We use the Communications section to talk about new phone hardware. So here goes.
Apple just announced the newest iPhones. While the new models outwardly appear to be similar to the iPhone 6S introduced in 2015, the new phones' internals are all new. Some highlights:
-- new A10 processor has four cores, up from 2 in the A9. The OS can choose to use two faster cores for processor intensive tasks, or two slower cores when idle. Result: 40% faster performance than the A9 in last year's iPhone 6s, while increasing battery life by two hours in typical use.
-- new graphics processor is 50% faster than last year. This allows some new tricks with the camera, described below.
-- new screen, with wider color gamut and 25% brighter than last year's screen. The new screen has similar characteristics to the iPad Pro. Brighter can be useful when using the phone in a vehicle to navigate. The new screen appears to use LED technology, not OLED as many bloggers had speculated.
-- "highly water resistant" case is new, and helps protect from sweaty hands and accidental splashes. No claim of being waterproof was made, so don't go swimming with this phone.
-- new camera for the iPhone 7. 12 megapixel sensor like the 6s, but now with a lens with f/1.8 maximum aperture, a 60% faster sensor that manages to use 30% less power, and optical image stabilization. Result: Better photos in low light conditions. A four led flash helps when it's really dark.
-- 2 new cameras in the iPhone 7 Plus: one wide angle, one 2x telephoto. Each has its own sensor and processor. The new graphics processor can combine images from both lenses, allowing a number of effects through software. Details are thin about what may be available, but I'd expect ability to change focal point and to create "bokeh" effects.
[update] Test results indicate the iPhone 7 Plus uses 3 GB of RAM, while the 7 has 2 GB RAM. We'll have to wait for confirmation through disassembly by companies like iFitIt. Apple doesn't talk about RAM in its phones.
-- twice as much storage memory, for the same price as last year. For example, the entry level iPhone used to have 16 GB storage, and now has 32 GB, for the same price of $649. Other models have 128 GB and 256 GB. The iPhone 7 Plus with 32 GB starts at $769.
-- both iPhone and iPhone Plus can save photos in RAW format. Good thing max storage has increased to 256 GB. (Older iPhones will get the RAW feature by upgrading to iOS 10.)
-- the forward-facing "selfie" camera has increased to 7 megapixels, f/2.2 lens and optical image stabilization. Better for FaceTime teleconferencing, among other functions.
-- new LTE chip supports 50% faster up/download (dependent on the network you're using and strength of signal). The new chip supports 25 LTE bands, more than before, making it more likely your phone will work on international high speed networks.
-- stereo speakers. Not that you will get much stereo effect from speakers separated by 2 inches...but it's likely the sound will be louder than with a single speaker.
-- as ExPo member Pluton notes below, the new iPhones no longer have a conventional 3.5mm jack for stereo audio and microphone. Wired headphones are connected through the Lightning port. In the box with the iPhone 7, Apple provides a wired Lightning headphone set, plus a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter for conventional headphones. Use of the Lightning port means you can't charge the phone while using headphones. I expect third parties will offer dual port Lightning cables to address this issue.
[update] Belkin has announced a $40 dual port Lightning cable that allows Lightning headphone use while charging. And Apple sells a docking station that charges any iPhone with the Lightning port. The dock includes a 3.5mm jack for conventional headphones. Price for the dock is $49 from Apple, $39 from several online retailers.
-- wireless headphones are supported by Bluetooth and by a new wireless protocol (probably an extension of conventional Bluetooth 4.0 protocols) developed by Apple. Compared to Bluetooth, Apple's wireless is supposed to use less battery power, and to deliver improved sound quality. The new wireless protocol is called W1.
[update] I now think W1 refers to the silicon Apple developed to handle the enhanced Bluetooth communications. The W1 processor handles the details of pairing with a set of headphones that also are equipped with a W1 chip.
-- Apple announced a W1-compatible wireless headphone set called AirPods, price $159 USD. Left and right AirPods are independent, not connected by a cable like conventional stereo Bluetooth headsets. Each AirPod has an earpiece and microphone, so it should be possible to use one AirPod to answer phone calls. Apple says the AirPods contain batteries that will last 5 hours. The AirPod carrying case also acts as a portable battery pack with enough juice to recharge the AirPods 5 times. Apple says 15 minutes in the carrying case will recharge the AirPods enough for 3 hours of use.
