iPhone 6

[1992casey]

Plus, $200 more and still 16 GB of storage?

 

I think it’s time that all iPhones and iPads include a minimum of 32GB. With the new iPhones, Apple did increase second tier storage, dropping the 32GB version and putting the 64GB version at the former 32GB price point. But I think that storage should have been increased at the entry level too.

 

 

I just have to say one thing and that is I hate tablets. I just do not get the hype for them as they are just over sized smart phones that a majority of them can not make a call from.

 

As logan82 mentions, tablets cover everything or almost everything that many people need to do. I’m able to leave my MacBook Pro at home much more frequently than I could have before I owned my iPad.

 

Because apps are generally redesigned to take advantage of the extra screen real estate, tablets become more than just oversized phones. To a lesser extent, developers will be able to redesign apps to take advantage of the iPhone 6 Plus’s larger screen.

 

 

My first smart phone was an Android device but Motorola and AT&T wouldn't upgrade the OS on the phones…

 

This is a big issue with Android phones in general. OS updates need to be tested and approved by the phone manufacturer, carrier, and possibly also the chip maker. This can cause a huge delay between the time Google writes and update and the time it’s delivered — if it’s delivered at all.

 

 

I refuse to get an iPhone and deal with all the requisite Apple junk that goes along with it.

 

I3K, what “requisite Apple junk” puts you off?

 

 

I cover stocks and work in the finance area and found it funny that much of the criticism leveled at Apple in 2012 and 2013 was related to not having a cheap phone and not having a bigger screen phone and now that both have come out the same bashers complain about the c and the bigger phone. The demand mix between the C and S last year skewed heavily toward to the S, so much that they were out of stock in many stores while the C filled the shelves. I think it sort of proved that Apple was right all along and that their customers aren't looking for the cheapest devices and will pay up. I wonder if this bigger size will result in a similar phenomenon.

 

Yeah, Apple customers are willing to pay. The first Mac Mini was designed to compete on price. Customer feedback was that people preferred a beefed up model and were willing to pay more to have it. First and second generation models were $499/$599. Third generation models were $599/$799.

 

There are some early reports that the 6 Plus might be outselling the 6, but it’s really too early to tell. Apple doesn’t break down sales figures by model, so we’re going to have to wait a while, then figure out which reports are credible and which ones aren’t.

 

A lot of financial and tech pundits have trouble comprehending Apple’s [abbr=Modus operandi]MO[/abbr]. The company wants market share in the markets it chooses to compete in. But because they don’t opt to offer cheap products, total market share isn’t a priority.

 

The 5C definitely isn’t a cheap phone. It’s either on the lower end of high priced phones or the high end of middle priced phones. Technologically speaking, the case is a slight downgrade from the iPhone 5 while a couple of internal components are upgrades.

[logan82]

Apple makes overpriced luxury devices. So yeah the people who generally buy them will have more disposable income. They will be willing to drop a few dollars here and there.

[Invader3K]

Casey, basically, to answer your question: I hate iTunes.

[adamb100]

iTunes is pretty garbage (at least on Windows).

[jjfanec]

It is funny to see how different people's experiences are. I like to observe what type of technology people are using.

 

I work on the college campus and rarely see people using tablets to do real work. I would say under 10% of those doing work are using tablets. Many people I know who have tablets simply use it at night when watching tv and even a few of those use their phone instead. I see quite a few more people using chromebooks over tablets for real work as well.

 

Also was surprised this summer as I was on a trip with 80 plus college students and the phone breakdown wasnt quite what i was expecting. It was probably 50% iphone, 40% galaxy and 10% was a random mix of cheaper phones.

 

Apple is loved by many and they make really good products. I have played around with the iphone and dont really like it. I might like the 6 more because I couldnt stand the smaller size. On the laptop end of things I just dont do enough on my computer to justify the cost difference. My last laptop cost half the price and lasted 5 plus years. My current one is on year 3 and going strong. If I did video, graphic design, etc I would look at it but it just isnt a need.

