iPhone 6
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Conan's #bendgate parody is pretty much perfect
All the needless outrage over the iPhone 6's supposed tendency to bend when you sit on it with your entire weight has finally reached the late night talk show circuit courtesy of Conan. The comedian even went so far as to produce a parody of a Samsung ad that targets Apple's "flaccid" phones, and while it's probably SFW, you'll definitely want to watch it with headphones, or else expect some odd looks from your coworkers.
Fastest way to remove the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus' protruding camera
Some iPhone owners can't stand the new protruding camera on the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Not only does it disrupt the flat aesthetics of the phone, it also makes it impossible to lay the phone flat on a desk and type without wobble. If you are bothered by the new camera design, then check out PeripateticPandas -- they have a permanent solution that'll make Apple's good design even better. [Via Petapixel]
Apple opens the door to its secret iPhone testing facility
Photo Credit: The Verge If there's a benefit to media uproars similar to what we're seeing now with the whole "bent iPhones" saga, it's that Apple is forced to lift up their curtains of secrecy ever so slightly. Earlier today, Apple addressed "bendgate" and said that they've only received 9 customer complaints on the matter thus far. What's more, Apple assured users that the iPhone 6 Plus met Apple's high quality standards to "endure everyday, real life use." For those still not convinced, Apple took things a step further and invited Josh Lowensohn of The Verge into their secret this-place-didn't-officially-exist-until-now iPhone torture chamber. Yep, some frenzied media outlets might have you believe otherwise, but Apple puts each new iPhone model through a series of extremely rigorous tests to ensure that it can withstand all types of extreme and bizarre conditions. Apple's answer today, both in a statement and now in these testing facilities, is that the iPhone 6 is tough. It's made with steel / titanium inserts designed to reinforce potential stress points, a special blend of aluminum Apple formulated itself, and ion-strengthened glass. But more important, Apple says, is that the iPhone 6 has been put through hundreds of tests, as well as tested in the pockets of thousands of Apple employees before consumers ever get their hands on it. What's the exact number of devices Apple went through before it was done? About 15,000 for each the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, according to the company. "The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are the most tested," Dan Riccio, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, told us today. "As we add more and more features, we have to find out a way to break them before customers do." And among the myriad of tests Apple runs on the iPhone before a mass market release are tests designed to simulate the impact on the iPhone when users accidentally sit on their device when it's nestled inside their back pocket. And of course, this is in addition to all sorts of medieval stress, press, and torque tests that really put the iPhone through the ringer. The Wall Street Journal, which was also invited to the facility, adds: Apple pointed to five different tests that new iPhones go through in the development process, including what is known as "pressure point cycling test" when it applies substantial force on the display and enclosure hundreds of times while the phone is held by the sides. Apple said this process bends the enclosure repeatedly to ensure that the iPhone can be bent and pressed at reasonable force throughout its life. Another test, according to Apple, is called the "sit test." This test simulates sitting on a hard surface with the phone in the back pocket of a pair of tight jeans. Apple said it runs the phones through thousands of cycles testing the phone in different positions. Be sure to check out the full post at The Verge for a full assortment of photos taken at Apple's iPhone testing facility.
New study says charging the iPhone 6 only costs 47 cents a year
If you plan your charging schedule right keeping your iPhone 6 powered will only cost you US$0.47 a year. That calculation comes from Opower, a developer of software for utility companies. According to CNN Money the software provider has released a new study breaking down exactly how much a daily charge of the device costs. Here's how their math works out. Via CNN: Apple's (AAPL, Tech30) new iPhone 6 charges from 0% to 100% in 1 hour and 48 minutes, which is about 10.6 watt-hours of energy. Multiply that by 365 days in a year, and you get 3.83 kilowatt-hours. Multiply that by the average U.S. residential electricity price (12.29 cents per kWh), and you get 47 cents per year. This is a slight increase from the iPhone 5 which cost $0.41 a year to charge, but less than the Opower's estimate of $0.52 to charge the 6+ every year. Of course, these calculations fail to take into account the number of people who leave their devices plugged in all night while they sleep, but if you're cost conscious, consider charging your device before bed. You'll save money on your power bill, and leaving your phone unnecessarily plugged in isn't good for the battery. Kill two birds with one stone; your phone will last longer and you'll have more money in your pocket.
