Far Out event

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We can’t figure out which is more exciting, the brawny new Apple Watch Ultra or the brainy new Dynamic Island. Will the rugged new smartwatch prove too big for Erfon’s skinny wrists? Or does its bold size and styling elevate it to “big enough” status?

Also on The CultCast:

• iPhone 14 Pro is a no-brainer, thanks to a killer camera and the aforementioned Dynamic Island.
• The “normie” iPhone 14 looks … pretty normal.
• What is up with Apple’s iPhone color palette? Can we please get something a little edgier?!?

Brace yourself for our breathless reactions to Apple’s Far Out event — which was actually pretty far out!

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

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Should AirPods Pro owners upgrade to AirPods Pro 2?

The new set boasts a host of upgrades that could easily be worth it for many people — especially because the price hasn’t increased — and may even tempt owners of the relatively new and well-reviewed AirPods (3rd generation).

One of the bigger surprises at Apple’s Far Out event Wednesday wasn’t in the hardware itself, but in its pricing. As in, it didn’t go up as it often does, at least in the U.S. market — despite rising inflation and the supply chain backups we heard so much about.

In fact, considering inflation, it’s almost like prices went down. That said, while each iPhone 14 model kept the same price as its iPhone 13 counterpart in the U.S., prices rose in many foreign markets.

What gives? Is Apple impervious to inflation? Some analysts think it’s more likely a shrewd strategy to sustain demand.

Apple definitely over-delivered with Wednesday’s Far Out event. The rumor mill’s constant churn of leaks and speculation gave us a solid framework for our expectations, but Cupertino’s hardware and software wizards still whipped out a few surprises.

Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 14 lineup, second-gen AirPods Pro and the 2022 Apple Watch models — including that hot new Ultra version for extreme athletes (and couch potatoes with solid credit ratings).

If you’re in a severe car accident, your iPhone 14 will be able to tell and it can contact emergency services if you’re unconscious.

The feature will also be incorporated into the most recent Apple Watch models.

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?

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 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 unveiled the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max at the same product event on Wednesday.

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?

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, 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.

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.

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.

Today is the day! Apple’s “Far Out” product launch event kicks off in just a few hours. The iPhone 14 series, three new Apple Watch models and more are all expected.

Just like past such events, this year’s will be streaming online, so you’ll be able to watch it in its entirety as it all unfolds. Here’s how.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

The iPhone 14 is expected this week, but you don’t have to wait until Wednesday – most of the details have leaked out already. We know about the new Plus version, the higher-res camera, the always-on display and much more.

So why wait? Here’s all the leaked details on the 2022 iPhone.

CAD renders supposedly of the AirPods Pro 2 charging case appeared online Friday, revealing some changes potentially coming to Apple’s noise-canceling earbuds. They show an opening for a lanyard attachment as well as speaker holes that could make misplaced AirPods Pro easier to locate.

Apple might announce the second-gen AirPods Pro alongside the iPhone 14 at its Far Out event on September 7.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Last-minute leaks indicate iPhone 14 Pro might not suffer the indignity of the “pillhole.” And that’s not the end of the revelations and guesswork prior to Apple’s Far Out event next Wednesday.

Also on The CultCast:

• Soon, all your Apple devices will talk to satellites.
• Apple Watch Pro is all about the battery life so it can keep pace with endurance athletes.
• AI-generated art is getting really good — and really creepy!

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.

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Those who just can’t wait until the September 7 Apple event can tide themselves over with a concept video of one of the hottest products expected to be on the agenda. The iPhone 14 Plus will allegedly have the same size screen as the Pro Max, but at a much lower price.

Watch a video concept of the upcoming device in action.

Leaks about the “pill and hole” design of the iPhone 14 Pro models started months ago, but Apple still might have a surprise up its sleeve. A new report indicates that software will merge the two display cutouts into one.

Note that this is not a hardware change – the screen between the two cutouts will be darkened in software so they appear to be combined.

Apple could use a bigger ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 14 Pro models. Apart from a significant jump in component cost, the bigger sensor should help improve low-light image quality.

The company is already rumored to use a larger 48MP primary camera on the Pro iPhones this year.