Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage at Apple's Cupertino campus to introduce a smaller, four-inch version of the iPhone, called the iPhone SE. The key marketing words for Apple products have usually been thinner, faster, bigger. IPhones have grown up over the past nine years, going from the original 3.5-inch display to the iPhone 6S Plus' 5.5-inch screen. Apple went in the opposite direction and announced a new iPhone that's actually smaller. Cook also introduced a new iPad Pro, new Watch bands and some software updates. And he kicked off the event by previewing Apple's court battle with the FBI on Tuesday over iPhone encryption.. The 4-inch iPhone SE The big announcement of the day was the smaller iPhone SE -- a 4-inch iPhone with updated internals. It looks like the iPhone 5S, Apple's last 4-inch phone released in 2014, but has the same processor and graphics performance as the iPhone 6S. Inside is Apple's A9 chip, which doubles the speed of the iPhone 5S. It can use Hey Siri, the hands-free voice assistant, has a 12MP camera, and shoots 4K video. There is an NFC chip inside so the phone can work with Apple Pay. The smaller iPhone is an attempt to appeal to fans of more pocketable devices. Last year, Apple sold 30 million phones that were 4-inches and smaller. A chunk of Apple customers have resisted upgrading to the recent 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch smartphones. According to Mixpanel, a third of iPhone owners are still using a device with a 4-inch screen or smaller. The 16 GB iPhone SE starts at $399 but will be free with a two-year contract or $17 a month on an installment plan. The company will start taking orders for the phone on March 24, and it will be available on March 31. New 9.7-inch iPad Pro Apple's other big hardware news is that it took the iPad Pro and make it smaller. Also called the iPad Pro, the new 9.7-inch version includes many of the same powerful features as the larger 12.9-inch Pro model. Inside is the same A9x chip. The screen is less reflective but brighter and has more color saturation, for all those pros using it as a primary work device. It has a true tone display that measures the color temperature of ambient light with new light sensors and adjusts the screen accordingly. The smaller iPad Pro works with the Apple Pencil stylus and new line of snap on keyboards the company introduced in with the original iPad Pro. People really like using the cameras on their tablets, for some reason, so the new iPad Pro has a 12-megapixel camera and a LED back-facing flash. The tablet starts at $599 for the 32 GB Wi-Fi version and $749 for the 129 GB model. In a first, Apple is offering a new larger 256 GB option that starts at $899. It comes in silver, gold, space gray and rose gold. Apple Watch gets cheaper, more colorful Apple (AAPL, Tech30) really wants people to try out the Apple Watch. Tim Cook announced a new line of straps for the wearable, including all new woven nylon bands, a space black Milanese Loop, and additional sport and leather bands in a variety of colors. Pretty watch straps on their own might not be enough to lure in new customers, so Apple dropped the price of the watch. It now starts at $299. Why go small? Apple says it sold 30 million four-inch iPhones in 2015, so there's clearly demand for a smaller, cheaper iPhone. Software Updates The latest version of Apple mobile operating system, iOS 9.3, is available starting today. Key new features including Night Shift, which adjusts the screen for late night reading for better sleep, and finger print lock for top secret documents in the Notes app. There is a small update for the Apple TV OS that adds folders for apps and Siri voice dictation. It also announced a new health-related jSDK called CareKit. It's built for personal care apps. For example, a hospital might make an app to help patients taking the proper steps after a major surgery. The first application is a partnership with major universities and medical centers for monitoring Parkinson's. Encryption Before the iPhone SE and Watch announcement, Cook opened with what he admitted is "on everybody's mind": encryption. "We built the iPhone for you our customers and we know that it is a deeply personal device," said Cook. "For many of us the iPhone is an extension of ourselves." "We need to decide as a nation how much power the government should have over our data and over our privacy," said Cook. "We will not shrink from this responsibility." On Tuesday, Apple will face off against the FBI in a California court. Related: Apple could reveal mini iPhone 5SE on March 21 Apple likes the environment Apple brought out Lisa Jackson, its vice president of environment, to talk about a new, special Apple employee, Liam. Liam is a custom robot that takes old iPhones apart to recycle them. While it disassembles them, it detects what components can be reused and recycled. It identifies materials in a device like gold, silver and tungsten. In the future, you might see a Liam robot doing its thing inside an Apple store. Apple uses 100% renewable power in 25 countries including the US and China. In China, Apple even built a solar farm to accommodate adorable grazing yaks.
