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Apple just announced a forthcoming update to its popular Voice Memos app that brings multitrack recording, of a sort. It was announced at today’s iPhone event and looks pretty neat.
The demo shows a guitar player laying down a track and then, simply, singing on top of it. All of this is handled via the app. It looks like the magic stops at two tracks, but there’s a simple edit interface that lets you make adjustments to each layer.
There’s also some algorithmic and machine learning mojo happening under the hood, as the demo doesn’t show the user wearing headphones when singing on top of the guitar track. In the old days, doing overdubs without headphones would be a one-way ticket to a terrifying cacophony of noise. 
Apple didn’t announce when this feature is coming, or what iPhone models it would be available for. The recently-announced iPhone lineup includes new microphone orientations, which could enable this feature. We’ll update this post when we know more.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-voice-memos-app-is-getting-simple-multitrack-recording-184721503.html?src=rss

Apple just announced a forthcoming update to its popular Voice Memos app that brings multitrack recording, of a sort. It was announced at today’s iPhone event and looks pretty neat.

The demo shows a guitar player laying down a track and then, simply, singing on top of it. All of this is handled via the app. It looks like the magic stops at two tracks, but there’s a simple edit interface that lets you make adjustments to each layer.

There’s also some algorithmic and machine learning mojo happening under the hood, as the demo doesn’t show the user wearing headphones when singing on top of the guitar track. In the old days, doing overdubs without headphones would be a one-way ticket to a terrifying cacophony of noise. 

Apple didn’t announce when this feature is coming, or what iPhone models it would be available for. The recently-announced iPhone lineup includes new microphone orientations, which could enable this feature. We’ll update this post when we know more.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-voice-memos-app-is-getting-simple-multitrack-recording-184721503.html?src=rss

Read More 

September is here and, like clockwork, so are new iPhones. Apple unveiled its latest iPhone models at an event in Cupertino today, and as expected, the iPhone 16 handsets are largely iterative of last year’s models. While the smartphones took center stage (per usual), Apple also showed off the newest version of the Apple Watch, plus two new pairs of AirPods. The company also went into detail on its latest mobile chipset that powers the new iPhones, and reminded folks what they can expect when iOS 18 launches later this month. If you weren’t able to catch the announcements live, Engadget has you covered; here’s everything announced at Apple’s iPhone 16 event.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

Apple

Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus at the event, which feature a water- and dust-resistant design and new colors including ultramarine, teal and pink. The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Both of those can achieve up to 2,000 nits of brightness, and can go all the way down to one nit in the dark. The Action button has found its way to this series of iPhones as well, and it’s just as customizable as the one we saw on last year’s Pro-model iPhones.
There’s also a new easy-access camera control “button” of sorts, which allows you to quick access and control the camera with a slide of your finger. Users can also use this tool to access Visual Intelligence, an AI-powered feature coming in iOS 18 that can tell you more about anything you point your camera at. It appears similar to Google Lens, and it can do things like add live event dates to your calendar after you point your camera at a flyer you see on the street. The camera array on the standard iPhone 16 models includes a 48-megapixel main Fusion camera, a 12MP telephoto lens and a new ultrawide camera with autofocus. This array will also be able to capture Spatial Photos that can be viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro.
Both standard iPhone 16 models run on the new A18 chip, which has a 16-core neural engine optimized for generative models. The internals feature a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, both of which will be crucial for powering all of the new Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18.
According to Apple, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have larger batteries than their predecessors, and when combined with the efficiencies added from the A18 chipset and iOS 18 improvements, should make for a much longer-lasting battery lives overall (although Apple did not provide an exact estimate). Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are available for pre-order today starting at $799 and $899, respectively, and will be widely available on September 20.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple

The Pro series of iPhones includes the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max this year, which have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch ProMotion, always-on displays, respectively. Both are made with Grade 5 Titanium, which Apple claims to be even lighter than stainless steel. These handsets will be available in four new colors: black, white, natural and desert, the latter of which resembles a dusty gold color.
According to the company, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence, being able to take full advantage of all the new features coming in iOS 18. These handsets run on the new A18 Pro chipset, which takes advantage of 3nm transistors and is even faster and more efficient than the standard A18 chip found in the regular iPhone 16 lineup.
The rear camera array on both models includes a 48MP Fusion camera, 48MP ultrawide shooter and a 12MP telephoto lens. The main camera’s improvements allow for 4K, 120fps video and slow-motion recording. Both phones also have the new camera control button that provides easier access to the camera and all of its tools, both for capture and editing. There are also four studio-quality microphones built in to both smartphones for improved audio capture, and they allow for Spatial Audio recording, too.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro series and the standard iPhone 16 handsets supports Qi2 wireless charging, and Apple will come out with new MagSafe charging cases that account for the new camera control button. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 13, starting at $999 and $1,199, respectively. They’ll be widely available on September 20.

AirPods 4

Apple

AirPods 4 launched today during the iPhone 16 event, as rumors suggested. These new buds have a redesigned bud shape that’s suppose to better fit more ear shapes and be more comfortable overall. They have the H2 chip inside, which will provide improved audio quality and enable features like Personalized Spatial Audio. The charging case has a USB-C port, and it’s the smallest AirPods charging case to date.
In addition to the regular AirPods 4, there will be a second model that includes support for active noise cancellation and Transparency mode. Conversation Awareness will also automatically lower your media volume level when the buds detect you start talking to someone. The standard AirPods 4 cost $129 and the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179; both are available for pre-order today and will be widely available on September 20.

AirPods Max new colors
Apple didn’t reinvent the wheel with the updated AirPods Max. Instead, they’ll be available in a few new colors and support USB-C charging. The new colors can be preordered today for $549 and will be widely available on September 20.

