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Apple Unveils iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone Xr (venturebeat.com)

Apple on Wednesday announced its 2018 flagship phones: the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs and 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max. From a report: As the direct sequel to the iPhone X, the iPhone Xs retains its predecessor's marquee features: a stainless steel frame and 5.8-inch, edge-to-edge Super Retina display, interrupted by a depth-sensing Face ID camera inside a black "notch." The new model promises the best liquid resistance in any iPhone, with a screen that's now HDR10 and Dolby Vision-certified.

As expected, Apple also introduced a larger version of the iPhone Xs called the iPhone Xs Max. While the iPhone Xs packs a 5.8-inch OLED screen into a footprint roughly the size of its former 4.7-inch iPhone 6, 6s, 7, and 8 models, the Max version includes a 6.5-inch screen within a chassis sized like the 5.5-inch-screened iPhone 6 Plus and its successors. [...]

The iPhone Xs has a 2436 by 1125 screen, while the Xs Max has a 2688 by 1242 screen, the largest ever in an iPhone. Apple's calling it "Max" because it's bigger than the iPhones' past Plus-sized displays. Apple also says that the new phones have wider stereo sound fields than before.

[...] The handsets are powered by A12 Bionic, a 6-core, 7nm CPU with 2 performance cores that deliver up to 15 percent speeds and 40 percent lower power, with 4 efficiency cores running at up to 50 percent lower power. Apple is touting a 50 percent GPU performance improvement over the A11 Bionic, as well. It also has a second-generation Neural Engine, and can process 5 trillion operations per second, up from 600 billion the year before.
Both the new iPhones sport a dual-camera system:12MP wide-angle+12MP telephoto. The new iPhones can accommodate up to 512 GB of internal storage. The base models of iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max start at $999 and $1,099 respectively. More on this here. On the sidelines, Apple said it was inching closer to selling its two-billionth iOS device.

The company also announced the iPhone Xr, the cheapest among the three handsets announced today, that sports a 6.1-inch LCD display (instead of OLED screen) and does not offer 3D Touch functionality. Its base model starts at $749. All of these handsets go on sale later this month.

215 comments

  1. Wow by pablo_max · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Totally amazing.

    1. Re:Wow by RenderSeven · · Score: 5, Funny

      You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    2. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If by "amazing" you mean "painfully boring" then yes, it's totally that.

    3. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The entire cellphone market is boring. There hasn't been anything exciting happening for a few years now from ANY manufacturer. It's all the the same: rectangle, grid of apps, nicer camera, blah blah blah...

    4. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Excess Max is a name of a dildo in Tim Cock's collection.

    5. Re:Wow by jtara · · Score: 0

      Why do people expect increment phone updates to be "exciting"?

      The last "exciting" things in telephony were:

      - the smart phone
      - the cell phone
      - touchtone dialing ("bling" exciting, not "functional" exciting, except it eventually brought us the boring experience of "response trees", which is exciting in it's boringness)
      - The trans-Atlantic cable
      - Direct-dialed long-distance
      - The trans-continental cable

    6. Re: Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only thing to wow bout is how Apple prices thier phones, totally outrageous. Things get more boring, put prices keep going up. Boycottapple

  2. Sweet by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sweet, now I can throw away my old iPhone X, or maybe sell it on eBay. It was getting kind of boring.

    1. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Speaking of kind of boring, thanks for sharing your process there.

    2. Re:Sweet by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Or just buy a mid range Android phone for 1/3rd the price and enjoy better specs, non-glued battery and an SD card slot.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Sweet by 110010001000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't want Google spying on me.

    4. Re:Sweet by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Interesting

      knowing it is sarcasm. However Ill bite.
      If you are an iPhone user, you really don't need to upgrade every year. Every 4 to 6 years probably.
      Year 1: Congrads! you have a top of the line phone.
      Year 2: You are finally getting apps that will support your phones new features. (btw 6 months ago there was an Android competitor that is superior to your phone)
      Year 3: Your phone is getting kinda boring, Works fine, the apps have some new features that you really don't need too much. The features that were toys on your phone are starting to mature and become useful.
      Year 4: Your phone is starting to feel sluggish, but still usable. Just the newest apps out there don't work well.
      Year 5: That last iOS update gives you no real advantages, except for security patches. Everything you seem to run that you have updated is starting to run slow. Why are all the apps seeming to be 4 times as slow, as like they are staying current with mores law.
      Year 6: iOS will not support any updates on your phone, as also most apps will not update anymore. It is slow and starting to hinder anything productive you may want to use the phone for.

      Going from an iPhone X to and Xs will not give you much, espctially as all the cool features on your X is now being supported.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:Sweet by KixWooder · · Score: 2

      Or just to stick to what you own and stop buying a new device every year or two.

      --
      I hate fat people.
    6. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't want Google spying on me.

      So I suppose you use Bing Search and DuckDuckGo for searches on your iPhone then? Right.

    7. Re:Sweet by chaotixx · · Score: 1

      You forgot the point where between year 1 and 2 an OS update ruins your battery life.

    8. Re:Sweet by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      But you are okay with Apple spying on?

      If you really care the only option is an Android phone with a custom OS that doesn't include Google services. OnePlus handsets are well supported, cheap and well made.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    9. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And throttles your phone

    10. Re:Sweet by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      That's why I bought an Amazon Fire 7 tablet.
      Now both Google and Amazon can spy on me!

      I installed Netflix and... nothing else. Amazon must be pissed off that I bought it on sale on Amazon Day.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    11. Re:Sweet by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      My iPhone 6s is still going strong...

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    12. Re:Sweet by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Technically that is normally years 3-5

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    13. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Year 2: flagship Android phones are now just as fast but don't work as well

    14. Re:Sweet by phalse+phace · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't want Google spying on me.

      And I like getting timely OS updates and bug fixes

    15. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Care to back that up with references?

    16. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they both are spying on you, but Google is more transparent about it...

    17. Re:Sweet by werepants · · Score: 1

      I'll see your iPhone 6s and raise you a 5s... bought used on Craigslist.

    18. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or I could just buy an iPhone instead of a piece of shot android.

    19. Re:Sweet by sinij · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately, unless you are willing to live with a flip phone someone going to spy on you. It might as well be people that don't have a search engine and are not so far known for selling your data to advertisers.

    20. Re:Sweet by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      Well played, sir.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    21. Re: Sweet by Kristoph · · Score: 1

      If you use a flip phone someone will totally be able to spy on you - gathering of voice and sms messaging is a well established practice by many countries intelligence agencies.

      Itâ(TM)s only since the advent of apps that individuals have achieved a degree of privacy in communication.

    22. Re:Sweet by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      I get updates about every other week for my Samsung Note 8... Last update was September 5th, in fact.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    23. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >> OnePlus handsets are well supported, cheap and well made.