-- When removed from their case, AirPods automatically connect to the iPhone they are configured for. After initial setup, AirPods should be more convenient to use that conventional Bluetooth headphones, which need to go through a manual pairing process.
[update] AirPods can be used with any Bluetooth-compatible audio source. They have to be manually paired to the audio source, the old fashioned way.
-- AirPods work with Siri, Apple's audio assistant. You can use Siri to choose a playlist, control the volume, start or pause playback, call someone in your contact list, ask for directions, and so on. There are no buttons on the AirPods. Double tap an AirPod to get Siri's attention. An AirPod can tell when you remove it from your ear, pausing the audio playback if you wish.
-- Each AirPod consists of an earpiece plus a two inch extension holding electronics, battery and microphone. Whether this is the next digital fashion trend or will mark you as a hopeless phone geek is not yet clear. Apple plans to release W1 compatible headphones by Beats, a company now owned by Apple. Beats headphones are over-the-ear models, and well-regarded for audio quality.
-- Apple says AirPods also work with Apple Watch and iPad using iOS 10. Mac laptop or desktop will also work if running a later version of Mac OS (not sure which versions). Since these devices don't have the W1 hardware, I'm guessing that the AirPods use conventional Bluetooth to connect in these cases.
-- the Home button is no longer mechanical. Now it's a sensor that detects how hard you press it. The "button" sensor can make a variety of vibrations to give feedback to your touch. The sensor also can also produce several sounds. Apple is letting third parties program their apps to use the new Home sensor, so this sensor may soon be used in interesting new ways. Some reviewers who have had hands-on experience with the iPhone 7 have found the new Home button to feel different/strange/weird/unattractive (you choose the adjective).
-- iPhone 7 models will ship in mid-September. Shortly thereafter the usual tech blogs will undoubtedly publish comparisons between the iPhone 7 models and competitors.
-- iPhone 7 models ship with iOS 10. iOS 10 will be available for many older iPhones and iPads starting on 9/13. Not all older models can use the new OS. Check before trying to upgrade.
(More to come)
Apple just announced the newest iPhones. While the new models outwardly appear to be similar to the iPhone 6S introduced in 2015, the new phones' internals are all new. Some highlights:
-- new A10 processor has four cores, up from 2 in the A9. The OS can choose to use two faster cores for processor intensive tasks, or two slower cores when idle. Result: 40% faster performance than the A9 in last year's iPhone 6s, while increasing battery life by two hours in typical use.
-- new graphics processor is 50% faster than last year. This allows some new tricks with the camera, described below.
-- new screen, with wider color gamut and 25% brighter than last year's screen. The new screen has similar characteristics to the iPad Pro. Brighter can be useful when using the phone in a vehicle to navigate. The new screen appears to use LED technology, not OLED as many bloggers had speculated.
-- "highly water resistant" case is new, and helps protect from sweaty hands and accidental splashes. No claim of being waterproof was made, so don't go swimming with this phone.
-- new camera for the iPhone 7. 12 megapixel sensor like the 6s, but now with a lens with f/1.8 maximum aperture, a 60% faster sensor that manages to use 30% less power, and optical image stabilization. Result: Better photos in low light conditions. A four led flash helps when it's really dark.
-- 2 new cameras in the iPhone 7 Plus: one wide angle, one 2x telephoto. Each has its own sensor and processor. The new graphics processor can combine images from both lenses, allowing a number of effects through software. Details are thin about what may be available, but I'd expect ability to change focal point and to create "bokeh" effects.
[update] Test results indicate the iPhone 7 Plus uses 3 GB of RAM, while the 7 has 2 GB RAM. We'll have to wait for confirmation through disassembly by companies like iFitIt. Apple doesn't talk about RAM in its phones.
-- twice as much storage memory, for the same price as last year. For example, the entry level iPhone used to have 16 GB storage, and now has 32 GB, for the same price of $649. Other models have 128 GB and 256 GB. The iPhone 7 Plus with 32 GB starts at $769.
-- both iPhone and iPhone Plus can save photos in RAW format. Good thing max storage has increased to 256 GB. (Older iPhones will get the RAW feature by upgrading to iOS 10.)
