Tag Archives: Apple

The Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro series are Here! USB Type-C Finally!

September 13, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Believe it or not, Apple’s Lightning connection has been with us since the Apple iPhone 5 was introduced in 2012. The Lightning cable and port had not changed in shape and look until last year’s iPhone 14 series. While it was understandable for Apple to work with the Lightning standard in 2012, where Micro-USB was still the mainstream standard, USB Type-C has brought an evolution to mobile connectivity and has done more for laptops and smartphones than even USB 3.0 standard. To be fair, we only saw one smartphone sporting the USB 3.0 port, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, to not very much success. In that sense, there are no good reasons for Apple to keep the Lightning connection with their top-of-the-line smartphone since Apple themselves have updated their iPad Pro and iPad Air series with USB Type-C ports. They must at least see some value on USB type-C in that case.

The European Union (EU) forced Apple’s hands last year before their launch of the iPhone 14 series. Apple had to start developing their iPhones with USB Type-C port instead of their traditional and rather iconic lightning port. That is the first big difference between the previous iPhone and the upcoming iPhone 15 series. That is not what they highlighted in their launch gambit though.

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

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There is not much of a surprise with Apple’s latest regular iPhone 15 series. Most of the features are trickled down from Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro devices of last year. The Apple Silicon A16 Bionic, for example, is the same chip you find on the previous iPhone 14 Pro. The “island bar” as well, is a feature introduced in the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, now accessible for the more accessible Apple iPhone 15.

In a lot of ways, we see this Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus as sort of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro series with USB type-C port. They share the same size as the previous iPhone 14 series as well at 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch respectively. They pack more pixels than before though since they are technically the iPhone 14 series devices at Super Retina XDR resolution. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus now also gets the updated 48-Megapixel main camera alongside a 24-Megapixel 2x Telephoto lens. No third lens here, as expected from a regular iPhone.

Other than the USB type-C connection, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus sports slightly differing visuals from before in terms of colours too. There is the usual black option, as expected. There are now Blue, Green, Yellow, and even Pink to consider for the iPhone 15 series. Of course, there will be a RED edition later.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

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The pinnacle of the iPhone has to be their Pro series models. The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max takes everything the iPhone 14 Pro series had and turned them up to 11. This is the most advanced Apple iPhone ever. You might want to take a pinch of salt though when it comes to expecting big changes.

Apple A17 Pro – Advanced Does Not Begin to Describe it

The biggest change, other than the USB type-C port now found at the bottom of the device is its integrated chip. It is now called the Apple A17 Pro, no more ‘Bionic’ in their namesake. It is also the first 3nm chip that is commercially available on a smartphone device featuring 19 billion transistors in a single chip. There are two performance cores and four efficiency cores that power the iOS 17 device. They have also made the neural engine bigger at 16-cores just for on-device AI implementations that includes predictive texts, certain Siri functions, and more. They have update the GPU as well with new hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing cores with MetalFX support for the best-in-class graphics processing available on a smartphone. They even announced that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game made for the current generation gaming consoles, will be available on the iPhone when they are available. PlayStation Studios are also adapting Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 into the iPhone which will be available later in the year. On top of all of that, the A17 Pro features a new ProRes codec for ProRes file processing and editing, Pro Display Engine for even better display experience on either the 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, and AV1 decoder. The A17 Pro even features a USB 3 controller that allows the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max to take full advantage of USB type-C.

Bigger, Better, More Lenses than You Need

While you cannot see the upgrade, Apple claims that the main camera features a larger sensor than before. It is still a 48-Megapixel sensor though underneath what they claim to be multiple lenses on the main camera. They claim that you can choose between 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm lenses for different feel and look for your photos. You can even set whichever focal lengths as your default length just so that it will get back to your preferred focal length when you launch the camera app. Instead of a 3x telephoto lens, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max now offers a 5x 24-Megapixel telephoto camera at 120mm focal length, the longest focal length featured on an iPhone ever. They also improved their 12-Megapixel ultra-wide camera at 13mm to also allow users to capture macro photos. In terms of software, the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max cameras offer a new Smart HDR engine that allows for a more true-to-life photo to be captured with brighter highlights, rich midtones, and deep shadows. Thanks to LiDAR technology and the A17 Pro’s neural engine, low-light photos have never looked better on the iPhone.

