Celebrity Life

Apple on Tuesday began selling its Mac computers powered by the California giant's proprietary chips, which can allow the machines to operate more like its popular iPhones.

The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini will integrate Apple's new M1 chip which delivers improved battery life and allows the computers to run apps designed for mobile devices. The M1 replaces Intel chips used on earlier versions of the Apple computers.

The Cupertino firm announced plans in June to launch the new chip as part of its "Apple Silicon" initiative which gives it greater control over hardware and software.

[caption id="attachment_212161" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MacBook Air with M1 chip. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

Apple said in its release that "iPhone and iPad apps can now run directly on the Mac", although software developers will need to create compatible versions for the computers.

Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said it remains to be seen if the new computers will deliver promised performance but that Apple will gain more control over its production with the new strategy.

[caption id="attachment_212164" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini are now powered by M1, Apple’s revolutionary chip. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

"Compared to Apple iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and Watch, the Mac has underperformed as it less than 10% unit market share," Moorhead said.

"Given these challenges, the company has decided that the best strategy to help fix this issue is to make the Mac more like the iPhone and iPad by leveraging its mobile silicon into a computer platform and even allowing the Mac to run iOS apps."

More details here.

(Main and featured image: Apple)

The post The Latest Apple MacBooks are Powered by New In-House Chips and Run More Like iPhones appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

We review the latest iPhone 12 Pro, and discover that it's Apple’s best smartphone to date.

A month after its September Keynote, the $2-trillion tech company revealed a quartet of new iPhones: The iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Mini, the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The 12 and 12 Pro are now available, while the Mini and Pro Max are still on the way (with availability beginning November 13). This drop of iPhones are 5G-enabled, and all four have new systems.

The iPhone 12 is the successor to the iPhone 11 — both feature a dual camera system with wide and ultra-wide zooms. The 12 Mini, which has a 5.4-inch display, is simply a smaller version of the 12 (see photos taken with it here). The Pros, on the other hand, are the ones with the triple camera system (more about that later). Of the four, the 12 Pro Max boasts the biggest iPhone screen ever at 6.7 inches. It also has a longer battery life and (without getting into specifics) extra camera capabilities like further zoom, enhanced low-light performance and “sensor-shift” stabilisation for better-quality images and videos (the Pro shifts the lens instead to counter movements).

Now, you can say that the regular Pro doesn’t get you all of the cutting edge tech in the range, but do you want to be carrying a huge slab of glass around in your pocket? One that makes single-handed or gesture typing a pain because your thumb can’t reach the far end of the screen?

[caption id="attachment_211756" align="alignnone" width="777"] The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max side by side.[/caption]

Which brings us back to why I think the iPhone 12 Pro is the best handset, period. Sure, the extra camera tricks are cool and will presumably produce better results (albeit in some settings, which we shall see when it hits stores), but the regular Pro is more manageable than the Monster Max and just as impressive in performance.

Let’s start with the fundamentals that are standard across the 12s. It supports 5G — but until the local network catches up, the promise of faster speeds remains a promise. There’s the powerful A14 Bionic processor, Apple’s “fastest chip in a smartphone”, that makes everything from opening and switching apps to playing games run faster and smoother. Of course, this claim has been subjected to benchmark tests by Apple nerds from all over, and I’m pleased to report that the Pro not only outshone its predecessors (as you’d expect), it also obliterated pretty much every other phone in the market today in terms of speed and efficiency. Echoing tech reviewer Tom’s Guide, Android phones should just give up now.

It also has the gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED display for more true tone colours, darker blacks and crisper pictures, a “Ceramic Shield” glass that purportedly helps with screen shatter and scratches, sleek flat edges (fans of iPhones past, rejoice!), a IP68 water resistant rating (maximum depth of six metres up to 30 minutes), and a nifty magnetic backing branded as MagSafe that allows you to attach things like a cardholder or a wireless charger.

[caption id="attachment_211757" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The innovative new MagSafe system enables seamless, high-powered wireless charging and easy-to-attach accessories.[/caption]

With the iPhone 12 Pro, you’re essentially shelling out more for its kickass camera. Similar to the 11 Pro, it has a triple-lens setup: a primary wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field view and a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom range as well as a 10x digital zoom. In this year’s edition, the wide-angle lens lets in more light to capture more details thanks to the f/2.0 aperture, and the results are stunning.