Jonathan Mann has already written a wonderful song about the iOS 8.0.1 bug
Today's problems with the release of iOS 8.0.1 may have put a damper on your afternoon, leaving you with Touch ID not working or the inability to call people. You could probably use a pick me up. Thankfully YouTube video songster Jonathan Mann is working on a project where he writes a song every day, for 2000 days, and today his song is about iOS 8.0.1. It's a lovely pop song along the lines of the band Fountains of Wayneor maybe they Might Be Giants. While you're waiting for Apple to fix the problem or, if you dodged the update bullet, you'd just like a simple laugh check out the video below. Then head over to Mann's YouTube page to check out the rest of his equally delightful pop songs.
DxOMark: "Apple sets gold standard for smartphone image quality"
Another voice has been heard from in the chorus of those praising the cameras built into Apple's newest smartphones. DxO Labs, a French-based software company that maintains a website of technical measurements of lenses and cameras, has given the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 cameras the top ratings of all mobile devices. The DxOMark scores of 82 for both phones bested the competition, with Samsung's Galaxy S5 and Sony's Xperia Z3 and Z2 in the third through fifth spots with a 79 score. Apple's iPhone camera technology has improved drastically since the iPhone 4, which is in the 25th spot on the list with a score of 50. The new, faster autofocus on both phones captured the attention of the DxOMark Mobile team, which referred to the video autofocus as "very fast, accurate and repeatable. Best ever tested by DxOMark Mobile team, at the time of testing." Other pros for the iPhone 6 cameras include "attractive color rendering", "good detail preservation outdoors and indoors", and "good performance with flash." On the negative side, DxO noticed some noise in low light conditions, and ghosting and fringing with the iPhone 6.
LAPD warning iPhone owners not to microwave their handsets
A hoax viral marketing scam advising iPhone owners to microwave their phones is ubiquitous enough that the communications department of the Los Angeles Police Department has decided to publicly debunk the advertisement. As reported by the LA Times, the department tweeted the ad with the word "Hoax" written across the front in giant red letters. This #Wave capability is a #hoax. Don't be fooled into microwaving your #iPhone6. #Apple #Smartphone pic.twitter.com/jIncZE81Cy - LAPD Communications (@911LAPD) September 23, 2014 The convincing-looking advertisement promotes a new fake feature called, "Wave." Wave is claimed to be a new iOS 8 option that allows an iPhone to charge wirelessly in a microwave oven. All the details on the promotion are obviously false, but they are presented in a way that potentially could fool inexperienced iPhone owners. If you are curious about what would happen if you tried to microwave your iPhone, don't dare try it yourself at home. Head over here and watch the results from someone else who was foolish enough to film the event from the start to flaming finish.
iPhone 6 vs. the world trying to destroy it
Some people can't stand gadget destruction experiments, especially when the device being obliterated is brand new and hard to find. The iPhone 6 has spent the week or so since its debut getting destroyed by everything from water to power tools, all for the enjoyment of the internet at large. Here are some of the more insane ways people have decided to eradicate Apple's latest and greatest smartphone. iPhone 6 Plus vs. Thermite iPhone 6 vs Knife & Hammer iPhone 6 Plus vs 50 Caliber Rifle iPhone 6 vs Microwave iPhone 6 vs Liquid Nitrogen iPhone 6 vs Blender
Apple cleverly advertises actual iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sizes in Rolling Stone Magazine
Apple's current marketing campaign for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is focusing on the sizes of the new handsets, which are larger than earlier iPhone models. To help consumers get a feel for the size of the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple is cleverly using a full-page ad in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine to display the actual sizes of the two devices, as spotted by The Mac Observer, Shown partially above, the back cover advertisement places the iPhone 6 next to an iPhone 6 Plus with a simple tagline, "Actual Sizes." Underneath the phones is a quick list of the major features offered in Apple's latest iPhone handsets. Not only is the page eye-catching, it also allows Rolling Stone magazine readers to compare their current phone to Apple's latest models to see how they size up. Head over to The Mac Observer to view the full ad, which is pictured along with an iPhone 5s as a size comparison.
