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iPhone 6 and Apple Watch: 20 features every fan will love
Associated Press / 10 September 2014
Apple is now betting on a gadget that seems like something James Bond might wear.
Dubbed the Apple Watch, the gadget marks the technology trend-setters attempt to usher in an era of wearable computing and lift its sales with another revolutionary product.
Here are 20 reasons why Apple's new products are likely to give the company its mojo back:
1. The new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus are both larger than the current 4-inch models. They neutralize a key advantage Android phones have had: size.
2. Apple has also managed to make its new phones thinner, with edges that are curved and fit nicely in the hands.
3. The glass back has been done away with, reducing the chances of breakage. The back will now be made of aluminum and feel more like an iPad.
4. To improve one-handed use, both new models will have a feature called reachability. With two light taps of the home screen button, the icons, controls and content on the top half of the screen snap to the bottom, so you can reach them with the same hand. Once you make your selection, everything snaps back to the top.
5. The iPhone 6 Plus also has new horizontal layouts to take advantage of the larger size.
6. While apps have long worked either horizontally and vertically, on the Plus, horizontal viewing extends to the home screen, and apps will be able to arrange content in two columns.
7. When texting, for instance, contacts appear on the left and messages appear on the right. On smaller phones, including the regular iPhone 6, you get one or the other, not both side by side.
8. The Apple Watch will come in two sizes, so the watch wont feel giant on smaller hands, as some competing watches do.
9. Apple will offer a variety of straps and materials, so fitness buffs can get a strap thats stronger and sweat-proof, while those seeking a fashion accessory can opt for an 18-karat gold edition.
10. Beyond looks, its great that the Apple Watch isnt simply adopting the smartphone way of doing things. The operating system, Watch OS, was designed specifically for the watch, and its interface relies heavily on the dial to the right, known as the digital crown. Competing watches tend to emphasize the voice and touch controls found on phones.
11. The home screen has all your apps, arranged in rows like a honeycomb. You use the dial to zoom in and choose one. The touch screen lets you slide the honeycomb around to see different portions of your app collection. You can even rearrange apps so that your favorite ones are toward the middle.
12. App developers will be able to decide what types of notifications appear on the watch and let you take actions such as replying to messages. Thats an improvement over existing smartwatches, which largely replicate the notifications sent to your phone. To be compelling, the watch shouldnt duplicate your phone. It should enhance it. Apple seems to get it.
13. As for using the dial to zoom in and out, Apple says that improves usability because youre not blocking maps and other content on the screen the way pinching in and out would.
14. Apple announced a few apps that would be available for the Watch, including the ability to unlock your Starwood hotel room with a tap of your watch. Thats easier than pulling out your room key from your wallet.
15. BMW also promises one to help you find your parked car in a crowded lot. If it works, that beats walking around in circles.
16. Apple Watch will require an iPhone 5 or later and will have a starting price tag of $349, higher than rival watches. Expect to pay even more for the 18-karat gold edition and other premium models. Youll also have to wait until early next year, as Apple wont have Apple Watch available in time for the holidays.
17. Apple also seems to improve existing mobile payment systems with Apple Pay. Apple already has your credit card information from iTunes, so setting Apple Pay up with your first credit card is easy. To add additional cards, you can either enter the details or snap a photo.
18. Apple uses the phones fingerprint identification system to authorize purchases. Other wallet apps require passcodes, which can make mobile payments take longer than simply pulling out your credit card.
19. Apple stores card information on a secure chip on your device, not on its servers. And its not even your real card number. Rather, Apple verifies your card information with your bank and then stores an alternative card number. That way, if a merchants system gets hacked, only the alternative number is compromised, and that number would require one-time security codes available only with the physical possession of your phone.
20. The system works with credit cards issued by a variety of banks. Amazons Fire phone has a wallet app, too, but it doesnt even do credit cards, which is surprising for a retailer. It works only with gift cards. Apple Pays usefulness will be limited until more merchants install the necessarily equipment, but many chains already do and more are coming.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-arti...technology_September17.xml§ion=technology
Associated Press / 10 September 2014
Apple is now betting on a gadget that seems like something James Bond might wear.
