small possibility the issue could be avoided by launching the 5C in emerging markets only.
Many of us were disappointed when the MacBook Pro 17 was discontinued. My suspicion is that a Retina screen just wasn’t economic in 17-inches at the time, and it would have been too confusing to have a model that sat above the 15-inch Retina in size but below it in resolution. I’d like to think we’ll see the MBP 17 return in Retina form, but must confess it’s more of a hope than an expectation.
Jordan Kahn:
With all of the rumors that Apple will introduce a low-cost iPhone (iPhone 5C?) in addition to a full-fledged iPhone upgrade (iPhone 5S?), there’s some question in terms of where that puts Apple’s current iPhone lineup. I’d expect to see the iPhone 4 and 4S officially gone from Apple’s lineup (along with 30-pin connectors), and the iPhone 5 to stick around as a mid-range option. If history is any indication, that would put the iPhone 5S at $199 on contract, the iPhone 5 at $99 on contract, and the new low-cost iPhone 5C at $0 on contract. Of course there is always the possibility that the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C pricing could be reversed with the 5C at $99, but that would require the new low-cost iPhone to be a much more compelling upgrade then the current iPhone 5. It might make more sense that way, however, given it would be odd for Apple to have a newly launched device sell for less than its previous generation iPhone. We’ve already seen the iPhone 5 sell for $99 on contract on a number of occasions.
Apart from iPhones, one thing that I expect to see at the event is new iWork apps. Apple showed of iWork for iCloud running in a browser at WWDC earlier this year, and you can bet that it has updates planned for the rest of its iWork apps on both iOS and Mac. Not only will it bring integration with iWork for iCloud (and hopefully a better explanation of pricing), but you can also expect the iOS apps to receive iOS 7 updates to make the apps fit in with the operating system’s new look. A new version of iPhoto popped up with some minor changes in the latest beta of Mavericks, so I’m hoping Apple will finally address the mess that is dealing with photos across devices with iCloud and iPhoto. We might even see the apps go free, and iLife app updates are long overdue as well. Apple also confirmed during its preview of the New Mac Pro that a new version of Final Cut Pro X is in the works– Perhaps we’ll hear even more about Apple’s pro offerings and where the products are headed, as we already know the new Mac Pro is set to arrive later this year. We’ll also most likely get official Mavericks and iOS 7 release dates.
Benjamin Mayo:
The sheer number of leaked parts for the lower-cost iPhone make its addition to Apple’s lineup an inevitability. However, “lower cost” does not necessarily mean the model will be cheap. In the same way the iPad mini is not a budget product, I expect the ‘iPhone 5C’ to cost between $300 and $350 unlocked. This is lower than any current iPhone sells for, but I don’t see the point of creating an entire new model of phone if the target price point is not significantly lower than anything available before. Spec-wise, the iPhone 5C will share internals with both the 4S and iPhone 5.
At the moment, Apple runs with three products, the 4, 4S and iPhone 5. From September, I think Apple will simplify the lineup to just two products, the iPhone 5C and the 5S, as the 5C is too similar to the 5 to warrant keeping both around. As a further distinguishing factor, I think it is time for Apple to start the entry-model iPhone 5S with 32 GB of storage. This enables Apple to have a low-end 16 GB iPhone 5C and a 32 GB iPhone 5C standing in for the ‘mid-range’ option currently occupied by the 4S.
Scott Buscemi:
In 2012, Apple hosted an event in January, March, June, September, and October; yet so far in this year, we’ve only had the WWDC keynote. Thus, the company has the choice of either pulling out all the goodies and introducing updates (or additions) to all of their software and hardware lineups, or they can stagger all of the new products over multiple events. As much as I would want to see all of the great innovation from Cupertino come out all at once, I believe the company will follow their usual regiment and spend a majority of the time introducing the new iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone 5C (which will inevitably stand for “cheap” according to the anti-Apple squads) and only spending a small amount of time recapping and announcing the release dates for already-known products. Sadly, there’s a really good chance that the Apple TV will not be getting any love.
While I would love a refresh for the retina MacBook Pro, there’s a slim chance that it’ll actually show up during this iPhone-focused event. Mavericks, on the other hand, will see its release date announced. iOS 7’s release date will be announced as well, which I presume will be just a few days before the release of the iPhone 5S.
iLife struggles in Mavericks, so they’ll either need to do a small update to fix the compatibility issues or they can do a full refresh like Logic Pro X. iWork also needs to be much smarter (real-time, multi-person collaboration), but iWork for iCloud shows that the company still isn’t that far yet.
