Apple Announces 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 Plus, Launching September 19

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Not everyone films 1080p video

Thanks for not getting the point... at all. You do realize some apps are 1-2 GB in size, right? App sizes are getting bigger in general and also due to technological advances and more features being offered. It's becoming easier to fill up the phone without needing the cloud. You certainly can't store apps in the cloud and having to uninstall apps to make room for others is silly. There's no reason a 700 dollar device should only have 16 GB of base storage in this day and age. There is no justification for it. I'm sorry.

This is Apple gouging their customers for all their worth just to save a couple bucks per device. They have enough money, they can give their customers a little more storage. The lack of an expansion slot like most other phones have makes this even more irritating.

 

[BabyGotMac]

Hi all. Has anyone seen any indication that the 6+ supports six rows of icons on the homescreen? Every screenshot I've seen is only 5...

 

[jayotherocks]

What happened to the Apple logo at the back of the new iPhone? I'm pretty sure it wasn't mention in the keynote yesterday? Did they put the liquidmetal part that leaked before? Or still the same logo from the 5 and 5s?

 

[Erko]

Man, I wish they'd continue the iPhone 5C line, those colorful polycarbonate shells looked way cooler than aluminium.

I wish they had introduced a 5CS with 5S innards and a figerprint sensor. Dreamphone

 

[veebs]

So the upgraded camera, picture/video quality, speed increase, graphics increase, screen quality increase, new M8 commotion processor, upgraded FaceTime camera, secure payment options, faster wifi, faster LTE (if your in the area to get it), longer battery life, better scratch resistant screen and new design (i know, personal preference) doesn't give you a reason to upgrade from a 4s? You can't be getting THAT old. lol

Exactly - just a long list of improvements, but nothing super exciting - yes, camera is better, wifi faster, screen less scratch prone, etc etc, but nothing exciting the way 'pinch to zoom' was. Payment options are not really any different to VISA 'Paywave' are they? I will still need to carry a wallet, so I'm no better off there.

Obviously we can't expect an amazing, game-changing idea every time Apple releases a new version, and I accept that. I also can't think of something that WOULD get me excited - but what was Jobs' famous quote? "Consumers don't know what they want until I've shown them" (or words to that effect).
Right now I'm looking at improvements that android has seen for years. They are likely to be better implemented and integrated, but they certainly aren't new ideas.

 

[Xiroteus]

Ah I see. Yeah, it's a little conflicting because I tip my hat to Apple for listening to the majority of their customers' demand for a bigger screen (whatever it is you may consider "bigger"). But the keyword there is majority. Apple lost a small, but I'd bet sizeable chunk of their customer base yesterday who love Apple for being stubborn and having a "what we say goes" attitude, like when Jobs was around. I can see how they might feel betrayed when Tim Cook all but said they are doing this to win over Android owners.

They could do three sizes yet they may not want to go overboard. I would get the larger phone since I have come to find them quiet useful. Yet still a fan of the 4S size as well.

 

[theluggage]

I'm sorry, confusing the number of megapixels with the resolution of the image...BS. There's no confusing those two.

The trouble is, the consumer electronics industry has tried to change the meaning of resolution to "the number of pixels in the image". Everywhere else it refers to the actual ability of the system to resolve detail (and is best measured as an angle). If you're talking about a display where the computer can and does turn on precisely the right pixels, then there's no issue. If you're talking about a camera, then the true resolution of an image depends on many other factors in the optics and the (extensive) post-processing the camera performs to produce a usable image from the sensor (you do know that *all* cameras with a single CCD use interpolation to get a full-colour 24-bpp image from a mosaic of red, green and blue sensors, for example?) - there is absolutely no guarantee that increasing the number of pixels will introduce the resolution (or quality) of the image.

We are however arguing at cross-purposes. You're talking about quality, I am talking about resolution.

Talking about resolution without talking about quality is nonsensical. There is absolutely no point in having a 12MP image or a 12MP sensor if the optics and post processing are only capable of resolving 8MP "worth" of detail.

I want more pixels...on a chip of the appropriate size to retain the quality.

Then buy a proper camera. The image quality (and maximum worthwhile resolution) of phone cameras is constrained by the space available in a slim phone. Bigger chips need a longer focal length lens and/or other fancy optical refinements in order to keep the image in focus over the whole sensor - and Apple already have the lens protruding from the body (ugh).

why do we want a 1080p screen, when we could have a non-retina display but with much better, clearer and brighter pixels. That should be better in the same way, right?

