From new iPads to online Fitness Classes, Apple have announced a whole load of new products and services

On the 15th of September Apple announced their upcoming plans and product releases in a virtual event watched by thousands of us across the world. Despite much theory and rumours beforehand, the technology giant did not reveal any secrets regarding the long-awaited iPhone 12 or its potential release date – however, they did announce several exciting new products that are set for release in 2020. Here’s a round up of everything announced.

Apple Watch Series 6

Last year, Apple shipped an estimated 30.7 watches (more than the entire Swiss watch industry) – which is no surprise as the company continually invests in new technology, bringing forward products that are on the cutting edge of design and practicality. Fortunately, the same can be said for the new generation of Apple Watch – Series 6 (£379). Though still sporting the traditional and rather compact Apple Watch design, the Apple Watch Series 6 is both faster and more powerful. Like its predecessors, it has an impressive 18-hour battery life but now has fast-charging capabilities too – reaching full battery in just 1 hour and 30 minutes.

In addition to improving the efficiency of the watch, Apple has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting its users in their health and fitness journeys, adding a range of new capabilities, including:

• A blood oxygen sensor & app. This allows you to better understand how your body is absorbing oxygen, which contributes to your overall health and wellness.
• ECG (Electrocardiogram) capabilities that track how your heart is functioning.
• An always-on retina display that allows you to keep constant track of your fitness metrics when you are on the go.
• An updated sleep monitoring app that helps you track how well you have slept that night and establish a better nighttime routine.
• An always-on altimeter that records more precise metrics for when you are working out by tracking any changes in elevation. This works both inside and outside.

Apple also announced several new designs and styles for the Apple Watch Series 6. Including:

• Red and Blue aluminium casing.
• The SoloLoop. An innovative new seamless strap, without a clasp or buckle. Tailored to the size of your wrist and available in a range of colours.
• New watch faces to allow for a more personal look and feel, fully customisable to your needs and wants.

Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE (£269) is the most affordable Apple Watch launch to date. However, despite the more purse-string friendly pricing, the watch is twice as fast as the Apple Watch 3. The Apple Watch SE offers a slightly stripped-back version on the current watches, with more basic health and fitness monitors, but can still be paired with phones and used to make your day that little bit easier. You can play music, listen to podcasts and play games using this service, in addition to sending and receiving messages and phone calls.

The watch has the same iconic design as the Apple Watch 6 Series and also includes fall detection and emergency SOS capabilities, giving you greater peace of mind.

Many have suggested that this watch is perfect for children or elderly relatives, who do not need access to the advanced health monitoring capabilities but could still benefit from what the watch has to offer. This ties in nicely with Apple’s announcement of a new Family Setup.

The Family Setup means you can use your iPhone to pair watches for children (or adults) who don’t have an iPhone, meaning you can an all stay in touch via phone, text message or even walkie-talkie.

Fitness+

Once again demonstrating their commitment to get people moving, Apple has launched a new initiative, known as Fitness+ (£9.99 a month), set for release in late 2020. A subscription to Fitness+ will give the user access to a range of high-quality workouts and tutorials, each led by one of the world’s top trainers. In addition to an impressive catalogue of workouts, each week, they will gain access to new tutorials to support them on their fitness journey. The workouts will vary in intensity and skill, allowing you to try your hand at a range of different exercises – from HIT workouts to Yoga and beyond. Fitness+ is therefore described as being perfect for people of all levels of fitness – catering to beginners as well as more experienced athletes.

iPad Air

Set for an October release, the latest take on the iPad includes an all-screen design with liquid retina display. Apple claims that the lightweight iPad Air (£579) is the most advanced rendition yet, due to the addition of the A14 Bionic chip, which promises:

• 40% faster CPU
• 30% faster graphics
• 2x faster machine learning

Furthermore, artists will be pleased to hear that it can be paired with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil, allowing you to easily create masterful work on the go. It is also compatible with the Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, meaning it is both practical and stylish. The iPad Air is available in five colours: silver, space grey, rose gold, green and sky blue.

Apple One

Finally, Apple also announced the launch of a brand-new subscription service; Apple One (£14.95 a month). For a monthly fee, you can gain access to six of Apples most popular services, as opposed to paying for each service separately, including:

• Apple Music
• Apple TV+
• Apple Arcade
• iCloud
• Apple News+
• Apple Fitness+ (Upon late 2020 release)

The service subscription is designed to keep the whole family entertained, informed, fit and healthy and can be purchased on an individual, premier or family basis – saving you quite a lot of money in the long run if you use all or most of the services. Users will be given the opportunity to receive a one month free subscription to the service to test it out for themselves and the subscription can be cancelled at any time.

In conclusion, Apple’s latest event has proven why they remain a giant within the technology industry, beyond just phones and laptops. They are continually moving forward with new products and services to offer their loyal customers and there is a definite increased focus on subscription services, to help generate ongoing revenue streams. Although the premeditated announcement of the iPhone 12 did not come into fruition after all – we are sure we will be hearing about that very soon too.

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