Apple releases a brand-new app for creative brainstorming and collaboration called Freeform.
Apple’s Freeform is a flexible canvas to share ideas in a creative way. Image source: Apple
Freeform is available now and comes included with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1. Apple describes the app as a “flexible canvas” with an emphasis for sharing and collaborating visually. Think of it as a digital whiteboard, where you can draw or write freely without being limited by things like layouts or page sizes.
Sketch and share with easy-to-use tools
To express your creativity on its blank canvas, Freeform comes with a variety of tools that are easy to pick up. Building on the canvas theme, the app comes with various brush styles and color options for freeform writing, enhanced with built-in gesture support. iPhone and iPad users can use their fingers for freeform sketching and support for Apple Pencil is a plus for iPad users in this regard.
The app supports a wide variety of files that can be used in your canvas. Apart from the expected photos, videos and audio, you cand add links to websites and map location, sticky notes, preset shapes and diagrams and even PDF files. Adding content is easy too with drag-and-drop support for Files app and Finder on macOS. You can even add photos or scanned documents directly with iPhone and iPad cameras.
Collaborate easily with support for up to 100 people and built-in FaceTime and Messages features. Image source: Apple
Work creatively and collaboratively
Apple’s vision is for Freeform to be a collaborative space and has added features to support this. The app supports up to 100 collaborators in a single board. Getting those other 99 people is made easier with the new collaboration features in Messages. You can invite others by dropping a board into a Messages thread to invite all the people in that thread. All changes made to the board will also be tracked in the same thread. If messaging is not enough, FaceTime is built-in with the app too. FaceTime calls to all collaborators can be started by tapping the collaboration button at the top right of the screen. You can also view edits by all collaborators in real-time via FaceTime call. Freeform also allows boards to be shared via email, exported as a PDF or even a screenshot.
Malaysian Apple users rejoice as 5G will finally be available on your iPhone.
CelcomDigi has announced 5G support starting with the iPhone 12.
Thanks to the iOS 16.2 update, users on Apple’s telco partner networks of Celcom, DiGi and U Mobile are now able to connect to the 5G network. This marks the end of a long wait for iPhone users wanting 5G connectivity. Apple has featured 5G since it’s 2020 iPhone 12 while the national 5G network began operating just last year. At the moment, 5G connectivity is only limited to Apple’s telco partners. Maxis users will have a longer wait while Yes Mobile and Unifi mobile users are out of luck, as they are not listed partners.
To enjoy 5G on our device, first ensure that you have a 5G compatible model. Partners Celcom, Digi and U Mobile have announced 5G connectivity support for the iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 3rd generation SE models. You als need to be on a 5G-enabled mobile plan with an Apple telco partner and within their coverage area.
Next, you need to ensure your device has updated to iOS 16.2. and carrier settings are updated to version 53.1. To check this head to Settings>General>About. Once done, head to Settings>Mobile Data Options>Voice & Data to see the new 5G On and 5G Auto options. Choose either one and your iPhone is 5G ready. You also have the option of prioritizing 5G ahead of WiFi by selecting More Dataon 5G option in the Data Mode section.
For more information on 5G for iPhone, visit the official sites for Celcom, Digi and U Mobile.
One of the best features that your streaming apps have added into their interface is the ‘Add to Queue’ function. It is also one of the most underrated and one of those functions you tend to take for granted because the function seems too sensible and natural not to have. You can create your own instantaneous playlist without going through the hassle of curating and naming an entire playlist just for that one moment; why would you not have the button? Your YouTube app on your Android and Apple devices does not have it though.
Do not get us wrong, YouTube has an ‘Add to Queue’ function when you go on YouTube on your PC. If you are accessing YouTube via your smartphones or tablet, you do not get that functionality for reasons we cannot understand. You cannot even access that function if you access YouTube via your smartphone’s web browser unless you switch it to desktop browsing mode. For some time now, we have been quite frustrated with the limitation because, if you think about it, most of your YouTube consumption will be on your smartphone or tablet devices via the app itself. It is probably one of the most quietly demanded functions on the YouTube app too, we think.
As the year is coming to a close, there is some good news from Google. YouTube is now testing the ‘Add to Queue’ function on both Apple and Android devices. At this time, the test looks like it will go on only for a limited time. We can only hope that after the limited time the function will go on as a default feature on the YouTube app on both Android and Apple devices.
