Heena Sharma Blog

  There is no smartwatch that complements the iPhones the way Apple’s own watches do, even if they are not perfect. Therefore, even if the new models do not bring any significant upgrades over the previous-generation models, they still make a compelling buy for iPhone users looking to upgrade to a new model. A case in point is the Apple Watch Series 7 . Over the Watch Series 6 (review), the Series 7 brings a bigger display with curved edges and negligible display bezels, redesigned user interface optimised for larger display, and new watch faces to complement the curved display profile. Starting with the display, the Watch Series 7 boasts 20 per cent more screen area over the Watch Series 6. Interestingly, the bump in screen size does not translate into any significant changes in dimensions of the case. This is because the screen is stretched by narrowing the borders. That said, the Apple Watch Series 7 is just 1mm (45mm, review unit) bigger than its predecessor. The screen on th...

  The iPad Mini has been through five cycles of generational refreshes, yet its design has not been as radically improved as it has in the recently launched sixth-generation upgrade. Called the iPad Mini 6 or iPad Mini 2021 by technology enthusiasts, the new iPad Mini looks modern and in line with Apple’s most other big-screen tablets. The design refresh boasts trimmed display bezel areas, which allowed Apple to accommodate a tad bigger screen than the last-generation model, without compromising on the compact ergonomics the iPad Mini is known for. Other design changes include flat sides and back, both of which aid handling and improve overall usability. Speaking of handling, the iPad Mini has a fingerprint scanner (Touch ID) embedded in its power button mounted on the top side. It takes some time to get comfortable with it, especially if you are a user of the iPhone X or higher models. Once accustomed, the Touch ID feels natural to use for unlocking the device, logging in to a...

  The certainty and uncertainty abounding Apple’s September launches are constant. Nearly everyone knows that the new phone would look and feel like the older one — as they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — still, there’s always the expectation that Apple might throw a surprise with a feature or two. This year’s Apple iPhone 13 launch has been no different. Apple was consistent with its design and presentation style, promising 20 per cent more something and 30 per cent higher another thing. Consumers demand a new model every year, and if a company were innovative every year, it would also be forever out of the market. Design A common feature of Apple’s announcements is that the new iPhone is the fastest, newest and “more adjectives” ever. While that is indeed true, one of the things that can be surely attested to is that the new iPhone 13 is certainly the prettiest ever. While it looks much like the Apple iPhone 12, the colour selection this year is much better. Pink, the...

  As the world celebrates Earth Day on Thursday, Apple has debuted documentary special "The Year Earth Changed" and second seasons of 'Tiny World and 'Earth at Night in Color on Apple TV+ , thus brining environment-friendly content at one place. These premieres join a specially curated collection of environmentally-themed Apple TV+ programming, including films, series and episodes that celebrate Earth Day's mission, including: Here We Are. Long Way Up, The Elephant Queen and Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds, the company said in a statement. Showcasing exclusive footage from around the world after an unprecedented year hit by the pandemic, "The Year Earth Changed" is a timely documentary special that takes a fresh new approach to the global lockdown and the uplifting stories that have come out of "The documentary, narrated by David Attenborough, is a love letter to planet Earth, highlighting the ways nature bouncing back can give us hope f...

  Apple Inc announced on Tuesday a range of new computers, a paid podcasting service and devices for finding lost items, signaling the continued expansion of its once-simple product line into more and more corners of customers' lives. The new $30 AirTags, tiny devices that can be attached to items such as keys and wallets to locate them when they are lost, were applauded by analysts as a likely hot-seller that would also keep the company's more than 1 billion customers locked into its products. A new iPad Pro tablet, featuring the same Apple-designed processor that powers the company's more recent Mac computers, has keyboard and trackpad options that help make it a full-blown alternative to traditional laptops and desktops. And a refresh of the Mac desktop line boasts seven color options, harkening back to the famous candy-colored Macs that helped Steve Jobs revive the company in the 1990s. Read More

  Apple is all set for its first event of the year on April 20 and media reports suggest that new iPads with 5G support and Apple TV upgrades along with a deep dive into iOS 14.5 are on the anvil. Called 'Spring Loaded,' the Apple event will showcase some exciting new products and features. According to The Verge, new iPad Pros will reportedly get a 5G support, speed boost with a new chip similar to Apple's M1, a Thunderbolt port for faster transfers and compatibility with more devices, and support for 5G. "The larger 12.9-inch Pro may also be the first Apple device to feature a Mini LED display," the report said on Thursday. The iPad mini is also likely to receive some fresh upgrades, like a larger display and updated internals. The long-awaited 'AirTags' could also be revealed at the event. Read More

  Some of Apples Cloud services like iCloud Drive and Mail suffered a partial outage, with a message acknowledging that "users may be unable to use this service." According to Apple's system dashboard, iCloud Photos, Drive, Mail, Notes, Contacts, Find My, and Backups were few of the services that suffered issues late on Wednesday. In an updated dashboard on Thursday, the company showed that it has resolved issues with Apple Music, Drive, Backup, Mail, Notes, iMessage, iTunes Store, Photos, Calendar etc. The issues with the Cloud services were not reported at a global scale but were found in some parts of the world. "If you are experiencing an issue not listed here, contact support," Apple said. The tech giant gives 5GB of free iCloud storage for photos, videos, files, and more. Read More

