Here’s Everything We Know About the New MacBooks So Far

The iPhone 15

New iPhone

The latest iteration of iPhone is the iPhone 15, and it will also be available as the iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They’ll come in 5 colors: white, black, pink (rejoice!), green, and yellow. The Pro models are fitted with a strong, lightweight titanium casing, and have a 6.1-inch screen, while the Plus models boast a 6.7-inch screen.

No More Lightning Cables

And yes, you read it right – the Lighting charging ports are no more for new Apple products, including the iPhone 15. From now on, users will only be able to use a USB-C cord (that, according to Apple, ushers in potentially faster charging times) for charging their devices. The change makes things fairly easy for cross-functional purposes, as USB-C cords are also compatible with non-Apple products.

Action Button

The Lightning port isn’t the only thing that Apple said they’re retiring. The new iPhone no longer has a ring silencer slider on the side. Instead, it’s now called an “action button.” The action button will still silence alerts, texts, and calls by default, but will also be capable of other handy commands you tell it to complete.

Sharper-Than-Ever Camera

As expected, the iPhone 15 variations boast an updated camera system. The company’s stepped it up so that the smartphones have a 48-megapixel main camera with a larger sensor than ever before. The back camera also has a new “nanoscale coating” for handling lens flares and lowlight with expert skill. The camera system reportedly has more enhanced color, better image stabilization, and a 4K cinematic video mode.

Improved Connection

The new iPhones also feature an ultra wideband chip, which expands the device’s connection strength. This chip allows iPhones to connect to other devices from up to three times farther away. It’s incorporated into the “Find My’ technology that you may already use to find your friends, devices, and more.

Apple made sure to address pricing for the new iPhone, as well as existing models:

• iPhone SE will start at $429.
• iPhone 13 will start at $599.
• iPhone 14 will start at $699.
• iPhone 15 will start at $799.
• iPhone 15 Plus will start at $899.
• iPhone 15 Pro will start at $999.

The new iPhones start shipping and hitting stores on September 22.

Store More With New iCloud+ Plans

Apple also announced that starting September 18, iCloud+ will offer 6TB ($29.99/mo) and 12 TB ($59.99/mo) storage plans, which expands their previous largest offering of 2TB ($9.99/mo). The new plans are ideal for large photo and video libraries, or users of Apple’s Family Sharing.

Apple Watch Series 9

Shout Out To Sustainability

The company introduced the Apple Watch Series 9, which is reportedly Apple’s first-ever carbon-neutral product. They’ll also be making another sustainability effort by eliminating leather materials from the Apple Watch. The wristbands will no longer be made of leather, but instead, a material called “fine woven,” which is made from 68% post-consumer recycled content.

With The Tap Of A Finger

The most notable news surrounding the new Apple Watch is the introduction of hand gesture controls. With the watch on, users can tap their index finger and thumb together twice to answer (or end) phone calls, play and pause music, or snooze alarms. Siri can also take commands via the watch now.

Apple Watch Tune-Up

The Series 9 watch is now made with a custom S9 chip for faster processing, according to Apple. The screen features a new edge-to-edge display that doubles the brightness levels, plus the model is available in a new pink color!

Apple noted these updated prices for the Apple Watch:

• Apple Watch SE starts at $249.
• Apple Watch S9 starts at $399.
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 is priced at $799.

TikTok is a central avenue for small businesses to promote their products and services, with special thanks to its algorithm, says Johannes Larsson, Founder and CEO at Financer.com.

“The platform's unique algorithm, which prioritizes content discovery and virality, has enabled many small businesses to reach and connect with potential customers in a way that wasn't possible through traditional social media platforms,” says Larsson. “Since its growth has been exponential throughout the years as a key marketing channel, the ban triggered the markets for sure.”

TikTok also masters the art of connection. Your For You Page knows exactly what you like to see. This gives small businesses the ability to get closer to their audience and reach more success that way, says saysLynzee Krohne, Founder of branding agency LEO + LAINE.

"On TikTok, brands have the freedom and space to be more casual and less branded," Krohne said. "Because of the nature of TikTok, it allows brands to let their guard down a bit and create content that may be a little more rough around the edges—which helps them appear to be much more authentic to their audience."

Jessica Tran, founder of @jtmobiledetailing, says 60% of customers choose her car detailing shop because they saw it on TikTok. Jaz and Sam Sears, owners and operators of@aztaco.king, grew their business from a food cart in a parking lot to two restaurants in less than 6 months, due to their success on the app. Megan Gersch, a web designer and brand identity creator, says around half of her client base comes from TikTok, which often turn into 4 to 5-figure contracts.

This positive growth for small biz is commonly attributed to the app’s distinctive features that connect creators with consumers, such as live video streaming, a virality-driven algorithm, and the ability for users to personalize their daily feeds.

In its absence, small business TikTokers would have no choice but to adapt and pivot their marketing strategies, which is not always easy when they’re doing it DIY-style, says Larsson.

“While small businesses may be able to find success on other social media channels, the competition for visibility and engagement is often more intense [than on TikTok], making it harder for them to stand out. The time and effort required to establish a new presence and create content tailored to the specific characteristics of other platforms could be a significant burden on small business owners.”

Small businesses pivoting to other platforms might face different struggles for exposure, due to consumers being very platform-specific, according to Krohne.