Currently the tested feature is only available to YouTube Premium users on both platforms. If you are a YouTube Premium user and have not seen the function, you might want to try to get into your Profile settings and turn on ‘Try New Features’ to not only test that one function, but other functions they might bring to the YouTube app in the future. To see if you have the function available to you, you simply have to click on the three dots that appear on the top right of your video and click ‘Add to Queue’. You will have full control over your video playlist with a display menu at the bottom of the screen after enabling the ‘Add to Queue’ function and creating a temporary playlist.
According to sources, the test will only last until the 28th of January 2023. Keep in mind that the function does not extend to adding YouTube Shorts into the playlist. There is no clear indication on whether or not the function will officially be available for YouTube app users in the wider scheme of things, but we are betting that it would be not too long after testing period.
Apple launched their most expensive wearable item back in September alongside their Apple iPhone 14 devices. They launched the new Apple Watch Ultra, which was made with space age technology and is built to endure the most extreme conditions you can subject your body to. One of them is to go down to depths you will only go as a scuba diver.
According to Apple, the Watch Ultra can go in depths up to 40 meters. While there are dive watches and computers that can go deeper than that, you want to remember that the Apple Watch Ultra is no bigger than the regular watch and is also built as a watch and fitness tracker you can take anywhere with you. In that sense, the Apple Watch Ultra is a feat on its own.
While it was able to go down to 40 meters under water, and into the ocean for that matter, you could only get basic information from it like a regular watch. It did not have the right tools to record your depth, or how much air you have left, or how long you’ve dived. Until now, that is, with the Oceanic+ app.
Source: Apple
The app was also announced when they launched the Apple Watch Ultra, so it should not come as a surprise. The app is not an in-house developed one (developed by Huish Outdoors in collaboration with Apple), that could also be why it launched later than the Watch Ultra itself. It is still 2022 though, so it is not like we had to wait years for it.
The Oceanic+ app basically turns your Apple Watch Ultra into a rather comprehensive dive computer. They say that the app allows the Watch Ultra to act as an advanced dive computer and robust dive planner. Of course, you can review all information post-dive as well.
Source: Apple
The dive computer on the Apple Watch Ultra may not be similar to other dive computers you might have come across. They say that they have built the interface to be as intuitive as possible to be used on the Apple Watch platform. The interface is designed to allow users to quickly get information from the watch and dive stress free without making mental calculations during their dive. That also means that they need to cram and simplify as much information as they can into the tiny display that is the Apple Watch Ultra. It even gives users some form of directive to ensure their safety during the dive with “Stop”, “Go Up”, and even “Go Down”.
They have managed to integrate things like surface time, depth, and gas capacity into an interface that would be familiar to any Apple Watch user. On top of that, the dive planner gives you extra information like tides, water temperatures, weather updates, currents, and updated information uploaded by other users. It even tracks your GPS location, so you know where you are in your dives. You can even tell if you have a notification from the Apple Watch Ultra in the water with the Watch vibrating. They say you can even feel the vibration through a 7mm thick wetsuit. Haptic feedback, according to the developers, is a better way for your watch to communicate with you under water.
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The Oceanic+ app is now available for the Apple Watch Ultra via the App Store. Of course, there is a companion app for your iPhone as well where you can view all sorts of information from your Apple Watch post-dive. The Apple Watch Ultra will set you back from MYR 3,799 onward, which is a lot of money for an Apple Watch. Then again, a dive computer will set you back just as much or more.
The Apple iPad, in our humble opinions, is still the best type of table device out there. Well, when you consider that the iPad is no longer just one tablet, and that Apple makes all kinds of tablets to suit different types of users, it is clear why we say that the Apple iPad range is the most versatile range of tablets out there. Even just the regular iPad offers a better tablet experience than most Android tablets.
There are plenty of reasons why the Apple iPad range is so successful and sought after. The one thing that really sets Apple’s iPad apart is the operating system, the iPadOS. While it did start out as a glorified and enlarged version of the iOS, it really is in a class of its own today, especially with iPadOS 16 that is just released today. So, what is new?
New Messages Feature
Source: Apple
While the most popular messaging app in the region (Malaysia) is still WhatsApp, Apple’s Messages app has gone from strength to strength with every new iteration. In their latest iPadOS 16, you can now edit, unsend, and mark conversations as unread. That also means you get a little more control over your messages, who you send the messages to, and how you send the messages. If you made a mistake, simply retract the message instead of explaining that you made a mistake.
