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Tag: iphone-6

Meet Apple Pay, Apple’s new mobile payment system

Apple has plunged into the world of mobile payments with the introduction of Apple Pay. This new service is integrated in the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. The payment service is designed to allow users to scan tickets, buy merchandise, and even engage in other payment actions by waving their mobile device at the reader.

With Apple Pay, you may no longer need to carry your credit or debit cards around as you can have all of them stored in your Passbook.

How it Works

With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, you don’t even have to open an app to use the service, simply place your finger on Touch ID and hold your phone near the contactless reader. You do not have to look at the screen as a subtle beep and vibration tells you that the information was sent successfully.

For the Apple Watch, hold the face of your Apple watch near the contactless reader and double click the button that is just below the digital crown. You will know your information was sent successfully when you feel a gentle pulse and a beep. This feature will become active in early 2015.

How to Setup

Setting up is easy as all your debit and credit card info can be stored in your Passbook. To get started, you can add the debit or credit card from your iTunes a/c to Passbook by entering the security code of your card.

Use the iSight Camera to add new card information. You could even type it in manually if you wish. The first card you add becomes your default payment card, but you can always change this by going to Passbook settings and choosing another card to be your default.

Security

Every time you add a card to your Passbook, a unique Device Account Number is created and encrypted. This number is then stored safely in a secure element on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple does not store these numbers in their servers. When you are making a payment, the Device Account Number, together with a dynamic transaction-specific security code are used to process your payment. This therefore means that your actual debit or credit card numbers never get to be transmitted with payments or shared with merchants.

In case you lose your iPhone, you could always wipe it clean or put it in Lost Mode using Find My iPhone.

You will be able to use Apple Pay in over 220,000 stores that accept contactless payments.

September 11, 2014
Apple introduces Apple Watch

During the iPhone 6 launch yesterday, Apple announced the Apple Watch, which is its first incursion into the world of wearable tech. The Apple Watch is a smartwatch with a rectangular face, swappable bands, sapphire glass, inductive charging, rotating digital crown, and a heartbeat sensor.

You will have an opportunity to choose between 6 different straps, including a leather loop, a sport band, stainless steel strap and a classic leather buckle that is easy to adjust.

The watch will also be available in 2 different sizes and 3 different collections, including the Watch Edition, Watch, and Watch Sport.

Of course, the Apple Watch will only work in conjunction with an iPhone, so you will have to own a relatively new model starting with iPhone 5.

Revolutionary you think?

During the launch, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said “We love to make new products that improve people’s lives. We love to make things that allow our users to make things that they could never have imagined.” He also added that the Apple Watch will redefine what people expect from its category.

How Different is it from the iPhone?

Cook stressed that they did not just take the iPhone and transformed it into a watch. Take the Pinch to Zoom for instance, this wouldn’t work on a watch and for that matter, Apple has a small dial on the side of the watch known as the digital crown. Pressing the dial takes you to the home screen which you can personalize.

They also introduced the digital touch that allows users to quickly share a sketch that is drawn on the watch’s face. Since the watch doesn’t have a keyboard, the digital touch allows you to still communicate relatively complex ideas using sketches.

It is also important not to forget the basic function of the watch – it’s a timepiece. The watch is able to keep unfailingly precise time of 50 milliseconds of the global standard time.

You can also receive and send texts from the watch. You will feel a gentle tap whenever you get a message and you can also send out quick replies. There are customizable animated emoji too.

The watch is also your intelligent fitness companion as it will provide you with a complete report of you day’s physical activity. This includes the number of steps taken, the frequency, and quality as well. Your Activity App will simply display your fitness level in 3 rings that show your progress and thus provide you with all the motivation you need to exercise more and keep fit.

The Apple Watch retail price will start at $349 and will be available early 2015.

September 10, 2014
Apple Announces iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Apple has just announced iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, two new models with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays, and packed with some new technologies in an all-new thin design.

iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch display with 1334 x 750 resolution (38 percent more viewing area than iPhone 5s), while iPhone 6 Plus features an even bigger 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution (88 percent more viewing area and nearly three times the pixels than iPhone 5s.)

