Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com.
Today Apple announced a whole new lineup of iPhones and also a new generation of Apple
watches.
Starting with the iPhone, Apple came out with three new models.
They all are based on the iPhone X that came out last year.
So the new models are called the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR.
Notice you say ten, not X, as a lot of people sometimes do.
So, the one that's the true successor of the iPhone X from last year is the XS.
It basically has the same size and shape but has upgrades in the terms of the processor,
the camera, the screen.
All sorts of things in there.
Just a little bit faster, a little bit better battery life, a little bit more efficient.
The iPhone XR is a low budget version of that phone.
It costs less and it has a LCD screen.
Not a LED screen.
In addition it also has a single camera on the back instead of dual cameras.
But it does include the same processor.
All these new iPhones include the new A12 processor.
Apple talked a lot about how this is significantly faster than the A11 and previous processors
in iPhones.
Now the third iPhone is an even higher end model.
It's called the XS Max.
This is the first time that Apple has used the term Max instead of plus or something
like that.
The size of the Max is larger than the X.
So it's actually about the same physical size as the 6 plus, 7 plus and 8 plus iPhones but
the screen goes edge to edge.
All of these phones have the little notch at the top and they have no Home button.
So they work with the same kind of gestures and everything and feel basically kind of
like the iPhone X.
This XS Max just has a really large screen.
Definitely the largest screen ever on an iPhone since it goes edge to edge and it's the same
size as the old plus models.
Some other notes about what's new.
There's definitely some improved camera capability but it isn't just because the cameras are
a little bit newer and upgraded.
It's also because of the processor.
So Apple talked about how these use Smart HDR.
So HDR is the technology that it took basically a photo at two different exposures and took
the best parts of both.
So you can have a bright background and a dark foreground and kind of combine them and
get a good photo.
Well it looks like Smart HDR takes many more than two and combines all those images to
create a really great photograph.
In addition to that the cameras also feature this thing where you can change the depth
of field after you take the picture.
So you can do things like have a bokeh effect in the background but then after you take
the picture you could adjust things and change the depth of field to get a very different
looking photograph.
Also you'll be able to record video with stereo sound.
The iPhone is going to use dual SIM technology.
So it's going to use this eSIM.
So you can basically have two phone numbers or two different mobile services associated
with your phone.
A lot of people that travel a lot really need this.
Now the new iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max are going to be available for order on September
14 and shipping on the 21st.
They're going to go from 64 GB to 512 GB of storage size.
The low end model for the iPhone XS is going to be $999 in the US and $1099 for the XS
Max.
Now the cheaper model, the XR, is going to be $749 for the 64 GB model.
That's not going to be available for order until October 19 and will ship on October
26.
So, of course, these new phone are going to ship with iOS 12.
So iOS 12 will come out for the rest of us also on September 17.
Apple also announced a new series for the Apple Watch.
This is a redesigned piece of hardware.
It has a larger screen.
Inside there's a faster processor.
There's all sorts of design tweaks.
Like the microphone is on the other side and that kind of thing.
There's also a lot of new features in this new Series 4.
For instance, they talked a lot about fall detection.
To be able to detect if you fell while wearing the watch and alert somebody to that.
It's also going to have an electrocardiogram sensor.
So you can run an ECG on yourself.
It will also tell you if it detects anything that could be a sign, you know, you should
see a doctor.
Maybe there's a heart issue that you have.
So apparently this is the first time that there's a consumer device that has a built
in ECG.
Now the Series 4 watches are going to start a $400 or $399.
There's going to be a cellular version that you don't need a phone with you for it to
work at $499.
They are going to keep the Series 3 around as the lower price model at $279.
So the new watch is going to come out on September 17.
At least you can order it on September 17 and you'll be able to get one on September
21.
Now Apple didn't talk about any other hardware.
Didn't talk about iPads.
Didn't talk about any Macs.
There will probably be an event later this month or early next where they announce new
products.
There's just too many rumors in the pipeline.
Apple historically has had a different event for Mac hardware at least.
But Tim Cook did tell us that Mac OS Mojave, the new operating system, will be released
on September 24th.