Category: Apple

Apple to Roll out iOS 8 on 17th September

We all saw the launch of the new iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch on 9th September. We were all so excited to see the new designs of the hardware that we almost forgot that these new hardwares will be powered by the company’s new mobile software, iOS 8.

First appeared back in June at WWDC 2014, iOS 8 is one of the biggest software updates of the company in recent years. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, at the September 9th event also announced that the company will roll out the new iOS 8 to the public on September 17, just a week after the Apple event. It comes with great new features which have been previewed by us in the video below.

The new iOS come with interactive notifications, third-party keyboard support, new photo editing tools, Snapchat-like self destructive messaging, new integrated health programing system called HealthKit and many more. Check out our full review here.

September 11, 2014
iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus : Is the Bigger Screen Worth the Extra Bucks?

Months of heavy speculation about Apple revealing two new phones this year, was confirmed at the mega event held in Cupertino California on 9th September. They arrived with much fanfare and we finally got to meet the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Both the devices are larger and much thinner in size; the iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch screen and its bigger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus sports a 5.5-inch one. However, there is a hundred dollar difference between the two.

Now if you’re thinking about investing in one of these devices, you need to really think it through. Here are some differences that could help determine your decision.

Design

Both devices are made of aluminum and have a hard glass front. Also, there is a steel Apple logo at the back of the phone, that gives them both an elegant but still tough look. There are bare minimum changes in the design, the only difference is the size. As the name suggests, the iPhone 6 Plus is a lot larger than the smaller iPhone 6. Some of you may find it a bit too big for your hands. Also, at 7.1mm the iPhone 6 Plus is bit thicker, while the iPhone 6 is 6.8mm thick.

Screen and Display

As mentioned above, the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch display while the iPhone 6 is at 4.7-inch. Previous iPhones, in the last few years, have come with much smaller screens in comparison to other high-end Android phones like Galaxy Note series and the Nexus series. However, there is no significant difference in display technology between the two. Both use IPS displays with ion-toughened fronts. As expected, iPhone 6 Plus gets a higher resolution and pixel density. Where the iPhone 6 has a display of 326ppi (same as iPhone 5S), the iPhone 6 Plus offers 1080p resolution.

Camera

One of the biggest disappointment at the event was that Apple decided to stick to an 8 megapixel cameras. The new camera in the iPhones is an 8-megapixels with f/2.2 and 1.5 micrometer pixels. Although, Apple claims that the new camera comes with a better low light performance and focus than the previous generation iPhones. The iPhone 6 offers digital image stabilisation, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes with higher optical image stabilisation (OIS), hence giving the bigger variant an edge in terms of camera. Both devices are also equipped with the 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, with f/2.2 aperture.

Battery life

The iPhone 6 have the same battery life as iPhone 5S that lasts about 10 hours. The iPhone 6 Plus gets a better battery life which can last upto 16 hours on a single charge, and that is pretty impressive considering the size of the device. The larger device claims 24 hours of 3G talk time, the smaller 14 hours, however, the company did not reveal the actual capacity yet.

Processor

Both phones are equipped with the same processor and a dual-core 1.4GHz 64-bit CPU. According to the company, the new Apple A8 processor offers 20 per cent better CPU performance than the Apple A7. All in all, compared to the original iPhone, the new processor in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is rated to be 84 times faster. Furthermore, Apple says the new A8 is up to 50 percent more power-efficient and will be able to sustain battery-sucking tasks for longer without heating up.

Storage

Not that we are surprised, Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus do not offer you expandable memory option. Anyhow, Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will provide users more storage than ever before, excelling out at an impressive 128 gigabytes of space on high-end models of its two new handsets. An iPhone 6 Plus with 128GB of internal storage will be a ‘Holy Grail’ for on-the-go multimedia experience, offering enough memory for a hundred SD-quality films or 25-plus HD ones.

Verdict

Big or Small? Apple made sure that there is no weak link between the two iPhones. Both the devices have same screen tech, the same processor and similar-grade cameras with only a considerable difference is the screen size and the battery life. However, we prefer that extra display space of the iPhone 6 Plus and its greater battery life makes it more of a power user device. Keeping this and pricing in mind it will be better to spend some extra money get that extra real estate on the screen and battery life.

