iPhone 6S Vs iPhone 6S Plus

I am writing this post to help me sort through which iOS device I should upgrade to. And as if this writing, I have yet to decide which iPhone 6S model to upgrade to and which iPad to upgrade to. I went ahead and both the iPhone 6S Plus and the iPad Mini 4 but like anything else, I can cancel almost any time I want or just send them back to the local Apple store.

I currently have an iPhone 6 Plus and an iPad Air, both I am handing down to waiting hands of relatives. So, let's start with the iPhone.

iPhone 6S Versus iPhone 6S Plus: Like I said above, I have the iPhone 6 Plus. I like it but at times, I find the size to be an issue especially coming from the 4" form factot of the 5S. While the 6 Plus fit well inside the front pocket of my baggy jeans, it never let you forget that it is there. Maybe that is good but I also found myself thinking that I would not mind having the lighter iPhone 6.

Sure, the iPhone 6 Plus' big 5.5" screen is pretty good but I did not use it in ways that I expected. I didn't write more than usual with it, reading comic books (not once on the iPhone 6 Plus), or any more productive than when I was on the 4" screen of the 5S. I am writing this post on the iPhone 6 Plus with a Bluetooth keyboard. Does that count?

Oh, and I run with my iPhones. I never go to the gym without it because it is my main and only music player these days. When I started running with a smartphone, it felt awkward and uneven because I am usually holding it on one hand and switching it to the other ever other quarter or half mile. Now, imagine running with a bigger device like the iPhone 6 or 6S Plus.

Now, don't get me wrong. One of the biggest issues with me regarding smartphones and I'm sure most readers would agree is battery life. The 5S was okay but under semi-heavy use, it did not last. With the iPhone 6 Plus, wow, it was a major leap forward as far as battery life goes. I have yet to worry about the battery life and impose upon myself what I want to on the iPhone 6 Plus. I still charge it every day because my mobile devices, especially ones that fit in the pockets of my pants are my go to devices every single day. From what information is available on the Internet about the battery life of either the iPhone 6S or the 6S Plus, it appears that he 6S will have an even smaller battery than the 6. Granted that Apple has managed to squeeze out greater efficiency on both the hardware and software fronts, that still worries me.

Size, weight, battery life. The major issues I am considering as I agonize over which iPhone model to upgrade to. There is also the issue of the camera differences between the two models. While the larger iPhone 6 and 6S Plus both have optical image stabilization, your average mobile users have been unable to tell the difference between images taken by both phones.

Well, between the stops and goes from the start of this post till the end here, I think I have not come any closer to a decision. I'll have about two weeks to decide. And while I don't think 6S and 6S Plus reviews that should come out a few days before 9/25, the day before the new iPhones goes on sale, I am hoping they'll offer additional details to help me make my final decision.

How about you? Which model are you getting and how did you arrive at that decision?

Canon Does 8K in a Major Way and Surprise VR Headset

Source: Engadget. 

Looks like more folks are getting into the VR game and Canon would be the least of many people's guesses but it does make sense since they make some of the best cameras around.  

Now you'll have to excuse Canon who demo'd their wares at the Canon Expo. See, they're still all prototypes. And recording and pushing out more than 35 million pixels, their 8K cameras are not ready for the market. And frankly, with 1080p still firmly entrenched in millions living rooms, it is unlikely most consumers are too much about 8K when 4K still isn't on the minds of most folks. (No Film School)

What is interesting is Canon demonstrating its VR solution including how they record content for it along with a prototype headset. Given enough interest, it is possible for Canon to enter the market. And why not if its 5K VR headset can provide an immersive and entertaining environment?

Oh yeah, it's 5K total between two screens. So, not bad at all.  

And given that it appears Canon can control the whole experience, from filming to displaying, it could conceivably provide an experience like no other VR headsets in the market. 

However, it's likely the 8K camera and VR rig will see the light of day than the VR headset. Or Canon could eventually license its VR technology to someone else and let them worry about developing and selling their own headsets. After all, Canon is more commonly known for their cameras, and to a lesser extent, printers. 

