If you’re an Apple fan, today is better than Christmas Eve. Tomorrow Santa Cook and the Cupertino elves will trundle out their newest toys for us to “Oohh” and “Aahh” over. Countless rumours are coursing through the Internet with “news: and “leaks” about the presents under the Apple tree and here at SoyaCincau.com we’ve done our best to separate the possible from the ridiculous. Join us and read on as we pick up a crate, shake it about and try to guess what delights are inside.
iPhone 6
The most anticipated announcement tomorrow is that of the new iPhone 6 that’s expected to be introduced in two sizes, 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches. While the iPhone 5 got a bit taller than its predecessors, the width of iPhones has remained constant ever since the first model was introduced in 2007.
By increasing the screen size of the iPhone 6 Apple will be doing more than just making it easier to read text and view images on the latest generation of its flagship product. Larger screens also give developers more space for controls and visual features and we hope this will catalyse a new wave of innovation across the App Store.
The bigger iPhones are also expected to be equipped with larger batteries and the 4.7 inch iPhone 6 will likely have one that’s 1,810 mAh, around 16% larger than the battery in the iPhone 5S. The 5.5 inch iPhone 6 may come with a 2,915 mAh battery.
But at 5.5 inch, the iPhone 6 will be Apple’s largest iPhone ever and by going large, will Apple compromise its trademark ease of use over screen real estate? If a 5.5-inch iPhone is indeed true, it will be interesting to see how Apple designers strike a balance between the two.
Sapphire Glass
Apple uses super-tough sapphire glass to cover rear camera lens of the iPhone 5 and the TouchID button on the iPhone 5S. Since January, Apple’s Mesa, Arizona, factory where they manufacture sapphire glass has been working full tilt and it’s possible that the one or both iPhone 6 models will sport a full sapphire glass face.
Some rumours suggest that the sapphire glass iPhone 6 will raise the price of the device. However since Apple controls the manufacturing facility it’s more likely that it will use this advantage to keep its own costs down and sell the glass at a premium to its competitors.
Mobile Wallet
Apple’s iPhone 6 is also expected to include a near-field communications (NFC) chip that will make for faster device pairing and also possibly, facilitate mobile payment. Apple is rumoured to be have already made deals with Visa, MasterCard and American Express to allow iTunes account holder to pay for retail goods and services using their iPhones, NFC could be the key to unlock this. With 800 million iTunes accounts that include payment information, Apple’s NFC mobile wallet could be the service that takes us closest to realising a cashless economy.
iOS 8
iOS 8 introduces a whole new set of features to the iPhone that weaves it more closely into Apple’s product ecosystem. Community is a feature that allows users to hand off tasks from an iPhone or iPad to an OS X laptop or desktop. iOS 8 also includes improved messaging and a file browser for iCloud.
Another new feature is HealthKit that allow the iPhone and other Apple products to monitor a user’s diet and exercise levels and contribute more fully toward creating a better life for Apple users. Meanwhile HomeKit allow the iPhone to interface with home automation to adjust the air conditioner or turn off the lights.
iWatch
The most important announcement we can expect tomorrow is the introduction of Apple’s first wearable product, a smartwatch everyone is calling the iWatch. Like the larger screen iPhones, the iWatch is Apple’s late attempt to catch up with its competitors who already have wearable products in the market. However, the iWatch will be Apple’s first new product innovation under new — but not so new — CEO Tim Cook. Fairly or otherwise the iWatch is a test of Cook’s ability to lead Apple into a new period of creativity and market leadership post Steve Jobs.
Expectations are that the iWatch will measure the wear’s biometric information and feed it to HealthKit. Using NFC, the iWatch may also be used to make payments.
Tomorrow will be a momentous day for Apple that will decide, for many people, whether the company will continue to be an icon of lifestyle and innovation. We’re anxious to find out if the Cupertino company can still pack a Jack in the box. What do you think?
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