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September 11, 2014
Why We Love to Hate Apple

Apple’s newest smartphones are finally unveiled for the world to see. In a world of lovers and haters, the phone was bound to get some of both. iPhone enthusiasts have overall shown appreciation for Apple’s latest introductions. The internet is also abuzz with Apple haters posting memes all over the place about how Apple is slow in adopting technology.

So we decided to look into why Apple, which is loved all over the world, gets serious hate in countries like India.

Price

Indian Smartphone consumers have been really pampered recently with a lot of companies vying to impress the tech-friendly populace. The huge youth population of India loves their tech and aspires to buy products with good specs, which is pocket-friendly. With companies like Motorola, Xiaomi and others providing high-end specs for low price, the Indian consumer is getting a lot of choices.

In this situation comes Apple. The company invests a good amount of time in the aesthetics and specs of its products. It pays close details to the way their devices perform and look. It is the reason why it brings limited products in a year. This attention to detail involves costs that make the devices expensive by the time they hit the market. In countries like USA, the contract system lets people have the phone at a low initial price.

In countries like India where the products tend to be on the heavier end of the price range, they are seen as premium products and hence are restricted to people who can afford them. This causes some hatred towards the company. Even its affordable phone, the iPhone 5C, was way out of reach for an average Indian. This creates Apple’s reputation of only catering to the rich folks.

Compatibility

The new iOS 8 and Mac OSX Yosemite have amazing interconnectivity feature. Features like ‘handoff’ are revolutionary. A new device also joins the Apple universe; the Apple Watch. All these devices can connect with each other with ease. But Apple is known for incompatibility with other devices.

It’s no secret that Apple lovers love all their products, but the trouble comes when they wish to share data with others. This too restricts people from going for an Apple device.

Slow Adoption

Apple is slow in adoption of features that are available on devices such as the ones running on Android OS. Apple just inducted NFC in their devices for Apple Pay. When other companies have been giving Bluetooth file sharing options for a long while, Apple recently brought the feature called Airdrop that lets you do the same. Again, this feature is restricted between Apple devices.

But these features were well cooked by the time they arrived on Apple. Take the example of Apple Pay, the system does use NFC but along with it, uses Touch ID and a Secure Element Chip. Even the software is well built and is easy and efficient to use.

Overall, Apple needs to work harder to convince Indians that they are not at a loss for buying their products. Apple should also flaunt its superior service features to attract the consumers for this market.

September 10, 2014
Does the Apple Watch Make Sense For the Indian Market?

Yesterday at the massive event held at Cupertino California, Apple announced its long-awaited smartwatch, the Apple Watch. And we have to admit, this revolutionary device looked stunning. Square face with detachable straps, Apple Watch has an easy to understand interface for working with standard applications. It’s user-friendly, equipped with the new ‘Apple Pay’ remote payment system, and, obviously, comes with amazing watchfaces. With three choices to choose from, Apple Watch, Sport, and Edition, there ought to be something for everybody.

Well, everybody here might refer to be restricted to people from developed country. How much is Apple’s newest technology feasible for a country like ours, where tech such as NFC and Apple Pay wouldn’t be of much use?

Clearly, Apple has put lot of brains and research in the Watch. However, the starting range US$349 (INR 22,000 approx), Apple’s Watch seem quite expensive in Indian market which is ruled by value for money budget devices. The Indian handset market is ruled by Android-powered smartphones. It seems to be a major setback that the Apple Watch requires an iPhone to operate. Which makes its real price much, much higher.

Second major setback, India doesn’t have kind of technology to fully experience the power of Apple Pay, which will be one of the selling points of this device other countries. In India, over the past year, there have been several NFC trials for ticketing in Delhi Metro, in Delhi buses and a movie halls in Mumbai, which failed.

Apple has also tied up with several app developers to create useful apps for their watch. One of the important features which was welcomed yesterday, with a round of applause from the audience, was the ability to open hotel room doors by simply tapping the Apple Watch to the door. This feature was brought out with collaboration with Starwood Hotels, a popular chain in the US. They’ve even teamed up with American Airlines, to automatically show you your flight information and a copy of your boarding pass on your watch. With such apps, Apple Watch eliminated the need to carry around magnetic plastic cards provided by hotels and the need to safe-keep your boarding pass. However, it will take a long time before Indigo Airlines or Taj Hotels invest to work on such technology.