New iPhone Features Will Force Users To Buy More Expensive iPhone Models.

In this post form Forbes, it suggest that Apple made the iPhone more expensive even though Apple did not raise the price one penny (not the US prices - prices have increased for some countries as the USD has strengthened over the last few months and may continue to do so as commodities market collapse and some countries like China manipulate its currency).  What Forbes suggest is that new features like live photos (think Harry Potter but you do not have to be a wizard) and 4K video recording would require additional storage, making the 16 GB models of the 6S and 6S Plus pretty useless as apps, videos, and photos fight for space on the smallish storage capacity.

This has been an issue but it is only more apparent with the big jump in camera capability from the current 8MP to 12MP on the iSight camera while the 5MP selfie camera on the front will force selfie-takers to consider what pictures to keep.  This would require no only additional storage per picture but with live photos, it is twice the amount storage a regular photo would take.  

Furthermore, 4K video could well mean that users taking even casual videos will need to be aware of how much storage they need - figuring into whether to stick with the low-end 16 GB model or opt for the 64 GB or even 128 GB models.  

Which brings up the question:  when will Apple release a 256 GB version of the iPhone, and eventually, the iPad as well.  And should Apple actually offer a 256 GB option, will Apple continue to offer the pretty useless 16 GB or finally let it happily retire into Apple history?  

That speculation is entirely perfect for a post unto itself.  Simply put, while Apple will not come out and say it, it's obvious the middle tier 64 GB iPhones are the bare minimum if users take any decent number of photos and videos.  To be safe, the best bet is the 128 GB.  

Busy Apple Schedule on Tap

Looks like Apple's 2015 Fall event is over but the festivities for fans anyway are not quite over until at least through November.  Let's go through the schedule and see what we have on top through the end of the year.

Here we go:

• September 12th (Saturday):  iPhone Pre-order.  This is going to be madness.  A lot of pinned up demand from the iPhone 5/5S crowd, not to mention those who are still rocking the 3.5" iPhones.  The iPhone 4S is no slouch but it is getting long in the tooth when it comes to some modern features.  So, preordering starts on midnight which means a lot folks who ordinarily go out on Friday could decide to stay home to order their iPhone.  Don't forget to check out the new annual upgrade program from Apple. This would save me a lot of trouble.  
  
• September 16th (Wednesday):  Watch OS becomes available next week, or a week from now if you're reading this today.  While Apple did not upgrade the Apple Watch hardware (this was not expected), Watch OS 2 will take us out of the Dark Age and give us features that Apple probably meant to give us.  Yes, we were all part of Apple's beta program for the last few months.
• September 30th (Wednesday):  El Capitan, the next OS X update, ships for the Macs.
  
• Late October:  Apple TV becomes available for us.  It's likely that Apple hae them ready to ship but the extra month will give developers time to prep their apps for the Apple TV app stores and features.  The developer kit for tvOS is available today.
• November:  iPad Pro.  This is the gem for today's announcement.  12.9" display, desktop performance, new keyboard case, and, who can forget, Apple Pencil.  
  

Oh, one more thing.  While the Mac lineup did not get any mention from Apple, it's conceivable that Apple will update the iMac with a 4K display long with upgraded CPU for the Macbooks later this year.  And the Mac Pro has not had any upgrade in a long, long while.

So, there will be plenty to talk about in the weeks and months to come.  For tech fans, specifically Apple fans, Christmas is here!

iPad Pro: 256 GB Or Else

Here is a bit of plausible rumors about the upcoming iPad Pro from Apple (9to5Mac). It will start with 64 GB and max out at 128 GB. Personally, I have been lukewarm about it and have been eyeing a possible iPad mini (it is 3 or 4 now). If the rumor is true, then I'm passing on it and will opt for the one next year, the year after, or when ever Apple offers a 256 GB option. This is after all, an pro version of the iPad and that means it will need the creds to be about productivity.

