Apple “Time Flies” Event 2020: Everything New from Apple!

Staff Writer / 16-09-2020 / News

Apple held its “Time Flies” Keynote in September and although the iPhone 12 was not announced, the company did reveal a host of new devices and subscription services, including two new Apple Watch models, two new iPad models, a new Fitness+ subscription service, iOS14 and the all-inclusive Apple One subscription bundles.

Let’s dive deeper into each offering:

iOS 14

First up, the update every Apple fan has been waiting for is now available. Apple’s iOS 14 featuring a host of new features and security upgrades is now available on all Apple devices from the ever-popular iPhone 6s and above.

Apple Watch 6

Apple officially revealed the Apple Watch Series 6, which Apple claims can measure your blood oxygen levels in about 15 seconds. It also includes a new power-efficient S6 chip that can charge 20% faster than the previous generation chip. You also get a display that’s 2.5 times brighter and a new range of colour options to suit your style and taste.

Apple Watch SE

Following on from the trend started with iPhone SE , we now get an Apple Watch SE, which includes a lot of the same features from the Watch Series 6 such as heart rate and fitness tracking. It is powered by the S5 chip and comes with the bigger, brighter display from the Series 6 model at a much lower price point.

iPad Air 2020

The new 2020 iPad Air now sports a similar design to the iPad Pro, along with the bigger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS display with 2,360 by 1,640 resolution, a 12 MP camera, stereo sound speakers and Apple’s latest A14 chip. It features a new fingerprint sensor housed in the power button at the top of the device, as well as support for the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard. The iPad Air will be available in a range of 5 colours.

iPad 2020

The entry-level Apple iPad remains pretty much unchanged from previous models, sporting the same thick bezels and bulkier frame, along with the 8th generation A12 Bionic chip that Apple first debuted in the iPhone XS all the way back in 2018. Still, at a price point of just $329, it’s the best tablet you can get for your hard-earned cash. At this point, they should just call it the iPad SE!

Fitness+ Subscription

Apple seems to be setting its sights on health and fitness with the new Fitness+ subscription, which focuses on workouts that you can follow right on your Apple device. Apple states that upon release the service will offer you 10 workouts such as yoga, strength training and cycling, with the ability to track your progress and measure your vitals with the Apple Watch. You’ll also be able to get customised workouts and recommendations over time, along with workout tutorials for beginners.

Apple One

It’s no secret that Apple is staking its future on subscriptions services, and Apple One is their move to bring all their current services under one offer for a slightly discounted, single monthly fee. The individual plan offers Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV+ and 50GB of iCloud storage for $14.95 per month. The “Family” plan allows up to 6 users to access Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV+ and 200GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 per month. With the “Premier” plan, Apple is throwing in Apple News+, Fitness+ and 2TB of iCloud storage on top of everything else for $29.95 per month.

TECH NEWS

The New Sony Xperia 1 IV Experience

Sony’s latest smartphone release is spec-ed out and ready to take on the iPhone 13 range.The Sony Xperia 1 IV 5G launched in May and has excited tech-heads everywhere thanks to its impressive capabilities.Flagship ProcessorThe Sony Xperia 1 IV runs on the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon (SD) 8 Gen 1 chipset, making for a powerful, advanced machine with increased learning capabilities.It comes ready with Android 12 and boasts 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, which can be expanded with the help of a microSD card.Dynamite DisplayWith this flagship device you get a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display and a 120Hz refresh rate. This smartphone has the honour of being the first phone of 2022 to boast 4K HDR resolution. It also come equipped with a 3840 x 1644 screen resolution – that’s higher than even the iPhone 13 Pro Max – making for a sharper viewing experience.Battery BonanzaThe Sony Xperia 1 IV has a large 5000mAh battery under the hood. It offers 30W wired fast charging like its predecessor and supports wireless charging, keeping up with its own flagship standards.Camera QualityBased on the Sony Xperia 1 III, the IV didn't have to try too hard to deliver a superior camera. It doesn’t disappoint. Like the iPhone 13, it sports a 12MP triple camera setup with four lenses – 12MP Main, 12MP Telephoto with 5 x zoom and a 12MP Ultrawide lens.Sony has set out to rival the best with the Xperia 1 IV. Only time will tell, but with specs like these, they could achieve the impossible!Looking for the hottest mobile and data deals from SA’s leading networks? Be the first to be in-the-know when you sign up for our newsletter.

