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iPhone

iPhone X Launch Day. Worth the upgrade?

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3/11/2017 – The launch of the brand new, highly anticipated Apple iPhone X in Australia.

There’s no doubt that the new flagship Apple smartphone is stunning with its 5.8inch OLED display, but is the extravagant price really worth it?

Let’s go over a few of the specs of this gorgeous new smartphone

Capacity Size Weight Display Water Resistence Chip Camera Charging Operating System
64/256GB 5.65×2.79inch 174g

6.14oz

 5.8inch

OLED

 IP67 rating A11 Bionic 12MP Back

7MP Front

 Wireless

Lithium-ion battery

 iOS 11

 

First things first, let’s go over the look of the Apple iPhone X

There’s no doubting its aesthetics with a large 5.8inch OLED display holding a screen resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixel resolution at 458 ppi – Which sadly, still hasn’t caught up with Samsung’s Galaxy S8 impressive 2960 x 1440 at 570 ppi, BUT we must also consider the fact that the stock setting for the Samsung Galaxy S8 screen resolution setting is set to 2220 x 1080 at 570 ppi. This is probably to enhance the battery life for the Galaxy S8.

The iPhone X is just 5.8mm taller than the iPhone 8, but the iPhone 8+ is a huge 14.8mm taller than the iPhone X. It’s also handy to keep in mind that the iPhone X is the same size as the Samsung Galaxy S8, so if you’re not happy with your current Samsung and are thinking about converting, you’ll be used to this phone in your hand.

With the screen resolution specs out of the way, let’s get back to the actual look of the Apple iPhone X

The most obvious stand-out difference between the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 is the fact that the screen has stretched out to almost the entire length of the phone, consequently abolishing any home button. This change is resulting in a love-hate indifference between Apple enthusiasts. This change means that any full screen viewing will have an annoying black panel (your speaker and front camera) in the way of your viewing pleasure. Though this is a little drawback, I’m sure after a few weeks of use, this will no longer bother you.

Apple are now claiming they have “the most durable glass in any smartphone” – But don’t let this fool you into thinking you won’t need a case. If you drop this iPhone X, it will shatter. Glass is still glass at the end of the day, and we know that glass is fragile, so I don’t recommend leaving things to chance – get a case.

So, there’s no home button now. How am I meant to return to the home screen?

It’s pretty simple – Just swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Now, to get to the control centre of your new iPhone X, you’ll have to swipe down from the top of the screen from the left side. Swiping down from the right will open your notifications. Sounds simple, right?

Obviously with the absence of a home button on the iPhone X, there is no fingerprint scanner anymore, but not to worry! – FaceID has replaced TouchID. One more thing to cover on the absence of the home button. How do I switch between the apps that I’m using? Okay, imagine that your new iPhone X still has a home button. To swipe right, swipe your finger/thumb from the bottom left corner of the phone and draw an imaginary semi-circle over where the home button used to be. The same goes for swiping left, but swap sides.

OLED Display

It’s great to see that Apple have finally upped their screen resolution game and followed Samsung steps in ditching the IPS LED displays (which are still great!) and moved onto the OLED display, giving a much richer display with the ability to turn off and on any pixels that aren’t needed at any time.

Is the Apple iPhone X faster than the iPhone 8?

In short, yes.

Both the X and 8 have the same processor, the A11 chip – but the difference between the two in terms of speed is seen because of the size of the chips. Apple have managed to shrink the size of the new A11 chip for the iPhone X, allowing them more room for additional transistors into their new flagship smartphone. This will help improve the performance and the battery life of the new iPhone X.

Apple are actually claiming that their new flagship iPhone X is going to last 2 hours longer than their former iPhone 7. Not only have Apple upped their battery performance in the new iPhone X, but the new A11 chip has a new Apple designed Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), breaking off their relationship with Imagination Technologies – This means faster processing during game time and creation apps, but if you’re just scrolling through Facebook or checking your emails, you won’t notice a difference.

Wireless Charging of the Apple iPhone X & iPhone 8

Apple have finally introduced wireless charging in the iPhone X and iPhone 8 thanks to the new glass backs. A feature that Samsung have been running in their flagship phones since early 2015 in the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Although it is important to note that wireless charging does not charge your phone as fast as wired charging (maybe one day it will!)

Apple have designed their own wireless charging accessory called AirPower, which actually has the ability to charge more than one phone at once. It is fair to note that this isn’t the first wireless charger with that ability. Of course, I should mention just in case anyone thought Apple had a change of mind, there is certainly no jack for your headphones (hope you still have that dongle!)

Finally, let’s talk about the camera of the Apple iPhone X & iPhone 8

The biggest difference in cameras from the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X is the latter has the superior aperture rate of f/2.4. Of course, the iPhone X has a dual camera which will allow for greater zoom capabilities and depth-of-field effects. So overall, the difference between camera capability between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X is not a lot, BUT if you’re coming from an iPhone 6S or 6S Plus, you will notice a more dramatic change in picture quality. The iPhone X can now record at 4K video at 60fps, and even slow-motion at 1080p at 240fps.

