Apple continues to collect the cream from the iPhone X released a couple of years ago, gradually improving it in details, and at the same time the second popular product on the market - the Apple Watch, the generation of which has reached its fifth anniversary. At the same time, the company is betting on content, adding games and its own series and shows to its ecosystem.
2019 was not an easy year for Apple: the global reduction in smartphone consumption has also largely affected the company, which last fall clearly overestimated the purchasing power to unconditionally perceive any price tag on things with a bitten apple. As a result, Apple had to remind the public of itself, perhaps more often than usual - to remember at least the trolling of visitors to the January CES tech show in Las Vegas. Earlier, Apple did not show itself there.
The trends of the last decade have changed in favor of conscious consumption, which has not passed the top segment either. As for technology in general and smartphones in particular, the public also buys less because the models of previous years still cope well with everyday tasks (if you do not take into account the inevitably decreasing battery in its resource). The situation opens up both new challenges and new opportunities: if the market is saturated with iron, then the latter must be saturated with content - and of course, make money on it.
As a result, Apple's services have had solid additions. Apple TV +, the first subscription service with completely original content, will launch on November 1 in over 100 countries and regions. Within its framework, the company brings together screenwriters and filmmakers to create films, series and shows of its own production. The new product will be available in the Apple TV application on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac and other platforms, as well as on tv.apple.com for 199 rubles. per month with a free trial for a week. At the same time, when purchasing an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch or Mac, an annual subscription to the service will be provided free of charge - to all members of the family account up to six people.
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Apple TV + is the newest addition to the range of services. The latter already has Apple News +, bringing together over 300 magazines, newspapers and electronic publications in the Apple News app; Apple Music with 50 million songs, Apple Card, Apple Pay contactless payment, App Store and iCloud. A separate place in this list is occupied by Apple Arcade, a subscription gaming service. There are not so many games here yet, about 100. But the significance of the service for the company is obvious: it was he who had the role to open the presentation on September 10, it is in it that Apple involves eminent developers, simultaneously demonstrating the course of the gameplay on new iPhones and iPads. Indeed, who knew the stars of the cyber industry a couple of years ago? And today they are already media personalities, winning multimillion-dollar prize money at almost school age. Therefore, there are enough people who want to take control of the tasty financial flows of the cyber world: everyone who can do their own gaming platforms (we recently wrote about one of these from Acer). Therefore, it is likely that Apple Arcade only at first looks like frivolous fun: the plans for the site are certainly ambitious. After all, if at least one game shoots like some Fortnite, then all the accompanying profits, championships, and so on will be within the legal framework of the company from Kupetino.championships and so on will be within the legal framework of the company from Cupetino.championships and so on will be within the legal framework of the company from Cupetino.
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Today it is known that Apple Arcade will be available in the App Store on September 19, on devices with iOS 13, for the same 199 rubles. per month. The games featured here cannot be found on other platforms. The service will appear on iPadOS and tvOS on September 30, and from October on computers with macOS Catalina.
Nonetheless, iPhones are still Apple's main workhorse, generating the bulk of its profits. Therefore, the differences between the 2019 models from last year's can be called moderate: predictable products provide a stable business. Firstly, the innovations made up for the achievements of competitors: three cameras, including a wide-angle one, a night mode and other software wisdom. Secondly, the time has not come for sharp design and engineering audiences in iPhones. If you look at the company's product line, you can find a certain pattern: 3-4 years pass between cycles of more or less significant changes. This means that we will wait at least another year for some delights like a bendable form factor (or something simpler, let's be realistic).
iPhone 11
But the unusual and new in the line of iPhone 11 is still present: take at least the front camera, which now knows how to "cut slowfie" - 4K video in slow motion at 120 frames per second. You can safely predict another epidemic of videos on Instagram or even a new round of content evolution in other social networks. The camera control interface has changed, new features have been added in terms of photo and video editing, and there has been a place for third-party applications. For example, Filmic Pro allows you to shoot with all three lenses at once.
iPhone 11 Pro
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The Apple Watch itself does not claim to be a content platform. It is still the most popular link between smartphone and owner among smartwatches, with an emphasis on the ability to control health and everything that accompanies it. And the new fifth series - just like the iPhones - received several pleasant, useful, but not critical little things (for those who want to be the bearer of the "apple on hand", Apple has reduced the price of the third series watch to $ 199, ie 13 thousand. rub.). The main thing: the "five" is now always in action due to the Always On Display mode. The sensors understand the position of the clock in space and adapt the brightness of the screen: if you bring your hand closer to your face, it will light up brighter. At the same time, they promise that the battery will live throughout the entire working day. Another awesome feature for 2019 is the compass. Well,now Apple Watch will be of tangible benefit at least to mushroom pickers. What else? Titanium cases, improved communication with Siri and new Apple Watch Studio strap selection service. Calculation of innovations is over, at ease. We have already described in detail all other software innovations following the results of the conference for developers at the beginning of the summer.
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What's in the bottom line? It is likely that, against the background of the difficulties of other brands with the launch and positioning of smartphones with flexible screens, Apple is in no hurry to join “colleagues” quite deliberately. And he is systematically preparing to release his, as usual, “ideal” and “amazing” product a year later. But it is possible that regularity and deliberation in the implementation of long-overdue functions will play a cruel joke with the company. At some point, the quality gap may become irreplaceable, and then you will have to run with all your might just to stay in place. In the meantime, we go with a tent and a thermos to take a place in the line. Hey, who's got the list?>