Apple to unveil latest iPhone design

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has sent invitations to an event on Sept. 9 in San Francisco where it’s expected to unveil the latest iPhone, a new Apple TV set-top box and other updated products.

“Hey Siri, give us a hint,” reads the invitation to the event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

The release of a new iPhone is the most important annual product rollout for Apple’s business. The device, first unveiled by Steve Jobs in San Francisco more than eight years ago, generated $31.4 billion in sales last quarter, making up 63 percent of the company’s revenue.

The latest smartphones will look similar to the current iPhone 6 models, with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens, along with an improved camera and faster processor, people familiar with the plans have said. A new feature called Force Touch — first introduced in the Apple Watch — is also expected to be added. It will let users navigate through features by pressing down on the screen.

Apple may also release an update to Apple TV, which serves as a gateway for streaming online video content from iTunes, Netflix, HBO and other providers. Jobs first unveiled Apple TV on the same day as the iPhone in 2007, but the company hasn’t updated the product in several years. It’s now a crowded market, with other companies offering consumers access to similar content.

The event will give Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook an opportunity to assuage the concerns of investors who have raised questions about the company’s growth, particularly in China, where the economy is showing signs of slowing.