      Ha ha ha! That is a good one! Thanks, I needed a laugh.

    24. Re:Sweet by werepants · · Score: 1

      What would be truly impressive would be if your username matches your daily transportation.

    25. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      btw 6 months ago there was an Android competitor that is superior to your phone

      There has never been an Android phone made that is superior to my iphone, and I am still using a 7.

    26. Re:Sweet by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      A lot of the same stuff is true for Android phones as well. If you buy the latest Samsung or HTC flagship, it will only be six months until there's something new and better. The only real difference is that not getting updates for your phone happens closer to Year 2 for a lot of devices, but for most users that updates aren't terribly important. For some, it's realistically Day 1 if the sales are bad and the manufacturer doesn't want to bother with support.

      Anyone who buys a flagship phone that they replace every year (regardless of whether it's Android or iOS) is kind of an idiot or is just a major tech enthusiast that probably buys new phones every few months just to try them out.

    27. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and apples patented planned obsolescence, and CPU throttling! Its great!

    28. Re:Sweet by TomGreenhaw · · Score: 1

      >There has never been an Android phone made that is superior to my iphone
      I switched from an iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch to a Samsung Note 8 and Gear Watch earlier this year. Both are very good and in many ways each is superior to the other. Having used and programmed all of the above, I call it even.

      --
      Greed is the root of all evil.
    29. Re:Sweet by phalse+phace · · Score: 1

      I get updates about every other week for my Samsung Note 8... Last update was September 5th, in fact.

      Is your Samsung Note 8 "a mid range Android phone for 1/3rd the price" of these new iPhones that AmiMoJo suggested getting?

      And how long do you think you'll continue to receive OS updates and bug fixes for your Samsung Note 8? If past behaviour is any indication, it won't be for more than 2.5 to 3 years. Apple still provides updates and bug fixes for iPhones that are 5 years old.

    30. Re:Sweet by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Why on earth would Google sell your data to advertisers? It's the only thing that makes their advertising platform valuable, if they sold it their core product would become worthless!

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    31. Re:Sweet by gnasher719 · · Score: 1

      But you are okay with Apple spying on?

      I wouldn't be Ok with Apple spying on me. But do you have any evidence it does?

    32. Re:Sweet by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      What would be truly impressive would be if your username matches your daily transportation.

      It actually does - sort of. I'm driving the thing a couple miles to/from my house to the train station, where I catch a train to work. I'm a bit scared to drive the Escort much further than that...

      I expect within the next 12 months I will finally replace it. The Escort's had a very good run, but any more I feel like I'm tempting fate. I actually ran out of gas the other day - wasn't sure that was the problem at first, and have to admit I wondered "is this it for the old girl?"

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    33. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My 5S phones are still going strong too but they are a bit sluggish with my favorite 3D game. iPhone SE handles it perfectly. All bought for less than $200 new via various online deals.

      I don't see reason to upgrade from iPhone SE. It would have to be the same feature set and form factor including physical button and no bullshit face unlock/notches. I prefer LCD screen.

    34. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Care to back that up with references?

      Just Google it - but then Google knows you are after them,

    35. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's why I bought an Amazon Fire 7 tablet. [...] +Amazon must be pissed off that I bought it on sale on Amazon Day.

      They were glad they found someone who bought one - that way they made a slightly lower loss.

    36. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I get updates about every other week for my Samsung Note 8... Last update was September 5th, in fact.

      No. Not the constant stream of fixes for wide open vulnerabilities in Android. Actual new features.

    37. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      anyway it is worse than Android phones' obsolescence upon release?

    38. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought 4S when i came out and used until 7+ came out. I bought 7+ and am still using it. I am planning to use it for at least another year or two or even three before replacement. 4S had power button broken just before buying 7+ otherwise it still works ok with the original battery still holds the charge somewhat ok. 7+ is going real strong.

    39. Re:Sweet by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Currently still getting them for my more-than-3-year-old Note 5, which is on WiFi only as a home controller. So - I'd expect at least that long.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    40. Re:Sweet by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Not sure what new feature you're alluding to that I'd want. It seems to do everything I could ask for...

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    41. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well that's kind of the point of spying, doing it well means you don't get found out. Your iOS device is constantly sending encrypted information back to Apple but of course you will just believe them when they say "we aren't spying on you", we won't let you see the content of those data packets but just trust us.

    42. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are one pair of lame ass motherfuckers...seriously arguing about your phone manufacturer of choice is fucking retarded.

      "my friend's dick is bigger than your friend's dick" -LynnwoodRooster

      "nah uh, my friend's dick is bigger" -phalse phace

    43. Re:Sweet by iMadeGhostzilla · · Score: 1

      I've been using iPhone 4S since 2011, and been eyeing that iPhone SE for a while. Hope this reduces its price. I really enjoy having a cheap phone that does all I need it to.

    44. Re:Sweet by hawk · · Score: 1

      I foolishly bought a refurbished 5 when my 6plus died.

      Foolish, as in I bought it from Frys, who insisted it came from apple had the full warranty.

      While I should make a fuss about the battery which clearly wasn't up to snuff, at this point I'd have to do the repairs involved with running it over with one of my Cadillacs . . . at least it was the '97 and not the '72 . . . and, for the record, they don't react well to this . . .

      So I've been waiting for the new ones, and two numbers is worth a small fortune to me--I can kill the business line and live a normal life.

      It's amazing when some people think it's reasonable to call their lawyer. The worst was a "just wondering about . . ." at 3 AM Sunday morning . . .

      hawk

    45. Re:Sweet by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      "Wish I even had a dick..." - Anonymous Coward

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    46. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Year 2: your battery barely lasts 3 hrs and your figure if your going to waste time going to the Apple store and waste money to fix it you might as well just get a new phone.

    47. Re:Sweet by sodul · · Score: 1

      I do, I have used DuckDuckGo on my computers and phones for many years. It is actually quite trivial to switch the default search from Google to one of the other options. Once in a while I will try an actual Google search, but this is becoming rare.

    48. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean the one people are forced to buy at gunpoint? I mean, why on earth would anyone do that? I know I don't.

    49. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use the same phone for personal and business use. You just need to have two simcards and disable one of then when its convenient.

      Just one phone to buy, charge, carry and care about it's whereabouts. Great isn't it?

    50. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pfff. Dream on.

    51. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh well crafted, bravo

    52. Re:Sweet by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Well that's kind of the point of spying, doing it well means you don't get found out. Your iOS device is constantly sending encrypted information back to Apple but of course you will just believe them when they say "we aren't spying on you", we won't let you see the content of those data packets but just trust us.

      Put your Packet-Sniffer where your mouth is, COWARD!

      Proof or GTFO.

    53. Re:Sweet by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      I get updates about every other week for my Samsung Note 8... Last update was September 5th, in fact.

