Apple Announces In-Person “Far Out” Event for 7 September
25 AUGUST 2022 - What a surprise Wednesday morning to learn that Apple had sent media announcements for an event then two-weeks hence. How much forward planning do people have to do to watch a video? Funny story - it’s not just a video this time.
As had been rumored, Apple is holding its next product event on Wednesday 7 September - and at least some of it will be live. Or - at least some of it will be spent watching with people. Physically. At Apple Park. TechCrunch ran a piece Wednesday morning saying that the event will once again grace Apple Park’s Steve Jobs Theater.
So they’re just throwing caution to the wind, are they? Not completely. Jason Snell at Six Colors got one of the coveted golden tickets. He says:
It appears that just as at WWDC, a negative COVID test before the event will be required. But unlike WWDC, it seems that masks are optional at this event.
Snell guesses that most of the event will be pre-recorded, not that the trip will be wasted. Members of the media will likely be invited to a hands-on demo area after, in his estimation.
Hint Hunting the Galaxy
Little in the way of hints in the invitation. With the tagline “Far Out,” the art is out there. Reminiscent of recent images from the James Webb Space Telescope, Apple’s image looks less like a star-field than a field of galaxies. Of course, those galaxies form the outline of the Apple logo. The TechCrunch piece I mentioned earlier pokes fun at the hint-finding habit. “A galaxy of products?” they wonder. “Space-themed AR? The long-awaited debut of the Apple Galaxy S23+ (sorry)?”
What Are We Looking For?
AR anything feels like an outside chance - except for the invitation’s usual augmented reality extra. We’ll hit that in a moment. As for what’s very much expected, a piece from The Mac Observer runs through a few probabilities. The dead certs, as our British friends might say, include iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8. Digging deeper on the phone, four models are taken as read: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Most expect a teeny-tiny hole where iPhone mini used to be. We’ll see. On the Watch watch, in addition to the run-of-the-mill chronometer, there’s been talk of an Apple Watch Pro. Maybe a bigger display. Maybe a bit more rough-and-tumble. We just don’t know. Yet.
There has been talk of Apple re-introducing a bigger HomePod. I’ve neither seen nor heard anyone mention that around the “Far Out” event - but it’s early and there’s time.
Of course, TMO does expect release dates and maybe more of a demo for iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 at the event. If things go the way they have in the past, Apple will tease those that Wednesday, with releases sometimes between the Monday 12 September and Wednesday 14 September.
There’s also the car and AR. I’m kidding. Probably. Definitely kidding about the car. Sadly, probably kidding about AR. Apple did do their (now) usual AR doodad though. If you go to Apple’s Events page on your iPhone or iPad and tap the galactic Apple logo, you’ll end up with a sort of hole in the fabric of space with stars and a star-defined Apple logo floating in front of whatever you’re standing in front of. You will have to have the camera uncovered, of course. Otherwise, no technology practically indistinguishable from magic.
How to Watch What Happens Far Out
While a relatively small number of people will be “far out” in person, that is far from the only way to see it. Folks will be able to watch the event on Apple’s Events page. It will also be streamable on YouTube. No guessing on that. A piece from MacRumors says the Cupertino-company has already put up a placeholder on the streaming video site. MacRumors also expects the event to be streamed through the Apple TV app. Though I’ve not seen it said anywhere, it seems certain it will be on the actual Apple TV. And - of course - Apple should make it available as a podcast after the fact (audio and/or video), as tends to be its way.
If you’re looking to take it in live though, block out the time. The event is set to start at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern - anyplace there’s a screen and wifi.