Do I upgrade to the Apple iPhone X?

Well we did, and we love it!

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Recap of the services and products released at Apple’s big event

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On Tuesday Apple held an event broadcast over the internet to the entire world. Information is still coming in fast and subject to change. Here are some of the highlights in case you missed the excitement:

The Apple Watch, a brand new wearable smart device, will be launched in 2015 and priced at $349. It will be used in conjunction with iPhones, but only starting with the iPhone 5 model and up. The Apple Watch will have Siri voice commands and a new “taptic” function that gently buzzes the user’s wrist for multiple uses. The Apple Watch will also have an earphone jack, wifi connectivity, a customizable HUD and full app usability, among other features. More information on the product, including a final release date, are expected in future updates.

apple-watch-picture

Two new iPhones will be released on September 19; the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 will retail in the United States for $199, and the iPhone 6 Plus will retail in the United States for $299. No word yet on pricing in other countries. Apple increased the price of its iPhones higher that ever, reflecting confidence that consumers are hungry for the product and will meet demand. Apple’s iPhone is more expensive than nearly all other competing smartphones. Estimates for the final selling price of an iPhone, plans and peripherals add up to around $657 this year, compared with $254 for Android smartphones. 

iphone-6-iphone-6-plus

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are announced to have bigger screens, at 4.7 and 5.5 inches each, respectively. They will also contain 128 Gigabytes of internal memory. Traditionally, Apple has stuck with a small display for its iPhone, while competitors were making larger screens for high-end phones. Larger screens are desired in Asia, where the smartphone is replacing the personal computer as a person’s main computing device. The lack of a large screen was fast becoming a liability for Apple. Smartphone rival Samsung Electronics has pushed hard into large-screen smartphones and used the bigger screen as a positive difference away from the iPhone. Samsung is currently the market leader of large smartphone displays.

Apple Pay, a brand new contact-less payment program, has been announced. Instead of traditional debit and credit card transactions, Apple Pay will allow users to directly scan and purchase goods and services with their iPhones at a registered business. Details will be forthcoming on where Apple Pay can be used; the current list of Apple Pay vendors are McDonalds, Subway, Whole Foods and Sephora. More businesses are expected to announce their support in future updates.

apple-pay-credit-card

To celebrate the Apple Watch and the newest iPhone release, legendary rock band U2 has announced their new album will be free to download for all iTunes users. More than 500 million users have been given day-one access to the music, which is the largest record debut in the history of the music industry.

U2-live-apple

Expect more details about Apple’s new products to emerge in the weeks ahead.

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4 things to expect from Apple’s iPhone 6 event

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Next week, Apple is expected to reveal a host of new products to its fans and the world. The company created a countdown timer on its website, telling viewers to watch for a live webcast event on Tuesday, September 9, held at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino California. 

30 years ago on the same day, Steve Jobs revealed the first Macintosh personal computer to the world. Fans and the media have been speculating what could be launched on that special day. Here are four products you can probably expect to see:

1. The official release of an iWatch

Ever since Pebble’s 2011 Kickstarter campaign sold customers on the idea of strapping a mini iPod to a wristband, and raised over $3 million and the official backing of Apple itself, customers have been bombarded with smart watches from other manufacturers. On Tuesday, Apple may announce the creation of an official wearable device. The iWatch is currently listed as having a curved LED display, the ability to sync with iCloud and HealthKit services to track exercise and medical routines, and an initial price tag of $400. There’s no word on when it ships to stores, however.

While customers have been traditionally hesitant or unwilling to “wear” smart devices on their wrist, expect Apple to discuss the iWatch and attempt to make a wearable device into a cool marketing brand on Tuesday.

2. The ability to make online payments with an Apple device

While iPhones have been able to conduct everyday consumer banking for years–including depositing a check by taking a picture with the built-in camera–having the ability to pay for something in a grocery store just by tapping your phone has been a long-time dream for consumers. Apple has been rumored to be in partnership talks with credit card companies American Express and Visa on a possible Apple-brand payment platform. Instead of carrying around credit cards and cash, a customer might be able to digitally pay for everything through their Apple device instead.

While other smart phones use “near field communications” chips that can be used at a grocery checkout service, Apple has preferred to rely on its Passbook application for its customer base. That could also change on Tuesday.

3. The iPhone 6, with a larger screen

Current iPhones have a display that measures 4 inches across diagonally. By contrast, many phone manufacturers like Samsung and Nokia have developed products with much larger and easier to read screens, and those manufacturers have enjoyed comparatively higher demand for those products than Apple’s customer base.

Long-time loyal fans have been asking Apple for years to develop larger screens; Apple is widely expected to release a product on Tuesday with a larger screen, or at least discuss the feasibility of future iPhones with larger screens.

4. Apple’s giant, public emphasis on strong security

Expect a 90% chance of mentioning this in the webcast, not only for the recent hacking of Hollywood actresses’ iPhones, but also if Apple discusses their new iCloud, new products and payment systems. Public scrutiny is something Apple management has always tried to avoid, and mentioning security will only win them points on Tuesday.