      IIRC, Samsung's policy for updates is 18 months.

      Meanwhile, even the iPhone 5s can run iOS 12.

    54. Re:Sweet by itsme1234 · · Score: 1

      OnePlus handsets are well supported, cheap and well made.

      In which universe?! They START FROM $499 for the OLD model and everything except the SOC/RAM is sub-par (even for the times when it was launched) for what they claim to be (flagship): mediocre display (at least they don't put it upside-down by design lately), no microSD expansion capabilities, NO CAMERA STABILIZATION, no water protection except some dubious claims on twitter like "it will be fine for normal usage", no wireless charging. YES, it does have a headphone jack but even the wired earbuds aren't included and are something like $20.

      And that is of course that is if you order from China and deal with all the hassle, from a company that was caught spying on the customers (via the phones) and where the credit cards used for purchase were not only "leaked" but also charged for random things (otherwise you wouldn't even hear about it as they were denying it even as all people who entered CC numbers in their site were charged).

    55. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's encrypted you retard. Your iPhone sends data, you do not know what it sends do you? Nor do you have any way to find out do you? No, but you will mindlessly believe Apple like a good little sheep. You don't need to know what data they are getting because your job is to defend Apple and shill for them.

      Prove to me that the secret messages your iPhone and iPad send back to Apple are not personal information. But you can't, because those messages are secret and you, even as the supposed "device owner" are not allowed to see them. You think you are the owner but you are the used, the sheep.

    56. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://imgur.com/gallery/mNsrx8p

      Nuf said.

    57. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple has lost its mojo.

    58. Re:Sweet by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Same evidence you have that Google spies on you.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    59. Re:Sweet by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Correction, when you take your brand new top of the line iPhone out of the box there is already a better spec Android phone, and an equivalent spec one for half the price.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    60. Re:Sweet by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      But you are okay with Apple spying on?

      If you really care the only option is an Android phone with a custom OS that doesn't include Google services. OnePlus handsets are well supported, cheap and well made.

      Very true. For a swathe of the unthinking /. responders saying "google spy" is the end of the discussion for them. Google is collecting data that you don't want, but there is a way of stopping that through non-Google Android. You have *no* idea what Apple is doing, you just have to trust them blindly.

    61. Re:Sweet by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Explain, then, how I am getting them for my 3+ year old Note 5 as well.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    62. Re:Sweet by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Pfft justify it all you want, we all know it goes:

      Year 1: Congrads! you have a top of the line phone.
      Year 2: Eww you're still using that old thing? Are you poor? It makes you look poor. You should upgrade because then you can do *proceeds to show a feature that any phone can do even the previous iPhone*.

    63. Re:Sweet by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Explain, then, how I am getting them for my 3+ year old Note 5 as well.

      Don't know; don't care.

      But they even went to Court to avoid updating them for FOUR years (and won, BTW) :

      https://www.bbc.com/news/techn...

    64. Re:Sweet by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Explain, then, how I am getting them for my 3+ year old Note 5 as well.

      Don't know; don't care.

      Then stop lying.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    65. Re:Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Apple updates 5 year old iPhones so they work like crap, instead of just security fixes. Android? go to xda and download whatever rom you want for your phone. I have a Moto g3 (a 3-4 year old phone) Have Android Pie running nice and smoothly

    66. Re: Sweet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It starts in year one. They admit it towards the end of year three. Maybe.

  3. Watch by Andy+Smith · · Score: 2

    I hope theyâ(TM)ve dropped the ridiculous network restriction on the Watch. Currently in the UK it only works on one network AND your iPhone must be on the same network. I donâ(TM)t use that network so the Watch has been off-limits to me.

    1. Re:Watch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think that's really Apple's choice. If you separate carriers, you'll likely have to pay full price for a phone plan on the watch, rather than the $10 they normally charge when pairing the carrier of the two. Seems like it'd create more problems than sales with all the people who would be upset when they found it didn't work with their carrier.

    2. Re:Watch by MachineShedFred · · Score: 3, Interesting

      the restriction is that the carrier needs to support E-SIM instead of actual SIM cards. There's no SIM tray on the Apple Watch.
      They are using E-SIM on the new iPhones as well to enable dual-SIM capabilities, likely with one physical SIM tray and then the E-SIM functionality. That is, if they do it right so that your primary carrier can be E-SIM and then if you are traveling you can get a local data-only SIM or what-have-you.

      Short version: that's a carrier issue, not really an Apple issue outside of them not including a SIM tray on the watch for savings of physical volume.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    3. Re:Watch by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's not a carrier issue. I used eSIM chips in products for years and they work great on every UK network. That's because the company I get them from has deals set up with every UK network.

      Apple needs to do those deals. Maybe they did some kind of exclusivity thing or maybe they just don't want to, but it's their fault. The carriers support eSIM just fine.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:Watch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      O2 and the others don't support the way eSIMs work. EE is the only network that got this upgrade to their network sorted, so they get to have apple watch goodness.

      O2's network needs some serious software updates to enable this, stuff they're not willing to do currently. There's also licensing to do as well.

      The other networks are in a similar boat. Meanwhile Arqiva still sit on their hands with the masts. So this isn't an apple restriction, more that all the other networks dropped the ball as far as iwatch eSIM support goes, and now they're going to get hit up the ass with other eSIM devices too.

      So well done EE for being ready for this. (and well done O2 for the better coverage, even though your network is out of date)

    5. Re:Watch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's the fact the eSIM (and EE) support the same number on 2 different sims. O2's call routing kit can't handle that, so they (and others) are completley fucked until they can upgrade. The upgrade is not simple because it's an 'evolved' system, so basically they're a bit fucked.

  4. Steve Jobs weeps by bonedonut · · Score: 1

    iPhone Xs Max? really? they need to hire some people to come up with better names.

    1. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by jellomizer · · Score: 1, Informative

      X Plus sounds like a clothing size for fat people.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by r1348 · · Score: 1

      Xs Max sounds like an energy drink for people with virility issues.

    3. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Godai · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I think it's logical that, given what an iPhone costs, they are slowly moving to model names that sound like they should be attached high end German cars.

      --
      Wood Shavings!
      - Godai
    4. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      excess max sounds like a butt job gone wrong

    5. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      There's a lot more than a model name that he'd be weeping about.

    6. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or, one that's gone really really right!

      ba BOOOOM!

    7. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by MachineShedFred · · Score: 2

      That's really unfortunate. I've always though BMW was ridiculous with things like the BMW X3 XDrive35i and so on.

      I feel dumber just re-typing it, much less having to explain that to anyone if I owned one.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    8. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, its an odd choice since the Google Home Max came out less than a year ago. Kind of muddled branding.

    9. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      And better features. What a snooze fest. The post-facto adjustable depth of field is nice, except that I think other phones have already been able to do that.

