Tag: Apple Watch

Apple Introduces New Apple Watch Series 2

Loaded with the WatchOS 3, Apple has launched the new Apple Watch Series 2 at the Apple event in San Francisco. Apart from the fact that Pokemon Go will be now on Apple Watch, the new Apple Watch Series 2 will be Water resistant till 50m, it is rated as a swim watch, meaning now you can swim with Apple Watch Series 2.

Apple has designed a new System on chip for the Apple Watch Series 2, giving an output of 60fps for the display the new redesigned CPU and GPU. The display is now 1000 nits which is exceptionally bright.

The new Apple Watch Series 2 also has built in GPS so that you don’t have to carry your phone when you go for a run. You can sync up the data with the iPhone once you return to it.

The new Apple Watch Series 2 will also be available in a new white ceramic variant, which looks pretty amazing. Apple has also tied up with Nike for a Apple Watch Series 2 Nike Fit which has an aluminium casing and new perforated Nike wrist strap.

Apple Watch Nike

Apple is making sure that the Apple Watch Series 2 conforms to the Green rules for all their products.

The original Apple Watch will get a dual core processor and a lower price tag. The Apple Watch Series 2 will go up for Pre-order on Sept 9th and on sale September 16th.

September 7, 2016
Apple 21st March Event Round-Up, iPhone SE, iPad Pro 9.7 and More

Apple at their Town Hall event at Cupertino had what is possibly their last event at the old campus. As Tim Cook left the stage, he announced that Apple crew will be shifting into the new campus by end 2016-early 2017. While Apple made many announcements, here are a few that should matter.

LIAM

Apple started the event by talking about their responsibility towards the environment. Then came LIAM an intelligent machine/robot that has been two years in development in Apple labs. LIAM is designed to sense and disassemble iPhones and other proprietary Apple Devices, and break them out into components that can then be recycled easily. This Robot/ machine will help Apple reduce their carbon footprint and help get back precious materials like gold, silver and platinum into the recycle chain so they can get back on newer devices and not get discarded in landfills.

Apple Watch

While no major upgrades of the Apple Watch itself, Apple is offering new colors for their Sports band and new leather band colors. Apple has also dropped the price of the Apple Watch to US $ 299 as the starting price.

Apple TV

Apple is updating the TVOS today and offering new features for their connected box on the largest screen in your house. The new update brings to you folder support and support for dictation, which will allow you to perform searches or even enter usernames and passwords using Siri.

Siri can also be used to look up for apps in the App store and movies on Netflix. (#win)

iPhone SE

The biggest announcement of the day was the launch of the iPhone SE. Apple’s update to the iPhone 5s. Apple claims they sold 30 Million 4 inch devices in 2015 alone and hence they are not yet ready to let go of their small screen size loving audience. Packed with specs almost identical to the iPhone 6s the iPhone SE is offered up at US $ 399 for the 16 GB version in the US and will launch in India for Rs 30,000 for the 16 GB variant.

Apple’s A9 chip powers the iPhone SE, which is the same chip that powers the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. That means the new 4-inch iPhone will be two times faster than the iPhone 5s with three times better graphics performance. You will also get a 12 MP camera and Live photos, but the iPhone SE does not support 3D touch.

iPad Pro 9.7

The next big announcement was the iPad Pro 9.7. The new iPad weighs less than 1 pound and has the same specs as the iPad Pro 12.9 inch. You will also get Apple Pencil support and four speaker output. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro starts at US $599 for the Wi-Fi model with 32GB of storage and is available up to size variant of 256GB of storage.

The iPad Pro 9.7 has the same A9x chipset and 12 MP camera with 4K video capture.

iOS 9.3

Apple also announced that they will push out the new update for iOS aka iOS 9.3 which offers up night shift, improved 3D touch along with security for Notes and major bug fixes and battery improvements.

Apple CareKit

Apple’s update to ResearchKit, now called CareKit has a whole slew of new features to allow users to monitor their health and share it with loved ones and care professionals like doctors. This opens up new opportunities in the health care system and allows people to manage everything related to their health or treatment online on iCloud and on the go.

Care Card helps people track their individual care plans and action items, such as taking medication or completing physical therapy exercises. Activities can automatically be tracked and entered using sensors in Apple Watch or iPhone

Symptom and Measurement Tracker lets users quickly record their symptoms and how they’re feeling, like monitoring temperature for possible infections or measuring pain or fatigue. Progress updates could include simple surveys, photos that capture the progression of a wound or activities calculated by using the iPhone’s accelerometer and gyroscope, like quantifying range of motion

Insight Dashboard maps symptoms against the action items in the Care Card to quickly show how treatments are working; and

Connect makes it easy for people to share information and communicate with doctors, care teams or family members about their health and any change in condition.