It is not just photography that gets some needed boost though. You can now capture proper ProRes videos and connect the iPhone to an external recording device or medium via USB type-C. They also now allow you to capture videos with log encoding for even more flexibility in colour grading or correction. Most of all, you can now capture videos at 4K 60p for brilliant slow-motion videos in post editing. If you have an Apple Vision Pro or have ordered one, you will be delighted that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max can capture something they call a Spatial video that you can use only specifically with Apple Vision Pro. We assume it is sort of an AR type 3D video that is captured by both the main camera and ultra-wide camera to be stitched into a single 3D video for that nifty augmented reality experience.

Titanium – Same As the Mars Rover

Apple iPhone 15 Pro lineup color lineup 230912 — Source: Apple

One of the more interesting parts of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is the way it is built though. While featuring the same sort of look as the iPhone 14 Pro, it is made from a different material that also offers slightly different colour options and look. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is now made of Titanium, a lightweight alloy with higher tensile strength than any metal material at its weight. That means that the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are the lightest iPhone Pro models ever to grace our hands. While it is still an alloy product, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max still comes with MagSafe and Wi2 wireless charging support. They now come in a choice of black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium colour options.

Prices and Availability

Apple’s iPhone 15 series and iPhone 15 Pro series will be available for pre-orders from the 22^nd of September 2023 onward and will ship out just a week after that on the 29^th of September 2023 onward. The iPhone 15 will set you back from MRY 4,399 onward while the iPhone 15 Plus will set you back at least MYR 4,899. If you are opting for the more premium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, they start at MYR 5,499 and MYR 6,499 respectively. For more information on the new Apple iPhone 15 series and iPhone 15 Pro series, you can head out to their website.

Editorial, iOS, Mobile

iPhone 15 Rumour Round-Up – What We Expect to be C-ing

September 12, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

It’s that time of the year again… Apple is about to unveil its new iPhone lineup. The event is mere hours away! But, before we sit through another keynote, let’s take a quick rundown of the rumours that have surfaced about the iPhone 15 and its siblings.

Firstly, let’s talk about the name of the upcoming iPhone. Rumours indicated that Apple was poised to drop the Pro Max name in the iPhone 15 lineup in favour of the “Ultra” nomenclature. However, it seems like that won’t be the case as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurmen has indicated otherwise. We’ll just have to wait and see which one is true at this point.

The biggest change we expect to see on the iPhone 15 is the replacement of the Lightning port in favour of the USB-C port. The change comes as a result of legislature in the EU which requires manufacturers to adopt USB-C as a common charging port for the benefit of the consumers. The legislature was passed in 2022 and gave manufacturers until the end of 2024 to comply. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, it’s expected that Apple will include higher-speed USB-C ports in higher-end iPhone 15 models. According to Kuo, it’s expected that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will support USB 3.2 and/or Thunderbolt 3 while the iPhone 15 will support USB 2.0. It’s also rumoured that the new iPhones will support 35W charging although, this may only be possible with Apple-made adapters.

Another big change we expect to see in the iPhone 15 series is a change in the camera technology. The iPhone 15 has been rumoured to be the first iPhone to feature a stacked CMOS sensor. The change in sensor technology is expected to result in a wider dynamic range and better low-light performance. The stacked CMOS sensors are expected to rely less on the image processor of the phone itself when taking low-light pictures.

titan gray 9to5mac webp — Source: 9to5 Mac

While we’re on the cameras, the iPhone 15 is tipped to have a periscope lens in its camera setup. The periscope lens is expected to be included in the Pro Max model with a significant bump in camera hump size. It’s expected that the periscope lens will bring either 5x or 6x optical zoom to the camera while hybrid zoom may go well beyond that. Reports also suggest that the sensor will be a 1/2.9″ sensor with a large f/2.8 aperture. The complete setup of the cameras on the iPhone will feature a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the 15 and 15 plus. The Pro and Pro Max on the other hand will have an additional 12-megapixel telephoto sensor with either 3x or 6x optical zoom.

