Bucket Tech: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Last nights Apple event saw the companies introduction to the new iPhone 14 family. Like always, Apple's events were very hyped up and were not short of excitement for the unveiling of their new products. While there were many which included the mobile devices, new airpods and watches, there was one particular thing I was most interested in, that was the Pro Max version of the iPhone 14. I recently purchased my first iPhone, the 13 Pro Max and with my short period with the device, I can instantly see what it has been such a hit with many over the years. While there is some short comings when moving over from Android, it's nothing that is too much of a bother and there is always a work around, even though it sometimes is a bit more complicated than it should be but other than that, usability is very easy and there wasn't even a transition period and the interface is so similar, that it was almost seamless. Anyway, enough about my experiences with my device, lets take a look at the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.

While Apple did launch a standard iPhone 14 as well as the Pro, the Pro Max is the one that has everyone talking. Bringing in a host of new features and tech which includes satellite calling and texting! Yes, in areas with no connectivity, you can make satellite calls or texts from your iPhone 14 Pro Max, this is thanks to a smart new antenna that they've developed over the years that fits into the unibody of the device and enables you to contact first responders during emergencies. It's a massive leap in terms of satellite calling tech, with regards to the texting, they have created a new algorithm that makes messages samll enough to send via the network. Apple say they've developed a special software to show users where to point their phones to maintain a connection. The service will be free for two years with the iPhone 14 starting in the US and Canada. 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max display remains the same size as the 13 Pro Max measuring in at 6.7" and has Ceramic Shield which is tougher than any smartphone glass and is water resistant. One of the key new design elements is the removal of the notch and the addition of the "Dynamic Island" display which see's the front facing camera, and other sensors move into a floating island at the top of the screen. This then transforms as you use the device to display incoming messages, music that you're listening too, notifications, Siri commands and so much more. The device has always-on display and has a refresh rate of 120Hz. The iPhone 14 Pro Max features the new A16 Bionic chip, the company\s first 4nm based chip which they claim is generations ahead of their competitors and up to 40% faster than the competition. The neural core and memory bandwidth have also been radically improved, enhancing image and video captures and bumping up gaming performance. 

Camera game on the iPhone 14 Pro Max has been elevated to the Max, with it having a triple lens system that has a 48MP main camera with quad-pixel sensor, that can take uncompressed ProRAW imagines with greater detail and colours. It has a 12MP Ultra Wide camera for sharper, brighter macros shots and 120 degree field of view and a Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and up to 2x better low-light photos. Videos on iPhones are always amazing and that doesn't change with the iPhone 14 with it now features "Action Mode" which improves stabilisation when recording. 

Battery life has also been upgraded in the iPhone 14 Pro Max with Apple claiming an all in, all day battery life that can give you up to 29 hours video playback! It also features a MagSafe charger for faster wireless charging. The iPhone 14 Pro Max will also be the first Apple device to do away with sim trays as its adopting eSIM, not sure if this will be the case for local models as well but we will have to wait and see. 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available for shipping from the 16th of September with the pricing coming in at $1,099. Local pricing and availability is still yet to be confirmed. 

Bucket Travel: MSC plans for PortMiami Cruise Terminal

MSC CRUISES NEW TERMINAL IN PORTMIAMI from MSC CRUISES on Vimeo.

MSC Cruises is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company and is a familiar  for local cruise goers as they've been sailing from South African ports for the past few decades, most notably Durban. With Durban being their most popular market, they've decided to invest heavily in the cities ports with the proposed new cruise terminal that's said to begin construction in early 2020. MSC also last month announced plans for another cruise terminal at a major port in the USA. 

Details of the port were were released as the terms of the agreement were approved from the Miami-Dada Board of the Country Commissioners. The  highly innovative multi-cruise ship terminal  will be designed, constructed and operated by MSC. The large building will host two cruise terminals (AA and AAA) as well as two berths. The building was designed by award-winning global architecture firm Arquitectonica, the PortMiami terminals will be capable of hosting two mega cruise ships at the same time, allowing the company to conduct two turnaround operations simultaneously, handling up to 28,000 passenger movements per day. 

Pierfranscesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman had this to say: "With another 13 cruise vessels due to join our fleet in the next eight years, our ambition is to have our most innovative ship classes represented at PortMiami, bringing a wealth of choice to our North American as well as international guests."

MSC Cruises currently operates four vessels out of PortMiami, MSC Seaside and MSC Armonia year-round. MSC Divina seasonally and MSC Meravgilia which will join the ships sailing from Miami this fall, seasonally. With the new cruise facilities, MSC Cruises will bring a total of 1 million guests through PortMiami each year. Work on the new terminal will commence in early 2020 and estimated completion by late 2022. 

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond Acoustic - Sun & Moon (Live At The Hollywood Bowl)

Four years ago Above & Beyond, left their DJ booth and played a live acoustic session to a small crowd at Porchester Hall in London. The show was recorded and then uploaded to YouTube, I don't think they could imagine the type of attention it drew. With a full orchestra playing along to some of their classic trance tracks with live vocals left chills in the spines of many of their fans and made the hair on the back of you neck stand. Since then, people have been wondering if they would do it again, and last month they did. Above & Beyond Acoustic was back, this time playing at a much larger venue, the Hollywood Bowl. It's an open air amphitheater, keeping the trend from ABGT250 which they played at the Gorge Amphitheater. Today we bring you  one of the tracks from this years session, a cult classic from them, Sun & Moon. Enjoy. 

Monday Choon: Post Malone - Congratulations ft. Quavo (Dzeko Remix)

Austin Richard Post, better known by his stage name as Post Malone recently released single "Congratulations" has received some treatment by Canadian based DJ and producer Dzeko. Not gonna lie, I had to Google who Post Malone was, pretty scruffy looking white rapper, won't be the next Slim but makes good music. The song which originally is a rap song from the popular American Rapper has some much needed up-tempo beat added to it as well as some extras. It's proven to be quite popular as well with a number of high profile DJ's dropping it in sets of recent, most notably Tiesto at EDC Las Vegas. 

Ultra Miami Memoirs

Ultra Miami 2018 tickets are now on sale, it will be the 20th anniversary of the world's biggest dance music festival and it will be taking place from the 23rd till the 25th of March 2018. The popular dance music festival has grown in leaps and bounds of the 20 years and coincides with the Miami Music Week which originally started off as Miami Winter Music Conference which saw DJ's and Producers from around the world descend on the tropical US City. It turned the place into a party capital of the world for that week and so on it went. People who have pre-registered can buy Tier 1 and Tier 2 GA tickets but last I saw, Tier 1 has already been sold out so act fast to get Tier 2 before they get snapped up too!

To find out what went on at this years Festival, watch the memoirs clip which was released on Monday to give you a good idea on what you're missing out on. UMF Miami is still my ultimate music festival and even though I have not attended one year I try to watch most of the live streams or listen to the sets after it has been completed, maybe one day I can be there to witness the madness for myself.

Monday Choon: Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (Tiesto AFTR:HRS Remix)

It's been about a year since Norwegian DJ Kygo first made his name on the EDM scene with his fresh new sound that was dubbed "tropical house" which was a fusion of electronic, house and the sounds of the Caribbean. He killed it on the Ultra Main stage and soon thereafter had much success world over. Fast forward a year later and he released a new track with Disney Superstar turn actress and singer, the gorgeous Selena Gomez. The track "It aint me" enjoyed some time in most of the charts but it got a special remix treatment from Tiesto which he featured on his AFTR:HRS compilation. Yes, I know, another track taken from that set, if I could I'd feature the whole damn thing on here, it is seriously that good and I can foresee many other tracks from there being released as singles.