Apple Event Next Month Said to Be 'Accompanied By an Event in London'

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming "Let Loose" event "will be accompanied by an event in London," according to The Independent's Andrew Griffin.

The report does not provide any additional details about what will be happening in London, but it might simply be a briefing that allows journalists in the UK to receive hands-on time with the new iPads and other products that Apple is expected to announce next month. Apple has frequently invited the media to hands-on briefings in New York City, and it also held a briefing in Toronto, Canada for the new MacBook Air models last month.

Apple's "Let Loose" event begins on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, which will be 3 p.m. local time in London. New devices and accessories expected to be announced at the event include two new iPad Pro models, two new iPad Air models, an updated Apple Pencil, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard for iPads, and there is always a chance of a surprise or two. A video stream of the event will be available on Apple.com and on YouTube.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has repeatedly said that he expects Apple to launch its Vision Pro headset in additional countries before its developers conference WWDC, which begins June 10. Could the accompanying "event" in London allow journalists in the UK to receive hands-on time with the Vision Pro too? It could make sense for Apple to launch the Vision Pro internationally before it announces visionOS 2 at WWDC, and the UK is one of nine countries where the headset is expected to become available next.

Of course, this is all just some pre-event speculation for fun based on a single sentence in a British newspaper. Apple's actual plans remain to be seen.

Update: We have confirmed that Apple has invited journalists and well-known social media content creators from Europe and abroad to an in-person gathering at its Battersea campus in London. This will be a multi-day function that begins on the same day as the "Let Loose" event, and the media will receive product briefings.

Article Link: Apple Event Next Month Said to Be 'Accompanied By an Event in London'

 

[erikkfi]

Hopefully they'll be doing a big demonstration of the new Magic Pencil, right Dan?

 

[Realityck]

Apple will stream the launch as a live video around the world, but it will be accompanied by an event in London, which may explain the unusually early launch. The company has almost held its launches at its home in California, and holding it in the UK represents a break with tradition.

Shows Apple wants to increase the visibility of their marketing efforts to reflect both regions with this IPad event. Likely means WWDC 2024 will hold more interest in regards to iPads.

Apple opened new offices in London’s Battersea Power Station last year. When Tim Cook, its chief executive, visited before they opened, he said the offices were “tribute to this incredible city and a reflection of our commitment to Apple’s future in the UK”.

In September last year, Apple said that it now supports more than 550,000 jobs across the UK, and that it has the largest developer community in Europe. “Whether it’s enriching the lives of our customers, helping support incredible developers, working closely with suppliers, or opening our stunning new UK headquarters, we are deeply committed to creating jobs and harnessing creativity throughout the country,” Mr Cook said then.

 

[Reason077]

Seems like there’s an unusual amount of hype surrounding this May event just for some new iPads. Something else going to be announced maybe? 🤔

 

[dumastudetto]

Seems like there’s an unusual amount of hype surrounding this May event just for some new iPads. Something else going to be announced maybe? 🤔

New iPods.

 

[klasma]

It might be related to the European release of the Vision Pro (edit: as the article also surmises).

 

[triton100]

Shows Apple wants to increase the visibility of their marketing efforts to reflect both regions with this IPad event. Likely means WWDC 2024 will hold more interest in regards to iPads.

I live opposite the new london Apple offices. My apartment and the office is only separated by a small garden. Everyday I look through their windows to see if I can catch a glimpse of any top secret stuff going on, but it’s literally the most chilled laid back scene ever. Looks like no one’s ever actually doing any work 😂

 

[AlmightyKang]

I live opposite the new london Apple offices. My apartment and the office is only separated by a small garden. Everyday I look through their windows to see if I can catch a glimpse of any top secret stuff going on, but it’s literally the most chilled laid back scene ever. Looks like no one’s ever actually doing any work 😂

Standard tech company. I don't work for Apple but if you look in our office window you will see very few people and whoever left is probably playing xbox, pool or eating.

 

[casjohnr]

I live opposite the new london Apple offices. My apartment and the office is only separated by a small garden. Everyday I look through their windows to see if I can catch a glimpse of any top secret stuff going on, but it’s literally the most chilled laid back scene ever. Looks like no one’s ever actually doing any work 😂

I'm not from London but was on a trip a few months ago and visited Battersea Power Station, the whole area made me sort of feel like I was in a level from Sonic The Hedgehog or something!

