September has been a big month for Apple – which has just added three exciting new strings to its bow. After months of rumours and speculation, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6Plus have finally launched, as well as the contentious Apple Watch. But with widespread concerns about security after the recent celebrity nude photo hacking accident, the new Apple Pay technology could prove to be the most challenging in terms of winning over customers.
A recent article that we came across on news portal news.com.au, explained some of the products in more detail – and what you can expect from them.
During the official launch, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were introduced by Apple CEO Tim Cook as being “the biggest advancement in the history of the iPhone.”
With smoother edges, a thinner profile and sharper visuals, the new 4.7 inch and 5.5 inch handsets are certainly a visual improvement on the iPhone 5. Internal features have been revamped too, with a 25% speedier A8 processor, improved battery life, and additional camera features such as an image stabiliser on the 6 Plus.
The handsets will be available from 19 September, with pre-orders being taken from the 12th. Helpfully the article lists the Australian prices, which will be $869-$1129 for the iPhone 6 (depending on whether you opt for 16GB, 64GB or 128GB); and $999-£1249 for the iPhone 6 Plus.
The second announcement was the Apple Watch (not iWatch, as many expected). According to the article, this product could prove to be a game-changer in the field of wearable technology, as its slick design means that people will actually want to wear it.
Wearing the watch at the launch, Tim Cook displayed its many features and tricks to the audience. Featuring a sapphire display – which is the second strongest clear material after diamond – the watch comes in three editions including a ‘Sport Edition’ and a premium version.
So what can it do?
The customisable face displays a number of apps such as maps, photos, Siri and the ability to talk to other Apple Watches. It also has sensors on the back, which monitor your body’s health vitals including your heartbeat – which you can send to other Apple watches using a ‘Tapic’ vibration feature.
But perhaps the most exciting thing about the tech is just how much you can control with it. Not only can it control music on other devices; you can also use it work your Apple TV, unlock your hotel room door and or even find where you’ve parked your car, the article explains.
Although Australian prices for the Apple Watch haven’t been announced yet, the US price starts at $349 and they’ll be available from early next year.
Both the new phones and the Apple Watch will be able to use Apple Pay, the tech giant’s final new announcement for 2014.
Perhaps marking the beginning of the end for the credit card, Tim Cook believes this technology will “forever change the way we buy things.”
Apple Pay will allow users to purchase items by simply tapping their Apple device against a payment reader, using a three-year old technology called Near Field Communications.
For those worried about security, this software also uses Touch ID, Apple’s unique fingerprint identification technology that replaces the credit card number with a one-time-only code. This means that even if a hacker broke into the retail database, they wouldn’t find a credit card number or anything that they would be able to steal.
“Security is at the core of Apple Pay,” Tim Cook asserted when he introduced the mobile payment system.
The launch was arguably Apple’s biggest – and most influential – product unveiling yet, and so far it seems the gadgets received a positive response from those who attended.