Category: Technically Speaking

HomePod mini – The HomePod, but…mini

I wasn’t going to write this post about the HomePod mini. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great product, and I love it on my bedroom dresser. The reason I wasn’t going to write this, was that the HomePod mini is just the HomePod, but mini. But, I decided to write this because I think the similarities to the original HomePod is important to dive into.

Now, the HomePod mini isn’t exactly the same as the HomePod, obviously. For starters it’s small, about the size of a softball. The full sized HomePod is about the size of a small paint can. This smaller size makes for a smaller speaker array but, despite this, the HomePod mini still pushes out great sound and is perfect for smaller rooms like a bedroom or home office or kitchen. The bass isn’t as full compared to the full sized HomePod and the high-ends not as detailed, but for the price category the HomePod mini is in, it sounds better than most of it’s competitors.

As for the rest of the features, well, it’s a HomePod. You get Siri. You get that single, illuminated touch surface. It works with HomeKit. You can use the new Intercom feature. You name it, the mini has what the OG HomePod has.

Frankly, it was about time Apple released a lower priced HomePod. It always was extremely costly and impractical to buy the $299 USD HomePod for every room in the house. But at $99 USD, the HomePod mini is more cost effective and practical if you’re looking to buy multiple HomePods for multiple rooms. And with the holiday season upon us, it makes for a perfectly priced gift.

The Xbox Series X is Full of Potential

The Super Nintendo. The N64. PS2. Xbox 360. I remember how much of a generational jump these consoles were in both graphics and gameplay. 8-bit to 16-bit. 16-bit to 64-bit. Polygon 3D graphics to high definition. Every time there was a new console generation, those consoles were leaps and bounds more advanced than the previous generation. I remember playing Super Mario World for the first time, or being blown away playing Gears of War.

Lately, console generations don’t have the same revolutionary jump that they used to have. When the Xbox One and Playstation 4 came out in 2013, the technological jump wasn’t as stark compared to the previous consoles. The Xbox 360 and Playstation 4 moved games into high definition. The Xbox One and PS4 also had HD graphics. The real advancement came in the form of improved detail, shading, and modelling. It wasn’t until the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, halfway through the last generation, when games jumped to 4K. One could argue that this was a more significant jump than the original Xbox One and PS4 were.

And that’s the new reality when defining game console generations. Much like smartphones and computers, technology has come to a point where we are seeing incremental steps instead of massive technological leaps.

Having said all of this, the Xbox Series X is a next generation console with some great improvements and great potential, but at launch this is hard to quantify.

Design

Let’s start from the outside in. The design of the Xbox Series X is a very minimalistic, but bold design. A rectangular cube engineered for optimum air flow and performance, the Series X is the best looking Xbox ever, and one of the best looking consoles in recent memory. The console is heavy and solidly built. The four equal sides are flat, with the top slightly concave with ventilation holes. Sitting upright in my entertainment unit, the console looks great.

The design of the controller, on the other hand, is pretty much the controller you got with the Xbox One and One X. This isn’t a bad thing. The Xbox controller, since the Xbox 360 controller, has been one of the best game controllers out there. The Series X controller slightly improves the previous version with the addition of a share button, a new D-pad and added texture to the grips and triggers for better ergonomics. A great controller just got a little bit better.

Performance

With 4K console gaming being introduced during the mid-generation upgrade, what the Xbox Series X brings to this generation is greater performance and graphics.

At launch, the Xbox Series X lacks any true next-gen games. All the games available for the Series X are either older last-gen games with Series X enhancements or new games that are primarily developed for the Xbox One, but with Series X enhancements. The first game I tried out was Gears 5. The game is truly stunning with great detail and spectacular lighting, but where the game really shines is with the consistent 60 frame per second. The performance of the game matches the ultra settings found on the PC version.

But so far, that’s all we are getting. Enhanced versions of games that more or less give you high-end PC quality graphics but on a console. Don’t get me wrong, this is really great. To get ultra settings on a PC, you are likely looking at a PC build nearing $1500. But, until we start getting games built from the ground up with the Series X in mind, we are not seeing the full potential of what this console can do.

For now, the benefits of this extremely powerful console is limited by the available software, but the graphical step up and 60fps is a welcomed upgrade. The Series X is capable of 120fps and 8K resolution, but I don’t have a 120Hz television and 8K just really isn’t a thing yet.

Aside from graphical processing, other benefit the Series X provides is the onboard 1TB solid-state drive. Providing very high data transfer speeds, this improves load times and is needed for processing the greater amounts of data need for the higher quality graphics.