We wouldn’t say that this wearable would fail in our country. It still has several interesting features which would make life simpler, no matter where you’re located on the globe. Apple’s ecosystem is undeniably very strong. The way it lures consumers into the endless arena of iPods, iPhones, Macs, App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple TV is enviable.

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September 10, 2014
The Smartwatch Battle Begins! Apple Watch vs Moto 360

Apple’s first attempt on the still nascent wearable market was huge, with people eyeing Tim Cook’s wrist the moment he entered the stage. Apple Watch (not iWatch) will be priced at $349 and will be available by early 2015. It will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

There are already quite a few competitors trying to define what should a smartwatch look like on your wrist. However, Google beat Apple in that race by just a few months by releasing Android Wear. One of the crowd’s favourite is Moto 360 which was launched last week, priced a hundred dollars less at 250$.

The smartwatch technology is still in its infant stage. Apple is known for its innovations and setting trends like it did with iPods and iPads; the Apple Watch is anticipated to have the same impact. However, both Moto 360 and Apple Watch both have their strengths and weaknesses. A quick rundown to help you decide which one to buy, once the devices are available.

Interface

Both companies have provided several interestingly themed watch faces which can be changed easily to suit your mood. Agreed that our watches are getting smarter, but the basic function of the watch is to tell time every time we look at the device. Apple Watch display turns off when you aren’t looking at it. When you turn your wrist, it’ll light up again only showing information when you want it.

In Moto 360, colors pop on the display, and everything is easily viewable, even in direct sunlight. However, when the display is dimmed it darkens after a few seconds of inactivity, but the time is still visible. Though, it is very hard to see outdoors. Waking up the watch is as simple as lifting your wrist; same as on the Apple Watch.

On-The-Go Information and Notifications

Main aim of smartwatches since their earlier days has been to minimize handset use by integrating phone notification with the smartwatch on your wrist for a easy and more convenient experience. In Apple Watch all notifications coming through your phone will pop up on your watch. If the app developer chooses to, they can enrich that notification to let you do a lot more with it — replying to messages or even taking actions, like accepting a Facebook friend request. All together, it sounds fairly decent.

Google’s smartwatch platform is all about notifications, which uses most of its interface. In Moto 360, all of your notifications are routed to it, and you can swipe through the phone to view them all, dismiss them, and even act on some of them. That said, you can’t use them as easily as Apple hopes to allow.

A good smartwatch, in my opinion, is the one gives you what you want, when you want it, without having to do to much. To some extend both Apple and Motorola have achieved that. Apple promises that the person sitting next to you would not be able to tell that you’ve received a notification. The notification buzz will simply give the effect as if someone is tapping you lightly on your wrist. You can customise the apps which you’d like notifications from. It will use the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi from the iPhone for all communication purposes. The built-in speaker phone and microphone can be used to receive calls and use the built-in Siri. With a simple tap on the digital crown, Siri can be activated.

The Moto 360 can do a number of things, such as display incoming calls and texts, measure your heart rate, pull up directions from Google Maps, count your steps, and tell you the weather. The idea behind Android Wear is that the watch should display contextual information before you even need to ask for it. Google Now has always been really capable, and its ability to predict and surface information that you’re interested in is built right into Android Wear. So, for example, if your favorite IPL team has a match at 7 p.m. tonight, Android Wear would display that information on your wrist automatically.

Health and Fitness

The Moto 360 has a heart rate monitor on the underside, that’s good for getting a causal fix on your overall health, but it will not be much of use for vigorous workouts sessions. On the Moto 360 are three pre-installed apps for measuring your overall health. Fit shows how many steps you’ve taken during the day, can measure your heart rate, and lets you set a goal for the number of steps you take each day. In a similar vein, Heart Activity displays how many minutes you need to be active during each day (it’s set at 30 minutes), and how close you are to completing that goal.

Apple Watch promises to take over and take it to a whole new level. Instead of simply tracking daily activities, the watch will actually encourage you to be more active. It has two key apps for this; the first will map your fitness activity through the day, while the second and the more important one, will help you set goals and then help you achieve them.

