Category: Apple

  • iPhone SE 2020 Review

    Welcome to the iPhone SE 2020 review. We are reviewing it because we loved the original iPhone SE as it was a genuine value for money model even against other non Apple phones at the time. The US price is ‘low’ but else where in the world The iPhone SE is still expensive and clearly priced above the mid-range class that many self proclaimed reputable websites promote. We though long and hard about how honest we should write put the review, pander to the iPhone fans or anti-phones fans… So how good is the 2020 iPhone SE? In terms of construction the iPhone SE 2020 is very good and is expected since it is an iPhone 8, which is in turn the same design as an iPhone 7 and 6. They aren’t completely identical with the 7 models onwards having a slightly curved screen on the edges. In terms of hardware the iPhone SE 2020 uses similar internals from the iPhone 11 specially the CPU but the rest is slower spec. There is so much tech proclaimed in the display of the iPhone SE like Retina, True Tone, Dolby vision and HDR10 unfortunately it’s all wasted since it still can’t match a AMOLED display of say the cheaper Samsung A series phones for example. The CPU is state of the art but clearly needed to support the bloated OS which needs the extra cycles to power the interface. Benchmarks to the small minded apparently prove it’s the fastest but reality is it no different to the mid-range Snap Dragon SOC’s of cheaper phones like the Pixel3a.  Benchmarks have but it’s petrol vs diesel. Limited memory and having to pay for Apple’s online storage is a bit of a running joke around here. Further more the battery is tiny so you will be recharging every night and once during the day if you actually use it. In terms of use the iPhone SE 2020 is very good. They have refined the interface over the years and it shows. Unfortunately there are new complexities that other OS have had to deal with that make the latest OS even more complicated. For example we accidentally opened two browser windows and unable to close them. We also like to point out the masses of you tubers and proclaimed expert reviewers claiming the right pricing for outdated design, poor quality screen by class standards in 2020 albeit current CPU.  Note surprisingly heats up quite quickly even running the standard Pokemon GO. In these days of text messages rather than phone calls the microphone quality is poor but the speaker sound nice although muffled if you have less than perfect hearing. As a side note we are so disappointed with these popular youtube self proclaimed tech review channels that are not tech people but presenters who tell you what you want to hear with minimal facts. Remember they complained about the Samsung OLED and didn’t bother to adjust the screen brightness or colour setttings rather complain about over saturation, so they actually even bother to do a proper review. In hindsight it is clear they are not proper reviews and iPhone fans since they don’t have any adjustment and claim ‘dark mode’ is the the solution. We don’t think so. In conclusion the Apple iPhone SE 2020 is a very good iPhone at a cheaper price but it literally shows as soon as you turn it on. Only entry level phones have this sort quality. The bloated operating software is still slick but now requires the latest CPU to operate smoothly and hard to find settings is the biggest problems. At least it’s fast. Unfortunately it also doesn’t do anything different from a older iPhone so no progress. In the end the iPhone SE of 2020 is over hyped and not in the same value for money category as other phones, only when you compare it to other iPhones. Specifications iPhone SE 2020
    • Network GSM 3G 4G LTE
    • Design Touch screen
    • L138.4 x W67.3 x D7.3 mm
    • Weight 148 grams
    • Display 4.7 inch 1334 x 750 IPS LCD
    • Camera Main 12 MP LED Flash Selfie camera 7 MP
    • Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi,  Bluetooth, NFC
    • CPU A13 1.8 Ghz 6 Core
    • Memory 3 Gig RAM Up to 64 GB for user or 128GB or 256GB
    • Features Finger printer sensor 1821 mAh battery Up to 3 days standby
    • Price (RRP) history iPhone SE 2020: FROM $749 AUD April 2020 (Outright)

  • Apple iPhone 7 Review


    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 7 review for 2020. The iPhone 7 was released all the way back in 2016 but it's still for sale as an entry level iPhone, along with the old iPhone 6S stocks being depleted. Since the iPhone is difficult to review without comparing it to the superseded model besides, they are physically identical we've included both reviews in one post. 

