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Apple

Apple Updates Technologies to Push the App Experience Forward

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Apple has unveiled new tools, technologies and APIs designed to help developers create ‘rich experiences for their users’.

“We love collaborating with our developer community and providing them with new innovative technologies that enable them to build the next great generation of apps,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing. “With powerful new APIs for widgets on the Lock Screen, new services like WeatherKit, the availability of Xcode Cloud to help every Apple developer build apps faster, and new gaming capabilities with Metal 3, developers have more tools than ever to create app experiences that their users will love.”

Xcode Cloud is now available with a range of subscription plans, starting with 25 hours per month free through December 2023 to all members of the Apple Developer Program and topping out at 1,000 hours per month.

The Xcode 14 features new enhancements to further improve developer productivity. According to reports, project builds are up to 25 percent faster, thanks to improved parallelism, and the Xcode application is now 30 percent smaller to download, with downloadable simulator runtimes for watchOS and tvOS. The new multiplatform target creates a single SwiftUI interface for use across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS. The new App Icon feature in Assets Catalog allows developers to provide a single icon size for all platforms, and Xcode automatically generates all the required assets for the app. Xcode includes language and editing enhancements with smarter autocompletion, and additional dynamic snippets get developers to the code they want to write faster.

Metal 3, the latest version of Apple’s graphics framework, also comes with new features such as MetalFX Upscaling that enables developers to quickly render complex scenes by using less compute-intensive frames, and then apply high-quality spatial upscaling and temporal anti-aliasing. Game developers also benefit from a new Fast Resource Loading API that minimises wait time by providing a more direct path from storage to the GPU.

Swift and SwiftUI have added new features that streamline the development process.
With new Package Plugins available in Swift Package Manager, it’s now easier for developers to run custom commands on their projects, and even upload and share the commands with others. SwiftUI has added Custom Layouts to enable developers to go beyond common app layouts and create versions that work best for their app designs.

WeatherKit enables developers to integrate the same world-class global weather forecast that powers Apple Weather directly into their apps. It is available to developers through both native Swift and REST APIs, and comes with 500,000 API calls per month included with an Apple Developer Program membership. With improvements to SKAdNetwork, ad networks and developers can better measure how ads perform while still preserving user privacy. Additionally, the latest APIs available to the developers include Widgets on the Lock Screen, Live Text, Collaboration tools, Passkeys, MapKit, Focus filters, Automatic Shortcuts, watchOS 9, RoomPlan and Live Activities.

Apple Unmasks Range of Devices

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iPhone SE

The iPhone SE comes in a compact and durable design that incorporates a 4.7-inch display, aerospace-grade aluminium and glass along with IP67 rated water and dust resistance.

It features iOS 15 and has upgrades including the A15 Bionic chip packed with a 6-core CPU, which powers advanced camera capabilities such as photo editing, gaming and augmented reality. It also features a 12-megapixel ƒ/1.8 aperture Wide camera that offers features such as Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Deep Fusion and Portrait mode. Along with 5G, the device comes in three colours i.e. Midnight, Starlight and (PRODUCT)RED.

The iPhone SE will be available from March 18 onwards, in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants starting at INR 43,900.

ipad Air

The iPad Air features the M1 chip that comes combined with an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU for faster and more power-efficient performance, along with a 16-core Neural Engine that powers machine learning functions. It comes with an ultra-wide 12MP front camera with Center Stage function that automatically pans to keep users in view as they move. It also has a 12MP wide camera on the back for 4K video, scanning documents and AR functions. It comes with 5G and connectivity features include eSIM and Wi-Fi 6 support, along with a USB-C port, with data transfers up to 10Gbps. It has a thin and light design and comes in Space Grey, Starlight, Pink, Purple and Blue colours in 64GB and 256GB configurations. The device has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and landscape stereo speakers. Accessories include the Apple pencil which comes with wireless charging and pairing.

The iPad Air will be in stores from March 18, at a starting price of INR 54,900 (Wi-Fi) and INR 68,900 (Wi-Fi + Cellular).

Mac Studio

The Mac Studio is powered by M1 Max and the new M1 Ultra chips.

The device is built from a single aluminium extrusionwith a square footprint of 7.7 inches and a height of 3.7 inches. Its thermal design includes a system of double-sided blowers, precisely placed airflow channels to help cool the M1 Max and the M1 Ultra chips.