AirPods Pro new hearing features
Apple announced new features coming to the second-gen AirPods Pro that are designed to help prevent and increase awareness around hearing loss. A feature called “Hearing Protection” will be turned on by default, and a users will be able to take a clinically validated hearing test to see if they already have some hearing loss. On top of that, AirPods Pro will have a hearing aid feature built-in as well and will work with a hearing profile created after a user takes the hearing test.
Apple Watch Series 10

Apple

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 10 today, the natural successor to last year’s Series 9. It has the biggest display and thinnest design ever on an Apple Watch, and the wide-angle OLED display is even a bit larger than that on the Apple Watch Ultra. The case has more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, both of which, combined with the larger screen, should provide more space to interact with graphics and text on the watch. Apple claims the screen is 40 percent brighter when looked at from an angle, and it’ll show a second hand even when your wrist is down.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is powered by the new S10 SiP, which Apple claims is built for performance, power efficiency and intelligence (i.e. Apple Intelligence). One example of Apple Intelligence at work on the Series 10 is the new Photos watch face, which will curate the best photos from your library and serve them up to you automatically.
When it comes to fitness features, Apple announced that the latest version of watchOS will allow the Series 10 to detect signs of sleep apnea, provided you’re wearing your Series 10 to sleep regularly. Apple claims it’s awaiting FDA clearance, and it expects the sleep apnea detection feature to launch in more than 150 countries. Elsewhere in the activity sphere, the Series 10 will have scuba tracking features and it will support the new Tides app in watchOS 11.
Another new feature is the ability to play audio directly from the Watch’s speaker, which could be helpful if you don’t have AirPods or another pair of Bluetooth earbuds handy. The Apple Watch Series 10 be available in a new polished, jet-black aluminum finish and a polished titanium finish that comes in silver, gold and slate gray. It’s available for pre-order today and will be widely available on September 20.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 new finish
While there have been a bunch of swirling rumors about the next iteration of the Apple Watch Ultra, the company did not reveal the third generation sportswatch today. Instead, Apple revealed a new finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2: satin black. There are also new Hermes finishes, and a new Milanese band to accompany the new satin black finish.

Developing…
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-apple-revealed-at-the-iphone-16-launch-event-so-far-170346449.html?src=rss

September is here and, like clockwork, so are new iPhones. Apple unveiled its latest iPhone models at an event in Cupertino today, and as expected, the iPhone 16 handsets are largely iterative of last year’s models. While the smartphones took center stage (per usual), Apple also showed off the newest version of the Apple Watch, plus two new pairs of AirPods. The company also went into detail on its latest mobile chipset that powers the new iPhones, and reminded folks what they can expect when iOS 18 launches later this month. If you weren’t able to catch the announcements live, Engadget has you covered; here’s everything announced at Apple’s iPhone 16 event.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus at the event, which feature a water- and dust-resistant design and new colors including ultramarine, teal and pink. The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Both of those can achieve up to 2,000 nits of brightness, and can go all the way down to one nit in the dark. The Action button has found its way to this series of iPhones as well, and it’s just as customizable as the one we saw on last year’s Pro-model iPhones.

There’s also a new easy-access camera control “button” of sorts, which allows you to quick access and control the camera with a slide of your finger. Users can also use this tool to access Visual Intelligence, an AI-powered feature coming in iOS 18 that can tell you more about anything you point your camera at. It appears similar to Google Lens, and it can do things like add live event dates to your calendar after you point your camera at a flyer you see on the street. The camera array on the standard iPhone 16 models includes a 48-megapixel main Fusion camera, a 12MP telephoto lens and a new ultrawide camera with autofocus. This array will also be able to capture Spatial Photos that can be viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro.

Both standard iPhone 16 models run on the new A18 chip, which has a 16-core neural engine optimized for generative models. The internals feature a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, both of which will be crucial for powering all of the new Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18.

According to Apple, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have larger batteries than their predecessors, and when combined with the efficiencies added from the A18 chipset and iOS 18 improvements, should make for a much longer-lasting battery lives overall (although Apple did not provide an exact estimate). Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are available for pre-order today starting at $799 and $899, respectively, and will be widely available on September 20.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

The Pro series of iPhones includes the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max this year, which have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch ProMotion, always-on displays, respectively. Both are made with Grade 5 Titanium, which Apple claims to be even lighter than stainless steel. These handsets will be available in four new colors: black, white, natural and desert, the latter of which resembles a dusty gold color.

According to the company, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence, being able to take full advantage of all the new features coming in iOS 18. These handsets run on the new A18 Pro chipset, which takes advantage of 3nm transistors and is even faster and more efficient than the standard A18 chip found in the regular iPhone 16 lineup.

The rear camera array on both models includes a 48MP Fusion camera, 48MP ultrawide shooter and a 12MP telephoto lens. The main camera’s improvements allow for 4K, 120fps video and slow-motion recording. Both phones also have the new camera control button that provides easier access to the camera and all of its tools, both for capture and editing. There are also four studio-quality microphones built in to both smartphones for improved audio capture, and they allow for Spatial Audio recording, too.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro series and the standard iPhone 16 handsets supports Qi2 wireless charging, and Apple will come out with new MagSafe charging cases that account for the new camera control button. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 13, starting at $999 and $1,199, respectively. They’ll be widely available on September 20.

AirPods 4

AirPods 4 launched today during the iPhone 16 event, as rumors suggested. These new buds have a redesigned bud shape that’s suppose to better fit more ear shapes and be more comfortable overall. They have the H2 chip inside, which will provide improved audio quality and enable features like Personalized Spatial Audio. The charging case has a USB-C port, and it’s the smallest AirPods charging case to date.

In addition to the regular AirPods 4, there will be a second model that includes support for active noise cancellation and Transparency mode. Conversation Awareness will also automatically lower your media volume level when the buds detect you start talking to someone. The standard AirPods 4 cost $129 and the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179; both are available for pre-order today and will be widely available on September 20.

AirPods Max new colors

Apple didn’t reinvent the wheel with the updated AirPods Max. Instead, they’ll be available in a few new colors and support USB-C charging. The new colors can be preordered today for $549 and will be widely available on September 20.

