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The Engadget Podcast Ep 42: Everything Apple
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Apple held a keynote at its glass-empaneled new "spaceship" campus this week, during which it announced a boatload of stuff. So much stuff, in fact, that my colleague Chris Velazco and I devoted an entire episode of the Engadget Podcast to it. Join us as we talk about the new iPhones (all three of them), plus the Apple TV 4K and LTE-enabled Apple Watch Series 3. Relevant links: Live from Apple's iPhone X event! Our first look at Apple's new 'spaceship' campus iPhone X hands-on The iPhone X vs. the competition iPhone 8 and 8 Plus hands-on Apple TV's 4K movie pricing is exactly what the 4K world needs Apple Watch Series 3 hands-on The iPhone 8 won't get lost in the shadow of the iPhone X When there's the iPhone X, why bother with the iPhone 8? The iPhone X leaves a home-button-shaped hole in my heart Subscribe on Google Play Music Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Pocket Casts
AppleCare now costs more for larger iPhones
Are you eyeing a larger-screened iPhone, like the iPhone X or 8 Plus? Unfortunately, it'll cost you extra to extend the warranty. Apple has quietly raised the price of AppleCare+ coverage for bigger iPhones, with the price varying depending on what you're getting. If you want to protect any Plus model, it now costs $149/£149 instead of the $129/£129 you continue to pay for mid-size iPhones. And brace yourself if you're getting an iPhone X: it'll cost $199/£199 to get your device covered.
Apple's Portrait Lighting uses AI to color our memories
People already hate inane Snapchat-like AI photo filters, but a new trick called Portrait Lighting on Apple's iPhone 8 and X might cause even more dismay. Here's how Apple VP Phil Schiller describes it: "You compose a photo, the dual cameras and the ISP sense the scene, they create a depth map, and they actually change the lighting contours over the face." At first glance, that sounds like a nice, innocent feature, but it might one day create much more consternation than puking rainbows.
The iPhone 8 won't get lost in the shadow of the iPhone X
The iPhone X is a clear indication of where the smartphone industry is headed. Within two years, Apple's entire iPhone lineup will probably consist of edge-to-edge screens with a dual-camera setup and Face ID (assuming the latter is as secure and convenient as Apple claims). As such, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus might as well have been named "iPhone classic" -- 10 years in, it seems that big bezels and a home button are no longer necessary. But I'm not here to make the case for spending $1,000 or more on the iPhone X. (My colleague Mat Smith does that for you right here.) If, like me, you're in need of a new phone and prefer iOS to Android, there are plenty of compelling reasons to consider the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. Chief among them are the classic "first generation" problems that plague many new Apple products. In the past, when Apple has radically redesigned devices or introduced entirely new ones, they've often come with issues ranging from mild to severe. Who can forget the iPhone 4 and "Antennagate" or the iPhone 6 and "Bendgate?" It's worth noting that Apple has maintained that these type of problems were affecting only a small percentage of owners, but I'd still rather not have my extremely expensive phone developing annoying problems right off the bat.
When there's the iPhone X, why bother with the iPhone 8?
Apple announced three new phones yesterday, increasing buying indecision even more than when it first offered a Plus model alongside the iPhone 6 two years ago. Over the next month or two, the iOS faithful will have to decide between the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. But there really isn't a decision to make: If you can afford to spend a little more, get the iPhone X.
The iPhone X leaves a home-button-shaped hole in my heart
The first thing I do every morning is roll over, reach over to my nightstand and frantically grapple at my phone to stop the alarm from going off. To do so, I instinctively mash the home button several times, with my head still facedown on my pillow. Oh, sure, I know that I could just hit the Stop button on the touchscreen to turn the offending sound off, but I'm much too groggy at that time to do anything beyond what feels the most instinctual: pressing a physical button.
Some iPad Pros now cost $50 more due to flash storage shortage
Apple had a lot to say during its iPhone 8 event, but it left out one important detail if you're in the market for an iPad Pro. The tech titan has quietly raised some iPad Pros' prices by $50, and according to 9to5mac, it's all because of the rising prices of NAND flash storage. When you check the Apple Store, you'll notice that the 256GB and 512GB 10.5-inch Pros now cost $799 and $999, respectively. The 12.5-inch model also got the same treatment, with variants of the same storage capacity setting you back $949 and $1,149.
Apple's iTunes update removes the desktop iOS app store
While Apple expanded its iPhone lineup today, a software update delivered for iTunes on Windows and Mac PCs is slimming things down a bit. Once users install version 12.7 they will no longer have access to the App Store from the desktop. As described on Apple's support page, a focus toward "music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks" means that you'll usually need to use your iOS devices to manage the apps installed on them. What it adds in this update is the ability to sync with devices running iOS 11 and social music sharing for Apple Music subscribers.
The most important stuff from today's iPhone event
This has been one busy day at Engadget. Today two of us found ourselves at Apple Park, the company's new California headquarters, where it held its first keynote to unveil the iPhone X and a bunch of other stuff. After a two-hour, news-filled liveblog, V headed off to the demo area, where he got hands-on with the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple TV 4K. Meanwhile, I found a spot in front of one of Apple Park's futuristic glass buildings to break down what the heck just happened. This is our first take, but it won't be our last: Stay tuned to Engadget as we continue posting photos, videos and news analysis. Follow all the latest news from Apple's iPhone event here!