Lots and lots of potential

The mid-generation upgrade cycle really blurred the lines of what to expect from a next generation console. Back in 2017, the Xbox One X might have even stolen some thunder from the Series X by introducing 4K console gaming before the next-generation. But, what the Xbox Series X has is power. Lots and lots of power. However, we won’t be seeing the real benefits of 12-teraflops and 8-core CPU power until next year, likely when Halo Infinite is released, or when we get a new Gears or Forza. And, as it is always the case, the full potential of a console isn’t tapped until the latter half of its life cycle.

The Xbox Series X has great potential, but right now, we can only get a sliver of a glimpse of it.

Paying for Apple One might be confusing

Apple One is finally here. Announced during Apple’s September event, the bundle plans provide a more economical way to subscribe to Apple’s online services (Apple Music, Apple Arcade, iCloud, Apple TV+, News+, and Fitness). Apple One has three different tiers. The individual plan, for $15/month USD, gets you an individual Music subscription, TV+, Arcade and 50GB of iCloud. The family plan, for $20/month, provides a family Music plan, TV+, Arcade and 200GB of iCloud. And finally, the premier plan, for $30/month, gives you family Music, TV+, Arcade, 2TB of iCloud, News+ and Fitness+ (when it launches later this year).

However, a question I had was how Apple was planning on dealing with customers who already had subscriptions to Apple services and were switching to Apple One. Here is a breakdown of the different Apple One subscription scenarios.

Not currently on any Apple services

If you currently have no subscriptions to any Apple services, then signing up is pretty straightforward. When you subscribe to Apple One, your first month is a free trial. After your first month, you are then charged monthly. Apple One is only available as a monthly subscription.

Currently using one or more Apple services, but one or more services you never used the free trial

This scenario is a bit more complicated. If you are currently subscribed to one or more Apple services, but there is one or more Apple service you never signed up for and thus never used the free trial for, you will enrol in the month free trial for Apple One, but not get refunded for the last month you paid.

For example, say you are subscribed to Apple Music, Apple Arcade and iCloud, and you never signed up and used the free trials for News+ and Apple TV+. When you sign up for Apple One, you will be put on the month free trial so that you can get News and TV free for the month, but you will not be refunded for Music, Arcade and iCloud. Instead, when Apple One rolls into the next month, and you start paying, all your previous subscriptions will just be cancelled. And, if you pay annually for any services, you will get a pro-rated refund for those once you start paying for Apple One.

Currently on one or more Apple services, and used all free trials

This is the situation I was in and I am sure many people are in. You are already subscribed to one or more Apple services and you are switching over to an Apple One bundle, and you’ve used all the free trials in the past.

To start, you do not get the free trial of Apple One. Instead, Apple will immediately charge the monthly Apple One fee, and then you will be refunded for all the services you paid for. In my case, I was paying monthly for Apple Music, 2TB of iCloud and Apple Arcade. I signed up for Apple One which immediately cancelled my three subscriptions and triggered a refund of the last monthly payments I made.

For anyone making annual payments, you will get a pro-rated refund for the services you had been paying yearly for and will start paying monthly for Apple One.

Greater Value for What You’re Already Paying

Apple One is a great way to dive deep into Apple’s ecosystem. If you already pay for two or more Apple services, you will greatly benefit from switching to an Apple One bundle. Essentially, if you subscribe to two or more of Apple’s services, it is well worth it to subscribe to one of these plans. You will either save money or gain access to additional services for the same price you are paying now.

5G in Canada

The era of 5G is upon us. For many, 5G has been nothing more than a buzz word, but with Samsung 5G devices on the market since the Spring, and Google and Apple coming out with their 5G phones this Fall, more and more people are going to be able to take advantage of the newest cellular technology.

If you are in Canada, and planning on getting yourself a 5G device in the coming weeks, then this post is for you. In preparation for getting a 5G iPhone, I’ve switched carriers, but before choosing, I did some research and in this post I will go over some key findings.

Which carriers have 5G?

As of right now, only the big three (Rogers, Telus and Bell) have 5G networks in Canada. Not even their subsidiaries like Fido, Koodo or Virgin are on their 5G networks.

I was a Fido customer for the past 5 years, and being a subsidiary of Rogers, I figured there would be at least a timeline as-to when they will gain access to Rogers’ 5G network. But, after scouring the web and chatting with Fido representatives, there is no timeline right now. And that goes for all the other discount carriers.

So, if you want 5G, you need to deal with one of the big carriers.

Price

As of right now, the big three carriers are including 5G as part of their top tier plans. For Rogers, that’s their Infinite Plans, Telus has their Peace of Mind plans and Bell has their Unlimited plans. Comparing all their various plans, they are all priced the same and with the same features. And, if one carrier has a promotion, the others will do the same.

