Apple Event 2015: the Toys I Want!
Well it’s Fall (almost) and along with a change of seasons you can always expect new product and software announcement from Apple. This is my first time actually watching an entire Apple Event (well I exited out with the band’s second song, had some writing to do!). And I thought I’d share my impressions on the new toys.Toys, maybe, maybe not. These devices has some pretty fabulous applications in the world. As a creative I pretty much only use my iPhone or iPad to create photographs or write. It was very inspiring to see the medical applications being created around devices like the Apple Watch and the new iPad Pro.Here’s the run down on the drool worthy products, at least to me.
Apple Watch
The recent updates on the Apple Watch do have me curious and I might actually look into getting one at some point down the line, seeing it as a viewfinder for things like a GoPro app could have great use to a photographer. They report there are over 10,000 apps for the watch in the app store, just a beginning, it’s going to explode for sure.There will be a new Watch OS2, including adding transit to maps (it’s about time!). Things like Facebook messenger are en route to the Apple Watch as well iTranslate, GoPro and AirStrip. AirStrip is an app for physicians that can provide real time data, securely, privately, so that a doctor can review that information, and even send directives if action needs to be taken.Anyone remember Star Trek? We are living it.Apple also announced that there will be new watch bands available by Hermes, where the watch faces will also match Hermes’ branding. That’s in addition to a variety of other new colours and textures, including a Stainless Steel case with a (product) RED Band, a portion of the proceeds of which go to fight AIDS.
iPad Pro
Bam. Bigger is Better they say, perhaps in this case I’d agree. I’ve had an iPad mini for about three years and it’s been great, honestly because of it’s smaller size. I had contemplated the regular iPad when I got my mini, but felt the iPad was too close in size to my existing laptop. What I liked about the mini is it’s more like the size of a kindle, and I can carry it in just about any purse.The launch of the iPad Pro has me wanting it, without a doubt. I see it as a fabulous creative tool that is a real step in replacing a laptop. I know the Microsoft Surface as been around a bit and folks are using those in such a way, but as a photographer, who travels, I have a hard time giving up a powerful laptop. They use phrases like “Desktop Class Performance”, which the A9x 64-bit processing chip, makes sense.One things for sure, it’s not cheap! I’d probably not go for the cellular one myself as that presents the added cost of a data plan. For accessories you have the new Smart Keyboard/Cover a fold out keyboard build into a cover, available only for the iPad Pro. This new keyboard connects to the iPad via a magnetic “Smart Connector”.And to add to your ultimate creative toolkit check out the Apple Pencil, a stylus for the iPad Pro. The battery “lasts for hours” and under the top there is a lightning connector, which you can plug into the iPad Pro to charge.Here’s some specs on the new iPad Pro:12.9” Retina Display3rd generation 64-bit A9X ChipFour speaker audio10-hour battery8MP iSight Camera802.11ac with MIMOUp to 150 Mbps LTETouch IDPricing:32GB Wi-Fi - $799128GB Wi-Fi - $949128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular - $1079The iPad Pro comes in Silver, Gold and Space Gray & is available in November.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
“The only thing that’s changed is everything”.According to the announcements, the internal workings of the new iPhones are completely updated. But the exterior sizes are the same as the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus (relatively speaking).After three generations of phones, they’re finally upgrading the sensor on the camera to a 12MP iSight camera. Yay! I know we don’t always need more pixels, but sometimes we NEED MOAR PIXELS. ;-)Specs:3D Touch7000 Series aluminiumStrongest Cover Glass on the market64-bit A9 Chip with M92nd Generation Touch IDLTE Advanced and faster Wi-Fi12MP iSight Camera4K Video5MP FaceTime HD Camera with Retina FlashLive PhotosWhat is Retina Flash?On the front camera, when you want to use the flash it will illuminate the screen as the image is captured to create a TrueTone Flash.What is Live Photos?Live photos are kind of a like a teeny tiny video or gif. There will be a new button along the top of the Camera app (with HD/Flash/Timer, etc…) which enables this function. By default this will be on in the cameras app. Once that’s enabled, tap to take a photo like you always do and it captures a moment before and after and saves it with the file. To view the Live Photo just tap and hold on the image. This will be cool if there’s a moment, like a river flowing, that you want to capture, but not do a full video.Pricing (starting at, the more storage the higher the price)iPhone5s - FreeiPhone 6 - From $99iPhone 6 Plus - From $199iPhone 6s - From $199iPhone 6s Plus - From $299iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are available in Gold, Silver, Space Gray and Rose GoldYou can Preorder the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus this Saturday, 12 September , 2015 and available 25 September, 2015.And to round this all out the iOS9 Update is available 16 September, 2015They also announced a new Apple TV which sounds rad, but I don't actually own a TV at the moment, so I don't want it, yet! ;)Featured image is from Apple.comThat's it for now.Thanks!~ kate