Thirty-Party Apps

For wearables to entice prospective buyers, third party apps were needed and both Motorola and Apple understood that. Apple has already experimented with certain third-party apps. Developers will be able to create custom notifications for the home screen. For example, the City Mapper will remind you to get off at the right station, the BMW app will direct you to where you would’ve parked your car and the Nike app will allow you to challenge your friends to go for a run.

It’s been a few months, and Google says there are already thousands of apps that support Android Wear. Facebook Messenger, for instance, will now send messages to Wear and can accept responses dictated over voice. Though, we’ve seen a handful of good apps that run specifically on Wear, but no one has actually gave us any breakthrough app yet.

Style

Since watches are worn all the time, it’s important that they look good. The design and style should suit you well. The Apple Watch will be available in six designs. The watch comes with a mechanism which would make it super easy to switch between the straps. The straps include a sport band, soft quilted leather and stainless steel options. And since one size does not fit all, Apple has also developed smaller sizes.

The Moto 360’s 1.56-inch-diameter round display is big, bold, and feels a lot larger than a square display. It has a 320×290 resolution, effectively, at 205ppi. Actually, it’s not fully round there’s a bit of a black bar on the bottom. Apple has done great job by giving us variety, but Moto 360’s round dial and sleek look has already garnered many fans.

A biggest setback is that the Apple Watch will be compatible with only with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus, on the other hand the Moto 360 isn’t as exclusive or biased to its own brand. Apple definitely stands out with its sophisticated and extensive sensors. Unlike Moto 360, Apple Watch seems to do much more than just showing you notifications. It seems both the devices have the right components, they just need to get some developers to come up with more compelling apps.

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September 10, 2014
Apple to Bring iPhone 6 to India on 17th October

Apple’s latest flagship is out now, and the lovers and haters are excited for their own reasons. The company has posted on its website that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in India on the 17th of October. It appears that both variants of the phone will come together; it was previously reported that the bigger iPhone was to come later by the end of the year.

We have already told you about the expected pricing of the devices. For a premium device with innovative interconnectivity features, the price is justified. The phones are, in fact, cheaper than their predecessors when considering the amount of features they bring. Apple has kept with times and has increased the screen sizes for heavy multimedia consumption. And to address the elephant in the room; yes you are also paying for the Apple brand and it’s a great service. Premium services cost a lot of moolah.

The new phones also come with an NFC payment feature called Apple Pay. It seems fairly secure and will come handy to folks traveling to America coming next month when it gets implemented across multiple stores and online retailers.

These 64 bit, A8 chip-based phones are much faster, and their seamless interconnectivity feature like handoff, Wi-Fi-calling and others will make them worth buying. The improved camera features will also be appreciated by Apple enthusiasts. So mark your calendar, the Apple giants are a month away.

September 10, 2014
Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in India Pricing

After the flood of leaks and rumors we finally get to see what Apple had in store for us. The devices are not just designed right, they are priced right too.

The 4.7 inch variant i.e. iPhone 6 is priced at about Rs. 39,500 in the US for an unlocked version so is expected to cost around Rs. 48000- 49000 for the 16 GB variant.

On the other hand, the 5.5 inch bigger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus will be sold at the price tag of about Rs. 45,500 without contract in the US which would come to around Rs 55000 in India just like last years iPhone 5s.

For a premium flagship phone, this is good pricing. The phones are of course going to be trend setters in terms of their inter-connectivity features as well as the convenience of Apple pay. Coupled with the amazing Apple Watch, this will be a tech connoisseurs must have gadgetry. So being tech connoisseurs, our hands are itching for a feel of these beautiful devices. We can just hope for them to land on our stores as soon as possible.

September 10, 2014

Let’s Stack Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus vs Note 4, Xperia Z3 and OnePlus One

The wait is over, everyone’s favourite smartphone ( non-Android Lovers’ anyway) has emerged from the mirage of leaks and speculations. The iPhone 6 is out for the worlds to see and this time it comes in two giants.

As expected Apple has launched two new iPhones today, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (Previously spectulated to be known as the 6L.)

After the flood of leaks and rumors we finally get to see what Apple had in store for us. The 4.7 inch variant i.e. iPhone 6 is priced at about Rs. 39,500 so it would cost around Rs. 48000 to 49000 for 16 GB. The 5.5 inch bigger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus will be sold at the price tag of about Rs. 45,500 which would come to around Rs 55000 just like last years iPhone 5s.

