A Quick Recap of WWDC 2016: watchOS 3

Yesterday, we had some huge announcements at WWDC. So, here is what went down with watchOS 3. Now, this will be a brief recap, without any of my opinions. However, I intend to give a big recap of this week, including WWDC and E3 (which is also taking place this week). I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and impressions of what all of these companies had to show off.

watchOS 3

watchOS 3 brings big changes in performance to the Apple Watch. Apps will load instantly. In fact, they're loaded and refreshed in the background, so you don't have to wait to open apps anymore. There are new watch faces. In addition, you can compete with your friends using Activity Rings. If you use a wheelchair, you will be able to receive notifications that encourage rolling instead of standing. There is a new Breathe app that encourages relaxation through deep breathing. If you find yourself in situations where you can't dictate a text response, you can draw out your response, letter by letter. When near your Mac, you can unlock your Mac automatically with your Apple Watch. Finally, if you need to call emergency services, you can hold down the side button of your watch and the country's emergency service number will be called, along with contacting emergency contacts and showing your Medical ID on your watch. So, these are the changes for watchOS 3. They're mostly under the hood, but it adds a lot of performance.

Let Us Loop You In: The Scoop

While today's Apple event was a short one, only 63 minutes, it did have some interesting things. After school when I first saw what was announced, I was a bit disappointed to only see rehashed versions of already existing products like the iPhone SE and the iPad Pro.

But you do have to consider the most important business practice of all time, and that is timing.

You could have the greatest innovation, but if it isn't timed properly, it won't work. Take YouTube for example. There were many other companies with their own video services before YouTube, but they didn't take off because of timing. Dial up was slow and the internet wasn't ready for Markiplier and dank memes. The same goes with Apple and today's event. You shouldn't expect a new generation of products during a Spring launch. Apple has shifted away from Spring launches, with the exception of the Apple Watch. Apple very well knows that the holiday season is their time. That is the time when they should time their new generations.

Today was just a refresh. Evolving the iPad Air 2 (which was long overdue for an update) into the iPad Pro and proving that a good iPhone can be both budget-friendly and up-to-date. See Apple? This is what we wanted when you released the iPhone 5c! We wanted Johnny Ive on a budget, not a phone made in a 3D printer.

So, with that said, let's go over today's events.

iPad Pro

As I said earlier, today was a refresh day, so you really can't go into too much detail in terms of what's new. However, the new iPad Pro does bring more continuity with the Mac line of products. Apple is now advertising the iPad Pro as coming in two sizes. Sound familiar? Similar to the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air line, iPads now come in multiple sizes under one name. The new 9.7 inch iPad Pro can do pretty much everything the big iPad Pro can do. It's even getting its own Smart Keyboard case.

iPhone SE

Now we come to the little smartphone that could, the iPhone SE. I'll admit, I thought this was going to be an awful release when I first heard about it. But when the details and specs came out, I was astonished. It had all of the internals (with the exception of 3D Touch) of the current iPhone 6s. It had a 12 MP camera, Rose Gold color option, A9 chip, Live Photos, and support for the latest iOS. It succeeds where the iPhone 5c failed, proving that Apple did learn from their mistake. Guess how much (with a two-year contract) the iPhone SE costs for a 64 GB model. $49. Boom! And for the 16 GB model, it's free with a contract. Heck, that makes me want to get one as a developer phone.

Anyways, those were the bulk of the presentation. There were some software updates, Apple Watch bands, and a new thing called CareKit, but other than that, that was it. Oh, and Apple's 40th anniversary. So be sure to check out Apple's website for more information on the keynote. 

iPhone Event 2015: iPhone 6s and Apple TV

Today, Apple announced new devices across several of their product-lines. Here's a quick recap of what occurred at the event.

iPhone 6s

The iPhone 6s has many new features that will change the way you use your phone. 3D Touch is basically Force Touch (from the Apple Watch) for iPhone. When you lightly tap on, for example, the Camera app, a list of options will appear, such as "Take Selfie," and selecting that will automatically have the front camera activated. Speaking of the camera, the iPhone 6s has a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of taking 4K video. The front-facing camera has a 5-megapixel camera. In addition, photos taken will have the 1.5 seconds time around the photo capture saved as video. This is called a "Live Photo." It's used to help enhance your photos when you look back on them who knows how long from now. I'm sure that pizza looks that much better, doesn't it? Don't get me wrong, it's a nice touch, but the ratio of "how often I'm going to actually use this" and how much space this takes up will probably be around 1:2048. Hopefully, there's a disable feature, which I'm sure there is. My advice, make sure you get a model with enough space. At least 64 GB. Also, there's the A9 chip. It's 70% faster than the A8 chip. Cool. Next, the glass. It's made out of the same aluminum casing as the Apple Watch Sport, meaning less bending for the "Plus" model. Touch ID is twice as fast. That's nice. Anyways, these phones come out on September 25th and are available for pre-order at 12:01 AM on September 12.