    In terms of construction iPhone7 is very good. The iPhone 7 has a slightly curved screen on the edges but you can't tell unless using a 6S screen protector, as well did. The design is industrial and aged - it's not a classic design as per prior's iPhone that's for sure. The Home button is still a welcome design element. No complaint apart from the ugliness of the rear panel. 

    In terms of hardware the iPhone 7 has a huge jump in CPU power but missing a headphone jack. The screen resolution is good for a small screen but it is washed out and cheap looking compared other phones of the same age. The call quality has always been very average despite what marketing says and claimed youtube and tech review sites. We understand why they don't say the truth and it allows us to point out the flaws. The pictures taken from the cameras are OK for their age but still not comparable to the point and shoot cameras for the same age.  The ultimate problem with any iPhone is their lack of storage space which you pay a premium for. 

    In terms of usage the iPhone 7 still has a consistently smooth interface and run Apps quickly dependent on how much data downloading they require. The iPhone 7 is noticeably faster than the iPhone 6S at about a fraction of a second in most instances. The operating system in general is much more complicated than in the past as Apple is still catching up with the competition in terms of features. As a result it means the the system is getting difficult to use. 

    In the end the iPhone 7 is a budget choice. It's nearest competitor is the iPhone 6S and more often than not the less than $100 difference makes it a tough choice. The choice comes down to a iPhone 6S with 32GB memory or a iPhone 7with 32GB. If your primary usage are calls, non graphical social media and emails. The camera is still OK and more than adequate for this type of usage.  Mind you picture quality is still not on par with the point and shoot cameras of this era. Furthermore the iPhone 6S will be dropped form support soon.

    Is the iPhone 7 worth buying in 2020? the answer yes but conditional. The problem of 32GB,  it's not a lot memory for apps and pictures. If you can't stretch to the 128GB model you will need to use an online storage. We recommend using Google or Dropbox as they offer a free storage tier. DO NOT pay for iCloud, amongst other flaws it doesn't allow you to share with others unless you pay them even more money for the family pack. We read other web reviewers and so called tech experts with the Apple imessage bias as an excuse for recommending a iPhone - you aren't tech experts if you don't know about other messaging services the rest of the  world uses. 

    Specifications

    • Apple iPhone 7
    • Network
      All
    • Design
      Touch screen
      L138.3 x W67.1 x 7.1 mm
      Weight 143 grams
    • Display
      4.7 inch LCD
      750 x 1334 LCD
    • Camera
      12 MP auto-focus
      LED Flash
      2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP
    • Video Camera
      4K 30FPS main video camera
      5MP front camera
    • Connectivity
      Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • CPU
      A10 2.3 Ghz CPU
    • Memory
      2 Gig RAM
      Up to 32 or 128 Gig for user
    • Features
      NFC - No headphone jack - Cheap screen
    • Power
      1960 Li-Po mAh battery
      Up to 7 Days Standby
      Up to 14 hours Talk Time
    • Price history
      iPhone 6S 32GB GB Approx FROM $429 AUD May 2020 (Outright)
      iPhone 7 32GB Approx FROM $489 AUD May 2020 (Outright)
      iPhone 7 128GB Approx FROM $599 AUD May 2020 (Outright)
  • iPhone 6S Review