The iPhone 15 lineup is expected to be more diverse when it comes to the display as well. The vanilla iPhone 15 and the 15 Plus are expected to have a display with only a 60Hz refresh rate while the Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to have a display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate. It’s expected that the screen size of the iPhone 15 series will be unchanged from the iPhone 14. The 15 and 15 Pro will stick to the 6.1-inch size while the Plus and Pro Max will sport a 6.7-inch display.

Apparently, Apple will be using two different systems on a chip for the iPhone 15 lineup. The 15 and 15 Plus are expected to ship with the A16 Bionic which is used in the 14 Pro and Pro Max. On the other hand, the 15 Pro and Pro Max will be shipping with the upgraded A17 Bionic. The A17 Bionic is rumoured to be developed using TSMC’s 3nm technology which promises better performance for lower power.

The iPhone 15 line has also been rumoured to do away with the physical buttons with haptic buttons. However, while rumours point to these plans having been scrapped before the new iPhone entered mass production, a post on X from accessory maker Spigen teased “something’s different” with a picture of the power button and volume rocker only this morning.

something's different 🧐…#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/xVPT7Xx7sv
— Spigen (@SpigenWorld) September 11, 2023

Apple is rumoured to be making the new iPhone series with a new, higher-grade titanium which is lighter than the iPhone 14. However, with more premium materials comes a very painful spike in the price especially when it comes to the Pro Max model. It’s rumoured that the price of the iPhone 15 series itself will start at USD$799.99. That would be the base model iPhone 15 with 128GB of memory, the 15 Plus is rumoured to be a USD$100 premium over the 15 at USD$899.99 for the same configuration. The 15 Pro’s base model will apparently set you back USD$999.99 with 256GB of storage while the 15 Pro Max will start at USD$1,199.99 for the 256GB version. That said, another rumour points to the prices being USD$100 more expensive with base storage starting at 256GB across the board.

Well, that’s about it when it comes to rumours. You’ll have to stay tuned to techENT for the details tonight when we finally get the official details on the new iPhone 15 lineup. If you want to tune in to Apple’s keynote, just head over to Apple.com or tune in to the official YouTube Channel at 1 AM, Malaysian time or 10 AM Pacific time.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

PayPal Cards Now Compatible with Apple Pay

September 8, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

PayPal debit and credit cardholders can now integrate their cards into the Apple Wallet app, making them accessible for use with Apple Pay. The process is straightforward and can be accomplished in two ways.

Firstly, you can open the iOS PayPal app and find the conspicuous “Pay with your iPhone” banner on the homepage. By tapping this banner, you will be redirected to the Apple Wallet app, where you can conveniently add your PayPal debit or credit cards.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

Alternatively, you can add your PayPal cards to your Apple Wallet by opening the app and selecting the plus icon in the display’s upper right corner. Follow the step-by-step instructions to integrate either your PayPal credit card, PayPal debit card, or both into your Wallet app. Once added, you can choose which PayPal card to use for transactions when using Apple Pay.

It’s important to note that Apple retains a small fee of 0.15% of the transaction value, equating to 15 cents for every $100 spent using Apple Pay.

Interestingly, Venmo, a subsidiary of PayPal, is also expected to introduce Apple Pay support for its Venmo credit and debit cards, although this feature has yet to be implemented.

This development coincides with Apple’s recent promotion of its Apple Pay service by releasing several promotional videos. According to analysts, Apple Pay could generate up to $4 billion in revenue this year, solidifying its position as the fifth most widely used payment method globally, trailing only behind PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Apple Vision Pro Will Seamlessly Integrate iPhone & iPad Apps

September 6, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Apple‘s upcoming mixed-reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro. The upcoming headset is set to blur the lines between the virtual and real worlds, and Apple is taking steps to ensure that users have a multitude of apps at their fingertips from day one.

