With the announcement and soon to be worldwide launch of the latest iPhone from Apple, here’s the five important items you might have missed.
From Cupertino, California, the HQ for the consumer electronics megalith founded by the famed two “Steves” (Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak), Apple unveiled their next iPhone this morning in front of a crowd of tech-thristy media. Not just one iPhone though, but two.
Launching worldwide on September 19, is the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. We’ve already done a proper detailing of the newest iPhone models, but with all the info that’s come all this week, you might have missed some tiny, albeit important bits. Thankfully, we’ve managed to group all that has slipped through the fray and placed them all here in this five-point list:
1. Subtle Design Choices For The iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
The iPhone 6’s rounded, edge-less new build certainly makes it stand out against its past, square-ish revisions, but there are other interesting tiny design choices to take note of, mainly with the first thing most users interact with when using their iPhone, the power button.
Oh, but wait! Button, button, where’s the power button? Not on top of the iPhone like in models past; the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus now have their power buttons located on right-hand side of the mobile device. The move was most likely done to accommodate a more ergonomic grip, especially for the larger Plus, which is a behemoth on the hands already.
2. iPhone 6 Plus – More Than Meets The Size
Yes, the iPhone 6 Plus is bigger; 5.5 inches diagonally of prime 1080p HD viewing real-estate, to be precise. But if you’re picking up the XL version of the iPhone 6 in the next couple of weeks, you’re not just getting bigger. The iPhone 6 Plus has some interesting differences that set it apart from its little brother, mostly in part to its size.
First, the phone, when turned on its side, can display in landscape mode just like an iPad. In fact, this neat trick makes most of its usefulness in built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, and others. Also, the iSight camera on the iPhone 6 Plus has an optical image stabilization feature – not found on the iPhone 6 – that’s good for jittery selfie takers.
When it comes to battery life, the Plus reportedly has an astounding talk time of 24 hours over 3G, compared to the 14 on the regular iPhone 6. For internet usage, the Plus lasts 12 hours on a Wi-Fi connection (11 hours on an iPhone 6), and for video playback, the mobile device can deliver up to 14 hours on a single charge (only 11 hours on an iPhone 6).
3. M8 Motion Coprocessor – For Your Health!
Apple is getting serious about health. And in response to the numerous health-conscious wearables that have entered the mobile market, the chipset that drives the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is built in mind to provide the best accurate metrics when it comes to your body.
Behind all this is the new M8 motion coprocessor, which now adds a barometric sensor along with the gyroscope and accelerometer sensors that are already included in previous models. Having that added layer of data is actually a pretty big deal, as it helps apps read the workout intensity between a casual walk and a brisk bike ride.
It also, being a barometer, can detect elevation, which I’m sure can come in handy for rock climbers. Already, Apple has commitments from Nike and other third-party app makers to make good use of all this data once iOS 8 launches.
4. Apple Pay – It Pays To Pay With Your iPhone
If you’re still behind the curve about all this Apple Pay news, here’s a more in-depth crash course. The feature, which is only available on the iPhone 6 and Plus, is Apple’s foray into the mobile payment system business, where users can purchase items with their mobile devices with a simple swipe. No password typing or fumbling needed.
Thanks to the built-in Touch ID that’s apart of the iPhone 6’s home button, and the newly added Near Field Communication antenna (only in the iPhone 6 & Plus), all one has to do in order to pay their bill is to hold the phone alongside a NFC reader while pressing the Touch ID with a finger. The completion of the transaction is alerted by a simple rumble of the phone.
You’ll be able to store your own credit cards within Apple Pay, and already the likes of Visa, MasterCard, and American Express have all signed up for the initiative. As for major retailers who will support NFC-based payments, Staples, Macy’s, Whole Foods, McDonald’s, and Subway are just a few of the names that were shown, with more on the way.
5. Price Drops for the iPhone 5s & iPhone 5c
Not iPhone 6 related, but still important for folks looking for a cheaper alternative for an iPhone, Apple announced that last year’s models would be getting a price slashing just as they’ve done for every new iPhone introduction.
As such, starting on September 19 (the same day of the iPhone 6/6 Plus’s release), the iPhone 5s will go down to $99 on contract, and the iPhone 5c for free on contract. The 5c is pretty good option for a first-time smartphone user, so if you’re thinking about getting an iPhone for a younger member of your family, I see no better choice. Also it’s free!
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