      That won't stop Apple from heralding their implementation as the dawning of a new age of photography though.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    10. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by balbeir · · Score: 1

      Yes, now you can buy a R(allye) version of the iPhone ! Must be fast.

    11. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget the Merkur XR4Ti!

    12. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by ath1901 · · Score: 1

      I thought it was a hamburger reference. Big Mac vs Extra Small Max.

      Also, someone should buy Apple some new keyboards. Their sHift Ks Must be malfunctioning.

    13. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Next there will be an:

      Xs Max 2
      Xs Max 2 SE
      Xs Max Mega
      Xs Max 2 Ultimate
      Xs Max 2 Ultimate Unlimited
      Xs Max 2 XE
      Xs MiniMax 3
      Y (Not)
      Zzzz...

    14. Re:Steve Jobs weeps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Xs Max sounds like an energy drink for people with virility issues.

      A fitting description of an iPhone in my book.. :-)
      It is afterall like buying a Lambo that is not allowed to get license plates at 10x the price of a Ferrari that gets license plates and all extras at no extra charge

  5. The camera improvements are significant by JoeyRox · · Score: 1

    It's now almost as good as the Pixel 2 phone released a year ago.

    1. Re:The camera improvements are significant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The hardware, maybe. The OS is still way behind. I'm a Pixel 2 user and every time someone asks me to do something in their iPhone I am shocked at how primitive and limited iOS is. I have a Windows Phone (I know, I know) and an Android phone. Both are infinitely easier to use and more powerful than the music player turned phone running iOS.

    2. Re:The camera improvements are significant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Windows Phone .... infinitely easier to use ... than the music player turned phone running iOS.

      BAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA

      I have no issues using Android, iOS or Windows Phone, but I am young(ish) and technologically minded.

      There is no way you can convince me that Android or Windows are as intuitive or simple as iOS for a non 'digital-native' I have tried numerous devices with grandparents, parents, older friends etc and iOS has always been the first one they can become useful with.

      I will agree that if you want more complex use-cases or features then the others offer more options, and flexibility... like SD expansion.

    3. Re: The camera improvements are significant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can you set a custom ringtone on your iphone without involving a PC yet?

    4. Re: The camera improvements are significant by PaperDragonFly · · Score: 1

      Yea. You don't even need a PC to even use an iPhone since the iPhone 4.

    5. Re:The camera improvements are significant by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      The iPhone camera is top 5. It gives you a somewhat artificial photo, but not unpleasant. That's particularly true in low light situations.

      The better bokeh effect is nice, close to the Pixel 2 from last year but because it's optical it's less flexible.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  6. 3.5" is the perfect size by fred6666 · · Score: 1

    At least that's what they used to say.

    1. Re:3.5" is the perfect size by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      At least that's what they used to say.

      Now we have two options dubbed “xs” that are the largest yet?

    2. Re:3.5" is the perfect size by alvinrod · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Steve Jobs said crap like that all the time. I remember one year he talked about why putting video on something like the iPod was pointless since the experience was bad and then next year told everyone how cool it was that you could now have video on your iPod. If Apple had something to sell you, that thing was the greatest fucking thing ever, at least until the next thing. If they didn't have it, it was some pointless feature and what kind of knuckle dragging ape would want that.

      It's generally a good sales tactic. Why tell people something is awesome if you don't have it. Even if it really is a cool feature, I'm sure there are some downsides to it, such as it really killing battery life (why one of their earlier phones didn't have 4G, although they were kind of right about that as the first 4G phones were battery hogs) or whatever else you can come up with. Emphasize what you have. It's the other guys job to try to sell their product and if they're your competition don't do their job for them.

    3. Re:3.5" is the perfect size by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Honestly, I'm going to go out this weekend and replace my iPhone 5S with an iPhone SE and I should be good 'til 2020 or so.

      If I want a big screen, I have an iPad mini. Why do I want to drag around a big screen when I don't need one?

    4. Re:3.5" is the perfect size by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Steve Jobs said crap like that all the time. I remember one year he talked about why putting video on something like the iPod was pointless since the experience was bad and then next year told everyone how cool it was that you could now have video on your iPod. If Apple had something to sell you, that thing was the greatest fucking thing ever, at least until the next thing. If they didn't have it, it was some pointless feature and what kind of knuckle dragging ape would want that.

      It's generally a good sales tactic. Why tell people something is awesome if you don't have it. Even if it really is a cool feature, I'm sure there are some downsides to it, such as it really killing battery life (why one of their earlier phones didn't have 4G, although they were kind of right about that as the first 4G phones were battery hogs) or whatever else you can come up with. Emphasize what you have. It's the other guys job to try to sell their product and if they're your competition don't do their job for them.

      I never listened to anything Steve Jobs said... It was a waste of time. Even more so with Tim Cook now it seems

      Steve Jobs was just a used car salesman... And Tim Cook is a wannabe used car salesman

  7. new Apple Watch features by sootman · · Score: 5, Funny

    from https://twitter.com/sixcolorse... :

    If you fall and are unresponsive for a minute the apple watch series 4 will call the emergency number for you. Also sends your info to your emergency contact. AW also can now detect and alert on low heart rate and screen your heart rhythm and alert if it detects a-fib

    How much does Apple care about this heart-analysis feature? Here's the president of the American Heart Association to call it "game changing."

    You can have my Apple Watch when you pry it off my cold, dead wrist. Literally. :-)

    --
    Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
    1. Re:new Apple Watch features by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm honestly surprised they would do this. Whenever it fails to function properly (remember folks, this is a device being administered by users, it's going to be used improperly), the person or their family will sue Apple because why didn't it work? Apple will try to claim they had small print explaining that it wasn't actually a medical device. The prosecution will pull up the endorsement by the AHA guy. The lawsuit will get certified as a class. Apple will settle for a bunch of money and be forced to remove those features.

      Never make medical claims or market yourself as an emergency response anything unless you're willing to take on A LOT of liability.

    2. Re:new Apple Watch features by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can have my Apple Watch when you pry it off my cold, dead wrist. Literally. :-)

      I can't wait for the first couch potato being supposedly saved because of this and then Apple Watches will be declared the best thing since sliced bacon.

    3. Re:new Apple Watch features by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can have my Apple Watch when you pry it off my cold, dead wrist. Literally. :-)

      How is your watch attached to your wrist that it would be necessary to somehow pry it free after your demise? Prying gripping fingers makes sense, but not a wrist.

    4. Re:new Apple Watch features by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      Maybe it was attached too tightly. So tightly that it cut off circulation leading to necrosis of the hand and a small bit of that getting back into the bloodstream and leading to the death. Then you really would have to pry it from their cold, dead wrist.