Via the new Messages app as well, users can invite their friends and family to SharePlay. Simply send them a SharePlay invite via Messages, and they can also join into the fun of watching a movie or TV show together, game together, or even workout together. For work, collaboration invitations can be sent via Messages, and everyone tagged on that messages thread can be automatically added to a document or spreadsheet.
Smarter Mail
Source: Apple
No more missing your emails with iPadOS 16. You now can mark an email with ‘Remind me’ feature so that you can always come back to the email later. That way, you can put emails in backburners and not forget to respond to the email or act accordingly. At the same time Mail will now alert you if you forgot to include recipients and attachments into your email just before you send it out. If you feel like you have made a mistake, you can retract or cancel delivery of the mail before it even reaches the recipients inbox. If you need to, you can even schedule your emails to be sent out at specific times.
Share Your iCloud Library
Source: Apple
Sharing is caring, and that holds true especially when it comes to your family. Via iCloud Shared Photo Library, up to six family members can share, edit, contribute, and enjoy the photos within the library. Of course, all the shared photos will appear in each user’s Memories and Featured Photos as well. Family moments, after all, is meant to be shared.
Safer Safari
Source: Apple
Apple has also included passkeys with Safari with next-generation credential encryption feature. With passkeys, you can be sure that your credentials will never fall into the wrong hands. You simply use Touch ID or Face ID for all your verification needs. This function is synced across devices with iCloud Keychain. For better collaboration, Tab Groups allows you to share groups of webpages with your family and friends. Your friends and family can even add tabs to the group, and you can see what everyone is viewing.
Even Better Collaboration with Freeform
Source: Apple
The iPad is meant to be just more than an enlarged display for entertainment purposes. The iPad is also meant to be a productivity tool that offers a larger canvas to work with compared to smartphones. With Freeform, it becomes a powerful productivity and collaborative tool that allows users to share and work on the same canvas. With full support for Apple Pencil, the iPad takes collaborative productivity to the next level. Freeform also allows you to keep track of changes made by each user.
Weather App Comes to iPad
Source: Apple
Of course, with the larger real estate of the iPad’s display, you really want to fully take advantage. The Weather app does just that complete with immersive animations, detailed maps, and forecasts. With a single tap, users can check on precipitation, air quality, and temperature of the region. If there is a severe weather alert issued in the area, users will also be notified via the Weather app.
Drag and Drop
Source: Apple
With iPadOS 16 users can also pick up objects from within images to be put into apps like messages with Visual Look Up. The feature now also recognizes birds, insects, and statues. Live Text is also better at understanding texts in videos throughout the system. Users can easily transpose videos and audio to text and quickly copy and paste the texts.
Pro Workflow
Source: Apple
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Exclusive to the iPad Pro, iPadOS 16 makes it an even more indispensable tool for the ones working in the creative industry. Taking advantage of the highly vivid and accurate Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the OS allows users to use the iPad as a reference display for your editing workflow. This is especially useful for colour grading your work on or for visual approval work too.
Multitasking with Stage Manager
Source: Apple
Apple has teased Stage Manager for a while now and it has come to the iPadOS 16, finally. It works pretty much like custom widow groups in Windows OS. You can group apps that are open together and layer apps on top of each other and open all of them simultaneously so that you do not lose time switching from one task to another. You can even create a group of apps that can be opened together in the Dock area to save even more time on your workflows. At the same time, an update that will be brought forth to the M1 and M2 versions of the iPad Pro will allow the tablet to support external displays with up to 6K in resolution.
Availability
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Apple’s iPadOS 16 is now available for download over-the-air (OTA) for your Apple tablet. Of course, you want to make sure that you have an Apple iPad no older than the 5th generation. If you own a 5th generation iPad Mini and later, you get to enjoy iPadOS 16 too. All iPad Pro models will get iPadOS 16 update. More on Apple’s iPadOS 16 can be found on their website.
Apple and their proprietary lightning port and cable goes way back. It is the first sort of port and cable combination that is reversible. That means that you can plug your Apple device via the Lightning port in either orientation. Technically Apple’s lightning port is the first ever reversible connector for charging and data transfer purposes.
Since the introduction of USB Type-C though, most modern devices adopted the technology with no issue. It has become the most universal type of port there is today. It also looks like USB Type-C is here to stay, since they have been updating the USB Type-C cable and port for even more power delivery and data transfer capabilities. That is usually enough for organisations to sway into the USB Type-C ecosystem, except for Apple.
Apple has been reluctant to shift to the USB Type-C platform. They technically do have USB Type-C equipped devices like the Apple iPad Pro and iPad Air, but that was about it. Today, they add another device to the USB Type-C collection, the brand new 2022 iPad.