Completely different case. First, the phone can independently control every pixel on the screen, so it can actually *use* the full resolution. Its not constrained by the optical system and post-processing. Second, the display is paired with a powerful backlight: its not relying on available light. The downside is reduced battery life, not a reduction in image quality.

 

[dilbert99]

I'd be looking for an increase to at least 12MP (a 50% increase). That would not impact too greatly on the current sensor, but who is to say that it would be using the current sensor quality. Why wouldn't it be 12MP with a new, higher quality sensor too?

Nothing wrong with wanting that but the sensor isn't ready for supporting 12MP without degrading picture quality otherwise they might have gone with the higher resolution for the reason you want it.

 

[keterboy]

So instead of dropping 16GB and starting at 32GB, they keep 16GB drop 32GB and go right to 64GB.

D*** move.

What you may call 'd*** move', is for them hard facts and statistics that speak for themselves. Those decisions are probably too high for you to comprehend.

I used to have the 32gig iPhone 5 and I don't usually pack my phone to capacity, but i found myself doing that rather quickly without noticing, only by adding my music and some very needed apps.

It makes very much sense. If you use the phone just to talk and text along with a few social and financial apps for example, you're good to go with a 16gig, but the moment you want more, like photos and music (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) with your files local, your requirements quickly jump above the 32gig mark.

This 'd*** move' as you call it was a very smart move by Apple, just not understood by about 1% of their fanboys such as yourself.

But we can all live with that

 

[jjp007]

Well that sucks. Is there any way to purchase one from AT&T that doesn't involve enrolling in their NEXT plan or further extending the contract?

This is my question too. Went to check upgrade and I don't get this new system w Att.

 

[skinned66]

What you may call 'd*** move', is for them hard facts and statistics that speak for themselves. Those decisions are probably too high for you to comprehend.

I used to have the 32gig iPhone 5 and I don't usually pack my phone to capacity, but i found myself doing that rather quickly without noticing, only by adding my music and some very needed apps.

It makes very much sense. If you use the phone just to talk and text along with a few social and financial apps for example, you're good to go with a 16gig, but the moment you want more, like photos and music (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) with your files local, your requirements quickly jump above the 32gig mark.

This 'd*** move' as you call it was a very smart move by Apple, just not understood by about 1% of their fanboys such as yourself.

But we can all live with that

Thanks for responding; you don't know how to use my phone and I care to go over that even less than you care to know. I knew full well that wasn't speaking for the 99% of you "fanboys" that understand whatever Apple implies to them and toe the line.

For me 64 it will have to be.

In the end I agree it does make business sense. That doesn't change the fact that for utility more storage is better. If Apple's ballooning bottom line is all that matters then 100% of us can all rejoice.

Another statistic: <1% of you fanboys appear to have taken my general comment personally.

But I can live with that

 

[Stanick]

Since I was in jail for the weekend, I missed any discussion of what Apple is doing with all the sapphire they have been producing since neither iPhone has a sapphire display? Are they using that much for the Watch?

For what I know they wanted to use sapphire but it failed the drop tests. It's durable against scratching but it breaks easily if dropped. Also, when the thinner backlight approach (1 layer) failed they had to use 2 layers so they raised the glass above the body of the phone, slightly and it's now curved towards the edges... BUT sapphire cannot be curved like that...

 

[OlMighty]

The trouble is, the consumer electronics industry has tried to change the meaning of resolution to "the number of pixels in the image". Everywhere else it refers to the actual ability of the system to resolve detail (and is best measured as an angle). If you're talking about a display where the computer can and does turn on precisely the right pixels, then there's no issue. If you're talking about a camera, then the true resolution of an image depends on many other factors in the optics and the (extensive) post-processing the camera performs to produce a usable image from the sensor (you do know that *all* cameras with a single CCD use interpolation to get a full-colour 24-bpp image from a mosaic of red, green and blue sensors, for example?) - there is absolutely no guarantee that increasing the number of pixels will introduce the resolution (or quality) of the image.



Talking about resolution without talking about quality is nonsensical. There is absolutely no point in having a 12MP image or a 12MP sensor if the optics and post processing are only capable of resolving 8MP "worth" of detail.