AirPods Pro new hearing features

Apple announced new features coming to the second-gen AirPods Pro that are designed to help prevent and increase awareness around hearing loss. A feature called “Hearing Protection” will be turned on by default, and a users will be able to take a clinically validated hearing test to see if they already have some hearing loss. On top of that, AirPods Pro will have a hearing aid feature built-in as well and will work with a hearing profile created after a user takes the hearing test.

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 10 today, the natural successor to last year’s Series 9. It has the biggest display and thinnest design ever on an Apple Watch, and the wide-angle OLED display is even a bit larger than that on the Apple Watch Ultra. The case has more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, both of which, combined with the larger screen, should provide more space to interact with graphics and text on the watch. Apple claims the screen is 40 percent brighter when looked at from an angle, and it’ll show a second hand even when your wrist is down.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is powered by the new S10 SiP, which Apple claims is built for performance, power efficiency and intelligence (i.e. Apple Intelligence). One example of Apple Intelligence at work on the Series 10 is the new Photos watch face, which will curate the best photos from your library and serve them up to you automatically.

When it comes to fitness features, Apple announced that the latest version of watchOS will allow the Series 10 to detect signs of sleep apnea, provided you’re wearing your Series 10 to sleep regularly. Apple claims it’s awaiting FDA clearance, and it expects the sleep apnea detection feature to launch in more than 150 countries. Elsewhere in the activity sphere, the Series 10 will have scuba tracking features and it will support the new Tides app in watchOS 11.

Another new feature is the ability to play audio directly from the Watch’s speaker, which could be helpful if you don’t have AirPods or another pair of Bluetooth earbuds handy. The Apple Watch Series 10 be available in a new polished, jet-black aluminum finish and a polished titanium finish that comes in silver, gold and slate gray. It’s available for pre-order today and will be widely available on September 20.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 new finish

While there have been a bunch of swirling rumors about the next iteration of the Apple Watch Ultra, the company did not reveal the third generation sportswatch today. Instead, Apple revealed a new finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2: satin black. There are also new Hermes finishes, and a new Milanese band to accompany the new satin black finish.

Developing…

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-apple-revealed-at-the-iphone-16-launch-event-so-far-170346449.html?src=rss

Read More 

Apple announced its newest lineup of smartphones during the 2024 iPhone 16 launch event on Monday. And now, four new models are available for pre-order: The iPhone 16, the larger iPhone 16 Plus, the high-end iPhone 16 Pro and its larger sibling the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Last year, the most notable design change came with the adoption of a USB-C charging port. This year, the phones are getting a new multi-function capacitative button on the side. The other big news is on the inside with the A18 chip designed to handle all the coming Apple Intelligence features. We’ll tell you exactly what we think about Apple’s latest phones once we’ve had a chance to thoroughly test them out. But if you already know you want a shiny new iPhone 16 as soon as possible, pre-orders will open on Friday, ahead of the ship date of September 20. 

This is a developing post. Refresh for the latest news…
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-pre-order-the-new-iphone-16-183710052.html?src=rss

Apple announced its newest lineup of smartphones during the 2024 iPhone 16 launch event on Monday. And now, four new models are available for pre-order: The iPhone 16, the larger iPhone 16 Plus, the high-end iPhone 16 Pro and its larger sibling the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Last year, the most notable design change came with the adoption of a USB-C charging port. This year, the phones are getting a new multi-function capacitative button on the side. The other big news is on the inside with the A18 chip designed to handle all the coming Apple Intelligence features. We’ll tell you exactly what we think about Apple’s latest phones once we’ve had a chance to thoroughly test them out. But if you already know you want a shiny new iPhone 16 as soon as possible, pre-orders will open on Friday, ahead of the ship date of September 20. 

This is a developing post. Refresh for the latest news…

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-pre-order-the-new-iphone-16-183710052.html?src=rss

Read More 

Say hello to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Apple’s latest high-end models may look familiar, but they have slightly larger displays than the iPhone 15 Pros: The screen on the iPhone 16 Pro is 6.3 inches and the Pro Max is 6.9 inches, an increase of 0.2 inches in both cases. Mainly, this means the bezels on the 16 Pros are ultra slim.
Really, it’s all about the camera button this time around. Both of the new Pro models have a dedicated button just for snapping photos and filming video, professional style. It’s touch-sensitive, too: A light press opens up additional tools that are controlled by swiping along the button, such as setting the zoom and aperture. A long hold on the camera button swaps between still photo and video modes. Apple plans to update the button with DSLR-like abilities, allowing a half press to activate the focus and a full press to actually snap a picture.
Apple
The camera button feels like a natural evolution for Apple, as part of the company’s long-standing mission to position the iPhone as an all-inclusive filmmaking machine. It’s also included in the non-Pro iPhone 16 models.
Internally, the camera is getting a little boost. The telephoto lens is capable of 5x optical zoom — that’s an increase specifically for the smaller Pro, which previously maxed out at 3x zoom. The ultra-wide-angle camera has been upgraded from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels in both Pro models. The new phones support customizable Photographic Styles, and users are able to change their chosen style after a photo is taken, which is a useful improvement.
Apple
The iPhone 16 Pro can shoot video in 4K at 120 fps, and after shooting, you’re able to select frames to be played in slow motion if that’s your jam. It also supports spatial audio capture in videos. With Audio Mix, you can isolate the voices of people on camera, make the shot sound like it was recorded inside a studio, or pull in environmental noise with speaking voices highlighted, resulting in a more cinematic feel.
The iPhone 16 Pros have a larger battery, delivering us another classic line during Apple’s live event: This is the “best iPhone battery life ever,” apparently. The new phones run on the A18 Pro chip, which is an upgraded version of the A18 found in the regular iPhone. It has a 16-core neutral engine, and Apple says its AI features will run up to 20 percent faster than on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have faster chips and built-in support for Apple Intelligence, as do the non-Pro models this time around. This includes a new Visual Intelligence feature, which functions a lot like Google Lens — using the new camera button, users are able to take photos of signs and objects to instantly receive information about those places and things.
Apple
The newest Pros come in gold (Apple calls it “desert”) titanium, or the standard white, black or natural titanium colorways that we’ve grown accustomed to. The gold titanium replaces last year’s blue titanium case for the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,199. They come in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB sizes. This is consistency from Apple: The iPhone 15 Pro was priced at $999 with 128GB of storage, while the 15 Pro Max was $1,199 with 256GB of storage.
This story is developing; refresh for updates.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-16-pro-has-a-dslr-like-camera-button-and-a-slightly-bigger-display-181605027.html?src=rss

Say hello to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Apple’s latest high-end models may look familiar, but they have slightly larger displays than the iPhone 15 Pros: The screen on the iPhone 16 Pro is 6.3 inches and the Pro Max is 6.9 inches, an increase of 0.2 inches in both cases. Mainly, this means the bezels on the 16 Pros are ultra slim.

