So what have we learnt from tonight's big Apple Keynote? Well the big news was of course the iPhone 7 with a new camera systems, improved battery life and finally they have made the phone water and dust resistant. Hurrah! Check it out below:
I have to admit, the new jet black version looks awesome. The water resistant design means no more seams on the phone which overall improves the whole look. The new 12-megapixel camera on the back includes optical image stabilisation on both iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and a larger aperture and 6-element lens, enabling brighter, more detailed photos and videos, and a wide color capture allows for more vibrant colors with more detail.
That’s the back, but other than an improved ‘home’ button, the front looks exactly the same as the previous 6s model. A lot of the improvements have been made internally with an improved battery and a new 4-core Apple A10 Fusion chip.
Of course, Apple confirmed what we already knew… there’s no jack in the iPhone 7! So what are we to do? Ok so they’ve added another speaker in to the phone to make the sound twice as good as it was before, but what if I want some privacy or want to go out and run to some Drum ‘n’ Bass?
Well thats where the new Airbuds come in…
They sync up with you iPhone and iTunes account as soon as you open the box (which is also a charging case) near the phone and the sound quality is supposed to be pretty damn good too. This represents a major shift towards a completely wireless future. If only they could get wireless charging off the ground. Suppose we’ll have to wait for the iPhone 8 for that!
Thing is, as a long time user of previous Apple headphones, I find they don’t fit as well as they should, especially when you’re running. So imagine running along and one of your Airbuds falls out. No cord means you’ve just potentially lost one half of about £160 worth of tech!
Personally, if I was going to invest in some decent wireless headphones, I’d go with the new Beats Solo 3. Sure, they’re more expensive and it uses the same Apple W1 chip as the Airbuds, but with the trademark Beats sound quality and the option of a 5 minute fast charge for 3 hours of music is a winner.
What I’m more excited about was the release of the Apple Watch Series 2 which features 50 meters water resistance, GPS, 2x brighter display and a dual-core processor. Check it out below:
I bought my wife the first generation of Apple Watch and I have seen the useful applications of it so I’ve been waiting to see what the next generation would bring. The big winner for me is the added GPS and water resistance. What was a surprise was the release of the Apple Watch Nike+ model which has all the same features, but is obviously personalise with the Nike brand along with Nike Sport Bands which are perforated for even better ventilation and sweat management when you’re out running. When I first glanced at this I wasn’t sure about the design of the straps at all, but now they’re really starting to grow on me.
I won’t even go into the release of iOS 10, watchOS 3 or the new home hub app that will rival the likes of Hive, Nest and SmartThings as I would be here all day. To summarise the iPhone is a solid enough update with a great looking jet black option, but I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by the look of the front. I would have thought now would have been the perfect time to introduce a solid glass front to compliment the jet black back with no home button, but again, we’ll have to wait for the iPhone 8 for that (along with retina unlock… yeah the rumours have started already!) The Apple Watch update is a great improvement on the first gen iWatch so happy days. Overall, I’d rate the Keynote a 7 out of 10!
David Huskison
David is the founder of DWH and is involved in all aspects of the design process from the initial creative concept through to final artwork stage. With over 20 years of experience working with agencies across the Midlands, his role is to provide significant creative injection into client projects. By personally delivering creative concepts, he ensures that client briefs are effectively executed and that the final project is delivered within budget.