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.

Published

4 years ago

August 25, 2022

Nour Nasir

Apple

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).

iphone 14 color line-up

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.

Also Read: Disney+ Releases New MENA Content In September

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

Nano Banana 2 Arrives In MENA For Google Gemini Users

Google brings its latest image model to Gemini and Search, adding 4K output and tighter text control for regional users.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 27, 2026

Nour Nasir

Google

Google has opened access to Nano Banana 2 across the Middle East and North Africa, pushing its newest image model into everyday tools rather than keeping it inside the exclusive (and expensive) Pro tier.

The rollout spans the Google Gemini desktop and mobile apps, and extends to Google Search through Lens and AI Mode. Developers can also test it in preview via AI Studio and the Gemini API.

Nano Banana 2 runs on Gemini Flash, Google’s fast inference layer. The focus is speed, but also control. Users can export visuals from 512px up to 4K, adjusting aspect ratios for everything from vertical social posts to widescreen displays.

The model maintains character likeness across up to five figures and preserves fidelity for as many as 14 objects within a single workflow. This enables visual continuity across scenes, iterations, or edits — supporting projects like short films, storyboards, and multi-scene narratives. Text rendering has also been improved, delivering legible typography in mockups and greeting cards, with built-in translation and localization directly within images.

Also Read: RØDE Adds Direct iPhone Pairing To Wireless GO And Pro Mics

Under the hood, the system taps Gemini’s broader knowledge base and pulls in real-time information and imagery from web search to render specific subjects more accurately. Lighting and fine detail have been upgraded, without slowing output.

By embedding the model inside Gemini and Search, Google is normalizing advanced image generation for a mass audience. In MENA, where startups and marketing teams are leaning heavily on AI to scale content across languages and borders, that shift lands at a practical moment.

The move also folds creative tooling deeper into search itself, so that image generation is no longer a separate workflow. It now sits right next to the query box.