Really, it’s all about the camera button this time around. Both of the new Pro models have a dedicated button just for snapping photos and filming video, professional style. It’s touch-sensitive, too: A light press opens up additional tools that are controlled by swiping along the button, such as setting the zoom and aperture. A long hold on the camera button swaps between still photo and video modes. Apple plans to update the button with DSLR-like abilities, allowing a half press to activate the focus and a full press to actually snap a picture.

The camera button feels like a natural evolution for Apple, as part of the company’s long-standing mission to position the iPhone as an all-inclusive filmmaking machine. It’s also included in the non-Pro iPhone 16 models.

Internally, the camera is getting a little boost. The telephoto lens is capable of 5x optical zoom — that’s an increase specifically for the smaller Pro, which previously maxed out at 3x zoom. The ultra-wide-angle camera has been upgraded from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels in both Pro models. The new phones support customizable Photographic Styles, and users are able to change their chosen style after a photo is taken, which is a useful improvement.

The iPhone 16 Pro can shoot video in 4K at 120 fps, and after shooting, you’re able to select frames to be played in slow motion if that’s your jam. It also supports spatial audio capture in videos. With Audio Mix, you can isolate the voices of people on camera, make the shot sound like it was recorded inside a studio, or pull in environmental noise with speaking voices highlighted, resulting in a more cinematic feel.

The iPhone 16 Pros have a larger battery, delivering us another classic line during Apple’s live event: This is the “best iPhone battery life ever,” apparently. The new phones run on the A18 Pro chip, which is an upgraded version of the A18 found in the regular iPhone. It has a 16-core neutral engine, and Apple says its AI features will run up to 20 percent faster than on the iPhone 15 Pro.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have faster chips and built-in support for Apple Intelligence, as do the non-Pro models this time around. This includes a new Visual Intelligence feature, which functions a lot like Google Lens — using the new camera button, users are able to take photos of signs and objects to instantly receive information about those places and things.

The newest Pros come in gold (Apple calls it “desert”) titanium, or the standard white, black or natural titanium colorways that we’ve grown accustomed to. The gold titanium replaces last year’s blue titanium case for the iPhone 15 Pro.

The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,199. They come in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB sizes. This is consistency from Apple: The iPhone 15 Pro was priced at $999 with 128GB of storage, while the 15 Pro Max was $1,199 with 256GB of storage.

This story is developing; refresh for updates.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-16-pro-has-a-dslr-like-camera-button-and-a-slightly-bigger-display-181605027.html?src=rss

Read More 

Apple has introduced a new feature called Visual Intelligence with the iPhone 16. From the demo that Apple showed as part of its September 2024 event, it seems like Visual Intelligence is Apple’s version of Google lens. 
The new feature is activated by a brand new touch-sensitive button on the right side of the device called Camera Control. With just a click, Visual Intelligence can identify objects, provide information, and offer actions based on what you point it at. Aim it at a restaurant to instantly pull up menus and ratings, or snap a flyer for an event to add it directly to your calendar. Curious about a dog’s breed? Point and click to find out. Eyeing a bike for purchase? Click to search for it online.
Apple claims that Visual Intelligence is private, which means that the company does not know what you clicked. Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-invents-its-own-version-of-google-lens-called-visual-intelligence-180647182.html?src=rss

Apple has introduced a new feature called Visual Intelligence with the iPhone 16. From the demo that Apple showed as part of its September 2024 event, it seems like Visual Intelligence is Apple’s version of Google lens. 

The new feature is activated by a brand new touch-sensitive button on the right side of the device called Camera Control. With just a click, Visual Intelligence can identify objects, provide information, and offer actions based on what you point it at. Aim it at a restaurant to instantly pull up menus and ratings, or snap a flyer for an event to add it directly to your calendar. Curious about a dog’s breed? Point and click to find out. Eyeing a bike for purchase? Click to search for it online.

Apple claims that Visual Intelligence is private, which means that the company does not know what you clicked.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-invents-its-own-version-of-google-lens-called-visual-intelligence-180647182.html?src=rss

Read More 

Apple was very busy when it came to AirPods announcements this week. Alongside new fourth-generation AirPods (and an ANC option) and updated AirPods Max, it’s also giving attention to the AirPods Pro, with a focus on hearing health. This encompasses prevention, with levels limited by default and a noise app to measure exactly how noisy your surroundings are. Apple notes that one in three people are regularly exposed to noisy environments that can damage hearing, even with in-ear buds like AirPods Pro and noise cancellation.
The company is now introducing a clinically validated hearing test on your iPhone. The test taps into large-scale data studies that Apple used to develop its hearing loss features, and it only takes five minutes. It’ll ask you to tap the screen when you hear a series of tones at different frequencies. Your hearing profile will also be automatically applied to audio content across music, movies and phone calls.
But Apple took it even further and has developed an over-the-counter, professional-grade hearing aid feature. It’ll boost the specific kinds of sounds you need help with. It’s a big move from Apple, as existing OTC hearing aids can cost between $1,000 and $1,500. The second-gen AirPods Pro are just $250 by comparison.
The company is still awaiting FTC approval, but expects to launch these hearing features later in the fall. It’ll join new sleep apnea detection coming to Apple Watch.  