As, expected both the device have had a major design change with curved edges and reduced bezel space giving the device very sleek and beautiful look. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch display with 326 ppi pixel resolution while the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5 inch 1080p HD screen with 401 ppi density. They are powered by Apple’s own A8 chip.

Both phones have 8 MP camera on the back with the iPhone 6 Plus getting a Optical image.The front camera is a 1.2 MP selfie shooter. The camera’s have some unique features like time lapse shooting and slow motion shooting at 240 fps. But lets check out how Apple’s latest holds up in comparison with its competitors.

Specs	iPhone 6	iPhone 6 Plus	Samsung Note 4	Sony Xperia Z3	OnePlus One
Display	4.7 inch, 1334X750, 326 ppi	5.5 inch, 1080p HD, 401 ppi	5.7 inch QHD	5.2 inch HD	5.5 inch HD
Processor	A8	A8	Exynos Octa-core 5433/ 2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	2.5 GHz Quad-core	2.5 Quad-core
RAM	Unknown		3 GB	3 GB RAM	3 GB
Storage	16/64/128 GB	16/64/128 GB	32 GB	16/32 GB	16/64 GB
Expandable Upto	–	–	64 GB	128 GB	–
Main Camera	8 MP	8 MP with OIS	16 MP	20.7 MP	13 MP
Front Camera	1.2 MP	1.2	3.7 MP	2.2	5 MP
Battery	Unknown	Unknown	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh
Operating System	iOS 8	iOS 8	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.2 upgradable to v4.4.4
Miscellaneous	Apple Pay	Seamless connectivity with Handoff	S-Pen	High Res Audio, Water proof	Cynogen

Overall Apple’s new devices are innovative in their own rights and their long touted seamless connectivity is impressive. This was a good show by Apple and the increased size will be appreciated by the multimedia enthusiasts. The absence of expandable storage will sting some folks but the 64GB and 128GB versions will provide ample space for all your multimedia needs. The superior connectivity features will definitely be appreciated by folks who have other Apple

September 10, 2014

Everything You Need to Know About the Apple Watch

We had been waiting for the elusive Apple Watch to appear on Tim Cook’s wrist for a long long time. The day is finally here and we have to admit, it has been one of Apple’s most well-kept secret. At the massive Apple event held in Cupertino California, the audience couldn’t contain their excitement and stood up to greet Apple’s newest innovation. On the other hand, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, managed to patiently walk the audience through a few of the exciting features of this insane device (he promised there was much more.)

The Apple Watch will be priced at $349 and will be available by early 2015. It will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus. We’re glad Apple decided against forcing people to invest in the newly released iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Here are some things that you should know about the Apple Watch:

Personalised Interface and The Digital Crown

The company assured the audience that they’ve haven’t simply decreased the size of the iPhone to put it on your wrist. They spent time and effort to make sure the interface was made-to-fit. For this, they’ve developed the very useful ‘Digital Crown’. The company compared it to the revolutionary mouse, iPod’s click wheel and the much more recent, multi-touch screens. Instead of using pinch-and-view touch screen, which would inevitably crowd the screen, the Digital Crown will help navigate through the interface better. It sits neatly on the right side of the watch face, helping users scroll through the screen without blocking it.

Apple has also made the effort to provide a wide-variety of Watchfaces. Once you force touch the homescreeen, it instantly gives you options to change the style. Again, you can switch and check out different options using the crown. The Apple Watch uses a unique charging system, which doesn’t require alignment or exposed contact to charge.

Design

Since you would wear the Apple Watch everyday, all the time, the company decided to make sure it suits everybody’s style. The Apple Watch will be available in six designs. The watch comes with a mechanism which would make it super easy to switch between the straps. Picture this: if you have a suave leather strap on for an important meeting, before stepping into the gym you can make a quick switch to the sport-friendly band.

The straps include a sport band, soft quilted leather and stainless steel options. And since one size does not fit all, Apple has also developed smaller sizes.

