News

Apple’s California Streaming Event Is Set To Take Place On September 14

The online event will be broadcasted from Apple Park, Apple’s corporate headquarters.

Published

3 years ago

September 9, 2021

Joanna Melki

Apple

After weeks of intense speculation and rumors, Apple has finally announced that its next special event will take place on Tuesday, September 14 at at 1 PM ET. The event is called California Streaming, and it will be broadcasted from Apple Park, the corporate headquarters of Apple.

The event invitation page shows a glowing Apple logo floating over a lake against a darkening sky. The logo hides a clever Easter egg that you can reveal by tapping it on an ARKit-compatible iOS device. When you do that, the ARKit viewer pops up, rendering an augmented reality version of the logo over your surroundings. You can then zoom into the logo and enter the image on the invitation page. Pretty cool stuff!

iPhone 13 Will Be The Star Of The Show

It’s no secret that Apple will introduce a new iPhone at this year’s fall event. Apple’s ‌iPhone 13‌ models (a 5.4-inch ‌iPhone 13‌ mini, a 6.1-inch ‌iPhone 13‌, a 6.1-inch ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, and a 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro Max) are expected to be very similar to the iPhone 12 models that were released last year.

The biggest change will likely be the 120Hz ProMotion display, but Apple will almost certainly reserve it for the Pro models. Besides a high refresh rate screen, Apple customers can look forward to a smaller notch, the A15 chip, faster 5G technology, and improved cameras.

More Announcements To Look Forward To

Besides the refresh of the entire iPhone lineup, the California Streaming event is expected to introduce the first redesign of the Apple Watch in years. Thanks to a new lamination technique, the Apple Watch Series 7 will bring the display closer to the cover glass, making it look even more stunning than before.

The AirPods 3 have reportedly been in mass production since August, so the event provides the perfect opportunity for their introduction. Their design is rumored to be much closer to the AirPods Pro, and they may get active noise cancellation to make the redesign feel more justified.

News

Viasat Satellite Messaging Tech Showcased In Saudi Arabia

The direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration highlighted the technology’s potential to revolutionize remote communication.

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2024

Nour Nasir

viasat satellite messaging tech showcased in saudi arabia

Satellite communications firm Viasat announced yesterday that it had completed its first demonstration of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity technology in Saudi Arabia. The live broadcast took place during the “Connecting the World from the Skies” event in Riyadh, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) alongside the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Attendees witnessed successful satellite-based two-way messaging and SOS alerts sent using commercial Android smartphones and a combination of Viasat’s robust L-band satellite network and the Bullitt over-the-top messaging app. Signals were transmitted using the company’s L-band spacecraft positioned over the Indian Ocean, while the infrastructure for 3GPP NTN services was deployed by Viasat’s partner Skylo.

Sandeep Moorthy, Viasat’s Chief Technical Officer, emphasized the significance of the demonstration, explaining, “By expanding our direct-to-device innovation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we’re showcasing the potential for D2D services in the fast-growing Gulf and Asia-Pacific region. D2D could help reduce barriers to connectivity in regions where terrestrial services are spotty and unavailable to help transform industries and supply chains, enable new opportunities, and to become more efficient, sustainable and safer. We’d like to thank the CST for their support in carrying out this exciting demonstration”.

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D2D technology allows devices like smartphones, vehicles, and industrial equipment to connect seamlessly to both satellite and terrestrial networks. Unlike traditional satellite setups, D2D eliminates the need for extra hardware, thanks to emerging global standards that are gaining traction among satellite operators, mobile network providers, and tech manufacturers.

What makes this approach particularly promising is that Viasat uses a licensed, dedicated satellite spectrum to deliver its D2D services. This avoids any interference with existing terrestrial networks, allowing smooth integration with mobile network operators in the future.

The demonstration clearly showed the potential of D2D technology to bridge connectivity gaps in remote regions while opening up opportunities for innovation, improved safety, sustainability, and efficiency.