Apple launches iPhones, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade

The Apple has landed as the tech giant company turned the spotlight on a whole new cast of products in it's biggest event of the year in California.

The tech monolith held its annual event in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday to an excited crowd of tech writers and rabid Apple devotees.

The company honed in on ramping that up, with the release of new iPhones, the iPhone 11, and the iPhone 11 Pro.

The Apple Watch is also getting an upgrade, and the slightly forgotten iPad is getting an overhaul.
But the focus was well and truly on the Netflix-like video service, Apple TV+, and the roll out of the video gaming service, Arcade, which will cost about $A7 per month and feature unlimited gaming.

IPHONE
The much-anticipated iPhone 11 models, touting dual cameras and ultra-wide lens capabilities as it updated its popular smartphone lineup was unveiled on Tuesday.

The new iPhones are “jam packed with new capabilities and an incredible new design,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook said.

The new iPhone have better quality, better resolution and more colours than ever before, but surely the most important thing about the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro is that it has pet portrait mode!

APPLE TV+
Apple’s answer to Netflix will launch on November 1 and will feature a slate of original programs featuring stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Jason Momoa. The streaming service’s first production will feature Aquaman star Momoa in the show, See, about a world where no one is able to er, see.

Apple is featuring scripted dramas, comedies and movies as well as children’s programs in the service, which will compete against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon.

With Apple TV+, we are presenting all-original stories from the best, brightest and most creative minds, and we know viewers will find their new favourite show or movie on our service, said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of video.

In the US, if you buy an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV, you will get a year free. Take that, Netflix, Hulu, Disney … The service will be available in 100 countries at launch, which most likely includes Australia.

NEW iPAD

The lowest end iPad — just the iPad, not the Pro — is being updated. It now has a 25cm Retina display, though still has a fingerprint sensor. It will work with the iPad OS and has support for Apple Pencil.

APPLE ARCADE
Apple’s new video game subscription service will roll out on September 19. Apple said that subscribers will be able to access games through a new dedicated tab in the app store.

Apple gave some details about the service in March but announced the pricing and launch date on Tuesday. It will be available in 150 countries.

Apple Arcade subscribers will get more than 100 games, curated by Apple and exclusive to the service. Unlike a video streaming service, games can be downloaded and played offline — on the Apple-made iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

APPLE WATCH
The biggest change in the new Series 5 Apple Watch is that it looks a lot like Series 4, but it has an always-on display. That is, you don’t need to tap it or it doesn’t need to sense arm movement to turn on the screen.

The watch will be available from September 20.