Apple’s Autumn Crop

iPhone 6, Apple Pay, and Apple Watch

By Anca Gagiuc on Sep 12, 2014 in Technology

In the technology world, autumn brings with it a new line of Apple devices. From the stage of the Flint Center in Cupertino earlier this week, the launch location of Macintosh and iMac, Tim Cook announced the arrival of the new generation of iPhones and the debut of the company’s much-anticipated first wearable, the Apple Watch.

Continuing last year’s trend, the company introduced two models of iPhones: the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Their enlarged sizes flaunt curved edges with a thinner figure of 6.8 mm and 7.1 mm, respectively (the iPhone 5S is 7.6 mm thick). The curved glass screen melds smoothly into the aluminum body, and the power button has been moved on the right side of the device for easier one-hand use.

With the ability of one-hand use in mind, Apple included a new smart feature called Reachability that minimizes the display, bringing the items from the top of the screen to the bottom of it, in order to reach all of the onscreen by double pressing on the home button. Furthermore, the landscape mode has been intelligently modified into a two-pane display, following the design used on Macs. For instance, when viewing iMessages or email, the left side shows a list view of the messages/emails, while the right side shows the contents of the message/email. The homescreen will also work on the horizontal position.

Both phones come with Retina HD Displays that show off 1334 x 750 (326ppi) and 1920 x 1080 (401ppi) respectively. The expected sapphire display cover wasn’t used on the iPhone, but an ion-strengthened glass with an improved polarizer meant for better outdoor viewing.

Focused and Fast

The rear camera is still at 8-megapixel f/2.2, but adding some new features announce a vastly improved picture quality. One of these features is the Focus Pixel, designed to speed up autofocus, while auto image stabilization will take care of motion blur and hand shakiness. The face detection capabilities have been improved, the exposure is more controllable, and the Panorama feature now supports high-resolution photos of up to 43 megapixels. Video can capture 1080 HD at 60fps, while iOS8 has introduced a new 240fps slo-mo mode and time-lapse video. The front camera has been improved to FaceTime HD with a new sensor and an f/2.2 aperture, capturing 81 percent more light, thus taking better photos in low-light.

Between the aluminum and ion-strengthened glass purrs the second generation 64-bit A8 processor; smaller than the A7 in the iPhone 5S, is able to deliver 25 percent faster CPU performance while being 50 percent more energy efficient. The new M8 coprocessor measures data from the accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope, and introduced the barometer that measures elevation, in addition to steps taken and distance traveled. The two chips and the Apple gaming technology, Metal, support developers in creating console-like games on the smartphone.

Connectivity was improved to offer faster LTE reaching up to 150 Mbps. The new iPhones include support for Voice over LTE (VoLTE) which translates to higher-quality phone calls over LTE and, for the first time, through VoLTE, users on CDMA networks like Verizon will be able to use voice and data simultaneously. Wi-Fi 802.11ac is three times faster than its predecessor, and the iPhone 6 supports calls over Wi-Fi, a solution to the situation where a cellular connection is lacking.

Can Apple Pay make credit cards passé?

Touch ID is present on both devices and is an integral part of Apple’s new Apple Pay mobile payments initiative using its Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna. The three terms used to describe the service are Easy, Secure, and Private. It’s easy because with just a fingerprint, Apple Pay allows users to pay at already thousands of retail stores, by simply waving the newer iPhone or Apple Watch in front of a reader.

For security, the owner’s thumbprint scan on the smartphone is required before being able to make a payment.  If a device is stolen, it can’t be used for a shopping spree – unless the owner’s hand is somehow coming with it. Privacy may be enhanced – information on the face of traditional credit cards, including card number, expiration date, and CSC code, will be concealed.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will become available in the U.S. on September 19. Pricing, with a two-year contract, starts at $199 for the Phone 6 16GB model, $299 for 64GB, and $399 for 128GB. Pricing for the iPhone 6 Plus is $299 for the 16GB model, $399 for 64GB and $499 for 128GB.

One More Thing .. the next big thing?

The ace up the sleeve at Tuesday’s presentation was the Apple Watch. There are 3 collections (Standard – stainless steel chassis, Sports – aluminum chassis, and Edition), 2 sizes (38mm ~ 1.49-inches and 42mm ~ 1.65-inches), and 6 straps, creating an almost endless combination of styles; almost a premiere for a company that used to choose for its customers. The Watch is equipped with a sapphire display that provides a greater scratch resistance than the Corning Gorilla Glass used in the smartphones.

Working to differentiate itself in a crowded market space, Apple introduced its high end Apple Watch in a solid (not plated) 18-karat yellow or rose gold chassis, moving away from the “wearable technology” pitch of Samsung toward a more traditional watch.

Its functionality is gadget-oriented, requiring app support via access to the iPhone (6 and 6 Plus only). How the phone communicates with the watch wasn’t made clear in the demonstration. Ultimately, notifications are sent to the Watch and the user feels a subtle buzz on the wrist. Scrolling uses the touchscreen while zooming is handled by the “digital crown” on the side, the tech variant of the standard watch crown used to wind a watch and adjust the time. The Apple Watch uses iOS8 and Siri can be summoned by pressing the digital crown.

The back of the Watch holds the accelerometer, to activate the screen when tilted, and a built-in heart rate sensor. Battery life wasn’t announced, but the “around one day” estimate, if accurate, seems insufficient.

Apple Pay will work from the device, though it wasn’t demonstrated on Tuesday. The Watch can also bring up flight tickets, open the door to a Starwood chain hotel room, remind you where you’ve parked your BMW, and pay your tab at a restaurant reserved through Open Table. Maps and some health and fitness features (GPS and elevation tracking) are also integrated in the device. Providing that the product is a success, other consumer-focused partnerships are sure to follow soon.

The Apple Watch will be made available in 2015 and won’t come cheap, starting at $349 (Motorola Moto 360 sells for $250 and Samsung’s Galaxy Gear ranges between $150 and $300, depending on size). And of course, you’ll need to have an updated iPhone to make it work. Now that both Google and Apple take the young smartwatch market seriously, interesting things lie ahead. Are you curious to try the new wrist tech accessories?