Apple TV

Future of TV: Apps. Bam. Need I say more? The new Apple TV ($149 for 32 GB; $199 for 64 GB; coming in October) basically takes the experience on your iOS device and puts it on the big screen in a whole new way. It does come bundled with a remote that is charged with a Lightning connector and connects to Apple TV via Bluetooth. Very interesting choices, but that's not to say they're bad choices. The remote also has a 3 month charge, a touch pad, and a microphone for Siri. Using Siri seems to work well on the new Apple TV, allowing users to find specific episodes with criteria such as a guest star. If every episode of The Simpsons was in this database, I'm sure all the geeks in the world would let out a collective silent cheer in their heads. Also, the new Apple TV will support games! I do like the idea of using something almost everyone already has (an iOS device) as a controller in addition to the remote. However, it only works if they get good games. Not many people will buy an Apple TV just to play Crossy Road or Flappy Wings on the big screen. They did get Disney Infinity to get on board, so let's hope this paves the way for more developers. I'm sure we'll get more games on the Apple TV platform, but the examples they used to demonstrate it were just off. I don't know. They did invite Microsoft and Adobe to demonstrate the iPad Pro.

Speaking of the iPad Pro, I plan to write a post on that and the other products unveiled today in another post, hopefully tomorrow. See you guys then!

WWDC 2015: OS X, iOS, and watchOS

In a huge announcement, we got a trio of OS updates and a few updates on other products. Let's take a quick look at what went down at WWDC today...

El Capitan

For OS X, the next update will be called OS X El Capitan. It includes minor improvements on Safari, Mail, and Spotlight. In terms of system architecture, it brings Metal to the Mac, allowing for 40% less processing power needed when rendering graphics.

iOS 9

iOS 9 was made to address four items: intelligence, apps, iPad, and foundation. It brings improvements to Siri, transit for Apple Maps, multitasking for iPad, and more. Wallet will replace Passbook with the addition of rewards cards. News app will also be added that will replace Newsstand. It is much better than Newsstand in the way that it is easier for publishers to use and maintain. Tech Talk 4 Geeks, if approved, will be supported by the News app. Battery life will be increased by about 4 hours with iOS 9 and the update will only take about 1 GB of space. 

watchOS 2

watchOS 2 improves on the things that people don't like about the Apple Watch now. For example, the reliance on iPhone has been reduced with native apps. Third party apps can access Apple Watch's microphone and speaker instead of using that of iPhone's, in addition to the Taptic Engine. Developers can also create custom complications for the watch face. 

There's a lot more to cover, so I'll be sure to go more in depth over the coming days. Until then, feel free to watch the keynote.

'Spring Forward' Event: The Scoop

Here's a quick summary of today's events.

Apple Watch

Apple has shown off much more information about the Apple Watch. Mostly, apps were shown off, which really peaks my interest. In addition, we have a release date. It's April 24. Pre-orders start on April 10.

MacBook

A new MacBook was announced. It truly defines the wireless era. It only has a USB-C port, but you'll find that it's very versatile. It's a power port and data port. The battery is also innovative as it's a layered battery that takes up every bit of space.

Apple TV

The Apple TV is now only $69, instead of $99. This isn't a sale. It's a new price. In addition, you'll be able to watch great HBO shows, like Game of Thrones, on Apple TV with HBO Now.

I haven't had a chance to watch the entire presentation, but I'll finish it as soon as possible. I'll also discuss some of the specifics throughout the week. 

iPhone 6 and Apple Watch: The Scoop

On Tuesday, Apple announced the iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch. Here's a quick recap of what happened.

iPhone 6:

The iPhone 6 (Left) and
the iPhone 6 Plus (Right)

The iPhone 6 sees some dramatic improvements. The most notable being a larger screen, the iPhone 6 has 4.7" screen, but the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5" screen. In addition, they are also thinner. The iPhone 6 is 6.9 mm and the iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1 mm. The screen has a new Retina HD Display with a resolution of 1334 x 750 for the iPhone 6 (1920 x 1080 for the iPhone 6 Plus). It has some new chips, such as the A8 chip and M8 coprocessor. With Apple Pay, your credit card information is stored on a completely separate chip in the iPhone, so it's super secure. The iPhone 6 Plus has some special exclusive features. It's camera can physically move to stabilize pictures. Certain apps can use the extra space for iPad-like features, such as the iPad's side-drawer view. The 32 GB model is gone, so the 64 GB model costs $100 less. In addition, there's a 128 GB model. The iPhone 6 starts at $199 and the iPhone 6 Plus starts at $299. 

