Buzz
It’s Apple Day! While I’m not at the iconic glass donut of Apple Park, I watched the livestream across two devices at once—double the immersion in Apple’s Reality Distortion Field. Before I transform into a white-ceramic Hulk, here’s a rundown of the most exciting updates from Apple's September 2019 event.
Turning Apple into Your Fortune (Instead of Giving Them Yours)
For anyone looking to profit from Apple’s announcements today:
Stock price before the event (9:59 a.m. PT): ~$214.38
Stock price following the event (11:42 a.m. PT): ~$213.30
Apple Arcade Launches on the App Store
Services, services, services. We all expected Apple Arcade to arrive—Apple’s service that charges a monthly fee for access to exclusive games. While I wouldn't have chosen a variant of Frogger as the first demo for the service (a bit old-fashioned, to say the least), that's what we got. The demo featured Frogger dodging giant babies as he made his way through baby-land. (Other demos, like Annapurna Interactive’s Sayonara Wild Hearts, seemed a bit more thrilling.)
Maybe it’s just me, but I wish Apple had highlighted games with a bit more excitement rather than sticking with these family-friendly options. But, that’s Apple for you. Here’s hoping that we’ll see some truly engaging titles from all the developers backing Apple Arcade.
The scoop: Apple Arcade launches on September 19, available in 150 countries for $5/month. Plus, you get a one-month free trial.
Jason Momoa can’t See a thing
More services, you ask? Here we go! Tim Cook debuted a trailer for See, an original Apple show featuring the buff Aquaman/Game of Thrones star. The twist? No one in the future can see. Then babies are born who can see, and everything falls apart—one of those kinds of stories.
The details: Apple TV+’s first original shows drop on November 1, and the service will be available in over 100 countries for $5/month (family plan). "This is crazy," Cook declared.
Plus, if you buy an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook, you get a free year of Apple TV+. Is Apple all-in on services? Absolutely.
Introducing the seventh-generation iPad
Here comes the seventh-generation iPad. Let’s break down the specs:
10.2-inch Retina Display
million pixels
A10 Fusion chip
Smart Connector port (for connecting the Smart Keyboard, naturally)
Supports Apple Pencil
Regular price: $329; discounted to $299 for Apple Educational customers
Available for order now; ships on September 30
Sign up for new Apple Watch research studies
Apple introduced three new health studies that Apple Watch users can join through a new Apple Research app (launching later this year):
Apple Hearing Study: Explore how prolonged exposure to sounds affects your hearing
Women’s Health Study: Understand how menstrual cycles can aid in identifying specific health conditions
Apple Heart & Movement Study: Learn how Apple Watch data can serve as early indicators of your health
Introducing the Apple Watch Series 5
Of course, we’re getting a new Apple Watch this year. Let’s dive into the details:
Always-on Retina display (a low-temperature polysilicon oxycon display lets you view the time, complications, and even workout stats at all times)
18-hour battery life (even with the always-on display)
Built-in compass to show your orientation on the Apple Maps app (or a new Compass map with latitude, longitude, elevation, and incline)
Every cellular model of the Apple Watch Series 5 supports international emergency calling
Aluminum versions come in silver, gold, and space gray
Stainless steel versions come in polished, space black, and rose gold
New titanium models—space black and space white
Also available in ceramic—white, of course
New Hermès models with color-blocked bands and prints, for that extra-bougie touch (including black Hermès editions)
Price starts at $399 for the GPS-only version, and $499 for the GPS+Cellular version—same pricing as the Apple Watch Series 4 when it launched last year
Available for order today, and in-store starting September 20
Apple also revealed that the Apple Watch Series 3 is now priced at $199 for the standard GPS-only model
Introducing Apple’s iPhone 11
Here we go. How many cameras will Apple cram into the new iPhone? Let’s check out the iPhone 11 specs:
Six fresh colors, because Apple knows how to market: purple, white, yellow, green, black, and red
6.1-inch Liquid Retina display (with True Tone, Wide color, and Haptic Touch—but not 3D Touch)
Dual-camera setup (12mp wide camera; 26 mm f/1.8 with OIS)
Ultra-wide camera (13 mm f/2.4; 120-degree field of view)
A new stereoscopic depth mode to capture Portrait Mode photos of your pets, plus a stylish new “High-Key Mono” Portrait Mode option for dramatic black-and-white shots:
Enhanced Automatic Night Mode for superior low-light photos
Record 4K video with extended dynamic range at 60 fps, plus the handy QuickTake mode that lets you shoot with just a press of the shutter button.
12MP TrueDepth front camera featuring a wider sensor, 4K video, extended dynamic range (at 30fps), and the option for slow-motion captures
Powered by the A13 Bionic chip, which Apple claims holds the title of "the fastest CPU and GPU in a smartphone."
Battery life lasts one extra hour compared to the iPhone XR (according to Apple).
Starting at $699, which is $50 less than the iPhone XR at launch last year.
Preorders begin at 5 a.m. on September 13, with shipments starting on September 20.
Say farewell to your wallet: introducing the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Well, yes, I’d love to have an additional camera in my iPhone. Here’s a rundown of the details:
The first ever 'Pro' model from Apple, but don’t worry—you don’t have to be a professional to own one.
New color options: Midnight Green, Space Gray, Silver, and Gold.
Available in 5.8" and 6.5" OLED displays—featuring the 'Super Retina XDR' technology.
Supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for superior viewing and audio experience.
The A13 Bionic chip offers quicker machine-learning computations—Apple touts it as 'the best machine-learning platform in any smartphone.'
Over 4 extra hours of battery life compared to the iPhone XS and 5 more hours than the iPhone XS Max.
Comes with an 18W fast charge adapter.
Equipped with three cameras: wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide.
Utilizes the three cameras to zoom in and out up to two times (4x zoom range), capturing all zoomed-in shots from one position.
Introducing “Deep Fusion,” a software feature that captures nine images (four short, four secondary, and one long exposure) and employs the iPhone's neural engine to combine and refine them, enhancing detail and minimizing noise.
Record 4K video at 60fps with extended dynamic range using all three rear-facing cameras.
The iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max begins at $1,099. Preorders open at 5 a.m. PT on September 13, with shipping set for September 20.
Apple’s complete iPhone lineup now includes:
New customization options available at Apple retail stores.
At Apple retail stores, you’ll have the opportunity to mix and match cases and bands to customize your ideal version of the Apple Watch Series 5.