March 22, 2016
Massive Discounts on the Apple Watch in the US Hint at a New Watch Model

In what will come as the strongest indication of the Apple Watch 2 launch being close, the original Apple Watch as of now is being sold by re-sellers for discounts as big as $100. The Apple Watch which started retail last year, has seen its prices being slashed drastically in the past weeks, hinting at what could be an earlier than expected March launch for the next iteration of the smartwatch.

Earlier reports had hinted at Apple sticking to its plans of launching the next iteration of the smartwatch in September, while releasing a major OS update along with multiple bands for the current watch in March, but after today’s move that looks less of a possibility.

According to latest data by Juniper Research, the Apple Watch is by far the most loved smartwatch in the world, constituting over 50% of smartwatch shipment in 2015. The Watch, which was globally released in April 2015, has overtaken Samsung’s Tizen powered Gear S2 which was launched in November last year. With such aggressive sales the company will look to get more Apple Watches out of their inventory before next month’s launch.

February 12, 2016
iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 to be Unveiled at the Apple Event on 15th March

Rumours have been circulating about an Apple event slated for sometime next month which will see the company unveil the new 4-inch iPhone and updates for the Apple Watch, along with the iPad Air 3 which is also expected to make an appearance at this event.

Though no concrete information has been available about this event but sources now reveal that this event will take place on the 15th of March.

According to reports, a new Apple Watch being launched is unlikely but news about the launch, and information regarding what to expect from the next Apple Watch when it finally arrives is surely on the cards. The existing Apple Watch is also going to receive some new band options and refreshed software.

The iPhone 5se which is going to be the big announcement at this event except for the possible addition of some extra curves at its edges, and an overall “less shiny” look will look very much like the iPhone 5s. It is expected to be priced around the $450( approx Rs. 30,000), and will be available in either 16 or 64 GB of storage. It will be powered by an A9 chip.

February 3, 2016
Apple Watch 2 set for a Possible September Launch

According to latest rumours, it has been claimed that the new redesigned Apple Watch might not be ready before September. According to these reports Apple will talk about the Apple Watch at an event in March, but will only unveil a new range of band color options and other accessories.

Apple will unviel the new bands at this rumored March event and also announce the release of watchOS 2.2, a software update that adds some minor functionality to Maps and lets iPhones sync with multiple Apple Watch devices.

A redesigned new iteration of the Apple Watch isn’t expected to be unveiled by Apple later this September, along with the iPhone 7. It is expected that the second-generation Apple Watch will likely feature new hardware functionality, and come equipped with more health-focused sensors. A front camera is also being expected.

January 23, 2016
Apple Watch 2 Trial Production to Begin This Month

Apple’s second run at striking gold is expected to start sooner than expected. If leaks coming out of China are anything to go by, Apple has decided to start trial productions of the Apple Watch 2 before this month’s end.

The manufacturing of this much awaited second generation smartwatch will be handled by Quanta, the same company which manufactured the Apple Watch last year, but the Cupertino based company is looking at new partners for handling the manufacturing of Apple Watch 2.

Not much is known about the specs of the Apple Watch 2, but rumours suggest the second generation watch could come equipped with a Face Time Camera, different display, and an improved processor. Addition health related features are also being rumoured for the Apple Watch 2.

The product is expected to launch alongside the 4-inch iPhone 5e that has been doing rounds on the Internet sometime in March. Watch this space for latest updates.

January 14, 2016
Report: Apple Watch Constitutes 50% Smartwatch Shipments in 2015

According to latest data by Juniper Research, the Apple Watch constitutes for 50% of smartwatch shipment in 2015. The Watch, which was globally released in April 2015, has overtaken Samsung’s Tizen powered Gear S2 which was launched in November last year.

Gear S2

Android Wear-powered smartwatches constitute only a total 10% of total smartwatch shipment from last year. However, the research also added that keeping Apple aside, the market is dominated by cheaper, products like those by Martian and Razer.

Apple Watch

Things look good for Apple, which is important for the company which is all set to hold an official event in March. We expect to see the second-gen version of the Apple Watch there. Even though Gear S2 and Moto 260 Second Gen seemed like they could offer some strong competition to the Apple Watch, Apple has managed to maintain its dominance in the realm of wearable tech.

January 13, 2016
Apple iOS 9.3 to bring big changes to iPhones and iPads

Apple today has released a new iOS 9.3 beta software for its iOS devices, giving developers a glimpse into the new features that will soon be available. Public beta will be up for download for all who signed up for it. The iOS 9.3 beta is one of the biggest updates to iOS 9 as of now, and brings along with it a number of really cool features.

