Thoughts on today's Apple event

Zascar

I caught the tale end of the event. Nothing surprising about the iPhones. Apple Pay does look very impressive though - leave it to Apple to really take the technology and make it ubiquitous - I hope these new pay stations will also support an Android version. The Apple watch does look pretty nice - but I'll wait until an Android challenger comes out.

As someone to loves to hate Apple I have to say there were some impressive stuff..

5starpool

Zascar wrote: »

I caught the tale end of the event. Nothing surprising about the iPhones. Apple Pay does look very impressive though - leave it to Apple to really take the technology and make it ubiquitous - I hope these new pay stations will also support an Android version. The Apple watch does look pretty nice - but I'll wait until an Android challenger comes out.

As someone to loves to hate Apple I have to say there were some impressive stuff..

I didn't see any of it, but that apple pay thing (apart from it just being NFC) seems like something that will only be US only, at least initially, if there is some kind of extra tech that retailers will be expected to have.

projectgtr

missed it unfortunately, what surprised me was the lack of a camera upgrade, and the fact it protrudes. Over all a very apple event, small upgrades. Id like to try the Plus in hand though but the prices are crazy! $499 on a 2 year contract :eek:

AlanS181824

I seen it all...

4.7' and 5.5" iPhones, just as we all knew.

64GB IPhone 6 for $299 on a $100+/month 24 month contract, are people in America mad or something?

And of course the Apple Watch... Nearly died off when I heard the $349 pricing...

This is a watch Apple! Not a standalone device!

A resounding Meh overall from me.

gerrybbadd

Ya, I think they're a bit mental charging 350 bucks for a watch, but no doubt they will sell, and very well too. Apple are seriously jumping on bandwagons these past few years, with today's 5.5 inch model and the watch announcement.

Was almost surprised they hadn't tried a take on a VR Headset

AlanS181824

Anyone else notice how Yosemite was totally left out from any sort of announcement today?

Also, that bit at the end with U2 was so weird... So awkward aswell!

Sonics2k

I am disappointed, I had really hoped Apple would show something amazing.

The 6 and Plus are good, maybe great, but not anything special. A mix between an iPod Touch and iPhone 2G and stretched out. Gorgeous to look at, but a mid-range screen and mid range specs with a mid range CPU.

The Watch is just.... Ugh. Apple have always made beautiful tech, gorgeous go look at even if you're not an iPhone fan, but this is just... Ugh. Sloppy looking UI and the hardware looks bog standard, like a Casio you'd by in Argos for €50.

Apple Pay is a more refined Google Wallet, and for a company that just had a massive iCloud clean it's a bit funny for Tim Cook to comment on security, the eejit.

MuppetCheck

The 6 Plus interests me a lot more than the Note 4 now tbh. I'll see what the upgrade prices are like before I make a decision though.

Mezcita

I didn't comment in the Apple thread as I'd just get banned but how in the name of all that is holy are these prices justifiable for the new IPhone?

4.7 inch
€699 €799 €899

5.5 inch
€799 €899 €999

16GB 64GB 128GB

54kroc

AlanS181824 wrote: »

Anyone else notice how Yosemite was totally left out from any sort of announcement today?

Also, that bit at the end with U2 was so weird... So awkward aswell!

Yosemite should be in October.

Sonics2k

A spec comparison of the 5S and 6. Sigh.
http://mblog.gsmarena.com/apple-iphone-air-vs-iphone-5s-evolution-motion/

projectgtr

liking the 128Gb model, NOT liking the €999 pricetag :O

Sonics2k

projectgtr wrote: »

liking the 128Gb model, NOT liking the €999 pricetag :O

Personally I'd rather have a phone with an SD Card slot and buy a decent 128GB card for €30.

Fiskar

Why was it called the Apple watch as opposed to the i watch, so uncool.

Iphone 6 looks nice but didn't see any mention of the sapphire screen.

Fiskar

Mezcita wrote: »

I didn't comment in the Apple thread as I'd just get banned but how in the name of all that is holy are these prices justifiable for the new IPhone?

