Three new Apple Watch Ultra bands -- Trail Loop, Alpine Loop and Ocean Band -- are ready to tackle any adventure. Photo: Apple
The three Apple Watch Ultra bands unveiled Wednesday look suitably rugged for the new smartwatch designed for extreme athletes. And if you want to inject a little bit of the Ultra’s rugged sensibility into your regular old Apple Watch, you’re in luck … kinda sorta maybe.
The new $99 bands fit some regular Apple Watches, according to Apple’s website. However, a caveat from Cupertino makes it seem like an Ultra band on a Series 7 or 8 watch might not look as seamless as usual.
iPhone 14 can talk to satellites in orbit. "Far out" indeed. Screenshot: Apple
Apple wasn’t kidding when it said its September product launch event would be “far out.” The newly announced iPhone 14 series offers Emergency SOS via satellite, allowing the handset to contact help in critical situations.
And it’s not just for life-threatening danger. It can also be used to share the handset’s location with the Find My network when out of cell service.
The Dynamic Island morphs into different sorts of notifications. Photo: Apple
At Apple’s Far Out event, the company got rid of the notch at the top of the screen in its iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models, replacing it with a smaller, pill-shaped cutout, as predicted.
More of a surprise is the functionality that comes with the cutout, which Apple calls the Dynamic Island. What the heck is it?
The new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max come in four colors -- two of them new (space black and dark purple). Photo: Apple
Apple revealed its new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max handsets Wednesday with numerous updates, including massive camera upgrades, always-on displays, an improved A16 chip and the notorious “notch” replaced with a pill-shaped cutout with new “Dynamic Island” interactive functionality.
“iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the best iPhones we’ve ever created, with a new way to experience iPhone as well as the industry-leading A16 bionic chip, always-on display and powerful new camera technologies,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook during the company’s Far Out event.
Apple just unveiled the iPhone 14, which offers a camera upgrade and satellite communications, but the iPhone 14 Plus is the big news. Screenshot: Apple
Apple took the wraps off the much-anticipated 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus at a product launch event on Wednesday. This has a screen as big as the company’s largest handset, but at a significantly lower price.
“With a larger display, you can enjoy more content when browsing the web,” promised Kaiann Drance, the head of iPhone marketing. “You can see more text or larger text. It looks great with the incredible features of iOS 16. ”
The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 was also announced, but is a fairly minor update over its predecessor. Still, both models have cameras with better low-light performance than their predecessors and emergency satellite communications, too.
Apple took the wraps off Apple Watch Ultra — describing the sports-oriented smartwatch as the most rugged and capable Apple Watch yet — during Wednesday’s Far Out event. Big, bulky and beautiful, it delivered on everything the rumor mill predicted and more.
Apple Watch Ultra is huge, with a bulky exterior, chunky buttons and a massive display. It boasts a tougher case, designed to withstand knocks from extreme sports, and a battery that can last the distance for endurance races. It features a new Depth Gauge app for scuba and free divers, improved GPS for running and cycling, a redesigned compass app for exploring, and even an 86-decibel siren to let people know if you get lost. Like the new Apple Watch Series 8 models, the Ultra comes with a temperature sensor.
Retailing at $799, Apple Watch Ultra is the Apple Watch that hardcore fitness fans have long been craving. But will its quirky, uncompromising looks catch on with mainstream audiences? Or is the Ultra destined to occupy a niche in the lineup?
The Apple Watch Series 8 focuses on women's health with a new body temperature sensor that can detect ovulation. Screenshot: Apple
Apple just unveiled the Watch Series 8 with a focus on women’s health, including a body temperature sensor that can help with advanced cycle tracking.
The new watch, available to pre-order today and shipping September 16, also features car crash detection, a new low-power mode, international roaming and new faces and bands.
Pricing starts at $399 for GPS, and $499 for cellular.
After months of beta testing, iOS 16 is finally coming to your iPhone. Photo: Apple
After months of beta testing, Apple on Wednesday confirmed September 12, 2022, as the final release date for iOS 16 and watchOS 9. The upcoming releases will add several new features to iPhone and Apple Watch.
They might look the same. but AirPods Pro bring powerful new features. Photo: Apple
At Apple’s ‘Far Out’ event, music lovers got a treat in the form of new AirPods Pro, Apple’s top wireless, noise-canceling earbuds — the first revision since their 2019 launch. The top-shelf buds keep the same design but gain support for personalized spatial audio, touch controls and precise location finding.
AirPods products are typically announced alongside new iPhones and Apple Watch models. Today was no exception, with their debut tying in with the new iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models, the new Apple Watch Series 8, SE and Ultra.
AirPods Pro 2 will be available for preorder on September 9 for a September 23 release date at $249.
The new Apple Watch SE is faster...and cheaper! Photo: Apple
At its Far Out event, Apple announced the updated Apple Watch SE 2. The new model shares some of the core features of the Apple Watch Series 8, including the S8 SiP.
Despite the upgrades, the 2022 Apple Watch SE is cheaper than the model it replaces.