Apple Watch:

Apple will sell three new wearable devices in 2015. The Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition. The Apple Watch comes with stainless steal bands. The Apple Watch Sport comes with colorful, silicone-like bands. The Apple Watch Edition comes with fancy bands and the device is plated with 18-karat gold. These wearables track everything, including your heart rate. It comes with an app that tells you how long you've stood for, exercised for, and moved for. If you're idle too long, it can remind you. Navigating the apps use the touch screen and a new "crown" that turns. The watches also support wireless charging. Messaging has a new meaning with Apple Watch. You can send drawings, voice messages, and dictated messages. The clock has many, unique faces for you to personalize it. Apple Watch is built on the foundation of being personal. All-in-all, the Apple Watch isn't just iOS shrunk down, it's a new take on iOS with some great features that gives your device it's own personality.

The Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition
(Left to right)

Continuity in a Nutshell: The Scoop (WWDC 2014)

At WWDC, Apple announced something really cool. It's called continuity and it lets all your Apple products live in harmony.

Handoff:

iPhone and iPad using Handoff with Safari

Let's say you're surfing the web on your iPhone (iOS 8 required) and you sit down at your Mac (OS X Yosemite required). Your Mac notices the proximity between the phone and itself, so it shows a special icon in the dock that allows you to pick up where you left off on your iPhone. This works with all kinds of apps including Numbers, Mail, and third-party apps with the API.

Calling and Texting with iPad and Mac:

If you have an iPhone and a Mac or iPad, then you know that calls (not FaceTimes) and texts (SMS, not iMessages) don't get pushed to those devices. Until now! Your iPhone can now work as a relay device for other devices. You can text from your iPad to an Android or call a friend using a Mac.

Instant Hotspot:

For those who have personal hotspots on their iPhones, this is for you. Normally, for a Mac or iPad to connect to the iPhone's network, one would have to turn on their iPhone's hotspot, then connect using the iOS device or Mac, and then type in a password. But now, Mac and iPad can connect to the iPhone with just a click or tap. No need to turn on a hotspot, just connect and iPhone will turn it on for you. When you're not using internet, but are still connected, it'll disconnect to save battery life.

That's it for today, but be sure to keep checking Tech Talk 4 Geeks for more news, tips, and rumors. In the next few days, there should be some more WWDC news. Then, next week, E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is here. So stay tuned for a plethora of tech news!

OS X Yosemite in a Nutshell: The Scoop (WWDC 2014)

Yesterday's keynote confirmed to us the details of OS X Yosemite (including its name, which apparently took a lot of decisions). Here are the details:

iOS 7 Design:

OS X Yosemite gets a new paint job. It looks a lot like iOS 7. I mean, just look at the new Finder icon (shown to the left)! What is that?! At least this brings less inconsistencies to the Apple universe. The new OS has a new font for menu bars. From my perspective, it seems to be "Helvetica Neue Ultralight," which is the same font used in iOS 7. All the windows are translucent.

Messages:

Messages can now receive text messages (as in SMS) using your iPhone as a relay device. It used to only be able to receive iMessages (messages sent from other iOS devices and Macs). The same idea goes to phone calls.

Instant Hotspot:

A nice feature of iPhone is the personal hotspot*. Your Mac can now detect your iPhone nearby. It will then allow you to turn on its hotspot with just a click. No password. No hassle. All internet.

I'll be getting more WWDC news soon, including continuity and all the developer news. See you guys soon!

* Additional charges may apply when using your device's cellular network.

iOS 8 in a Nutshell: The Scoop (WWDC 2014)

Today's WWDC gave us a lot of new features to look forward to in the fall. Let's dive right into the features and advancements in iOS 8!

Messages:

You can now record your voice to send messages in iMessage. Just another way to quickly send messages. In addition, you can now take videos quicker with the easy to tap video button on the left side of the phone. As for group messaging, you can now share locations, name conversations, and mute notifications from specific conversations.

Keyboards:

In iOS 8, you can use predictive text to type faster. It uses clues based on your writing style and the context of what you're doing (i.e. writing a business letter as opposed to chatting with friends). In addition, third-party keyboards are now compatible. Keyboards like Swype can be accessed. Maybe fan-made emojis.

