News
Apple Confirms iPhone 14 Launch Event On September 7th
Expect a refreshed iPhone lineup and new Apple Watches — though there’ll be few surprises due to an abundance of leaks.
Apple has announced its next big product launch date. The Cupertino company has invited journalists for a September 7th event at the Steve Jobs Theater, situated on Apple’s main campus.
The launch will be the first in-person event hosted by Apple since the pandemic, at least if we discount the outdoor WWDC keynote from earlier this year. The invite, which contained the tagline “Far out”, is an intriguing choice — perhaps hinting at extended telephoto functionality for iPhones or representing a nod to some kind of satellite connectivity (something bouncing around the Apple rumor mill for a while).
Either way, the proliferation of (almost certainly accurate) leaks means that we already know what the new Apple iPhone lineup will look like before the event begins:
- iPhone 14 (6.1 inch)
- iPhone 14 Plus, or Max (6.7 inch)
- iPhone 14 Pro (6.1 inch)
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7 inch)
If you were expecting an iPhone Mini 14, you will almost certainly be let down. The company is thought to be ditching the model, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews, as sales have been pretty disastrous since its release.
So what can we expect from the lineup? Well, the biggest news would be the release of the iPhone 14 Plus (or Max), a 6.7-inch version of the standard iPhone 14, to match the two sizes offered by the Pro models. Speaking of the flagship phones, Apple is rumored to be beefing up the main cameras of both iPhone 14 Pros, with a much larger 48MP sensor and an autofocus enabled front-facing camera.
What else can we expect from the new handsets?
Rumors are circulating that the infamous notch will be axed in favor of a punched hole for the front camera and a pill-shaped cut-out for the Face ID sensor. Apple is also expected to add an always-on mode for the screen (iPhone Pro versions only) using the variable refresh rate of the screen to preserve the battery by slowing it to 1Hz.
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As well as the refreshed iPhone lineup, three new Apple Watches may be announced at the event. The Apple Watch Series 8 is rumored to look just like the Series 7 but will include a body temperature sensor. There are also hints that a cheaper SE watch will also surface, along with a high-end model featuring a larger battery and chunky screen.
Although there are rumors of new Macs, iPads, and Airpods, we’re not expecting to see anything revolutionary materialize at the same event.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.