Tech

Apple’s new iPhones, watches are coming at a tough time for consumers

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Apple expected to unveil new range of iPhone 14 models, Watches.
“Apple is not immune to economic weakness,” says analyst.
Fan base has shown willingness to keep spending despite high inflation.

Apple on Wednesday is expected to unveil a new range of iPhone 14 models and Apple Watches that will test how willing consumers are to upgrade gadgets in the face of inflation and economic gloom.

Analysts expect Apple to announce that the latest iPhones can send emergency messages using satellites at the event titled “Far Out” at its Cupertino, California, headquarters. Beyond that, analysts expect a family of iPhone 14 models with incremental upgrades — slightly better cameras, processor chips and, critically for Apple’s bottom line, prices $100 or higher than last year’s models.

To be sure, the world’s most valuable listed company will also likely keep some older or less advanced models at lower prices, and to date, Apple’s relatively affluent fan base has shown more willingness to keep spending despite high inflation. But the new models will be Apple’s sales anchor during holiday shopping seasons in Western markets during a turbulent period. “Apple is not immune to economic weakness,” Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi wrote in a note to clients.

This year’s iPhones may have the ability to send emergency messages through a satellite internet connection when WiFi and mobile networks are not available. The messaging functions would likely be rudimentary, and other companies are working on similar functions. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said last month T-Mobile will use its satellites to connect phones directly to the internet.

Bob O’Donnell of TECHnalysis Research said that the peace of mind from being able to send emergency messages could spur Apple users to upgrade their phones for the satellite feature.

“Even though it’s not something you do every day, it’ll change your perspective on what you do with your phone,” he said.

Analysts also expect Apple to show a new range of Apple Watches, including an upgraded budget model called the SE and a Series 8 Watch. They also expect a new high-end watch called the Apple Watch Pro that will likely include new features for athletes, taking aim at rivals such as Garmin Ltd.

But while accessories like the Apple Watch have driven incremental sales from Apple’s existing user base, the iPhone remains the bedrock of its business with 52.4% of sales in its most recent fiscal year. Investors have been watching for Apple’s next major product category since the Apple Watch launched in 2015.

Some analysts believe Apple might give a preview of that future by showing a mixed-reality headset on Wednesday. The device is expected to have cameras that pass-through view of the outside world to the wearer while overlaying digital objects on the physical world. Analysts do not expect the device to go on sale until next year at the earliest.

An early preview would be rare for Apple, which keeps its product plans secret until just before devices hit the market. A rival headset called Project Cambria is in the works from Meta Platforms, which is spending billions of dollars on the project.

But in order to have compelling apps for a new headset, Apple might need to give developers time to become familiar with it. “Developing for a new and radically different type of platform is going to take people a lot longer,” O’Donnell said.

Latest News

SIFC Wants To Promote Innovation In Agriculture: An Agriculture Event With Networking And Exhibitions

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Karachi is the starting point for the two-day international conference on sustainable agriculture.

The conference, organised by exhibitor TV, ripple concept, and the Pakistan Media Development Foundation, is backed by the Green Pakistan Initiative, which has recently achieved significant strides.

Enhancing agricultural productivity with contemporary technology is the goal of this event, which is in line with the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s emphasis on agriculture.

Experts will talk about sustainable techniques and organic farming, and there will be a plenary discussion on the land information and management system.

The event will include exhibits that highlight contemporary methods and technology, giving professionals and stakeholders a place to network.

Sindh and Balochistan’s agriculture departments will display their accomplishments in provincial pavilions. The Bank of Punjab, National Bank of Pakistan, and Saudi-Pak Investment Company are among the sponsors who will help make the event possible.

Latest News

Apple provides a $1 million incentive to hack its secret AI cloud.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

A reward of up to $1 million has been offered by the multinational computer giant Apple to anyone who breaches its Private Cloud Compute, which will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

The corporation recently posted a blog post titled “Security research on Private Cloud Compute,” in which it offered a reward to anyone who could find cloud service vulnerabilities that could endanger the service.

The news coincided with Apple’s planned release of iOS 18.1 and Apple Intelligence on iPhones the following week.

For the first time, the update will also bring AI capabilities to the iPhone, such improvements to Siri, the speech assistant.

The tech giant will use its own silicon servers to power the Private Cloud computation, which it describes as “the most advanced security architecture ever deployed for cloud AI compute at scale.”

“We made resources to facilitate this inspection, such as the PCC Virtual Research Environment, available to third-party auditors and a few security researchers in advance in the weeks following our announcement of Apple Intelligence and PCC,” Apple stated in the blog.

The business has extended an invitation to researchers, security experts, and anybody else who wants to pinpoint the platform’s weaknesses.

In addition to giving $1 million for identifying significant vulnerabilities through “remote attack on request data,” the corporation is rewarding anyone who can gain access to sensitive information or user request data outside the boundaries of trust with $250,000.

Apple went on to say, “We will consider any security issue that has a significant impact to PCC for an Apple Security Bounty reward, even if it doesn’t match a published category, because we care deeply about any compromise to user privacy or security.”

It would “consider each report based on the quality of the information provided, the evidence of what can be exploited, and the impact to users,” according to Apple.

Visit the Apple Security Prize page to submit your research and learn more about the project, which is open to anybody interested in participating and winning the prize.

Latest News

WhatsApp will introduce new tools for sharing music and managing stickers.

Published

6 days ago

Farwa

According to reports, WhatsApp is developing two intriguing new features that would improve the user experience. Several reports indicate that one of these enhancements is aimed at enhancing the way users organize their sticker collections.

Details reveal that users will soon be able to quickly arrange their stickers by adding them to their favorites or selecting many stickers at once for deletion, which will move them to the top for easy access.

Users will also be able to make their own personalized sticker packs within WhatsApp thanks to this future functionality. Users have more control over their collections and can add or delete stickers as necessary to maintain a unique and customized look. Additionally, group conversations and contacts can be used to share these personalized sticker packs.

Additionally, it has been rumored that WhatsApp is developing a new function that would enable users to exchange music via status updates. When users post a picture or a video to their status, a music button will be added to the drawing editor.

Even while these capabilities are still in the early stages of development, they should be included in upcoming updates, giving WhatsApp users more imaginative options.