-- the forward-facing "selfie" camera has increased to 7 megapixels, f/2.2 lens and optical image stabilization. Better for FaceTime teleconferencing, among other functions.
-- new LTE chip supports 50% faster up/download (dependent on the network you're using and strength of signal). The new chip supports 25 LTE bands, more than before, making it more likely your phone will work on international high speed networks.
-- stereo speakers. Not that you will get much stereo effect from speakers separated by 2 inches...but it's likely the sound will be louder than with a single speaker.
-- as ExPo member Pluton notes below, the new iPhones no longer have a conventional 3.5mm jack for stereo audio and microphone. Wired headphones are connected through the Lightning port. In the box with the iPhone 7, Apple provides a wired Lightning headphone set, plus a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter for conventional headphones. Use of the Lightning port means you can't charge the phone while using headphones. I expect third parties will offer dual port Lightning cables to address this issue.
[update] Belkin has announced a $40 dual port Lightning cable that allows Lightning headphone use while charging. And Apple sells a docking station that charges any iPhone with the Lightning port. The dock includes a 3.5mm jack for conventional headphones. Price for the dock is $49 from Apple, $39 from several online retailers.
-- wireless headphones are supported by Bluetooth and by a new wireless protocol (probably an extension of conventional Bluetooth 4.0 protocols) developed by Apple. Compared to Bluetooth, Apple's wireless is supposed to use less battery power, and to deliver improved sound quality. The new wireless protocol is called W1.
[update] I now think W1 refers to the silicon Apple developed to handle the enhanced Bluetooth communications. The W1 processor handles the details of pairing with a set of headphones that also are equipped with a W1 chip.
-- Apple announced a W1-compatible wireless headphone set called AirPods, price $159 USD. Left and right AirPods are independent, not connected by a cable like conventional stereo Bluetooth headsets. Each AirPod has an earpiece and microphone, so it should be possible to use one AirPod to answer phone calls. Apple says the AirPods contain batteries that will last 5 hours. The AirPod carrying case also acts as a portable battery pack with enough juice to recharge the AirPods 5 times. Apple says 15 minutes in the carrying case will recharge the AirPods enough for 3 hours of use.
-- When removed from their case, AirPods automatically connect to the iPhone they are configured for. After initial setup, AirPods should be more convenient to use that conventional Bluetooth headphones, which need to go through a manual pairing process.
[update] AirPods can be used with any Bluetooth-compatible audio source. They have to be manually paired to the audio source, the old fashioned way.
-- AirPods work with Siri, Apple's audio assistant. You can use Siri to choose a playlist, control the volume, start or pause playback, call someone in your contact list, ask for directions, and so on. There are no buttons on the AirPods. Double tap an AirPod to get Siri's attention. An AirPod can tell when you remove it from your ear, pausing the audio playback if you wish.
-- Each AirPod consists of an earpiece plus a two inch extension holding electronics, battery and microphone. Whether this is the next digital fashion trend or will mark you as a hopeless phone geek is not yet clear. Apple plans to release W1 compatible headphones by Beats, a company now owned by Apple. Beats headphones are over-the-ear models, and well-regarded for audio quality.
-- Apple says AirPods also work with Apple Watch and iPad using iOS 10. Mac laptop or desktop will also work if running a later version of Mac OS (not sure which versions). Since these devices don't have the W1 hardware, I'm guessing that the AirPods use conventional Bluetooth to connect in these cases.
-- the Home button is no longer mechanical. Now it's a sensor that detects how hard you press it. The "button" sensor can make a variety of vibrations to give feedback to your touch. The sensor also can also produce several sounds. Apple is letting third parties program their apps to use the new Home sensor, so this sensor may soon be used in interesting new ways. Some reviewers who have had hands-on experience with the iPhone 7 have found the new Home button to feel different/strange/weird/unattractive (you choose the adjective).
-- iPhone 7 models will ship in mid-September. Shortly thereafter the usual tech blogs will undoubtedly publish comparisons between the iPhone 7 models and competitors.
-- iPhone 7 models ship with iOS 10. iOS 10 will be available for many older iPhones and iPads starting on 9/13. Not all older models can use the new OS. Check before trying to upgrade.
(More to come)
