Apple has unveiled the iPhone 14, with emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology, at a launch event in the US.
The company revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic.
It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable – the Watch Ultra.
The event focused on next generation iPhone, Watch and AirPod products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was on stage at the Steve Jobs theatre inside the tech giant’s California campus – but the presentation itself was entirely pre-recorded.
The country is one of the world’s biggest emitters per capita, and the target brings it more in line with other developed countries.
But critics say government plans to reach the target are lacking detail.
Some have been demanding a higher goal as well as a ban on new fossil fuel projects in the country.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had lauded the new law – the Climate Change Bill – as an end to a decade of climate policy inaction.
The Labor government’s climate bill cleared the Senate by 37 votes to 30 after accepting minor amendments by independent David Pocock.
Climate change minister, Chris Bowen, told parliament “today is a good day for our parliament and our country, and we’re going to need many more of them”, The Guardian reported.
The former government had angered allies with its short-term emissions reductions target – which was about half what the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says is needed if the world has any chance of limiting warming to 1.5C.
But there is strong support within the parliament for greater action on climate change.
Many independents campaigned on the issue of climate change, and wanted a 2030 target of at least 50%.
Meanwhile, the Greens party said the passing of the bill was a “small step” in tackling the climate crisis.
Most also want a ban on new coal and gas projects – something they say the target cannot be achieved without.
Mark Howden, vice chair of the IPCC, told the BBC in June the new commitment is a big improvement on the previous target.
“[It] would be equivalent to taking all of our cars off the road or taking agriculture out of our economy,” he said.
It could take Australia’s carbon emission from 24 tonnes per person down to around 14 tonnes per person, he said.
While it won’t make Australia a global leader on the climate, “we’re no longer a laggard”, Mr Howden said.
Canada is aiming for a reduction of 40% by 2030 from 2005 levels, while the United States has a target of up to 52%.
In recent years, Australia has suffered severe drought, historic bushfires, successive years of record-breaking floods, and six mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef.
The country is racing towards a future full of similar disasters, the latest UN IPCC report warns.
New research also shows that natural disasters have cost Australian households on average more than A$1,485 (£870; $1,000) in the past year.
A report by the Insurance Council of Australia blames the soaring costs on catastrophic flooding in the east of the country in February and March. The report says costs will continue to rise for years to come because of extreme weather.
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch Series 8 has a number of new features, including car crash detection, temperature sensors for tracking ovulation cycles and a new low-power mode option.
People have been cautious about menstrual trackers since changes were made to abortion legislation in the US and there are concerns that data about periods could be used by law enforcement. Apple says the data on its devices will be encrypted and only accessible via a passcode or biometrics.
“We are taking our commitment to women’s health even further,” said Jeff Williams, chief operating officer at Apple.
Apple said a new automatic retrospective ovulation notification could help those who are trying to conceive.
If activated, the new watch can monitor body temperate every five seconds overnight, and detect tiny changes which can signal ovulation.
Another new feature is car crash detection. Using sensors, the watch will be able to identify a severe crash and will automatically connect its wearer with emergency services, provide their exact location and notify emergency contacts.
The Series 8 now also features a low power mode, a feature borrowed from the iPhone, that promises up to 36 hours of battery life on a full charge.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is priced from $399 in the US, £419 in the UK.
Apple Watch Ultra
Swim-proof, dust-proof and crack-resistant – Apple has announced its rival to the likes of Garmin, Polar and other rugged watchmakers.
Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek from Born to Run appeared in the presentation for the new watch, which focused on a larger face design for extreme sports use.
All Ultra watches have up to 36 hours battery life on a single charge and an extended battery life of 60 hours, with Apple promising enough power for its customers to complete an ultra-triathlon which includes swimming, cycling and running.
The Apple Watch Ultra is priced from $799 in the US, £849 in the UK.
iPhone 14
The company is releasing the iPhone 14 in two sizes, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus.
The new handsets are capable of sending an emergency call for help via satellite. The phone will display the whereabouts of passing satellites overhead and demonstrate how to point the device at them correctly.
It can take from 15 seconds to a few minutes to send a basic message.
“The investment to add satellite capability should not be underestimated,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.
“It will likely have taken Apple years to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place, including a commercial agreement with satellite provider Globalstar, and the creation of the infrastructure needed to pass messages to the emergency services.”
Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore said he believed the innovation was good news for consumers “in hard-to-reach areas”.
“It is encouraging to see providers starting to get serious about using satellite – ultimately reliable and robust connectivity is still highly sought-after among all users,” he said.
iPhone 14 camera
The tech giant announced a new 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos of fast-moving subjects, and the company claims a 49% improvement in low-light capturing.
The front camera also included auto-focus for the first time, to help sharpen selfies.
According to Apple, iPhone users took more than three trillion photos in the last 12 months.
The iPhone 14 is priced from $799 (US), £849 (UK).
