Apple Discussion Thread - iPad Air 2, iMac 5K Retina, OS X 10.10 out

[Mr Josh 3]

Welcome to the Apple Discussion Thread!

Here we discuss everything Apple related, from iPhone to iPod to OS X. News, rumors, questions, issues, everything!

  

 

Current topic: iPad Air 2, iPad Air Mini 3, iMac 5K Retina, OS X Yosemite

 

 

 

 

OS X:

 

During today's media event, Apple announced that OS X Yosemite, the next version of its Macintosh operating system, will launch today on the Mac App Store. OS X Yosemite will be available for free to all users with an eligible machine, and iOS 8.1 will also be available on Monday for Apple's mobile devices.

 

As detailed in our comprehensive OS X Yosemite roundup, the new operating system brings a new iOS 7-style design with an emphasis on translucency, smarter controls, and streamlined toolbars.

There are also several new features, including Continuity, which expands integration between iOS 8 and OS X, allowing users to accept phone calls on their Macs and seamlessly transition tasks from one device to another. Yosemite also includes iCloud Drive, plus new features and designs for several key apps like Mail, Messages, and Safari.

 

 

 

iPad Air 2:

Apple introduced the all new iPad Air 2. The second-generation tablet features an ultra thin profile that's just 6.1mm thick, much thinner than the 7.5mm original iPad Air. The significantly thinner design was enabled through the use of a gapless laminated display panel that also produces sharper images. In addition to a thinner chassis, the new iPad Air also includes a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a faster A8X processor, a new 8-megapixel iSight camera, and an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare by up to 56 percent.

 

According to Apple, the iPad Air 2 is 18 percent thinner than the first-generation iPad Air and its A8X chip features a 2nd-generation 64-bit architecture which is 40% faster than the A7 used in the first iPad Air in terms of CPU performance up to 2.5x faster when it comes to GPU performance. Like its predecessors, the iPad Air 2 gets 10 hours of battery life and it also includes an M8 motion coprocessor that gathers data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and an all-new barometer that senses air pressure to determine relative elevation.

 

 

Apple has added a Touch ID fingerprint sensor to the iPad Air 2, which was said to be the "most requested feature from customers." With Touch ID, iPad Air 2 owners can use their tablets to make Apple Pay purchases within apps that support the Apple Pay API. The iPad Air 2 does not have NFC support and thus cannot be used to make purchases in retail stores.

The iPad Air 2 has gained 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) capabilities. Apple states that the iPad Air 2 contains 2.8x faster performance with support for speeds up to 866 Mbps on Wi-Fi and now contains 20 LTE bands for faster LTE with support for speeds up to 150 Mbps via LTE Advanced.

 

Apple has also included a new 8-megapixel iSight camera on the iPad Air 2, which features an f/2.4 aperture and can record 1080p HD video. For the first time, the camera can take 43 megapixel panoramas and burst mode photos, and it is also able to shoot time lapse and 120 FPS Slo-Mo video. The front-facing FaceTime camera on the iPad Air 2 has also been improved, with an f/2.2 aperture that lets in 81 percent more light. It lets users take burst mode selfies, single-shot HDR photos, and HDR videos.

Pre-orders for the iPad Air 2 will begin on Friday, October 17, and the tablet will begin shipping at the end of next week. Available in gold, silver, and space gray, the iPad Air 2 is available with 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage capacities, priced at $499, $599, and $699, respectively, for the Wi-Fi models. Cellular models are also available and are priced $130 higher, at $529, $629, and $729.

 

 

iMac Retina 5K:

Apple announced the next-generation 27-inch iMac model with Retina 5K display carrying a resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels, as expected from recent rumors. Featuring 14.7 million pixels, the new iMac offers improved improved contrast, viewing angles, and color accuracy.

 

 

 

Thirty years after the first Mac changed the world, the new iMac with Retina 5K display running OS X Yosemite is the most insanely great Mac we have ever made,†said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With a breathtaking 14.7 million pixel display, faster CPU and graphics, Fusion Drive, and Thunderbolt 2, it’s the most beautiful and powerful iMac ever.

The base iMac with a Retina 5K display will be available with a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel i5 processor, AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB Fusion Drive starting at $2,499 with shipping beginning today. The new Retina iMac models can be upgraded with 4.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and AMD Radeon R9 M295X graphics processor. All Retina iMac models come standard with two Thunderbolt 2 ports.

