Is Apple planning a surprise December event?

Apple is rarely short of ideas.

Does Apple plan another special event in December? And if it does, what does it plan to introduce?

Does Apple plan a December event?

Apple doesn’t traditionally hold additional events in December. It did present one dedicated to apps in December 2019, but historically has never held one at that time of year.

We have been warned to expect some form of ‘Christmas Surprise’ by one Apple leaker, but what might Apple introduce at such an event? The smart money seems to be betting on the introduction of those Tile-like Apple Tags devices – and this might actually happen.

Why do I think this?

Proximity Controls are coming to HomePod mini

Apple has announced a feature called Proximity Controls is coming to HomePod mini.

The feature relies on the U1 chip inside the HomePod mini, iPhone 11 and 12 series smartphones and Apple Watch.

The idea is specific to iPhone and HomePod mini, it means that when your wriggle your iPhone near a HomePod mini the music you are listening to on your iPhone will immediately start playing on the ‘Pod. And you’ll also get personalized music and podcast suggestions based on your tastes.

Tap and play…

FindMy and location

What’s interesting about this is that it makes use of the U1 chip Apple popped inside iPhones last year and now also puts inside the HomePod mini and Apple Watch Series 6 – and (rumor has it) will also be put inside the also long-speculated upon AirPods Studio headphones.

Might Apple intend introducing FindMy tags along with support for Proximity controls in HomePods in what could be an important iOS update in December?

ProRAW is also coming to iPhones…

Also on the way: AppClips, ProRAW and more

We know a big update is coming – Apple intends enabling App Privacy tools on the App Store and this will likely require such an update. Developers are currently working with iOS & iPadOS 14.3 Beta 2, which includes App Clip, App Store, HomeKit and ProRAW enhancements. They are also working with an Apple Watch beta that includes references to the recently announced Fitness+ service. The latter is big news as Apple preps its Apple One plans.

So, if there were an event, the content might include:

• AirTags and enhancements to FindMy
• Proximity Controls for HomePod
• AirPods Studio
• ProRAW
• Privacy in App Store
• Fitness+ (best with accessories?)
• And a push toward Apple One.

One thing that’s not being discussed very much at all:

Might we also see a new M1-powered Apple TV? That would give the company a nice intro to focusing on services, including FindMy.

What could this chip do for console games on Apple TV?

Is there enough here to hold up as another Apple event around December 8? Even if such an event doesn’t take place, it looks as if Apple still has a number of stories to tell in 2020, a refreshing chink of something positive in what has been an otherwise dreadful year. (A propos of which, please feel free to donate via that dreadful PayPal link top left. It’s not there for fun. Sorry to ask).

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