4.7 inch
€699 €799 €899

5.5 inch
€799 €899 €999

16GB 64GB 128GB

Could have 2 generations of the latest Samsung / Sony or 3 to 4 generations of the Lumia phones for one of these. Mad prices

AlanS181824

Mezcita wrote: »

4.7 inch
€699 €799 €899

5.5 inch
€799 €899 €999

16GB 64GB 128GB

Ahahahahahahahaha!

For a phone? They are serious mad.

54kroc

Fiskar wrote: »

Could have 2 generations of the latest Samsung / Sony or 3 to 4 generations of the Lumia phones for one of these. Mad prices

The S5 was 600+ at launch, most high end phones are that price at launch.

Classicporter

AlanS181824 wrote: »

Ahahahahahahahaha!

For a phone? They are serious mad.

With 100 billion in spare cash alone I'm not sure I'd call Apple the mad ones.

marcbrophy

I laughed so hard when I saw a picture of that 'watch' on twitter earlier.
I honestly thought it was a spoof.
That thing is ugly

Apple are having trademark issues with the term iWatch from Swatch as they already own the term iSwatch, according to Forbes.

As usual, the iPhones look nice and pretty, but mid range specs and a terrible OS will always make me steer clear IMHO

jimgoose

They can ask me iBollix.

I watched the entire event. I wouldn't use an iPhone if it was free and Tbh, nothing jumped out at me about the iPhone 6. Samsung will have a field day with its ads in the next year. Battery life made no real leaps. The 20 band LTE support might sway some users who are frequent travellers.
The Apple Watch on the other hand was very impressive and ahead of the Android watches currently available. no mention of how the Watch connects or what expected battery life will be. Pricing is plain crazy but IPhone users tend to be hardcore and will snap them up.
I won't be owning an iPhone so neither will I be owning an Apple Watch but after seeing the Apple Watch functionality, I will have high expectations for Android Wear.

AlanS181824

AlanS181824 wrote: »

Ahahahahahahahaha!

For a phone? They are serious mad.

Even madder,apple fashionista,s the world over will buy this over rated and over priced device! Their empire is slowly crumbling and I for one will have the loudest laugh!

touts

Apple have a very loyal fan base and these things will sell in their millions. Personally I use an android phone (Samsung S3 but looking to upgrade now) and an iPad mini. I think the android phones were far superior than the iPhone but android tablets (and I've tried three of them) are not a patch on the iPad. So you know where I'm coming from with a foot in both camps.

I think the iPhone 6 and 6 plus are going some way to bridging the gap with android and I was tempted by the concept of a larger iPhone as the small size of the 5s etc really put me off upgrading. But the prices are crazy. I just don't see anything in the iPhone 6 that makes it worth spending a €200 or €300 more than a mid range android. It is better than the new Moto G but is it €500-€800 better? I'm not sure.

The Apple pay thing is interesting and could be the boot up the arse that the whole NFC thing needs. But then again I still think what will win the NFC battle is technology that works on all phones. Shopkeepers and banks won't want different devices for different phones and cards. Yesterdays announcement will accelerate this sort of payment system but I don't think we saw the final winning solution that we will be all using in 10 years.

The Apple Watch was a bit of a disappointment. The software looked really good but I was expecting something that would stand out from the field of dull plastic looking smart watches. Instead we got something that looks like it was designed by a gadget factory in rural China. The Moto 360 is more stylish looking and software wise isn't that far behind the apple watch. But apparently apple have hired some fashion designers and poached some designers from top end watch manufacturers. My bet is the Apple Watch2 will be a big improvement in about a year. They will still sell tens of millions of yesterday's watch to their loyal fans and that could be the key thing. This time next year smart watches will be far more common than they are now.

So for me I didn't see anything that would make me switch from Android for my new phone (although I'll try an iPhone6 plus in the shop to be sure). I see far more potential in Apple Pay and the Apple Watch but I wouldn't spend the money to be an early adopter of either.

timetogo

I had expected them to release a phone similar in size to the 5S and a bigger one like the 6 Plus.

