【The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses】

Mark your calendars. Apple's signature iPhone launch event is The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Rosesexpected to take place on Sept. 7.

According to Bloombergbusiness reporter Mark Gurman, "people with knowledge of the matter" say the iPhone 14 and possibly a new Apple Watch Series 8 will be unveiled, as is the historical norm for the first of the company's two September events.

Insiders anticipate the iPhone 14 Pro will replace the dreaded front-facing camera notch with a "pill-shaped hole" and a "hole-punch-sized area" for the camera, and be upgraded with Apple's in-house A16 chip. The iPhone 14 line will also reportedly no longer offer a 5.4-inch "mini" model and will, instead, include a 6.7-inch non-Pro variant. Also, according to the report, the A15 chip which powers the current iPhone 13 line will remain in the standard iPhone 14 models.

As Gurman notes, despite dwindling smartphone sales due to inflation and a pandemic-ravaged economy, the iPhone 13 line performed well last quarter and with 90 million units ordered from suppliers, demand is expected to sustain. In other words, consumer enthusiasm for the iPhone — which accounts for over half of Apple's sales — is still going strong.

Indications that the unveiling will occur Sept. 7 come from Gurman's report that retail store employees have reportedly been asked to prepare for a Sept. 16 product release. This lines up with the typical timeline of opening sales a week and a half after the product launch. He also pointed out that corporate employees will be required to work in the office three days a week starting Sept. 5, which is two days before the event is rumored to occur.

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As with previous Apple events during the pandemic, this one will likely be streamed online from its Cupertino, CA headquarters. Will we finally lose the notch? Will Apple Daddy make another appearance? It's all speculation at this point, but that's the way Apple likes it.

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