It's always been said that accessories complete a look, so Apple has always made sure it has something to complement its iPhones.
Alongside the launch of its latest iPhone 16 line-up, the US tech giant also unveiled the latest iterations of its accessories, the AirPods and Apple Watch, which are also a key part of Apple's services unit – a big cog in the company's revenue stream in the past several years.
The National tests out new versions of these gadgets to find out if it's the right time to upgrade them, especially if you have an iPhone 16.
Watch Series 10
The newest Apple Watch is special: it marks the 10th anniversary of the device that created another pivotal moment in technology and watch history.
Apple Watch Series 10 – we would've preferred and expected Series X, similar to the iPhone X – now features the company's biggest screen on its digital timepiece, as well as its thinnest. Well, 46mm and 42mm are a mere 1mm over the previous three generations, but we can still say it's definitely come a long way since it was unveiled in 2014.
That allows for more information to be displayed on its OLED screen – have fun playing with complications on the watch faces – in addition to a new wide-angle feature that shows content up to 40 per cent brighter when viewed from certain angles. Its brightness, however, remains at a maximum of 2,000 nits, which can still be overwhelmed by really extreme sunlight.
Here's the caveat: Apple says you need to wear your Watch for at least 10 nights within a 30-day period in order for it to detect sleep apnoea. Each day, the app will let you know if you had elevated breathing disturbances the night before; more disturbances over those 30 days will prompt a notification that you may possibly have sleep apnoea.
So far, in the few days we've made a run through it, we fortunately have not received any notifications of elevated breathing disturbances. This feature is only available on the Series 9 and 10, and Ultra 2 models.
A PDF will then be produced that you can take to your doctor to discuss it further. Remember, the Apple Watch is not a medical device and that any health metrics measured with it should only be for reference; consult a health professional if you feel there is something amiss with your health, whether as a result of Watch metrics or not.
Sleep apnoea is a potentially dangerous disorder as it causes you to stop breathing while asleep. Over time, this condition can cause serious complications, but often very manageable, especially with close adherence to prescribed treatments, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Aside from physical health, the Apple Watch also has improved tools for mental well-being. The State of Mind app lets you log emotions and moods, and help identify factors that contribute to stress. The same depression and anxiety assessments can be accessed on your device and shared with professionals, should you wish to seek more attention.
And, as a bonus for the upcoming World Mental Health Day on October 10, Watch users can earn a new limited-edition award; simply log in 10 mindful minutes with any app that adds data to the Health app on your iPhone to get it.
Series 10 also boasts faster charging times, promising up to 80 per cent in half an hour, compared to its predecessors' 45 minutes. Our test showed that it hit 72 per cent, which isn't bad.
The device still promises “all-day” battery life, which in other words means up to 18 hours of normal use; it did last well into the night from a full charge in the morning.
There's been some clamour for years now to bump up the Apple Watch's battery, but it seems to be designed for a cycle in which you'll have to charge it while sleeping – except when you want to keep track of your health metrics overnight, which would then force you to charge it practically anytime you're not wearing it. Maybe an “all-two-day” battery life would be better, similar to the Ultra variants?
AirPods 4
The new AirPods 4 comes in two options, the base option and a higher-end that features active noise cancellation (ANC); we have the latter, and that's what makes it stand out.
They've been cleverly redesigned – the buds are smaller and look sleeker, and Apple claims they're more comfortable compared to the AirPods 3, which we can attest to, fitting snugly into our ears. However, as all ears aren't built the same, others may say otherwise. Having used the AirPods Pro, we look for the soft touch of the silicone eartips.
The charging case, equipped with USB-C, has also been given a makeover, as it's now a slimmer, helping you to stow the device away in smaller pockets or spaces more easily.
An argument can be made that active noise cancellation on audio buds is a great deal, since it serves as some sort of earplug especially when venturing out or just when you wish to block out noise anywhere you are.
That being said, the ANC on the AirPods 4 works well, enough to shield you from unwanted sounds and noise. However, it doesn't block out, as expected, like the AirPods Pro, whose silicone tips help seal your ears better.
The usual controls are there on the AirPods 4's stems: squeeze once to answer a call or play/pause music, twice to skip a track forward and thrice to skip a track backward. Unfortunately, you can't toggle noise control modes and other using the stems, as you have to manually do them on your iPhone or Mac.
Apple, however, added a new neat trick: head gestures. When you receive a call, you can either nod your head up and down to accept it, or shake your head sideways to reject it. It's pretty accurate, and further gives credence to hands-free usage. You also still get Spatial Audio, which mimics an immersive theatre-like environment, just like in the Pro and Max models.
Here's where it gets questionable: Apple says the AirPods Pro 4 – both models – can give you up to five hours of listening time, down from the six hours on the AirPods Pro 3. Apple has never fully explained why this is the case, but we're assuming the added features have something to do with this. And if ANC is active, that's down further to four hours.
And with the charging case increasing that up to 30 hours, this means you can charge them up to five times before everything is drained. AirPods have always been quite accurate when it comes to playback time, so we're not really worried about this.
As for charging, Apple says a five-minute charge can provide up to one hour of use. And if you're going to charge them wirelessly, keep in mind that the AirPods 4 are only compatible with Qi-certified chargers and not with MagSafe accessories.
To summarise, the AirPods 4 have, compared to the non-ANC model and aside from ANC, adaptive audio, transparency mode and conversation awareness, staples on Apple audio tech. You get all of that for Dh749 – a couple of hundred dirhams compared to the base option's Dh549.
Considering that the AirPods Pro 2 is up there at Dh949, the AirPods 4 with ANC is a very, very good deal. You will, however, miss out on the AirPods Pro 2's upcoming Hearing Aid, Hearing Test and Loud Sound Reduction services, which are a huge help for those with hearing challenges.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
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What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Points classification after Stage 4
1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124
2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81
3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66
4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63
5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