YouTube Find: Andy Ihnatko humorously unboxes the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
Chicago Sun-Times technology journalist Andy Ihnatko unboxes both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus as part of his YouTube series The Very Least I Could Do. Ihnatko spends 20 minutes covering the features of the two phones and how they compare to their Android counterparts in an humorous way that'll keep you entertained for the duration of the video. It's worth a watch if you want to see how the two iPhone models size up to each other.
iPhone 6 camera quality compared to all other iPhone models
Size aside, the bevy of camera enhancements Apple has baked into the two iPhone 6 models really make both devices extraordinarily compelling. While there's nothing wrong with admiring the stunning photos made possible by the new iPhone cameras, one can gain an even greater appreciation for how far iPhone camera quality has come by comparing iPhone 6 photos against photos taken from previously released iPhone models. And to that end, Lisa Bettany of Camera+ recently took it upon herself to test the iPhone 6 camera against seven other iPhone models. The visuals are fascinating, and the jump in quality, even from the 5 to the 6, is readily apparent. Bettany's full post pits the iPhone 6 against other iPhone models in a variety of shooting scenarios, including backlit environments, daylight shots, and more. One area where Apple has made huge strides is in lowlight photography. In that particular area, the iPhone 6 is represents a huge leap forward. Make sure to check out Bettany's full post for the full breakdown of iPhone camera comparison shots.
That bendable iPhone 6 screen isn't a feature (update)
Not sure if you want to hide your shiny new iPhone's newfangled design in a bulky case? Maybe you should -- apparently, it's quite pliable. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users on Twitter seem to be finding small, but noticeable bends just south of the handsets' volume controls. Front-pocket storage is all it takes to give the handset a gentle slope, according to some users, but it can be bent other ways too. Back pockets and malicious YouTube users (video from Unbox Therapy after the break) can both bend the device to their will. Update: Just for kicks, the same guy tried the same thing with a Galaxy Note 3, and while its plastic frame gave some squeaking under the pressure, it showed only slight warping after two attempts. There's the difference in materials to account for, but of course we're not surprised -- we've seen how Samsung tests its large phones under pressure. Update 2 (9/24): For one final video, Unbox Therapy lined up a few more phones: the new Moto X, HTC One (M8), iPhone 6, iPhone 5S and a Nokia Lumia 1020. Unsurprisingly, none bent to the degree of the iPhone 6 Plus, with only the iPhone 6 (standard) showing a slight bend. The Moto X and Lumia 1020 seemed the most resistant to pressure, while the One M8 and 5S creaked, but did not bend noticeably. Meanwhile, UBreakIFix gave it a shot, using a machine to stress several phones with exactly 100 lbs of pressure. The result there? The iPhone 6 Plus bent less than other large phones, but because of its metal frame, it couldn't bend back into shape afterwards. Overhyped video trend or real issue? Only time will tell, but you can see the test after the break, and for now, it looks like most other phones -- including Apple's -- don't respond to stress in the way the iPhone 6 Plus does.
Pad & Quill Giveaway: Attaché Leather Bag and iPhone 6 cases
Pad & Quill has a bunch of new products rolling out, and the company's owners are always thinking of TUAW readers. When the new Attaché Leather Bag (US$449.99, with $419.99 introductory price) and three new iPhone 6/6 Plus cases were announced, the company thought that a giveaway of this beautiful gear was in order. Let's take a look at the new product, and then you can enter our giveaway for an opportunity to carry your favorite Apple products in style. Attaché Leather Bag As a person who carries one of Pad & Quill's laptop bags (the Messenger Bag), I can attest to just how useful, good looking, and durable the bags are. There seems to be a spot for everything on the inside, and I know from looking at the construction that the bag is probably going to outlive me! Well, take the same attention to detail and quality that's in the Messenger Bag but make the bag entirely out of hand cut full-grain leather, and you've got the Attaché Leather Bag. It will hold up to a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display plus a variety of accessories, all in impressive beauty. It's available in either Galloper Black or Dark Chocolate leather finishes, and features the same unbreakable hardware found on the Messenger Bag. There's a dedicated iPad pocket lined with soft orange suede (just like the other pockets), and a extremely comfortable adjustable shoulder strap. iPhone 6 / 6 Plus Cases For the iPhone 6, Pad & Quill has upsized its popular Little Pocket Book ($64.99), Bella Fino ($54.99), Luxury Pocket Book ($84.99) and Traveler ($64.99) cases. For the iPhone 6 Plus, they've absolutely super sized