I think it's a mistake releasing two bigger phones and abandoning the 5S size. I know a lot of people like the smaller form factor and I've heard it as an argument against my phone from several iPhone fans. Now those fans will either upgrade in a couple of years to the bigger size (and tell me why the new form factor is soooo much better) or change to a smaller Android model.

Overall (and I'm on an Android forum and I prefer Androids) the new phones are very "meh" to me. There's nothing I look at on them and feel like I'm missing out on my phone.

I know cameras aren't all about the megapixels but keeping the camera at 8Mb seems strange to me when there are multiple phones with far higher resolutions. I've seen comparisons between the 5S and various high end androids and the 5S isn't the best anymore. I'm sure Apple will have done something with the sensor or processor to make the pictures better.
However, your average user going into a phone shop will be looking at 13 / 16 / 20 megapixel phones and it'll be a consideration for some of them.
Look at HTC M8. Great phone, average camera, very average or low sales.
But then again a lot of those users will buy it just because it's a new iPhone and don't care about specs.

But then I'm not a multi billionaire so what do I know.

Lenin Skynard

As always, nice looking phones. Nothing amazing specs-wise but very nicely designed and sturdily built and and least twice the price that they should be.

I'd be interested to see how much more expensive they're willing to make them. They may as well bump it up to €1500, their customers are willing to pay regardless.

Venom

[IMG]http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/<a href=http://s45.photobucket.com/user/redmondjpJounar/media/iphone-troll_zpse54cb9af.jpg.html target=_blank>[/img]

dRNk SAnTA

Having looked at what was announced yesterday I thought it was all quite impressive. The large screen iPhone looks like a beautiful piece of equipment and I'm sure will sell very well.

I was initially underwhelmed by the Apple Watch but having seen it some more, it's really grown on me. The interchangeable straps will make it massively popular, I think. It looks good.

I think Apple have done well here, and will make a lot of money. The pricing is off the wall, but that's never stopped Apple fans before.

Regarding competing Android equipment - yes there are phones out there with better specs. But I think Samsung have jumped the shark with their bloatware and I know several non-techy people who don't enjoy using their Samsung Galaxys. Maybe the new Moto X and HTC One M8 will be the best competitors to this new Iphone.

seannash

dRNk SAnTA wrote: »

Having looked at what was announced yesterday I thought it was all quite impressive. The large screen iPhone looks like a beautiful piece of equipment and I'm sure will sell very well.

I was initially underwhelmed by the Apple Watch but having seen it some more, it's really grown on me. The interchangeable straps will make it massively popular, I think. It looks good.

I think Apple have done well here, and will make a lot of money. The pricing is off the wall, but that's never stopped Apple fans before.

Regarding competing Android equipment - yes there are phones out there with better specs. But I think Samsung have jumped the shark with their bloatware and I know several non-techy people who don't enjoy using their Samsung Galaxys. Maybe the new Moto X and HTC One M8 will be the best competitors to this new Iphone.

Its probably already been said but the reason that the specs are below other flagships is because the OS doesn't need as much processing power behind it to give the person a smooth user experience.
Its pointless talking about specs to be honest.

ThisRegard

Isn't that same ideology behind Android, they don't need to be top end phones to run it, hence so many cheap android phones.

Kenny Logins

Atomic Pineapple

ThisRegard wrote: »

Isn't that same ideology behind Android, they don't need to be top end phones to run it, hence so many cheap android phones.

Nope, because of it openness its more generalised and has to run on many different kinds of devices so cannot be optimised specifically for one device like iOS can be for Apple's closed ecosystem.

seannash

ThisRegard wrote: »

Isn't that same ideology behind Android, they don't need to be top end phones to run it, hence so many cheap android phones.

Run it yes but run it well is a different story.
But I agree, we scoff at people who buy iphones which are overpriced and low spec but many people buy overspecced phones at equally high prices due to brand names when there are great alternatives out there (Look at the Chinese phones thread)
I'm an android user by the way, Ive had Iphones and I really like them. Im not really fussed what phone i use. Currently been rocking a Jiayu phone for 2 years and cant fault it.

kirkfx

Fiskar wrote: »

Why was it called the Apple watch as opposed to the i watch, so uncool.