 

Also I dont like the double standard Apple fans have. Any time Samsung or someone else "copies" something Apple does or if another company like Microsoft struggles rolling out an update Apple fans are up in arms. However, when Apple "copies" something from another company they get a pass or if the have a roll out like they are having with IOS 8 you cant say a word about it. Apple has advanced technology quite a bit but they are not without flaw and the recent roll out of IOS 8 and even following other companies into the bigger phones it shows they are not always perfect and ahead of the curve

[DHonks]

jjfanec, to answer some of the double-standard....As an Apple shareholder, I absolutely hate that Apple revolutionized the mobile phone market by destroying the existing model of a smart-phone, but within months had competition from copy-cat devices looking, feeling, and working nearly identically despite patents. Apple put the design work into the devices and basically had to teach component companies how to make parts that fit their devices, but the entire industry benefitted. However, that's in the past and those lawsuits have been settled. Since we can't turn back the clock, I absolutely love having iOS, Android, and Windows phones as the competition is driving all of them to create better, more useful features. The first phone I ever truly enjoyed was an iPhone. It led to me one day buying a macbook Air 11" as I always wanted a powerful ultra-portable machine, and the rest of the tech companies were insisting that ultra-portable meant crappy netbooks (I owned one and got rid of it after 4 months). I think I'm on year 4 with my macbook Air, and it's still working great. In fact it has aged much more gracefully than any computer I've ever had....none of that bogging down that happens after a year usually on a laptop.

 

I owned an iPad 2 but I didn't like my "iPad elbow," so I yearned for something ultraportable. I've absolutely loved my iPad mini w/LTE for nearly 2 years now. The iPad elbow is gone, but I find I take it everywhere. Given that the mini has taken over much of my couch internet browsing and I rarely travel with my macbook Air, I may choose to upgrade my laptop to a 13" in the next year or so. It sounds weird that I have 3 devices, but they all have distinctly different purposes. I love that all my files are instantly synched via iCloud, and the new iOS 8 features will enable even closer integration. I'm also considering an Apple watch. I've been trying to lose weight for 2 years now with moderate success. I've looked into all sorts of fitness trackers, but in the end I kept thinking "what's the one tech company that I've been happy with going to do?" I wish the Apple watch had more independent features as I can't fathom trying to go for a jog with my phone. I've also long found it stupid that to check time, we have to reach in our pockets when for decades we already had a convenient solution mounted to our wrists.

 

logan82, they might seem like overpriced luxury items to you. They once seemed that way to me. But I will pay more for quality. I've never had an Apple device with problems, whereas I have hated Dell, HP, and lenovo notebooks. I hated my Palm phone and found my 2005 Nokia flip phone great. I work at a school with Apple laptops and Samsung Chromebooks. I would never buy a Chromebook given their current capabilities. I also haven't heard a single good comment about Windows 8. Given my level of happiness with Apple's devices, they will have to royally screw up to get me to change.

 

And lastly, while running a high school golf tournament the last 3 days, I spotted 2 iPhone 6's. I'm curious how many I will see tomorrow at work...I'll bet 4 or 5.

[jjfanec]

jjfanec, to answer some of the double-standard....As an Apple shareholder, I absolutely hate that Apple revolutionized the mobile phone market by destroying the existing model of a smart-phone, but within months had competition from copy-cat devices looking, feeling, and working nearly identically despite patents. Apple put the design work into the devices and basically had to teach component companies how to make parts that fit their devices, but the entire industry benefitted. However, that's in the past and those lawsuits have been settled. Since we can't turn back the clock, I absolutely love having iOS, Android, and Windows phones as the competition is driving all of them to create better, more useful features. The first phone I ever truly enjoyed was an iPhone. It led to me one day buying a macbook Air 11" as I always wanted a powerful ultra-portable machine, and the rest of the tech companies were insisting that ultra-portable meant crappy netbooks (I owned one and got rid of it after 4 months). I think I'm on year 4 with my macbook Air, and it's still working great. In fact it has aged much more gracefully than any computer I've ever had....none of that bogging down that happens after a year usually on a laptop.

 

I owned an iPad 2 but I didn't like my "iPad elbow," so I yearned for something ultraportable. I've absolutely loved my iPad mini w/LTE for nearly 2 years now. The iPad elbow is gone, but I find I take it everywhere. Given that the mini has taken over much of my couch internet browsing and I rarely travel with my macbook Air, I may choose to upgrade my laptop to a 13" in the next year or so. It sounds weird that I have 3 devices, but they all have distinctly different purposes. I love that all my files are instantly synched via iCloud, and the new iOS 8 features will enable even closer integration. I'm also considering an Apple watch. I've been trying to lose weight for 2 years now with moderate success. I've looked into all sorts of fitness trackers, but in the end I kept thinking "what's the one tech company that I've been happy with going to do?" I wish the Apple watch had more independent features as I can't fathom trying to go for a jog with my phone. I've also long found it stupid that to check time, we have to reach in our pockets when for decades we already had a convenient solution mounted to our wrists.