The remainder of the iMac lineup has not been updated, with the 21-inch model still starting at $1,099 and the 27-inch iMac without a Retina 5K Display starting at $1,799.

 

 

Previous topics:

 

Apple Event Oct 16

As expected, Apple will be holding a media event on Thursday, October 16 at the Town Hall auditorium on its Cupertino headquarters campus, with the company today sending out media invitations for the event (via The Loop). The event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific, and the invitations carry the tagline "It's been way too long".

apple_oct_2014_invite_large.jpg

Apple is planning to hold its next fall event on Thursday, October 16, where it is expected to introduce new iPads, reports Re/code. The company is also expected to introduce new Retina iMacs and release OS X Yosemite to the public.

ipad-air1.jpg

According to the site, the iPad event will be more low-key than its September iPhone event, and it will be held at the company's Town Hall Auditorium.

Apple has a few more new products to unveil before the year is out, and it plans to show them off in a couple weeks. Sources tell Code/red the company will hold its next special event on Thursday, Oct. 16 -- not the 21st. Headlining the gathering: The latest updates to its iPad line, along with those new iMacs that 9to5Mac told us about earlier this week. Also: OS X Yosemite.

Apple's next-generation iPad Air and iPad Retina mini are both expected to come with updated processors and support for Touch ID, the fingerprint first sensor introduced with the iPhone 5s. The iPad Air may also come in a gold color variation, and it may include a new anti-reflective laminated display.

The Retina iMac, which may come with a "5K" resolution of 5120 x 2880, may be available only in 27-inches and it may also feature AMD graphics. It is expected to use a Haswell processor, as next-generation Broadwell processors for the iMac won't be available until 2015.

 

iPhone 6 & 6 Plus, iWatch

At its special media event today, Apple announced the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Apple is touting a "Retina HD Display" on both phones, as the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 features a 1334x750 display at 326 pixels-per-inch while the iPhone 6 Plus features a 1920x1080 display at 401 PPI. The iPhone 6 is said to have more than 1 million pixels, while the iPhone 6 Plus is said to have 2 million pixels.

The new models also feature a number of hardware changes, including a chassis that is 6.9 mm thin for the iPhone 6 and 7.1 mm for the iPhone 6 Plus. Additionally, both models feature the next-generation 64-bit A8 chip, which features 2 billion transistors on a 20nm processor. Apple stated that the processor delivers 25% faster CPU performance and is 13% smaller and 50% energy efficient when compared to the A7. The device also comes with a next-generation M8 motion coprocessor which can now estimate distance and elevation changes with a new barometer.

Apple states that the iPhone 6 will get 50 hours of battery life for audio, 11 hours for video, 11 hours for WiFi browsing and 10 hours for LTE browsing. Concurrently, the iPhone 6 will get 80 hours of battery life for audio, 14 hours for video, and 12 for WiFi and LTE browsing. The iPhone 6 now also includes Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) technology, including 20 LTE bands. Also new is 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which delivers 3x faster WiFi and support for WiFi calling.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus also support a new camera system with a brand new 8 MP sensor, along with a circular true tone flash. Apple is also touting "Focus Pixel" technology, which allows the lens to move in and out to better determine autofocus points. The camera also features next-gen tone mapping and noise reduction. Apple also says the camera is complimented by a new gyroscope and image stabilization built into the A8 processor.

As for video capabilities, both devices shoot in 1080p at 30fps and 60fps, along with 240fps slo-mo video, which is up from 120fps on the iPhone 5s. The front facing FaceTime HD camera has also received a new sensor with a f2.2 aperture that lets in 81% new light. Users can also shoot single-shot HDR photos and take HDR video.

Both devices will launch on September 19, as pre-orders will start on September 12. The iPhone 6 will be available in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB variants for $199, $299, and $399. The iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the same storage capacities for $299, $399, and $499, respectively. Both iPhone 6 models also come in the same Space Grey, Gold, and Silver variants. The iPhone 5c is now free on contract while the iPhone 5s will now be offered for $99.

Apple announced its long-rumored wearable: the Apple Watch. Tim Cook announced that the new device would be extremely customizable, allowing people to choose a watch that best fits their personality. The Watch will have six different watch straps, which are easily interchangeable, from materials from refined leather to sport bands. However, the Watch will require iPhone to work.

