On Tuesday Apple held their highly anticipated event introducing to the world the next-generation iPhone, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus; Apple Pay, the company’s new payment process that hopes to revolutionize the way we checkout at physical and online merchants; and the Apple Watch, an entirely new entrant in a brand new product category for the company. Jump after the break for all the major details.
iPhone
“Today we are launching the biggest advancement in the history of iPhone,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook at the top of the keynote presentation. Like before with the iPhone 5s and 5c, the company introduced two new iPhone models today, except this time around they don’t differ from each other all that much. Enter the significantly larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
At first glance, the new phones boast larger displays than ever before. The iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch screen (compared to the iPhone 5s’ 4-inch screen), a 1334 x 750 resolution (that’s more than 720p HD) with 326ppi (compared to the 5s’ 1136 x 640 resolution with 326ppi), and the display contains over 1 million pixels (that’s 38% more pixels than the 5s). The even larger iPhone 6 Plus features a 5.5-inch screen, a 1920 x 1080 resolution (that’s full 1080p HD) with 401ppi, and the display contains over 2 million pixels (that’s 185% more pixels than the 5s). These are the thinnest iPhones ever made. The 6 is 6.9mm thin (compared to the 7.6mm thickness of the 5s), and the 6 Plus 7.1mm thin. iOS 8, which will ship with the new phones, will take advantage of the 6 Plus’ larger display; when rotated in landscape mode, various Apple-designed apps (such as Mail and Messages) will reveal dual-pane UIs for expanded functionality. In Mail, for example, users can view the inbox and emails side-by-side. That’s right–thanks to its beefy display the 6 Plus acts very much like its larger sibling, the iPad. In fact, you can even view the home screen and swipe across your app collection in landscape mode. Both devices offer a new feature called Reachability which makes operating them with one hand much easier; double tap (read: tap, not press) the Touch ID button and whatever’s displayed will drop down to the lower half of the screen so you can reach things easier with your thumb. On a similar note, Apple’s moved the sleep/wake button from the top to the right side of the device, again, making it easier to reach when operating the phone with one hand. Another thing to note: all of the 1.3 million apps and counting available in the App Store will work just fine on the larger displays; don’t expect any stretching or pixelated mess. Developers, of course, can edit their code to fully take advantage of the larger and more vibrant displays as they see fit over time.
Next let’s jump inside. You guessed it: the 6 and 6 Plus pack Apple’s new generation A8 processor, their second-gen 64-bit chip. It features 2 billion transistors, it’s 13% smaller than the A7, up to 20% faster CPU performance, up to 50% faster GPU, and up to 50% more energy efficient allowing for higher sustained performance over time. Battery life remains the same or better in every category when compared to the 5s: 50 (iPhone 6)/80 (iPhone 6 Plus) hours audio, 11/14 hours video, 11/12 hours WiFi browsing, 10/12 hours LTE browsing, 10/12 hours 3G browsing, 14/24 hours 3G talk, and 10/16 days standby. The M8 chip, Apple’s next-gen motion coprocessor, works intelligently with many of the sensors inside the phones including the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. A new Barometer sensor measures relative elevation collected from air pressure. iOS 8’s new Health app will take advantage of the Barometer; for example, the app can measure flights of stairs climbed in a day. Both devices also include new advanced wireless capabilities including 150Mbps LTE, they support up to 20 LTE bands (that’s more than any smartphone), and more LTE roaming. Apple is working with over 200 LTE carriers worldwide to support widespread LTE for the 6 and 6 Plus. They also support VoLTE (or Voice over LTE) to transfer calls from 4G to LTE for clearer sound and it allows for simultaneous voice and data. Also inside is faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi that supports Wi-Fi calls (say you have no service in your office but you have a strong Wi-Fi signal, you can initiate a phone call over Wi-Fi and if you leave your office and go outside the call will seamlessly transfer from Wi-Fi to your service provider as soon as service kicks in). T-Mobile in the US and EE in the UK are the first providers to work with Apple on this new feature. (The phones also, at last, pack Near Field Communication (NFC) inside…but more on that later.)