    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 6S review for 2018. The iPhone 6S has been around since late 2015 so it's a pretty old phone but is it with buying in 2018. It is still for sale on the official Apple website and priced relatively cheaper than the iPhone  7 and 8 not to mention the iPhone X. The iPhone 6S is officially priced at $649 in base trim or from $849 for the larger screen 6S Plus as an outright purchase. Don't even think about the regular iPhone 6 unless you have basic requirements or not into modern games. Is the iPhone 6S a budget mobile phone is it worth it? In terms of construction the iPhone 6s is very good. It has a weight to it that feels premium and on the screen side looks great. Unfortunately the rear side of the 6S is looking a little cheap due to the obvious antenna lines. Not many will see it's rear anyway as there will be some sort of case to prevent damage when it is inevitably dropped. Very good overall and definitely a benchmark despite the unsightly lines - surely Steve Jobs would object! It is a bit of a brick in 2018 and it looks exactly like the older iPhone6. In terms of hardware specifications the iPhone 6s can be judged by its technical specifications and the most annoying and obvious part is the screen resolution and display technology. The screen images is dull and the graphics appear faded, only those with rose coloured glasses on, like  iPhone fans cannot see it for how school it looks. Although the resolution is not even HD the high density of pixels make the graphics look better than it's resolution suggests. The speaker is a standout that actually sounds great for a tiny one and the real home button is nice to press and the fingerprint scanner works very fast! The low memory capacity is as always disappointing as the entry level 32Gigs is barely usable in 2018. In terms of use the iPhone 6s is still pretty good. After all the operating system and the hardware are designed as a pair. In the past simplicity has been a key factor in it's popularity however there is now 10 times the difficulty. Mind you it still lack the flexibility and functionality of an Android OS based phone. Nonetheless it works really well and mostly smooth until an App requires just a tiny bit extra power. We also noticed that when the iPhone's battery level gets under 30% there is a noticeable drop in stability and performance. Overall a good iPhone that the can most things only limited it's tiny memory. The conclusion is simple, the iPhone 6s is a very good phone and worth buying in 2018 if you're an iPhone convert but for anyone else it is expensive. It's not as slick as the latest iPhones which indicates that the operating system is getting bloated. Efficient systems like the late Windows Phone was amazing and could run on low powered CPUs easily and just a smooth. If you want an iPhone then the 6S is the cheaper alternative but support for it will disappear in the next 12 months so our recommendation to to get there expensive iPhone 8 or 7 if you can still find one. Alternatively the 5SE is worth a look and cheaper. Specifications
    • Apple iPhone 6s
    • Network All
    • Design Touch screen L138.3 x W67.1 x 7.1 mm Weight 143 grams
    • Display 4.7 inch LCD 750 x 1334 LCD
    • Camera 12 MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP
    • Video Camera 4K 30FPS main video camera 5MP front camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
    • CPU A9 1.8 Ghz CPU
    • Memory 1 Gig RAM Up to 32 or 128 Gig for user
    • Features NFC
    • Power 1715 Li-Po mAh battery Up to 10 Days Standby Up to 14 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx FROM $649 AUD May (Outright)

