Apple announced the new iPhone 14 series at its earlier fall conference, and also confirmed that it will support direct access to low-orbit satellite signals to directly transmit distress signals. The Apple Watch Ultra launched this time is targeted at outdoor activities, adding a larger, easy-to-read large-size flat screen, as well as greater wear and scratch resistance, and can be used in high temperature environments. It also launched the second-generation AirPods Pro with upgraded sound quality and noise reduction functions. What is Apple's thinking behind this?
The iPhone 14 adds satellite communication function. Is it a preparation for subsequent satellite networking services?
Before the press conference began, there were actually many rumors that the iPhone 14 series would be able to access the Internet directly through satellite signals. However, the content of this press conference showed that the satellite communication function added to the iPhone 14 is actually similar to the situation where Huawei launched the Mate 50 series, which can only send the mobile phone location and simple messages through Beidou satellites. Apple has made the emergency call interface more intuitive, for example, allowing users to confirm whether the mobile phone is successfully connected to the satellite signal, and to call for help by intuitively clicking the option.
However, such a design is naturally significantly different from previous speculation, but it may also be Apple's preparation for the subsequent development of satellite communication networking. After all, the preparation details involved in satellite networking services are relatively complicated, including whether sufficient satellite communication connection bandwidth can be provided, and how to calculate and split the related service usage fees.
But since SpaceX's Starlink has already started to cooperate with T-MobileCooperative Satellite Network CommunicationsThe new wave of low-orbit satellites expected to be launched next year will be equipped with T-Mobile's corresponding mid-band PCS spectrum (1900MHz specification) signal transmission and reception functions, allowing smartphones on the ground to communicate directly via satellite. It seems not difficult to imagine that Apple will also allow iPhone models to access the Internet directly via satellite signals.
Currently, chip manufacturers including Qualcomm and MediaTek have mentioned that they will enable mobile phones to directly access satellite signals. Even Star Era, the mobile phone company under Geely Automobile that acquired a majority stake in Meizu, has revealed that it will launch a mobile phone product capable of connecting to low-orbit satellite communication technology next year. This seems to indicate that satellite communication will become the future development direction of mobile phone product applications.
The idea behind this is naturally to use the geographically unaffected connection characteristics of satellites to connect to areas where ground base station signals are difficult to reach, allowing users to connect to the Internet smoothly no matter where they are. This is especially true when companies like Apple and Google are actively deploying Internet services. Once the use of satellite signal connection becomes popular, it means that more Internet services can be brought to more places that were originally unavailable, such as deserts, oceans, or deep mountain environments where it is difficult to build base stations.
iPhone 14's product differentiation is more obvious
Perhaps as previously rumored, due to TSMC's 4nm process production capacity, Apple will only equip the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max with the A16 Bionic processor this time. The iPhone 14 and the newly added large-size model iPhone 14 Plus will continue to use the A15 Bionic processor, but will also increase its GPU core, so it can be regarded as an enhanced version of the A15 Bionic processor.
Such an approach may be more conducive to Apple's future product positioning and further differentiate the iPhone models. It can also serve as a transitional contingency adjustment when the supply of processor components is limited in the future. For example, when Qualcomm previously launched the Snapdragon 888 processor, it responded to the impact of the epidemic on the supply chain and production capacity, and then adjusted the operating clock and renamed the flagship processor launched in the past to fill the gap, allowing mobile phone manufacturers to launch products with different positioning.
Apple Watch Ultra, which has attracted more attention this time
In 2020, Apple launched the Apple Watch SE, which is targeted at the needs of children and elderly people at home, thereby expanding the Apple Watch user base. This fall, Apple announced the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra to target specific user groups while further expanding the Apple Watch product line to reach more user markets.
With the launch of Apple Watch Ultra, Apple is clearly eyeing the growing number of people involved in outdoor activities and extreme sports, thereby seizing the long-term development market for brands such as Garmin. At the same time, it can also change the image of Apple Watch, which was previously regarded as a "high-end watch."
As for the newly added low-power mode, it extends the usage time of the Apple Watch as much as possible. On the Apple Watch Ultra, it can even correspond to up to 60 hours of standby time, which further shows that Apple hopes to allow users to wear the Apple Watch for longer periods of time.
Second-generation AirPods Pro with redesigned sound
The second-generation AirPods Pro, updated this year alongside the Apple Watch SE, maintains essentially the same exterior design, but improves on the sound experience with a more refined active noise cancellation effect thanks to the H2 chip. It also adds an active noise cancellation mode called "Adaptive Transparency," which automatically eliminates noise in transparency mode. It also supports spatial audio and personalized spatial audio settings, while extending battery life to 6 hours. Charging now supports recharging via the Apple Watch magnetic charger.
Sound is also an important way for users to interact with many of Apple's products. For example, it allows users to experience the spatial sound of Apple Music or use the Siri digital assistant service at any time. Therefore, the launch of the new AirPods Pro is nothing more than an attempt to strengthen the interaction mode between users and Apple products.
The new versions of iOS 16 and watchOS 9 will be released on September 9
The iOS 16 and watchOS 9 updates, which were not mentioned at the press conference, will both be officially launched on September 9.
Among them, iOS 16 will correspond to the upgrade of iPhone 8 and later models, mainly adding more customization functions to the lock screen, and can add widgets. It also readjusts the push message interactive interface. Others also add many functions for services such as iMessage and Apple Maps, and even add an always-on display function for models such as iPhone 14 Pro.
watchOS 9 is expected to improve running pace, ground contact time and vertical oscillation. It will also add sleep tracking functions that can analyze the user's rapid eye movement, core sleep and deep sleep duration during sleep, as well as medication reminders.
Related links:
• Apple Watch Series 8 adds temperature measurement, collision detection, and a low-power mode
