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This is a much more relevant point than the argument between "proof" and "resistant".

For those worried that a gullible reader will take "waterproof" at face value, I'd be much more concerned about the people who use the device as spec'd and are denied repairs.

I understand why Apple does this-- they don't want someone hitting their phone with a pressure washer to avoid the cost of a new battery, but it should be made clear that the rating is a build spec, not a guarantee...


Apple makes it clear thT water damage isn't covered for the reasons you state, there no way to tell what conditions the person exposed their watch to.
 
A rock is truly waterproof.
Oh?
plane-gc-opt.jpg
 
Waterproof? After ten years, I thought Apple was skipping straight to fire-proof, Kryptonite proof, etc.
 
Wireless charging you say? I hope that means what it sounds like, rather than "Oh bring this big brick with you everywhere along with your iPhone." If I have to bring a brick anyways, I'll just stick with the small lego-sized brick that plugs into the wall.

For inductive charging to be a breakthrough there must be compatibility across devices and the bricks as you call them must be everywhere.
You go to Starbuck and you find a charging plate, your hotel room has one, at office you can find a plate on your desk. That way you can just forget about charging your appliances, you put them on a table and charge every time.
But if you have to buy the brick for home, one for office, and you have to bring one of them while you are on vacation it is really not convenient. I'd rather use a cable as you said.

Inductive charging is fine on the AW but I don't really need it on my iPhone.
If as rumoured in the past this feature will make it on the 7s, but will be the only new one (OLED and bezel free only on iPhone 8) I'd be quite disappointed.
 
The other thing about a phone being waterproof or resistant is that while its great for protection from accidental damage or being confident to use outside while biking or running, its doesn't really help with being able to actually use the phone under those conditions. I ditched my Lifeproof case on my iPhone 7 but the new home button seems very temperamental when its got any moisture in the air, let alone on the button or your fingers and the screen is pretty useless to use when raining. So its back in a Lifeproof case....
 
Why are there so many people opposed to this??
I just think it is a monetary gamble many aren't willing to make for a two reasons.

1.) Apple doesn't cover liquid damage of any kind; including moisture corrosion to device circuit boards, lightning, and/or SIM contacts.

and

2.) Apple doesn't cover physical damage of any kind, including damage because your device dropped off a wet shelf or out of wet hands.

BTW these are the very first things Apple technicians look for when they take your device at the Genius Bar and you tell them your device isn't (fill in the blank). Translation: $99 for two incidents if you have AppleCare+ coverage. If you don't have AppleCare+ your looking at around $270 to $350 depending on the device.
 
Wireless charging you say? I hope that means what it sounds like, rather than "Oh bring this big brick with you everywhere along with your iPhone." If I have to bring a brick anyways, I'll just stick with the small lego-sized brick that plugs into the wall.

The obvious is of course to offer both options like on most other phones. Charger built into desk/furniture/car or a separate brick at home and the office - and a small traditional charger for travel use.

Personally I love not having to plug my phone into anything. Haven't done that - with the exception of a couple of longer trips where I brought a regular charger - for a couple of years.
 
If Apple, and their various supplier partners, have indeed figured out a true wireless charging system, it will be a game changer, regardless of the other technologies and features the next iPhone has. Power is definitely one of those things that Apple has spent a lot of time thinking about and working on, given their push to self sustaining electric systems.

And I can hear their pitch, talking about the work they've done developing solar and other green power sources. But powering a device like an iPhone (or other smartphone) is the one thing that everyone has to deal with on a daily basis and it's these kinds of issues that Apple is known for addressing / disrupting.

Inductive charging was a pretty feeble first step that Apple wisely did not invest in, as it's really not wireless in its current iteration. It's plug-in-free on your device, but you still have to take your device out of your pocket and and set it on an inductive charging plate, which itself needs to be plugged in just like a typical corded power supply we all use today with our iPhones.

To be able to have your iPhone in your pocket, or better yet in your hand while you're using it, charging without a cord, while you're at home, will be one of those advancements that we'll wonder how we lived without it for so long. I can see Apple and other 3rd party suppliers then produce and offer commercial sized wireless energy distribution systems that will be implemented at places like Starbucks, Apple stores, malls, public spaces, etc.

