News

Apple’s Glowtime Event: Key Announcements & How To Watch

Apple’s upcoming keynote is expected to reveal the iPhone 16, iOS 18, Apple Watch X, and new AirPods, with a focus on AI.

Published

3 months ago

August 27, 2024

Nour Nasir

Apple

Apple’s latest and highly anticipated iPhone event is just around the corner, with the Cupertino company expected to unveil the iPhone 16 and reveal updates on iOS 18. The event, scheduled for September 9th, was announced using an Apple logo adorned with overlapping colors and the tagline “It’s Glowtime”.

The design echoes the invitation for June’s Worldwide Developers Conference, where Apple introduced its new AI suite, Apple Intelligence. It’s likely that the upcoming event will continue this conversation in addition to revealing new hardware.

How To Watch Apple’s Glowtime Event

Apple’s keynote is scheduled for Monday, September 9th, at 10:00 AM PT (8:00 PM Beirut, 9:00 PM Dubai).

The event will be livestreamed on Apple’s website and YouTube. In addition, you’ll also be able to watch via the Apple TV app.

Anticipated Features: AI-Powered iPhones & Enhanced Cameras

During June’s WWDC keynote, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, a collection of AI-driven features including a smarter Siri, AI-powered writing tools, and ChatGPT integration. The iPhone 16 is expected to be the first to launch with these features fully integrated, following their introduction on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

In tandem with these AI advancements, the public rollout of iOS 18 is expected. This new operating system will offer customizable home and lock screens, an upgraded Control Center, and RCS messaging support, making communication with Android users more seamless.

Apple is also likely to showcase improvements in iPhone hardware, particularly in the camera department. Rumors suggest that the iPhone 16 lineup may feature larger image sensors and a new physical camera button, positioned alongside the Action button from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro models. This button could also introduce swipe gestures for zooming in and out.

Also Read: Yango Group Unveils Yasmina AI-Enhanced Smart Speakers For UAE

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the iPhone 16 Pro will include a 5x optical zoom lens, eliminating the need to upgrade to the Pro Max for this feature. Another analyst, Jeff Pu, speculates that the ultrawide cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could jump from 12 megapixels to an impressive 48 megapixels.

The base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models might feature vertically stacked cameras, a design change that could enhance their ability to shoot spatial videos. These videos appear in 2D on a regular iPhone but are designed to deliver a 3D effect when viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

Apple Watch X: The Next Generation

Apple is also expected to unveil the 10th generation of its Watch series, likely named the Apple Watch X, continuing the tradition set by the iPhone X. This new model should feature a slimmer design and larger screen sizes, along with advanced health monitoring capabilities like blood-pressure tracking and sleep apnea detection. Additionally, the Apple Watch X may introduce a new magnetic band attachment system.

New AirPods: Enhanced Design & Features

As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple might also debut two new AirPods models during the event. These redesigned headphones are expected to feature shorter stems, USB-C charging support, and possibly Active Noise Cancellation, traditionally reserved for the AirPods Pro.

News

Popcorn AI Raises $500,000 For “Conversational eCommerce”

The firm’s AI platform uses specialized chatbots to handle entire eCommerce journeys, from recommending products to seamless payments.

Published

6 days ago

November 14, 2024

Nour Nasir

Popcorn AI

Dubai-based Popcorn AI has announced the closure of a pre-seed funding round that raised $500,000 for its revolutionary AI platform. The investment, led by Spring Studios with the backing of Salica Investments, Al Waha Fund of Funds, and prominent angel investors from Saudi Arabia, represents a key step forward in reshaping customer-business interactions using the power of conversational AI.

Unlike traditional chatbot systems, Popcorn AI’s platform is designed to redefine eCommerce by creating highly intelligent sales agents that handle entire customer journeys, from personalized product recommendations right through to seamless payment acceptance — all through a conversational experience.

The clever idea was recently tested to great success when one of Popcorn AI’s chatbot agents closed a $400,000 real estate transaction, handling everything from the first inquiry to the final sale. Early adopters have reported a massive 90% reduction in customer acquisition costs, along with a highly impressive 20% improvement in conversion rates, highlighting the platform’s potential to transform customer engagement across dozens of industries.

Josh Rodger, Principal at the Spring Studios fund, expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “We are proud to support Popcorn AI’s mission to reshape how businesses connect with their customers. Their innovative approach to conversational commerce has the potential to revolutionize industries and redefine the way customers experience digital transactions”.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

Meanwhile, Popcorn AI founder and CEO Yousef Al Arif declared: “The future of commerce is conversational,” adding, “Today’s consumers want shopping experiences that are instant, personalized, and effortless. We’re not building just another chatbot; we’re crafting intelligent commerce agents that understand context, recall customer preferences, and guide users through the entire shopping process, much like an expert salesperson would”.

Building upon a decade of experience scaling eCommerce and marketplace platforms across the MENA region, Al Arif has now achieved huge success with Popcorn AI, positioning the product at the cutting edge of AI-powered eCommerce. The platform has also made significant impacts in sectors such as real estate, and hospitality, signaling that conversational commerce is emerging as a powerful new model for digital businesses.