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Apple iPhone 6 will be introduced to the world on September 9th

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According to a new report, Apple may be planning to release the highly anticipated iPhone 6 on September 9. The report comes from the technology site Re/code, which has a staunch reputation when it comes to getting Apple rumors right.

Others reputable sources are also confirming the date:

The iPhone 6 is expected to come in two new screen sizes, 4.7 inch and 5.5 inch. Some reports have speculated that the larger size will be delayed until later this year or early 2015 due to production issues.

In addition to bigger screens the device is expected to be totally redesigned. Over the last several months there have been multitudes of leaks pointing to a new mostly-aluminum design with rounded corners, similar to that of the current generation iPod Touch.

One of the most contested rumors points to the use of a sapphire display. The use of sapphire for the display would allow for a near indestructible front panel for the new smartphone. Apple’s devices are notoriously easy to break. The problem for Apple (and any other company that wants to use the material in their phone) is that it is difficult and expensive to produce en mass. This has led to some rumors that say that a sapphire screen will be included on the iPhone 6; some that say that it’ll only be included on the 5.5 inch version; and some that say that it won’t be included at all because of those production issues.

Internally, there isn’t much known about the iPhone 6 upgrades. Based on past releases, it is safe to assume that the iPhone 6 will see a faster processor. Battery life and capacity is another rumor that hasn’t been consistent over the last few months. Some reports point to the same size battery in the iPhone 6 as is already in the iPhone 5s. This points to slightly worse battery life due to the extra strain added by a larger screen. Yet other reports point to a significant upgrade for the iPhone 6 battery.

Other hardware rumors point towards the use of a new Wi-Fi chip (802.11ac), the possible inclusion of NFC for the first time, and the inclusion of wireless charging technology. Many of these rumors are considered extremely sketchy by those in-the-know.

Finally, it’s known (or at least safe to assume) that the device will launch with iOS 8, which is a significant upgrade from iOS 7. One of the features users are looking forward to the most is called extensions, which will allow app developers to send data and interfaces between third party apps. This also means that iOS will see third party keyboards and third party widgets for the first time.

When it comes to Apple rumors, it’s best to take everything with a grain of salt. No pundit or technology journalist knows exactly what Apple will announce when Tim Cook takes the stage on September 9.

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5 things to know for Apple’s September 10th Event

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The invitations have been received, and their colorful presentation and playful opening statement, “this should brighten everyone’s day” have the tech world buzzing. Is it possible that Apple’s choice of design and phrasing is a hint that they’ll be confirming rumors of the cheaper iPhone 5c, available in multiple colors, at their September 10th event? In just a day, we’ll know for sure.

As usual with all things Apple, there have been countless rumors circulating since the last batch of products was released about what the next models will be. So, what can we expect on the 10th? Here are five important things to know about Apple’s next event.

1. Expect surprises. While much of the leaked information and predictions from credible sources about upcoming iPhones and other new Apple products will likely prove to be true, it’s not unrealistic to assume that Apple has some unexpected news to share as well. It could be different iPhone specs than what we’re expecting, or an entirely new product or feature altogether. As Apple has been criticized recently for no longer being as innovative as they once were, the September 10th event is a prime opportunity for them to wow us once again and prove doubters wrong.

2. Surprises or not, the new iPhone will be the primary focus. So much of Apple’s media attention recently has been centered on the rumored iPhone 5s and 5c, and September 10th will be the day all is revealed. Features to expect include new internal components such as a robust, proprietary A7 chip. Some sources are even hinting that fingerprint scanning may be utilized on the new iPhones. At present, the technology will primarily be for unlocking the phone, but offers the capability to be used as a biometric scanner or to make secure online payments in the future.

3. Extensive information about iOS 7 will be provided. The first major mobile operating system update from Apple in a while, it is rumored to completely upgrade the user interface, predict app usage in order to preserve battery life, do automatic updates in the background, give all apps the ability to multitask and provide a useful new “iOS control panel” for tweaking settings.

4. iTunes Radio will be promoted. Given the neat features that come with this addition to the music management program, it’s somewhat surprising it hasn’t received more buzz. Launching soon in the USA and then in other countries worldwide, it offers streaming radio similar to services like SoundCloud, with a choice of 200 different genre-based radio stations. What sets it apart is its ability to bring together all the stations you’re likely to enjoy, based on your listening preferences and the type of music you tend to purchase. The more you listen, the more personalized your stations will become. Though it will be overshadowed by the new iPhone announcements, iTunes Radio is really a neat offering by Apple.

5. iPads won’t receive as much attention. While it’s not sensible to rule out any tablet-related news, it’s unlikely that the iPad and iPad Mini will be touched on in a significant way during the September 10th event. With new versions of the iPad being offered in fairly quick succession over the last few years, they have received a lot of coverage. While still an incredibly popular and important device, they will take a backseat to the iPhone and other announcements this fall.