    5. Re:new Apple Watch features by Tugrik · · Score: 1

      Posted this on another thread, but it bears repeating here, my apologies:

      I'm an afib/sinus-bradycardia patient and a beta tester for the AliveCor / Kardia apple-watch band product they sell. I had the condition most of my life but it wasn't properly diagnosed until I started playing with home EKG equipment and noticed the trends. I've been using the AliveCor watch band product (and the separate unit they sell) for a few years now. It has been an invaluable asset in my afib care, and the data from it (and the multiple events / cardioversions over the years) have provided good research data for helping treat these conditions. My health has directly improved from being able to detect episodes early and get them corrected before they get to the point they require electro-cardioversion.

      I don't know if they bought/licensed AliveCor's tech or if they're going to simply market-crush them (hopefully the former), but I'm extremely grateful to see it being built into the watch itself. The external band-mounted unit and associated app burn through the battery life of the current Apple Watch, giving me about 3/4 of a day or less before it needs recharging; i bring one of the little pocket-chargers with me as a result. It also means I have to wear only the special AliveCor band that hosts the two-pin sensor, which not only limits my options but screws up my skin a bit (the sports-rubber type bands make my skin break out sometimes). I'm hoping the native sensor will mean longer battery life with the same or better levels of functionality. I'll find out soon enough.

      My cardiologist loves the extra data; I can catch every event as it happens as well as monitor trends over time. It helps pick better treatment paths and develop better behavior patterns that will avoid triggering my afib as well as keep me on a better self-improvement path. Putting this on the wrists of huge numbers of people will only improve this kind of research -- and it'll also help early detection for those with the same genetic conditions I have, and get things treated before they become life threatening.

      In addition, the fall sensor is a wonderful thing for those of us with elderly parents with health issues. My mother suffered a pretty severe stroke that she luckily survived with most of her faculties intact -- though she has notable short-term memory issues now. I got her the previous series Apple Watch with cellular because while she forgets her phone all the time, she _always_ remembers to put on her watch when she wakes up. It gives us a communications path to her when she gets confused or separated while out on daily tasks, and lets us find her (with the 'find my friends' app) if she wanders. As her mobility issues increase, she's also more prone to falling, so I'm definitely upgrading her to this new watch -- the fall sensor will be a great addition. If she goes down and we're not right there to see and help, it can alert us. That's a huge increase in peace of mind.

      I hope that the competitors pick up on this and 2-pin EKG / fall sensors / other-health-monitors become more and more standard across the board.

  8. Drug Dealer Flip Phone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My $15USD drug dealer flip phone is still working great. How many more years do you think I can get by without wasting money on a smartphone?

  9. Seems excessive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who needs an excess iPhone anyway?

  10. 5 Trillion Ops? by Jahoda · · Score: 1

    I want more detail on this "5 trllion operations per second". Considering the GTX 1080 is a 9 teraflop card , I am pretty skeptical that the A12 is pushing ~60% of that.

    1. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Why? That's a 2-year-old card built on a 16nm process.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    2. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by figleaf · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Apple usually advertise burst speed - at which they beat most other mobile processors.
      Over longer runs Apple processors heat up quickly and don't do well on sustained performance. This might be due to the larger size of the chips than most comparable generation mobile processors.
      When it comes to sustained performance and size of the die Qualcomm et al beat them by a mile.

    3. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhm, no... The Snapdragon 845 comes close to what the A11 can do, but now the A12 is the one to beat.

      Die size doesn't really matter, what matters is what you can get out of that size.

    4. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Until it overheats, power envelope of a phone is very limited. Users do not like getting burnt, and batteries do not like very high temperatures either.

    5. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by willy_me · · Score: 1

      It is a bit dubious. However, the A12 has about the same number of transistors (6.9e9 vs 7.2e9) on a smaller, more efficient process. It might not be that far out.

    6. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      5 trillion now , Throttled to 500 billion just before next years phones are released

    7. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So Qualcomms are better at a use case scenario that would overheat your phone and drain your battery quickly? A use case that only shows up on synthetic bench marks and in no way reflects real world usage?

      It's 2018 and instantaneous single-thread performance is STILL king for end user applications. Power up, deliver the processing power to effect minimal delay to the user when they need it, then power down again to save energy. You may not feel like it, but the time between user actions to a process is glacial eons. The ideal processor usage graph for a mobile device should be a flat line with extremely high spikes

      Phones are portals for services and not general purpose computers. If you're running applications that hit all cores hot you are doing it wrong because that phone's dinky battery won't last - You can't ignore the laws of thermodynamics.

    8. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      And the clocks are similar, too. 1.7-2.5GHz for the chips on the GTX1080. We don't know the A12 clock speeds but the A11 ran up to 2.4GHz... presumably we don't get a slowdown. I dunno - at the end of the day it's a fairly useless measure... the proof is in the pudding, as they say.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    9. Re: 5 Trillion Ops? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agree, Intastaneous single threaded apps like video playback, JavaScript on websites is the what people do.

    10. Re:5 Trillion Ops? by pezezin · · Score: 1

      AFAIK, those neural nets processors are limited to 8-bit integer, and are limited to very specific operations.

  11. Hog Wash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is it just my perception? Or is that apple event full of Hog Wash?
    Thanks for enlighting us

  12. Shame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Was hoping for touchid to make a return.

  13. Taptic haptics joystick mode is amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The vibration mode is so strong now you can grab your Johnston and sync the vibes to the new iTunes porn mode. That's the amazing part.

  14. XS by Translation+Error · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They're really naming their phone XS? I don't know about anyone else, but if I find myself about to buy an expensive phone named Excess, I'd stop and think about whether I really need this.

    --
    When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.
    1. Re:XS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm more concerned about the Xr. The "my pronouns are xr, xrself" jokes just write themselves.

    2. Re:XS by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      It wasn't included in the Slashdot summary, but - Apple also announced they're bringing back the iOS app "I Am Rich".

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re:XS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      dumbass

    4. Re:XS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're really naming their phone XS? I don't know about anyone else, but if I find myself about to buy an expensive phone named Excess, I'd stop and think about whether I really need this.

      I'm still waiting for the Max iPad

  15. iPhone Xs ? by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

    I thought the iPhone already came with lots of excess. Or at least it seems to be targeting people who themselves have plenty of excess (money). But now if the phone is called (phonetically) "eye-phone excess" I think that might cause a little confusion.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  16. OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sweet, now I can throw away my old iPhone X, or maybe sell it on eBay. It was getting kind of boring.

    /s

    I believe you're thinking of Android devices, where OS supports six months after they're released.

    1. Re:OS updates by ArchieBunker · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I was getting updates to my iPhone 5C (circa 2013) as of last year. Show me any Android phone that issues OS updates four years after the release.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    2. Re: OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I'm not mistaken, my wife's Galaxy S5 from 2014 got its last security update this year, so there's that.
      Oh, and some, if not most, updates made the phone faster, none made it slower.