I'm hooked on the plus. Couldn't go back to the smaller phone. I rarely use my iPad anymore since the screen on the plus is the perfect size. Disappointed that they still haven't offered an iPad with OSX instead of iOS.
I found the update funny because just last week I bought wife and I new 6s and while she loves it her complaint has been that its too big compared the the 5s she had.
But here is my issue, you are so limited at least for now with what ios can do with a local file such as an office document or pdf. There is very little flexibility. I was wondering when they would release an ipad style device with a full blown os like osx. I think their reluctance is going to give other tablet makers time to catch up. I am typing this from my surface by the way which I absolutely am in love with.
Most important thing from the event was that, because of the iPad pro, they dropped the price of the iPad air 2 from $500 to $400, since that was what I was about to get anyway. I'm also probably going to get an apple watch now too, so I'll actually wind up spending an extra 200 instead of saving 100.
I'll wait for the 7 in the fall. I'm still pretty happy with the 6. Bought a 12" Macbook this past weekend since they were $300 off at Best Buy heading into the announcement. Got another $100 off for opting for an open box. It's basically exactly what I need for work, nothing too graphics intensive. At the price I got it, I'm happy. It's still way overpriced at Apple's suggested retail for what it's capable of power-wise. I have 30 days to return it and figured I'd be covered if they announced a new version at the event, but they're ignoring the MB/MBP users right now and talking up the iPad like it actually replaces a laptop. I like iOS and for many things the iPad can get the job done, but I still much prefer using OSX and the laptop form factor for work purposes.
Same camera as 6s but doesn't have image stabilization like the 6s+. Front facing is same camera that was in the 5s but for most that won't matter. Only other thing really missing from the newest phones is 3D Touch.
Do you have to use data? Or is it just like when you use buy or put songs on to your iTunes? Just curious as if you have to use data
When you add the song to your "my music" it will show with a cloud icon with a download arrow. That allows you do download the song to your device and play it offline
Thinking about getting an Apple watch now that the price has dropped. Anyone speak on battery life or any cons of it? I am thinking of holding out til the new one comes out, but not sure. Also, anyone use a non-apple smartwatch with the iphone? any recs?
battery life is fine for me. I always charge my shit every night anyway, but I've never had the watch die on me with a day's use. I'm usually around 50% at the end of the day with 1-2 workouts tracked and using it for regular email and text notifications and some occasional ical reminders. I honestly don't use it for much else, but it's worth it for me for those things. My phone stays in my pocket unless I need to type a specific reply to a text, and when I'm alone the speech to text on the watch often gets that job done, too. They definitely need to improve the app availability/usability for it, but I get the impression they're hamstrung by the tech in this first version and we'll have to wait for version 2 to see that stuff expand.
Have the Apple Watch, I have to charge it once per day but it charges pretty quickly. I really only use it at the gym to keep track of my heart rate and such.
Yeah, I mean I wear a watch everyday, but I also would like a fitness tracker (don't want to have something on each wrist) so that's the reason I am leaning towards it.
42. I tried both, thought ahead of time the 42 would be some huge thing on my wrist, but it's not. The 38 looks small to me.
what kind of battery life are you getting and what are you doing with it on a daily basis? battery is my biggest concern.
If you're even a medium sized male the 42 mm will be fine. I have pretty small wrists and it's not a problem at all. I charge mine every night but I'm guessing that if I put it on in the morning and turned it all the way off at nights I could go 3-4-5 days on a charge I bet. I feel like I end most days with it above 80%. Haven't ever tried.