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include: the A8 chip with second generation 64-bit architecture; improved iSight and FaceTime HD cameras; ultrafast wireless technology VoLTE and Apple Pay, a new mobile payment system:

Users can pay securely and conveniently in stores by simply holding the phone near the contactless reader while keeping a finger on Touch ID; there is no need to unlock your iPhone or launch an app.

With Apple Pay, you can also make one-touch purchases within apps, without having to enter credit card or shipping information. All payment information is kept private, encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Element, a chip inside the new iPhones.

Both models include the M8 motion coprocessor that gathers motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and the new barometer, which senses air pressure to provide relative elevation.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include iOS 8 with new Messages and Photos features, QuickType keyboard, a new Health app, Family Sharing and iCloud Drive.

Pricing and Availability

iPhone 6 comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 64GB model and for $399 for a new 128GB model (with a two-year contract).

iPhone 6 Plus comes in the same colors and will be available in the US for $299 for the 16GB model, $399 for the 64GB model and $499 for the new 128GB model (with a two-year contract.)

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK beginning on Friday, September 19, and customers can pre-order both models beginning on Friday, September 12.

September 10, 2014
Reuters: iPhone 6 Rumored to be Released in August

Samsung Galaxy S5 was a disappointment to many people upon its release as it did not have many thought features as per the hyped pre-release. This has created doubt on whether Apple’s hyped new smartphone iPhone 6 will have the rumored features.

According to the latest report, the new flagship device is expected to be far superior to the recently released Galaxy S5.

Apple is expected to release iPhone 6 either in August, 2014 and that is according to Reuters. Apple is expected to first release the 4.7 –inch phone ahead of the 5.5-inch phablet. Similar to Samsung’s new smartphone, iPhone 6 is expected to have a display with 1920x1080p resolution.

Compared to Galaxy S5 that is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, the new iPhone is expected to be powered by an A8 chip 64-bit processor which is far superior that that used by the rival. iPhone is also expected to run on iOS 7.2, while Galaxy S5 runs on Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS.

According to Apple Insiders, analyst Ming –Chi Kuo was quoted saying that iPhone 6 is expected to sport a full scratch-free sapphire crystal glass screen, low temperature polysilicon in-cell touch panels, metal casing, Touch ID fingerprint technology for enhanced security, and an 8 megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture. Further, the device will come with sensors that can detect pressure, humidity, and temperature.

Samsung Galaxy S5 which was announced in February before being released to the market in April came with a 16.0 megapixel camera with HDR, fingerprint-based biometric technology, Private mode, Kids mode, Download booster, Bluetooth v4.0 BLE/ANT+, waterproof and dust-resistant IP67 certification, NFC, S Health v3.0, and IR Remote among others.

iPhone 6 concept: Martin Hajek

May 22, 2014
Displays for 4.7-Inch iPhone, Apple HDTV, Retina MacBook Air and iWatch Predicted by NPD DisplaySearch

NPD DisplaySearch is a reputable source of supply chain chatter. They are currently making predictions on Apple’s future iOS device line up. These include the Retina MacBook air, Apple HDTV, iPhone 6 as well as the iWatch. NPD is indicating that Apple will certainly release a larger iPhone. Infact, they are of the view that Apple’s products across the board are set to have massive improvements.

Apple is poised to revamp almost all their displays according to NPD DisplaySearch blog. This will cut across almost every category in its product line. Apple has always had a unique way of doing things including doubling pixels and improving resolutions on its devices.

NPD DisplaySearch believes that Apple will adopt both 5.7-inch display and 4.7-inch display for the iPhone 6. These will be running on 1080p and 720p displays. They also think that a 13 –inch iPad will be released running on oddball 2732 x 2048 resolution.

NPD DisplaySearch also believes that a bizarre 2304 x 1440 display will be available on the new MacBook Air.

The research company also predicts that the Apple HDTV will be a 4K set and will come in 55 inch and 65 inch varieties. As for the iWatch, they believe it will be a flexible AMOLED affair and will have a wimpy 320 x 320 display.

October 30, 2013