Tech Stuff: iPhone 6, +, and Watch
Apple’s big day arrived on Tuesday. I was hoping for a new iPad, but Apple had a lot of exciting news, so I suppose we’ll see more about a new iPad next month (if rumors are remotely accurate).
What’s the big deal? By the end of the month, four different iPhones will be available in three physical sizes. The 5c, the 5s, the 6, and the 6 Plus. The Watch, which, even though it doesn’t interest me p
Personally, is a technological marvel — unless you’re left-handed and want to wear it on your right wrist. Oops. (Note: someone on Twitter pointed out you can swap the bands, it turns upside down and just works — and it should.)
Unsurprisingly, the cream of the crop is the 6 Plus. It’s not hugely different, but it has a few new features not available on the other phones. Are they enough to make a difference to you? Maybe.
What’s different about the 6 Plus, besides the 5.5″ diagonal screen? 1920×1080 pixel resolution at 401 ppi, a typical 1300:1 contrast ratio, and optical image stabilization on the iSight camera (still 8MP but f/ 2.2). Battery life is reported to be better on the 6 Plus as well (but I think people will discover there’s no change in functional battery life, as in, they’ll still be looking for a place to plug in before the end of a busy day). Is that worth an extra hundred dollars? Maybe.
I was concerned about the reported increased size of the 6, but after comparing my 5 with the Otterbox case, it will be approximately the size of the six without a case. Will the six need a case? Apple is offering some nice form-fitting cases for both models. Will they protect enough? I’d dropped my five a couple of times from just above waist height with no ill-effects in the Otterbox case. My contract isn’t up until November, so I’ll have plenty of time to consider if I want to get a new phone or keep the one I have. If I decide I need more than my current 32G storage capability, I’ll have to get a 6 — the 5s no longer offers 64G.
But what about the Apple Watch? The Apple Watch is a thing of beauty arriving in early 2015 in three different models. The band connection system impressed me the most. Bands are easy to switch out and have several unique fastening methods that, if they work as advertised, are simply elegant.
Instead of using pinch to zoom, which would obliterate the face, they developed the “Digital Crown.” From the demo, operation is elegant. For right-handed people or for people who wear the watch on their left wrist. The Digital Crown is a touch sensitive knob located on the right side of the watch. If you operate it with your right hand, the watch face is unobstructed. Lefties who wear the watch on the right wrist will be forced to reach across the watch face to use the Digital Crown, blocking the face — same as pinch to zoom would do. I’m sure I’m not the first person to notice this little detail, and, frankly, I’m surprised nobody at Apple noticed this. Do they not have any left-handed people on the Watch design team? At a starting price of $349, I’m not even considering this handy iPhone attachment. Or, as
“The watch that says “I’m carrying an expensive phone full of credit card info so start thinking now where you’re going to dump my body.””
The big announcement for IOS8 was Apple Pay. Passbook will finally be able to work more as it was intended. If you store a credit card in your iTunes account, it will link to Passbook. But each time you use it, the software generates a one time card number and code, so the cashier never sees your name or card number, Apple does not store the transaction, and, frankly, if it’s as widely accepted as they indicate, it should be a good thing for many people.
What did you see that interested you in the announcement (assuming you even care about anything Apple). For Android aficionados, you’re going to (justifiably) be able to complain about a camera of less specification as well as a few other features. Is the larger screen a big deal for you? Or is it a deal-breaker, as in it makes the phone too big and cumbersome to manage?