Huawei P50 Hits The Market

The flagship Huawei P50 series has finally launched worldwide.Debuting in in July last year, the P50 is the most affordable phone from the series.The P50 sets the standard for the range. It packs in sought-after features while still being light on your wallet. You get a new design, new software and new technology that makes it a worthy successor to the standout P40s and Mate 40 series.A+ Camera SpecsAs with most Huawei’s, the camera specs are outstanding. The P50 boasts three shooters at the back, including a 50MP primary camera with OIS and a colour sensor, a 12MP periscope zoom with 5x optical magnification and a 12MP ultra-wide snapper. The front-facing camera is a 13MP, and although this is a little modest compared to other standard smartphones on the market today, it’s more than enough for eye-catching selfies. Altogether, the camera hardware offers a solid performance that captures vibrant, detailed and accurate photos day or night.Just Keep ScrollingThe display on the P50 is impressive with its flat-edge OLED 6.5-inch screen that's bright and efficient, featuring a smooth refresh rate of 90Hz and a touch input rate of 300Hz for easy scrolling and quick switching between apps. The P50 is dust and water resistant at a depth of 1.5m for up to 30 minutes. Overall, it offers a decent display and fast refresh rates for a great user experience.Super-Fast Wired ChargingThe P50’s battery is in line with the current market standards at 4 1000mAh. It features 66W wired charging and goes from 0% to a full charge in 30 – 40 minutes. If you’re looking for a wireless charge, this feature is only available on the flagship P50 Pro. However, if you don’t mind wired as the only option, the standard P50 delivers quickly for the ultimate convenience.Creative ConnectivityPowering the P50 is the top-end Snapdragon 888 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. This can be expanded thanks to a pro nano memory card slot, which is ideal for those who need the extra storage for videos, photos, music and apps. Although the processor supports 5G, it is not enabled in this new series. But if you’re content with a 4G LTE connection or using WiFi 6, the P50 packs a punch without compromising on storage.Updated HarmonyOSThe phone runs on HarmonyOS 2, which was recently revealed as the rival to Android. The operating system shares many similarities with Android but comes with one big difference. It features Huawei AppGallery instead of Google Play. Huawei’s app store has around 45 000 apps but lacks all Google apps. Fortunately, there’s a workaround as you can install apps directly from the web using Petal Search. The best part about the operating system is that it works seamlessly with other Huawei devices, ensuring that those with tablets, smartwatches etc., can easily integrate their devices.If the Huawei P50 striking all the right notes with you, find the right deal here.Sign-up for our newsletter for updates on the hottest mobile and data deals from SA’s leading networks.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Rumours Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is expected to be announced in August but there is already a whirlwind of talk about what it could offer.The new flagship series has big shoes to fill as the successor of the trailblazing Galaxy Z Fold 3. If the rumours prove to be true, the Fold 4 is set to continue the legacy into the next generation.An Affordable Foldable?The new series could become the most affordable foldable by the South Korean tech giant.  The Z Fold 3 hit the South African market at a hefty R 37 999. If these guesses hold any value, we could see this price reduced.S22 Camera SpecsThe Z Fold 4 may be adopting the camera setup from the Galaxy S22 range with its stellar telephoto lens boasting 3x optical zoom, a 50MP main shooter and 12MP ultra-wide cameras. A new rumour, by leaker Dohyun Kim, claims that the new model will get the S22 Ultra’s massive 108MP main camera. Samsung’s innovative under-display camera may also get a boost as the tech giant may be adding another to the Fold 4.Two Hinges Become OneKorean blogging site Naver says Samsung is considering ways to reduce the phone’s weight by decreasing the number of hinges at the centre of the handset from two in the Z Fold 3, to just one in the new series. This will make the Z Fold 4 thinner, lighter and more durable. Samsung could also completely ditch the book-style fold format for an s-fold design!Same Size, Bigger ScreenThe weight reduction may also mean that the Z Fold 4 will not be bigger than its predecessor. A leading tipster, Ice Universe, claims that the screen size will remain the same, but there may be more screen area as thinner bezels, and a reduced outside dimension is being considered.Reimagined DisplayTurning to the inner display, Samsung may be upgrading the current Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) material with a tougher and higher quality option.Axed S Pen?The S Pen’s future with the Fold series is… complicated.  There are rumours of a built-in stylus, no stylus at all and the most frustrating option, no silo slot for the accessory – meaning that finding a place to store your S Pen could become an issue, especially when travelling.All in all, the latest rumours about the Z Fold 4 indicate that it’s poised for greatness, just like the generations before. For the latest updates on the new series, sign up for our newsletter and stay in the know.