Iphone 6 looks nice but didn't see any mention of the sapphire screen.

I think it's because other company's have been trying to trademark everything " i ". So apple is probably trying to move away from that nameculture. They had problems trying to get "iPhone" from Cisco. Now with apple watch/ apple pay. They won't have that problem because no company can put apple infront of a product/service

philthrill69

After the most recent Iclone release yesterday I have come to this conclusion in that i view iPhone users the same way i view the citizens of North Korea, the are kept in the Dark about everything else going on in the world.

For Example when kim jong un tells his people that their soccer team are in the final of the world cup against Portugal, and god help them they believe it because they don't know any different and will be murdered if they question it.

So When Tim Cook comes on stage with this 3 year old technology and presents it really nicely and tells his followers that this is the best phone on the market and charges them scandalous prices they all just believe him because they don't know any better and they are afraid to question anything he says because they have invested so much in the overpriced and overhyped Apple ecosystem between Ipods, Iphones, ipads, speaker docks and Apple tv.
I really do feel for IPhone users and the citizens of North Korea.

Red Nissan

Fiskar wrote: »

Why was it called the Apple watch as opposed to the i watch, so uncool.

Because it is not a fully stand alone device, it need your existing iPhone within range.

daytob

Fiskar wrote: »

Why was it called the Apple watch as opposed to the i watch, so uncool.

Iphone 6 looks nice but didn't see any mention of the sapphire screen.

isnt it to do with swatch having the iswatch?

ThisRegard

Atomic Pineapple wrote: »

Nope, because of it openness its more generalised and has to run on many different kinds of devices so cannot be optimised specifically for one device like iOS can be for Apple's closed ecosystem.

I'm not talking about being optimised, I'm talking about it being designed to run on a variety of phones, hence no need to be too concerned over having a top spec phone.

Sonics2k

Red Nissan wrote: »

Because it is not a fully stand alone device, it need your existing iPhone within range.

Uh no, it's because of the iswatch.

seannash

philthrill69 wrote: »

So When Tim Cook comes on stage with this 3 year old technology and presents it really nicely and tells his followers that this is the best phone on the market

Regardless of the tech being old or not some would argue the Iphone is the best phone on the market.Sometimes old tech is all thats required to make a great product.
Also absolutely every flagship is hailed as the best phone on the market so you can hold it against them for using that as a marketing line.

I personally believe there are better phones out there than the Iphone but alot would argue otherwise.

SuprSi

I think it looks brilliant, and I'm not a fan of the iPhone. I wouldn't for a second consider going back to iOS, but as a phone it looks class and if I was an Apple fan I'd be quite excited about getting one.

Having said that, the prices they're charging are absolutely ridiculous and it's just as well that Apple has such an incredibly loyal fanbase as if Sony suddenly asked that much for their next phone I certainly wouldn't be buying it, regardless of how much I liked it.

drumswan

SuprSi wrote: »

I think it looks brilliant, and I'm not a fan of the iPhone. I wouldn't for a second consider going back to iOS, but as a phone it looks class and if I was an Apple fan I'd be quite excited about getting one.

It looks like every other phone as far as I can see?

House of Blaze

Tim Cook announced Tuesday the release of Apple’s long-rumored watch, the latest in wearable technology. Here are some features of the new device:

• 13-megapixel camera enables users to take crystal-clear pictures of wrist
  
• Allows wearers to start and stop the flow of time
  
• Discreet, but not so discreet that anyone would mistake it for a regular watch
  
• Comes in a variety of colors and styles to express your personal submission to the planet’s dominant tech company
  
• Adjustable ticking volume
  
• All the convenience of a traditional watch that needs to be charged every 12 hours
  
• Built-in thinkpiece regarding the increased connectivity yet simultaneous isolation of the millennial generation
  
