Apple Unveils iPhone 7: Water-Resistant Smartphone Omits Traditional Headphone Jack
Tech giant also announced second generation of
Apple Watch
including water-resistant features and the absence of a dedicated headset jack
— marking an evolution rather than a stunning breakthrough for the flagship
smartphone line.
The official announcement at Apple’s San Francisco event Wednesday comes after
weeks of leaks and speculation about the next iPhone. Instead of a headphone jack,
the iPhone 7 will use Apple’s proprietary Lightning charging port to connect a headset
(included with the smartphones); alternatively users also can connect to wireless
earbuds via Bluetooth, and the iPhone 7 will also include an adapter to connect to
analog headphones. Apple also is introducing AirPods: new wireless earbuds that
will be sold separately.
The reason Apple is eliminating the traditional headphone port “comes down to
one word: courage, the courage to move on to do something that betters all of us,”
said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior VP of worldwide marketing. He noted that the
change reduces the components required in the iPhone 7.
However, on the water- and dust-resistant features, Apple is playing catch-up:
Major rival Samsung Electronics has highlighted the waterproof features of its
Galaxy S7 Android-based smartphones, which can sustain being submerged
for up to 30 minutes in five feet of water.
The iPhone 7 and larger-size iPhone 7 Plus will begin shipping Sept. 16,
according to Apple.
The new models also have a 12-megapixel rear camera, which includes an
optical image stabilizer, improvements for low-light photography, and the ability
to capture a wider range of colors, among other features. The iPhone 7 Plus
features a dual-lens camera system (a wide-angle and one telephoto lens)
designed to improve zoom capabilities and capture 3D-like images. Apple says
the Retina displays for the new phones are 25% brighter than
those in the iPhone 6s, and the iPhone 7 includes for the first time stereo
speakers.Apple is banking on the iPhone refresh — which has become
an annual traditional — to boost sales of the flagship device line. Unit
over-year during the quarter ended June 30, following a falloff in the
prior quarter. Apple, the world’s biggest tech conglomerate, posted
iPhone sales of $24.0 billion in the most recent quarter, representing
57% of total revenue.
Still, it’s not clear that the iPhone 7 enhancements will spur Apple’s
hoped-upgrade rush among current iPhone users, who may be growing
less inclined to toss out their existing
devices on a yearly cycle.
Apple’s removal of the iPhone headphone jack had been widely anticipated,
as was the dual-lens camera. Reports prior to the launch also said
would increase storage for the iPhone, with the entry-level model
including 32 gigabytes of memory (up from 16 GB previously) along with
a new 256-gigabyte version. Also at the event, the company launched the
to a depth of 50 meters and includes built-in GPS to
provide location-based services. The new smartwatch lineup includes Apple
Watch Nike+ model, a companion device for runners that tracks workouts.
In addition, Apple announced that an app for Niantic’s “Pokémon Go” mobile
game will be available for Apple Watch. Niantic CEO John Hanke said the
game, released in July, has been downloaded 500 million times to date.
The Apple Watch Series 2 will be priced starting at $369 (as will the Nike+ model).
The original Apple Watch, now called Series 1, will start at $269. According to CEO
Tim Cook, Apple Watch was second in revenue in 2015 only to Rolex in the
worldwide watch market. (The company did not reveal actual sales figures.)
In a video at the outset of the event, Cook rode in a car with James Corden in a
“Carpool Karaoke” setup, along with the singer Pharrell Williams. That gave Cook
the opportunity to call out Apple’s deal with CBS to debut episodes
including water-resistant features and the absence of a dedicated headset jack
— marking an evolution rather than a stunning breakthrough for the flagship
smartphone line.
The official announcement at Apple’s San Francisco event Wednesday comes after
weeks of leaks and speculation about the next iPhone. Instead of a headphone jack,
the iPhone 7 will use Apple’s proprietary Lightning charging port to connect a headset
(included with the smartphones); alternatively users also can connect to wireless
earbuds via Bluetooth, and the iPhone 7 will also include an adapter to connect to
analog headphones. Apple also is introducing AirPods: new wireless earbuds that
will be sold separately.
The reason Apple is eliminating the traditional headphone port “comes down to
one word: courage, the courage to move on to do something that betters all of us,”
said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior VP of worldwide marketing. He noted that the
change reduces the components required in the iPhone 7.
However, on the water- and dust-resistant features, Apple is playing catch-up:
Major rival Samsung Electronics has highlighted the waterproof features of its
Galaxy S7 Android-based smartphones, which can sustain being submerged
for up to 30 minutes in five feet of water.
The iPhone 7 and larger-size iPhone 7 Plus will begin shipping Sept. 16,
according to Apple.
The new models also have a 12-megapixel rear camera, which includes an
optical image stabilizer, improvements for low-light photography, and the ability
to capture a wider range of colors, among other features. The iPhone 7 Plus
features a dual-lens camera system (a wide-angle and one telephoto lens)
designed to improve zoom capabilities and capture 3D-like images. Apple says
the Retina displays for the new phones are 25% brighter than
those in the iPhone 6s, and the iPhone 7 includes for the first time stereo
speakers.Apple is banking on the iPhone refresh — which has become
an annual traditional — to boost sales of the flagship device line. Unit
over-year during the quarter ended June 30, following a falloff in the
prior quarter. Apple, the world’s biggest tech conglomerate, posted
iPhone sales of $24.0 billion in the most recent quarter, representing
57% of total revenue.
Still, it’s not clear that the iPhone 7 enhancements will spur Apple’s
hoped-upgrade rush among current iPhone users, who may be growing
less inclined to toss out their existing
devices on a yearly cycle.
Apple’s removal of the iPhone headphone jack had been widely anticipated,
as was the dual-lens camera. Reports prior to the launch also said
would increase storage for the iPhone, with the entry-level model
including 32 gigabytes of memory (up from 16 GB previously) along with
a new 256-gigabyte version. Also at the event, the company launched the
to a depth of 50 meters and includes built-in GPS to
provide location-based services. The new smartwatch lineup includes Apple
Watch Nike+ model, a companion device for runners that tracks workouts.
In addition, Apple announced that an app for Niantic’s “Pokémon Go” mobile
game will be available for Apple Watch. Niantic CEO John Hanke said the
game, released in July, has been downloaded 500 million times to date.
The Apple Watch Series 2 will be priced starting at $369 (as will the Nike+ model).
The original Apple Watch, now called Series 1, will start at $269. According to CEO
Tim Cook, Apple Watch was second in revenue in 2015 only to Rolex in the
worldwide watch market. (The company did not reveal actual sales figures.)
In a video at the outset of the event, Cook rode in a car with James Corden in a
“Carpool Karaoke” setup, along with the singer Pharrell Williams. That gave Cook
the opportunity to call out Apple’s deal with CBS to debut episodes
Comments
Post a Comment