The iPhone 5S itself, honestly, needs to be more than an S upgrade. The processor will no doubt be upgraded, which will be great for iOS 7 and making sure that everything is silky smooth. However, the hardware features will really need to shine for this iPhone. The fingerprint scanner as Mark described it – one that simply allows you to unlock your phone – will not cut it at all. I believe the fingerprint scanner must be a part of a larger payment network. Surely Apple has plenty of money in the bank and a large, loving audience. But Tim Cook and the rest of the executives need to prove that there is still fire in the engine.
I think the September 10th event will be mainly focused on the iPhone and iOS 7, will dive in a little bit further into the new iWork for iCloud, Mac and iOS and touch up on OS X Mavericks.
Seth Weintraub:
I think the September 10th event will be an iPhone event but Apple often slips some other product updates into an event as well. Haswell Minis/MacBook Pros/iMacs as well as the redesigned Pro are all due this Fall so Apple could announce and start shipping them at the September event. We almost always get more details as events get closer on Macs so stay tuned for that.
iPads had their own October event last year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same this year. That said, the iPad 5, which will look like big Minis, have been floating around since at least January so Apple could drop these at any time. Speaking of Minis, I think Apple will expand the mini line to include both Retina and non-Retina models – but probably not on September 10th.
As for the iPhone, this will be as much about showing off a polished iOS 7 (which has so far been polarizing) as it will be about new hardware. We’ve got a pretty good idea of iOS 7, but Apple often saves some nuggets for the final reveal. It appears that Apple is going to show off a new plastic-backed ‘iPhone 5C’ which will have iPhone 5-ish specs. I believe that will be the $399 iPhone or “free with 2 year plan” we’ve grown accustomed to in the US. The iPhone 5 might stick around as the mid-tier ($99 w/plan) but probably in a base 16-32GB configuration only. The flagship iPhone 5S will have a better camera, faster/more efficient chips and of course fingerprint reading capabilities. We might even see 32/64/128GB configs to help differentiate from the 5 and 5C.
Wildcard: Apple could show off its latest thinking in Apple TV land.
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I think the iPhone 5C will be sold only at Apple stores and premium resellers. This way by selling a cheaper phone, they can generate more footfalls into their stores (and of course online as well). After all, this is what Tim Cook wants, isn’t it?
Wow, that’s a lot of thoughts about September 10th. One thing we can count on it the iPhone 5S coming to us with an upgraded A7 SOC with a quad core graphics engine, an upgraded camera, and a fingerprint sensor. They will also dazzle us with the new “lower cost” plastic iPhone, which will be spec’d like the iPhone 5 is now. Finally, they will discuss iOS 7 in more detail and give us a download date/ship date.
Anything else is unlikely and will happen at a separate event or events.
Screw October, I want my Haswell/802.11ac MacBook Pro NOW! :-)
I’m guessing the MBPs might be waiting for the Mac Pro line — maybe because of Thunderbolt 2.
I’m also waiting beyond waiting for a refresh of the Thunderbolt Display line which *should* have been refreshed with USB3 last YEAR.
Maybe iOS and OSX Launch Simaltaneously? I am just worried about the pricing. is the 5S going to stay at 199 at launch? or will it jump to where the 32GB sits? i agree with Mark on how Apple could cut ties to the non-Retina/4-Inch Screen/Lightning parts of the family to focus on future products. iWork Free? would be nice considering Googles rival Docs app. Has any of the iLife recieved iOS 7-Esk Upgrades yet or is that being waited on for launch like most other apps by apple.
I really hope new Retina MacBook Pro’s come out September 10th, I want it before college starts!
I’m going to guess, the iPhone 5BORING…a new iPad 5GOODGOD, with a closer of iOS WHOGIVESA@#^%! A date on the Mac Pro that STICKS will be the only saving grace.
Ur really funny
Just my opinions, iPhone 5S/C with iOS 7, iPad 5/iPad mini 2, MBP with OSX and iPods
iPhone 5S/5C is under way but, iOS 7 is not yet ready.
They just have 35 days to release iPhone, we can estimate using iOS 7.
Because of iOS 7 become very stable but, it is not means it is stable enough to apply on the production.
Still have many of small & big problems. Apple will try to fix the issues as soon as possible.