  • iPhone SE Review

     2012_iphone5_1
    Welcome to the Apple iPhone SE review. As usual we start with the same phrase, we love the iPhone and loathe it at the same time. It's a great phone platform because there are plenty of Apps to extend the phone's functionality beyond what Apple even imagined. The support is great at an Apple store and online. However on the flip side hardware specifications are not top of the range and most importantly security problems are hidden until the hackers s[read your personal data over the internet! Anyway the newsiest iPhone is their budget or entry level model now simply called the iPhone SE. The iPhone SE is priced $679 AUD for the entry level 16 Gig model so it is not  exactly bargain priced. Apple fans tend to blame parts manufacturers for short falls in performance but of course anyone with a bit of common sense knows that Apple doesn't use the latest hardware because it costs more. It's purely financial decision. Adding the latest tech and gloss over catchup functionality with very good PR. Since the majority of iPhone users are not usually tech inclined the power of the PR and Brand stands. In terms of construction and design the iPhone SE the description is easy! The iPhone SE is exactly the same as the 4 year old iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S on the outside. It is a good design that's modern and relatively sleek but it does look a little cheap in 2016. Apple calls it timeless we call it by its true name - lost design Mojo. The 1000-ish Apple designers are on holidays and the temps are the accountants which is exactly what the you get...  Regardless in the hand the build quality is excellent and the size is very good if you don't have large hands and good eye sight as the screen is a little small. The image or screen quality is very good too but again it is washed out but it does show that the odd sized 1136 X 640 screen is good enough if the pixel density is at least 326ppi. The iPhone 5S design looks OK in isolation and can only be compared with other iPhones and in that sense it's better looking than the iPhone 6 but not as nice as the iPhone 4s. In terms of hardware the iPhone SE is a mix of iPhone 5S on the outside and iPhone 6S  on the inside. Sure not all 6S hardware is on the inside but the key features are so you get 4K video (with Ok quality) but the new camera hardware exceeds the vast majority of regular 'point and shoot' cameras. A faster CPU helps smooths out the iPhone 5S sluggish performance running the latest version of iOS. No improvement on the call quality side as the microphones and speakers of the iPhone SE are really below the standard set by the Samsung Galaxy series and especially the forgotten Microsoft Lumia phones in this price range. You can easily tell the caller has an iPhone by the muffled call quality. Overall though there is nothing exceptional or truly bad apart from the tiny screen and the biggest problem and flaw with the iPhone SE and the entire range is a measly 16G memory as standard which means less than 8G available for phones, music etc.. In terms of use and features we like Apple PR with 3D touch - holding your finger on the icon to see an extra menu has been around for years only Apple has finally caught up. However developing hardware solution is not a financially sound way of doing things. The iOS interface is really good but it is quite complex these days with lots of things to turn and off but still lags behind Microsoft's Windows 10 for phones. Online storage is expensive but the inclusion of NFC is good and the faster processor does help the growing operating system bloat. Apps are now offering the ability to transfer your Apps via logins so you can move from the iPhone without paying for it again so the lock to Apple is slowly disappearing. Is the iPhone still simple to use? Yes. How can you sell a recycled design and a claimed 1000+ designers employed and have PR say that your company is innovative? The answer is No - yet Apple continues to advertise. Nonetheless the iPhone SE is a great little phone with the right specifications in a compact size. The iPhone SE biggest problem is that it is overpriced especially with so little memory to use, especially when trying to take 4K video or the vast majority of 'essential' Apps as the entry level model. In that sense the iPhone SE is a pricing rip off - it is a great time to try another brand to see if you like it.
    • Apple iPhone SE
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 4G LTE All
    • Design Touch screen
    • L123.8 x W58.6 x D7.6mm Weight 113 grams
    • Display/s External TFT 640 x 1136
    • Camera 12MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 4K 30 fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU A9 Dual Core 1.84 Ghz Graphics: PowerVR GT7600
    • Memory From 16 - 64 Gig Less than 8 Gig for the user.
    • Ring tones Purchase or iStudio only and vibration
    • Features 4K video Battery 1624 mAh Up to 240 hours Standby Up to 14 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $679 AUS 2012 (Outright 16Gig)

