Welcome to this week’s ASO Weekly – Gummicube’s recurring segment where we discuss some of the biggest events in the mobile app industry, app store developments, and how they may affect your App Store Optimization (ASO) strategy.
Feeling “Far Out”? This week, let’s dive into one of the most anticipated mobile events of the year – the 2022 Apple Event that took place Wednesday. In this Apple Event recap, well answer: What products were released? What are the features? What’s the public’s reaction? All that and more in this week’s ASO Weekly.
What is The Apple Event?
After any major company announcements, Apple holds an official public release event to talk about the new, and exciting releases of features and new products. Usually, these events take place anywhere between 2 weeks to a month before the release of the products or features.
Apple and iOS developers had a taste of some of the features prior to the release. The new iOS16 software update has been in developer and public beta release for the past 3-4 months, so the event was filled with tons of speculation and excitement about what’s to come. Although WWDC22 was the official reveal of iOS 16, the new iPhone and feature release was somewhat of a mystery even to developer beta test subjects.
Apart from the new operating system, the Apple Event was mostly product-focused. Viewers and attendees got a glimpse of the new iPhone 14 models, Apple Watch Series 8, Ultra, in addition to an upgraded model of AirPods Pro.
The Products of Apple Event 2022 – What You Need To Know
While the products were all exciting, a lot of information was thrown at us during the live release. So, what exactly is being released? Let’s dive into the main announcements:
The iPhone 14 Models
iPhone 14
The iPhone 14, although not a huge leap from the iPhone 13, sits at a $799 price tag. With the A15 chip and the 5-core GPU, the iPhone 14 will have major improvements in speed and reliability. The camera is still 12MP, but the new model promises improved low-light photos for better quality pictures.
iPhone 14 Plus
The iPhone 14 Plus is essentially very similar to the iPhone 14 model except cheaper and larger. With a 6.7-inch screen and a fatter battery, the iPhone 14 Plus is the more cost-smart option than the iPhone 14 with virtually no feature trade-offs.
iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max
The start of showstopping iPhone models started with the Pro and Pro Max. What came as the biggest surprise was the cheaper costs of the phones, which typically cost significantly more than the base iPhone 14 models (is Moore’s law still applicable here?). The 4-nanometer A16 Bionic chipset is a massive new innovation with better processing and reliability. One of the most awe-inspiring features, was undoubtedly the camera, with a whopping 48MP main shooter. Let’s also not forget the bouncy, dynamic island at the top of the screen.
Apple Watch
Apple Watch 8
The Apple Watch 8 had a massive new evolution with impressive features and functionalities like temp sensors and low power mode which significantly improved the endurance of the watch battery. The main driver of the entire watch series focused on improving health – more evidently shown with the introduction of the Watch series with users’ personal anecdotes of how the watches saved their lives in some scenarios. This was a great segway into feature introductions like crash detection, emergency SOS, and ovulation detection.
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE gets the crash detection and low-battery mode features found in the Apple Watch 8; its starting price also drops to $249 which makes it the most cost-smart option for Apple Watches to date.
Apple Watch Ultra
The Apple Watch Ultra is the ultimate activity companion. The rumored Apple Watch 8 Pro name turned out to be just that. With a 49mm size screen to an impressive battery life of 3 days, the Apple Watch Ultra allows users to take their watch to different terrains and activities with three unique bands. Divers, climbers, runners – whoever the user is, the Apple Watch Ultra is a game-changer in the smartwatch lineup.
AirPods
AirPods Pro 2
What’s new in the audio accessory space? The revamped AirPod Pro model. The AirPods Pro 2’s have a new H2 chip and low-distortion audio driver and better amplifier. Users will be able to create a unique sound experience with their front camera for a custom spatial audio profile and enjoy up to 6 hours of playback time.
The Public Reaction to the Apple Event
What have the people said about these new announcements? Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. For one, many people were taken aback at how much the new Apple devices carried an aura of “emergency” and “health” related features. To many, the apprehension came from intrusiveness, especially from those who may not have had an upgrade in a while. Twitter user going by Esther poked fun at it, tweeting:
“Apple Watch series 8 is for people who don't want to die, the ultra is for people who do”– @escoen, Twitter
Additionally, as rumors surfaced about the AirPods, it was reported that iPhone devices will no longer recognize knock-off AirPods. To many users, this felt a bit short-sided. Airpods, after all, are considered to be a premium product and the price may not be justifiable as a necessary accessory.
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