I know a lot of my readers like their Apple devices (as well as Android devices… and the odd few of you who use Windows Phone – yes… I see you), so I’d thought I’d share some of my thoughts from today’s Apple announcements.
Apple Watch Series 2
Apple Watch Series 2 – Image, Apple.
I’m going to be blunt – I know of many who use wearable technology. For me… I’m not a fan. I’m not interested in a lot of the elements of it… and I can’t remember when I last wore a watch.
Certainly the inbuilt GPS will be of help to some explorers, as is the waterproofing of the device. Other than that, I’m still quite happy not to scan my boarding pass from a wrist.
Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 Plus Line up – Image, Apple
Let’s skip to the obvious part. The reduction of port on an iPhone down to a single Lightning connector – and the removal of the audio jack.
Apple’s Phil Schiller calls this “Courage“. I call it a load of self censored words that are too rude for my readers on this blog.
Whilst they argue the disposal of the headphone socket creates more room inside the phone for more elements, the 3.5mm audio jack is pretty universal for headphones…. even in the aviation world where you can get headphones that fit your phone… or headphones that fit the IFE system.
So Apple engineers… simple question “How am I supposed to charge my phone whilst listening to music with traditional headphones?”
That’s the sound of crickets you’re hearing until designers in Shenzhen get busy working a way of injecting power and splitting audio data out at the same time.
I will give Apple this: They are making the adaptors free with the phone so you can convert the lightning port to a traditional audio port.
But on a long airplane ride, you’ll be forced to choose… charge the phone, or listen to content from it… pay up for Bluetooth wireless headphones.
Let’s move onto the other major application – photography. The good news is that there’s a new lens, coming it at f1.8 in six groups, with a 12 megapixel sensor.
For photographers who have a love of Bokeh, your prayers are answered in the iPhone 7 Plus allowing software produced bokeh at a later date. The twin-lens solution on the iPhone 7 Plus also helps with a 2x optical zoom and a 10x digital zoom.
Oh, finally… thinking about getting that lovely Jet Black iPhone… here’s a warning from Apple:
The high-gloss finish of the jet black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process. Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone.
In other words: expect scratches. What’s the term I’m looking for here…. ah yes. Oops.
AirPods
There are a few things that spring to mind with these things:
Apple AirPods – Image, Apple.
- They last five hours – that won’t survive a Transatlantic or US Transcontinental fight.
- I wager most will be lost within month.
- God help you if you loose those down the mechanics of a business class seat. There’s little Li-Polymer/Li-Ion batteries in those things, and the last thing you’d want are the mechanics of a seat crushing those things and setting off a fire on a plane.
- $159? I can think of better things to waste my cash on…
- And more geekly… don’t they remind you of the EarPods from Doctor Who?
Doctor Who Cybermen Earpods – Image, BBC Worldwide.
I’m sure these products will be sure-fire hits with the faithful, and I’m sure there will be queues as always to buy the first iPhone 7.
As for me… I’m holding back for now. I personally need convincing that the removal of the headphone socket is a good thing, because I’m sure as hell not a fan of Bluetooth headphones, and I have this funny user requirement to listen to my music whilst charging my phone.
It’s an odd concept I know… but one that Apple doesn’t want to know about these days.
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Totally on point.
You’ll need a “sports strap” that slips over the struts on the AirPods and has a string that goes around your neck to make these acceptable. Keep you from losing them, lets you drop one to talk etc etc. Somebody will hopefully make this cheaply on Etsy. Some leather, some string.
For those transatlantic flights… the initial charge (when the AirPods are new anyway) will last 5 hours. Then you stick the AirPods in the case and wait 15 minutes. Find something else to do for those 15 minutes. Stretch, go to the bathroom, whatever. Then in theory you’ve got another 3 hours. Repeat. The case is supposed to have 12 hours of charge in it, so you should be mostly okay. And of course the case could be plugged in while you’re on the plane. Still… the current Apple earpods fall out of my ears all the time so there’s that…
Of course if you wait a while (say a year) all of this will be solved. Somebody else will make a perfectly acceptable set of wireless phones with a wire or band around your neck or whatever that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Whether it’ll have 12 hour battery life…
Or like you say just go with wired headphones. Which block the lightning jack. I’m curious what the solution here is going to be. A thingy that is like the current Apple Lightning Dock but smaller. With a headphone jack and a lightning connector for pass-thru power? Or maybe just a lightning splitter? Don’t know if that is possible or if the pricing/chips from Apple allow this. We’ll see over time.
Lots of reasons to hold off. Is the battery life actually better? How is the waterproofing? Some recent Samsung phone hasn’t held up to its IP67 rating. Let’s wait for people to test. Does the new screen use Gorilla Glass 4 like the new Galaxy Note? The one that has been shown to scratch more easily? I’ve just stopped putting screen protectors on my iPhone 6. Not really wanting to go back.
Etc. Etc. Wait.