Many people these days fancy big-screen smartphones but are averse to bulky designs, which is unfortunately what you get in most current-generation big-screen devices. Smartphone makers have in the past made efforts to design balanced smartphones with optimum size and big screen. But they have restricted such products to the midrange segment, leaving the users of premium smartphones in the lurch. That said, there is now a smartphone, the Apple’s iPhone 12 mini , which packs the best of both the worlds – a top-end premium device of an optimum size and a big screen. iPhone 12 mini: Design The iPhone 12 mini is a no-compromise premium smartphone, which is small in size but not in any other respect. It has the same flat-frame design of its siblings in the iPhone 12 series. The iPhone 12 mini flaunts a premium glass-aluminium construction, with a ceramic shield glass on the front touted to be 4x more resistant to drops than the previous generation. However, the textured scratch-resistant g...

  American technology giant Apple Inc on Tuesday launched its first on-ear design based wireless headphones, the AirPods Max . Priced at Rs 59,900, the headphones are available for order from Apple website and Apple authorised resellers. The AirPods Max will begin to ship from December 15 in more than 25 countries and regions. The headphones are compatible with Apple devices running iOS 14.3 or later, iPadOS 14.3 or later, macOS Big Sur 11.1 or later, watchOS 7.2 or later, and tvOS 14.3 or later. “AirPods are the most popular headphones in the world, beloved for their effortless setup, incredible sound quality, and iconic design. With AirPods Max, we are bringing that magical AirPods experience to a stunning over-ear design with high-fidelity audio,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. Read More    

  Apple Inc on Wednesday announced its App Store Best of 2020 winners. Video conferencing app Zoom and health and fitness app Wakeout! are amongst the 15 apps and games shortlisted by the American technology giant. Zoom is recognised as the iPad app of the year, and Wakeout! is recognised as the iPhone app of the year. According to Apple Inc, the winner apps and games proved to be essential for making life easier, healthier, and more connected this year. “Notable for their high quality, creative design, usability, and innovative technology, these apps and games are equally celebrated for their positive cultural impact, helpfulness, and importance,” Apple Inc said in a statement. Here are the Apple’s App Store Best of 2020 winners: Best Apps of 2020 iPhone App of the Year: Wakeout!, developed by Andres Canella iPad App of the Year: Zoom Mac App of the Year: Fantastical, developed by Flexibits Apple TV App of the Year: Disney+ Apple Watch App of the Year: Endel Re...

  With every iteration, Apple brings something new to its iPhones, giving fans a solid reason for upgrade. This time, the upgrades are across the board and good enough to even tempt non-iPhone users. Besides, there are four different models this time, the cheapest starting from Rs 69,900. Among the smartphones in the new series, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro seems to be a balanced product with something for everyone. But is it good enough to justify the premium starting price of Rs 1,19,900? Let’s find out Design Since the iPhone X, Apple has not made any radical changes to its iPhone design language, but every new model that has come since has looked somewhat different. That said, the iPhone 12 series brings minor but meaningful design changes. It boasts a premium glass-metal construction with a ceramic shield glass on the front which is touted to be 4x more resistant to drops than the previous generation. And there is a textured scratch-resistant glass on the back. The phone’s sta...

  Apple Inc on Tuesday introduced its first ARM-based silicon for Mac as it began the process of moving its Mac computers to its own silicon in a bid to reduce its dependence on American chipmaker Intel. Named the M1 system-on-chip (SoC), the custom-designed Apple Silicon will debut on Macbook Air, MacBook Pro (13-inch) and Mac Mini computers to will be available in India starting November 17. The MacBook Air price starts at Rs 92,900 (Rs 83,610 for education); the 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at Rs 1,22,900 (Rs 1,10,610 for education); and the Mac Mini starts at Rs 64,900 (Rs 58,410 for education). Built on a 5nm process, the Apple Silicon M1 SoC boasts 8-core central processing unit (CPU), featuring four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. The SoC features an integrated octa-core graphic processing unit (GPU) for graphic-related jobs. Featuring 16 billion transistors, the M1 SoC is touted to deliver industry-leading performance per watts percentage. Read More...

  Apple Inc is hosting a virtual event on November 10 where the American technology giant is expected to unveil a new line-up of Apple Silicon-powered Mac notebooks and computers. Formally called ‘ One More Thing ’, the event will be hosted virtually from the Apple Park. It will livestream at 11:30 pm (IST) through the dedicated Apple Events mini site. The event will also livestream on Apple’s YouTube channel. You can also tune in here at 11:30 pm to watch the event’s livestream on video embedded below. Mac's transition to Apple Silicon After shifting to Intel chips in 2006, Apple is now gearing up to move to ARM-based Apple Silicon for its Mac computers. At the company’s worldwide developers conference 2020, Apple previewed a Mac powered by Apple A12Z Bionic chip. The early look revealed that Mac on ARM chips is ready to replace the Intel powered Macs. During the keynote, Apple showcased a working prototype running on Apple Silicon. It seemed to have all its native apps opt...