There are three variations of Apple Watch in two sizes: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Sport Edition. It works with every iPhone from iPhone 5 and will start at $350 when it launches in Early 2015.

The Apple Watch has a flexible sapphire display covering new input technologies that can determine the difference between a tap and a press, allowing for brand new range of contextually specific controls. Additionally, the Apple Watch comes with a brand new user interface, different from what iOS is traditionally like. There's also a control mechanism called the Digital Crown, which allows users to zoom and scroll through user interface elements in an easier way than simply using gestures.

Additionally, there's a second physical button next to the Digital Crown that allows users to communicate with their friends, sharing things like interactive emojis, text messages, drawings and even a user's heart beat, which is drawn from user using the device's sensors.

Inside the device, there's a new Taptic Engine that allows users to hear and feel the design of the user interface. A new custom designed chip, the S1 processor, integrates many subsystems into one singular module. The back of the phone has a zirconia back with four sapphire lenses that can detect pulse rate. There is also a gyroscope and accelerometer, which helps the Apple Watch provide a comprehensive picture of daily activity.

The back of the phone is also the home of Apple's charging solution, which uses a MagSafe with inductive charging. The user, however, will not have to worry about exposed contacts or aligning the charger properly.

The Apple Watch will also have third party apps on it, with the user choosing to either extend notifications from iPhone to Apple Watch or install apps straight onto the device. Possibilities include Twitter, which will let you tweet from Apple Watch, and a Starwood Hotels app, which will allow users to use their Apple Watch to open their hotel rooms by waving their hand in front of the door.

There are two brand new apps for Apple Watch, the Fitness and Workout apps. The Activity app keeps track of daily activities while the Workout app that provides more detailed measurements for various workouts. The Activity app measures three aspects of movement: sitting less, moving more and getting more exercise.

Previews Polls:

Are you getting the next iPhone / which version

[Immortal 222]

I already have an iPhone 5S and it slays

 

 

PS: i think those photos represent just the design concept

[Altair 1,999]

ugh. getting me excited for nothing.

broke my hip getting here.

[Henry 2,374]

I'm getting the 4.7 inch 

[zack 15]

I don't like the rounded edges in the leaked pics, looks so old-gen

[Mr Josh 3]

PS: those photos represent just the design concept

They are actual leaked parts (except for the size comparison pic of course)

[Immortal 222]

They are actual leaked parts (except for the size comparison pic of course)

Hmm are you sure? I read some news about those photos, and I knew that it was just an iPhone 6 concept used in videos

 

 

Idk anymore

[Benji 20,113]

I hate big phones but I am due for an upgrade soon so I might go with the 4.7

[DeleteMyAccount 11,881]

I still have the 4S.  It's going to be weird getting a bigger screen.  But I'll probably get the 4.7.  Although Apple will probably give 5.5 all the good extra stuff.

[Mr Josh 3]

Hmm are you sure? I read some news about those photos, and I knew that it was just an iPhone 6 concept used in videos

 

 

Idk anymore

These ones just leaked a couple days ago by a credible source. They show the real thing and not the plastic/cardboard mockups they have in many videos :).

[LaMaisonGaga 23,884]

I own a Samsung Galaxy

 

[OBEY 57,109]

i currently have the galaxy s3 and i'm wondering if i should buy the Iphone 6 (4.7 inches) or the Galaxy s5.
i'll wait for Apple's official announcement about the iPhone 6

[Zsolti 2,688]

I own a Samsung Galaxy

 

yasss slay them

i currently have the galaxy s3 and i'm wondering if i should buy the Iphone 6 (4.7 inches) or the Galaxy s5.

i'll wait for Apple's official announcement about the iPhone 6

s5 tbh

[Houdini 103]

i just got the 5 so

[Mr Josh 3]

i currently have the galaxy s3 and i'm wondering if i should buy the Iphone 6 (4.7 inches) or the Galaxy s5.

i'll wait for Apple's official announcement about the iPhone 6

Don't go with the S5. TouchWiz is still a big resource hog and the actual design of the phone is kinda meh. From Android flagships I'd suggest getting the HTC One M8 instead (if you don't care that much about the camera) or the LG G3.