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-pro-update-turns-them-into-a-clinical-grade-hearing-aid-174919818.html?src=rss

Apple was very busy when it came to AirPods announcements this week. Alongside new fourth-generation AirPods (and an ANC option) and updated AirPods Max, it’s also giving attention to the AirPods Pro, with a focus on hearing health. This encompasses prevention, with levels limited by default and a noise app to measure exactly how noisy your surroundings are. Apple notes that one in three people are regularly exposed to noisy environments that can damage hearing, even with in-ear buds like AirPods Pro and noise cancellation.

The company is now introducing a clinically validated hearing test on your iPhone. The test taps into large-scale data studies that Apple used to develop its hearing loss features, and it only takes five minutes. It’ll ask you to tap the screen when you hear a series of tones at different frequencies. Your hearing profile will also be automatically applied to audio content across music, movies and phone calls.

But Apple took it even further and has developed an over-the-counter, professional-grade hearing aid feature. It’ll boost the specific kinds of sounds you need help with. It’s a big move from Apple, as existing OTC hearing aids can cost between $1,000 and $1,500. The second-gen AirPods Pro are just $250 by comparison.

The company is still awaiting FTC approval, but expects to launch these hearing features later in the fall. It’ll join new sleep apnea detection coming to Apple Watch.  

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-pro-update-turns-them-into-a-clinical-grade-hearing-aid-174919818.html?src=rss

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Apple is giving every iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro model brand new chips, instead of just using last year’s hardware in its cheaper phones. The company unveiled the A18 and A18 Pro chips at the iPhone 16 launch event today, and as you’d expect, they’re built with Apple Intelligence in mind. The chips offers more memory and a new 16-core Neural Engine, in addition to some incremental performance boosts over older models. More so than the past few years — where you could point to new camera lenses or hardware tweaks as a reason to get the new iPhone — the chip is the key selling point for the iPhone 16 lineup.
Other than last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, older iPhones can’t run Apple Intelligence features like the revamped Siri, Genmoji and integrated ChatGPT search. (Anyone who splurged for those higher end iPhones chose wisely, as there’s little reason to upgrade.) AI workloads require plenty of RAM to juggle large language models, so that alone disqualifies the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which only had 6GB of RAM on the A16 chip (a holdover from the iPhone 14 Pro). The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, featured 8GB of RAM with the A17 Pro chip.
The A18 chip, along with thermal design optimizations, helps the iPhone 16 achieve 30 percent faster sustained gaming performance, according to Apple. And just like the A17 Pro last year, the new chip supports hardware accelerated ray tracing, which helps it deliver more realistic lighting in some titles. Apple also revealed that Honor of Kings: World will be coming to iPhones next year.
Apple’s A18 Pro goes a step further than the A18, delivering up to 15 percent faster speeds than the A17 Pro, as well as 2x faster hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Notably, the A18 Pro also uses 20 percent less power than the A17 Pro. All of that hardware isn’t just meant for Apple Intelligence, it also powers the complex new photography features in the iPhone 16 Pro’s cameras.
Apple
Apple’s older strategy of using the previous year’s chips on the iPhone and iPhone Plus made sense. Those devices didn’t require the demanding camera processing of the Pro models, which were entirely geared towards power users. Apple could cut manufacturing costs and still deliver a solid user experience for iPhone owners with older chips. (Even though it debuted in 2022, the A16 chip in the iPhone 15 is still very capable today.) 
But now that Apple is centering the iPhone experience around Apple Intelligence, a family-wide spec bump isn’t too surprising. And even if you’re not excited about Apple’s AI offerings (which they’ll never actually call AI), it’s nice to have some more RAM in the base iPhone line.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-a18-chip-will-power-the-iphone-16-lineup-174927403.html?src=rss

Apple is giving every iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro model brand new chips, instead of just using last year’s hardware in its cheaper phones. The company unveiled the A18 and A18 Pro chips at the iPhone 16 launch event today, and as you’d expect, they’re built with Apple Intelligence in mind. The chips offers more memory and a new 16-core Neural Engine, in addition to some incremental performance boosts over older models. More so than the past few years — where you could point to new camera lenses or hardware tweaks as a reason to get the new iPhone — the chip is the key selling point for the iPhone 16 lineup.

Other than last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, older iPhones can’t run Apple Intelligence features like the revamped Siri, Genmoji and integrated ChatGPT search. (Anyone who splurged for those higher end iPhones chose wisely, as there’s little reason to upgrade.) AI workloads require plenty of RAM to juggle large language models, so that alone disqualifies the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which only had 6GB of RAM on the A16 chip (a holdover from the iPhone 14 Pro). The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, featured 8GB of RAM with the A17 Pro chip.

The A18 chip, along with thermal design optimizations, helps the iPhone 16 achieve 30 percent faster sustained gaming performance, according to Apple. And just like the A17 Pro last year, the new chip supports hardware accelerated ray tracing, which helps it deliver more realistic lighting in some titles. Apple also revealed that Honor of Kings: World will be coming to iPhones next year.

Apple’s A18 Pro goes a step further than the A18, delivering up to 15 percent faster speeds than the A17 Pro, as well as 2x faster hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Notably, the A18 Pro also uses 20 percent less power than the A17 Pro. All of that hardware isn’t just meant for Apple Intelligence, it also powers the complex new photography features in the iPhone 16 Pro’s cameras.

Apple’s older strategy of using the previous year’s chips on the iPhone and iPhone Plus made sense. Those devices didn’t require the demanding camera processing of the Pro models, which were entirely geared towards power users. Apple could cut manufacturing costs and still deliver a solid user experience for iPhone owners with older chips. (Even though it debuted in 2022, the A16 chip in the iPhone 15 is still very capable today.) 

