SAN FRANCISCO: Apple is expected to unveil three new iPhone models that are so similar to last year’s lineup, they may be upstaged by details about the company’s upcoming video service.
The company will show off its latest iPhones Tuesday at an annual hardware showcase. But the buzz surrounding its best-selling products has waned, as have sales, in the absence of compelling new features.
IPhone shipments are down 25% so far this year, according to the research firm IDC, putting more pressure on Apple to generate revenue from services such as music streaming, product repairs, revenue sharing from apps and ad commissions from making Google the default search engine. Revenue from services rose 14% to nearly $23 billion during the first half of this year.
And now Apple is getting ready to roll out a Netflix-like video service that will feature a slate of original programs featuring stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Jason Momoa. Apple provided a peek in March, but hasn’t specified when it will debut this fall or how much it will cost. Those details are expected to be revealed Tuesday, along with more information about a video gaming service called Arcade.
The company’s new phone models will likely mirror last year’s iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. Prices are likely to stay at $750 to $1,100, before add-ons such as more storage. And they will likely have the same design — with more display space, less bezel and no home button — that Apple switched to with the iPhone X in 2017.
With little change, many customers who bought models in the past two years may hold off upgrading this year, analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights said.
The biggest difference is likely to be in the phone’s camera, an area that Apple and its rivals have all been trying to improve as consumers snap more pictures on their devices. Even there, improvements from year to year have been small.
This year, Apple is expected to add an extra camera lens to each model. The two pricier models already have a telephoto lens for better zoom. Now, they are expected to sport a wide-angle lens to capture more of a scene than regular shots. The cheapest model is expected to get one of those features, but it’s not clear which.
Even with those additions, the new iPhones may still be catching up with the improvements that rivals such as Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo and Google have been making to their latest phones.
Unlike some of the other devices coming out this year, the new iPhones aren’t expected to support upcoming ultrafast cellular networks known as 5G. Apple paid billions of dollars to settle a royalty dispute with chipmaker Qualcomm in April to gain the technology it needs for 5G iPhones, but those models aren’t expected to be ready until next year.
Besides iPhones, Apple is also expected to provide looks at the next versions of its Internet-connected watch and its video-streaming device, Apple TV. New iPads could also be in the mix.
Apple expected to unveil iPhones echoing last year’s models
Apple expected to unveil iPhones echoing last year’s models
- The company will show off its latest iPhones Tuesday at an annual hardware showcase
- IPhone shipments are down 25% so far this year, according to a research firm
Saudi IsDB approves $1.37bn in financing to support development projects in 12 countries
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank has approved a new package of projects with a total value of approximately $1.37 billion, allocated to support 12 member countries.
The approval was made by the board of executive directors of the bank, during its 363rd meeting chaired by its President Muhammad Al-Jasser.
The session approved 14 financing operations to support development projects covering renewable energy, cross-border energy networks, major transport corridors, water and food security, alongside education and health services.
This contributes to enhancing economic resilience, improving access to basic services, and supporting progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The approvals included financing of €306.89 million ($360 million) for the expansion and development project of the Godomey–Ouedo–Hillacondji road in Benin, to enhance a strategic segment of the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.
Cote d’Ivoire received €200 million in financing to develop the Taferi–Ferkessedougou section of the A3 highway, boosting trade and mobility between central and northern regions and neighboring landlocked countries.
Funding of $180.72 million was also approved for the King Faisal Road development project in Manama, Bahrain, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and improve urban transport mobility.
Lebanon benefited from $13.50 million in financing to establish the Bqarqacha bypass and develop the Bqarqacha–Bcharre road, to improve traffic safety and accessibility for local communities.
In the energy sector, Uzbekistan will receive total financing of $110 million for utility-scale photovoltaic solar and battery storage projects in Samarkand-1 and Samarkand-2, enhancing national grid capacities.
The bank also approved €55.19 million in financing for Mauritania to connect electricity grids with Mali and support related solar power stations, to provide cleaner and more reliable electricity to local communities.
In the field of water and food security, the bank approved €188.82 million in financing for Morocco’s Water Stress Mitigation project, including the construction of dams and related works to ensure water supplies and transfer surplus from northern basins to the more stressed southern regions.
Additionally, €18.23 million was approved for an inland aquaculture value chain development project.
Sierra Leone was allocated €25.93 million for the Freetown Water Supply, Sanitation, and Aquatic Environment Revamping project, to improve water and sanitation services and restore key watersheds.
Cameroon received €36.66 million for the Sustainable Irrigation and Agricultural Value Chain Development project, to support climate-resilient irrigation and improve rural infrastructure.
In Jordan, the Hima Oasis for Prosperity and Employment program for rural employment and agricultural growth benefited from $11.25 million in financing to support rural jobs and agricultural productivity, focusing on women and youth by improving access to finance, skills, and market linkages.
The Board also approved investments in the health and human capital development sector, including an allocation of €61.41 million for Mauritania to establish a 440-bed Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Referral Hospital in Nouakchott, enhancing access to specialized healthcare.
In Tajikistan, $13.95 million in financing was approved for the Tourism Business Education Development project, aiming to elevate tourism and hospitality education and establish a national training center focusing on Halal tourism.
Pakistan received $10 million in financing from the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development to support the Out-of-School Children project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
These approvals reflect the IsDB’s ongoing commitment to supporting member countries in bridging infrastructure gaps, expanding essential social services, accelerating the energy transition, and promoting comprehensive and sustainable development.
