Deck goes here
I had made plans to watch the broadcast of last week's Apple event, which started at midnight Thailand time. The live feed was abysmal, with several breaks, making it hard to follow. Disruptions occurred both with the web feed and Apple TV; this frustrated users in several countries, so it was not a local bandwidth problem. At the time of writing, Apple has neither explained the poor video quality nor apologised.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
On Friday, when pre-orders for the iPhone 6 began, networks were again overwhelmed, as was the case with previous iPhone releases. The Apple site now tells you to expect a wait of three to four weeks between ordering and delivery. Apple commented that it was seeing a record demand (some described this as "overwhelming" or "crushing"), even though numerous sources have been telling us for months now that no one would be interested in the new iPhone.
As predicted, there are two models: the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens. Resolutions are 1334x750, 326ppi; and 1920x1080, 401ppi (the same as for the 21.5-inch iMac). I'm not sure if I'll like the larger screen, but the world has moved on since the first iPhone. Like the iPad mini, if there's a real demand, Apple responds.
Both iPhones have LTE capabilities as well as Wi-Fi, using the 802.11ac standard (at last!) which will give much better in-home speeds for inter-device operations. The A8 processor is 1.5 times faster than the A7 in the iPhone 5s.
The iOS 8 will be available from today, just before the first new iPhones are released. The Continuity feature is not expected to be available until mid-October which suggests that Yosemite won't be released until then.
I will get one as soon as I can, of course, but I'm not going to queue up at one of those humiliating midnight releases that local carriers think are so cool.
The camera has been improved with new optical stabilisation on the iPhone 6 Plus. The camera lens protrudes, but then so do the "off" button, sound switch and volume controls on the iPhone 5s. One source suggested that this might allow for new types of lens attachment (which are rumoured to be on the way).
An integrated payments system using the Touch ID had been rumoured. The iPhones will have NFC (near-field communications) which will work with the service called Apple Pay.
It has taken a long time for Cupertino to provide this, but some commentators are not sure that current solutions have been successful. Walt Mossberg, for example, speaking on CNBC before the event, was particularly dismissive of the Google payments system. "The picture was not as good as people had hoped," he said.
Several major credit cards have signed up with Apple for the service. It is expected that Apple will take a small percentage (0.15%) as a fee for each transaction, but even if it's just a few cents, the takings will soon add up with large numbers of transactions.
While discussing the service in an interview with Charlie Rose, Cook mentioned Thailand as one of the countries with a fast-growing middle class: perhaps one of the countries where such a service would do well. If Apple Pay did come here, it would need co-operation with credit-card companies, retailers and the Bank of Thailand.
It was also revealing that the "i" has disappeared: it's not iPayments, but Apple Payments; not an iWatch, but an Apple Watch.
Apple Watch
No real surprise this, but the watches themselves look good (especially in close up), with Apple's usual attention to detail. This extends to the straps too, including the materials and the ways in which they can be adjusted.
With straps, watch bodies and interfaces, there are said to be millions of possible permutations for users. The Apple Watch is reversible for those who wear a watch on the right hand. I am left-handed but always wear mine on the left wrist.
Henry Blodget, John Dvorak and others in the vanguard of the Apple negativity industry have been predictable. We were told in 2007 that no one would buy the iPhone. I don't want a watch either (at least, maybe not).
A proper analysis of what it does, for example by watch expert Benjamin Clymer (whose objective comments are worth taking some time to read), puts the device into the proper perspective. Approaching Apple and its products with the intent to belittle everything, simply demeans the commentator.
The Apple Watch will be available next year which will give developers time to create apps for it. While it is designed to work with the iPhone, the user does not need that at all times to make the watch work: for example, Bluetooth will allow connection to a headset.
To echo the introduction given for the original iPhone, "this is not three separate products", but an integration of hardware, software and services.
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