Date for the diary: On March 21 Apple is holding its “Let us loop you in” event at Cupertino. We’re expecting details of the new iPhone SE, likely to be the same size as the iPhone 5 but with higher specification and, it’s said, the same processor as the iPhone 6S. The big phablet phones, and even the standard iPhone 6S, are too big for many people and I think a smaller phone will be popular.
Alongside the new iPhone is likely to be a revised iPad to replace the Air 2. As I mentioned last week, we could be seeing the iPad Pro Junior, with smart keyboard capabilities and the ability to work with the Apple Pencil.
As with the larger phones, the largest iPad Pro is attractive in specification but a tad on the big size for many potential buyers.
Other new Apple products are likely to include watch bands which are perhaps the basis of the “loop you in” hooha.
Over at Leica there’s no news of any new products, despite persistent rumours. Thursday came and went without a stir, so it’s a case of watch this space. I’m still living in hope of das Wesentliche.
More rumours: I mentioned the Leica rumour to the store where I buy my Leica gear. He mentioned it to his Leica contact, and the contact said that it is not unlikely there will be an M without screen, but that it will not be ‘cheap’, and that if there is gonna be one, it will be announced in September (Photokina)…
Thanks, Nico. Rumours are rumours are rumours but there’s definitely something there. Personally I believe this month as a launch date for a new screenless camera is a bit too near to the recent launch of the M262. But I have also had independent suggestions that it could come soon. Perhaps it has been postponed to April 1!
I am all for a new smaller phone, I bought one of those 6+ jobbies last year and took it back under the 14 day rule… Far too big to hold comfortably in one hand and it was back to the 5…
I am wondering what Leica are going to do with this outfit from Newcastle, but due to the superiority of IOS, I will probably be looking more favourably on a new 5ish type iPhone.
The comment below relates to the 21st Century item and I have reposted it there. My 21st century technology was let down by my 20th century brain!
William
Its a bit soon to be saying anything ‘major’ about the 21st Century. Come back in 20 years and, if any of the items listed are still around, then make the call about major innovations. At present we seem to be into a semi-permanent cycle of annual or even more frequent ‘innovations’. It’s the ones that last that count in my book. I am waiting for the true ‘iPad Air’ where you can project data, information and entertainment into a space in the air in front of you from a button on your coat, using thought processes to call the different items up. I think that Apple, if they are still around, could call it the iButton. The ‘intermediate technology’ step could be iSpecs, but people who don’t wear glasses would probably be clamouring for an upgrade to the iButton, particularly the one with the f0.75 Leica lens. Now there’s a thought to get over yesterday’s disappointment!
William