Belkin and Mophie offer wireless charging pads for the new iPhones
Now that Apple is suddenly a fan of wireless phone charging, iPhone-oriented charging pads are coming out of the woodwork: Belkin and Mophie have announced their own peripherals, the Boost Up and Wireless Charging Base. Both use Qi to top up your iPhone 8 or iPhone X minus wires, supplying up to 7.5W whether or not you have a case on your handset. The differences really come down to personal preference. The Belkin device (on the left) is larger and has an LED indicator to let you know when charging starts, while the Mophie model is more compact.
Watch the iPhone 8 event in 13 minutes
As expected, today's event at Apple's new Steve Jobs Theater was jam-packed. Three brand-new iPhone models, a new Apple Watch and a 4K Apple TV were the news of the day, and the whole event was nearly two hours long. Don't have that much time to watch the entire keynote? We've got you covered with this supercut, showing all the highlights of the day. Don't worry: We skipped over that semi-painful chat about Apple's retail stores -- sorry, I mean Town Squares.
Comparing the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
There's always a lot to consider after an iPhone event, and today we're looking at three new phones. The iPhone X is the new flagship, offering up an edge-to-edge screen and TrueDepth front camera for unlocking your device with Face ID. But those who were looking forward to something less dramatic along the lines of a 7S will be right at home with the 8 and 8 Plus. If you're curious about what each respective device is offering under the hood, check out our handy table pitting the latest iPhones in a head-to-head spec battle.
Apple's AR efforts will only work if the battery can keep up
All of Apple's new iPhones are ready for augmented reality. The iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X are designed with AR capabilities built-in, a lot like ASUS's ZenFone AR and other Google Tango-powered devices. AR is being billed as the medium of the future, allowing users to seamlessly blend the real world with fantastical creatures, sprawling battlefields and cosmic adventures -- or to just see if that Ikea Billy bookcase will actually work in their living rooms. The promises of AR are vast. On-stage today during its 10th anniversary iPhone event, Apple showed off a competitive multiplayer game called The Machines that superimposed a gritty sci-fi war zone over a blank table. On the iPhone 8, tanks and soldiers blasted lasers into buildings and enemies, and a spaceship was eventually engulfed by a massive explosion. It looked like the future of gaming. And it might be -- for 30 minutes at a time, at least.
Apple Watch Series 3 hands-on: The war for your wrist goes wireless
You didn't think this show was just about iPhones, did you? Apple also pulled back the curtain on its 3rd-generation Apple Watch, which is... well, exactly what we expected. The physical differences between this thing and earlier models aren't much to write home about, aside from the nifty red dot on the digital crown. The good news is that means all the older watch bands will work with the Series 3, and Apple has some nice new ones you'll see in our pictures as well.
Apple TV's 4K movie pricing is exactly what the 4K world needs
The Apple TV 4K's announcement was pretty much everything we expected -- after all, it was only a matter of time before Apple moved on from 1080p video with a more powerful set-top box. But there were a few big surprises in tow: Apple says it will upgrade 1080p films that you've purchased with 4K/HDR versions at no extra cost. And, moving forward, it won't be charging a premium for 4K movies, either. Together, these announcements are a big deal.
The new iPhones vs. the iPhone 7: What's changed?
This year's iPhone anniversary event has given us not one or two, but three new handsets to ponder over. The iPhone X is the star, offering us an edge-to-edge screen and a new front-facing TrueDepth camera. But we're still getting a new pair of numbered phones, the 8 and 8 Plus, for those who like to go a little more traditional, so to speak. If you're currently mulling an upgrade from your 7 or 7 Plus, we've made it a little easier by having the new phones face off in two tables -- one comparing the 4.7-inch devices and another for their bigger siblings, with the iPhone X making an appearance in both. Of course, specs aren't everything, so we'll have a review (or two) for you later this year for all the phones we saw today.
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus hands-on: Familiar, but not too familiar
While the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus aren't a complete redesign like the iPhone X, there's still plenty to dig into here. For starters, the new phones take the glass-backed design that is also in the X -- a move that makes them work with wireless charging. But from the front, they're basically indistinguishable from all of Apple's phones all the way back to the iPhone 6, which first came out in 2014. The larger bezels are still in place here, as is the home button, something that should make change-averse iPhone users happy.
The iPhone X vs. the competition: Beautiful screens and more
It's been a decade since the first iPhone was introduced, so today's big announcement from Apple marks the occasion with an "X." However, the mobile scene has changed a lot since 2007, with rival companies like Samsung, LG and HTC releasing devices that can compete with the iPhone on power, features and design. We've sized up the new iPhone X against some of the more outstanding handsets out there, including a few with edge-to-edge screens, like the LG V30. See how the X's specs compare now, and check back later this month to see how it holds up in our full review.
Apple iPhone 8 event by the numbers
It was a momentous day at Apple's new campus, where the company revealed its fall product lineup on the tenth anniversary of the first iPhone's release. Apple showed off its cellular-enabled Watch Series 3, a 4K Apple TV, a pair of flashy new iPhone 8s, and the ridiculously decadent iPhone X. Numbers -- because what's an extra $300? Follow all the latest news from Apple's iPhone event here!
Apple iPhone X hands-on: 10 years in, Apple rewrites its rulebook
Apple's event just wrapped up, and we managed to get our hands on the brand new, completely redesigned iPhone X. Just as the rumors indicated, it sports an edge-to-edge screen packed into a small body -- not that much bigger than the iPhone 7 (or the new iPhone 8). It also packs facial recognition features into the front facing camera, there's a glass back for wireless charging and there's no home button for the first time.
