Apple’s surprise announcement next week could reveal a whole new product



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Recent reports suggest that Apple is on the verge of unveiling a new product. Really? After three big special events in September, October and November, may there be something else to publish. It must be a mistake, right?

Well, maybe not.

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According to Joe Nightingale of MacRumors, Apple informed service providers this week that something was happening at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 8.

That Something is a series of changes to Apple Care, as an internal memo reported, which doesn’t look like this. But when similar memos were posted previously, it coincided with product releases.

So what could it be?

Good question. After all, Apple has had an exceptional year of big releases: four new iPhones, three new iPads, HomePod mini, MacBook Air, Mac Mini and MacBook Pro with Apple silicone, etc.

Here’s what I think is about to go on sale: Apple AirPods Studio.

This is the name of the highly anticipated on-ear headphones that have been rumored for months. Apple has never made in-ear headphones before, so this would be an entirely new product category.

They used to be expected to land at the same time as WWDC, then with the iPad, then… well, pretty much all the time.

Well, what’s different this time?

In a recent beta of iOS 14, the next expected update in fact, an icon was spotted in the software that was a never-before-seen image of on-ear headphones. You can read Forbes contributor Gordon Kelly’s perspective here.

Now the update in question, iOS 14.3, is expected to arrive shortly and the timing appears to match the suspected announcement.

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Does this mean another big event?

Definitely not. On the one hand, the invitations have already been sent. Second, if it is only one product, it would not require a special event. The last one, much shorter than most of recent times, was for newer Mac products and there were three of them. A single product launch would be too short for a big keynote.

What do the headphones look like?

Reports say they’ll have noise cancellation, a symmetrical design so you can put them on without having to check which one is left and right, and easily removable magnetically attached ear cups.

If the icon is true to the end product, then Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s comments that the new product would “have a retro look” seem appropriate. Gurman also said there will be two versions, one premium, one focused on fitness, and will cost $ 350.

Suppose you were wrong?

It won’t be the first time. Other products expected from Apple all seem to be scheduled for next year. Maybe the tracking gadgets, called AirTags, could be the surprise announcement. Or maybe there’s no announcement at all, and the memo describes an administrative event that has no material attached. But my money is on AirPods Studio.

Not long before we know.


Follow me on Instagram by clicking here: davidphelantech and Twitter: @ davidphelan2009

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