But what is perhaps the most exciting upgrade in the Pros is the LiDAR scanner, which measures the distances of objects nearby using light reflection. It’s what NASA is using for its next Mars landing, and what Tesla is using for its self-driving cars. This translates to a better augmented reality experience, superior autofocus, and the ability to use the Portrait mode in low-light conditions. It’s also worth noting that you can now shoot smooth, incredibly detailed HDR videos at 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 frames per second.

[gallery ids="211763,211764,211758,211759,211760,211761,211762"]

This all sounds amazing, doesn’t it? It really is. The iPhone 12 Pro is an absolute beast. It’s speedy, the display is bright and beautiful, the speakers produce louder, clearer sound, and it takes fantastic images and videos.

That said, even Apple’s best has had a few complaints, such as the device doesn’t come with a power adapter and in-box wired earphones (for environmental reasons), and the battery life isn’t that much better than its predecessor. But if you’re coming from iPhone X and later, those are hardly problems. More details here about the iPhone 12 Pro.

This story was written entirely using the iPhone 12 Pro, and first appeared on Prestige Singapore

(All images: Apple)

The post Review: The iPhone 12 Pro is Apple’s Best Smartphone to Date appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Our hunch was right: Apple has revealed its first 5G iPhones.

Apple announced Wednesday morning it was releasing new iPhones using 5G, making it the latest smartphone maker to adapt to the new-generation, high-speed wireless networks.

"We are going to introduce 5G across our entire lineup of iPhone models," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at a streamed launch event from the company's headquarters in California on October 13. "Today is the beginning of a new era for iPhone."

The new models include the redesigned iPhone 12 — successor to the top-selling iPhone 11 launched last year — which will start at HK$6,799. A smaller iPhone 12 Mini with a 5.4 inch display will start at HK$5,999. There are also a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro (from HK$8,499) and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max (from HK$9,399) with the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone.

These will be available for pre-order in Hong Kong from October 16 at 8PM for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and from November 6 at 9PM for the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Click here for more details.

[caption id="attachment_211239" align="aligncenter" width="777"] The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max feature the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The new lineup of iPhones was expected to ignite a surge in interest in smartphone upgrades to take advantage of the faster networks.

Apple joins other handset makers including Samsung and Huawei in introducing smartphones taking advantage of the growing 5G footprint around the world, which could open up new markets and technologies.

5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more as sensors and servers communicate instantly.

[caption id="attachment_211240" align="aligncenter" width="712"] The new Apple HomePod Mini. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The growth of 5G could also be a catalyst to revive a sluggish smartphone market. Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC.

Apple also introduced a new version of its HomePod smart speaker standing just eight centimetres (3.3 inches tall). The HomePod mini, which responds to voice commands and plays music, will start at HK$749. Pre-orders can be placed here from November 6 onwards.

(All images: Apple)

The post Apple Introduces its New 5G iPhones, Including Four iPhone 12 Models appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Our hunch was right: Apple has revealed its first 5G iPhones.

Apple announced Wednesday morning it was releasing new iPhones using 5G, making it the latest smartphone maker to adapt to the new-generation, high-speed wireless networks.

"We are going to introduce 5G across our entire lineup of iPhone models," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at a streamed launch event from the company's headquarters in California on October 13. "Today is the beginning of a new era for iPhone."

The new models include the redesigned iPhone 12 — successor to the top-selling iPhone 11 launched last year — which will start at HK$6,799. A smaller iPhone 12 Mini with a 5.4 inch display will start at HK$5,999. There are also a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro (from HK$8,499) and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max (from HK$9,399) with the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone.

These will be available for pre-order in Hong Kong from October 16 at 8PM for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and from November 6 at 9PM for the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Click here for more details.

[caption id="attachment_211239" align="aligncenter" width="777"] The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max feature the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The new lineup of iPhones was expected to ignite a surge in interest in smartphone upgrades to take advantage of the faster networks.

Apple joins other handset makers including Samsung and Huawei in introducing smartphones taking advantage of the growing 5G footprint around the world, which could open up new markets and technologies.

5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more as sensors and servers communicate instantly.

[caption id="attachment_211240" align="aligncenter" width="712"] The new Apple HomePod Mini. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The growth of 5G could also be a catalyst to revive a sluggish smartphone market. Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC.

Apple also introduced a new version of its HomePod smart speaker standing just eight centimetres (3.3 inches tall). The HomePod mini, which responds to voice commands and plays music, will start at HK$749. Pre-orders can be placed here from November 6 onwards.

(All images: Apple)

The post Apple Introduces its New 5G iPhones, Including Four iPhone 12 Models appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.