But now that Apple is centering the iPhone experience around Apple Intelligence, a family-wide spec bump isn’t too surprising. And even if you’re not excited about Apple’s AI offerings (which they’ll never actually call AI), it’s nice to have some more RAM in the base iPhone line.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-a18-chip-will-power-the-iphone-16-lineup-174927403.html?src=rss

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The new Apple Watch is here. A decade after the company revealed its first model, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a bigger screen and thinner design than all its predecessors. The watch also appears brighter from wider viewing angles, and it includes a redesigned speaker. It’s the biggest design change since Series 4.
The new Apple Watch comes in 46mm and 42mm (up from 45mm and 41mm, respectively). Apple says the display on the Series 10 wearable has 30 percent more area than Series 6. The display is even slightly bigger than that of the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple says the watch’s wide-angle OLED screen is 40 percent brighter at angles than its predecessor.
The screen updates once per second, and the ticking second hand even shows while the device is in passive ambient mode. Both the display and case have more rounded corners than previous Apple Watch models.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is nearly 10 percent thinner than the Series 9 model. It’s also 10 percent lighter than last year’s watch (or 20 percent lighter if you opt for the new titanium model). The latter replaces stainless steel as the wearable’s premium casing option, although we’ll have to wait a bit to find out about its pricing.
Powering the device is the new S10 SIP (System in Package) chip, which Apple claims will enhance performance and efficiency. The S10 helps to give the Apple Watch Series 10 longer battery life: an estimated 18 hours. The company claims its improved fast charging can juice it up from empty to an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.
The watch’s speakers are 30 percent smaller, allegedly without sacrificing audio performance. And its speakers can play media (like music and podcasts) for the first time — handy if you forget your AirPods.

Apple

The watch’s metal back integrates with the antenna, which Apple says will enhance cellular performance and water resistance (up to 50m). That new water resistance combines with its built-in depth gauge and water temperature sensor for extra diving capabilities. Supporting that on the software side is the Tides app, which tracks tide levels for surfing, fishing and other underwater activities. There’s also an Oceanic Plus app for the snorkelers out there.
The Apple Watch Series 10 includes sleep apnea tracking, another first in the lineup. The company says the wearable uses machine learning to look for breathing disturbances when you wear it overnight. Apple expects FDA approval for that feature soon.
Apple describes the new wearable as a carbon-neutral product. The company says the Series 10 watch uses 95 percent recycled aluminum and is made with 100 percent renewable electricity.
Of course, the new Apple Watch (along with older models starting with Series 6 and the second-gen SE) will run watchOS 11. The 2024 software adds the ability to pause and further customize Rings and Activity goals, along with a new Vitals app to check overnight metrics, training loads and pregnancy data.

Apple

The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for a GPS-only variant. The GPS + cellular model costs $499. It’s available in jet black (for the first time), rose gold and silver aluminum. New band styles this year include collaborations with Nike and Hermès.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-10-features-a-much-larger-screen-and-a-much-thinner-design-171307821.html?src=rss

The new Apple Watch is here. A decade after the company revealed its first model, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a bigger screen and thinner design than all its predecessors. The watch also appears brighter from wider viewing angles, and it includes a redesigned speaker. It’s the biggest design change since Series 4.

The new Apple Watch comes in 46mm and 42mm (up from 45mm and 41mm, respectively). Apple says the display on the Series 10 wearable has 30 percent more area than Series 6. The display is even slightly bigger than that of the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple says the watch’s wide-angle OLED screen is 40 percent brighter at angles than its predecessor.

The screen updates once per second, and the ticking second hand even shows while the device is in passive ambient mode. Both the display and case have more rounded corners than previous Apple Watch models.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is nearly 10 percent thinner than the Series 9 model. It’s also 10 percent lighter than last year’s watch (or 20 percent lighter if you opt for the new titanium model). The latter replaces stainless steel as the wearable’s premium casing option, although we’ll have to wait a bit to find out about its pricing.

Powering the device is the new S10 SIP (System in Package) chip, which Apple claims will enhance performance and efficiency. The S10 helps to give the Apple Watch Series 10 longer battery life: an estimated 18 hours. The company claims its improved fast charging can juice it up from empty to an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.

The watch’s speakers are 30 percent smaller, allegedly without sacrificing audio performance. And its speakers can play media (like music and podcasts) for the first time — handy if you forget your AirPods.

The watch’s metal back integrates with the antenna, which Apple says will enhance cellular performance and water resistance (up to 50m). That new water resistance combines with its built-in depth gauge and water temperature sensor for extra diving capabilities. Supporting that on the software side is the Tides app, which tracks tide levels for surfing, fishing and other underwater activities. There’s also an Oceanic Plus app for the snorkelers out there.

The Apple Watch Series 10 includes sleep apnea tracking, another first in the lineup. The company says the wearable uses machine learning to look for breathing disturbances when you wear it overnight. Apple expects FDA approval for that feature soon.

Apple describes the new wearable as a carbon-neutral product. The company says the Series 10 watch uses 95 percent recycled aluminum and is made with 100 percent renewable electricity.

Of course, the new Apple Watch (along with older models starting with Series 6 and the second-gen SE) will run watchOS 11. The 2024 software adds the ability to pause and further customize Rings and Activity goals, along with a new Vitals app to check overnight metrics, training loads and pregnancy data.

The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for a GPS-only variant. The GPS + cellular model costs $499. It’s available in jet black (for the first time), rose gold and silver aluminum. New band styles this year include collaborations with Nike and Hermès.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-10-features-a-much-larger-screen-and-a-much-thinner-design-171307821.html?src=rss

