Month: August 2024

This ultra-short throw projector’s capable of a 100-inch image from just nine inches away, and it’s capable of projecting images up to 150 inches.

The Formovie brand might not be a household name, but you’ll know at least one of its parents: it’s a joint venture between Xiaomi and Appotronics, which make the lighting engines in a lot of laser-based projectors. We were very impressed by the Formovie Theater short-throw projector, which we think is one of the best projectors around for its price, and now the firm has just announced a 4K ultra short throw laser projecto capable of delivering a 150-inch image.

It’s called the Formovie Cinema Edge, and like its stablemate it has an impressive specification. It’s considerably more affordable than the Theater, though: where that has an official price just shy of $3,000, the Formovie Cinema Edge is available to pre-order for $2,199 (about £1,650 / AU$3,250).

Formovie Cinema Edge projector: key features

The Formovie Cinema Edge is a 4K ultra short throw projector capable of displaying up to 150 inches. It features 110% Rec. 709 color reproduction, and boasts a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. Brightness is 1,900 ISO lumens and it offers multiple brightness modes including office mode, viewing mode and night mode. 

The refresh rate is 60Hz and the projector has 2GB of on-board RAM and 32GB of storage; the OS is Google TV and the Netflix app is preloaded. It also integrates with other key streaming apps such as YouTube, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO and Peacock. The projector supports both Dolby Audio and DTS:X, and the maximum operating noise level is a low 32dB.

The Formovie Cinema Edge has Wi-Fi 6 and three HDMI 2.1 eARC ports, plus two USB 2.0. The throw ratio is 0.23:1, enabling a 100-inch projection with a throw distance of just nine inches.

For now, pre-orders are available from the Formovie website with 15% off; prices will then rise to $2,499 (about £1,900 / AU$3,700). Obviously, none of this is cheap, but it’s a great price for a quality 4K laser projector, and is especially great value compared to the cost of the best TVs if you buy them in a near-100-inch size. The 98-inch version of the Samsung QN90D, for example, costs around four times this price. So the Formovie looks like a stone-cold big-screen bargain in comparison. We’ll look to review it in the future.

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We detail five things we expect to see at Apple’s upcoming September event, and three things we don’t.

It’s official: Apple’s annual September launch event is set for Monday, September 9. The tech giant confirmed the date via email invitations bearing the tagline “It’s Glowtime” (we’ve got ours), which suggests Apple Intelligence will take center stage at the Cupertino-set showcase next month.

But what else do we expect to see unveiled at this year’s Apple event? The iPhone 16 series is a shoo-in, while updates to Apple’s AirPods and Watch lines look likely, too. We’re also anticipating a host of announcements related to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and tvOS 18.

Below, we’ve detailed five things we expect to see announced at the upcoming Apple event, as well as three things we almost definitely won’t see.

What to expect

iPhone 16 series

The iPhone 15 Plus (left) and iPhone 15 (right) (Image credit: Future / Apple)

Apple’s September events almost always play host to the launch of a new iPhone line, and we’re expecting as much from this year’s showcase. Four iPhone 16 models are slated for release next month – specifically the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – with minor (rather than game-changing) upgrades tipped for all.

The standard iPhone 16 models are rumored to inherit the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, while a so-called ‘Capture’ button will reportedly come to every model in the lineup. Expect the usual cocktail of Apple chipset upgrades, too, as well as new iPhone 16 colors.

Apple Intelligence

A selection of things Apple Intelligence can do (Image credit: Apple)

As mentioned, the headline announcement of Apple’s September event will almost certainly be Apple Intelligence. The upcoming suite of AI-powered features was revealed at WWDC 2024 back in June, but we’re expecting to see it showcased on the iPhone 16 series and other compatible devices next month.

You’ll find a full list of confirmed Apple Intelligence features in our dedicated Apple Intelligence hub, but so far we know that the toolset will include a smarter Siri, text summarization, writing assistance, and generative image creation. Incidentally, Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” tagline is likely a reference to the new ‘glow’ animation that’ll appear when using Siri on Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhones.

Annoyingly, we’ve heard that Apple Intelligence could be delayed until after the initial rollout of iOS 18, with Apple reportedly keen to fine-tune its AI features before making them available to the world. But even if that’s the case, we’ll surely be given a concrete release date for Apple Intelligence at next month’s Apple event.

iOS 18 and other software updates 

Apple’s official iOS 18 feature list (Image credit: Apple)

Apple Intelligence will form part of iOS 18, but there are plenty of AI-free upgrades to get excited about in Apple’s next major (and sure-to-be-released-in-September) software update, which should please existing iPhone owners.

We know, for instance, that significant upgrades are coming to core iPhone apps including Messages, Mail, Photos, Maps, and Wallet, and that any iPhone newer than the iPhone XS will be compatible with iOS 18 (in other words, any iPhone with the A12 Bionic chipset or newer). For a more detailed rundown of the incoming features, check out our roundup of the five of the best iOS 18 features that’ll work with your older iPhone.