Source: Apple
The USB Type-C is not the only new thing on the Apple iPad for 2022 though. It looks different too compared to the ones that came before. The tenth-generation Apple iPad now shares a similar design language with the Apple iPad Air and Apple iPad Pro. The unibody back and sides have a more rounded edge over the other two USB Type-C devices in Apple’s stables though.
Alongside the new body design, comes a new display layout with a thinner overall bezel. It is still a 10.9-inch tablet with Liquid Retina display. They have also updated the processor to Apple’s A14 Bionic chip that is supposed to be more powerful than the A13 Bionic before while remaining more power efficient. You still get a 12-Megapixel ultra-wide angle camera up front, which makes for excellent video calls. Out the back is a new 12-Megapixel camera though. This new camera comes with 4K video recording capabilities.
On top of the added flexibility of USB Type-C port and connection, the Apple iPad also packs Wi-Fi 6 for an even faster and more stable connection to the web. If you want to, you can also opt for the 5G capable variant for all sorts of work on-the-go. For an added versatility, you can also opt for a Magic Keyboard Folio designed specifically for the Apple iPad.
The Apple iPad also now comes in four vibrant and unique colours. You can get your hands on a blue, pink, yellow, and sliver shades. Yes, you noticed, there is no space grey option this time. There is also no home button. Your Touch ID is now moved to the power button on top of the device, near the camera.
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The new Apple iPad with USB Type-C and the A14 Bionic chip is now available for pre-order in the US and select regions. It will ship out and hit stores 26th October 2022 onward in these select regions too. Malaysia’s Apple website has also started teasing the Apple iPad alongside the newly launched iPad Pro. We are expecting the device to arrive in Malaysia sometime in November 2022. The new Apple iPad will set you back at least US$ 449 (MRY 2,099*). As usual, it is only available in 64GB and 256GB storage configurations. For more information on the Apple iPad for 2022, you can visit Apple’s website.
When Apple launched their first M1 silicon to the market, we immediately saw the potential of it powering an iPad Pro. Last year, they made it a reality and finally shoehorned an M2 chip to an iPad Pro. It brought untold powers into an iPad Pro and made the tablet the most versatile work companion you can find in the market. With the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro is a formidable tablet with the powers of a full-fledged laptop.
Then comes this one, the M2 powered iPad Pro.
Source: Apple
On the surface, it is the same device all around compared to the older generation iPad Pro from 2021. Everything from the glass panel out front and aluminium backing did not change from the previous Apple iPad Pro. The only difference then, in terms of hardware, is the fact that this iPad Pro now contains Apple’s most powerful chip so far, the M2.
The 2022 powerhouse of a tablet will also ship with Apple’s latest iPadOS 16 to fully take advantage of the beast that is the M2 chip. There is stage manager that takes your multitasking to entirely new levels, you can connect to external displays with the iPad Pro and get two working displays effectively out of it, You can turn the iPad Pro’s highly accurate display into a reference display too or all your colour grading needs, and the best part about iPadOS 16 is that now you can run desktop class apps on the iPad Pro.
The camera on the iPad Pro for 2022 can also now capture ProRes videos. Combined with up to three folds speed in transcoding ProRes footages, this iPad Pro is a video production beast in a thin and lightweight package. You might not even need to carry other devices in this case to get a quick video footage out of it.
Apple did not introduce a new Apple Pencil with the iPad Pro this time. They did not have to with iPadOS 16. With a detection from up to 12mm away from the display, the Apple Pencil is more versatile and accurate than ever. Hovering above the display allows users to see where the Pencil will touch the display before they even make a mark. At the same time, when the Pencil gets near to the display, text boxes automatically expand to make way for handwriting recognition.
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To bring the tablet up to speed when remote working, Apple has outfitted the iPad Pro with Wi-Fi 6E capabilities to ensure that you can download and upload large files at any time of the day with little interruption to your workflow. If there is no reliable Wi-Fi umbrella around, there is the cellular capabilities that gives you 5G networking (sub-6GHz and mmWave standards) wherever you are (subject to network availability as per locations).
The Apple iPad Pro is now available for pre-order in 28 countries and regions. That obviously includes the United States. You can expect to start seeing the iPad Pro in stores in those select regions from the 26th of October 2022 onward. There are no mentions or confirmations on the latest iPad Pro’s availability date in Malaysia just yet. With the Malaysian website already teasing the device though, we expect the device to arrive sometime in November of 2022. The 11-inch variant starts at US$ 799 (MYR 3,899*) while the 12.9-inch variant starts at US$ 1,099 (MYR 5,399*). More information on the Apple iPad Pro can be found from Apple’s website.
