EU users are missing features
Apple relies on AI and a new button for the iPhone 16
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On the outside, the iPhone 16 impresses above all with a new camera shutter, but inside, according to Apple boss Cook, everything is designed for AI. However, “Apple Intelligence” does not yet speak German and will initially only be available to a limited extent in the EU. Meanwhile, the smartwatch receives a fresh treatment.
The next iPhones will have a new button that is previously more familiar from cameras: a shutter button for the camera. On the one hand, the new control element is intended to make it easier to take photos and videos – and at the same time offer users a quicker way to find out more about their surroundings with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
On the one hand, the button on the iPhone 16 works similarly to that of photo cameras: when you press it, an image is created, and a slight pressure activates a slider. This means you can control the zoom, for example, without having to tap on the screen as before. You can also quickly switch between photo and video mode using the button.
The camera button is also a shortcut to AI functions. For example, you can use it to look at concert posters or take photos of an animal to find out more about it. Overall, the iPhone 16 largely retains the design of the most recent predecessor models. But the two cameras of the standard model are again arranged in a line one above the other, as was once the case with the iPhone X. With the camera system, the phones can now also record three-dimensional videos for Apple's Vision Pro computer glasses.
Inside there are new chips and more RAM. This is a prerequisite for the new functions with artificial intelligence to run smoothly on the devices. Of the earlier models, only the iPhone 15 Pro is powerful enough for “Apple Intelligence”. The starting price of the standard model of the iPhone 16 remains unchanged at 949 euros. “The new generation of iPhone was designed from the ground up for 'Apple Intelligence,'” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “It marks the beginning of an exciting new era.”
AI can't speak German yet
These AI functions are intended, among other things, to summarize missed emails and short messages, create individual emoji symbols, and fish out information on demand. Many of the AI functions will initially not be available to users in the EU. Apple points to legal uncertainty caused by the DMA digital law, which sets rules for large platforms. Above all, there is concern that the DMA requirements for opening up to other manufacturers and service providers could affect the protection of user data. So far, “Apple Intelligence” only works in English. At the event, Apple announced four additional languages for next year: French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
Apple is giving its computer watch a makeover ten years after it was first announced. The Apple Watch is noticeably thinner and has larger displays. A more powerful new chip will enable the Apple Watch Series 10 to automatically display selected information when you need it. A new feature for the Apple Watch is the detection of sleep apnea – a condition in which breathing can stop for a short time.
So that you can wear the watch for longer, 30 minutes of charging time should fill the battery to 80 percent. So far, many users charge the watch overnight. The new Apple Watch will also be able to detect water temperature and depth. The Apple Watch was introduced in September 2014 and went on sale in spring 2015. Since then, Apple has led the smartwatch market – even if Chinese manufacturers in particular have been able to catch up recently. Apple last enlarged the Watch displays a few years ago. The starting price remains at 449 euros.
Apple further announced that the AirPods Pro 2 can be used as an over-the-counter hearing aid through an upgrade. The base model has also been updated, with AirPods 4 starting at $129 and models with external noise cancellation starting at $179.