 

logan82, they might seem like overpriced luxury items to you. They once seemed that way to me. But I will pay more for quality. I've never had an Apple device with problems, whereas I have hated Dell, HP, and lenovo notebooks. I hated my Palm phone and found my 2005 Nokia flip phone great. I work at a school with Apple laptops and Samsung Chromebooks. I would never buy a Chromebook given their current capabilities. I also haven't heard a single good comment about Windows 8. Given my level of happiness with Apple's devices, they will have to royally screw up to get me to change.

 

And lastly, while running a high school golf tournament the last 3 days, I spotted 2 iPhone 6's. I'm curious how many I will see tomorrow at work...I'll bet 4 or 5.

 

No doubt Apple computers seem to last longer and they should at the price difference but I must be in the minority because my wife and I have had 3 different laptops. One last 5 plus year. One is going on 3 and the other 2 with no noticeable slow down. All three were a fraction of the price of an Apple computer. At work I have a team of 9 and 2 have Apple computers and both have had big issues. One is only 3 years old and is pretty much dead. She even got a virus on it. My main point is Apple computers are great but definitely not without flaws and for many getting a cheaper computer works just fine.

 

I have had a google nexus 7 for a few years but once I got a smart phone I just dont use it much. I have a bigger smartphone so that might be part of the reason. I loved it before I got a smartphone

[thebruce44]

jjfanec, to answer some of the double-standard....As an Apple shareholder, I absolutely hate that Apple revolutionized the mobile phone market by destroying the existing model of a smart-phone, but within months had competition from copy-cat devices looking, feeling, and working nearly identically despite patents. Apple put the design work into the devices and basically had to teach component companies how to make parts that fit their devices, but the entire industry benefitted.

 

I see this a lot, and I think it's what contributes to the idea of a double standard that jjfanec was talking about. Apple may have tried, and in some cases succeded, to patent the candy bar form factor, touch screen phone...but they did not invent it. The iPhone was the best version of that type of phone when it came out, and its popularity did forever change the industry, but it wasn't the first and they didn't invent it.

 

I was using a touch screen candybar style phone before the iPhone came out, just like I was using a tablet before the iPad came out.

[nate82]

All Apple really did was change there iPod to the iPhone. Apple really hasn't innovated anything as of late. The iPod wasn't an innovation there were already a whole bunch of MP3 players before the iPod was even introduced. The same can be said about the iPad and even the new watch Apple is coming out with.

 

All Apple has done is come in and made things better somewhat. This is really what the free market is about. Apple saw a deficiency and said hey we can do this better and guess what they did with the original iPod, iPhone, and iPad. I am not sure how they are going to change the smart watch or whatever you want to call that. The iPod was so good that it changed the name of MP3 player devices and killed the market. There are still MP3 players around now but they are not advertised all that much but that has more to do with the smart phone revolution with everything being in one device than in multiple devices.

 

Like Windows OS I skip every other generation just look at Windows 8 and Vista they are almost identical in the problems they have encountered and what their critics have said. Plus Windows 8 being developed as mobile and table platform over a desktop or laptop was just a bad design decision by Microsoft. Windows 7 and XP both were far better than 8 and Vista. I wouldn't be surprised if Windows 9 just kills Windows 8 and is on par with 7 and XP.

 

I will not be getting the new iPhone but will wait until the next generation comes out if there is even one that is.

[DHonks]

so my unofficial count for today. Of my 180 students, I counted 15 with iPhone 6's and 1 with an iPhone 6 plus. So already more students with iPhone 6's than all non-Apple phones combined. interesting that when we discussed some of the amazing numbers for sales in Econ class, I had 2 boys and a girl that professed they couldn't wait for the watch. More teens are wearing watches these days than 3-4 years ago, but I didn't expect to hear interest in the Apple Watch

[patrickgpe]

I haven't decided on getting the note 4 or iphone 6 plus in May. The one thing I agree on is memory. The last ios update took over 5 GB of memory which made me have to clear stuff off of my phone just to do the update. The larger memory iphone 6 plus runs 400 dollars which is more than I would want to spend on a phone. (not that 300 is that much better).

[Invader3K]

I haven't decided on getting the note 4 or iphone 6 plus in May. The one thing I agree on is memory. The last ios update took over 5 GB of memory which made me have to clear stuff off of my phone just to do the update. The larger memory iphone 6 plus runs 400 dollars which is more than I would want to spend on a phone. (not that 300 is that much better).

FWIW, I've had a Note 3 for several months and absolutely love it.

 

Re: Memory, SD cards are very cheap now. I have a 64gb one in my phone. I think paid like 35 bucks for it.

[1992casey]

iOS doesn't actually use all that storage once the installation is complete. But it needs extra space during the installation process. The old OS remains intact while the new OS is downloaded, expanded, and installed. After installation, the old OS and the downloaded installer are removed. If you're near capacity, the way around having to remove stuff is to update the OS via iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC.