the Bella Fino ($74.99), Luxury Book ($94.99), and Traveler ($74.99) cases. Over the past few years, I've had an opportunity to review the Traveler, Luxury Pocket Book and Bella Fino cases. In each case, I've been impressed with the quality, design, and usability of these cases. I can imagine that they're going to be very popular for Apple's newest iPhones. All of these cases come in a variety of exterior and interior finishes to make just the unique case that's right for you. Giveaway And now, the entry form you've all been waiting for! Pad & Quill is going to give away one grand prize of a Attaché Leather Bag valued at $449.99. Two other readers will get their one of any of Pad & Quill's cases for the iPhone 5/5s/6/6 Plus. To enter, all you need to do is fill out the entry form below. Be sure to tweet or post this giveaway on your favorite social media so all of your friends can have a chance to win, too. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before September 27, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Three winners will be selected in a random drawing. One winner will receive a Pad & Quill Attaché Leather Bag valued at $449.99. Two other winners will receive their choice of any Pad & Quill case for iPhone 5/5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, values ranging from $34.99 to $99.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
iPhone 6 called "most Succesful" in Sprint history
The iPhone 6 is pretty popular, and since Apple has already said that it's been a record-breaking launch it should come as no surprise that it's also beating all previous iPhones at the carrier level as well. Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure took a moment on Twitter to declare that the iPhone 6 launch was the biggest iPhone debut yet for his company. Ok, ok, so he got a little bit excited and spelled some words wrong, left out punctuation, and needlessly capitalized some other words. We get the point: The iPhone 6 is awesome and everyone loves it. Hooray!
Meet Engadget's new buyer's guide picks: The iPhone 6, Moto X and more!
Here at Engadget, we make good on our promises. So when we say we're going to be updating our buyer's guide more frequently, well, gosh darn, we mean it. Roughly two months after we re-launched the guide, we're adding a bunch of new gadgets, including the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the new Moto X, HTC One M8 for Windows, the Acer C720 Chromebook, the NVIDIA Shield gaming tablet and the Moto 360 smartwatch. Of course, we also had to remove some of our original picks to make room for the new ones: The new, 5.2-inch Moto X takes the place of the old 4.7-inch one, while the Moto 360 overtakes the Samsung Gear Live -- formerly our favorite Android Wear device. We're also getting rid of all the BlackBerrys for now. That's not to say BBM hold-outs should switch operating systems, but until we get to try the new BlackBerry Passport, we're going to refrain from including those older models. Check out our guide right here, and stay tuned for more updates next month -- who knows what we'll be adding then!
Engadget giveaway: win an iPhone 6 courtesy of Spigen!
Waiting on line in advance of an Apple product launch doesn't sound like the best way to spend a weekend, but unless you queued up, it's quite possible you're still bumming around with a perfectly good, but now last-generation iPhone. There's a glimmer of hope, however. The folks at Spigen have given us a pair of iPhone 6 handsets so two lucky Engadget readers can get their early adoption underway. And to help keep that pricey bit of smartphone tech safe and sound, Spigen has also included all five colors of its Neo Hybrid Metal case to go with each phone. These slim protective shells have interchangeable Dia-Cut aluminum frames paired with a soft, yet grippy material to provide shock and impact absorption. There aren't any lines to suffer here, just head on down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning an iPhone 6 and complete set of Neo Hybrid Metal cases. Winners: congratulations to Malcolm H. of New Orleans, LA and Micah R. of Edmund, OK.
Flickr Find: These pearly whites have nothing to do with teeth, but will make you smile
Flickr member Usman and Sameera Ul Haque has an impressive collection of white iOS devices that span several generations. I especially love his black, white and gray arrangement that gives the photo an M.C. Escher feel. Did you know that TUAW has a Flickr pool? And that we encourage readers to submit their own Apple related images? Please join and share with our group as we'd love to see your photos.
Apple airs two new iPhone 6 ads starring Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake
Apple yesterday released two new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus commercials starring Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. One advertisement, "Huge," focuses on the bigger screen sizes offered by the pair of devices, while the other, "Cameras," spotlights the advanced camera technology Apple incorporated into its new iPhone models. You can view both commercials below and keep an eye out for them while you are watching TV.