Initially, all three carriers were planning on charging for 5G, starting March 2021. Then in June, Telus and Bell, within a few days of each other, announced they were no longer planning on charging the fee next year. It took Rogers another 3 months to make the same commitment.

So, as it stands right now, price is not a determining factor in choosing a carrier.

5G Tech

Let me preface this section with a disclaimer. I don’t full have a grasp on all the 5G technologies out there and which specific ones the three carriers use, but I will do my best to give an overview.

First thing to mention is that, currently, none of Canadian carriers is using the ultra wide band, super fast mmWave technology as part of their 5G networks. mmWave (millimetre wave) uses high-bandwidths over 28GHz and can have speeds of over 1Gbps. It’s likely still a couple years out before we see it introduced in Canadian cities. Also, no 5G device being sold in Canada will have mmWave antennas built-in to them. This includes the soon to be launched iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models. The bands Canadian carriers are using fall under what’s called Sub-6 5G, which is a series of bands that are (as the name suggests) below 6GHz. Now this encompasses a whole range of different frequency and band names that I won’t go over. All I will mention is, between the three carriers, none of them are using any band over 2.5GHz. Sometime next year the 3500MHz spectrum will be auctioned off to carriers and will be used to provided improved speeds.

Telus and Bell claim to have the faster network, but with all three carriers using mid-range bands that are all very similar, there may not be very noticeable differences in speed when applied to real world use.

Coverage

The last big question is, who has the widest coverage. Well, as of right now, Rogers has the largest coverage out of the three carriers, by far. They have 5G in over 150 cities and town compared to the approximately 50 cities Bell and Telus have. For context, Bell and Telus share the same network, so they have identical coverage.

Rogers was the first to launch their 5G network at the beginning of 2020 and they have expanded rapidly throughout the year. Telus and Bell launched during the summer, and they are also expanding quite quickly. But, if you want the most coverage right now, Rogers likely has your area covered.

So, who (currently) has the edge?

If you are wanting to get on the 5G bandwagon now, and want the best, then Rogers is the carrier to go with. With everything else being equal, Rogers’ superior coverage puts them above the rest. But, eventually that will even out as Telus and Bell continue to expand their networks. In a couple years, 5G will be ubiquitous across all the carriers, and coverage will all be the same. But, if you are getting a fancy new 5G device this fall, and you are looking for the best coverage, Rogers is your best bet.

The In-Ears I Never Knew I Always Wanted

I’ll come right now and say it, the AirPods Pro are the in-ear headphones I’ve always dreamed of, and I’ve had my fair share of in-ear headphones. From Sony and Bose, to Jaybird and Apple In-Ears, I’ve tried, and ultimately tossed into a drawer, many in-ear headphones. I’ve found all in-ears uncomfortable and often not fitting correctly. And, of course, they were all wired. I have the 2010 version of the Apple In-Ear headphones, and those in particular never really fit my ear. No matter which ear-tips I used, they never sat in my ears properly and either fell out or would stuff into my ears so poorly that I couldn’t hear anything.

Enter the AirPods Pro. I had bought the original AirPods when they first came out and I used them everyday. Not the best sound, but convenient, wireless, and good enough for podcasts and phone calls. So, when Apple announced an in-ear version, I was willing to give them a try. I was slightly skeptical from previous in-ear experiences, but it was time to upgrade my AirPods and the noise cancelling and improved sound was enough for me to give them a try. I was not disappointed.

The Fit

First, let me say I never thought in-ears could feel so comfortable. I first used the AirPods Pro with the default medium tips and they fit perfectly. They stay in my ear and they don’t feel like they’re stuffed in there. The external vent that allows air to flow through the AirPod makes a huge difference. No vacuumed sealed, popped eardrum feeling. It feels like wearing a regular pair of AirPods.

The Sound

The AirPods Pro have premium quality sound. They still can’t compare to a pair of high-end, HiFi over-the-ear (OTE) noise cancelling headphone from the likes of Sony or Bose, but they are one of the best earbuds available. Sound is balanced and the range is very good. Clear high-ends, rich mids and pretty good bass. It helps that these are sealed in-ear buds, but these tiny, wireless wonders perform some amazing computational feats to generate a great soundfield. I had exclusively used my Sony WH-1000MX3 when I wanted to listen to music and only used my AirPods to listen to podcasts, watching a YouTube video, or taking phone calls. But, with the AirPods Pro, I often listen to everything through them, and use my Sony cans for serious listening at home.

Noise Control

Finally, the biggest feature of the AirPods Pro is its noise control modes. The headphones have two noise control modes: noise cancelling and transparency.

The noise cancelling is the real deal. