Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the much-awaited iPhone 6s launch event with new updates to the Apple Watch. Apple says a software update for the Apple Watch is allowing outsider developers to write more sophisticated apps. Here are some key highlights from the event.
Apple Watch
- The are over 10,000 Watch apps on the App Store, and the company has now announced Facebook Messenger for the Watch.
- With the GoPro app for the Apple Watch, camera users will be able to turn watch into a viewfinder.
- Apple is working with Hermes and will introduce Watch with three leather band choices.
- Apple will release Watch OS 2 on September 16.
Apple iPad Pro, iPad Mini 4
- Apple unveils the iPad Pro. "It's the most capable and powerful iPad we've ever created," says CEO Tim Cook. The new iPad Pro has a 12.9-inch screen. The width of the new iPad Pro is same as length of the iPad Air.
- With 5.6 million pixels, the iPad Pro's display is richer than the Retina MacBook Pro's display.
- The iPad Pro is said to be faster than 80 per cent of the PCs shipped in the last four months. The new Apple tablet is claimed to offer a battery life of 10 hours. It has four speakers.
- Apple announces the Smart keyboard for the iPad Pro.
- Apple announces the Pencil stylus for the iPad Pro. "Apple Pencil is one of the most advanced technologies we have ever created in a simple, elegant form," says the company.
- The new iPad Pro will have a 12.9-inch screen, compared with 9.7 inches for the current full-size iPad. It will have four speakers and options for a physical keyboard and a stylus, called Apple Pencil. Despite the larger size, Apple says it's about the same weight as the original iPad.
- "With Office for iPad, we want to make it easier than ever to make rich documents with touch."
- "The iPad Pro can transform the way doctors and patients communicate," says Apple.
- The new iPad Pro prices start at $799 and comes in three variants. The 32 GB (WiFi-only) model is priced at $799, and the 64 GB (WiFi-only) model at $949. The 128 GB (WiFi + Cellular) variant carries a price tag of $1079.
- The new Apple Pencil is priced at $99, while the Smart keyboard costs $169.
- The new iPad Pro with its accessories will be available in November. The tablet will be available in three colours - Grey, Silver, and Gold.
- Apple has also announced the launch of the iPad Mini 4 that has been priced at $399. The iPad mini 2 now starts at $269.
Apple TV
- Apple announces the launch of the new Apple TV. The remote is touch- and voice-controlled.
- It comes with a Siri remote. The top half of the remote is a glass touch surface.
- The voice and touch combo does take TV watching to a nice new level.
- Apple Music comes to the big screen with the new Apple TV.
- Apple announces new OS for Apple TV - tvOS. It is based on iOS.
- The new Apple TV brings in multi-player gaming wherein iPhone and iPad users can join in.
- The tvOS is available for developers starting today.
- The 32 GB Apple TV is priced at $149, and the 64 GB model at $199.
Apple iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
- Apple has unveiled the newest iPhones - the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
- The new iPhones comes in two sizes - 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, and four colours - Silver, Gold, Grey, and Rose Gold.
- The new iPhones come with 3D Touch displays. The 3D Touch technology helps the latest iPhones recognise new gestures and force.
- With 3D Touch, pressing down hard on the new iPhones will launch additional capabilities. For example, you can get quick access to tasks such as taking a selfie or getting directions home. From a message, 3D Touch will give you a preview of a Web link without launching the browser.
- Apple says the frames of the new iPhones will be made of a stronger form of aluminium. Last fall, Apple got some complaints that the iPhone 6 Plus was more prone to bending than previous models. Apple defended its manufacturing standards and said bending was rare with normal use of an iPhone. The stronger frame in this year's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus should help reduce those problems.
- The new iPhones are engineered with the A9 (64-bit 3rd generation) chip.
- They include the 2nd generation TouchID sensor - twice as fast.
- The new iPhones will have sharper cameras. Apple says that the main camera on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will have a resolution of 12 megapixels. It's the first increase since 2011, when the iPhone 4s got 8 megapixels, compared with 5 megapixels before.
- Meanwhile, the front camera for selfies is getting a boost to 5 megapixels, from 1.2 megapixels, matching Samsung's latest phones. Plus, the new iPhones will use the main display as a flash, something the front camera now lacks.
- And video recording will be improved to the Ultra HD, or 4k, resolution found on Samsung and Sony phones.
- The new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been launched at the same prices as the last-gen models.
- The new iPhones will be up for pre-order starting September 12.
- The new iOS 9 software will be released on September 16.
- Apple has announced the iPhone Upgrade Program under which users need to pay $32 per month and they will be given new iPhones every year.
- The new iPhones will go on sale on September 25, with advance orders starting on September 12.
- Consistent with past models, the iPhone 6s will start at $200 with a two-year service contract. The iPhone 6s Plus will start at $300 with a contract. Last year's models will cost $100 less.
- The markets getting it right away are the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK.
Comments
0 comment