These two devices follow Apple’s strategy with the iPhone, where there’s a flagship line plus a more affordable option that uses a mix of old and new parts. The Apple Watch Series 6 includes a new blood oxygen sensor, improved always-on display, S6 processor, an always-on altimeter, and new finishes. The Apple Watch SE also features the always-on altimeter and a similar design, but without the new color finishes, it includes the S5 processor from last year, but it doesn’t get the blood oxygen sensor nor does it include an always-on display.
Apple launched new Apple Watch bands today that have no buckles or clasps, called the Solo Loop and the Braided Solo Loop. They look nice, but because you won’t be able to adjust the length of the band, you’ll have to measure your wrist in some way when you’re buying one to make sure you’re picking the right size. And that problem becomes trickier due to the fact that there are 12 total Loop sizes to pick from.
These sizing options omit the older Apple Watch case sizes of 38mm and 42mm. To keep things simple, Apple is noting that the bands are only compatible with modern models of the Apple Watch, essentially including Apple Watch Series 4 and later.
Apple Fitness+ brings studio-style workout experiences to your Apple devices in a way that uniquely integrates with the Apple Watch. As a workout video plays, live metrics from your Watch will display in the corner of the screen so you can easily keep track of things like the duration of your workout, heart rate, and calories burned.
The feature lets you adjust who each family member can call and message from their Apple Watch, and you can also set up location alerts so that you stay in the know of your family’s whereabouts.
One interesting feature of Family Setup is “Apple Cash Family,” which lets a parent securely load money onto their child’s Apple Watch and allows the child to then purchase items wherever Apple Pay is accepted.
The same day that Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, the company expanded its 0% Apple Card financing service to cover its line of smartwatches.
The company’s announcement today for the Apple Watch will help customers get used to the idea of having no bundled accessories in the box, and soften the blow when the same thing happens to the iPhone in October.
Apple Watch Series 6 materials include aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, which was introduced last year, but no ceramic.
The two-year wellness program is built around the Apple Watch and an iPhone app called LumiHealth from where a personalized wellness program is administered. Residents will need access to both in order to participate in the national health initiative, which begins in October. Taking part is voluntary.
The LumiHealth initiative is the first of its kind, according to Apple, since a national government is offering its citizens financial rewards in exchange for adopting healthy habits over a two-year duration.
During an online-only event from the Steve Jobs Theater on its Cupertino, California campus, Apple introduced a new iPad Air that looks as though it will rival the iPad Pro in many respects. The company also took the wraps off its 8th generation base-model iPad, which features a faster SoC.
As with previous Logitech accessories, the new Folio Touch keyboard case connects to an iPad via Smart Connector and features a built-in trackpad for cursor support.
Although Apple One doesn’t carry an official release date yet besides simply ‘fall,’ Apple did detail the breakdown of pricing and included services across three different Apple One tiers.
Apple One Premier is the most expensive plan, priced at $29.95 per month, but it also offers the biggest savings. The Apple One Premier services sold individually sum to $54.94, so the Premier tier is almost half the price.
Apple insists that its customers will still be able to “discover and enjoy alternatives”.
Today Apple announced that the latest versions of most of its major OS platforms will be shipping tomorrow, September 16. [...] macOS Big Sur was not mentioned, and it’s expected to release later this year alongside Apple Silicon Macs.
According to Apple, developers can now submit apps compatible with iOS 14 and iPad 14 features, including widgets, App Clips, and ARKit enhancements. The same applies to watchOS 7 and tvOS 14 compatible apps.
Most notably, Pixelmator Photo 1.4 now includes ML Super Resolution, which increases the size and resolution of images automatically. The results vary considerably depending on your source image, but at its best it is able to enlarge an image to three times its original size while maintaining sharpness and detail.
Adobe Illustrator on iPad is now available to pre-order on the App Store. The teams at Adobe and a select group of artists have been busy refining the app’s tools and user experience since it was previewed in November 2019 at Adobe MAX. I asked one of those artists, Yiying Lu, about her experience with Illustrator on iPad so far and how it will shape the future of creativity.
New for Premiere Pro includes Scene Edit Detections, HDR for broadcasters, and new Quick Export option. Meanwhile, After Effects is gaining updated camera navigation tools and more in the public beta.
If I am buying an iPad today, the iPad Air will be the one I choose. Enough Pro features, at a not-so-Pro price. But I'll probably wait for reviews on the new Touch ID sensor to see how good (or how not so good) it is.
Of course, based on how I use my current iPad, the regular iPad is more than enough for my needs. And, of course, I am not planning to buy a new iPad anytime soon.
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The blue Apple Watch sure looks nice. So does the blue iPad. I like the color blue.
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Thanks for reading.