    3. Re:OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Mini]—released a few months before the iPhone 5C [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_5C]—especially because its CyanogenMod (now LineageOS) support was good. I still get updates [https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-mini/orig-development/rom-lineageos-15-0-s4-mini-t3702272]. Clearly this is not as convenient and the official manufacturer Android update situation is appalling, but it is possible.

    4. Re:OS updates by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      My Note 5 still gets updates. It's a little over 3 years old at this point.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    5. Re:OS updates by djbckr · · Score: 1

      My Nexus still gets regular updates.

    6. Re:OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you can't do math.

    7. Re:OS updates by balbeir · · Score: 1

      My nexus 5 doesn't

    8. Re:OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even better - The 5s, launched 5 years ago, is getting the latest iOS update next week.

      The 5c was really a 5 in a lower cost case. - They were using up extra production of 32 bit parts while making to the transition to 64bit

    9. Re:OS updates by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      I think he can do math. The problem is that most calculators won't tell you that 3 is less than 5.

    10. Re:OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure they can; you just subtract and check for a sign change.

    11. Re:OS updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Show me any Android phone that issues OS updates four years after the release.

      I bought my Samsung S5 Mini (notice the Mini, which doesn't make it a very sought out phone) in September 2014. It came out with Android 4.4.1, eventually got updated to 5.1.1, last year I got an update to 6.0.1 and a couple of weeks ago I got yet another update, which is still 6.0.1 but fixed a couple of bugs I'd seen on the phone. So yeah...

    12. Re:OS updates by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      My wife has an iPhone 6 that is really slow since the last OS update. That update took to a bunch of storage space too and of course there is no SD card slot.

      I gave my ancient Galaxy S3 (2012, 6 years old) to my friend and he still gets security updates. It runs well.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  17. E-sim feature by Cutting_Crew · · Score: 3, Informative

    I do like the e-Sim feature. Having two phone numbers on a single device.

    1. Re:E-sim feature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, they shanked that from Google who did it in last year's Pixel 2.

    2. Re:E-sim feature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too old a feature to be excited about.

  18. What I'm really looking forward to by semper_statisticum · · Score: 1

    Is the max ipad plus. Obviously that needs to come next year, but we can dream, because the ipad plus max just sounds terrible.

    Also, just to ask: how do we pluralise the iphone Maxs? As the MaxSS? I suppose that we can be thankful that the Lightning connector is being removed, since they would have to do something clever, like denote the SS with lightning bolts...

    --
    The Spanish Inquisition of Psychometrics; Burning all the heretics.
  19. Yawn. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blah blah blah blah blah. Best itoy yet.. innovative. Magical. Same old apple smoke and mirrors .

  20. iPhone 5 user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm currently using an iPhone 5, so I guess I'm on Year 6. Only two apps that I regularly use won't get updates anymore. Everything, otherwise, still runs fine. Don't really see a need to upgrade. It takes OK pictures. Battery life is fine. I can browse the web and read email when I need to. I might upgrade to the iPhone SE or XR at some point but I don't see the need to right now.

    1. Re:iPhone 5 user by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      I'm currently using an iPhone 5, so I guess I'm on Year 6. Only two apps that I regularly use won't get updates anymore. Everything, otherwise, still runs fine. Don't really see a need to upgrade. It takes OK pictures. Battery life is fine. I can browse the web and read email when I need to. I might upgrade to the iPhone SE or XR at some point but I don't see the need to right now.

      I'm still using an iphone 4S. A phone I got when Steve Jobs was still alive (a common joke is it's the "for Steve" phone - hence 4S)

      I haven't upgraded because every time I tried, it was hard to get. I ignored the 5 (no point upgrading yearly), was interested in a 5S but Apple sold out when I got there so I didn't bother (I got my 4S by walking into the Apple store on launch day with zero lineups. OK I waited 5 minutes). The 6/6S didn't have much appeal so I never bothered and it's been like that ever since. Though I think I need to upgrade merely because the software is unsupported (it was a good run for far longer than necessary).

  21. Dual-SIM by williamyf · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I know a few people that were put off of apple's ecosystem because of a lack of dual-SIM phones.

    There are a few reasons to have it, like people who hunt for the best price/coverage between two operators, or executves with work and personal numbers, or people who travel a lot.

    whatever the reason was, if you wanted/needed the feature, now you have an excuse to go for an iPhone.

    --
    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
  22. 15 percent by sacrilicious · · Score: 1, Insightful

    2 performance cores that deliver up to 15 percent speeds

    Woah, gotta get me some of THAT. How do they do it ?!?

    --
    - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.
    1. Re:15 percent by Dan+East · · Score: 2

      If they're talking 15 percent of infinity then I'm all in!!

      --
      Better known as 318230.
  23. 11 Must be an unlucky number by omnichad · · Score: 2

    Most things never have a version 11. Neither Windows, nor MacOS, and now even the iPhone. It just stops at 10. Or you pull a Firefox/Chrome and your version number is over 9000.

  24. Android is shit. Go peddle your Xiao crap in situ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If I wanted to let China spy on me I'd cut out the middleman and move there.

  25. I'm feeling psychic - 2019 iPhone predictions by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    This year, the flagship phone is the "iPhone Excess".

    So, next year, they're not even going to pretend - the 2019 flagship will be called the "iPhone Conspicuous Consumption". ... you heard it here, first.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:I'm feeling psychic - 2019 iPhone predictions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Im betting on the "iphone Profit!" A most apropos name

  26. Molon Labe by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0

    They better not take away my goddamn notch. That's the best feature of the iPhone.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  27. X-Men Approved. by Zorro · · Score: 1

    Now where is that endorsement money Apple?

  28. good-bye iPhone SE by ChristTrekker · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think the axing of the SE is more significant than the new products that were announced. I was still really hoping for an SE 2.

    1. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by jeff4747 · · Score: 1

      They called it the Xr instead of the SE2.

    2. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope... it's HUGE in comparison... I too was hoping to retain the 4" footprint.

    3. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same here. Now that iPhones are only available in large sizes, my next phone will probably be an Android, if I can find one that's still small with a headphone jack. I'm not in Apple's target demographic anymore, it seems.

    4. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Xr is nothing like SE. It's just a lower end version of X/Xs.

      SE2 should have been same form factor as SE, physical button, LCD screen, no notch.

    5. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Me too... was waiting for today's announcement before deciding but looks like the deal is sealed.

      It's not that big of a drama for me as I have mostly been using the google suite on my SE anyway.
      - gmail, maps, photos, assistant / home, I've even been using the gboard swipe keyboard

      Main reason I have stuck with apple is that I liked the SE form factor and I use an iPad as well... I think I'll really struggle to find an android tablet to replace the iPad

    6. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck you, and fuck your ijunk Xr.
      iPhone SE has a better shape. Xr stands for extra retarded.