"If [TikTok] brands begin to focus their content efforts on Instagram, they’re up against multiple types of content, and competing in a more content-saturated world," Krohne told us. "TikTok mostly has one content offering, and that’s why it’s insanely popular. There’s a difference between platforms. Brands must diversify their content and show up in other places to keep a steady stream of touchpoints to remain top of mind and memorable."

Though Gersch is no stranger to restrategizing, a potential TikTok ban would still impact her business as a web designer and brand creator.

“I've been a marketer for 16+ years, and one thing that I have learned along the way is that you need to constantly test, look at your analytics, and create where the attention is,” says Gersch. “If TikTok goes away, there will be a huge gap in the market that will need to be filled.”

TikTok recognizes the work that small business owners take on in order to find success, which is why the platform has committed $1 million each to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to elevate entrepreneurship in the Latin community, and Black Girl Ventures to support Black and Brown women entrepreneurs.

“Five million US businesses turn to TikTok to take us inside their world in a fun, authentic way, and as a result, they are reaching new customers, hiring more employees and growing their business,” says Becca Sawyer, Global Head of SMB for TikTok. “By partnering with HHF and BGV and launching virtual workshops, we're strengthening our commitment to build an inclusive and supportive platform where small business owners and entrepreneurs can share their story, find their audience and drive real business results."

We can’t make a solid prediction for the destiny of the beloved app for now, but we do know that it’ll be dearly missed by small businesses and consumers alike if bans (at any capacity) go through.

“I don't want Tiktok to be banned - not only is it an integral part of my business, but I have also been able to connect with so many incredible people that I wouldn't have met otherwise,” says Gersch. “It's my go-to source for inspiration, learning, and even a good laugh.”

1. She Was Breathed On By Daniel Radcliffe.

"I met Daniel Radcliffe and told him he smelled nice, and he said it was his Listerine. Then, he breathed in my face so I could smell it. 100/10 experience. He's the best. Loved every moment."

2. Robin Williams Tried To Disguise His Identity.

"Robin Williams was a regular at my mom's restaurant. He always came in disguise. She knew it was him, but never made a big deal of it. So, he would tip his glasses down and say, 'See you next time.'"

3. She Humbled Steven Tyler At The Supermarket.

"I saw Steven Tyler at the grocery store, and I said, 'Excuse me,' to him to get past him, and he said, 'I'm sorry, I don't want to take any photos.' I said, 'That's fine, you're just blocking the cheese section.'"

4. Chad Michael Murray Fist-Bumped Her.

"I met Chad Michael Murray. He said to me, 'I hear you're a big Cinderella Story fan, pound it.' And we fist-pounded. There is photo evidence... I die."

5. She Turned Down A Hangout With Shaq, And He Rubbed It In Her Face The Next Day.

"Shaq asked me to go home with him from the club one night, and I said no. Then, the next day, he FaceTimed me on a boat and goes, 'This could've been you if you were nice to me.'"

6. Theo James Checked On Her Mid-Breakdown.

"I had a mental breakdown and was crying outside of the SoulCycle in Sunset Plaza, and Theo James said, 'Are you okay?' in a very alarmed way."

7. Glen Powell Approached Her At A Bar.

"I met Glen Powell at a bar because his friend he was with saw my reaction to him walking in and told him that I recognized him. So, he came up and talked to me, and he was so nice. 100/10 experience."

8. She Accidentally Called Terry Crews Bald To His Face.

"I sat next to Terry Crews at a fast food place, and I told my sister, 'Omg, he looks like that bald guy,' and I brought up a picture. He looked over my shoulder and said, 'Because I am that bald guy.'"

9. Paul McCartney Gave Her $5 To Buy A Cookie When She Was A Teen.

"I met Paul McCartney and had a full five-minute conversation with him, complaining about the price of cookies at a cafe we were at, and he gave me $5 to get the cookie. I was like 13, and I didn't know it was him, lol."

10. Robert Downey Jr. Said He Loved Her, Too.

"I met Robert Downey Jr. when I was like 8 after Iron Man 2 came out, and when I told him that I loved him, he messed up my hair and said, 'I love you too, kiddo,' and then gave me a hug."

11. She Encountered Jacob Elordi At The Airport, And He Was Supposedly A Flirt.

"I met Jacob Elordi at the airport in New Jersey, and let me tell you, that man was so flirty. I wasn't so crazy about him, but after that, I became a big fan."

12. Drew Barrymore Asked Her For A Hug During A Tough Day.

"I waited on Drew Barrymore about 30 years ago when I worked in room service. She missed her flight, so she ordered some hot tea. When I got to her room, she was crying and asked for a hug. So sweet!"

13. Nicki Minaj Gave Her Solid Life Advice.

"I met Nicki Minaj in Dallas in 2015, and she told me to stay in college and never chase a man."

14. She Helped Shawn Mendes Retrieve His... Selfie?

"Shawn Mendes walked past me, and something fell out of his pocket, so I went to pick it up and give it back to him, and it was literally just a Polaroid of himself."

15. Shaggy Used His Iconic "It Wasn't Me" Line On Her And Her Husband.

"I met Shaggy when I was eight months pregnant with my third child. He looked at me, and then my belly, and then at my husband and said, 'It wasn't me.' We both laughed so hard."