Apple unveiled an updated version of its smartwatch Monday, as it claimed the device had become the top-selling watch in the world ahead of rivals such as Rolex and Fossil.
The Apple Watch Series 3 has its own mobile connectivity which allows the user to remain connected without a smartphone for phone calls, music and other functions.
"The Apple Watch is now the number one watch in the world," Apple chief executive Tim Cook told the media event, the first at the company's "spaceship" campus in Cupertino.
While Apple has not provided detailed sales figures for the watch, Cook said sales were up 50 percent in the past quarter from a year earlier.
Apple said the new smartwatch offers several improvements including cellular connectivity and applications to help detect health problems such as heart arrythmia.
"You can receive a call with just your watch," Apple's Jeff Williams told the event, where the company was set to announce a new range of iPhones.
The watch with cellular connectivity will be available in nine countries September 22 starting at $399, Apple said.
Analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy, who was attending the event, said the new device was a significant step forward with arrythmia detection.
"I believe this kind of capability is what wearables were always intended to do, and that is to detect maladies before they impact people," Moor said. "This is a great step in the industry."
The event was a tribute to late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died in 2011, and was the first event at the Steve Jobs Theater on Apple's new campus.
"We dedicated this theater to Steve because we loved him and because he loved days like this," Cook said.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA - The most radical redesign of Apple's iPhone in 4 years could be called iPhone X, according to codes from software that will power the device.
Firmware from iOS11 released by software developer Steven Throughton-Smith and cited by US tech websites showed references to iPhone X and iPhone 8.
The iPhone X name was used to refer to D22, the rumored code name of Apple's 10th anniversary iPhone, which is expected to feature a near bezel-less display and a glass body surrounded by a metal rim.
Apple will host an event in a California theater named after its late founder, Steve Jobs, on Sept. 12 (Sept. 13 in Manila), where it is expected to announce its new iPhone line
The device is expected to launch alongside 2 other models that will feature almost the same design as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus but with improved internals and glass shells instead of aluminum.
If Apple does name the 2 lesser priced models as iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus as the software codes suggest, it will mark a departure from following up the previous year's model with an "S" upgrade, indicating only internal changes.
The "X" moniker will also be a first for Apple to differentiate a higher-priced model. It has launched "pro" lines of the iPad and an "edition" version of the Apple Watch.
Apple under pressure to dazzle as market slows http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/20/17/apple-under-pressure-to-dazzle-as-market-slows
Apple has kept the frame and layout of its most important device largely unchanged since the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014. Last year's 7 line, which followed the 6s models, featured larger lenses and a dual lens on the larger model but retained the familiar aluminum body that has since spawned similar Android devices.
Cupertino, California-based Apple is a latecomer to the near bezel-less screen trend, started by Samsung with the S8 and S8 Plus and LG with the G6 earlier this year.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
Apple sent out invitations Thursday to a September 12 media event at which the US tech giant is expected to unveil new iPhone models for the 10th anniversary of the culture-changing smartphones.
The keenly anticipated event will be the first to take place in the Steve Jobs Theater at its new "spaceship" campus in Silicon Valley.
In trademark style, Apple revealed little in the invitation that provided the date, time, location and a message that read "Let's meet at our place."
Apple is under particular pressure to dazzle as the California-based company looks for ways to maintain its image as an innovation leader in a global market showing signs of slowing.
"Clearly, Apple wants to do something different for the 10th anniversary" of the iPhone, NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker told AFP.
Some reports say a new iPhone will include a high-quality, edge-to-edge screen with a notch in the top for an ear-piece and an extra camera supporting 3D facial recognition and selfies.
Some speculate that the new handset will have a glass backing that offers wireless charging.
"We are expecting a major design refresh on Apple," GlobalData analyst Avi Greengart told AFP.
"That has been a sore point, especially in China. People are looking to show off a status symbol, so it needs to look different than Huawei or Xiaomi, and I think it will."
Apple has declined to comment on speculation, which has included talk of as many as three new iPhone handsets, including a premium model priced at around $1,000.
Bye-bye button?
The most dramatic changes were expected in the premium model, which could go so far as to get rid of a 'home' button that has been a main control feature since the iPhone made its debut in 2007.
Flicking or swiping gestures could replace the home button function, enabling the handset face to appear almost all-screen.
The iPhone could also get more rounded corners.
New iPhones would, of course, be designed to showcase capabilities of the latest version of Apple's iOS software for powering mobile devices.
Apple showed iOS 11 to developers at a conference earlier this year, and is likely to release it with the new iPhone models.
The mobile operating system boasted new camera features, Siri digital assistant made smarter, and the potential for augmented reality applications.
The Sept. 12 event could also feature updated versions of Apple TV and Apple Watch.
Notes and Pixels
Global smartphone sales saw a modest decline of 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2017, as market leaders Samsung and Apple consolidated their positions, an IDC survey showed.
The South Korean giant maintained the top spot with a 23.3 percent market share, while Apple held onto second place with 12 percent, according to IDC.
Huawei was the third-largest vendor, with an 11.3 percent market share. The Chinese electronics giant closed the gap with Apple, adding two percentage points to market share from a year earlier, according to the survey.
China-based Oppo and Xiaomi rounded out the top five.
Samsung last week unveiled a new model of its Galaxy Note as it seeks to leave behind the debacle over exploding batteries in the previous generation of the device, and mount a renewed challenge to Apple and its soon-to-come iPhone 8.
A Note 8 "phablet" introduced at an event in New York City left some analysts underwhelmed by its lack of new features beyond a dual-lens camera for telephoto zoom -- already available on the iPhone7 Plus.
The Note 8 will hit shops on September 15, its debut coming on the heels of Samsung launching new Galaxy 8 smartphones.
Meanwhile, Google-made Pixel smartphones that debuted last year will likely get a second generation in the months ahead as rivals field new champions to battle in the prime year-end holiday shopping market.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
