At its Glowtime event on 9 September 2024, Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 lineup, keeping the base models at their traditional screen sizes, with the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus. However, Apple increased screen sizes on the Pro side, giving us the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max in exchange for 2 millimeters more height. New cases will be required anyway since all four iPhone 16 models gain the innovative Camera Control that allows photographers to manage the Camera app in various ways with clicks, light presses, and touch interactions. The entire iPhone 16 lineup will be able to take advantage of Apple Intelligence once iOS 18.1 ships next month.
The button itself feels really good. It’s a real button—if you push it all the way down, you can feel it depress with a pleasing tactile response. But it’s also a touch- and pressure-sensitive button that lets you “push halfway” to bring up another set of options, for things like zooming in or switching between photographic styles. If you keep your finger on the button and half-push twice in quick succession, you’ll be taken up one level in the hierarchy and can swipe to different commands. Then half-push once to enter whatever controls you want, and you’re back to swiping. It takes a few minutes to get used to the right set of gestures, but it’s a potentially powerful feature—and at its base, it’s still very simple: push to bring up the camera, push to shoot, and push and hold to shoot video.
Apple released a new, more powerful version of the MagSafe charger during its September iPhone 16 event today. The puck will be compatible with all iPhones and any Qi2 device, but only the new iPhone 16 models are listed as supporting the fastest 25W wireless charging rate.
There is no replacement for the FineWoven material, and Apple does not have leather cases or any kind of equivalent for purchase. For the iPhone 16 lineup, customers can choose a Silicone Case or a Clear Case.
They come in four colors: Midnight Black, Summit Stone, Riptide Blue, and Sunset Purple.
At its Glowtime event, Apple introduced the new Apple Watch Series 10, a significant redesign of the flagship model that provides a larger display in a case that’s thinner and lighter than its predecessors. It also features an impressive new display, faster charging, depth and temperature sensing, audio playback through its speakers, and voice isolation for calls. The base model continues to use aluminum but adds a jet-black polished finish, whereas the fancy model swaps heavy stainless steel for aerospace-grade polished titanium.
If you wear your watch to bed, you’ll get an alert pushed to your phone in the morning if it detects disturbances in your breathing. You will also be urged to visit your clinician, and can show them Watch data. All of this information will be collated in the Health app on iPhone.
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Apnea detection is also coming to both the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, and Apple says it expects the FDA and other regulatory agencies to give their blessings in the coming days. It says the feature will be available in more than 150 countries and regions later this month.
Apple has refreshed the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a new black titanium color option and sleep apnea detection feature, the company announced during its September event today. It’s the first time Apple has offered the Watch Ultra in more than one color since it launched two years ago.
Apple is launching a new version of AirPods called the AirPods 4, with a refined new shape that Apple says is its “most comfortable AirPods ever.” It keeps an open-air design, has a “massive improvement” in audio quality, and includes support for personalized spatial audio.
The earbuds will be available in two models: an entry-level model, known as the AirPods 4, and a higher-end model with noise cancellation, known as the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a first for the standard AirPods line.
If hearing loss is detected, the hearing aid mode is then available to use. The AirPods will make it easier to hear sounds from the world around you. A custom hearing profile is automatically applied when listening to audio, like music or podcasts.
The hearing aid feature is currently making its way through the FDA and other regulatory bodies. Apple said the functionality will be available in more than 100 countries.
After almost four years without a hardware update, a new version of the AirPods Max has been announced by Apple today, with the primary upgrade being a switch from Apple’s proprietary Lightning port to USB-C.
While Apple’s game-changing earbuds are known for being easy to use, as any long-time user will tell you, keeping them in pristine, clean condition is a bit more challenging. With this in mind, Belkin has launched an updated version of its AirPods Cleaning Kit to help keep your wireless earbuds clean.
Apple plans to release the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS to the general public on September 16, the company announced via its website following its iPhone-centric product event earlier today. We should also see updates for tvOS and the HomePod operating system on the same date.
The new releases bring a number of new features and refinements to Apple’s platforms: better texting with Android devices thanks to support for the RCS standard, iPhone Mirroring that allows you to interact with your iPhone via your Mac, more UI customization options for iPhones and iPads, and other improvements besides.
Apple today announced that iOS 18.1 will be released to the public at some point in October. The software update will add the first Apple Intelligence features to the iPhone 15 Pro models and all four new iPhone 16 models.
The ECJ ruled that a lower court win for Apple should be overturned and backed the commission’s 2016 decision that Ireland had granted Apple unlawful aid relating to the tax treatment of profits generated by Apple’s activities outside the US which Ireland is now required to recover.
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Apple said after the ECJ ruling: “This case has never been about how much tax we pay but which government we are required to pay it to. We always pay all the taxes we owe wherever we operate and there has never been a special deal. Apple is proud to be an engine of growth and innovation across Europe and around the world, and to consistently be one of the largest taxpayers in the world.
“The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US. We are disappointed with today’s decision as previously the general court reviewed the facts and categorically annulled this case.”
Set to officially open later today, The Observatory is the most significant building to be completed on the campus since the Steve Jobs Theater opened in 2017.
Designed "as a contemplative space", the subterranean building will be used for launch events and to showcase the brand's latest technology.
Apple earlier this month teased new Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones that are set to come out next year, and MacRumors has found more information on the new earbuds tucked away in Apple's latest software updates.
This year, I am really interested in finding out from reviewers how good the noise canceling is on AirPods 4, and that may affect my future buying decisions.
But for the other two products, iPhone and Apple Watch, the improvements are really refinements than something totally new. So one can already make up their mind on whether to pre-order them straight away. I am not doing any purchases for now, just because the existing versions I am using are still good.
Perhaps the Camera Control button is really great and it makes snapping photos (and videos) so much the better. But, hey, even if it is not that great, you don't lose anything as all the touch-screen stuff are still there.
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Thanks for reading.