New iPhone X & Keynote Event: The Good, the Great and the Marvellous
Did you miss the iPhone X unveiling? Don't worry, in this blog LA Media's own Mike 'Tech Guru' Jameson will recap it for you. Find out what's new and exciting about the new iPhone X, the Apple Watch Series 3, and the stunning new Apple TV 4K. What follows is Mike's first impression of last night’s big event!
iPhone X Event: Words by Mike Jameson
It’s that time of year again when all the techies of the world unite and sit glued to Apple’s iPhone event. Now in the brand spanking new Steve Jobs Theatre, this was set to be more special than usual. And so it was… opening up with the voice of Steve himself, Apple delivered a fantastic keynote. In my opinion, the most exciting in years.
There were 3 main releases:
iPhone (iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus)
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple TV 4K
What do we think of these new products?
iPhone X
The star of the show was obviously the iPhone X. At £999, you would hope it would be! There’s an all-new design, featuring what Apple calls a Super Retina display.
The new screen is an edge-to-edge 5.8-inch OLED panel with 2436 x 1125 and support for HDR (both Dolby Vision and HDR10).
All very exciting! There’s no home button. Instead, Apple has developed a system they're calling Face ID. Using powerful new 3D scanning technology, the iPhone unlocks itself when you look at it.
This powerful new facial recognition technology opens up several cool features; my favourite being emojis that replicate your own facial movements… Yes, that’s right, you can send a talking poo to your friends. Hallelujah!
The camera
The cameras are also upgraded, with dual 12-megapixel rear cameras with dual optical image stabilisation, and an improved front camera that supports portrait mode, too. On the battery front, Apple says that the iPhone X will last up to two hours longer than the iPhone 7
.
The Processor
The iPhone 8 is a significant update too - a new 6-Core A11 Bionic processor (the same as in the iPhone X) and an all Apple GPU (which is a first) make this a very powerful device. It also has a glass back which means wireless charging for all the new iPhone variants.
The Cost
The iPhone 8 starts at £699 for a 64GB model, while the iPhone 8 Plus will start at £799 (also for 64GB), although both phones will also have a 256GB model for £849 and £949, respectively. Pre-orders begin on Friday, September 15th, with the new devices set to ship on September 22nd.
The Look
The iPhone X comes in two colours: space grey and silver. It’ll come in two storage configurations — 64GB for £999, and 256GB for a whopping £1,149. Preorders will start on October 27th, with shipping set to start on November 3rd.
Apple Watch Series 3
The big news here is LTE connectivity. Yup, that’s right, no longer are you tied to your iPhone. You can now go for a night out and not lose your phone, but still be able to take calls and message whilst keeping a beady eye your ever-increasing heart rate as you neck that next shot of vodka. Nice.
With a faster W2 chip this, in my opinion, seems like a worthy upgrade.
When and how much?
It’ll be out September 22nd, starting at £329 for the non-cellular version (don’t do it..), and £399 for the cellular-equipped model (do it!).
Apple TV 4K
As the name suggests, the Apple TV has finally become 4K. It also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) and is compatible with the two main specifications out there - HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Sweet.
Now I just need £3,000 to go out and get that 4K HDR TV. Yes, at the moment HDR OLED (don’t bother if it’s not OLED), TVs are on the expensive side.
Prices will come down as I think HDR and will be here to stay. To go with the new Apple TV 4K, the iTunes Store will also be selling movies and TV shows in 4K and HDR for the same price as HD content, with no charge to upgrade titles that you already own.
When and how much?
The Apple TV 4K will cost £179 when it ships on September 22nd. I want.
Well, that’s it until next time! I’ll leave you with this beautiful image of the iPhone X.
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