 

[AlmightyKang]

I'm not from London but was on a trip a few months ago and visited Battersea Power Station, the whole area made me sort of feel like I was in a level from Sonic The Hedgehog or something!

Careful now, Dr Robotnik gonna shank you with his knife 'round there.

 

[orbital~debris]

This is reminiscent of significant Apple events from a decade ago (or longer), when occasionally there were rumours of simultaneous events occurring in London for journalists etc. to attend.

 

[orbital~debris]

Wait, is The Independent suggesting the accompanying event in London will actually be the event itself, which is being streamed live on apple.com (i.e. not just a pre-recorded video streamed live like some recent product launches)?

Apple will stream the launch as a live video around the world, but it will be accompanied by an event in London, which may explain the unusually early launch. The company has almost held its launches at its home in California, and holding it in the UK represents a break with tradition.

While Apple has had launches elsewhere in the past – it launched MacBooks and iPads in Brooklyn at an event in 2018, for instance – it is thought to be the first time that Apple has done so outside of the US.

Apple opened new offices in London’s Battersea Power Station last year. When Tim Cook, its chief executive, visited before they opened, he said the offices were “tribute to this incredible city and a reflection of our commitment to Apple’s future in the UK”.

— https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/apple-event-ipad-iphone-vision-pro-b2533340.html

 

[minik]

Will iPadOS 18 finally show the power of iPad Pro/Air?

 

[return2sendai]

New iPods.

Yes!

 

[phenste]

there are a few things that make this check out. for one, the keynote is being streamed unusually early. I did a double-take when I first saw the announcement. it’d make sense that they would do this so London journalists can view the keynote at a reasonable hour for them (normally it’d be at 6PM). secondly, as everyone’s already said, this is a great opportunity for overseas journalists to get a hands-on with both the new iPads and VP.

just hoping iPadOS 18 brings something new and exciting…and it feels like I end every single iPad-related comment with that these days. 😆😪

 

[anthogag]

The event in London will be tea and digestive biscuits.

 

[philfloyduk]

UK Vision Pro launch 🤞🏻

 

[chiltonwebb3]

Come on Apple, do the thing.
Do the only thing that will make me want to buy a new iPhone.
You can do it. It's right there. You almost did it a few years ago.
Just do the thing. It's so obvious. The apps are there. The users who want it are there.
You're leaving money on the table. Come on. Do the thing.

Add Pencil support to the next iPhone

 

[Downhilltenago]

I live opposite the new london Apple offices. My apartment and the office is only separated by a small garden. Everyday I look through their windows to see if I can catch a glimpse of any top secret stuff going on, but it’s literally the most chilled laid back scene ever. Looks like no one’s ever actually doing any work 😂

Just like going into one of their genius stores.

 

[svish]

Might be a small event for select few from the media to try out the devices.

 

[SebCohen]

Seems like there’s an unusual amount of hype surrounding this May event just for some new iPads. Something else going to be announced maybe? 🤔

I’ve hardly seen this event even mentioned outside this website and The Verge….and not that much focus on it even there.

 

[AlmightyKang]

The event in London will be tea and digestive biscuits.

Maybe in Yorkshire. We're all international with black coffee and croissants down here in London.

 

[fpnc]

Wouldn't it make sense for the new iPad Pro to use the M3 Pro instead of just the M3?

I suspect that this transition will happen eventually and it could be one reason why Apple redesigned to M3 Pro to have more efficiency cores and fewer performance cores than in the M2 Pro.

That would mean that the iPad Air would use the standard M3 and the "Pro" iPad would switch to the higher performance M3 Pro.

 

[Urban Splash]

Apple upping the PR away from poor AVP uptake.

“Look at these shiny new iPads! £2k each! Get them while they’re hot!, …. What’s AVP?”

 

[coredev]

Wouldn't it make sense for the new iPad Pro to use the M3 Pro instead of just the M3?

I suspect that this transition will happen eventually and it could be one reason why Apple redesigned to M3 Pro to have more efficiency cores and fewer performance cores than in the M2 Pro.

That would mean that the iPad Air would use the standard M3 and the "Pro" iPad would switch to the higher performance M3 Pro.

No, it would not. Thermal considerations aside, going to the Pro chips (and M chips for regular iPads) would mean even higher prices.
It makes sense to have the regular iPads use iPhone like chips, and the Pros being on par with entry level Macs.