Next-Level Communication

Apple promises that the person sitting next to you would not be able to tell that you’ve received a notification. The notification buzz will simply gives the effect as if someone is tapping you lightly on your wrist. You can customise the apps which you’d like notifications from. It will the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi from the iPhone for all communication purposes. The built-in speaker phone and microphone can be used to receive calls and use the built-in Siri. With a simple tap on the digital crown, Siri can be activated.

One of the coolest features, the Apple Watch reads and analyses your texts. Uses that information to give you options of short then gives you Smart Replies.

Using the same NFC technology, which was also introduced on the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, you make short and direct payment. They’ve already roped in several partners in the US, where payments can be made with a quick touch. Apple now would like to replace credit cards and reduce the bulk from your wallets.

Focus On Fitness

Health and Fitness has always been an important arena for Apple. This Watch promises to take over and take it to a whole new level. Instead of simply tracking daily activities, the watch will actually encourage you to be more active. It has two key apps for this; the first will map your fitness activity through the day, while the second and the more important one, will help you set goals and then help you achieve them. It takes it a step further. The Apple Watch would like us to sit less, move more and get some exercise.

It’ll help set goals according to the number of calories needed to burn, distance you’d like to achieve or the number of minutes spent exercising. These apps will take the extra effort to get to know you better, according to which it will then sent personal reminders to make sure you take care of your health. It will then share this data with third-party apps. Speaking of which..

Third Party Apps

Apple has already experimented with a few third-party apps. Developers will be able to create custom notifications for the home screen. For example, the City Mapper will remind you to get off at the right station, the BMW app will direct you to where you would’ve parked your car and the Nike app will allow you to challenge your friends to go for a run.

September 10, 2014
Apple discontinues the iPod classic, No More Click Wheel

Apple has finally killed the iPod classic, the original iPod responsible for bringing Apple back from the edge of extinction. The Apple iPod classic is the oldest media player from the Cupertino based giant and has finally been retired.

One can still get the iPod Touch, Shuffle and Nano with the maximum storage available on the iPod touch 64 GB. We could say good riddance to old technology, but those who can reminisce over the beginning of the music and multimedia era will begin to feel nostalgic. Also, this might cause a massive up rift in iPod classic pricing on Ebay, so you might want to get one now incase you want to hold on to this as a momento.

September 10, 2014
Apple Pay: Easy Digital Payment From Your New iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

Apple introduced its long awaited and much-leaked iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus. Of course, you must have heard loads about the new smartphones from the Cupertino based tech giant. But there was one amazing innovation presented at the event that is going to make shopping easy, really easy. It’s called the Apple Pay.

With the new iPhones, Apple introduces the NFC radio on their phones. With Apple Pay all you need to do for paying at stores is bring your phone near the payment sensor, and that’s it, your payment is done. Apple pay is available on both, the iPhone 6 as well as the iPhone 6 Plus. It uses the Touch id for secure payment.

Apple Pay is a revolutionary way of payment.

Well, well you say, what about security, Apple hasn’t had the best of PR in that respect. Well, Apple is leaving no holes barred, the company has inducted a security chip called the Secure Elements on the phones. Not just that, with this new technology, even your name and purchase details remain hidden from the cashiers at the store. You simply pay by keeping your thumb on the touch ID sensor.

Apple has also take special care that your financial data such as Credit card and account details from falling into the wrong hands. All your credit cards are stored in the Passbook app that doesn’t store any physical data on the device like credit card number and the CVV number. Instead, what you get is a One Time Payment(OTP) number for every transaction that gets transferred to the bank, so neither Apple nor the merchant gets to know your details.

The most important bit is that if your Phone gets stolen or lost, you can simply use the Find my iPhone app and suspend all transaction from the phone. As the details credit cards are not physically present on the device, you don’t even need to cancel your cards.

The Passbook stores all the credit card details at one secure place.

Apple Pay also works on the internet. When you go for a transaction on a site that supports Apple Pay, you don’t need to go through the troubles typing in all the shipping details and card details. With just one touch you can pay for the items, and you’ll get a notification with all the details of the purchase.

Adding credit cards to the Passbook is also real easy. You can use the existing cards from iTunes. If you want to add a new card, all you need to do is take an image from your phone and get it confirmed from your bank, and you are ready to shop online.