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There are arguably only three sure things in life: death, taxes and a new bunch of iPhones every September. Like clockwork, Apple has revealed this year’s iPhone lineup, which is anchored by the iPhone 16 and its larger sibling, the iPhone 16 Plus. Apple has made some alterations to the external design, but the company’s main focus this year is on Apple Intelligence, with the new phones designed from the ground up to support that. 
There are a few notable changes to the exteriors of both devices this year. First, the rear camera array is arranged vertically on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus with a pill-shaped bump. These lenses will now support spatial video recording — in other words, the 3D footage that you can view using a Vision Pro headset. You’ll be able to take spatial photos too. There’s also support for 4K video capture at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision.
Apple
Apple is doing something else interesting with the camera array in the iPhone 16. One camera seems to combine a 48MP main lens with a 2x telephoto lens in what’s called a “Fusion camera.” The other is a 12MP Ultra Wide camera. This now has an f/2.2 aperture, which is an improvement on the previous f/2.4 aperture. As such, that means that Apple will offer a macro mode for the base iPhone models for the first time, so folks who don’t opt for an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max should be able to take better close-up photos.
Second, the Action button that debuted on last year’s Pro models has arrived on the lower-end models. This button, which replaces the mute switch, is customizable. You might set it up to activate the flashlight or a Voice Memos recording. It can trigger Shortcuts and, starting in iOS 18, you can use it to adjust a Control Center setting. You can set up the Action button to have different functions at different times of day.
Apple
Third, there’s another new Camera Control button that’s dedicated to capturing photos and videos, so you won’t have to tap your display, press one of the volume buttons or use a remote trigger to take a snap or a recording. Clicking the button opens the Camera app. The touch-sensitive button works in a similar fashion to the capture button on a DSLR camera — lightly press to focus on a subject, then fully press to take a photo. You can hold it down to start recording a video. 
You’ll be able to adjust camera settings (such as the zoom) by sliding your finger back and forth on the touch-sensitive button. This could well be a game-changer for iPhone-focused photographers. 
The Camera Control button also works with a new Google Lens-style visual intelligence feature that’s coming to the iPhone 16 later this year. For instance, you an point your phone at a new restaurant, click the Camera Control and find out details about the menu and opening hours. 
Apple
The other key upgrades are on the interior. Apple says there’s a new thermal system made from 100 percent recycled aluminum to replace the copper one from previous devices. That should help reduce overheating and improve temperature regulation – Apple says you’ll get 30 percent higher sustained performance while gaming. In addition, there’s support for hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, which is said to deliver 5 times higher frame rates than with software-accelerated ray-tracing.
Some games that were previously only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro (at least in terms of phones) will be available on iPhone 16. Those include Assassin’s Creed Mirage and several Resident Evil titles.
Apple Intelligence will be powered by the all-new A18 chipset. It has a CPU that’s up to 30 percent faster than the one found in the iPhone 15, and a GPU that’s up to 40 percent faster. There’s an upgraded neural engine that is said to be up to two times faster for machine learning. As expected, Apple Intelligence features will start rolling out in the US in English in October, before expanding to some other countries in December and other languages in 2025.
As part of the Apple Intelligence shift, a new Siri experience is coming into play. This isn’t a huge surprise as it’s been part of the iOS 18 preview and we got our first look at WWDC in June. Not only does Apple claim that Siri will have more understanding of your personal context and deeper language understanding, the voice assistant will have a new glowing interface. That’s what the iPhone event’s “It’s Glowtime” tagline is based on. However, it may be several more months before Apple fully rolls out all of Siri’s upgrades.
The iPhone 16 is built with aerospace-grade aluminum and is available in some new colors, including ultramarine, teal and pink to go with white and black. It’s built for greater durability too. Apple says it’s water- and dust-resistant, and has a new glass-ceramic screen that’s said to be 50 percent tougher than the one of the iPhone 15 and twice as strong as “any other smartphone.” Much like the Apple Watch lineup, the screen can be as dark as 1 nit or as bright as 2,000 nits. The screen sizes remain the same at 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus. 
Apple claims there’s a bigger battery in the iPhone 16 as well, which is always welcome to hear. The company claims that will work in concert with the A18 and the power efficiency features of iOS 18 to deliver longer battery life. Apple says the iPhone 16 will deliver up to 22 hours of local video playback, 18 hours of streaming video and 80 hours of audio playback on a single charge. 
Apple
On the safety front, you’ll be able to share live videos if you need to use the Emergency SOS function. Messages via satellite and other messaging features are coming to the US and Canada, while Emergency SOS and Find My via satellite are available in 18 countries, including the US.
Elsewhere, Apple is bringing Wi-Fi 7 to the base models for the first time this year. That’s a nice upgrade — as long as you have a compatible router, of course. That should help future-proof the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to a degree as well.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus open on Friday, and they will be available on September 20. Pricing starts at $799 for the iPhone 16 and $899 for the iPhone 16 Plus, each of which have 128GB of storage at the base level. They’ll also be available with 256GB or 512GB of storage.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-iphone-16-gets-a-camera-button-action-button-and-the-a18-chip-174756253.html?src=rss

There are arguably only three sure things in life: death, taxes and a new bunch of iPhones every September. Like clockwork, Apple has revealed this year’s iPhone lineup, which is anchored by the iPhone 16 and its larger sibling, the iPhone 16 Plus. Apple has made some alterations to the external design, but the company’s main focus this year is on Apple Intelligence, with the new phones designed from the ground up to support that. 

There are a few notable changes to the exteriors of both devices this year. First, the rear camera array is arranged vertically on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus with a pill-shaped bump. These lenses will now support spatial video recording — in other words, the 3D footage that you can view using a Vision Pro headset. You’ll be able to take spatial photos too. There’s also support for 4K video capture at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision.

Apple is doing something else interesting with the camera array in the iPhone 16. One camera seems to combine a 48MP main lens with a 2x telephoto lens in what’s called a “Fusion camera.” The other is a 12MP Ultra Wide camera. This now has an f/2.2 aperture, which is an improvement on the previous f/2.4 aperture. As such, that means that Apple will offer a macro mode for the base iPhone models for the first time, so folks who don’t opt for an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max should be able to take better close-up photos.

Second, the Action button that debuted on last year’s Pro models has arrived on the lower-end models. This button, which replaces the mute switch, is customizable. You might set it up to activate the flashlight or a Voice Memos recording. It can trigger Shortcuts and, starting in iOS 18, you can use it to adjust a Control Center setting. You can set up the Action button to have different functions at different times of day.

Third, there’s another new Camera Control button that’s dedicated to capturing photos and videos, so you won’t have to tap your display, press one of the volume buttons or use a remote trigger to take a snap or a recording. Clicking the button opens the Camera app. The touch-sensitive button works in a similar fashion to the capture button on a DSLR camera — lightly press to focus on a subject, then fully press to take a photo. You can hold it down to start recording a video. 