  • iPhone 5c Review

    iphone5c_1
    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 5c review. This review is a little late after all the 5c has been for sale since 2013. Mobile phone tech sets new benchmarks every 12 months and you just have to check out our older reviews just to see how the model we raved about then no longer can compete against the latest models. In this context we wrote this review. Furthermore since there are few note worthy models at this time of the year we decided to up this review. In terms of construction the iPhone 5C feels good for a plastic backed phone. The color and feel though show that Apple went too far in trying to make a cheap iPhone since it looks and ultimately feels as cheap as the cheapest non-Apple mobile phone but without the truly cheap price tag. We don't think that Apple needed to downgrade the construction if you want to make a cheaper model than the regular 5. But it does prove how difficult it is to make a plastic look and feel good. Only Nokia has managed to do that so far. In terms of hardware the iPhone 5C uses a slower CPU and GPU then the regular 5 but it is faster than the 4S. Everything else in 2015 terms the 5C ranks slightly lower than existing 2015 mid range phones in terms of specification. The bonus you get is 4G or LTE capability which is still not a universal feature in this part of the market BUT a tiny screen. Furthermore the lack of memory in the basic '8 Gig' model in reality comes with less than 5Gigs  for data and Apps is a joke really. The iPhone 5C is not a 5 or 5S, more like a slightly upgrade 4S. Clearly it's not close to the iPhone 6 in terms of performance. In terms of use the iPhone 5C is just like any other iPhone except a little slower. Teens and those in their 20's will notice the relative slowness but won't complain too much because they are little embarrassed having just spent a lot money on something that's quite dated. Older folk will also know the difference if they already own a new iPhone. Overall smooth to use but the interface is starting to show Apple trying to pack in features that require user intervention to tweak to maximise and mostly turn off. The need for Apps to do many things is annoying and honestly they are mostly Advertising App driven interface is quite annoying. It's not bad to use but a 2015 Windows phone is easier to use. Overall the iPhone 5C is a bit of strange model. It's not cheap because any recently superseded iPhone will always be a better option and value for money in to terms of speed, feature and 'status' only for those in certain countries. The best thing about the iPhone is still the number of Apps available and that's the only saving feature in the 5C model. It's a triumph of PR over reality the 5C so we'd save for the regular 5 or 5S version for longevity, the slightly bigger screen, more memory but optioned with at least 32Gig for the sake of usability. In the end we would definitely prefer a Windows Phone like the run out Lumia 930 before considering the 5C. Specifications
    • Apple iPhone 5c
    • Network Quad-band GSM Tri-band 3G 4G LTE
    • Design Touch screen
    • L124.4 x W59.2 x D9 mm Weight 132 grams
    • Display/s External 4 inch TFT 640 x 1136
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 1.2 MP 30 fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Dual Core 1.3 Ghz Graphics: PowerVR
    • Memory From 8-32Gig
    • Ring tones Purchase or iStudio only
    • Features A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer, Gyrometer Compass, Proximity sensor, Multi-touch screen Battery 1510 mAh Up to 250 hours Standby Up to 10 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $529 AUD 2015 (Outright 8G)

  • Apple Watch preview

    While waiting to check out the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition in real life we decided to post our collective review of Apple’s PR aka promotional campaign for their Apple watch. We’re trying to keep the reviews real since no one seems to want to.

    1. According to Apple, the Apple watch and its variants are a fashion accessory. True but any watch is a fashion accessory. Accessory is the key word as watches are not essential.

    2. Apple further promotes it’s watch as being high fashion aka in the same class as Chanel, Lous Vitton etc… We don’t think so – it has a rectangular face for a start – ordinary. Admittedly top end one watch is coated with a gold alloy is playing to technicalities. It won’t match the iphone because the ‘gold’ iphone is a shade of copper. It’ not made of platinum which is more expensive so a bit of rip off for essentially a colour.

    3. Much press is made of the different bands which are nice to look at but any smart watch can be fitted with new ones which are just as good. Also  the design of the Apple bands are custom so you’re paying the ‘Apple Tax’.

    4. Apple promote the functionality of the watch – fair enough. However it’s a little geeky and middle class certainly not high fashion or fashion in general just a geeky.

    5. The watch is noticeably bulky which is fashionable but because is just a rectangle it seriously does not look good. The Moto 360 and even LG Watch are far more intriguing. The LG G watch R more impressive as it hide it’s size very well and the Moto 360 genuinely looks like a designer item. You can tell those who are in Apple’s pocket book by their reviews that miss the obvious ungainly size yet critise the sine of the other brands!

    6. Fashion is about personality, individual and creative hence millions of the same Apple watches is not fashionable. The Apple watch is still priced as mass market model and combined with the manufactured millions, unfortunately it is the ‘kiss of death’ for any fashion brand. It’s like a Target product at best.

    7. The Apple watch is completely made and assembled in the millions in a factory in China by anonymous factory workers. As a result the Apple watch will never be fashionable. Real fashion watches like Rolex and Omega are assembled be watch makers in Switzerland, admittedly the materials may be from other countries.

    8. Real watches have real gold, diamonds, rubies, shappire etc.. The Apple watch is made of exotic materials for the electronics and it uses a ‘gold’ like material as a coating but nothing like real diamonds and other precious stones that don’t need a battery to sparkle. We cannot imagine music rappers showing this one off.