Then buy a proper camera. The image quality (and maximum worthwhile resolution) of phone cameras is constrained by the space available in a slim phone. Bigger chips need a longer focal length lens and/or other fancy optical refinements in order to keep the image in focus over the whole sensor - and Apple already have the lens protruding from the body (ugh).




Completely different case. First, the phone can independently control every pixel on the screen, so it can actually *use* the full resolution. Its not constrained by the optical system and post-processing. Second, the display is paired with a powerful backlight: its not relying on available light. The downside is reduced battery life, not a reduction in image quality.

I have a proper camera, it's great. But that's not the point either - the iPhone is a great camera because it's handy, it's something I always have with me.

You argue that I'm discussing resolution without talking about quality, my point was that you seem to be talking about quality without talking about resolution. And my exaggeration using the screen resolution is the analogy for this - it is a similar case. If MP were not as much a factor as you describe, then why would apple not have moved back to/kept the 5MP camera and made massive quality improvements.

The basis for my argument is that it should be a mixture of the two, weighing up the benefits of increasing the MP vs any quality degradation impact. Compromise is one thing, but the factor that we don't know about here is the financial aspect. Is it cheaper for apple to retain an 8MP sensor with quality improvements that people will swallow, or will they spend a lot of money investing in an image sensor improvement that can handle higher resolutions?

 

[AppleScruff1]

For what I know they wanted to use sapphire but it failed the drop tests. It's durable against scratching but it breaks easily if dropped. Also, when the thinner backlight approach (1 layer) failed they had to use 2 layers so they raised the glass above the body of the phone, slightly and it's now curved towards the edges... BUT sapphire cannot be curved like that...

They spent a lot of money to do large scale sapphire production, I can't believe they made an error of that magnitude, but it may be just as you have said. They were planning on using a lot of sapphire for some product or products.

 

[keterboy]

For me 64 it will have to be.

Not sure if u noticed that the price of the iPhone 6 64gig is the same as the 5s 32gig used to be. So, if u'd choose the 32gig to begin with, Apple's d*** move just made u a pretty good deal by doubling your storage for the same price.

It's fine, skinned66, u won the argument

Have a great day

 

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Apple Announces 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 Plus, Launching Septe...

Not sure if u noticed that the price of the iPhone 6 64gig is the same as the 5s 32gig used to be. So, if u'd choose the 32gig to begin with, Apple's d*** move just made u a pretty good deal by doubling your storage for the same price.

It's fine, skinned66, u won the argument

Have a great day

It isn't the same price. 64 is now second tier and should be treated as second tier. 16 shouldn't even exist anymore. It was like $9 for every 16 GB they added in the 5S and is probably even cheaper now.

 

[brinary001]

They could do three sizes yet they may not want to go overboard. I would get the larger phone since I have come to find them quiet useful. Yet still a fan of the 4S size as well.

I'm right there with you. That big canvas and 1080p display are out of this world. But I'm going to miss the one-handed glory of the 3.5/4" days. And yeah I know Apple has the feature built into the Plus to use it with one hand, but it's not the same

 

[SeattleMoose]

Gonna ride my 4S until it is no longer supported. All I do is phone and text. 2 year Verizon contract up at the end of the month. Going forward plan is to cancel Verizon contract and just use a Sim card (with online $$$ recharge) going forward and be charged ONLY for what I actually use.. Hoping to save a ton of money and one less bill to worry about.

 

[Dubberton]

Actually it does make sense. Sapphire screens don't scratch and these screens are rounded meaning it will be difficult to apply screen protectors to them.

yes sapphire is very hard yada yada, but I don't think it is a big enough issue to warrant sapphire screens. With what I understand about sapphire from the watch industry, even with a gigantic factory sapphire screens on millions of phones is insane. Unless Apple plans on making it a really big selling point or only on special models, I highly doubt it. I'll even stick to this in light of todays announcement about the 2-tons of it being shipped back or something.

 

[gatortpk]

Since I was in jail for the weekend, I missed any discussion of what Apple is doing with all the sapphire they have been producing since neither iPhone has a sapphire display? Are they using that much for the Watch?

What! You were in Jail a few days ago? Plenty of time to catchup before Tuesdays event. Anyhow, it does appear that the Apple Watch does have the sapphire display covers. It is also clear that the iPhone has a harder than before display too, but probably not a sapphire laminate/mix of any sort.