M1 Ultra builds on M1 Max and features the UltraFusion architecture that interconnects the die of two M1 Max chips, creating a system on a chip (SoC) and consisting of 114 billion transistors. It features up to 64GB of unified memory on systems with M1 Max and up to 128GB of unified memory on systems with M1 Ultra. The SSD in Mac Studio delivers up to 7.4GB/s of performance and a capacity of up to 8TB. Connectivity options include four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gb Ethernet port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port and a pro audio jack for high-impedance headphones or external amplified speakers. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are built in as well.

Studio Display

The Studio Display features a 27-inch 5K Retina screen with over 14.7 million pixels, 600 nits of brightness, P3 wide colour, and support for over one billion colours. Its design includes narrow borders and an all-aluminium enclosure with height-adjustable and tilt display (up to 30 degrees). A VESA mount adapter option is also available. It features True Tone technology that automatically adjusts the display’s colour temperature as the environment changes.

It also comes with the A13 Bionic chip, along with the 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage feature. The device includes a three-microphone array with a low noise floor and features a six-speaker sound system and four force-cancelling woofers that support spatial audio for music and video with Dolby Atmos. Connectivity options include three USB-C ports (up to 10Gb/s) and a Thunderbolt port (connected using a single cable that can also deliver 96W of power to a Mac notebook). The Mac Studio and Studio Display are available for on apple.com/in/store and in the Apple Store app. They will be in available select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorised Resellers, beginning Friday, March 18. The price for Mac Studio starts at INR 1,89,900 while the Studio Display starts at INR 1,59,900.

The new 24-inch iMac offers a significant boost in performance

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The ultra-thin and the new iMac 24”, available in seven beautiful colours, makes a bold statement. It’s 11.5mm thickness can be credited to the superior 8-core Apple M1 chip which integrates the processor, graphics, 16-core Neural Engine, and more, into a single chip.

As the name suggests, this computer features a 24-inch 4.5K (4480 x 2520) Retina display with the P3 wide colour gamut. The screen offers a max brightness of 500 nits, and along with the True Tone technology, the iMac’s display far surpasses those of others. This iMac is integrated with a 7-core GPU in the base model, and an 8-core GPU in higher models.

The base model of the iMac 24” offers an internal storage capacity of 256GB SSD, with the 512GB option available in the higher-end variant. It features 8GB of unified memory which expandable up to 16GB. Apart from providing wide stereo sound and Siri-support, the iMac 24” enables connections through a DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3, USB 4, USB 3.1 Gen 2 (in the higher-end variants) and more. It also comes with its famous Magic Keyboard and the Magic Mouse. Additionally, the iMac is also armed with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and a six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers. For immersive audio, the iMac offers a wide stereo sound and supports spatial audio when the video is played with Dolby Atmos.

The 24-inch iMac runs on the powerful macOS Big Sur – which offers significant upgrades and a refined new design which consists of streamlined apps, a refreshed dock, an intuitive control panel, notification center and more. Siri’s voice recognition capabilities are also facilitated with this new iMac. More so, it also supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. The iMac weighs just under 10lbs and it comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one-year limited warranty.

The base model of the 24-inch iMac costs Rs. 1,19,900. The 24-inch iMac with an 8-core CPU + 8-core GPU + 256GB of storage costs Rs. 1,39,900, whereas the top model – which is equipped with an 8-core CPU + 8-core GPU + 512GB of storage – costs Rs. 1,59,900. For more information, please visit this page.

Stuffcool launches essential iPhone 12 accessories

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Having already established themselves as a reliable and durable brand providing high-quality accessories for today’s smartphones, Stuffcool has launched many new accessories for the newly-launched iPhone 12 – which, whether you like it or not – is the primary option for countless users who are integrated and drawn to Apple’s world.

Stuffcool has launched iPhone 12 cases, screen protectors, power delivery chargers, power banks, and cables.

iPhone 12 cases are launched under three brands: ‘Case-Mate’, ‘Pelican’, and ‘Stuffcool’. Here is a list and accompanying details of the cases launched:

Stuffcool Ice Case – At Rs. 799, this hybrid solid case with a raised lip protection has integrated knob buttons and transparency to showcase the Apple logo.

Stuffcool Spike Case – Available in a diamond design which comes in three colours: red, black, and silver, this case is similar to the ice case and costs the same as well.

Stuffcool Silo Case – Sporting a flexible wrap-around design, this rubber-coated impact-resistant case comes with closed knob buttons, open ports, and a microfiber lining on the inside. It costs Rs. 1,099.

Case-Mate Twinkle Ombre – This case, which costs Rs. 1,695, comes with glitter suspended in a transparent liquid-filled chamber in the rear, and the one-piece design is made with the MicroPel Antimicrobial Protection technology, which is also wireless-charging ready and provides drop protection of up to 10ft.