    9. The tech in the Apple watch is not cutting edge it will date quickly like its battery. It’s a tech gadget that will have a6 month life span for most people. However it will work like any other fitness band or health watch and existing Android watches so may result in some longevity beyond 6 months.

    10. Most tech bloggers have never owned a real Rolex, Omega or even the lower end TAG, Longiness etc.. so have no idea. They may have owned a digital watch though.

    Conclusion, the Apple PR is just like any PR from any tech company and its not particularly sophisticated as in the past. As for the Apple watch no fashion models have been used to promote the product so far which is interesting. We believe that the Apple watch will probably be a geek style icon like the Casio calculator watch, which is not a bad thing. Finally, it will be interesting to see if one of the latest current product placement kings singer Jason Derulo or even the Kardasians will have an Apple watch.

  • Apple iPhone 6 – iPhone 6 Plus – Apple Watch review


    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 6, iPhone6 Plus and Apple Watch review. You've no doubt read all the various opinions aka reviews on the latest release from Apple and already from your own opinion on the latest model. In fact you may already own one but still interested to read why everyone loves your phone but mostly whether there are any new problems and why your views are not shared with so many others who chose other brands. We refer to brands because that appears to be the ultimate strategic direction for Apple. Namely a high profit luxury brand with supposedly gorgeous designs but little else - the iPhone 6 is not even close to the cheapest Vertu which uses real diamonds, rubies, platinum and other exotic materials. It's quite a smart move business wise but you can only fool consumers for so long! Unfortunately the iPhone 6 as a product does not even attempt that. So we take off the gloss and tell it as it is without the hype and shortsightedness of the paid media.

    iPhone 6 review:

    The mobile phone has evolved from literally a mobile phone to a smart phone to what is a small computer. As a software platform the iPhone is equal best (next to Android). It is like the old IBM and Apple of old where they make the hardware and OS but allow 3rd party developers to improve on the platform and make it more  desirable. Summarised, what makes the iPhone so desirable is branding the PR or advertising and of course the Apps, secondary to that is the actual hardware.

    The hardware behind the iPhone 6 is relatively high end but not the leading edge. Instead of spending time making the hardware more efficient Apple has chosen to take the short cut of putting in a larger battery to compensate. As a result so much of so called improvement just marketing spin. The design of the case is nothing special which is disappointing considering that the prior models where reasonably unique designs. The iPhone design peaked with the Steve Jobs directed iPhone 4s and it's been down hill from there.

    The iPhone 6 does look like a Nokia 925 from a couple years ago. The way which the panels are put together are really good but not particularly premium more like just another well made phone. The white plastic edges are not attractive to look at likewise the camera lens juts out from the back and because its on an left edge means it never sits flat. Thankfully the majority of users will get an case for it to compensate of this design flaw. The other telling design problem that proves Apple has made the iPhone 6 down market is the missing metal surround on the headphone socket. Previously it has a nice and shiny metal border, it is missing clearly missing on the 6.  The real Steve Jobs would never approve of this essentially poor design.

    More telling was the the lack of an infrared and better sounding built in speaker system. The fast CPU doesn't really show its self but the screen image quality is among the best of the 2014 range topper smartphones.  The camera hardware is 'claimed' to be significantly improved but will let other dedicated sites determine whether true of just more advertising spin. Recent comparisons show that it doesn't quite match the ultimate photo phone the Nokia 1020 but clearly better than the last one. The pictures the iPhone 6 camera takes requires more software to clean up the image as opposed to being clean from the start. It also shows how some other websites who claimed that iPhone 5s camera was the best clearly shouldn't be believed anymore. As we've said previously iPhone camera wasn't even close to the much older Nokia N8.

    The operating system is the best part of the iPhone and while we didn't see any new functionality that was memorable or worth detailing, even the catchup features of various health monitors and much is hyped Apple Pay system which we think will just like another sub-par addition like Siri and Apple Maps etc... but at least matches what other brands have being doing over the last few years. Apple is once again copying existing ideas. Finally the 16Gig memory for the base model is simply a rip off and something everyone seems to forget.