 

[theluggage]

you seem to be talking about quality without talking about resolution.

...because there is no point talking about resolution unless the quality is there.

If MP were not as much a factor as you describe, then why would apple not have moved back to/kept the 5MP camera and made massive quality improvements.

Probably because they think 8MP is the "sweet spot" for quality given the other constraints of the camera. Probably because they're already using the biggest sensor they can fit - evidenced by the fact that the lens already protrudes from the case. Possibly because sensors, lenses, noise-removal and image stabilisation algorithms have improved since the 5MP days to make 8MP viable. Most likely, though, because there are so many people like you that automatically assume that more megapixels = better so they have to pay some attention to the headline numbers.

Seriously, though: resolution is one part of the quality equation, and is meaningless on its own. If you have a phone-sized sensor (lousy sensitivity), a minuscule lens, a pathetic flash right next to the lens (gives completely unnatural lighting, max glare and red-eye), a feather light camera (no inertia so impossible to hold steady) and generally lousy (for a camera) ergonomics, an extra 50% megapixels is the last thing that will improve your pictures.

I don't know if its still going on, but the megapixel myth used to be so bad that camera manufacturers (even respectable ones) used to advertise cameras as "2 megapixels (interpolated)" and stick an upsampling routine in the driver software (that was in the days when 2 megapixels was a lot).

 

[myname70]

During the keynote nothing mentioned about the iBeacon. .. but in Apple website spec it is there :
Location

Assisted GPS and GLONASS

Digital compass

WiFi

Cellular

iBeacon microlocation

 

[MacSince1990]

I quit work to watch this keynote.

iPhone 6+ here I come.

Anyone know where this guy works? Sure his employer would love to know about this

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seriously, Steve is turning over in his grave today.

Silly Steve, doesn't he know he can't tan underground?

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Apps and their storage. My Facebook app takes up over 1GB just by itself. It caches all the images and stuff from your newsfeed and there's no easy way to delete that garbage unless you uninstall the app and then reinstall it.

I have the 16GB iPhone 5 and have NO music and NO videos on it and I'm completely full. Just from apps and their cache storage and photos and iMessages.

Sometimes I do delete apps and reinstall them. Quick and easy, if annoying fix. I also have 8GB of pics/music, and it's a 16 GB phone. Apps don't eat up as much space when you fill it up with other stuff lol

 

[uberzephyr]

It's "enabled" by complementing the 5s (or even the 5) with an iWatch next year.

If the watch itself has the security chip in it, that's true. Otherwise, it's a hardware issue and the 5/5s will not be able to support. I haven't seen anything that definitively says the watch has the chip - so far I'm assuming it relies on the chip in the 6/6+

 

[kimvette]

After downgrading from an iPhone 4 to a Samsung S4 last year, I was eagerly waiting for the new iPhone to upgrade.

I gave up on Apple. I have 96GB of storage on my S4, and will be buying a 256GB MicroSD card when they become available, which will give me 288GB of storage - then I'll start ripping more DVD and Blu-Ray movies to my phone.

But where do I go from the S4 for an upgrade? The S5 is nice, the iPhone 6 is nice but honestly I've grown to like Android a lot better (better battery life, better memory management, and with Samsung's Touchwiz, a much better UI - let's face it: it's just better - and I used to LOATHE Android on phones). I guess I'll go Galaxy Note next year.

If Apple gets their act together and offers an SD slot and user-replaceable battery, I might consider an iPhone 7, but neither of those will happen. They're against expansion and serviceability.

But now I am forced to make a choice.. 6 or 6plus??

I had the same exact question - and I bought the iPhone 6 last year when it was known as iPhone Galaxy S4/iPhone Galaxy Note. I went with the Iphone 6 (er, Galaxy S4) since I didn't need the iPhone 6 plus at the time.

Has Apple lost its confidence? Last year we had 5c and 5s, now 6 and 6plus. Apple watch comes out in 6 combinations (small - large, plain - sport - edition) if I understood correctly..

Where are the days that Apple used to decide for me?!?

Well just watch what Samsung is doing this year; take off the MicroSD slot, half the RAM, and user replaceable battery, and dumb down the OS a whole lot, then you know what next year's iPhone will be.