Sure, you might need to pay extra for the wireless charging unit, but I know I won't complain to be able to not have to worry, or even really think about, whether I have enough battery life on my iPhone is going to make the price worth the piece of mind.
 
I think I am going to upgrade early this time and get the iPhone 7s Plus. Based on the leaks of the iPhone 8, I am not so enthused with the design. Not to mention, its either the first gen of a new design or its some special edition one niche product (like the anniversary Mac), which might become obsolete as soon as the next iPhone. Oh, and its expensive. The iPhone 7s Plus will continue in the same tradition of the iPhone 7 and 6s/6 before it, which is a proven design. Who know's, Apple might bump the default storage to 64 GB making it a little cheaper to get.

I am sure there will be some must have gimmicks, but, I personally just want a bigger screen. That should keep me going until about 2020 when I decide to maybe upgrade again.
Proven design? Lol, is that marketing speak for lazy design?
 
Wireless charging is such a "me too" feature. I am sure some like it but seems like a total waste of resources. If the phone needs to stay in contact to charge it is WORSE than a wire.
 
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Wireless charging is such a "me too" feature. I am sure some like it but seems like a total waste of resources. If the phone needs to stay in contact to charge it is WORSE than a wire.
If they are using Energous's solution it will be way more than a me too feature! Fingers crossed that's it's RF wireless charging and not inductive.
 
I get a chuckle knowing a green company would go down the road of something as ungreenly inefficient as inductive charging.
 
Wireless charging is such a "me too" feature. I am sure some like it but seems like a total waste of resources. If the phone needs to stay in contact to charge it is WORSE than a wire.
Agree when my phone is charging with the cable I still can use lol
 
Lol, talk about an apologist. Jeez. Same design since the year dot. Never changing.. yep, I'd call that lazy...
What exactly do you use your smart phone for? Because, when Steve Jobs launched it, he said, the benefit of a touch interface, you don't have to change the physical hardware to accommodate a new feature, you can do it in software. So, honestly, it seems you are out of touch with how modern day smart phones work. If you are call basically reaching a plateau in design being an apologist, then I gladly embrace it. I personally don't see how adding a curved screen like Samsung necessarily adds any function or innovation. You to be honest are just bored and you need to use your phone for what its meant for instead of looking at it and wondering: social media, browse the web, email, listen music, watch videos, send and receive calls, messages.

Besides that, the leaks prove they are working on something different iPhone 8 or edition or whatever its called, but they are also keeping the traditional design for the 7s series, because its proven. Just like the iPhone SE design in proven for many who like its iconic look.
 
For example, Apple's fingerprint reader is the only usable finger print reader on the market. Almost everyone I know with an iPhone uses their fingerprint reader, while every Android user I know doesn't use theirs because it 'doesn't work' or is a pain to use.

Apple wasn't first, but they made the best one.

Another example is charging the Apple Watch. Much nicer having a magnetic charger instead of plugging the watch into a usb cord or taking the watch face off to charge (I'm looking at you, FitBit). Again, Apple's solution is much better.

It doesn't mean Apple's solution is always the best, but most of the time it is.


I think you have distorted perception of the qualities of other platforms. For example, all Samsung Gear watches use magnetic chargers. I suspect other Android watches do to.

As per the available reviews, all current smartphone fingerprint readers have about the same quality. Here is one such comparison (in which the reader on the much cheaper phone outperforms iPhone)
 
Normal people:
  • Weather resistant - I can get a quick splash on it, or a bit of rain, and it's not completely wrecked
  • Water resistant - I can shower with it, drop it in a puddle, or accidentally leave it in my jeans when I do the wash and its probably okay
  • Waterproof - I can take some pictures around the motel pool and if it falls in, it's okay

Active watersports people:
  • I'll check the actual IP rating before I do anything serious

Pedants:
  • To be called waterproof, the iPhone must resist water damage at infinite pressure for a duration equal to the time it takes for the heat death of the universe to occur
 
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