The Vision Pro is set to launch with its own OS dubbed visionOS and it’s set to face an uphill climb when it comes to apps. It looks like Apple is looking to tackle this challenge head-on. The company has announced that iPhone and iPad apps will seamlessly integrate into the visionOS App Store. This means that users will have access to their favourite apps and games, creating a more connected, productive, and entertaining experience.

Developers, in particular, will appreciate Apple’s approach. The company is streamlining the process by ensuring that most iPad and iPhone apps can run on visionOS without any modifications. This decision eliminates the need for developers to rework their existing apps for the new platform.

According to Apple, “By default, your iPad and/or iPhone apps will be published automatically on the App Store on Apple Vision Pro. Most frameworks available in iPadOS and iOS are also included in visionOS, which means nearly all iPad and iPhone apps can run on visionOS, unmodified.”

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While the automatic integration of existing apps is a significant advantage, Apple is also empowering developers to take things further. The visionOS Software Development Toolkit (SDK) provides developers with the tools they need to optimize their apps for the Vision Pro headset. This includes adding elements such as 3D content designed for eye and hand input, creating a more natural and immersive user experience.

The company plans to release a developer beta version of visionOS in the fall. This beta will include the App Store, ensuring that developers can test their apps on the platform well in advance of its official launch.

Users can expect to explore their favourite iPad and iPhone apps side by side with new visionOS apps on the expansive canvas of the Apple Vision Pro. The headset is slated for release early next year, making it a highly anticipated addition to Apple’s product lineup.

Apple’s decision to seamlessly integrate iPhone and iPad apps into the Apple Vision Pro ecosystem is a strategic move that potentially simplifies the user experience and streamlines development. It’s a step towards ensuring that the new platform has a rich library of apps from the get-go which ultimately benefits users and developers alike. As we await the Vision Pro’s official launch, it’s clear that Apple is committed to ensuring that it leaves a mark while trying to redefine the mixed reality experience.

Business, News

Apple Showcases Its In-House Apps on New ‘Apps by Apple’ Page

September 5, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Apple has introduced an all-new “Apps by Apple” webpage, residing on its official website. This dedicated space serves as a platform to celebrate and showcase Apple’s proprietary apps, available across the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV ecosystems.

In true Apple fashion, the company showcases its commitment to delivering a seamless user experience through these apps, accompanied by tantalizing glimpses of forthcoming features in iOS 17 and beyond.

So, what exactly does this ‘Apps by Apple’ page bring to the table?

A Guide to Apple’s App Universe

This newly minted digital domain, found at apple.com/apps, conveniently categorizes Apple’s apps into six distinct clusters:

Communication: Tagged as “Apps to keep you connected,” this category includes essentials like Phone, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, and Contacts. Apple’s aim here is clear – to facilitate effortless connections.
Creativity: “Tools for pros and passionate creatives” is the mantra here. This enclave caters to the artist in you, boasting apps like Photos, Camera, GarageBand, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro for iPad.
Productivity: In the “All you need to make your work of art” realm, Apple’s offerings include Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Freeform, and Pages. The focus? Enhancing your productivity and creativity.
Exploration: Embark on journeys of discovery with apps like Safari, Maps, Weather, Find My, and Wallet. These apps are designed to simplify your explorations of both the digital and physical worlds.
Entertainment and Home: “Brilliant ways to watch, read, listen, and relax” – this segment features Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Music Classical, and Podcasts, promising entertainment and relaxation at your fingertips.
Health and Fitness: Prioritizing “Wellness for your mind and body,” Apple offers apps such as Apple Health, Fitness, Workout, Sleep, and Cycle Tracking. Your well-being takes centre stage here.

Aside from these categories, the ‘Apps by Apple’ page provides insights into the features that underpin Apple’s ecosystem. These include Siri, iCloud, CarPlay, and Continuity, designed to seamlessly integrate various aspects of your digital life. Family Sharing, another highlighted feature, promotes harmonious device sharing among families.

A Response to Regulatory Changes

It’s worth noting that the unveiling of this page comes at a time when the European Union (EU) is considering regulations that may require Apple to allow third-party app stores and sideloading on iPhones within its member states. Sideloading entails installing apps from sources other than Apple’s App Store. Apple’s long-standing argument for restricting sideloading revolves around security concerns, as it enables stricter control over potential threats like malware.