    The conclusion of this review is that the iPhone 6 is more of the same just bigger and less attention to detail. It would seem perfectly justified not to do too much since they are still making huge profits. Other than the things we pointed out there is nothing wrong with the latest iPhone but there is nothing compelling about it either. Anyone saying anything different is small minded and not promoting tech progress. Regardless the iPhone 6 is the best iPhone to date but that's it. "Pity you can't use it one handed - LOL - sarcasm folks"

    iPhone 6 Plus:

    The largest version of the iPhone 6 follows in the foot steps of what every other brand realized 2 years ago, that people want larger screens. It is fortunate that Apple have released the larger iPhone 6 Plus model because it can now really stop the 'can't use it one handed' PR rubbish one liner which clearly everyone but the Apple faithful believe. As they say let it go...

    Nice large screen makes the 6 Plus the best model to get. Ignoring the failed software update the iPhone 6 Plus does feel less sturdy than the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, which is larger. It may indeed bend simply carrying it in your pocket but I think Apple QA would have tested it properly before release... Or perhaps you are not carrying it the right way...

    Apple Watch

    We didn't expect an Apple watch this year but the version they released was again disappointing. It does nothing that existing watches do accept to cost more. It doesn't actually look any better that current models either.  In fact the Moto 360 will be the benchmark watch to get when it goes on sale. The off repeated one-liner (if actually true?) from the chief designer about the Swiss watch industry will be replaced by the Apple watch is definitely premature and shows how arrogant the company is these days. After all wasn't it Apple with thousands of designers simply copied the design of the Swiss train watch face from in the first place?

    The Swiss watch brand and industry has survived the digital watch invasion, computers, mobile phone and smartphones it will survive the Apple watch. Swiss watches are made in very small numbers and use very intricate parts and materials and usually hand made and unique. They are often not particularly accurate at keeping time but don't need batteries either. Swiss watches are luxury items and truly collectable. 'Swiss made' watches are not made by the millions in China. Swiss watches are everything the Apple Watch is not - thankfully.

    The Apple Watch  has no functionally that does not already exist and after using the Sony Smartwatch2 for the last 6 months, honestly its a nice addition but ultimately the Apple watch will only give the Swatch brand a run for its money (at the most). The Apple Watch will not be ultimately useful or good looking enough to replace even a basic TAG HEUR let alone competing with a Omega or Rolex. It's a disappointment but telling about the fan based pre-release rumors of a benchmark watch design vs the actual release is a let down. People expected a classic design due to so much PR promoting that Apple has sooooo many designers in the company unfortunately the result is forgettable along with changeable wrist bands and a twirling menu dial! Pity the Apple watch will probably break should you be caught in the rain.

    Final thoughts:

    Our favorite stupid and repetitive comment on the iPhone's larger competitors in particular. 'You can't use it one handed' spare us! The truth is by watching the line up for the new iPhone shows that one actually uses their existing iPhone one handed. You see it's really easy to drop and damage the iPhone so no one does. Some Bloggers and Apple PR should get out more if this is the biggest compliant about a larger screen the person who write it needs to get out more. Funny that the same people don't mention anything about that with the now larger iPhone 6.

    The iPhone 6 is very expensive and definitely not value for money. Apart from battery life the 16G memory in the mass market iPhone is tiny in 2014 and usable space is under 12 Gig. How so many claimed pro bloggers and and claimed reputable sites miss this rip off is disappointing.

    Aluminum is not a 'premium' metal, you can buy it in rolls at any grocery store.

    Clearly visible plastic joint lines is not a luxury design choice it's the cheapest choice.

    No one mentions the lower grade materials especially the cheap plastic interior of the headphone socket.

    Apple is incapable of making the iPhone water resistant or vaguely weather proof.

    To prevent the iPhone from bending we will now be told 'we're doing it wrong' just like what happened with the antenna problem with the iPhone 4. Perhaps they shouldn't be kept in pockets after all?