Apple will begin the Apple pay service from the month of October in the USA. It will partner with some of the biggest chains and services like McDonalds, Subway, etc. It will also work with apps such as Uber, Groupon and of course the Apple online store. Apple pay will also work with Apple’s latest innovation, the Apple Watch.

With this Apple has brought the next generation payment technology in the mainstream that seems fast and secure. To actually judge the technology we have to wait for its implementation, but as of now, we are impressed. With the addition of NFC-enabled payment, Apple has matched up to its adversary, Androids Google Wallet and taken it a step further.

September 10, 2014
Apple is giving Free Copies of U2’s new Album to every iTunes Customer

Over half a billion Apple iTunes customers can download a free exclusive copy of U2’s new album “Songs of Innocence”, starting right now. Making it the biggest launch in music history.

All 119 Countries with active iTunes account get this album exclusively with iTunes till october 2014, after which it will be available on other mediums.

September 10, 2014
Apple Launches iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Goes On sale Sept 12

Apple at their iPhone launch event today has announced the new iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, packed with a 4.7 inch display and a 5.5 inch display respectively.

The phones despite being bigger are lighter and thinner with the new iPhone 6 being only 6.9 mm where and the new iPhone 6 Plus is only 7.1 mm thick. The front glass on the new iPhones is curved, with the iPhone 6 has a resolution of 1334 by 750 with 326 pixels per inch on the 4.7 inch display, and iPhone 6 Plus has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 with 401 pixels per inch on the 5.5 inch variant.

According to Apple, iPhone 6 is up to 50% more energy efficient, The new A8 chip has up to 25% faster processing power and up to 50% faster graphics. Which means that the graphics are an incredible 84 times faster than the original iPhone.

iPhone 6 has faster LTE than iPhone 5s. It also has more LTE bands than any other smartphone for better roaming. The new iPhone 6 can now tell if you’re going up molehills, mountains, and everything in between.

The iPhone 6 still is is equipped with an 8 MP iSight camera, with 1.5 micron pixel size, added with a phase detection AF system. the aperture is f2.2. The new iPhone 6 takes use of the new A8 image processor. The iPhone 6 Plus uses OIS “optical image stabilisation” to get better images even in low light conditions.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus 1080p at 30 and 60 fps, new Slo-mo video upto 240 fps. Burst mode detects smiles and blinks, then recommends the best picture.

The new TouchID can be accessed by apps in the new iOS 8 and iPhone 6 and 6 plus, the big thing; Apple launches a new Apple Pay payment system that uses NFC and Touch ID. The credit cards can be stored in Passbook, without the actual number being stored, Apple creates a temp payment ID.

September 9, 2014
The Final Rumor Roundup : Everything We Know About the iPhone 6

Apple’s products are always the most anticipated ones in the smartphone market and this year is not an exception to the rule. While people eagerly wait for the launch of thehighly anticipated iPhone 6, rumors and leaks fuel their excitement. It is been more than 5 months since we first heard that Apple will launch two iPhone variants this year. Let’s take a moment and look back at the numerous leaks and rumors of iPhone 6 and 6L.

The First Render Appears

Back in May, we saw what Apple was cooking up for the new-gen iPhone. Macitynet.it showed off photos of renders of the 4.7 inch iPhone 6 with upgrades such as a faster processor and NFC capabilities. Reports also mention a 5.5-inch Apple Phablet headed for launch somewhere in the latter part of the year.

Another leak from Inner Exile, a China-based case manufacturer, shows off how the phone will look from the front as well as the back. The reports illustrated the power button’s new location, next to the SIM card tray on the right of the iPhone 6. Some other leaks suggested that the new iPhone 6 will have dimensions of 137.5 x 67 x 7mm in comparison with the iPhone 5S 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm.

Acquisition of Beats

Next in line was the rumor that the company is going to include Beats earphones with the new iPhone, this came after the major 3.2 billion dollar acquisition of Beats by Apple. Also, other rumors and supply chain chatter revealed the iPhone 6 will contain several highly-anticipated features, including near field communication (NFC), wireless charging, a better 4G antenna, and a much bigger screen.