 

 

I owned an iPad 2 but I didn't like my "iPad elbow," so I yearned for something ultraportable. I've absolutely loved my iPad mini w/LTE for nearly 2 years now. The iPad elbow is gone, but I find I take it everywhere.

 

I always felt that generations 1–4 of the full-sized iPad were a little too large to hold comfortably for an extended period. I’d bet that the iPad Air, with the same screen size but with much less heft, is better in that regard.

 

I haul my iPad Mini around almost all of the time too. My only issue is that I’ve felt that text can occasionally be a little too small to read. I’ve had the three-finger tap (which zooms the whole screen) turned on to use when better options aren’t available.

 

It looks like iOS 8 offers larger text options and that enlarged text now appears in more apps than before (e.g. Maps). When my iOS 7 settings were transferred after the upgrade, I found that text was absolutely humungous in some some spots. That’s fine, of course, as I simply decreased the text size. And others who have vision issues much more significant than mine now have an option without having to resort to the “über-zoom.”

 

 

I love that all my files are instantly synched via iCloud, and the new iOS 8 features will enable even closer integration.

 

Just so people know, iCloud Drive is currently available, but it shouldn’t be enabled on iOS devices if documents are currently being synced to a Mac. Full compatibility will come in a few weeks with the release of OS X 10.10 Yosemite. There’s a compatibility warning during the iOS 8 initial setup.

 

 

All Apple really did was change there iPod to the iPhone.

 

Actually, the first iPhone was released three months before the first iPod Touch. But it’s obvious that the two devices were developed together. Also, the iPad was in development well before the iPhone, even tough it wasn’t released until three years later.

 

 

Apple saw a deficiency and said hey we can do this better and guess what they did with the original iPod, iPhone, and iPad.… The iPod was so good that it changed the name of MP3 player devices and killed the market. There are still MP3 players around now but they are not advertised all that much but that has more to do with the smart phone revolution with everything being in one device than in multiple devices.

 

Early MP3 players were too complicated. The innovation offered by the iPod was the decision to let a computer do the heavy lifting. Outside of that, except for the case, the first iPod was made up entirely of “off the shelf” parts. That’s unusual for Apple.

 

But yeah, finding a deficiency and addressing it is the way Apple innovates. The iPad is an excellent example of this. Previous tablets existed, but they weren’t appealing to anything beyond niche markets.

[DHonks]

got my iPhone 6 today. I ordered it last night and was surprised to see I could pick it up at the Apple Store 4 minutes from work. So I went after class but before coaching today. So far seems nice. I'll let you know more once I finish getting it setup how I like. Somehow iCloud backup got turned off at some point, so I have to do a little work myself.

[1992casey]

I got a look at the new iPhones today.

 

I think that the 6 Plus is too big to easily use as a phone. It has a great screen, though. The 5C and 5S seem to be the perfect size for phone calls. But surveys say that people spend more time looking at the screen than talking on the phone, and the 5C/5S screens are definitely small. The iPhone 6 probably hits a good happy medium.

 

A couple of days ago, I saw a woman talking on a phone that was so large that it looked like she was holding an iPad next to her face. Methinks I wouldn't want to be doing that.

[jjfanec]

If you wear somewhat tight jeans you might want to steer clear from the iphone 6 as it is actually bending in people's front pocket! There are some pretty sweet pictures out there. I am sure it will get fixed quickly. I have a phone the same size as the 6 and put it in my front pocket and I never even thought of this as a possibility.

 

Apple is all over the news this week. Crazy high sales. IOS update causing headaches. Now their phones are bending. All that really matters is the first one though.

[FVBrewerFan]

Apple is all over the news this week. Crazy high sales. IOS update causing headaches. Now their phones are bending. All that really matters is the first one though.

 

Not so fast. Crazy high sales at the launch is great, but if they get a lot of bad press and word of mouth that IOS update is a problem, or any other issues it could hurt holiday season- which is when Apple really needs to go to town. But I doubt anything I've heard so far will slow them down.

[1992casey]

Apple always receives a ton of bad press, warranted or not, and customers look past it.

 

I read about the bending thing yesterday. Actually, I'd be more afraid that I'd put the phone in my back pocket, then sit on it and smash it. I can't see it being that comfortable in a front pocket to begin with.

 

There are always people who run into issues with operating system updates. It's usually a small minority, though. These people can call Apple for help. Even if tech support has run out for the device itself, it will be provided for a new operating system.

