Apple plans its first big event of the year, one day prior to its FBI hearing
According to a story reported by BuzzFeed, earlier this month, on February 2nd, and later updated yesterday, February 27th, Apple is planning to debut a number of upcoming iOS products in its first significant event of 2016, set on March 21st. The alleged date, yet unconfirmed, happens to occur the day before Apple’s hearing with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
It’s unclear why Apple would choose to hold its media event so close to a hearing that could potentially result in the company being forced to unlock hundreds of iPhones, and even build backdoors for use by government agencies. By the same token, such date if far from confirmed, and could be merely sensationalist speculation. With that said, if the rumor is true, this could be an indication that Apple may already know something ahead of the hearing, and may just be planning its event according to what executives, including Tim Cook, expect that could happen in the courtroom.
Apple has been beyond firm in holding its ground on encryption and refusal to unlock devices by overriding access of the owners of those devices. Said stance was praised by other tech moguls and personalities, including Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who was quoted saying that Facebook is sympathetic with Apple on the matter of encryption.
Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates had comments of his own, which neither sided, nor disagreed with either Apple or the FBI, saying that the matter is not “...black and white...” hinting at the fact that the government should be left “...completely blind...”, in matters such as national security, terrorism, and criminal investigations.
What to expect at Apple’s first big event of the year
Also according to BuzzFeed, and other sources cited by the news outlet, Apple is planning to announce at least two main products, which include a new iPad, and a 4-inch iPhone SE. As usual, there isn’t an overabundance of details on the announcements, aside from speculation and rumors from alleged sources, but what we can expect is most likely a faster chip powering the new 4-inch iPhone, but no 3D Touch, a feature which could very well be integrated in the new iPad. Built-in support for Apple Pay is almost certain for the iPhone SE, considering the company’s push to expand reach of the electronic wallet as much as possible, as more banks and institutions integrate Apple Pay in products and services for their customers.
The March 21st event is expected to be of smaller size, in respect to the one held at Graham Hill in San Francisco, where the company announced the iPad Pro, which suggests that Apple could hold the event at Apple’s Town Hall in Cupertino.