Improved 3D Touch

The latest update to the OS will bring with it advanced 3D Touch capabilities. Advancements to the way users interact with their Apple device will be seen such as the use of pressure commands. New ‘Quick Shortcuts’ for the App store, Compass, Health, iTunes Store and Weather are going to be seen,

App Switcher

iOS 9.3 includes haptic feedback when using the Force Touch app switcher on an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus. “Peek” feedback is provided when first opening the app switcher, and a full “Pop” feedback is given when pressing further to open it fully.

Night Shift

This is a new feature designed to decrease the amount of blue light an iOS user is exposed to at night. Night Shift allows for the OS to shift to more yellow tones for the iPhone or iPad’s display. Apparently this shift will help the user, be more comfortable while reading in the dark, and result in a more peaceful sleep at night. Thank you Apple for caring so much.

News

Improvements have been made to the news app in iOS 9.3 to make it more specific to each person’s interests. A new For You section will also incorporate trending topics and specific picks from Apple editors to help users discover conetent. Other new features include a new landscape view for News on the iPhone, in-line video playback for videos in news stories. According to Apple faster content updating when opening the news app will also be noticed.

Health

iOS 9.3 will include third-party app recommendations in the Health app, where users will also be able to see move, exercise, stand, and goal data from a paired Apple Watch. Health will highlight apps for example tracking weight.

CarPlay

CarPlay apps have been updated to bring them in line with iOS apps on iOS 9. The Apple Music CarPlay app now include a new For You sections to help the user with music discovery. A new Nearby feature is also added to maps to offer information about what’s close-by tailored for the user.

Education

iOS 9.3 will bring with it several Education-oriented features such as feature of shared iPads for students, a new Classroom app, an Apple School Manager, and improved Apple ID management features. Sharing of iPads is a particularly interesting feature which is picked up from android, and as such could be seen soon in use for more than just the Education app.

Apple Watch

Alongside iOS 9.3, Apple also released the watchOS 2.2 beta to developers around the world. With both these updates installed the iPhone will be able to pair with more than one Apple Watch at a time.

Live Photos

iOS 9.3 will also see the iPhone 6s get a brand new option to save a full resolution photo from a Live Photo. Users can do this while using Share Sheet, choosing “Duplicate”. it will now gives an option to create a Still Photo duplicate of a Live Photo.

Notes

The Notes app has a minor update to it. iOS 9.3 will see the Notes app get finger-print unlocking ability. This is expected to make using the the must have app more convenient.

January 12, 2016
Apple Watch Uses the Force to Fly a Drone

It’s a beautiful thing when science meets Star Wars. A group of Taiwanese tech researchers at PVD+ have created an app for the Apple Watch that allows you to control a drone using your arm movements. Yes, the Force is strong with this Apple Watch.

Reuters caught the motion-controlled drone in action. You can check it out in the video below. “Previously we’ve needed complicated controls to fly drones, but now we can use a wearable device, and through human behavior and gestures directly interact with them – using a hand to control and fly drones directly,” PVD+ founder Mark Ven told Reuters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX8ZkgFk_Rw

But that’s not all. The researchers also channeled their inner Jedi to create an app that controls light levels and colors via hand movements, and a spherical robot resembling the adorably rolly BB-8 droid seen in Star Wars: The Force Awaken. “We can also control a ball, like that in Star Wars’ BB-8 droid, using a wearable device as well,” Ven said.

PVD+ is calling the software Dong, and is working on securing a patent for it. Looks like it won’t be long before the line between science fiction and reality disappears completely.

January 2, 2016
Now Use the Apple Watch to Control Your GoPro

GoPro has an iOS app and it’s great. But this was not enough and so, now the app has an amazing update which allows GoPro to be controlled using the Apple Watch.

The most important GoPro functions like starting or stopping recording, previewing shots and adding “HiLight” bookmarks can now all be taken care of using the Watch. This iOS app is compatible with the GoPro HERO3 or any of the Wi-Fi equipped GoPro models, though previewing shots on the Apple Watch is not compatible with the HERO3 or the HERO2 with Wi-Fi Bacpac.

The app has definitely made things more convenient for GoPro users by allowing them easier movement, especially if their devices are needed to be mounted in inaccessible locations minus any kind of viewfinders.

Apple Watch, after being panned by the majority of users, has still a long way to go in terms of customer satisfaction. The GoPro-Watch app has definitely helped its case but it’s still not too conclusive a factor. While GoPro users stand to benefit incredibly from it, it is pretty much pointless for others.

