Attendees inspect the new iPhone during an Apple special event at Apple headquarters (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty ImagesTaking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone 18 Pro launch confirmed, the power of the release date, new Mac Mini and Mac Studio, iPad Mini’s OLED option, Apple Maps adverts, Walmart’s Apple Pay upgrade, and an updated polishing cloth.Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.The iPhone 18 Pro Launch Is RevealedApple has confirmed its September iPhone event. It will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the keynote starting at 10 am Pacific, 1 pm Eastern and 6 pm in the UK. Not discussed was the hardware's retail release date. Forbes contributor David Phelan, who picked the launch date, discusses the options:"The next date in the calendar after the keynote will be the opening of pre-orders. Usually, this is on the Friday after the keynote. However, since the Friday in question is Sept. 11, a date Apple has respectfully avoided for any activity since 2001, and since this year is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist event, it’s believed that the pre-orders will open on Saturday, Sept. 12 instead."The Power Of The iPhone Release DateApple’s traditional iPhone launch date affects the entire industry, allowing It to dominate the competition like no other. Earlier this week, I looked at the strategic advantages the release date offers, including the ability of the iPhone launch to reduce the window for competing smartphones to shine:“Whether competing smartphones choose to avoid the iPhone and move further away from the commercially rich fourth quarter, or launch closer to and accept any momentum is going to be squashed once Apple’s smartphone neuters their efforts, the true winner is Apple. The iPhone 18 Pro can clear the bases when it launches, allowing incoming CEO John Ternus to start out with a continuity product which will dominate retail shelves.”Apple Silicon Updates Ship In New 4 Mac Mini and Mac StudioApple has launched a new wave of Mac desktop products. As revealed in a press release earlier this week, the Mac Mini and Mac Studio have been refreshed with the new M6 and M5 Ultra Apple Silicon chipsets. No doubt the benchmarking will follow the retail release; preorders are open, with delivery beginning at the end of September. Be prepared to pay for the performance, as Jon Gruber notes:"The best currently-available-to-order Mac Studio (36/80 cores, 256 GB RAM, 16 TB SSD) costs $18,300. But if you’re OK with the base 30/64-core chip and just 8 TB storage, you can cut the price to a smooth $13,000."The Next iPad Mini Lights Up With OLEDDetails on new products keep coming this week - it’s as if Apple and the digital media are clearing the decks for the iPhone 18 Pro launch. Anyway, the soon to be folded in half to become the iPhone Ultra iPad Mini is getting a refresh, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Expect a small October event for the second-tier products to include the new Mini:"Other new products this year include a revamped iPad mini with an OLED screen. That technology, short for organic light-emitting diode, offers a crisper picture than the tablet had before and brings it closer in line with more premium iPads. The new model is due to arrive by the end of October."Apple Maps AdsApple Maps users in the US and Canada will now see ads when using the app. While Apple is taking a cautious approach to ad volume and targeting, the ads are still visible in suggested places and search results. Of note, there’s no way to switch the advertising off. Juli Clover goes deeper:"There is no option to turn off ads in the Maps app, but ads are clearly labeled with a blue "Ad" tag. Apple says ads you interact with in the Maps app are not associated with your Apple Account, and data is not shared with third parties."Apple Pay Finally Reaches WalmartAs Jon Gruber noted, Walmart will now accept Apple Pay, some 12 years after Apple launched its payment system. Tap To Pay has arrived:“Tap to Pay gives customers and members another familiar and convenient way to pay at checkout using contactless payment methods. Whether picking up groceries, gifts or everyday essentials, they can check out using eligible contactless card, phone, or smartwatch. Customers and members can also add their eligible Walmart, Sam's Club and OnePay cards to their digital wallets, giving them another convenient way to use their cards.”And Finally…As Apple brings out the new September portfolio, it needs to have some of the basics on sale before the flagships. So it’s a welcome sign that it has updated the Polishing Cloth specs to include the upcoming new hardware.“Made with soft, nonabrasive material, the Polishing Cloth cleans any Apple display, including nano-texture, safely and effectively.”Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.