    7. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Going by the price category, the Xr is replacing the iPhone 9. (I don't know what it is with tech companies and skipping the number "9".)

      The SE was priced around $350. I don't know how sales were, but did see a bunch of MVNO and prepaid cell services selling them off at $150-200. Perhaps Apple was trying to dump their inventory?

    8. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by blindseer · · Score: 1

      I think the axing of the SE is more significant than the new products that were announced. I was still really hoping for an SE 2.

      I was hoping for an SE/30.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    9. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by ayesnymous · · Score: 1

      No reason they can't release an update to the SE in the future.

    10. Re:good-bye iPhone SE by Tom · · Score: 1

      I'm with you on that one. I keep my phone n my trouser pockets and the SE is a good size for that. I have a 6 from work and I put it in a jacket pocket, but in private life I don't usually run around in a suit.

      Maybe they will bring the SE back. I'll hold back on upgrading in hopes of that.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  29. Hey Apple! Do you still make computers? by surfcow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Apple. There are 7 Macs in your lineup. 2 of them are 6 years old. 5 get a "DON'T BUY" from the macrumors.com Buyers Guide. And 1 gets a "NEUTRAL". https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Mac

    The average professional can not upgrade or repair your hardware anymore. You soldiered the memory and hard-drives. Removed the useful ports. And the escape key. ifixit.com gives recent MacBookPro's a repair-ability score of 1 out of 10. https://www.ifixit.com/laptop-repairability

    Guess you've been focused on other things, phones. Let us know if you go back into the computer business.

  30. A 6.5in screen? by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    What's that? A phone exclusively for NBA players? For just about everybody else will look like a jerk with one of those to one's ear. I forgot - one uses these devices for anything other than phone calls.

    1. Re:A 6.5in screen? by shilly · · Score: 2

      The phone is the same sized enclosure as the 8 plus. So people will look the same amount of a jerk with the new one as with the old.

  31. Was hoping for a bigger phone by filesiteguy · · Score: 1

    While now only functioning as an emergency phone, my Lumia 1520 was the exact right size and aspect ratio. I was hoping for something like that to come along. Instead, we get this awful candy bar shaped device that may not be bigger than my Iphone X.

    If I went back to Android, I'd maybe have to check out the Honor Note 10.

  32. Safe, Scared, and Incremental by BrendaEM · · Score: 1

    Technology creeps forward.

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaEM
  33. Missed a prime naming opportunity by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

    They could have released a professional version and called it the iPhone XP!

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  34. LOL by ReneR · · Score: 1

    no / words

  35. So many choices... by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 1

    But where is the Iphone Xhpj?

  36. What would it be called? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The SE X ?

  37. Re:Hey Apple! Do you still make computers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    apple still makes computers; just not very good ones.

  38. Re:Hey Apple! Do you still make computers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Indeed. Rumor has it that they'll have some actual computer announcements in October. If not, I'll be leaving the Apple ecosystem behind completely.

    I must admit that I never thought I'd go back to Windows after what they pulled when 10 came out, but if Apple won't sell anything I want to buy, well, Intel sells those NUCs that'll meet my needs. (Sorry Linux but I actually DO want to play a game or two now and then.)

  39. Apple is its own insurance by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Apple will settle for a bunch of money and be forced to remove those features.

    That would be true of any other company, but Apple has so much money they could either just carry on and leave the features, or more likely send teams of 10 thousand lawyers to utterly destroy anyone who tried to sue them over this feature.

    Having such a vast excess of cash and a huge userbase is its own form of insurance, the risk to Apple is spread very thinly.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  40. First iPhone that lots may smuggle FROM China! by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    A really interesting aspect of the Dual-Sim thing, is that in China only Apple is making a model that does not have the eSim, but supports two "real" SIM cards at the same time.

    I could see a lot of people from other parts of the world interested in being able to use two full SIM cards instead of an eSim (more limited carrier support being just one) - it'l be interesting how many are imported from China around the world.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  41. nano-SIM madness ? by DrYak · · Score: 1

    not really an Apple issue outside of them not including a SIM tray on the watch for savings of physical volume.

    But wasn't the whole SIM -> microSIM -> nano SIM "race to the tiniest" madness happening, exactly for the purpose on saving on physical volume ?

    Or were nano-SIMt somehow already a requirement for the giant slabs of smartphone, when other manufacturers have managed to cram *dual* SIM and microSD behind the battery cover ?

    But, ... but... this one is 0.1 mm thinner !

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
    1. Re:nano-SIM madness ? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      A SIM card is the same size as a credit card. I don't know of any cell phone that used it. They all used the mini SIM, then the micro, then the nano.

    2. Re:nano-SIM madness ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My first Motorola with Pac Bell Wireless used a full sized SIM. It slid in a slot at the bottom behind the keypad, which had a little dust cover that folded down to make the phone seem taller and more familiar in shape. The antenna was also a little mast you pulled out of the top, though it wasn't telescoping.

    3. Re:nano-SIM madness ? by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      You know that a watch is smaller than a phone, right?

      We're talking about the Apple Watch. Even these phones that sport the e-SIM still have a nano-sim slot on them.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
  42. This is all the iFools get? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A watch and new phones. Christ what a waist of time.

    Dead Steve would be so proud.... so many blockbusters... what will they think of next....

    I know, maybe they will change the colors ---- that's innovation for you right there.....

    Imagine Dead Steve standing on stage with nothing "new" in his hand......

  43. Too large by goosesensor · · Score: 1

    I broke my iPhone 7 about a month ago and have been waiting for the new stuff. After the corroborated leaks started coming out I just went and bought an SE which, ironically, arrived today. New phones are too big. I was hoping for a new small phone. Iâ(TM)ve used many large phones on my time and find the poor one-handed operation to totally ruin it.

  44. For specialized purposes only by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    The processor the 5 trillion operations per second refers to is not as general purpose as the CPU and GPU. Is a processor dedicated to processing operations related to running values through neural networks (think matrix operations mostly). Given the very limited in scope tasks it has to do the higher operation count is not unthinkable.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  45. No Mac computers.... by Your+Average+Joe · · Score: 1

    sounds like Apple wants to just make phones and ignore all other devices.

    --
    Your Average Joe
  46. Re:Hey Apple! Do you still make computers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple are no longer "courageous," they're arrogant and disrespectful to the audience who kept them afloat during some of their most difficult times.

    Professional audio creator? Video editor? The Apple software that was industry-standard is now glorified iLife. The hardware that those who already bought into the ecosystem rely on has been abandoned for years yet still sells for top dollar. When hardware fails, your only option is to go to Apple themselves, and they won't always fix it for you, either.