Apple Pay adoption keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Photo: Apple
Apple Pay is now handling over $6 trillion in transactions a year, according to new research. That means the iPhone’s wireless payment system is now bigger than MasterCard and Alipay.
Since its inception in 2014, analysts report that Apple Pay has slowly grown to the point where a large majority of iPhone users now have it activated.
You can now only access Apple's online store after the 'Far Out' event. Screenshot: Rajesh
Apple’s online store went down Wednesday morning, a few hours ahead of the iPhone 14 event. The company typically makes its store inaccessible a few hours before any event or new hardware launch.
Besides the iPhone 14 series, Apple is expected to announce three new Apple Watch models and the AirPods Pro 2.
Brazil bans sale of iPhones without a bundled power adapter. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Brazil’s Justice Ministry has ordered Apple to stop selling iPhones without a power adapter in the box in the country. Additionally, it fined the company R$ 12.275 million (US$2.35 million).
The sales ban extends to all iPhones available in the country, including iPhone 12 and newer models.
There's a lot to look forward to on September 7 at 10 a.m. Image: Apple
The long-anticipated Apple early fall event is just around the corner. On September 7, executives will take to the stage at Apple Park to unveil an array of new products.
Here’s everything we’re expecting at the “Far Out” event, plus the devices we’ll likely have to wait until later in the year to see.
M2 MacBook Pro is down to its lowest ever price. Photo: Apple
You can score Apple’s M2 MacBook Pro with a whopping $200 discount on Amazon right now. The entry-level variant is off by $150, while the 512GB storage configuration is $200 down from its MSRP.
Since its launch, this is among the lowest prices we have tracked for the M2 MacBook Pro.
A recent leak of CAD renders revealed the possible design for the rumored Apple Watch Pro, a high-end smartwatch reportedly designed for extreme athletes. An artist subsequently turned those basic renders into images that show what the wearable might look like in future Apple adverts.
With Apple’s Far Out event set for Wednesday morning, we’re also hearing plenty of chatter about accessories for the company’s top-tier wrist computer, which is likely to be unveiled.
Some computer setups go for splashy color while others like to be monochromatic — often black and white, or one or the other. In today’s featured setup, an iOS and macOS software developer sets a Studio Display in a black-and-white scheme that hides an M1 MacBook Pro.
And they go for quality sound in the mix, too, with one of the world’s most popular USB microphones and an exceptional pair of open-back headphones.
The latest HyperJuice charger can fast charge a MacBook Pro, and handle ultimate other Apple devices too. Photo: Sanho/Hyper
MacBooks can take a lot of juice, and the HyperJuice 140W PD 3.1 USB-C Charger can dish it out. The three-port wall charger offers up to 140 watts of power, as its name indicates.
Hyper’s offering is much smaller than Apple’s own 140W charger, while including more ports.
Anker's new bio-cables and Nano 3 charger come in a variety of colors. Photo: Anker
With the iPhone 14 series imminent, Anker rolled out its tiny new Nano 3 wall charger Tuesday along with an “industry-first” set of eco-friendly, bio-based charging cables.
The gallium nitride-based Nano 3 is even smaller than before and packs 30W of power. But the real headliner may be the two sizes of plant-based USB-C charging cables for USB-C and Lighting devices.
And you can get the charger and cables in a choice of fanciful matching colors and at 10% off for two weeks, Anker said.
iPhone 13 Pro's A15 Bionic chip could power the iPhone 14 as well. Photo: Apple
A new report again corroborates rumors of the non-Pro iPhone 14 models featuring an enhanced A15 Bionic chip from 2021. The upcoming iPhones could use the same configuration as the A15 Bionic inside last year’s iPhone 13 Pro.
Apple typically uses the same A-series chip across its latest iPhones. This year though, it is reserving the best for the Pro models, which will get a new processor.
AirPods Pro 2 are almost here. Here's what we're expecting them to offer. (Don't get your hopes up about a black option.) Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
After three years, an upgraded version of AirPods Pro is finally expected at Apple’s September product event. But you don’t have to wait: Many details about Apple’s next wireless earbuds leaked out already.
They’re expected to be redesigned inside and out. Even the charging case reportedly will add new features.
Mifa's rugged nylon tactical band is popular. Photo: Mifa
As you (hopefully) kick back and relax on Labor Day, consider putting less of your hard-earned pay than usual toward a great variety of Apple Watch accessories. You can get 20% to 70% off in the Cult of Mac Store’s Labor Day Sale, which ends Tuesday.
You have your choice of a variety of Apple Watch bands, plus an Apple Watch charging stand and a hybrid USB-C power pack. Shop our Labor Day Sale now, or read about some of the great deals below.
Apple Watch Pro could have an extra physical button. Photo: 91Mobiles
Purported CAD renders of the Apple Watch Pro appeared online Monday, giving us a clear look at the rumored high-end wearable’s design. The renders show a new physical key on the left side of the watch.
The rugged Apple Watch variant will be aimed at athletes and endurance sports.
UPDATE:The Apple Watch Ultra was announced on September 7, and the leaked CAD drawings turned out 100% accurate. Read our preview of the smartwatch for all the details.