The 6 and the 6 Plus carry the torch from previous iPhone generations and sport a fantastic iSight camera. The 8-megapixel camera with True Tone flash features 1.5 micron pixels, f/2.2 aperture, and a new sensor featuring Focus Pixels allowing for faster autofocus. You can take bigger panorama shots (up to 43 megapixel photos). And a new Apple-designed image signal processor built into the A8 allows for advanced face and smile detection. Display, battery life, and now the camera; here’s another major difference between the 6 and the 6 Plus. While the 6 has digital image stabilization, the 6 Plus boasts optical image stabilization which will produce better pictures in low-light situations. In the 6 Plus, the lens inside moves front to back to focus as always, but with OIS it can now move up and down and side to side; working in conjunction with the M8 and the gyroscope these new motions will help out tremendously in scenarios where longer exposures are required. The iSight camera also shoots 1080p HD video at 30fps and now 60fps and sl0-mo video at 120fps and now 240fps. Other enhancements include cinematic video stabilization for smoother recordings; time-lapse photography; and Focus Pixels allows for automatic and continuous focus while shooting video. The 1.3-megapixel front-facing FaceTime HD camera boasts a new sensor featuring a larger f/2.2 aperture accepting 81% more light than before. There’s also a new front-facing burst mode for “burst selfies” and the cam supports single-shot HDR photos and HDR video.
The phones will come in gold, silver, and space gray. The 6 starts at $199 (16GB), with 64GB ($299) and 128GB ($399) models also offered. (Goodbye 32GB SKUs, hello 128!) The 6 Plus starts at $299 for its 16GB model and prices here also increase by $100 as you step up to the 64GB and 128GB versions. FYI, Apple will continue to sell the 5c (8GB) now for free and the 5s starting at $99. The new phones ship September 19 in the US and eight other countries countries including Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. Preorders begin this Friday, 9/12. Apple hopes to ship in 115 countries by the end of this year. As usual, Apple will sell vibrant silicone and darker-toned leather cases to fit the phones.
Oh, and iOS 8 releases for free on September 17.
Apple Pay
Sandwiched between two product announcements, Apple introduced a new payment process called Apple Pay. It works solely on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and the Apple Watch, utilizing the NFC chip stored inside those devices for contactless payments. It is dead simple to use and supremely secure to boot.
Credit and debit cards are stored in Apple’s Passbook app. Adding a new card to the app is easy: take a picture of your credit card and within seconds the app will create a digital version of it for you to use at merchants. Now, Apple Pay works like this: visit any one of the 220,000 merchants that support NFC contactless payments; at checkout hold your device up to the NFC payment terminal; it will accept your chosen credit card and for added security it will tell you to press your thumb on the Touch ID button; in seconds the screen will display the word “Done” and you’ll be emailed a proof of purchase receipt. That’s it.
What happens if you lose your phone or if it gets stolen? Apple Pay is extremely secure. In fact, your device does not even store the card’s number nor does it share that number with merchants. Instead, Apple automagically creates a device-only account number that is stored safely in the device’s “Secure Element” chip. Each time you use your device at a merchant, the device will use a one-time payment number and a dynamic security code. Back to the paragraph’s opening question: if it gets misplaced you can use Find My iPhone to immediately suspend all payments on your device and, since the device does not store your actual credit card information, there is no need to cancel your card if your device gets stolen!
Apple reassures customers that it is “not in the business of collecting [user’s] data.” Apple will never know what you buy, where you buy things, or how much you spend. Transactions are strictly between you, the merchant, and your bank. Additionally, the cashier never gets to see your name, card number, or your security code like they do today when you hand them a plastic card. Simplicity, security, and privacy are at the core of Apple Pay.
The new initiative begins in the US with American Express, MasterCard, and Visa; also, Citi, Bank of America, Capitol One, Wells Fargo, Chase, and more are on board. Apple’s also working with some of the largest retailers to enable Apple Pay in all of their locations, including Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Staples, Subway, McDonalds (they’re even adding Apple Pay to their drive-through!), Whole Foods, Disney (stores and parks), and of course Apple retail stores.
