Apple’s September 9th Event – Rumors, Features and New Products

Some are calling it the “Iphone 7”, Apple’s next Iphone is slated to be released to the world this coming week after the holiday weekend. Their September 9th event will be the biggest event in their history. They rented out the Bill Graham auditorium in San Francisco, able to seat over 7000 people. This is a very different reveal than Apple’s had in the past, both in the size and the scope of the event. Usually these venues are small and intimate, 2014’s only fitting roughly 700 people. As a result, much speculation continues to swirl about what the company will be revealing at the event, and why they needed so much more space.

The biggest product reveal is without a doubt going to be the tentatively named Iphone 6S and 6S Plus. This refresh has had numerous product supply chain reveals during the last few months. A host of improvements are expected to the device, but also several other products are anticipated to be revealed at the event.

The Iphone 6S and 6S Plus

The iPhone presently promises to include some pretty big upgrades from the previous 6 line. Several big changes are underway, including getting rid of one of the biggest “problems” when the 6 premiered. Rather than using cheaper Aluminum 6600 alloy, which led many people to claim the original 6 would bend in your pocket (dubbed “Bendgate”), the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus actually will be using Aluminum grade 7000, used for aircrafts. It’s substantially lighter weight, but also, nearly twice as strong. This represents a major increased cost for Apple over the previous product line, as this better aluminum is roughly 4 times as expensive. Once again, Apple is separating themselves from their competition with this move.

Several other improved features are planned for the device, according to sources a plethora of other features could be added to the devices in the coming iteration:

  • An improved 12 megapixel rear-facing and 3 megapixel front-facing camera
  • The A9 processor traditionally found in iPads. This processor would make the device the fastest on the market for any phone, primarily due to how fast it runs iOS versus Android devices.
  • 2 GB of RAM. Apple has historically never needed nearly as much memory for their devices as iOS is significantly more streamlined and offers better performance than Android. However, new features such as watch integration, force touch, and more app support likely will require some upgrade in this department.
  • The addition of Force Touch. This is probably the biggest change in the iPhone 6S. Mac9to5 provided insider info yesterday that the new Force Touch will differ from the iterations on the Macbooks or Apple Watch. It will be “3D integrated” meaning there will be some kind of screen feedback as well three different types of “presses” it can detect: tap, press and hard press.
  • Lastly, many people are citing sources that the screen’s resolution, as well as quality will be significantly increased.

Releasing a New Apple TV and Bigger Ipad?

Apple TV 2

A concept for the Next Generation Apple TV

Many analysts suspect that Apple will be releasing a new Apple TV, the popular streaming device which has been without any updates since 2013. There’s no information yet on what the new device will do, but sources indicate from the supply chain side that it may have a type of touch pad controller, full iOS experience, and significant gaming support. How much remains to be clear, but could easily push the Apple TV well past its peers like Amazon Fire TV or any Android based streaming device. The expectations are for a significantly improved device, including the A8 processor in the device.

In addition many suspect the September 9th event will reveal a new Ipad Mini as well as the newest 12-inch iteration of the Ipad, colloquially known as the “Ipad Pro”. Apple has not announced the name of this device, and even if it would run iOS or OSX. However, this is an attempt by Apple to harness some of the business segment for its tablet devices. Regardless, the event itself will reveal the specifications on this device. Supply chain data is misty at best about what this tablet will offer users.

Migrants Climb On Top of Eurostar Train

London has been battling migrants coming from mainland Europe for a number of years. Until recently it was much easier for them to make it through the Channel and enter the UK, however, the government has become increasingly stringent at the borders and increased inspections and scrutiny has led to a significant decrease in immigration illegally into the Kingdom. As yet another sign of the lengths desperate migrants will go, today a Eurostar line from Paris bound to London was halted at a station as migrants climbed on top of the train prior to it leaving. This was yet another bid to get across the Channel into Britain, even if the train is particularly high speed and this trip would be beyond dangerous for anyone attempting it.

Passengers on the train had reported footfalls on the room, and many more clamored into the train itself right before the train began moving away from the station. These passengers didn’t have the passport and documentation to make the journey, nor the ticket for the trip. Gentry, a 48 year old passenger on the train, told NBC that manager of the train apologized for the delay, but that migrants had attempted to board the train and climbed onto the room. As a result the train could not depart the station.

Migrants Climbing on the Roof?

Shortly after this all began happening, the train’s PA system issued a request for passengers to notify the staff if they heard any footsteps that appeared to be coming from the roof of the train.  This was to ensure that all migrants had been removed, and none were attempting to hide or run from officials.

This Eurostar line was one of eight train services which connect the French and British capitals that were planned for today that were disrupted by migrants. Eurostar indicated this is becoming more and more of a persistent problem. Eurostar trains routinely travel at 100mph or more in the Chunnel and exceed speeds of 180 mph once they reach the UK.

total-darkness-on-train

Thousands of migrants and refugees, most illegally entering the EU, attempt such perilous journeys every week, and it’s not clear what Europe can do about it without harsher guidelines and more spending on keeping them from entering the EU. Boats traveling from the Middle East and Northern Africa bring thousands of new immigrants every day, mostly to Italy and Greece. Attempts to halt this by these respective countries has been met with swift anger from the EU commission, though this is changing amidst pressure from European countries to stop the flow.

Gentry ultimately was sent to the French port city of Calais. French police ultimately arrived about 30 minutes later, and a helicopter as well to search the top of the train. In another unfortunate twist, Gentry’s train broke down at Calais before the migrants could be removed safely. To conserve power, the staff turned off the air conditioning and dimmed the lights. Eventually all electricity went out. Passengers were stranded in darkness and intense heat for hours.

As these sorts of incidents grow and escalate, it’s unclear what Europe will do to counteract it. One thing’s for sure, however, these problems cannot continue to persist in their present fashion. Not only are these sorts of searches, transport issues, and subsequent lost work time costly for their economies, but the migrant problem is draining the social nets of many EU countries.