Speck cases for iPhone 6: Review and giveaway
Lucky you! You're going to see a pile of reviews of new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus accessories over the next couple of months. One of the more respected names in the accessory business for Mac and iOS devices is Speck, and the company sent along four of their new cases for the iPhone 6. We're going to take a quick look at them here, and then you've got an opportunity to win one of these cases from Speck and TUAW. CandyShell Card This is one of the most useful cases I've seen for the iPhone 6 so far. The CandyShell Card (US$39.95) comes in three different color combos -- black and slate gray, Overcast Blue and Wisteria Purple, and Beaming Orchid Purple and Deep Sea Blue. As you'd expect from the name, it has a built-in slot for carrying three credit or ID cards on the back of the case. That doesn't mean it's just a one-trick pony; the CandyShell Card also uses a double layer design featuring a hardshell exterior or flexible interior to meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G drop protection standards. My only gripe? The hard shell exterior on the black model really picks up fingerprints. Other than that, the case has a good feel, the cards are held securely in place but easily removed, and it looks great. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible CandyShell Inked The CandyShell Inked ($39.95) cases are all about style and protection. Not only does it use Speck's tried-and-true combo of hard shell and soft interior to meet and exceed those same MIL-STD requirements at the Card, but it features bright and colorful prints on the outside of the case. There are seven color combos available: Lush Floral/Beaming Orchid (above), Color Dip Purple/Wisteria Purple, Rainbow Drop Pattern/Wisteria Purple, SuperNova Red Pattern/Tahoe Blue, Fresh Floral Pink/River Blue, Color Dip Blue/River Blue, and Fresh Floral Red/Boysenberry. Any of these will bring your plain iPhone 6 to life with a splash of bright color. No gripes here, as you can't really see the fingerprints on the exterior of these cases. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible CandyShell At $34.95, the CandyShell case is the best known of the Speck line. The cases are slim, less expensive than their siblings by five bucks, and still offer that MIL-STD-810G drop protection. Dang, I want one of these for my iPhone 6 Plus before I drop it! The color schemes are less sparkly and bright than the CandyShell Inked cases. Here you have a choice of Black/Slate Grey, Tahoe Blue/Charcoal Grey, River/Moss Green, Beaming Orchid Purple/Deep Sea Blue, Heritage Grey/Antifreeze Yellow (above), Black/Jay Blue, White/Charcoal Grey, Pomodoro/Black. As with the CandyShell Card, I feel that the two cases with black exteriors pick up fingerprints that are way too visible. That's not the case with most of the other color combos. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible CandyShell Grip Of all of the iPhone 6 cases from Speck, I think I like the CandyShell Grip ($34.95) the most. It's not overly bright and flashy, it meets those ever-important MIL-STD requirements, it's less expensive than the CandyShell Inked and Card cases, and -- most importably for owners of the big new iPhones -- it has raised rubber grips that make it almost impossible to drop. As with all of the CandyShell cases, these come in a variety of colors: Black/Slate Grey, White/Black, River Blue/Tahoe Blue, Lipstick Pink/Jay Blue, White/River Blue, and Moss Green/Black. The raised ridges on these cases not only keep the case and phone from slipping from your fingers, but they're also great for keeping fingerprints off of the glossy exterior of the Black case. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway And now, the great Speck CandyShell Case Giveaway of September 2014! We have one each of these iPhone 6 cases to give away, in the colors that you see in the review. To have a chance to win one, all you have to do is enter. Be sure to tell your friends who don't usually read TUAW that this is their chance to win a free iPhone 6 case! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before September 26, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected in a random drawing. Each will receive one of the Speck iPhone cases described above, valued at either $34.95 or $39.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
This floppy bulldog's true beauty is found with the iPhone 6 slow motion camera
The iPhone 6 introduced Apple's first 240 frame per second slow motion video camera into the pockets of users lucky enough to pick one up. One of those iPhone 6 owners has posted the single best advertisement for the slow motion video camera with this 2:51 video of Willie the Bulldog happily running and playing. Behold the jiggling folds, the way the mighty beast's tongue glides through the air, and that goofy wonderful smile. As the standard video technology people have on their phones improves, home movies will grow in both their artistic potential and general watchability. In this case, the video is almost art. As cute as Willie the Bulldog is on his own, the dog's beauty shines in a special way we as we get to soak in his wonderful aura. Enjoy Willie the Bulldog, and for the love of gosh keep posting videos of your pets.