If Apple release Beta 6 on next week, we can eailsy know an answer
iPad 5 has delayed due to the finalizing of iPad mini 2 such as retina or not.
Apply Retina display on iPad mini 2, it is an big challenge. due to the limiation of batery space.
personally, I do not think Apple will release iPad mini 2 with retina yet.
Anyway, early of next week, we will know the answer
“I’m thinking that the iPhone 5S camera specs will be in line with the iPhone 5. Perhaps around 8 megapixels.”
You speculate the iPhone 5S only having an 8 megapixel camera? Where’d that come from? Every rumor all over the net says its going to have a 12 megapixel camera? And wasn’t there a parts leak on that detail specifically already?
I really don’t think September Event is going to be an iPhone event this year. I’m sure everyone is saying the opposite but I really think it’s going to be Mac Pro, Macbook Pro Retina, and Mavericks and Apple TV (4K Thunderbolt display with HDMI In). Just from what I’ve used Mavericks seems much more stable. The Mac Pro has already been shown and to be honest probably further into its dev cycle.
The iPhone might be shown much like the Mac Pro was shown in June but I don’t think this will be revolving around iOS 7 based devices it just has too many bugs left.
Justin what do you think is there plan going forward then with IPhone? I hope for a bigger jump.
I don’t know to be honest, I’m really worried on this update cycle. I would love to have a 4.7in iPhone with a 4in iPhone mini but I know Apple will not do this at least on this upgrade. They (and alot of Apple fans) think a large screen is a “fad” or a “gimmick” but things like fingerprint scanners are the real gimmick. If this keeps up I’ll buy an iPhone 5C without it instead of an iPhone 5S with it. Or maybe i’ll just move to a Moto X. I really don’t think I will as I have the rest of the Apple Ecosystem but I sure as heck will not buy a 5S. The only thing that might change my mind would be NFC and the scanner as the “approve payment” thats the only way I can think I would ever use that piece of tech. This update cycle is almost make or break for me, and so far everything I’ve seen rumor wise, I’m leaning towards break.
You speculate that the iPhone 5S will only have an 8 megapixel camera? Where’d that come from? Practically every rumor on the net says that the iPhone 5S is going to have a 12 megapixel camera. And wasn’t there a parts leak on this already?
Does Apple really have the balls to put out a 5″s”? This is all but going to ensure that more people will switch to Android, including myself who has had every iPhone since 2007. I want a 5+ inch screen. So does everyone else. If you dont, then keep the iPhoneC at the same screen size.
Plus.. is it just me or is it bad timing to have a fingerprint scanner in the wake of all this NSA questions?
I also want a bigger screen. I want anything from 4.5 to 5 not just thinner but wider as well. I’m up for a upgrade this year and seriously may skip it until the iPhone 6 comes. From everything that is coming out on the iPhone 5s I don’t know if its enticing enough to switch. If I can just make it one more year. I won’t switch to android but I will not upgrade until 6. I’m surprised they are not making a bigger jump. I thought they would this go around. I love IOS 7 so far but my one complaint with IPhone is a bigger screen. I know it’s been a year but seems like they have not done anything in two. I have no interest in lower cost iPhone. Looks like I will upgrade in fall 2014!! Boy that seems forever.
I agree. The iPhone scanning your thumb is more NSA / CIA pushing into the Apple franchise. Please don’t be naive thinking it’s just coincidence. It’s not. Not allowing batteries to be removed solved a HUGE intelligence gathering problem for the CIA / NSA. Apple got tech from these same groups to make their phones sleeker and better in exchange; now common place.
The iPhone is this tiny phone with serious performance issues. Most of us insiders know that Apple patches their OS’s to run slower forcing consumers to “need” new units. Typing takes literally no processing power, but iPhone 4s have had 500ms delays inserted to throw off owners. Pick up a new phone and SURPRISE, no delay.
You’ll roll your eyes, but in 20 years you’ll remember this post, Apple and Microsoft are being sabotaged from inside to throw the entire world into Google’s belly. No one needed a new browser, yet we got Chrome to watch all our traffic. We didn’t need another OS, yet we got Chrome OS. Google already tracks everything you do. Bing the same. Yahoo is now being run by an ex-Google exec. They’re out of the search business, despite having invented the market.
The post-pc era is the death of Apple, PERIOD. If Google buys them for shares, they might have a future. Otherwise they are done for. Most of the top execs who have left over the last few years know this. Sad but true.
