Apple's 'Far Out' Event Sparks Speculation: What Does the Invitation Reveal? Gurman weighs

Apple, Inc. AAPL is set to hold its launch event, dubbed "Far Out" on September 7.

The slogan "Far Out" against a cluster of stars in space seen in the invitation could mean that it is literally far in the future, because Apple announced the event two weeks before it actually happens, Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman said in his weekly "Power On" newsletter.

A new wallpaper: The space pattern builds on an iOS 16 theme, he said, referring to the main new wallpaper sets for the updated lock screen being the Astronomy option. It included two views of the moon and one of the solar system, and when a user scrolls through the different views, they can get a virtual glimpse of space and stars, he added.

Satellite Capabilities: The space theme could be a reference to a satellite phone, Gurman said. He pointed to his report from over a year ago, in which he discussed the possibility that Apple was working on adding significant satellite capabilities to its devices.

This feature, according to Gurman, is designed to allow users of compatible iPhones to send SOS messages to first responders if they find themselves in the mountains or at sea. A corresponding feature is designed to allow iPhone users to report emergencies such as boating accidents, plane crashes and shootings in areas without cell service, he added.

See also: Apple's 'Far Out' event for September, but this analyst says there's a 'bigger story'

The Bloomberg reporter expects these features to compete fiercely with satellite-based standalone devices, such as the Garmin Ltd. GRMN inReach.

"The combination of fast 5G networks and satellite service could one day make the iPhone the most powerful global communications device available," he said .

Enhanced Photography: A third possibility is that Apple could be hinting at improved photography capabilities or a feature that could rival Alphabet, Inc GOOGL, Google's astrophotography mode, longtime property of Google, Gurman said.< /p>

The company may also announce a new version of the iPhone's night mode, which was first unveiled in 2019, he added.

Always-on mode: Stars lit up at night could represent the next "always-on" mode, the Apple specialist says.

Gurman expects the iPhone 14 Pro to feature improvements to its video recording capabilities and a 48-megapixel rear camera. However, bigger upgrades, including a better telephoto lens for hardware zooming, might not be announced until next year, he added.

Apple closed Friday's session down 3.77% at $163.62, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

© 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Ad Disclosure: Rate information is obtained by Bankrate from listed institutions. Bankrate cannot guarantee the accuracy or availability of the rates shown above. Institutions may have different rates on their own websites than those displayed on Bankrate.com. The listings that appear on this page are from companies that this website receives compensation from, which may impact how, where and in which order products appear. This table does not include all companies or products available.

All rates are subject to change without notice and may vary...