By: Dominick Sanchez
Apple announced several new products and innovations at its September event. The iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8 and SE, and Apple Watch Ultra were unveiled. Like Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in July, Apple used a hybrid method to introduce new products. A spectacularly produced video recording of the event was screened for an audience inside the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. The video was also live streamed for the public. Following the screening, the audience gathered in the cavernous lobby of the Steve Jobs theater. The spacious room drowned in natural light, the perfect atmosphere to highlight the beauty of the new products on display. It would be the second in person since the beginning of the Pandemic, the first being WWDC. There were several innovations introduced at the event.
The first was the shining star of the show, the iPhone 14 Pro. The September event is the yearly iPhone refresh. While always an exciting time of the year, this year’s event was particularly intriguing. For the past year, a replacement for the Notch (a large black peninsula-like cutout living on the top of the display) was rumored. The notch has always been a physical manifestation of a compromise. The size of the notch was necessary to conceal the hardware of the Face ID camera module.
In 2022, the technology matured enough to allow for a total redesign of the camera module. After months of rumors, the replacement for the notch was finally revealed. The innovation had arrived aptly named Dynamic Island. The Dynamic Island is a small pill-shaped cutout located where the notch once resided. While not entirely a complete replacement, the Island is far less obtrusive. The cutout was not only a hardware upgrade but also allowed the software to interact with it. The island now became almost like a second screen dedicated to notifications as well as an indicator for apps running in the background. For example: when closing the music app, album art appears in the island alongside a visual indicator that the song is playing.
A long press on the island grants a user the ability to control their music without interrupting their current app. It also makes switching between headphones and speakers far more convenient. Voice Memos and Phone Calls behave similarly to music. For Sports fans, the Island can also display current scores. The Island has the potential to grow and thrive into something extraordinary. We’re only witnessing the beginning.
An Example of the Dynamic Island controlling Music.
My Screenshots
Dynamic Island wasn’t the only innovation to come to the iPhone 14 Pro. It now includes an always-on display that will display time and notifications when the phone is locked. The camera received Its first major resolution upgrade in over 7 years. The last time that happened was the jump from 8 Megapixels on the iPhone 6 to 12 Megapixels on the iPhone 6S in 2015. The 14 Pro now includes a monstrous 48 Megapixel sensor. As a bonus, the larger sensor enables sensor cropping which enables a 2x optical zoom. The front-facing camera, 3X Telephoto lens, and Ultra Wide-Angle Lens also received upgrades. The larger sensor will also assist with video recording in low light. The Ultrawide Lens enables advanced image stabilization for high-paced motion shots using the new Action Mode on the Ultra-Wide Lens. The iPhone 14 Pro added two new safety features, Crash Detection and SOS Satellite messaging for emergencies. Crash Detection uses advanced microphones and accelerometers to detect if you’ve been in a serious car accident.
The phone will dial an alert if a crash is detected and if there is no response within 20 seconds it will automatically alert emergency services. The emergency SOS Satellite message feature will be useful for adventurers who may need emergency services when there is no cellular service available. It’s quite simple to use, dial 911, and if there is no available service the phone will prompt the user to use locate a satellite by pointing the phone at the sky until they locate a satellite signal. The phone will then send a message to the closest emergency services. Jokes have been made about the new emergency features stating buy this iPhone or die. While semi-true, they are only there for when you absolutely need them and hopefully, you never will.
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple
Apple also refreshed the Watch line with the Series 8, SE, and Ultra. The Series 8 gains the S8 processor, crash detection, and temperature sensing. The SE, Apple’s budget watch, shares the S8 processor but omits the new safety features, temperature sensor, and always-on display. The two standard watches were overshadowed by the new Apple Watch on the block, the Ultra. The Ultra is Apple’s answer for a rugged and durable adventure watch. The Ultra is composed of titanium with a flat sapphire screen, a first for the Apple Watch. A dedicated action button has been integrated into the left side of the watch. The button can be programmed to launch any app a user desires. The exclusive new Depth app measures water temperature, underwater duration, and depth to 130 feet.
The Ultra features advanced GPS with a dedicated exterior antenna. The design is unapologetically robust. It’s thicker, with sharper curves. The rounded body shifts inward and flattens on the face to house the flat sapphire crystal. On the right side of the watch are the Digital Crown and Home button which are now protected with a protruding shell-like covering. The design could best be described as SciFi meets retro-futuristic. If this design language can be applied to the rest of the line, the future of the Apple Watch looks to be an exciting one.