After all, with the 128 GB option on the iPad Air 2 now, I'm kinda hitting the wall at times.  And with what Apple has planned for the iPad Pro in iOS 9, 10, and beyond, serious mobile warriors will need more storage as improvements and new features advance what they can do with their iPad Pro.  And 256 GB is at least a minimum in this regard.

We will know in the next few days what Apple has planned.  There is a possibility that Apple may have a second event in October and leave the September 9th even entirely for the iPhone and Apple TV and that means waiting even a bit longer before we know what Apple's game plan is for the iPad Pro.  

What do you think?  Is 128 GB enough for a Pro tablet or you will want more storage like me?  Or are you fine with even just 64 GB?

Apple Flexes iOS Muscle With Cisco Deal - Another Sign of New Apple Under Tim Cook

Apple announced a networking deal with Cisco to optimize Cisco's network hardware for iOS traffic.  It not only shows a new serious push by the Cupertino, California company to move past its consumer-oriented past into enterprise (along with the previous massive IBM partnership), it shows that Apple under the leadership of Tim Cook is ready to grow into new markets by leveraging its popular mobile platform.

Under the terms of the deal, Apple will work with Cisco to create a fast lane for the iPhone and iPad. More than that, the two companies will work to create an integrated and more collaborative environment for Apple devices. 

What is interesting about Apple's enterprise deals is that the success of Apple's iOS devices owes largely to the BYOD (bring your own device) culture in enterprise with massive armies of mobile warriors wanting to use their iPhones and iPads instead of company-issued devices.  The Cisco deal is just a recognition that Apple has to do more for its enterprise mobile users.  This means other companies as well which means we will hear more about these types of deals coming from Apple in the future.

Would this have happened under Steve Jobs?  Probably but not with the attention and focus that Tim Cook has put into these deals.  The enterprise has always been a tough nut for Apple to crack and Cook and his team recognize this window of opportunity. 

This deal probably means nothing for regular iPhone and iPad users.  However, we will never know what kind of new lessons Apple will learn from the Cisco partnership.  With both companies focusing on optimizing performace and security, we can possibly see some of that migrate over to Apple's own consumer-class network devices, the Airport line.  Even for home use, many users would not mind an Airport device beefed with Cisco technology.  

Wearable: Android Watch Now Available on iOS, What and Why

Android Wear is now an app on iOS that can work with the iPhone.  This is huge news.  First, let's go through a bit what it does and then why now.


What it does is allow the user to access their Google-based information on compatible Android Wear watches (so far, looks like only one LG model works with more compatibile devices on the way) to be connected with Apple's iPhone family, second biggest mobile OS after Android itself in terms of market share.  You can access weather, flight information, and some notifications.  It is likely anyone who uses iMessage or Apple's dedicated apps will be out of luck in terms of notifications.  But if the user or users live in the Google world, that really does not matter all that much.

Now comes the why.  There are two main possibilities.  Google does not want to cede the lucrative iOS market to just Apple even though Apple offers a much more integrated Apple Watch and Android Wear will only offer a subset of Android Wear functionalities due to limitations Apple put on app and hardware developers.  Google figures 100% of nothing is still nothing and it'll take what it can get.  And what's more, should iPhone users want more from Android Wear, well, then they best get an Android device to pair with it, won't they?

Second possibility is what the Apple Watch is doing to the market.  Perhaps greater share of iPhone users are buying an associated Apple Watch than Android users are buying an Android Wear device.  Hence, if iPhone users are more likely to buy a watch to pair with their iPhones, it makes sense that Google will try to muscle in a bit regardless of how limited it might be.

The true reason is likely somewhere in between.  Do not be surprised if Apple offers more iOS apps for the Android beyond Apple Music.  Apple has been hiring more Android developers and it's likely a suite of Apple apps will be showing up on Android in the coming year. 

So, it will go both ways. It really does not hurt either companies to offer wearable apps on each others platform.  Wearables are the next battleground for tech companies.  And for mobile warriors, the more competitive the markets are, the better they are for us.