Six takeaways from Apple's annual launch event


Alkesh Sharma
  • English
  • Arabic

At its much awaited annual event in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday, Apple rolled out new smartwatches, iPads and subscription services.

Here are the six takeaways from the tech giant's newest offerings.

Attracting fitness enthusiasts

Amid heightened health concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic, Apple rolled out a new subscription service called Fitness+. The service costs less than $80 (Dh294) a year and allows up to five family members to use it at no additional cost.

The subscription comes with a filtering tool that allows users to customise their exercise regimen according to the type of workout, trainer, duration or music selection. It will be available before the end of this year, the company said. It builds on the growing number of health metrics already available on the Apple Watch, such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate, speed, calories burned and distance covered.

Apple Fitness+ comes with a customisation tool that allows users to personalise their workouts. EPA
Apple Fitness+ comes with a customisation tool that allows users to personalise their workouts. EPA

One-stop shop for all needs

Offering a fully bundled solution for its services, Apple announced Apple One to bring all of its subscription services in one simple plan. These include different subscriptions such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+ and iCloud. Starting this month, it offers customers a 30-day free trial.

Lori Malm unveils Apple One. AFP
Lori Malm unveils Apple One. AFP

Apple Watch to run latest watchOS 7

WatchOS 7, which Apple pushed out at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June, comes with many new features that include sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, a selection of new workout types and the ability to curate and share watch faces.

For the first time, Apple Watch can be set up through a parent’s iPhone. Parents can reach their child anytime and identify their location, with all data being encrypted. WatchOS 7 offers optimised features for adults including fall detection and irregular heart rhythm notification.

The Apple Watch Nike. EPA
The Apple Watch Nike. EPA

iPads become more handy with the latest OS

Available from Wednesday, the new operating system iPadOS 14 supports all iPad models. It integrates Apple Pencil into the iPad experience for better note-taking capabilities. It brings Scribble features to iPads that use on-device machine learning to convert handwriting into typed text in real time. It also offers better photo organisation and navigation tools.

Getting eco-friendly

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Apple will no longer ship USB power adapters with new Apple Watch models.  The company is using recycled material and a 100 per cent recycled case on aluminium models of smartwatches. Combined, Apple's efforts cut the equivalent of 159,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions per year from the atmosphere, it said.

Tim Cook, chief executive, speaks during a virtual product launch seen on a laptop computer in Tiskilwa, Illinois. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg
Tim Cook, chief executive, speaks during a virtual product launch seen on a laptop computer in Tiskilwa, Illinois. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Personalised programme for healthy living

The company has collaborated with the government of Singapore on the health initiative LumiHealth. It includes weekly activity goals that can be met through walking, swimming, yoga and other activities. The LumiHealth app reminds users to go for health screenings and participate in wellness challenges that aim to improve sleep habits and encourage better food choices. Apple plans to expand the programme in other parts of the world, based on the results of the programme in Singapore.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Landfill in numbers

• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane

• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming

• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi

• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year

• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away

• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition

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AIDA%20RETURNS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAida%20Abboud%2C%20Carol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5.%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.

Correspondents

By Tim Murphy

(Grove Press)

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

While you're here
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

Ticket prices
  • Golden circle - Dh995
  • Floor Standing - Dh495
  • Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
  • Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
  • Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
  • Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
  • Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
  • Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)