The media invites don’t give any substantial clues as to what may be in store. The intriguing caption says “Hey Siri, give us a hint” but offers no more information. That could be a reference to the new, “more proactive” Siri coming in iOS 9 or could indicate further development of the digital assistant to make it a better rival to Google Now and Microsoft’s Cortana.
9to5Mac reports that iPhone owners who have tried asking Siri to “give a hint” have been told: “You’ll have to wait until September 9. I bet you were one of those kids who snuck downstairs to open presents early, weren’t you?”
The event will be held at the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco, confirming previous rumours regarding the venue. The auditorium was last used by Apple in 1977 to unveil the Apple II computer.
It can seat 7,000 people, far more than the 2,400 capacity of the Cupertino Flint Center used for the iPhone 6 launch last year. Police and security officers have been seen patrolling “at all hours” this week as heavy equipment has been taken inside.
Apple has also closed several streets around the centre, leading to speculation that the announcement will involve an outdoor element to allow visitors to experience the new products immediately afterwards. More far-fetched suggestions include rumours that the road closures are to allow Apple to drive its autonomous car to the venue as a unique introduction, although this seems unlikely as the company is believed to be still looking for a testing ground for the vehicle.
As usual, Apple will be livestreaming the entire event over the Internet to Apple devices. In a notable break from tradition, Windows users will be able to officially tune in too, but only using the Microsoft Edge web browser on Windows 10.
The company is expected to unveil the faster and stronger iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, a large “iPad Pro” to rival Microsoft’s Surface Pro and a new Apple TV. There may also be other surprises in store as CEO Tim Cook takes to the stage for Apple’s annual hardware release and the moment that fans have been anticipating for months.
