News

Everything Apple Announced At Yesterday’s iPhone 15 Event

Most of the circulating rumors proved accurate, but despite any major surprises, the new iPhone lineup still looks stunning.

Published

11 months ago

September 13, 2023

Nour Nasir

everything apple announced at yesterday's iphone 15 event

Yesterday, Apple held its yearly iPhone event, where the Cupertino company revealed four new smartphones, along with updates to its line of Apple Watches and a new version of iOS.

Most of the rumors about these hotly anticipated devices proved to be accurate, with upgrades ranging from USB-C ports to titanium frames. Let’s check them out:

The iPhone 15 & 15 Plus

Like the iPhone 14, the base model of Apple’s smartphone comes in two screen sizes: a standard 6.1-inch version and a larger 6.7-inch plus model.

Broadly speaking, the base iPhones are now comparable to last year’s Pro models, with improved cameras, better performance, and the novel Dynamic Island that does away with the dreaded notch.

However, the handsets now sport USB-C ports, along with a slightly tweaked chassis featuring rounded edges that look a little like those of the Apple Watch. In addition, color options have been changed for this model, which now ships in blue, green, yellow, pink, and black.

The iPhone 15 starts at $799, while the Plus starts at $899.

iPhone 15 Pro & Pro Max

For the Pro versions of the iPhone 15, Apple chose to use titanium for the chassis, resulting in a lighter handset that comes in natural, blue, white, and black metallic hues. The screen now sports a smaller bezel, while the frosted glass back remains.

The two Pro handsets have 48-megapixel cameras with larger sensors for improved low-light photography. In addition, the 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera remains but is now joined by a game-changing 5x optical zoom on the Pro Max. Last but not least, the Pro model cameras gain the ability to record spatial video that can be viewed on Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset.

One final feature worth noting is that both Pro iPhones have ditched the mute button and replaced it with an “Action Button”, which is customizable via the Shortcuts app.

The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, while the Pro Max starts at $1,199.

iOS 17

Apple gave few details about updates to its mobile operating system but did announce that iOS 17 would arrive on Monday, September 18, presumably to tie in with the iPhone 15.

Apple Watches

Both Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra smartwatches received an update, too. The series 9 is now carbon neutral, comes in new colorways, and sports a touch-free feature called double tap. Meanwhile, the premium Ultra watch has an upgraded processor, improved battery life, and more accurate health readings.

News

Mamo Completes $3.4M Funding Round To Enhance Fintech Services

The startup will use the influx of cash to expand into Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC while improving its product offering.

Published

21 hours ago

July 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Mamo

UAE-based fintech Mamo has announced the completion of a $3.4 million funding round that will help the startup extend its market presence and improve its product offering. Investors included 4DX Ventures, the Dubai Future District Fund and Cyfr Capital.

Mamo’s platform offers “payment collection, corporate cards and expense management” to help small and medium-sized businesses consolidate and streamline their operations. With the latest influx of capital, Mamo will further develop its comprehensive suite of services and begin testing its product lines in Saudi Arabia, further extending its footprint across the GCC.

Imad Gharazeddine, co-founder and CEO of Mamo, stated: “We’ve been in the market for a while now and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. This additional funding will allow us to reach our medium-term goals even faster. The support from new and existing investors is a testament to our strong expertise and the ability to deliver on our customer promise”.

Daniel Marlo, General Partner of lead investor 4DX Ventures, added: “We have immense trust in Imad’s vision, leadership and Mamo’s innovative approach to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive financial solution for SMEs that makes financial management more accessible and efficient. We are proud to partner with them and support their mission”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Amer Fatayer, Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund’s investment team, also commented: “Mamo’s localized product lines serve as an infrastructure for SME payments and spend management in UAE, a segment that is underserved by the country’s current banking infrastructure. The team has taken a product-first approach to consolidating SMEs’ financial journeys and building a fintech solution deeply embedded in a business’s core operations”.

To date, Mamo has raised around $13 million in investment funding and now boasts a team of 30 people. The company’s intuitive financial services platform has allowed over 1,000 businesses to consolidate their financial operations and significantly reduce payment fees.