December 12, 2015
Apple Watch Gets Improved Language Base and Bug Fixes With New Update

Apple has recently issued a version 2.1 software update for the Apple Watch. This update mainly incorporates improved language support and bug fixes. The system now includes several European languages, East Asian languages and Arabic.

Apart from a larger language base in the software, the update also supports a right-to-left UI mode, which is an obvious feature considering the fact that Arabic is read from right to left. Adding to this, Siri has also been upgraded to understand Arabic that is spoke in Saudi Arabia and UAE; while a dictation-only support is added for a number of other languages.

Apple seems to have incorporated the Arabic language rather efficiently into its system as they even added the Islamic and Hebrew calendars in the update.

For more information about this software update, please click here.

December 10, 2015
Apple To Host Apple Watch Event In March, May Launch 4-Inch iPhone

Reports suggest that Apple is planning to host a product launch event in March 2016 where it might announce the Apple Watch and the 4-inch iPhone 6C.

Kevin Wang from IHS has stated that Apple is working on a budget-oriented iPhone 6 handset. This handset will be a smaller version with a 4-inch display and will come with a plastic body similar to the 5c. The scaled down version of the iPhone 6 will indeed come with a few missing features. As the device was pegged as a cheaper iPhone 7 variant rather than a 6, what’s for certain is that the 6c will not come with 3D Touch.

Other reports also suggest that the iPhone 6C could come with a smaller screen, and thereby making it much easier for users to navigate through the device. After iPhone screens becoming larger and larger most people seem to have faced a rather annoying inconvenience to always move their hand to the top of the screen for the menu or back button. So, many are hoping for a drop in the screen size.

About the second device mentioned – the Apple Watch – unfortunately there’s not much to know about it. However, some rumours have suggested that the tech wear gadget could arrive with a FaceTime camera and Wi-Fi connectivity along with health sensors and sleep tracking. As of now Apple has not confirmed anything officially, but let us hope to see these gadgets soon in March.

December 9, 2015
Over 40% Dissatisfied Apple Watch Users Still Willing to Buy the Next Gen Model

A survey conducted by Wristly has revealed Apple Watch users to be largely dissatisfied with their new gadget. The Watch has failed to perform on many fronts and is being touted as a bad choice especially in terms of speed.

A survey of 330 unhappy users of the Apple Watch revealed that 55% of them tried using the device for a fortnight or more to see if they could get a hang of it, but to no avail. The Watch is not only slow, according to the participants, but also hard to use. The constant need to tilt it in order to get the time is another feature that didn’t go down well with the users.

This survey is definitely not winning Apple many customers, especially in India where Motorola launched its Moto 360 2nd Gen today. Looks like customers in the country are likely to give the Apple gizmo a pass now.

Moto 360 2nd Gen

However, having said that, it should be pointed out that about 41% of the survey participants accepted they are likely to buy the 2nd gen variant of the Apple Watch. Reasons behind this can only be speculated as perhaps evaluation of the Watch from a technological point of view, or some sort of brand loyalism Apple is infamous for generating in its customers.

Either way, looks like the market offers tough competition to both the Motorola as well as the Apple smartwatch. Which one would you rather prefer?

December 1, 2015
Six Best Wearable Tech of 2015

2015 has definitely been a year forward to the age of wearable tech, especially with tech wear becoming as much about technology as it was about fashion. Therefore, without further ado let’s delve into a list of wearable that shone out in through the year.

LG Urbane

This watch comes with a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED (320x320p resolution) display, 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset paired with 512 MB RAM and 4GB of inbuilt memory. It has a 410mAh battery and comes packed with a Gyro, Accelerometer, Compass, Barometer and a heart rate sensor.

Price – Rs. 22,000 approximately.

November 28, 2015
Vines Are Now Only A Swipe Away on the Apple Watch

After being worked upon for the past couple of months, Vine has finally come to the Apple Watch. The app had been under construction since at least this summer when it was first showcased in an on-stage demonstration at an Apple event in June.

The launch of the watchOS app, that took place yesterday on the 24th of November, allows users to run videos on their gadget, while at the same time allows a feature that other than being borderline obsessive also lets you keep track of the number of times your video has been looped.

However despite all of Apple’s efforts, there is a sense of incompetence with various apps on the Watch. It seems like too many iPhone features are being crammed up in a small space of a tiny watch-screen. This new app will shrink down a lot of your favourite Vines on the gadget making them available simply a swipe away. The entire endeavour, however, still seems a little wasted, owing to the size of the screen and the fact that they load at quite a slow speed.

November 25, 2015