The Tech Media Minute: More Predictions for Apple's 'iPhone 7' Event

The best of the rest

On Tuesday, I made my predictions for the “iPhone 7.” Today, I’m turning my attention to other products that are likely to make an appearance at Apple’s fall event, which is likely to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Apple Watch

Two years ago, Cupertino announced the Apple Watch with much fanfare. Today, the product is rarely mentioned, although it remains the most popular smartwatch in the world. Regardless of what Apple does on the hardware side, the Apple Watch should grow in popularity thanks to watchOS 3.

Apple claims that watchOS 3 “feels like a whole new watch.” As someone who’s been using watchOS 3 betas since June, I would agree. This is the software version Apple should have released on the Watch from the beginning. With watchOS 3 installed, the Apple Watch is nimbler, more practical, and in some respects, more beautiful.

Apple is likely to announce an incremental update to the Apple Watch next month. The second generation device will look similar to the first version, but include a faster chip, a barometer, and GPS radio. The Apple Watch 2 could also be more water-resistant.

Two unresolved questions remain. Will the original Apple Watch stick around? Will Apple lower the price on the refreshed Watch lineup?

iPad

As I previously noted, Apple could very well omit any discussion of iPad at next month’s event. If Apple does make a change, it would be to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which was announced last September.

This new iPad Pro would almost certainly include True Tone display, which was first introduced earlier this year on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. It would probably also feature a new chip, the “A10X.”

We could also see the fifth-generation iPad mini make its arrival. (Apple could just as easily kill off the 7.9-inch tablet line.)

Prediction: The new iPad lineup will feature a second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 4. Retired: the first 12.9-inch iPad Pro and iPad mini 2.

Mac

Apple will spend a great deal of time discussing Mac in September. Upgrades are incoming for both the MacBook Pro and iMac line, with the former getting most of the attention. And of course, we’ll hear more about macOS Sierra.

Apple TV

There’s plenty to love about tvOS 10 and no reason to believe that Apple will launch a TV hardware update this year. All of the changes coming this year are software-based.

During next month’s event, I’m most interested in hearing more about the device’s new single login feature, which has yet to drop on a tvOS 10 beta. I also hope to see the company’s new digital TV guide, which was first rumored earlier this month.

How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions for 2016? Two-thirds of the way in, there’s #My2016ResolutionUpdate.

Also trending on this Wednesday:

• #WednesdayWisdom
• Breitbart
• Metal Gear Survive
• #Inc5000
• Cisco Systems
• #IWasGoingToplayThisGameBut
• Steve Bannon
• Patrick Hickey
• #techcoastconf

Today, Aug. 17 is National Thriftshop Day.

The Intel Developer Forum continues in San Francisco, California.

Rewind: In 1961, construction was started on the Berlin Wall. It would come tumbling down in 1989.

We’ve looked around the web and found these other stories worth considering:

• Intel says new USB Type-C spec will ease headphone jack loss, Engadget
• The ad battle between Apple and Microsoft is back, USA Today
• Powerful NSA hacking tools have been revealed online, The Washington Post