Technology giant Apple on Tuesday launched its much-awaited iPhone 6 in two screen sizes, and also its long-anticipated smartwatch, introducing a device that transplants the features of an iPhone onto a smaller screen thats never more than an arms length away.Dubbed the Apple Watch, the gadget marks the technology trend-setters attempt to usher in an era of wearable computing and lift its sales with another revolutionary product.
Here are 20 reasons why Apple's new products are likely to give the company its mojo back:
1. The new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus are both larger than the current 4-inch models. They neutralize a key advantage Android phones have had: size.
2. Apple has also managed to make its new phones thinner, with edges that are curved and fit nicely in the hands.
3. The glass back has been done away with, reducing the chances of breakage. The back will now be made of aluminum and feel more like an iPad.
4. To improve one-handed use, both new models will have a feature called reachability. With two light taps of the home screen button, the icons, controls and content on the top half of the screen snap to the bottom, so you can reach them with the same hand. Once you make your selection, everything snaps back to the top.
5. The iPhone 6 Plus also has new horizontal layouts to take advantage of the larger size.
6. While apps have long worked either horizontally and vertically, on the Plus, horizontal viewing extends to the home screen, and apps will be able to arrange content in two columns.
7. When texting, for instance, contacts appear on the left and messages appear on the right. On smaller phones, including the regular iPhone 6, you get one or the other, not both side by side.
8. The Apple Watch will come in two sizes, so the watch wont feel giant on smaller hands, as some competing watches do.
9. Apple will offer a variety of straps and materials, so fitness buffs can get a strap thats stronger and sweat-proof, while those seeking a fashion accessory can opt for an 18-karat gold edition.
10. Beyond looks, its great that the Apple Watch isnt simply adopting the smartphone way of doing things. The operating system, Watch OS, was designed specifically for the watch, and its interface relies heavily on the dial to the right, known as the digital crown. Competing watches tend to emphasize the voice and touch controls found on phones.
11. The home screen has all your apps, arranged in rows like a honeycomb. You use the dial to zoom in and choose one. The touch screen lets you slide the honeycomb around to see different portions of your app collection. You can even rearrange apps so that your favorite ones are toward the middle.
12. App developers will be able to decide what types of notifications appear on the watch and let you take actions such as replying to messages. Thats an improvement over existing smartwatches, which largely replicate the notifications sent to your phone. To be compelling, the watch shouldnt duplicate your phone. It should enhance it. Apple seems to get it.
13. As for using the dial to zoom in and out, Apple says that improves usability because youre not blocking maps and other content on the screen the way pinching in and out would.
14. Apple announced a few apps that would be available for the Watch, including the ability to unlock your Starwood hotel room with a tap of your watch. Thats easier than pulling out your room key from your wallet.
15. BMW also promises one to help you find your parked car in a crowded lot. If it works, that beats walking around in circles.
16. Apple Watch will require an iPhone 5 or later and will have a starting price tag of $349, higher than rival watches. Expect to pay even more for the 18-karat gold edition and other premium models. Youll also have to wait until early next year, as Apple wont have Apple Watch available in time for the holidays.
17. Apple also seems to improve existing mobile payment systems with Apple Pay. Apple already has your credit card information from iTunes, so setting Apple Pay up with your first credit card is easy. To add additional cards, you can either enter the details or snap a photo.
18. Apple uses the phones fingerprint identification system to authorize purchases. Other wallet apps require passcodes, which can make mobile payments take longer than simply pulling out your credit card.
19. Apple stores card information on a secure chip on your device, not on its servers. And its not even your real card number. Rather, Apple verifies your card information with your bank and then stores an alternative card number. That way, if a merchants system gets hacked, only the alternative number is compromised, and that number would require one-time security codes available only with the physical possession of your phone.
20. The system works with credit cards issued by a variety of banks. Amazons Fire phone has a wallet app, too, but it doesnt even do credit cards, which is surprising for a retailer. It works only with gift cards. Apple Pays usefulness will be limited until more merchants install the necessarily equipment, but many chains already do and more are coming.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-arti...technology_September17.xml§ion=technology
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