My fiancé has the fitbit alta (?) and I have the apple watch. I like the apple watch better than hers even though her battery is better. The charger that comes with it has a 6 ft cord so it easily lays on your night stand by your bed. I use my sleep + app so I sleep in my watch every night. I just got done working all day outside at my house and have not charged my watch since yesterday morning and just placed it on the charger. It was at 18% at 630 and I just checked it and its up to 72%. The battery is no problem at all, I consider myself pretty active and use the watch a lot and have no problems with it at all. Theres a feature, just like on the phone, when your battery is low it will cut all features off to preserve the battery life. I haven't had to use that yet but it is there. I use mine mainly for the activity tracker and sleep+ app along with the weather. The texting app is nice too just for the fact that it vibrates to alert you and the voice dictation surprisingly works well.
Baron you can also customize the screen which I really love about it. Got the activity tracker top left, battery top right, date in the middle, and weather on the bottom. Spoiler
Struggling with the urge to get an Apple Watch, too. Birthday is next month, and I'm think about kopping it for myself. This page has been nice. I'm torn on waiting though. In addition to an announcement for Watch2 by September, at the latest, I'll be pissed if I get one now and the new one is released in 4 months. Additionally, I've been reading up on all of the Android watches that people are using with iPhones, though you lose some functionality, the styles are pretty nice. Texting seems to be the big loss, as well as third-party apps, but it sounds like most people aren't enamored with the functionality of apps on the Apple Watch currently anyhow(someone speak to that?).
Put me in this camp. I'm sure I'm not using mine to it's full capability right now. I don't own bluetooth speakers so I don't go on a run or anything with solely my watch, I'll just carry my phone. My debit card isn't supported by apple pay so can't use it to pay for anything. I don't use the activity thing at all. Twitter/Instagram/Weather is on there but if I'm actually curious about any of those things I'll look at my phone. You can answer phone calls on it but I don't think it works that well, speaker isn't good enough for me. I use it for the basics pretty much. Reading texts when I get them and a quick yes/no reply. Phone notifications go to it so I don't have to pull my phone out of my pocket. Some calendar/schedule things I'll look at. I use the heart rate monitor if I'm working out, as well as switch songs from the watch when I'm working out. One thing I use a lot is the ping button for when I can't find my phone.
Bluetooth tech has gotten so good recently, a cheap set of headphones is all you need. I paid $35 for mine on Amazon, and love them. They change the song, notify me of incoming calls(and let me answer), and pause...and I can leave my phone in my bag. They've already stated that the HR monitor on most smartwatches is crap during working out. Twists of the wrists hose it right up...so running is really the only time it's accurate. My credit card does Apple Pay, so that would be nice(since I use it for everything), but so few places are on the ApplePay bangwagon yet. Honestly, the more I think about it, the most I begin to think it's a fitbit with a weather app. If I could get my charge HR to notify me of texts(not even show them, just let me know they're there!), I probably wouldn't even bother.
the HR monitor certainly isn't perfect and is occasionally just completely off, but that's the norm with any heart rate monitors outside of the ones you wear around your chest. when I check it it's usually right around what I manually measure within a few beats. Haven't had too many issues with it with cardio, even with arm movement, but it's pretty shit during weight lifting probably due to changes in vascular resistance the vessels in the forearm/wrist from the strain of holding the weights. I like the activity app just to track that I'm doing what I should. There's something that tickles my OCD centers about filling in those damn circles.
What? Who said that? Its a study. It lets you know how many times you were awake etc. for example: a normal person may move/wake up 10 times a night, whereas myself woke up 46 times and was awake 24% of the time I was asleep. This is better after getting a new sleep number mattress. And it saves the data for you so when I do decide to go get a sleep test done, I can show them my patterns.
I use to love wut, but the convenience of streaming music is actually something that is worth the price... especially if you have access to a student email address and you get it for 5$ instead of $10.
I could see that but that's just too many choices for me. I prefer to listen to an album then cherry pick whichever songs and put them on a playlist that I sync to my phone. But I can see how people like streaming services.