That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about them doubling the storage capacity. That would make the next phone even more enticing compared to the competition. Though I wouldn’t be shocked if the sizes were 16/64/128 gb. They did something similar with the second ten iPod touch, to get you to buy a more expensive model ( 8/32/64gb )
september 10th will be
iphones and ios 7
plus updates to its iOS apps, ilife iwork etc
plus ipods
macs and ipads wont come till oct like last year,
Basic consideration, How much cost will be different between 5S and 5C. I am sure, it should be less than $30 (case; buttons, maybe lower level camera and lower level AP). But, how much logistic cost will be increased die to the various model. I just curious, it will be needed ? If Apple do the reduce of price for their phones, it looks much easier
All expectations seems to focus on existing products, yet “bigger, better, faster”. Nobody dares to think of an unexpected product that Apple has on its sleeve? Even without the visionair Steve at the helm of the company, I think Apple is still capable of surprising all of us. I sincerely hope we won’t be disappointed and we will see the long expected iTV and iWatch or even an iRemote, iFridge or iChair. Remember the words of Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
I think that the 5S will come in 32, 64, and 128 GB configurations for the same price range as today while the 5C will come in 8 and 16 GB versions at 349 and 449 USD without a contract.
I think people are having very very high hopes from Apple than any other company, i believe the future will be same upgrades and upgrades and then design changes, there is no other product line we see missing in tech world except wearables gadgets, and that will be the only surprise we will get sooner or later, other than that we know the trend very much, iOS updates every year, OSX updates Every year, iPhone & iPad changes every second year and upgrades every year so iPods, Macs no design changes just hardware upgrades, things will go on like this for years to some unless some thing new gets in their minds.
Here: http://techmell.net/apple-tips/ios-7-beta-6-release-date-august-19/ it says that iOS 7 beta 6 is coming on 19th august. What about OS 7 final version? i know that its coming with iPhone 5s, but is t possible to get it before the launch of Phone 5s?
What about new Apple Cinema Displays? along with new Mac Pro… pretty please :-)
I think people are missing one thing. 2 screen sizes. Every line of products apple offers has 2 screen sizes. imacs have 27″ & 21″, Macbook pro 15-13, Macbook air 13-11, iPad & iPad mini, and even the iphone has iphone 4s and iphone 5. For this reason, I think the line up could be iphone 6 (Premium screen size), iphone 5 and iphone 5c
Could “C” stand for “China”?
I think Apple is going to announce China Mobile deal
I think that iPhone 5/S/C is pretty confusing for the average customer! As they have done with the iPad, my guess is that Apple will drop the numbering, which is inconclusive anyway ( there was no iPhone 2 – it all started with 3G as reference to the Celluar Network) and name the suspected iPhone 5S: “The New iPhone” or more likely “iPhone Pro” in which case the suspected iPhone 5C would be named either something like “iPhone mini” or simple “iPhone”.
My guess is that those two product lines will cover the phone lineup in the near future. So, Fingerprint sensor SIRI could be for ” Pro” only!
Hmmm…one passing mention of AppleTV, and one “dream” mention of the iPod. This, despite the last AppleTV being 18 months ago (and thanks to AirPlay fitting in with the iOS theme), and the current (and still amazing) iPod nano being announced last September with the iPhone 5. So my bet is on new models of each.
I still hope there is no “iPhone 5C”, but only because my small brain has difficulty imagining it as a quality product. If one is indeed announced, it will be because much smarter minds will have mapped a path through this.
Were it not for the major iOS update, I would guess the iPads would have their own, later event, but that doesn’t make sense to me in this context. And yet, announcing new iPhone(s), iPads, iPods, AppleTV, AND reviewing iOS7 in a single event seems like too much. So tough call, but I’m guessing all of the above WILL be announced in September.
That means October would be all Mac, all the time. Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, and Mavericks. That will still make for a pretty substantial set of announcements.
Prognostication is hard. Maybe I should just stick with my day job.
Fingerprint scanner? Are you joking? This isn’t fucking James Bond! A password or even a face scan will suffice but a goddamn fingerprint scanner? On a glass screen which would cost a crap ton of money? So many questions….such a retarded author/editor
BTW if you beilieve the fingerprint scanner bullshit, I will happily guide you to your local preschool
Do you think the next update to the imac range will bring cameras capable of 1080 video?
It makes no sense having a fingerprint sensor just to unlock the phone.There’s more.