Family Sharing:

Family Sharing is just what it sounds like: sharing with your family. Families can share device locations, calendars, photos, iTunes content, App Store content, and more without any hassle. Also, kids can ask permission digitally before they buy an app. 

Health:

Compatible with third-party apps like Nike+, Health lets you store all of your health information in one place. It also lets you create an emergency card that will be displayed on the lock screen just in case of an emergency.

That's it for today, but be sure to stay tuned because I'll be covering more on WWDC news as well as cover iOS news that wasn't covered in this post. 

iPad Mini (and friends): The Scoop

Lots of things came out to conclude the 2012 year yesterday, not just the iPad Mini. It started out with the 13" MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Which is pretty much self explanatory. No new features other than the display and the new USB 3.0.

Next up was the Mac Mini. Phil Schiller made a funny joke about that one.

"You knew there would be something called 'mini' in this presentation, wouldn't you."

- Phil Schiller 

The iMac's new display is
very slim.

For those who don't know, this is not a brand new product and has been around for years. Apple has somehow put a 1 TB drive in this tiny box. The Mac Mini is also made with the latest I/O, including Thunderbolt, USB 3.0, SD slot, and even HDMI.

Even the packaging is strange.

Also, the iMac was updated with an ultra slim display. Apple packed everything they could in that slim display. Not to mention, both of these desktops include Fusion Drive. The first combination of a 1 TB hard drive (Capacity) with flash storage (Performance). It moves files that you use more often to the flash so those files run faster. Smart.

In addition, iBooks Author comes with new ways for portrait views. Special math equation symbols work great and look beautiful. And you can now use custom fonts in your books.

iBooks 3.0 came with purchased books in your bookshelf. Now, there is a special scrolling view as an alternative for flipping pages. Foreign characters (like Japanese characters) are now supported in books. While reading a book, you can select certain text and share it via Twitter, Facebook, or Mail.

And of course, the iPad! The fourth generation iPad (full sized, not the mini) introduced the A6X chip. The new iPad also has the new Lightning cable. That's pretty much it.

The iPad Mini!

The iPad Mini brings a 7.9" screen. Cellular is a option. However, there is no Retina Display and it is stuck back at the A5 chip. That's all the way back to the iPad 2! Not the third generation iPad, but the iPad 2. In other features, there are new Smart Covers with two creases instead of three just for the iPad Mini. The video that depicts them focus on color even though there are less colors then the other Smart Cover. No leather Mini Smart Covers. The video is available at the bottom of this post.I personally think I like the full sized iPad, mainly because of performance and display. But, it all depends on who you are and what you do.

And that is the iPad Mini event in a nutshell. A very, very large nutshell. Let's end this blog post with a quote.

"Why is iPad so successful? Well, there's a simple explanation. People love their iPads. We are just getting started. We're not taking our foot off the gas."  

 - Tim Cook

iPad Mini Smart Cover Video

P.S. Apple made a funny iPad Mini commercial. Here it is:

Source: EverythingTech97

iPhone 5: The Scoop

Yes, it happened. The iPhone 5 has been announced! The new iPhone shows many new features. Some more surprising than others. 

The iPhone now has a much taller screen. Apps that are not updated for the new display will be letterboxed seamlessly. You won't even notice. The home screen now consists of five rows of apps. It's 18% thinner, 20% lighter, and 12% less volume. 

The new iPhone now has LTE, or Long Term Evolution, connectivity. LTE has been known to be even somewhat faster than Wi-Fi. Although, the new technology in the iPhone 5 comes with a faster Wi-Fi experience as well. 

In addition, the new iPhone comes with the new Apple designed A6 chip which gives 8 hours LTE internet browsing time, 8 hours talk time, and 10 hours of video. 

Apple also announced new ear phones dubbed, EarPods. These new headphones are made to fit perfectly in your ear. 

In the camera department, the iPhone 5 has a new Panorama mode that can take pictures up to 240° and up to 28 megapixels. There are also 40% faster photo captures, 1080p HD video, and the front camera makes a huge jump from VGA quality to 720p HD FaceTime calls and 1.8 megapixel photos.

With the new Lightning connector (which somewhat looks like the ThunderBolt adapter for the Mac), there's no wrong way to plug in your iPhone to the charger. And it's easier to plug it in.

iPhone 5 also comes with iOS 6, the newest operating system for the iOS lineup, which will be released September 19th. iOS 6 introduces new features for Siri, including compatibility with the New iPad and the 5th Generation iPod Touch. Maps will be remodeled in Apple's new design. Passbook will also be released with the update. 

The iPhone 5 will be available (if you can manage to get to the front of the line before they sell out) September 21st and available for pre-sale September 14th.