September 2016
Apple special event Sept 7, 2016
Apple has posted the entire keynote online on the Apple website. It's long and it's worth it. (Note: the beginning includes the funny intro with Carpool Karaoke with James Corden.)
Here is a very short and fun summary of the keynote (2 minutes long):
Here is the whole event (2 hours long). (Note: this does not include the couple of minutes of Carpool Karaoke with James Corden at the very beginning, but has the entire keynote):
summary of announcements
iOS 10 and watchOS 3 available on Sept 13
new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus available on Sept 16
new Watch Series 2, as well as Series 1, available Sept 16
Nintendo comes to iOS
Nike Plus watch model
Ceramic watch model
AirPods (to be released in late October)
iWork now has real-time collaboration. (example of 2 people editing the same Keynote presentation.)
macOS Sierra releases on Sept 20
iOS 10
iOS 10.1 is available today (Sept 13).
iOS 10 your older iPhones and iPads will feel new, writes the WSJ in their review. `In our speed and battery tests, we found that iOS 10 didn't take a substantial hit on our older iPhones. iOS 10 is available on recent devices going back to the iPhone 5, fourth-gen iPad, iPad Mini 2 and sixth-gen iPod Touch.'
Read this: A deep dive into iOS 10, by iMore. Excellent in-depth review of the upgrade.
Some features you can try now:
An overview of some hidden features, by Macrumors:
9 great new `little' iOS 10 features, by MacOBserver.
An overview of 25 awesome features, by Macworld.
Maps has been updated significantly. See what is new in Maps.
Messages in iOS 10 support many more emoticons and `stickers'. Parakeet stickers is an example of 3rd party stickers. There are many packs of stickers, reports Macrumors.
How to jot handwritten notes of drawings in Messages, in iOS 10:
watchOS 3
watchOS 3 FAQ overview by Macworld.
new Apple Watch
The new Apple Watch Series 2 has faster CPU, has GPS, is water resistant to 50 meters ( = 150 feet).
The speaker on the watch `pushes' out water when underwater!
The original watch is getting the same new CPU upgrade and becomes Series 1, at a lower price point.
iMore takes hands-on look at the new watch, says the ceramic model is stunning.
The dimensions are effectively identical as the original but very slightly thicker and slightly heavier, due to the larger battery.
Here is an overview of the choices.
new iPhone 7
The new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are finally here (pre-order now, available Friday Sept 16).
Quick overview of iPhone 7.
New iPhone FAQ, by iMore.
iPhone 7 models from AT&T and T-Mobile do NOT support CDMA networks, points out Macrumors. This is an important difference vs. iPhone 6 and 6s generations. It probably matters to very few people but it's good to know.
How to pre-order an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.
photography and iPhone 7
All that photographers need to know about iPhone 7.
With the iPhone 7, Apple changed the camera industry, writes Om Malik for the New Yorker. He writes that Apple's innovation in both hardware and software for its new camera functions `makes it difficult for anyone to beat the company in photography for the masses. You can see why the camera companies are doomed.'
In fact, Om Malik shows how standalone cameras are losing the fight with the iPhones.
AirPods
Apple introduced a new product, the AirPods. These are wireless versions of their classic earpods but with a lot of impressive intelligence.
Hands-on with AirPods: they stayed in my ears and sounded awesome, writes Susie Ochs for Macworld.
cellphone providers
Are you considering various choices for cellphone providers? A very worthy read is The Best Wireless Carrier, by the Wirecutter. It considers most aspects we need to look at in order to compare choices.
iPads
Apple did not go over iPads during their press event, but they improved their iPad line-up:
All iPad entry models had their capacity doubled , and maintained their prices.
The Pro iPad line’s higher capacity tiers are also got a price cut, with the 128GB model dropping by $50 and the 256GB model dropping by $100.