Apple Launch Event: 5 Rumored Products Partners Want To Hear More About
New Products, Big Expectations
Apple is expected to unveil several new products during a special event on Sept. 9, from phones to tablets.
Partners, for their part, hope the Cupertino, Calif.-based company will announce hot, new products that can be sold through the channel, such as tablets. The special event comes as Apple charges ahead beyond its consumer base to the enterprise market, hoping to appeal to business customers.
On Monday, Apple announced it has partnered with Cisco to optimize Cisco networks for Apple iOS-based devices, like the iPad. And, in August, the company launched a new rebate program for VARs selling iPads and Macs to incent more tablet sales among enterprise clients.
Following are five products that partners expect at Apple's event.
5. iOS 9
Partners hope to get a better sense of the productivity features in Apple's latest operating system, iOS 9, which was announced earlier in the summer.
According to Apple, the OS will be available as a free software update for iPhone, iPad and iPod users in the fall. But partners would like to get a better sense of how the operating system works with devices to enrich the user experience.
iOS 9 touts enhanced features of QuickType, a virtual keyboard allowing users with iPads to type more easily on their devices using a keyboard and trackpad, as well as a multitasking feature for tablets that allows iPad users to utilize two separate apps on the screen at the same time, either side by side with a split view or a picture-in-picture view.
4. iPad mini 4
In addition to its iPad Pro, Apple is rumored to be releasing a new iPad mini 4, which will reportedly be a thinner version of the current iPad mini with a faster A-series chip and upgraded cameras.
Partners hope that Apple will beef up its iPad portfolio to drive sales, as its tablet sales have been disappointing. iPad sales slumped 18 percent in the third quarter of 2015 ended June 27, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines.
3. iPad Pro
According to reports, Apple's new iPad, dubbed the "iPad Pro," will feature a 12.9-inch screen, more than 3 inches bigger than the iPad Air 2's 9.7 inches.
The new screen will enable the iPad Pro to incorporate new productivity features of Apple's latest iOS9, such as a multitasking tool allowing users to utilize two separate apps on the iPad screen simultaneously, either through a split view or a picture-in-picture view.
2. Apple TV
Partners expect the latest version of the Apple TV to be launched with significant user-focused improvements.
The fourth generation of the Apple TV will receive spiffy new updates, possibly including Siri support and an updated remote control. The device will also reportedly get a new App Store and SDK for developers who want to create apps for the box.
The Apple TV may also get internal hardware upgrades, such as a newer Apple A8 chip and an increase in RAM to 1 GB.
While the Apple TV is a consumer device, partners said that any new Apple product contributes to the Apple brand and is beneficial for marketing more enterprise-targeted devices like the iPad.
1. iPhone 6S And iPhone 6S Plus
Apple is expected to show off its latest smartphone model, dubbed the iPhone 6S, at its special event.
Reports say that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6S will maintain a similar design to that of its predecessor, with a thicker shell, a better A9 processor and a longer-lasting battery. Apple will also reportedly bring its ForceTouch technology to the new iPhone, which enables pressure sensitivity on the device, as well as a 12 MP camera for better photos and videos. Similar to the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6S may come with a larger, beefed-up version, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6S Plus.