*Official local (Malaysia) pricing as per Apple.com
We know that the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro starts at MYR 4,199 and MYR 5,299 respectively. While Apple maintained the same US$ pricing for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, prices in Malaysia has gone up a little thanks to some shifts in currency exchange rates. The price tag, for Malaysia at least, is still a little hefty if you want to get the device directly from Apple.
Source: U Mobile
Pre-orders for Malaysia have started during the weekends (16th of September 2022 to be exact). Thankfully, you do not have to place your pre-orders specifically with Apple directly. You can do it with all the major carriers in Malaysia at this point, including U Mobile. With these network providers too, you can get your iPhone with their existing postpaid plan, so rather than paying for your iPhone in a single hefty payment, you can space out your payment together with your phone plan over a year to two years.
Source: Maxis
Maxis, Celcom, Digi, and even U Mobile has revealed their most anticipated phone plans, their postpaid plans for the upcoming Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models. The most affordable way to own an Apple iPhone 14 at this point, at least at the time of writing, is via engaging on Maxis’ Postpaid Share 48 plan. There is a small caveat here though, the Share 48 plan is technically dependent on another full Postpaid plan like the Postpaid 128. While it only gives you 30GB in monthly data quota, sharing the line with another principal line owner also allows you to share data with the principal line. On the device end, you are getting your basic Apple iPhone 14 with 128GB of storage for only MYR 116 every month. That totals to MYR 167 on a monthly basis. Once you go for the Maxis Postpaid 128 plan though, you are paying MYR 221 every month.
Source: Digi
While the Maxis Postpaid 128 plan with the iPhone 14 seems a little pricey compared to the Postpaid Share 48 plan, it is still more affordable than anything else you can find in the market at this time. The next best thing for the most basic iPhone 14 is from Digi and it totals up to MYR 240 a month. The only other network providers that allows you to own an Apple iPhone 14 for below MYR 300 is U Mobile and Celcom with their MYR 98/month plan with iPhone that will set you back a total of MYR 247 a month. These prices are exclusive of SST though, so you want to keep that in mind.
Source: Celcom
Maxis’ Postpaid Share 48 and Postpaid 128 plans still gives you access to the highest end Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB storage. Of course, the price of the iPhone itself will shoot up to MYR 230 every month, that is on top of the MYR 48/month you pay for your data plan. That will only total up to MYR 278 every month though, still more affordable than most of the iPhone plans you can find anywhere. Of course, the price goes up to MYR 324 the moment you go for the Maxis Postpaid 128 plan. For Celcom and Digi, you are required to have their more premium Celcom MEGA 158 (worth MYR 158/month) and Digi Postpaid 120 (worth MYR 120/month) to get your hands on Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro models.
You can refer to all the installment and phone plans from Maxis, Celcom, Digi, and U Mobile on their respective websites.
[UPDATE] U Mobile has announced that they are also on the pre-order bandwagon. Pre-order of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will begin on the 16th of September 2022. More info on their website.
When Apple’s iPhone 14 was announced by Cupertino, its availability in Malaysia was confirmed to be 23rd September 2022. There were no mentions on its pre-orders during the launch though. Fret not though, Apple Malaysia has confirmed that the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will be available for pre-orders from the 16th of September onward. There is one small caveat in the pre-order though, the Apple iPhone 14 Plus will only ship out from the 7th of October 2022 onward.
Of course, you can buy your new iPhone from Apple directly via their website or any of the authorized retailers in Malaysia. Unfortunately, we do not have a proper Apple Store in Malaysia just yet. Alternatively, you can get your latest iPhone from the carriers, and three of Malaysia’s major carriers has also put up their pre-order teasers. Pre-orders with the carriers also start on Malaysia Day (16th of September 2022).
Obviously if you are getting your iPhone device directly with Apple, you are paying for the device in cash, or installments via your credit card. With the carriers, you would usually be required to sign up for their data plans. At this point though there are no information on what sort of plans you will have to sign up for to get your new iPhone. There is no solid indication of pricing from the carriers just yet.