Another leak from an eBay user gave us high-resolution pictures, of a black and silver handset on which one of the first aptly designed dummy of the iPhone 6. Also, other leaks illustrated that the company could switch to sapphire crystal for future displays instead of Corning Gorilla Glass.

iPad Joins the Race

The blurred lines surrounding the release date of the iPhone 6 are finally sharpened up when an industry insider reported that Apple is planning to launch the device on 15th September. Additionally, the source said that mass shipments of the iPhone 6 from China to the United States will start during the last two weeks of August, and it is likely that Apple will announce the iPhone 6 during the first or second week of September.

More rumors suggested that the bigger 5.5 inch variant of the new iPhone will be called ‘iPhone Air.’ The company first used the “Air” appellation to tag its slim MacBook model, and has later used it for the full-size iPad’s. Both times the end result was a sleek and sexy looker with good performance.

Next in line came the production news that the company has decided to double up the number of iPhone 6 units for this fall. Taiwan’s Business Weekly reported that number of iPhone 6 orders placed is about twice the number that Apple placed for the iPhone 5. Also another leak suggested that 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will have a battery capacity of 1,800mAh to 1,900mAh, while the so-called 5.5-inch ‘iPhone Air’ will sport a 2,500mAh battery.

Also, graphic designer, Martin Hajek, popular for his various dummy mockups, created beautiful renders of the iPhone 6 along with iPad Mini. Also, some leaks suggested that Apple was in talks with major credit card company Visa to collaborate and create an iWallet technology that could revolutionize the way consumers pay for goods.

The Big Box

Finally on the first week of august we got to know about the September 9th event i.e. today where the company is expected to launch the iPhone.

Next up in mid August, a popular leakster posted some images of supposed iPhone 6 in box.

Another leak by Apple Daily, a premier Chinese language newspaper suggested that the 5.5 inch tablet will be called iPhone 6L. Then we heard that Apple is scrambling to get enough screens ready for the new iPhone 6 smartphone. The supply chains who are making displays for the phone said that display panel production suffered a setback after the backlight that helps illuminate the screen had to be revised.

Finally, How Much Will it Cost?

Details about the pricing of the re-vamped iPhones were quite scarce. But during the first week of this month, tech blog TK Tech News posted an image that shows the alleged prices of the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models.

If you convert these purported prices into Indian currency and add the standard import duties, iPhone 6’s 4.7 inch variant will come at the starting price at Rs. 61,900 approx and the 5.5 inch variant may come at starting price of Rs. 71,800. These prices are more than the introductory price of the iPhone 5S, which was launched last year for Rs. 53,500.

Also, yesterday we saw series of photos and videos of what the leaker claimed to be a fully functional iPhone 6. The leaker also uploaded a brief video demonstrating Touch ID on the device.

Well, that’s all we got from numerous leaks around the internet. Anyhow, there are some surprises that Apple has control over and that can’t be leaked, so there is still a lot to look forward to for tonight’s event. Apple is expected to launch two iPhones- a 4.7 inch variant and 5.5 inch variant and company’s first ever wearable, iWatch today at 10 AM PST (10:30 PM IST).

September 9, 2014
New Details About Apple’s iWatch Design Leaked

Apple’s September 9th event is few hours away and rumors are still flying high. A latest leak on Reddit supposedly depicts the specs and diagrams of Apple iWatch. While plenty of images purporting to be the new iPhone 6 have made it to the internet, Apple has managed to keep the iWatch under wraps – until now.

The images, posted on Reddit, allegedly show CAD design drawings of the iWatch chassis and components, including a mic and speaker. Descriptions accompanying the images claim that the iWatch will feature a multi-touch, flexible screen that will “add a new dimension to the UI.”

The Reddit user who posted the images, called OwenCarlyle, says the watch will also support Siri, Apple’s voice command system. The Reddit user also claimed that the iWatch will last for more than a day on a single charge, will be waterproof to 60m and won’t have any external connection points which could line up with past reports of the smartwatch features wireless charging.

The leaker also claims that the device will go into mass production sometime this January while describing the wearable computer as “the most complex and expensive product to manufacture to date.” Purported schematics are labeled as coming from Quanta, which has been reported to be Apple’s manufacturing partner for the device.

Other images show renders of various components of the devices, such as the microphone and speaker, although one blurry photo purports to show the iWatch housing, which is rectangular in shape. Apple is widely expected to unveil a wearable device alongside new iPhones on today. The event is due to start at 10:30 IST.

September 9, 2014