    There is no fathomable reason for any of this except contempt for any customer who isn't a model in one of their ads. Logical moves like making the slim, USB-C only MacBooks (Pro and not) marketed as Air so that there can be a true Pro solution with 10GbE and lots of USB A ports and less thermal limits. Or how about a flagship tower with support for RAID and PCIe without dongles, docks, and unsupported hacks?

    But the professional users have served their purpose and can now be discarded.

  47. Re:Hey Apple! Do you still make computers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > The average professional can not upgrade or repair your hardware anymore.

    Apple can't repair their own hardware anymore. Apple Stores at best do drop in replacements. (That's true of a lot of places, but the soldering is making everything worse.) They might contract out to a repair center if they detect a defect in enough units.

    Independent repair stores/people like Louis Rossmann are making a lot of money off Apple. They can do actual chip/capacitor replacement, desolder RAM/drives, and even fix liquid damage.

  48. Re:Hey Apple! Do you still make computers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And the best part is apple is having an aneurysm trying to shut down repair shops because they realise they are losing all that money.
    Fuck apple.

  49. XS = excess-ive price by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    XS = excess-ive price. I wanna new Windows Phone, not an overpriced Apple :-(

  50. Trump and the 3000$ Iphone by Poorcku · · Score: 1

    MSN title a few days back: "iPhone prices would rise up to 20% if Apple assembles in US like Trump wants".

    Well, they did it without Trumps help. In Sweden, the maxed out XR, or whatever they call it now, ist over 2000â.

    I say let Trump have it. Apple will increase the prices no matter what, so at least Apple should produce them here.

    --
    I take my children to see Madonna(..), but I never for once ever thought I was in the same business.Chris Rea.
  51. BS marketing phrases by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Apple also says that the new phones have wider stereo sound fields than before.

    More meaningless marketing drivel. "Wider sound fields" and "deeper pixels". It's like the phrase "hand crafted" which you see every restaurant using lately which sounds like it should indicate something meaningful but really is a content free phrase. A McDonalds hamburger is "hand crafted" because some minimum wage teenager put a patty between two bits of bread. Unless no humans touched the product everything is hand crafted. Companies claiming their food is "home made" is another bunch of nonsense. Unless it was actually made in a home then it is by definition NOT home made. You can't make a pixel deeper and you can't make sound wider. I understand what they are doing but that doesn't actually make it correct or honest.

  52. "Big" varies by person and need by sjbe · · Score: 1

    If I want a big screen, I have an iPad mini. Why do I want to drag around a big screen when I don't need one?

    "Big" is a question of perspective and use case. It's the wrong question. The question is how will you use the device and what size screen fits your preferences and needs. Your needs are probably different from mine and so what constitutes a "big" screen to you might be different. I've looked back to some of my older iPhones with 3.5" screens and they are clearly too small to be optimal for my needs. The real question is what is the biggest size screen that you can comfortably carry while still meeting your needs? THAT is the size device you should get and there is no one sized fits all answer to that question.

    For me I have an iPhone X and the screen on that is just about right for my needs. It's actually the main reason I don't use an iPad because the iPad doesn't offer me anything extra that my iPhone doesn't already do so the added screen size gains me nothing useful. And for my needs a "big" screen is WAY larger than the screen of any tablet sold. (I'm typing this in front of three 28" 4K monitors which I make full use of) I had an iPhone 7s and it was the right screen size (for me) but the device was just a bit too large to comfortably handle - barely fit into pockets, easy to drop, etc. The iPhone X has the same screen size but a smaller form factor so it's just about right. Your mileage may vary of course. The only way to really know what works for you is to go hands on and try some stuff out.

    1. Re:"Big" varies by person and need by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      I bet when Apple increase the size of its smallest phone again you will again say that the new format is the ideal for you.
      Not long ago, most Apple fans said 3.5" was the perfect size and laugh at the "large" Android phablets (which can now be considered small to medium)

  53. Bad naming conventions by sjbe · · Score: 1

    That's really unfortunate. I've always though BMW was ridiculous with things like the BMW X3 XDrive35i and so on.

    At least those names convey some useful information about the build of the car to someone who cares and it's consistent from vehicle to vehicle. Good luck telling the difference between a Jeep Wrangler Sahara versus a Sport is just by the name. At least with BMW's system you can explain their naming conventions for every vehicle in their lineup in about 30 seconds which makes it better than most. I agree however that nearly all car naming systems are thoroughly idiotic and needlessly confusing.

  54. Superior? by sjbe · · Score: 1

    If you are an iPhone user, you really don't need to upgrade every year. Every 4 to 6 years probably.

    If you use it as much as I do you'll wear it out or break it and you will certainly wear out the battery far quicker than that. 2-3 years is probably more realistic for most iPhone users to upgrade. Expecting your battery to last for 5 years is completely unrealistic no matter what kind of phone you have (they just don't have that many recharge cycles in them) so even if you do keep the phone longer than 3 years you'll likely be paying for at least one if not two battery replacements if you keep a phone that long.

    Year 2: You are finally getting apps that will support your phones new features. (btw 6 months ago there was an Android competitor that is superior to your phone)

    Yeah, Android fanboi's like to claim that even though it's a ridiculous argument. "Superior" is a matter of need and fit to a use case. Apple sells a lot of phones because they offer a value proposition to a lot of people which is more compelling than the Android options for them. The best phone is not necessarily the one with the biggest list of features. Other things matter just as much if not more. Usability, network effects, apps, build quality, performance, workflows, ecosystems, price, and more all matter. It's about the ENTIRE value proposition, not just comparing the length of the feature list. And yes I get that this sounds like me being an apologist for Apple but the exact same argument applies in reverse. Android phones sell in larger numbers (collectively) than iPhones precisely because their ENTIRE value proposition works better for many people - particular the price bit. The "superior" phone is the one that best meets the needs/wants of the person (and collectively people) buying it.

    Plus let's not pretend that most Android phones don't slavishly copy new features from iPhones. See how many of them copied the (arguably useless) notch despite there being no technical requirement and arguably no utility to do so. There are great Android phones but having a few novel features before the iPhone gets them doesn't make it "superior" as a general proposition.

  55. Fanboy by sjbe · · Score: 1

    I bet when Apple increase the size of its smallest phone again you will again say that the new format is the ideal for you.

    Not unless my hand gets larger. But thanks for trying to paint me as a blind fanboy to hide your own bias.

    1. Re:Fanboy by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      Sorry if you are not one, but I've seen so many swearing that 3.5" was the perfect size and they would never use something bigger. Then it was 4.7". And now you say the iPhone X has the perfect size.

      I think you may change your mind in a few years and realize a larger or smaller phone is better. Your needs can change too.

    2. Re:Fanboy by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      sorry, I forgot the 4" iPhone between the 3.5 and the 4.7" one.

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