Apple also hopes to revolutionize the way we make payments online. The company is working closely with online retailers as well to enable quick Apple Pay transactions. Target, Staples, Uber, Groupon, Panera, MLB, and OpenTable are already working on Apple Pay integration. For example, you can quickly order school supplies at Staples online by adding items to your cart and checking out with a press of your thumb on Touch ID. You won’t be sharing your credit card information and you won’t need to enter your address and any other typical billing information.
ApplePay releases in October in the US as a free update for iOS 8. Apple plans on expanding ApplePay support worldwide. “Apple Pay will forever change the way we buy things,” Tim Cook beamed at the conclusion of this segment of the keynote. What do you think?
Apple Watch
Cook used Steve Jobs’ famous “one more thing…” line to introduce a new product category from Apple. The Apple Watch serves as an extension of the iPhone as it requires the phone for full functionality. Cook described it as “the most personal device Apple has ever created.” It’s “a precise timepiece with incredible ability to customize, it’s a new innovative intimate way to communicate directly from your wrist, and it’s a comprehensive health and fitness device.”
For centuries watches have featured a dial on its side called a crown. Apple’s take on it is called the Digital Crown. The small dial is located on the right side of the watch’s face. Twist it to interact with what’s on-screen; press it to access the device’s home screen; press and hold it to enable Siri. Mostly it exists so that you’re not blocking the screen with your comparably giant fingers during use; for example in Maps the dial is used to zoom in and out and in Messages it’s used to scroll up and down in conversation threads. The only other button on the device is located directly under the dial; press it to access a list of your favorite contacts you interact with most.
Instead of porting iOS to a smaller screen, Apple’s invented a new user interface for Watch. By default, Watch displays a clock, naturally. Many clock faces come preloaded; you can customize said faces to your liking by picking a color and swapping certain functionalities for others. For example, you can have a face display weather, stocks, a stopwatch or a quick look at your next calendar event, alongside the time. Watch knows when you want to interact with it. Raise your wrist and the display will turn on and reveal a clock. Press the Digital Crown to go to the home screen where a “universe” of apps exist. Navigating the home screen is simple; you can use your finger to swipe across them or you can rotate the dial to view them all at once. Tap anywhere to zoom into a “neighborhood” of apps and from there you can tap a single app to open it. The Clock app lives in the center, and you can customize the placement of your apps around it. Swipe up from the bottom of the display to pull up Glances. Here is a collection of your most frequently used apps for you to access quickly. You can view Apple apps, such as Calendar, Maps, and Music, as well as third-party apps in this fully customizable spot. You can also set up iPhone notifications to pop up on the watch. When a notification comes in you’ll be alerted with a ding sound as well as subtle haptic vibration (or as Apple likes to call it, “taptic feedback”). Receive a party invite? There’s no need to reach for your phone. The watch will alert you and you can answer it with a Yes, Maybe, No, or Dismiss by simply raising your wrist. All notifications will provide contextual interactions. For example, when you receive a text your watch will ding/vibrate and it’ll provide various ways for you to respond. In Messages Watch is smart and will intelligently pick out an answer for you to tap and send based on the incoming message’s content. Alternatively you can dictate a message (no on-screen keyboard was shown) and send it either as a voice message or text. Animated and customizable emojis are also an option. In Photos, the dial is used to help navigate a large collection of pictures by zooming and scrolling. In Maps, you can enable navigation and when it’s time to make a turn precise taptic feedback will help guide you in the right direction. Press that button under the dial to see your frequent friend’s faces. Tap one to make a call or send a message. Tap the center of the screen to enter Digital Touch where you can use your finger to create and send personal drawings to other Watch users. You can customize colors as well as send your actual heartbeat pulse (the receiver will see an animated heartbeat and actually feel your pulse with taptic feedback–creepy?). One last tip: Watch can detect the difference between a tap and a long press (or what Apple calls a “force touch”); a force touch allows you to access deeper contextual menus within apps.
