With fall comes Apple announcements. This year was no different with the introduction of the new iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. iPads got thinner, better cameras, faster processors and for the first time fingerprint sensors. As with all newly numbered iPhones, we saw a complete overhaul in design, new screens, and of course a thinner design. Maybe most importantly was the technological breakthrough of Pay.
Lucky enough I was two years in on my iPhone 5 and long overdue for a new iPad. I have broken my iPad 2’s screen several times, and it currently can’t be removed from it’s case without glass falling out. I was excited to receive the 64GB iPad Air 2 in Gold (‘cause…why not?) and a 128GB iPhone in Space Gray.
Let’s first talk about giant leap the iPad has made, jumping from an iPad 2 to the new Air 2. The weight difference is phenomenal and the screen is truly something you have to see to believe. Crystal clear, less reflective, and as always very responsive to the touch. After restoring from my backup, I started to look through my favorite apps from the iPad 2. Flipboard, updated for iOS 8 looked great, and has ruined me for magazines and newspapers forever. Like many smartphone owners I’m used to looking at photos on a small (be it hi-res) screen of my iPhone. Using Photo Stream and looking at those same photos on the iPad Air 2, it was as if they were different photos.
This quickly encouraged me to download the new Pixelmator app demoed during the iPad keynote. This is the most comprehensive photo editing app I’ve used on an iOS device and, not being a Photoshop wizard, the best photo editing app I’ve ever used. The touch controls make it easy to select certain sections of the photo for enhancement or corrections. I always get my shadow when taking a panoramic shot and with a few swipes of my finger I simply removed my shadow form the photo. So far I couldn’t be happier with the upgrade.
On to the iPhone 6! To be frank, I was really nervous when I read the rumors that the phone was getting larger. I was a late adopter in the smartphone world; I received my first iPhone, the iPhone 5, just two years ago. I was a big fan of the Motorola Razr: small, compact and sleek. In reality the iPhone 5 was probably similar in size, which was good, but in the world of mobile phones I asked myself “is bigger really better?” I have an iPad, laptop, Mac mini, (I’m a fanboy!) so I have plenty of screen real estate to look at when I need to. The phone was the last place I needed more screen. Well guess what? I was wrong, Apple was right. I know shocking, but truly the iPhone 6 and even the few 6 Plus’s I’ve gotten to play with fit in my hand fine. The new bring down feature makes it possible to still operate with one hand, and the new rounded design just feels great in your hand.
This doesn’t mean I don’t have my gripes with it. The movement of the lock button to the side means retraining my muscle memory, not to mention I keep locking the screen when I try and take a photo. I realize it was moved for the Pay sensor, or at least that’s what I tell myself to justify why they moved it. The Air 2 and the iPhone 6 are the first devices I’ve used with the Touch ID and I have a love hate relationship with them. I like not using a passcode, but I feel it takes away some of the nice features of iOS. For instance when you swipe to directly read a text/iMessage, you have swipe then unlock with your finger. I realize that’s trivial but since our new form of communication is primarily the text, it gets annoying. That’s it though, those are my only two gripes…well with these devices that is.
The other gripe I have is with Apple. It’s also trivial but annoys the heck out of me…there is no dock! Apple did this for iPhone 5 too, and didn’t make what I assume is a pretty easy accessory to create until the 5s was announced. So I guess I’m stuck waiting a year for whatever 6s, or iPhone 7 with 3D hologram projecting, that might be next.
In the meantime if you’re like me and want to display this beautiful device, there is a great option available from Twelve South. The High Rise for iPhone and iPad mini. This stand fits all lightning iPhones and iPad mini’s. Its sturdy and adjustable design also allows your phone or iPad mini to fit with a case on it. It’s not white, and does require some assembly, but it sure does make my iPhone look pretty!