iphone 6 and iwatch expected at today's event

by
in apple on (#2S6Y)
story imageThe tech press is tripping over itself today in breathless anticipation of the Apple event later today, in which it is largely expected Apple will announce a new, large screen iphone and potentially the famed iwatch. Techradar has a good roundup of the rumors and The Telegraph condenses it into an easy summary if you'd like to study up on the rumors before tuning into the event. From the Telegraph:
Apple's new mobile phone, the iPhone 6, will actually be two products: one with a 4.7in screen and a larger 5.5in model. Read all the latest rumours on the devices here and see our gallery of "leaked" images and artistic impressions here.

We will also see the launch of the "iWatch". The major technology companies (and several small ones) are fighting for a share of the rapidly expanding smartwatch market at the moment, and Apple is expected to stake its own claim today. The wrist-worn device is expected to play music, receive calls and send emails. Read all the latest rumours about the device here.
Or, you could just wait for Apple to do whatever they're going to do, and then come back here to comment on it. In either case, happy reading.
Reply 19 comments

Fr11st post! (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-09-09 14:56 (#2S74)

Meanwhile, Steven J Vaughan Nichols (SJVN - wow that guy has a long name) has chimed in with his list of Top things he'd like Apple to finally get around to fixing, although they probably won't:

http://www.zdnet.com/iphone-6-four-things-we-need-but-may-not-get-7000033442/

I was glad to see one of the items is itunes. Itunes drives me crazy too, and even though it was somehow magical or revolutionary back in the day it came out, it has gotten gummed up since then, and I hate it you almost have to upgrade your hardware at a certain point, if you want to update or sync a more modern iOS device - that's not cool.

I finally took the leap and moved all my music over to a NAS, and manage it using Clementine, which I really like. See ya later, itunes!

Here's to hoping the iWatch is standalone (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 15:24 (#2S76)

I'm in the market for a no-smartphone-pairing-required "smartwatch". I don't want to purchase an iWatch, regardless of whether or not it is standalone. I do hope it is however, because that might just be the kick in the pants other manufacturers need to start producing their own!

Re: Here's to hoping the iWatch is standalone (Score: 1)

by moveonover@pipedot.org on 2014-09-09 18:41 (#2S7H)

Looks like it's a companion to the iPhone (5 or above). Sorry, Charlie!

Re: Here's to hoping the iWatch is standalone (Score: 1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 18:55 (#2S7J)

Not only are they a "companion", it's an exclusive companion. You can't pair just any old dirty smartphone with this watch...

Re: Here's to hoping the iWatch is standalone (Score: 1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 19:48 (#2S7M)

So iPhones are out of the question...

Re: Here's to hoping the iWatch is standalone (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 23:09 (#2S7R)

Of course. There is no other other phone that would know how to talk to it. It would be nice if there were open standards for this sort of thing, but perhaps that will happen in time.

Is there a single smart watch on the market or on the horizon that can interface with any old smartphone. If so, what does it/would it do? If not, why did you make this comment?

I guess (Score: 1, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 16:34 (#2S7C)

that Apple earns its moronic devotion because the rest of the industry is just that bad.

Big Fruit waited at least year after others jumped in on watches and wearables, and yet, once AGAIN, they are poised to lead the way, if their "innovative" version actually works well. The other guys just can't seem to put together products that work well for the no-brainer crowd.

Motorola came SO close to delivering an industry leading smart watch, and yet they blew it -- http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/09/moto-360-review-beautiful-outside-ugly-inside/

Re: I guess (Score: 1, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 17:41 (#2S7D)

Different AC than above...

So because the battery might only last about a day, Motorola blew it? I'd say they hit it pretty square on for a first generation product. It looks great, but it's got some issues that might cause some folks to say, "I'll wait for round 2." Anyone remember the first iPhone? Not everyone was buying into it, but as time went on, after a few rounds of releases, it became the most recognizable phone out there.

To be fair, if Apple releases a watch today with *objectively* better specifications, then Motorola may have blown it. But based on the state of technology, I do not think that Apple can pull leaps and bounds ahead here, unless they've also developed a new battery chemistry.

Re: I guess (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 17:52 (#2S7E)

Just using a newer SOC would be enough to realize longer battery life through reduced power consumption.

Re: I guess (Score: 2, Insightful)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-09-09 18:03 (#2S7F)

Seems to me battery life is the holy grail here, in the short term. In the long term, a long-lasting watch with lousy apps and software still loses the race. But given the truly abyssmal performance of current hardware, selling a smartwatch that lasts a day or two would be considered huge progress.

Re: I guess (Score: 1, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-09 20:34 (#2S7P)

Does it?

Everyone says a newer SOC is more power efficient, and on the face of it, sure, that sounds correct. Moore's law essentially backs this up indirectly, because we can only keep adding processing power if we're keeping power consumption in check. However, we're not talking about generic "moved to a newer process" power efficiency numbers, we're talking about a very specific comparison, between the Moto360 with an OMAP3360 and "everything else" with a Snapdragon 400. Until someone can drop specific power numbers of just the SOC for similar tasks, I'd like everyone to stop parroting that newer SOC would have been more power efficient. If you have proof, then that's awesome, show it, because I think you're right and I'd love to see it, and I can't seem to find those numbers.

A good start might be comparing absolute power numbers from the OMAP3360 and the Snapdragon 400, but I think in this case we might be more concerned about idle power, which isn't always totally obvious in a datasheet.

Re: I guess (Score: 1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-10 13:41 (#2S81)

Original (OG) AC here, and I guess I'm happy that it's actually Apple who blew it. Their new not-iWatch is butt-ugly compared to the elegance of the Moto 360. It's a piece of wrist luggage that Jobs would have NEVER EVER let out the door. (And I had no respect for Jobs.)

Re: I guess (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-09-10 14:19 (#2S86)

I agree the Moto 360 is the better looking timepiece. But it's been destroyed in the press for using an old SoC and having crappy battery life - two definite nails in its coffin.

Still, it's pretty funny when Motorola's design guys outdo Apple. Somewhere out there, Steve Jobs is tossing and turning in his grave. "Cook, you putz! I'll haunt you, goddammit!"

Re: I guess (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-10 14:57 (#2S8C)

Should have been a big thin cuff with a huge integrated display panel, like Space Ghost's armbands or the Genie's armband shackles in Aladdin. They would have sucked up all the rest of the world's money.

This big square chunky thing is just terrible. A Playskool "My First iWatch" at best.

I wonder if Motorola has time to turn things around.

[FYI my last CAPTCHA here was wrong ("forty four thousand seven hundred and eighty as digits" is not accepting 44780) ]

Re: I guess (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-09-10 17:55 (#2S8F)

My first impression - blocky, square shape, fabric wristband - is that it looked like a 4th generation ipod nano on a strap. Picture here if you've forgotten what it looks like:
http://epicagear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ipod-nano-6th-gen-review.jpg

Re: I guess (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-11 02:18 (#2S99)

From Forbes:

"According to CNBC, Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, called the event "the night Apple became average."

Re: I guess (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-09-11 12:37 (#2SA0)

For Apple, that's about the most damning comment they could receive. Being average means they have failed, the 'reality distortion reactor' has stopped spinning, and Apple products are just one of the bunch. What could be worse?

Waterproof (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-09-10 14:27 (#2S89)

Yes? No? Or will Apple finally give the higher ground to Android