Apple Announces the Return of a Smaller iPhone

Apple Announces the Return of a Smaller iPhone

The technology company Apple announced a new, smaller sized iPhone on Monday at a press event in Cupertino, California.

iPhone SE

Apple head Tim Cook said customers had asked that the company continue making four-inch products. He said the new iPhone SE, satisfies that demand. It is the same size as the iPhone 5 and 5s. But, the SE includes the better hardware of the most recent iPhone, the 6s.

And, Apple is offering the iPhone SE  for a lower price. An iPhone SE with 16 GB of storage will cost around $400.  One with 64 GB will be about $100 more.

The iPhone SE shares the same design and materials as the 5 and 5s. However, the new model adds a color choice: rose gold.

iPad Pro¹

Last fall Apple introduced the iPad Pro, its largest iPad ever. At 12.9 inches, or 32.766 cm, the iPad Pro screen is as big as that of some laptop computers.

At the event on Monday, Apple announced a smaller version of the iPad Pro, with a screen measuring 9.7 inches, or 24.638 cm. That is the size of the original iPad screen.

The iPad Pro is designed for possible use as a laptop computer. The device has powerful hardware and storage capacity up to 256 GB. This iPad Pro works with Apple’s stylus, called the Pencil. It also works with the so-called Smart Keyboard, which also serves as a cover.

The screen of the iPad Pro has been improved to make it easier to read in bright light, such as sunlight. The cameras are also more powerful, both front and back, to take better photos.

The iPad Pro will cost between $579 and a little over $1000.

iOS 9.3

iOS, the operating system for the iPhone and iPad, received an update this week to version 9.3. New features include the ability to protect Notes using a password or your fingerprint².

Apple also introduced Night Shift, a mode that changes the brightness of the screen based on the time of day and location of the device. Night Shift reduces the amount of blue light that the screen displays at night, as blue light has been shown to interfere³ with sleep.

Apple Watch News

Apple is making getting an Apple Watch a bit easier by cutting the price. The price of the least expensive Watch has been reduced by about $50 to $299.

Apple TV

The latest model of Apple TV also got an update. Now, it includes folders⁴ to organize apps, such as entertainment, games and news. And, Apple’s voice assistant Siri can search for a movie or enter passwords.

The Environment

The company also reported on its sustainability efforts to use 100% renewable energy at all of its facilities. Currently, Apple says it uses renewable energy at 93% of its facilities.

Other Apple News

There was a major twist in the fight between Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation⁵. The FBI had sought legal action to force Apple to help unlock an iPhone. Investigators⁶ were seeking information connected to the deadly terror attack in San Bernardino late last year.

This week, the FBI told a court investigators might not need Apple’s help anymore. The agency said it thinks it has found another way to access the phone.

Words in This Story

hardware –n. physical electronics in a computing⁷ device; computer equipment

stylus –n. a pointed⁸ piece of metal used like a pencil or pen

operating system –n. the software that manages both hardware and other software programs in a computer system

sustainability –n. the ability to continue a behavior or activity into the future

renewable –n. something that is not used up, but continues to be available

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

3 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

4 folders   

n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 )；纸夹；（某些计算机系统中的）文件夹；页面叠

参考例句：

• Encrypt and compress individual files and folders. The program is compact, efficient and user friendly. 加密和压缩的个人档案和folders.the计划是紧凑，高效和用户友好。 来自互联网
• By insertion of photocopies,all folders can be maintained complete with little extra effort. 插入它的复制本，不费多大力量就能使所有文件夹保持完整。 来自辞典例句

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。