We’re also expecting Apple’s September event to play host to iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and tvOS 18-related announcements.

New Apple Watches

The Apple Watch Series 9 (Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)

Alongside the iPhone 16 series, we could see new Apple Watches announced next month. The Apple Watch 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 seem the most likely candidates, with the former model tipped to come in two sizes (1.89 inches and 2.04 inches).

Other rumored Apple Watch upgrades include new processors for both models and a larger display for the Watch 10. Interestingly, a plastic Apple Watch SE has also been tipped, which could offer prospective Apple Watch buyers a cheaper route into the watchOS ecosystem.

New AirPods

The Apple AirPods 3 (Image credit: Future)

Lastly, there’s a high chance that new AirPods could drop next month. We’re not talking about the AirPods Pro 3, since Apple’s Pro-level earbuds have so far adhered to a three-year release cycle, and we’ve seen nothing concrete on the hotly anticipated AirPods Max 2‘s arrival, either. No, rumors instead suggest the imminent reveal of new entry-level and mid-range AirPods models.

As for what upgrades these new AirPods will bring, it’s safe to expect a more comfortable design and smarter listening modes, while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also noted that noise cancellation powers could come to the mid-range model.

What not to expect

iPhone Air

An unofficial render of the rumored iPhone Air (Image credit: Front Page Tech)

The iPhone 16 rumor mill has been rife with talk around a potential iPhone Slim, or iPhone Air, but this super-thin iPhone model will now reportedly arrive in 2025.

Bloomberg’s ever-reliable Apple tipster Mark Gurman notes that this reportedly in-development iPhone will have a much thinner chassis than any existing iPhone, while retaining most of the base-level iPhone 17’s core specs.

In terms of price, the iPhone Air looks set to sit somewhere between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro (akin to how the original MacBook Air was positioned between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro), so those disappointed by the iPhone 16 line may have an entirely new iPhone model to look forward to next year, at least.

New iPads

The iPad Pro (2024) launched in May this year (Image credit: Apple)

New iPads will almost certainly be another no-show at this year’s September Apple event. Apple already debuted the long-awaited iPad Air 6 and iPad Pro (2024) at its May 7 Apple event, and we haven’t heard all that much about a successor to the iPad 10.9 (2022), so its reveal alongside the iPhone 16 line seems unlikely.

We could, however, potentially see the iPad mini 7 unveiled next month – as of August 2024, Apple has allowed iPad mini stock to run low, which is usually a sign that a new model is on the way – but Apple has also been known to quietly reveal new iPads via a press release, so we’re not all that confident about seeing a successor to the iPad mini (2021) in Cupertino. Here’s hoping we’re wrong, though.

New MacBooks

The M3 MacBook Pro (Image credit: Future)

M4-equipped MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac models are reportedly on track for a 2024 release, but they’re likely to come in October rather than September.

Reliable leaker Ross Young and Bloomberg tipster Mark Gurman believe that the MacBook Pro 2024 et al. are set to arrive ‘later’ this year, and an October launch would align with the release dates we saw for Apple’s most recent MacBook models in 2023.

Of course, Apple may be bold and announce the whole shebang in September – iPhones, iPads, MacBooks; the lot – but we’re quietly confident that the upcoming showcase will be dedicated to those aforementioned hardware and software launches.

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After a decade as CFO, Apple’s Luca Maestri is to hand the reins to Kevan Parekh, who will take over from 2025.

Apple has announced its Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri will step down from his role on January 1, 2025.

Maestri, who has served as Apple’s CFO since 2014, will not be leaving the company, but rather will lead the Corporate Services team, including information systems and technology, information security, and real estate and development.

Kevan Parekh, currently serving as Apple’s VP of Financial Planning and Analysis, has been named as Maestri’s successor.

Apple’s next CFO

Parekh joined Apple in 2013 and has been a key figure in the company’s finance leadership. CEO Tim Cook commented: “For more than a decade, Kevan has been an indispensable member of Apple’s finance leadership team, and he understands the company inside and out. His sharp intellect, wise judgment, and financial brilliance make him the perfect choice to be Apple’s next CFO.”

Cook described Maestri as an “extraordinary partner in managing Apple for the long term.” Under Maestri’s leadership, Apple revenue doubled, with services revenue increasing fivefold. Apple’s third-quarter revenue, for the three months ending June 29, stood at $85.8 billion.

It has also regained its position as the world’s most valuable company, with a market cap of $3.454 trillion, after being overtaken by Microsoft and Nvidia. Apple and Microsoft have long been in a brawl for prime position, with Nvidia only recently stepping into the ring.

Moreover, the announcement comes amid a broader trend of CFO transitions at major tech companies – Alphabet and Meta have also recently appointed new leaders, potentially indicating a new era across Silicon Valley.

Apple stock has remained consistent since the announcement, however with the upcoming launch of new iPhone models, investors will be watching closely.

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