Apple fans around the world are counting down to the launch of the iPhone 15 range, which is expected to be unveiled at an event on September 12.
From a new titanium frame to a USB-C charger, rumours about the new smartphones have been rife.
And while Apple itself has kept its cards close to its chest, eagle-eyed fans have spotted a major hint in the latest beta for its iOS 17 update.
The code for the beta hints at a new Action Button for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
‘The Action button, which could be similar to the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button but with more phone-focused options, is expected to be a new physical button on the next-generation Pro iPhone models that replaces the Ring/Silent switch,’ said MacRumors, which first spotted the hint in Apple’s code.
And while Apple itself has kept its cards close to its chest, eagle-eyed fans have spotted a major hint in the latest beta for its iOS 17 update. The code for the beta hints at a new Action Button for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
‘The Action button would allow users to quickly access various functions and settings without necessarily unlocking the device or navigating to an app.’
According to the code, the Action button will have nine options for users to choose from.
As the name suggests, ‘Silent Mode’ could allow users to toggle silent mode on or off, while ‘Camera’ could launch the Camera app and ‘Flashlight’ could turn on or off the phone’s torch.
‘Focus’ should let you activate or deactivate a Focus mode, while ‘Translate’ could let you translate a conversation or text with the press of a button.
Other options include ‘Accessibility’, ‘Magnifier’ and ‘Voice Memos’, as well as ‘Shortcuts’, which could let you run any shortcut you’ve created.
Apple has already teased fans with a promo image of the event, codenamed ‘Wanderlust’, with the Apple logo in a powder grey design
‘If the rumors are correct, the Action button could be one of the key new features that makes the iPhone 15 Pro stand out from its predecessors,’ MacRumors added.
Apple has confirmed that its autumn event will take place on Tuesday, September 12.
The presentation will kick off at 10am Pacific Time (6pm BST).
While Apple has made no mention of a new iPhone, the firm has revealed a new iPhone every year around autumn for over a decade now – and for Apple fans a year without a new iPhone would be like a year without Christmas.
As for when the iPhone 15 will hit the shelves, Apple insider Mark Gurman thinks the release will come less than two weeks after the event.
He said he’s been told by an unnamed source that it will go on sale on September 22, which means Apple will ‘get about a week of iPhone 15 sales in its fiscal fourth quarter’.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system.
2023: So far this year Apple has brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.