Of course, there are going to be some check boxes you must tick if you want to order your device from the carriers. Their websites will also tell you to ensure that you have any of your outstanding bills cleared. You also want to make sure that you are not tied to any contracts before you pre-order your iPhone 14. Pre-orders from the carriers will be carried out virtually entirely, which also means you want to make sure that you have a stable internet collection. You also want to be on their postpaid plans to make sure that you can get your device with no issues during the pre-order period.
So far, only the three major carriers have announced their pre-orders for the new iPhone. The three major carriers, as mentioned earlier, are Maxis, Celcom, and Digi. While UMobile does have an iPhone specific plan, they have not made any announcements regarding the Apple iPhone 14 devices from their end just yet. We are guessing that they will announce their iPhone plans closer to the actual availability date on the 23rd of September 2022. For more information on the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, you can visit their website.
Whenever new earbuds launch, they are always compared to the Apple AirPods Pro. For some reason, the Apple AirPods Pro has become so popular that it becomes a default benchmark for wireless earbuds in one way or another. Sure, you can get better premium noise cancelling earbuds from other manufacturers. For some reason though, the Apple AirPods Pro has become a reviewers go to when comparing premium headphones.
While it is not the best noise cancelling earbuds available from Apple, it is one of the most well-rounded noise cancelling earbuds you can find in the market today. Its noise cancelling performance is significantly better than plenty of what you can get in the current market. Its sound quality is not the best you can find in the market, but it is good; well-rounded and balanced. It does not have the best battery life in the market too, but it is also significantly better than plenty of the offerings you can find in the market.
The new Apple AirPods Pro launched just last night is a follow-up to one of the most successful earbuds products a manufacturer can make in the current market. In that sense, Apple finds no reason to redesign the ever so popular AirPods Pro. In that sense, everything looks the same with the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro.
Though it looks the same, the internals have changed slightly, for the better of course. It now packs Apple’s H2 audio processing chip. In terms of noise cancelling capabilities, Apple says that this is able to reduce up to twice more loud environmental noise than before. There are no exact measurements to these things, so we can only take their word for it until we test them ourselves.
The H2 chip not only enhances the noise cancelling feature of the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) though. It also works with the new low-distortion drivers and custom amplifier to deliver richer bass and clearer sounds across an even wider dynamic range. They also included an extra-small tip for a better and more comfortable fit for an even wider range of listeners. Obviously, you can go out and make custom tips for yourself for the perfect fit, if you want.
The transparency mode has been improved too. They call it Adaptive Transparency now and the feature cleverly cuts out loud environmental sounds or at least reduces them to ensure that your ears are always protected even when you turn on transparency mode. Of course, it still allows users to interact with other people in that mode.
Other improvements include Personalised Spatial Audio, when you pair the device with the latest iPhone with TrueDepth camera. Using the TrueDepth camera, Apple tunes Spatial Audio and tailors the experience for your ears specifically. In that sense, users can truly enjoy Spatial Audio the way they are meant to be enjoyed with dynamic headtracking.
Touch Controls – Finally
Source: Apple
They have also added touch controls to the stem of the second-generation AirPods Pro, something sorely lacking from the previous generation earbuds. Via the touch controls, users can easily change volumes, change music, answer phone calls, and more without touching their smartphones. To make it even more seamless with iPhones, the EarPods Pro features instant pairing with a new dedicated Airpods section in the iOS interface to control the AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
Longer Lasting
Source: Apple
They have managed to extend the battery life of the AirPods Pro as well with the new-generation headphones. A single charge allows users to use the AirPods Pro for up to 6 hours at a time. The Case provides up to five more charges allowing for up to 30 hours of music playback. That is six hours more than before. In addition to that, the case can now be charged with an Apple Watch charger, MagSafe charger, or even a Qi-certified charging mat. Even the case is now sweat and water resistant to make it more suitable for gym use.
Easier to Find
Source: Apple
To locate the earphones, you can use a U1-enabled iPhone to find their case with guided directions. To ensure that you can find it, there are speaker holes on the case now to emit loud tones so that you just have to follow the sound of the AirPods Pro to find it. It also comes with a lanyard loop, if you want to make sure you will always find it. For those who wants to personalize their AirPods further, you can now engrave your AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with Memoji, Animoji, and select stickers.
Price and Availability
The Apple AirPods Pro will be available in select regions from the 9th of September 2022. It will set you back US$ 249 (MYR 1,099*), which is about the same as the previous generation Apple AirPods Pro. Obviously it will only be available in white with no other colour options in store. There are no confirmed availability date for Malaysia at this point though. Still, it is available for viewing in their Malaysian website, which also means that they are planning to bring it in for sure.
