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Did Apple Cook Up a Winner?
“It’s the best iPhone we’ve ever made.”
The concluding line in the iPhone 7 introductory video revealed that Apple’s latest smartphone is not a new, groundbreaking invention. Instead, the iPhone 7 (and iPhone 7 Plus) are innovations from the past with impressive, eye-catching updates. Specifically, the focus of the engineers and design teams at Apple was on the improved camera of the 7 and the dual cameras on the 7 Plus. Moreover, the new iPhone 7s will be water resistant (huge plus) with an improved Retina HD screen resolution, stereo-quality speakers and the removal of the headphone jack with wireless earbuds/AirPods.
The forced Bluetooth feature may cause a toothache for Apple’s consumer base, but that’s still in the speculative “TBD” phase.
Without holding, listening, perusing or taking pictures with an iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in my hands, it’s difficult to rate the flashy new tech. My first reaction is that this series of iPhones look intriguing enough to consider for an upgrade after a couple of years with the iPhone 5. Avid fans aside, the question for many consumers will likely center on upgrading to a phone that will hold the creative and futuristic appeal for a couple years or so. Plus, the dramatic change in purchasing and carrier plan options could certainly impact consumer decision-making. Having said that, the updates in the iPhone 7 models will be easy to test through snapping/tapping test pictures, listening to songs in stereo mode and (potentially) pouring water on a test phone in the store.
Salespeople: Get ready for especially playful, interactive demonstrations with curious customers.
Tim Cook has been waiting for that “wow!” moment as the face of Apple. Today did not bring about that signature revelation, but perhaps slow and steady will, in fact, win that show-stopping race for Mr. Cook at some point down the road…
And the verdict on the iPhone 7s will all but rely on the invisible space between headphones/AirPods and the iPhone, as well as the location of said AirPods when not in use.
One thing’s for certain: Apple will definitely hear about its daring wireless experiment either way with unrivaled clarity.
Would They Sell a Bad Apple?
Can Apple hear the critics now?
Speculation, as is the permanent protocol with tech and lifestyle giant Apple, has been building with the release of the iPhone 7 this September. Rumor of a dual camera has been an intriguing, potentially exciting new feature. Then there are rumors that the iPhone 7 will be the thinnest iPhone yet.
Here’s where Apple’s well-oiled rumor mill experiences some friction.
And from a familiar, beloved source, no less. He goes by “The Woz.”
“I would not use Bluetooth … I don’t like wireless,” he said. “I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, and Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music. He added, “If there’s a Bluetooth 2 that has higher bandwidth and better quality, that sounds like real music, I would use it. But we’ll see.”
–Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak / “The Woz”
The rumor is that Apple is going to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7.
Wireless headphones are gradually increasing in availability and improving in quality, but the wireless innovation for music listening hasn’t reached everyone by any stretch of the imagination. Currently, I can turn my Bluetooth on my iPhone and listen to music in my car from my iPhone and it works well. It’s important to note, though, that there is still a headphone jack for a wired connection. Bluetooth and a wired connection can and does co-exist in harmony.
The question is whether a thinner phone frame and disappearing headphone jack is worth irritating consumers and dedicated fans in the uncertain and still fragile post-Steve Jobs era?
The Apple Watch is a fun invention, but we live in a world in which most consumers will choose an iPhone or an Apple Watch. The functionality is strikingly similar, as was the design to promote a synchronized front. The point is that Apple consumers and followers haven’t experienced that “wow” moment the late Steve Jobs seemed to deliver with regularity. If Tim Cook’s Apple (which has made positive changes towards increased philanthropy pledges, as one example) makes the conscious decision to design and release an iPhone that doesn’t feel and sound like the revolutionary iPhone we all fell in love with, then the fragile standing of Apple’s superiority may take a slight hit.
Not a major hit, but in the aforementioned fragile post-Steve Jobs era at Apple, the last thing Mr. Cook and Co. want is to trend downward at any angle.
If only there was a way to remain connected to its celebrated past…
Apple’s Core
Taking a bite out of Apple isn’t as easy as one may think.
The pivotal debate of national security versus personal liberties is shining its spotlight on revolutionary tech giant Apple because the FBI insists that a “backdoor” be created to peek inside an iPhone of one of the San Bernardino, California terrorist attackers. From 36,000 feet, most Americans support our nation’s security forces doing whatever they can to learn, infiltrate and defeat terrorist cells and networks. And reasonably so. However, when Americans zoom-in from the birds eye view of this complex, serious situation (from a drone in the sky, you could say), the collective damage this individual request poses gives reason to push back.
Precedent is inevitably what’s at stake.
Once a government can legally force the hands of a public company consisting of private citizens to do its bidding, regardless of outspoken reservations and, more bluntly, refusing to perform such a service after careful consideration, the door then swings wide-open for an uncertain expansion of said questionable action.
What kinds of expansions? How will this affect you? Will this security measure definitively makes us safer or will it expose us to a myriad of unforeseen digital invasions?
There will never be a perfect balance between the equitable assets of national security and personal liberties. Each situation needs to be dealt with individually and with a fresh set of eyes with considerations to the past and future, especially in an increasingly connected world/digital grid. Moments will arise when tough security responses must be green-lit with immediacy, as well as difficult scenarios when security officials should practice restraint for the sake of protecting the bigger issue(s) at hand.
Should Tim Cook’s Apple “open” the San Bernardino phone? He says no.
Does co-founder Steve “The Woz” Wozniak think Apple should “open” the San Bernardino phone?
Apple vs. The FBI will directly influence how the United States (and possibly its allies) combat the guerrilla terrorism used by ISIS and similar terrorist networks for the foreseeable future, especially as technology continues to evolve and expand.
The stakes in this dispute are insanely great.
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Amazing…just amazing!
Happy Monday and Here’s to Wishing Everyone Their Own Special iChristmas and Holiday Season!
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