KARACHI: Hosting virtual events is the new trend for 2020. With the pandemic making social distancing a norm, event organizers have learnt to adapt to the new normal. While the NYFW and the Creative Arts Emmys have been making headlines in the entertainment industry with their digital shows, technology companies have also been catching up. With Neuralink’s virtual event held in August, September has hosted the Apple Event for 2020. The hype started on Tuesday 15th with users noticing the customized animations on the ‘like’ and ‘retweet’ buttons on Twitter.
The event, Time Flies, opened with Tim Cook, CEO at Apple, reflecting on the lifestyle changes that COVID-19 has imposed on people around the world, and how Apple’s gadgets have helped their users adapt to the socially distanced world. Tracing the history of the Apple Watch and the impact it has had on people’s lives, the new Apple Watch Series 6 was introduced. With features like a new range of colours, bitmojis which change with the movement of the wrist, a handwashing detector and motion sensors.
Perhaps the most attractive feature of the app is its focus on health. A sensor on the Watch Series 6 tracks blood oxygen saturation of its user, and helps monitor the person’s breathing and heart rate. The new processor on the watch is also said to be 20% faster than the previous version.
Among other products announced during Time Flies were the iPad Air and Apple One services bundle. Apple has also been working towards a fitness service. Apple Fitness+ integrates with the Apple Watch workout app to offer guided workouts including yoga, cycling and core, while still showing information like heart rate and time.
The Apple Event 2020 did announce that the latest iPhone software, iOS 14, will launch today but left some disappointed who had been expecting the brand to launch a new iPhone as well.
