Apple launched a range of products, including its long-awaited AirTag to track and find missing items and a redesigned iMac desktop in a variety of colours that use chips designed by the company in-house chips instead of those made by Intel.
Other products launched during the event included a new iPad Pro with 5G connectivity, a smart TV, a family Apple Card to let people share the same credit card, a new podcast subscription service and a purple iPhone 12.
The iPhone maker showcased its latest products and services at its Spring Loaded event, which was streamed online from the Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday.
The company’s iMac line-up has undergone one of the biggest redesigns in years and uses a processor developed in-house, the M1, as opposed to chips developed by Intel for the first time.
Available in seven colours, the 61-centimetre iMac is more compact than previous models as the volume of the machine has reduced by up to 50 per cent. Apple has also shrunk the size of the internal fans to make the device quieter.
Priced from $1,299, the IMac will be available to pre-order from April 30 and delivery will begin in the second half of next month.
Apple, which launched four models of 5G-enabled iPhones in October, is making its own chips to reduce its reliance on other manufacturers. These are being used in both iMacs and iPads.
Many manufacturers including Samsung and Xiaomi are dealing with a severe shortage of chips after demand for gadgets picked up amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Apple's AirTag is a small disc that can help users to keep track of and find products such as electronics, luggage, wallets or keys through the Find My app. It can be attached to personal belongings and sends users regular notifications about the location of their product.
It does this while keeping the location data of the user private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption, the company said.
“We are excited to bring this incredible new capability to iPhone users,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing.
AirTag can be bought in packs of one and four for $29 and $99, and will be available from April 30.
They also come with a built-in speaker that plays sounds to help users locate them. Users can also ask Siri to find their item and AirTag will play a sound if it is near by.
Facing stiff competition from the likes of Spotify, Apple also announced its expansion into podcast subscriptions.
This will be a global marketplace for listeners to discover premium subscriptions offered by their favourite creators, alongside millions of free shows on Apple Podcasts, the company said.
Some of the benefits will include advertisement-free listening, access to additional content and early or exclusive access to new series.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook said this was “the biggest change to Apple Podcasts since its debut”.
“We are proud to lead the next chapter of podcasting with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of internet software and services.
The service will be available to listeners in more than 170 countries and regions from next month.
Apple also introduced Apple Card Family, which allows people to share their Apple Card, track purchases, manage spending and build credit together with their family sharing group.
Customers can add up to five people to their account. All users must be part of the same family group to be invited to Apple Card Family and be 13 years or older.
“We designed Apple Card Family because we saw an opportunity to reinvent how spouses, partners and the people you trust most share credit cards and build credit together,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay.
Apple is working with Goldman Sachs, the fifth largest lender in the US, which is the issuing bank for Apple Card.
Apple also announced the next generation of Apple TV 4K that comes with A12 Bionic, which that provides a significant boost in graphics performance, video decoding and audio processing.
With tvOS, the new TV will work seamlessly with other Apple devices and services, the company said.
It also offers thousands of applications on the App Store for more entertainment options.
The company unveiled a new, 32.7cm iPad Pro, which it claims to be the most powerful and advanced.
It comes with Apple-designed M1 chip and 5G connectivity to deliver fast performance.
It will also support the Thunderbolt connector, the same port on the latest Macs, which will enable connectivity with external monitors, hard drives and other peripherals.
The company also unveiled a purple finish for iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, which were originally launched in October.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More on animal trafficking
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
