New iPhones woo users to Apple television and games

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Apple on Tuesday played to its
strengths with powerful new iPhone and iPad models able to serve as stages
for its new game and television services.

The Silicon Valley titan added into the mix a new-generation Apple Watch
that can tell when a place it getting too noisy or help point wearers in the
right direction.

Here is what Apple will be releasing as the company strives to offset
slumping iPhone sales:

– Cameras and chips –

Apple introduced three new iPhone models.

An iPhone 11 boasted upgrades including a dual-camera system; longer
battery life, a muscular computer chip and better water resistance.

The iPhone 11 will be priced starting at $699 when it hits the market on
September 20.

The phone’s camera has a new “ultra-wide” angle lens. Like the other new
models, the iPhone is powered by an “A13 bionic” chip made in-house by Apple
and infused with machine learning as well as high-performance graphics and
processing capabilities.

Apple also introduced an iPhone 11 Pro and larger-screened iPhone 11 Pro
Max that will have starting prices of $999 and $1,099 respectively when they
are available on September 20.

The Pro line of iPhone has rich “super retina” OLED displays and a third
camera on the back for professional quality photos and video, as well as a
ramped-up zoom and editing software.

Apple played up an ability to use Pro iPhones for slow motion portrait
snippets like selfies that it called “slofies.”

None of the iPhones was tailored for the 5G telecom networks starting to
roll out.

– iPad with a Pencil –

Apple introduced a seventh-generation iPad with a 10.2-inch display priced
at $329. It is set to be in stores starting September 30.

A “must-have” Apple Pencil integrated to work with the iPad touch screen
can be used as a controller for creation or productivity. The iPad case is
made entirely of recycled aluminum and will have a recently introduced
operating system designed specifically for the tablet computers.

– Watch time –

The fifth-generation Apple Watch has a touch-screen face that is always on
so the time and notifications are always viewable, while still being stingy
on battery power. Previous generations had the smartwatch face go dark when
arms dropped to save on power.

New software features include tracking ambient noise levels to safeguard
people’s hearing; an ability for women to monitor menstrual cycles, and a
“compass” to keep users properly oriented.

Apple also invited Watch users to volunteer for three new health studies,
though data collected will remain anonymous.

Apple Watch Series 5 had a starting price of $399 and was set to be
available starting September 20. Apple also reduced the price of Apple Watch
Series 3 to a starting price of $199.

– TV and Games –

Apple’s promised streaming television service — dubbed TV+ — will launch
internationally on November 1.

The line-up of original shows will include “The Morning Show,” “Dickinson,”
“See,” “For All Mankind” and “The Elephant Queen.”

Apple chief executive Tim Cook promised more content would be added as it
is produced.

The service will be priced at $4.99 monthly, about half of what Netflix
charges for access to its large catalogue of content, and is available for
viewing using Apple devices or online at tv.apple.com.

Anyone who buys a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch or Mac computer
will get a year of Apple TV+ thrown in free of charge.

Apple TV+ will arrive about two weeks before a new Disney+ streaming
television service, which costs $2 more per month.

Apple will open its Arcade game service on September 19, also charging
$4.99 monthly. Arcade will have more than 100 exclusive titles for play on
Apple’s array of hardware.