Case-Mate Barely There – This 2mm thick case is built with a crystal clear scratch-resistant material which enables users to also show off the original iPhone colours. It costs Rs. 1,295.

Case-Mate Tough Clear and Tough Clear Plus: Costing Rs. 1,695 and Rs. 1,895, respectively, these one-piece crystal clear designs provide drop protections of 10 and 15 feet, respectively.

Case-Mate Rifle Paperl: Case-Mate collaborates with Rifle Paperl to bring a unique scratch-resistant transparent case with new designs (White Hydrangea, Mini Bouquet, and Floral Vines) featuring MicroPel and 10ft drop protection. These cases cost Rs. 2,495.

Pelican Rogue: This case is described to be ‘made from a seriously tough material’ and they’re tear, pierce, and scratch-resistant. This case also is good at shock distribution and durability. It costs Rs. 1,895.

Pelican Ranger: This case, which costs Rs. 2,395, is built for those who like to be on the road and backpackers. It features a ‘Force Impact Technology’ with dual-layer protection and a 15ft drop protection. This case costs Rs. 2,395.

When it comes to screen protectors, Stuffcool has launched the ‘Stuffcool MightyGlass 2.5D’ which provides a 2.5D 9H hardness which is a more-than-suitable protector of the iPhone’s delicate retina display. The bubble-free installation of the MightyGlass doesn’t interfere with the phone’s superior touch features and for Rs. 999, this is definitely a must-have accessory.

Stuffcool also launched power delivery chargers:

Stuffcool Celox PD Charger: This charger is an 18W BIS-approved fast charger that costs Rs. 1,499.

Stuffcool Celox Pus PD Charger: This dual-port charger costs Rs. 1,699 and consists of a Type-C PD 18W port and a Type A 2.4A port.

Stuffcool’s new power banks start from Rs. 1,699 and are the following:

Stuffcool PB81PD: This is a highly-compact 5000mAh power bank which consists of a Type-C PD18W port and a Type-A QC3.0 compatible.

Stuffcool PB2070UF – This 20,000mAh power bank is integrated with a multi-protocol fast-charging compatibility featuring multiple I/O ports. It is PD18W QC3.0 compatible and it costs Rs. 2,999.

Stuffcool PB1071PD – This 10,000mAh power bank is very similar to the PB2070UF and is slightly more compact and portable. It costs Rs. 2,699.

When it comes to data cables, Stuffcool have launched the following:

Stuffcool Bolt Cable: This 1.2m strain-relief TPE+TPE cable is Apple MFi Certified and costs Rs. 1,699.

Stuffcool Finesse Cable: This Type-C to Lightning cable has a 90-degree right-angled strain relief connector design with a cotton braided 1.2m long cable. This cable costs Rs. 1,699 as well.

All the above-listed products are now available on Amazon, Flipkart, and Stuffcool’s website.

New iPhone SE is going to be released soon, sign up now to get ahead of the line

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In the May 2020 issue of our print and digital magazine, we rolled out the specs of the latest iPhone SE, which will also be the cheapest iPhone currently in the market, starting at Rs. 42,500 for the 64GB variant. The 128GB and 256GB variants will cost Rs. 47,800 and Rs. 58,300. However, the launch dates were not revealed by Apple, but now, the phone’s launch is nearer than we expected.

On Sunday, a banner of the iPhone SE went live on Facebook and on Flipkart’s app, and users can register to get notified about the iPhone SE’s sale details. However, due to the ongoing pandemic – many areas are still unserviceable but given the country opening up little-by-little, it’s a matter of weeks the phone will be delivered to customers soon.

You can also order on the India I-Store, who have also tied up with HDFC bank to offer a cashback of Rs. 3600. Click on the link provided for more information.

Now, just to recap, the new iPhone SE is powered by the mighty A13 Bionic chipset, which also powers heavyweights like the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. The smooth iOS 13 coupled with the 4.7-inch Retina HD display offers a classic feel to the UI with sharp and colourful aesthetics. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback. Apple have hailed the iPhone SE to possess the ‘best single-camera system in an iPhone’ as it’s equipped with a 12MP camera with the lens opening up to an aperture of f/1.8, which is highly sought-after for better and crisp portraits with 6 ‘Portrait Lighting’ effects. The camera can also capture 4K videos at up to 60 fps.

The iPhone SE surely holds promise of being a new favourite in today’s saturated market and there’s little to no doubt that people will flock to purchase the phone, as and when e-tailers like Flipkart start delivering non-essential good once restrictions are eased. Until then, stay indoors and stay safe.