Apple is facing Klarna and ClearPay with a new “buy now, pay later” feature for the iPhone, the company announced at its global developer conference.
The company is also redesigning the iPhone’s lock screen, the most significant visual redesign the iPhone operating system has received since the introduction of the iPhone X, and introduces a new version of the MacBook Air built around its M2 chip.
Apple’s “buy now, pay later” offer will compete with companies such as Klarna and ClearPay, allowing consumers to take out a four-month interest-free loan for any payment made using the company’s Apple Pay service. It has also partnered with the e-commerce platform Shopify to allow users to track the progress of their orders in the Apple Wallet app.
It is not yet clear if any of the features will launch outside the US when iOS 16 arrives in the fall.
The company also unveiled a redesigned MacBook Air with its new MagSafe charging port and a physical design similar to larger MacBook Pro computers – putting an end to the distinctive pointed shape that has defined the line so far. Also, like these larger computers, the MacBook Air has an HD camera with a distinctive “cutout” in front of the screen.
The new M2 chips are 40% faster than the previous generation, Apple said, but still run without a fan and have 18 hours of battery life. The computers will come with a dual-port USB charger and will be available next month for prices starting at $ 1,199.
For many, the most important change announced at the event will be for their iPhone lock screens. When users are currently limited to changing their wallpaper, from this fall they will be able to change the look of the watch, attach small gadgets to the front screen and minimize notifications at the bottom of the screen. And they’ll be able to swipe through multiple lock screens with different looks and functionality for different uses – a working lock screen can pin emails and mute social media, for example, while a lock screen on the weekend can have more casual photos. and hide communications from work.
Craig Federigi, Apple’s chief software engineer, said the redesign introduced “an incredible set of new customization features that will make your experience feel fresh and amazing.”
The new features will be available for older iPhones, but will likely work in conjunction with the upcoming iPhone 14, which is said to always have a display on.
Along with the visual redesign, iOS 16 will include a number of other new features:
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The Messages app will allow users to edit or even call up iMessages sent by mistake.
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Dictation has been redesigned to make it easier to switch between dictating text and editing it with a keyboard.
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Live text will now work with video, allowing users to cut and pause text from video.
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Apple Maps allows users to add multiple stops to a route and sync them between iOS and Mac.
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A new “shared photo library” allows families to seamlessly combine all their photos taken together into one shared online library.
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“Security screening” allows people leaving abusive relationships to cut off all access to other people with one click.
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The Fitness app, which was once limited to Apple Watch users, will now be on the iPhone, tracking steps and movement.
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Continuity Camera lets you use your iPhone as a webcam for any Mac.
And twelve years after it was first released, the iPad will receive a weather app on iPadOS 16.
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