You’ll be able to adjust camera settings (such as the zoom) by sliding your finger back and forth on the touch-sensitive button. This could well be a game-changer for iPhone-focused photographers. 

The Camera Control button also works with a new Google Lens-style visual intelligence feature that’s coming to the iPhone 16 later this year. For instance, you an point your phone at a new restaurant, click the Camera Control and find out details about the menu and opening hours. 

The other key upgrades are on the interior. Apple says there’s a new thermal system made from 100 percent recycled aluminum to replace the copper one from previous devices. That should help reduce overheating and improve temperature regulation – Apple says you’ll get 30 percent higher sustained performance while gaming. In addition, there’s support for hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, which is said to deliver 5 times higher frame rates than with software-accelerated ray-tracing.

Some games that were previously only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro (at least in terms of phones) will be available on iPhone 16. Those include Assassin’s Creed Mirage and several Resident Evil titles.

Apple Intelligence will be powered by the all-new A18 chipset. It has a CPU that’s up to 30 percent faster than the one found in the iPhone 15, and a GPU that’s up to 40 percent faster. There’s an upgraded neural engine that is said to be up to two times faster for machine learning. As expected, Apple Intelligence features will start rolling out in the US in English in October, before expanding to some other countries in December and other languages in 2025.

As part of the Apple Intelligence shift, a new Siri experience is coming into play. This isn’t a huge surprise as it’s been part of the iOS 18 preview and we got our first look at WWDC in June. Not only does Apple claim that Siri will have more understanding of your personal context and deeper language understanding, the voice assistant will have a new glowing interface. That’s what the iPhone event’s “It’s Glowtime” tagline is based on. However, it may be several more months before Apple fully rolls out all of Siri’s upgrades.

The iPhone 16 is built with aerospace-grade aluminum and is available in some new colors, including ultramarine, teal and pink to go with white and black. It’s built for greater durability too. Apple says it’s water- and dust-resistant, and has a new glass-ceramic screen that’s said to be 50 percent tougher than the one of the iPhone 15 and twice as strong as “any other smartphone.” Much like the Apple Watch lineup, the screen can be as dark as 1 nit or as bright as 2,000 nits. The screen sizes remain the same at 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus. 

Apple claims there’s a bigger battery in the iPhone 16 as well, which is always welcome to hear. The company claims that will work in concert with the A18 and the power efficiency features of iOS 18 to deliver longer battery life. Apple says the iPhone 16 will deliver up to 22 hours of local video playback, 18 hours of streaming video and 80 hours of audio playback on a single charge. 

On the safety front, you’ll be able to share live videos if you need to use the Emergency SOS function. Messages via satellite and other messaging features are coming to the US and Canada, while Emergency SOS and Find My via satellite are available in 18 countries, including the US.

Elsewhere, Apple is bringing Wi-Fi 7 to the base models for the first time this year. That’s a nice upgrade — as long as you have a compatible router, of course. That should help future-proof the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to a degree as well.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus open on Friday, and they will be available on September 20. Pricing starts at $799 for the iPhone 16 and $899 for the iPhone 16 Plus, each of which have 128GB of storage at the base level. They’ll also be available with 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-iphone-16-gets-a-camera-button-action-button-and-the-a18-chip-174756253.html?src=rss

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After nearly four years, Apple finally delivered an update to its most premium headphones. But instead of a new generation of AirPods Max, the company simply refreshed the existing over-ear headphones with USB-C support and a handful of new colors. 
With the same $549 price tag, the updated AirPods Max will maintain their status as Apple’s most expensive AirPods, though the updates are mainly cosmetic. The over-ear headphones will now be available in five new colors: midnight, blue, purple, orange and starlight. Apple is also ditching the lightning connector for a USB-C port, much like it did with its Beats Studio Pro headphones. The lightly refreshed headphones go on sale September 20 and are available for pre-order now.
But anyone hoping for more significant upgrades will likely be disappointed. The latest AirPods Max will have the exact same design, with Apple’s “breathable knit mesh” band, stainless steel frame and memory foam cups. The company also didn’t upgrade its chip from the H1, or add any new audio features to the almost four-year-old headphones. That may be because Apple is saving a bigger update for 2025. Bloomberg reported that Apple has an AirPods Max upgrade planned toward the end of next year.
Those looking for upgraded audio, however, will find some major improvements elsewhere in the AirPods lineup. Apple introduced two new versions of its standard, non-pro buds with the AirPods 4. The in-ear buds come with the H2 chip, support “adaptive audio” features, and an option for active noise cancellation.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-refreshes-its-airpods-max-with-new-colors-and-usb-c-174330979.html?src=rss

After nearly four years, Apple finally delivered an update to its most premium headphones. But instead of a new generation of AirPods Max, the company simply refreshed the existing over-ear headphones with USB-C support and a handful of new colors. 

With the same $549 price tag, the updated AirPods Max will maintain their status as Apple’s most expensive AirPods, though the updates are mainly cosmetic. The over-ear headphones will now be available in five new colors: midnight, blue, purple, orange and starlight. Apple is also ditching the lightning connector for a USB-C port, much like it did with its Beats Studio Pro headphones. The lightly refreshed headphones go on sale September 20 and are available for pre-order now.

But anyone hoping for more significant upgrades will likely be disappointed. The latest AirPods Max will have the exact same design, with Apple’s “breathable knit mesh” band, stainless steel frame and memory foam cups. The company also didn’t upgrade its chip from the H1, or add any new audio features to the almost four-year-old headphones. That may be because Apple is saving a bigger update for 2025. Bloomberg reported that Apple has an AirPods Max upgrade planned toward the end of next year.

Those looking for upgraded audio, however, will find some major improvements elsewhere in the AirPods lineup. Apple introduced two new versions of its standard, non-pro buds with the AirPods 4. The in-ear buds come with the H2 chip, support “adaptive audio” features, and an option for active noise cancellation.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-refreshes-its-airpods-max-with-new-colors-and-usb-c-174330979.html?src=rss

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