Apple is providing WatchKit to developers so that third-party apps can start populating Watch’s landscape. WatchKit allows devs to create actionable notifications; for example, Facebook support will allows users to receive and take action on Facebook notifications such as friend requests. WatchKit also allows devs to create apps that can appear on the home screen as well as in the Glances section. With Twitter you’ll be able to receive notifications, as well as access a streamlined, Apple Watch version of the Twitter app. American Airlines is tweaking a Watch-supported app that will provide travellers with easy ways to check into flights and retrieve luggage. Starwood Hotels is working on an app that’ll allow you to enter your hotel room by waving your watch in front of your door. City Mapper provides subway directions and will vibrate your wrist when it’s time to get off at your stop. Pintrest will let you know when you’re close to pinned locations. BMW will provide battery levels and directions to your parked car if you forget where you left it. MLB lets you see up-to-date sports scores. Honeywell lets you control your temperature in your home, and with Lutron the lights. And with Nike you can challenge your friends on runs. These are just a handful of developers working on Apple Watch-specific apps.
Speaking of apps, Apple Watch will come loaded with two new Apple-designed apps called Fitness and Workout. The company hopes that the device will motivate people to be more fit and active and these apps will help. The Fitness app monitors all of your activity and movement throughout the day. The Workout app allows you to set specific goals or types of workouts, such as running or cycling.
Apple didn’t spend much time on hardware and hard specs, but here’s what we know. Watch will ship in two sizes: a 38mm height and a 42mm height. Sapphire crystal and Ion-X glass strengthen the Retina display. Watch’s body was created from custom alloys of stainless steel and aluminum (each in two finishes) as well as unique formulations of 18-karat yellow and rose gold. It’s powered by a custom-built S1 processor and it packs a heart rate sensor and accelerometer. GPS and Wi-Fi are not built in; instead Watch pulls that information from your phone to help measure distance traveled. Watch uses inductive charging to refill its battery; like MagSafe a magnetic connector easily snaps into place behind the watch’s face for charging.
When Apple Watch goes on sale in early 2015, it will be made available in many different types of configurations. In addition to choose one of two face sizes, customers will be able to customize proprietary but stylish bands as well as body finishes. Apple separates them all into three distinct groups: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. I recommend you visit Apple’s Watch portal to view all the various styles–there are so many!
Apple Watch will start at $349 and is compatible with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as the 5s, 5c, and 5. I’m sure Apple will host another event in the not-so-distant future dedicated to everything Apple Watch, so look out for that.
Cook closed the keynote by inviting rock band U2 on stage to perform a song and announce their latest album Songs of Innocence. You can download the album for free on iTunes today.
That’s a wrap! New, larger, more powerful and capable iPhones are on the way, as well as a potentially revolutionary payment system and an Apple-branded Watch that serves to tell the time, extend iPhone apps and notifications to your wrist, and promote a fit lifestyle. Which are you most excited about?!
My initial reactions: The phones look fantastic. Apple is finally hitting its competition (read: Android, Windows Phone) where it has to by “caving in” and producing larger and higher resolution screens. Apple Pay, though not the first of its kind (Google Wallet has been in existence for some time now), may provide the push and overall sense of security customers have been waiting for to finally ditch their plastic cards for a more streamlined and indeed much faster experience at the checkout counter (both at physical retailers and online). Though Apple Watch looks slick, I am concerned about its overall vitality. Will customers feel the need to buy it? At this point in time it’s admittedly hard to make a decision since we don’t know everything about it. Important factors like battery life and developer support still hang in the air. A big concern, in addition to battery life and price, is that it requires the iPhone to be fully functional. It doesn’t have built in GPS or WiFi; it relies on the iPhone it’s paired with for that. Meaning when you go on a run or use it for any kind of fitness activity, or even when you just want to navigate with Maps, you are forced to bring your comparatively clunky phone around with you in your pocket. I would have been more impressed if Apple had figured out a way to “untether” the experience so that you could just take the watch with you and be good to go. But again, time will tell as we await an Apple Watch keynote before its major release early next year.