• Small size and intricate circuitry able to drive twice as many Chinese workers to suicide as iPhone
  
• Makes it easier for muggers to see whether or not you’re carrying an expensive electronic device
  
• Another screen to throw into your current rotation of things you look at

Zascar

Brilliant! I LOL'd!

timetogo

House of Blaze wrote: »

Tim Cook announced Tuesday the release of Apple’s long-rumored watch, the latest in wearable technology. Here are some features of the new device:

• 13-megapixel camera enables users to take crystal-clear pictures of wrist
  
• Allows wearers to start and stop the flow of time
  
• Discreet, but not so discreet that anyone would mistake it for a regular watch
  
• Comes in a variety of colors and styles to express your personal submission to the planet’s dominant tech company
  
• Adjustable ticking volume
  
• All the convenience of a traditional watch that needs to be charged every 12 hours
  
• Built-in thinkpiece regarding the increased connectivity yet simultaneous isolation of the millennial generation
  
• Small size and intricate circuitry able to drive twice as many Chinese workers to suicide as iPhone
  
• Makes it easier for muggers to see whether or not you’re carrying an expensive electronic device
  
• Another screen to throw into your current rotation of things you look at

Its funny alright but you should really just link to the article on the Onion rather than copy / paste it.

Here's the ad
http://youtu.be/yioL7MRQvHM

jonnny68

Still years behind Android the isheep will still flock to buy it though and will never learn

Sonics2k

Let's clear something up here.

iPhones are very good phones. They are reliable, very easy to use and tend to look very good. The camera is great and the app selection is brilliant.

With that said, the 6 and Plus will again be great phones, the problem is that they are giving us nothing new, same old phones with nothing going on, other than going back on all the stuff they said they'd do.

Mantis Toboggan

I'm not surprised that Apple have finally increased the size of their phones. They were starting to look like little toy phones.

I suppose for Apple it's a case of if you can't beat them, join them.
Apple have seen their market share diminish year on year to single figures.

I'm sure Steve Jobs is turning in his grave.
But this will allow apple to compete more with Android and the ever improving Windows phone.

There is a large apple user base especially females who like small phones and by not announcing a new 4" phone they risk alienating their target audience.

timetogo

Sonics2k wrote: »

Let's clear something up here.

iPhones are very good phones. They are reliable, very easy to use and tend to look very good. The camera is great and the app selection is brilliant.

I don't think that was unclear. Nobody on this thread has really being slagging the iPhone.

They are very good, they are very reliable, they are very easy to use and look good. Camera is great and app selection is brilliant.
You could say the same for Android & Windows phones (well maybe not the app selection for Windows phones) and that's the problem for Apple. There is loads of great competition now.

I think if you weren't already in the IOS or Android or Windows ecosystem it'd be hard to say why you should buy Apple over one of the other two types. Actually if you didn't have any preference the price of the iPhone would probably rule it out. I do prefer Android so I've a pile of reasons why I wouldn't get an iPhone but I'm trying to be unbiased here.

There's little about the iPhone 6 that is best in class. I suppose if you prefer IOS then that's the killer reason for getting one. If you want a phone with the best camera, or a waterproof phone or a phone with the best battery or a phone with the best DPI then I don't think this is the phone to get.

Keano

Buddy Holly wrote: »

I'm not surprised that Apple have finally increased the size of their phones. They were starting to look like little toy phones.

I suppose for Apple it's a case of if you can't beat them, join them.
Apple have seen their market share diminish year on year to single figures.

I'm sure Steve Jobs is turning in his grave.
But this will allow apple to compete more with Android and the ever improving Windows phone.

There is a large apple user base especially females who like small phones and by not announcing a new 4" phone they risk alienating their target audience.

Android dominates the market but Apple is still making more money.

info here

Mantis Toboggan

Keano A Legend wrote: »

Android dominates the market but Apple is still making more money.

info here

As I said, 'market share'.

Keano

Buddy Holly wrote: »

As I said, 'market share'.

Cannot disagree with that but with a lot of Android phones it was always going to have market share.