 

If there were a significant show-stopping issue, the OS would be updated in very short order. Last year, iOS 7.0.1 was released on the same day as 7.0. 7.0.2 was released after 8 days; that's more typical for bug fixes after an initial release. In the same vein, I'd expect iOS 8.0.1 in the next week or ten days. After that, we should see 8.0.2 in a few weeks to coincide with the release of Yosemite.

[And That]

Re: the 6 Plus bending, if you pay that much for a phone, why are you sitting on it?

 

I have and will continue to pay a premium for Apple products because they work. I've had my iMac for 7.5 years (!) and it's been in the shop twice, once to replace the optical drive and once to upgrade the memory. It's old enough that we're looking to replace it pretty soon only because the hardware is getting dated so we can't upgrade past the Mountain Lion OS (and I can't run the Thinkorswim platform anymore). Still works like a charm, though, and shows no signs of slowing down.

 

My wife and I have both owned iPhones for going on 6 years now and we've only upgraded to get newer models/features. Our phones have been dropped, smashed, bashed and played with by small children the entire time, but they've never broken. We both have 5's, but will be upgrading to 6's later this year.

 

Hell, my iPod is closing in on 10 years old and still works perfectly, too.

 

I don't understand the hate that iTunes gets, but beyond that it certainly isn't a crucial part of the iPhone. I almost never open it.

 

But, to each their own.

[jjfanec]

Apple always receives a ton of bad press, warranted or not, and customers look past it.

 

I read about the bending thing yesterday. Actually, I'd be more afraid that I'd put the phone in my back pocket, then sit on it and smash it. I can't see it being that comfortable in a front pocket to begin with.

 

 

It isnt just back pockets though. It is front pockets as well. That is what is strange. If you put your phone in your back pocket that is on you. If you put in your front pocket and it bends that is a poor design

[1992casey]

jjfanec, I understand that it was a front pocket issue. My point was that I couldn't imagine putting something that big in a front pocket to begin with. It's a problem if the phone can bend, however, whatever the cause might be (short of setting it on a hot stove or something like that).

 

Toby, are you sure you're not running Lion (10.7) rather than Mountain Lion (10.8)? My recollection is that any Mac able to run Mountain Lion will also be able to run both Mavericks (10.9) and Yosemite (10.10).

 

My MacBook Pro is almost 6 years old, and I have no compelling reason to replace it. It doesn't do AirPlay Mirroring, and it won't be able to handle the new Continuity features. But I think I'd have to be missing out on more than that before I'd feel that I would need to upgrade.

 

I might upgrade my two year old iPad Mini, though, if Apple adds Touch ID and the uses latest processor.

 

EDIT: Apple released and then pulled the iOS 8.0.1 update today due to serious Touch ID and cellular connectivity issues with the two new iPhones.

[owbc]

The bending thing seems like a non-issue...the iPhone 4 reception problems were a much bigger problem. The phone sold anyway. I'm guessing most people will use a case anyway?

 

Looking at the Youtube video--if I applied that kind of pressure to my laptop screen, it would bend/break as well.

[DHonks]

reports are that other devices bend as well. Same thing with the antenna-gate when they found nearly all devices had a death-grip

[1992casey]

Expanding on what DHonks said, the stress test that was done on the 6 Plus was also done on several other phones, including the HTC One M8, the Motorola's Moto X and the Nokia Lumia 1020, the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 5S.

 

The HTC One’s screen popped out slightly and adhesive bonds became unseated. The Lumia’s screen broke free in some spots then returned to its original position when pressure was removed. The Moto X, which is thicker, came through OK. The iPhone 6 bent with considerably more pressure than it took to hurt the other phones; it bent back when pressure was applied in the opposite direction. The iPhone 5S was “nearly unbendable.”

 

This appears to be a function of screen size and thickness. It looks like humungous devices generally need to be handled with a bit of care. If the consumer needs a device that’s less fragile, it’ll be necessary to give up thinness and possibly screen size.

 

I think that bendability issues will likely be addressed over time by manufacturers but that for now, users need to be aware that they exist and handle their devices with the appropriate level of care.

 

As kind of an off-topic aside, there’s a fake ad floating around the ‘net saying that iOS 8 has introduced a “Wave” feature which allows iPhones to be charged in microwave ovens. It should be obvious to most that all phones have metal parts and that no phone should be placed in a microwave. However, it’s very likely that some people will try it, and it’s pretty bizarre that something like this got through the screening process of advertising companies.

 

Beware Fake Adverts Saying You Can Charge Your iPhone in a Microwave

 

Follow-up 'Bendgate' video finds iPhone 6 less flexible than iPhone 6 Plus

[adamb100]

The fake ad was created by 4chan (the same site that leaked the nude celeb photos from iCloud a few weeks back).