  Apple on Tuesday launched the HomePod Mini at the iPhone 12 launch event. The Siri-powered smart speaker will be available for pre-orders from November 6, with availability beginning the week of November 16. Priced at Rs 9,990, the HomePod Mini will be available through Apple Store online and Apple authorised resellers in in white and space grey colours. Just 3.3-inch tall, the HomePod Mini is designed to work with Apple Music, podcasts, radio stations from iHeartRadio, radio.com, and TuneIn. In coming months, other music services including Pandora and Amazon Music will also be added to the list of supported service provides. The HomePod Mini supports true wireless stereo set-up and it multiple HomePod mini speakers can work together to stream music or podcasts to multiple rooms. In a single room set-up, two HomePod mini speakers can also form a stereo pair for a surround sound stereo audio effect. Read More  

  iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini will be available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage variants, priced Rs 79,900 and Rs 69,900 onwards, respectively. Specifications and features: The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are Apple’s first 5G ready smartphones, powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic system-on-chip, which is industry’s first silicone built on 5-nanometer process. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini sports a 6.1-inch and 5.4-inch screen with Super Retina XDR resolution with systemwide colour management for colour accuracy. Both the smartphones feature flat-edge design with an aerospace-grade aluminium enclosure and are IP68 rated for water resistance up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. Front Camera: 12-megapixel Rear Camera:12-megapixel + 12-megapixel Read More

  As the world awaits Apple to announce the launch date for its much-awaited and slightly-delayed iPhone 12 , new reports have emerged that claim the first shipment of final units is going out to distributors on October 5. According to Apple insider and tech analyst Jon Prosser, the shipment includes "iPhone 12 mini 5.4 (definitely the final marketing name) in 64GB/128GB/256GB and iPhone 12 6.1 (64GB/128GB/256GB)." "Event on October 13, as I mentioned before," he said in a tweet late on Tuesday. He claimed that the first iPhones to hit the stores are going to be the iPhone mini, which is the 5.4-inch version and the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max. Apple is expected to launch four new devices under the iPhone 12 series. All four models are expected to feature OLED displays and 5G support, as another analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed previously. Read More

  Apple Store Online is now live in India. The digital store is a one-stop portal where you can purchase Apple products and avail of services. Said to deliver the same experience that is available at Apple Store locations around the world, the online store offers the shopping assistance feature through Apple Online Specialists, trade-in for iPhone, custom-built Mac, AppleCare+ and free no-contact delivery. Moreover, the online store offers multiple financing options on products — equated monthly instalments through credit cards. Let’s take a look at the offers currently available on Apple Store Online: Cashback offer from HDFC Bank The Apple Store Online is running a limited time cashback offer in partnership with HDFC Bank wherein customers can avail a six per cent cashback on the purchase price of select Apple products. The cashback amount is capped at Rs 10,000 and it would be credited in bank account in five to seven days. To avail the cashback, the order cart value needs ...

  Apple on Friday announced that the American technology giant will launch its online store in India on September 23. Named ‘ Apple Store Online ’, the online shop will be a gateway for Indian consumers to access full range of Apple products and support services. According to Apple, the upcoming online store will provide customers with the same premium experience found in Apple store locations. Here are the services that Apple would offer through its online store in India: Shopping assistance From recently launched Apple Watch Series 6 to iPhones, iPads and Mac computers, the online store will feature Apple’s entire product portfolio. To ease the sale process, the online store will have Apple Specialists for shopping assistance, which are touted to help with anything -- custom-configuring any Mac to setting up new devices. Through shopping assistance feature, customers can seek advice, receive guidance, and learn about new products directly from Apple, both in English and Hind...

  American technology giant Apple on Tuesday launched the Apple Watch Series 6 with built-in sensor to monitor blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels. The smartwatch cum health and fitness companion comes in GPS and GPS + Cellular variants priced at Rs 40,900 and Rs 49,900. It will be available soon at Apple authorised resellers across India. Alongside the Watch Series 6, Apple also unveiled its Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop Watch Bands, which will be available from late October. These bands are compatible with the Apple Watch Series 4 and later. The Watch Series 6 brings notable hardware improvements, including a S6 System in Package (SiP), a brighter display with next-generation always-on altimeter, and new watch faces. Moreover, it boasts all the features that Apple introduced with the WatchOS 7. These features include family setup, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, new workout types, and the ability to curate and share watch faces. Besides, the Watch Series 6...

  Apple is likely to hold an event in the second half of October to unveil its iPhone 12 models , Apple Watch Series 6 and long-rumored tile-like AirTags item tracker . AirTags are small tracking tiles with Bluetooth connectivity that can be used to find lost items. The tech giant initially planned to announce AirTags around the same time that the iPhone SE 2020 was unveiled earlier this year. "However, some circumstances beyond Apple's control caused a major delay to its launch," reports Mac Otakara. AirTags will work with Apple's App Clips feature that lets users download small snippets of an app without downloading the entire thing, such as for ordering from a restaurant. Read More