    Only Apple could get away without false advertising of the 'Gold' iPhone is not really made of gold or gold in colour - let's face it it's beige coloured boring beige so get over it.

     

  • Apple iTunes 11 update is really bad

    Oh dear – Apple really stuffed up with the iTunes 11 re-design!

    It is basically a mess. Sure there is some vague logic to it – maybe but NO it is quite and utterly stupid. They should have kept the Windows Explorer design they originally copied. I’m sure you know what we mean and it will take a true Apple die hard fan to try and explain why it makes thing easier. Maybe you have to use it one handed! LOL

    Even the latest Windows 8 redesign works infinitely better and easier to understand. When your 11 year old can understand Windows 8 in 10 minutes but still can’t quite work out iTunes you have a problem – Nope really serious problem.

    BTW you have to press SHOW SIDEBAR under the VIEW menu to restore it back to a interface that you can actually understand.

    We can image millions of people looking at the default screen after the upgrade and going WTF like we did!

     

  • Apple iPhone 5 Review

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    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 5 review. We love the iPhone and loathe it at the same time. Since everyone only points out the positives for the iPhone we decided to point out the negatives to add some balance to the world. Each new iPhone usually adds a feature or two which has been on other phones but Apple applies it's own user interface magic and hardware 'innovations' to make the phone work better. Eg. SIRI for example was not developed by Apple but purchased the company that was going to release it! (Apple PR and the mass media and certain other website then rewrite history claiming it's an Apple original which is a bit sad.) Unfortunately the iPhone 5 does none of that for the owner, in fact they have made it worse  - which is a pity. However in terms of hardware they have made significant technological improvements like the updated screen and even lighter weight body. The new screen technology while boasting superior images thinner and lighter construction doesn't really set its self apart of the older screen and we couldn't tell the difference. The larger screen is welcome but if the text is still the same size you still can't read the text combined with the awkward screen size... The iPhone 5's multiple microphones supposedly make call quality better but is a complete fail. The call quality and volume still cannot beat your basic Nokia and Motorola phones have been enjoying for years. The latest iPhone now looks awkward rather than stylish and proportionate. The old iPhones 1 to 4S looked great but the 5 is not right... The light weight is handy thanks to even more need for a protective case. However we think they have made it too light - lightness usually equals cheapness and it does feel cheap. It may be metal but it looks and feels like plastic and scratches like plastic too - so what's the point? The user interface shows its age although retains its remarkable ease of use. We are also getting tired of reading the repetitive propaganda about the decision to make the iPhone look awkward - so that you can type one handed - what a joke. In the real world you cannot type one handed (we just tried again its too difficult even more so if you're a lady who has nails) on the iPhone properly without looking at the keypad or two hands because it is way too small and 99% use both hands and the auto-correct is still flawed. The changing of the connector is also a bit of a pain, simply so the company can get a few more dollars. A lot of people will be unnecessarily wasting money and creating more waste to pollute the planet. Let's not forget the very poor Apple Maps application. Amongst other issues Maps is plainly incorrect, locations and images etc.. We also think Subway pays them because we see a lot of Subways that don't or have never existed... Despite the iPhone 5's significant flaws (it is the worse iPhone to date) it is still one of the best smart phones you can buy! It will do everything you want and more, purely due to the Apps and content store so if you afford it go for it but check out these others first - in particular Windows 8 phones. Specifications
    • Apple iPhone 5
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 4G LTE 850/2100/1700/1800/1900/2100
    • Design Touch screen
    • L123.8 x W58.6 x D7.6mm Weight 112 grams
    • Display/s External TFT 640 x 1136
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera HD 1080p 30 fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU A6 1.2 Ghz Graphics: PowerVR 543
    • Memory From 8-64ig
    • Ring tones Purchase or iStudio only and vibration
    • Features A-GPS Accelerometer Gyrometer Compass Proximity sensor Multi-touch screen Music and Media player Remote security Contacts/Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Battery 1420 mAh Up to 225 hours Standby Up to 8 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $879 AUS 2012 (Outright)