With these regulatory shifts looming, Apple’s ‘Apps by Apple’ initiative can be seen as a strategic move to bolster its in-house app portfolio. By emphasizing the quality, seamlessness, and privacy features of its apps, Apple aims to ensure that users continue to choose its ecosystem, even in the face of alternative options.

Apple reassures users that “Every app by Apple comes with powerful privacy features to help protect your data and give you control over your information.” This commitment aligns with Apple’s broader stance on privacy and data protection.

While these changes may initially impact EU users, the global tech landscape may witness ripple effects as the industry navigates evolving regulations.

In conclusion, Apple’s ‘Apps by Apple’ webpage serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to delivering a user-friendly and secure app experience. As the tech world continues to evolve, Apple remains unwavering in its pursuit of innovation and excellence.

iOS, Mobile

Apple’s Next Event Will Unveil the Latest iPhone

September 4, 2023 Joey T Leave a comment

Apple fans, mark your calendars! Apple is expected to unveil the latest iPhone on 12 September in a livestream event broadcasted from Apple Park. While the official invitation included some cryptic clues, we’re here to decode the details for you.

The invitation sent to the media featured a mysterious image and a single intriguing word: “Wonderlust.” While it doesn’t explicitly state that the event will revolve around the iPhone, history suggests this is precisely what we can expect. As the theme alludes to a sense of wanderlust, it’s safe to say whatever they’ll be announcing that day will be something for travelling enthusiasts.

So far, leaks and insider reports have given us a glimpse into the upcoming iPhone. Anticipate significant changes, including the long-awaited shift from Lightning to USB-C, upgraded processors, the introduction of the Dynamic Island feature on non-Pro models, and a transition from stainless steel to titanium finish for the Pro models.

If you want to catch the announcements live, you can visit the apple.com website on 13 September at 1 AM (Malaysia time). In the meantime, we’ll hold on to our seats for these exciting updates. Watch this space for more news!

Business, News

Malaysia’s First Apple Premium Partner Store, Switch, Opens in Sunway Pyramid

August 4, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Malaysia’s Apple user experience just got a big upgrade with the opening of the country’s first Apple Premium Partner Store. Switch, a brand by CG Computers Sdn Bhd, is upping the ante with their first premium partner store in Sunway Pyramid in the Klang Valley and Imago Mall in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

While the store may carry the familiar “Switch” brand, it brings even more services that allow Apple users a more rounded experience when purchasing their devices or accessories. The new Switch store in Sunway Pyramid comes complete with eager staff that have been trained by the Cupertino-based company to bring the Genius experience closer to Malaysian consumers. The new store also brings a familiar, minimalist interior and decor that have become signature not only to Switch but Apple.

The Premium Partner Store will also allow users to purchase their Apple products on a carrier plan specifically from Maxis. You will be able to activate their iPhones or iPads with eSIMs registered on the Maxis network under the carrier’s Zerolution plans with the assistance of the staff.

The Switch store will continue to offer the complete range of Apple products including the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, iMac and Mac Mini. Together with the devices, you will also be able to get official Apple accessories like the Apple Pencil, AirPods and AirTags as well as Apple-compatible accessories from third parties like Logitech.

Sabah will also be getting the Apple Premium Partner experience with the opening of the Switch outlet in Imago Mall on 5th August 2023.

iOS, Mobile, News

Apple Releases a Rapid Security Response update to the iOS 16.5.1. Why? Security Reasons, obviously.

July 11, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Apple has updated its latest iOS 16 to version iOS 16.5 rather recently. Even more recently, they have just released the 16.5.1 version of the iOS 16.5. Apparently, they have just updated the 16.5.1 again. While being only a 2.7MB update, it is a critical one.

Apple labels this as one of their Rapid Security Response updates for their software. Alongside the Apple iPhone, the iPad is also getting the Rapid Security Response for the iPadOS 16.5.1. As per the release notes, the iOS 16.5.1(a) update is available for iPhones with iOS 16.5.1. But it is not just the iPhone and iPad that is getting a security update. At the same time, Apple is releasing security updates for MacOS Ventura [13.4.1 (a)] and Safari (16.5.2).

The thing about Apple’s security updates is that they can be rather vague in their description. According to their release notes, the update addresses “web content processing that may lead to arbitrary code execution”. According to Apple as well, there has been reports on the issue being heavily exploited, hence the need for iOS 16.5.1 (a) update. The release notes says that the update will bring “improved checks” to address the issue, whatever that means.

Rapid Security Response updates are important updates, they tend to patch security issues that has been reported or found. That also means that it is recommended that users on the latest iOS to check for their updates if they have not been updated yet. It is a relatively small update too, which also means that you might not have too much trouble or too long of a downtime with your iPhone when you do update your device. Once updated, your iPhone will request that you restart your device. Once you do so, your device should display iOS 16.5.1 (a) instead of the regular iOS 16.5.1 when you check its software version.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

[WWDC 2023] The New Apple MacBook Air Now Comes in a 15-inch Variant

June 9, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

For the longest time, we did not think that Apple’s MacBook Air line-up needed to be bigger. To be fair the Apple MacBook Air was made to be the most portable Mac there is that offers the Mac experience anywhere and at any time. It is designed to be as thin and as light as a MacBook can be. So, in that case, it only makes sense for the MacBook Air’s display to be no larger than 14-inch to ensure that it fits most bags. If you want a bigger MacBook, get the normal sized MacBook that offers more than 13-inch in display real estate, or get the MacBook Pro. But what if you want a bigger screen and still have a thin-and-light package to work with? Apple has an answer for you, finally.

Welcome to the new format in the MacBook Air line-up, a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina MacBook Air. It is still a MacBook Air, a thin-and-light Apple laptop that is meant to be as portable as a MacBook can be. The only added heft comes from the larger display. A larger display also means that the MacBook Air can be a proper entertainment powerhouse now when it comes to movies and even games to a certain extent. You can even use it as your main editing tool if you want to use it for content creation.

The 15-inch MacBook Air now makes plenty of sense thanks the Apple’s silicon innovation in their latest M2 integrated processor. Thanks to the power requirements of the M2 processor too, the MacBook Air is now the thinnest 15-inch laptop in the world.

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Other than a more powerful M2 chip, it does not seem like the 15-inch MacBook Air has sacrificed anything else just for the squashed down bodywork. Apple claims that the MacBook Air still can offer immersive Spatial Audio. There is a Full HD 1080p FaceTime HD camera that you can use for FaceTime calls and other video conferencing tool complete with Center Stage technology. All of these and you still get up to 18 hours in battery life.

For Spatial Audio, Apple has fitted the 15-inch MacBook Air with six speakers. The speaker system on the MacBook Air offers Dolby Atmos support allowing you to properly enjoy any movies on Netflix, Prime Video, and even Apple TV+ with immersive Dolby audio. But the speakers are not just for movies and music. It also made to ensure that you get a clear communication with your teammates or friends over FaceTime and other video conferencing tools. Of course, you need mics for that too, and the MacBook Air comes with three-mic array with beamforming technology to clear capture your voice for both voice and video calls.

The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display offers more than just resolution too. WIth up to 500 nits in brightness and support for up to 1-billion colours, it is one of the most accurate and vivid displays you can find on a 15-inch laptop. They claim that the 15-inch disply on the MacBook Air offers twice the resolution and 25 percent brighter than comparable PC laptops in its class.

Of course, one of the biggest highlights of the MacBook Air is the M2 processor living inside the ultra-thin 15-inch notebook. The Apple M2 chip you get here comes with eight CPU cores (four performance cores and four efficiency cores) and 10 GPU cores. Within the chip construction is also a dedicated 16-core Neural Engine. You get to spec the MacBook Air with up to 24GB of unified memory too for better multitasking than ever. The result of all that is an ultra-thin 15-inch laptop that you can rely on to edit videos like a professional without being tethered to a power source for an entire day.

Then there is Ventura, the latest macOS there is. There is a new Continuity Camera feature that allows you to start your FaceTime calls from any of your Apple device and pass it on to your other Apple devices without even going through an entire procedure for it. Thanks to Continuity Camera also, you get Center Stage, Desk View and Studio Light features on all your supported Apple devices. There is Stage Manager that helps you automatically organise your apps and windows to ensure that you can focus on the right things at any given time. Freeform app allows you to express and organise you’re at your own freedom and liking. Apple also teased their upcoming macOS, the Sonoma, with even more features promised for macOS devices.

Price and Availability

THe 15-inch MacBook Air is now available in select regions from Apple Stores or their web sore. Malaysia is definitely getting the MacBook Air, but there are no specific dates that has been quoted from Apple. It will set youback MYR 6,199 onward when it is available. For more information on Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air, you can head to their website.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

[WWDC 2023] The Apple Vision Pro – The Apple Computer on Your Face

June 7, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Apple’s WWDC 2023 seems to be a big one. They announced a new iOS. They also announced their ultra-powerful (no pun intended) Apple M2 Ultra integrated chip that powers their newly announced Mac Studio desktop beast. The most shocking and interesting announcement they did though is not their new large format desktop with their most powerful integrated chip ever. They announced a sort of wearable headset that comes packing two processors. They call it the Vision Pro.

They referred to the Apple Vision Pro not really as a Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) machine though, funnily enough. They referred to the headset as a Spatial Computing tool, a sort of headset that “seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world”. So, an AR goggle it is, except it is a little different compared to the VR/AR goggles that we are used to these days.

Instead of dedicated controllers or physical navigation interfaces, the main interface with Vision Pro is gestures. You can technically connect other form of controller interfaces with the Apple Vision Pro, especially if you want to play traditional games on it. But it is designed to be controlled via your body and hand gestures almost entirely.

We mentioned two processors powering this new Vision Pro. It comes with an Apple standard M2 silicon integrated chip. Alongside that chip is Apple’s R1 chip. The R1 chip works alongside the M2 as an image controller and processor. Instead of crunching mathematical issues like the M2, the R1 controls feeds from 12 different cameras, five sensors, and six microphones that translates to navigation across the interface on the Vision Pro.

For the Vision Pro, they introduced an entirely new interface they call the VisionOS. They say that the the VisionOS will have access to the App Store and most of the apps made for the iPhone and the iPad. It even has access to FaceTime and allows you to take FaceTime calls with Spatial Audio if you like. Rather than your participants watching you wear a comically large headset, they see you as an avatar that you commonly see in iMessage. Your participants even get to see the entire body being represented in the video call with all the delicate finger movements and everything thanks to the highly advanced cameras and sensors. Apple even says that you can technically watch movies at what feels like 100-inch displays via the Vision Pro.

How they achieved this feat is by fitting two micro-OLED displays that offer up to 23 million pixels combined. Apple says that the micro-OLED displays are only at the size of a stamp and offers HDR and wide colour gamut coverage for the most accurate and immersive experience on an AR goggle you can get. They can even fit a Zeiss optical correction inserts into the Vision Pro if it is required by users. For Spatial Audio, there are speakers that are fitted right into the head band near your ears and works with the sensors within the Vision Pro to create a surround sound feel to your space. It can even be used wirelessly at up to two hours at a time. If not, just keep yourself tethered to a charge point for an all-day use. The proprietary battery pack has to be attached externally though, and you will still have a running cable from the battery pack to the headset.

Source: Apple
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Source: Apple
Source: Apple

So how much for all this innovation? A cool US$ 3,499 (MYR 16,114*), according to Apple. It will be available in the United States only for now and is only coming next year in 2024. Apple says that they will be bring the device to more regions in 2024 but did not specify which regions. We are not expecting the Vision Pro to make it into Malaysia at the same time as any other region though. There are no confirmations that the Apple Vision Pro will make it anywhere near the region too, so we are not entirely hopeful as well about its local availability. For more information on the Apple Vision Pro, you can head out to their website.

*approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.61 as of 07/06/2023 on xe.com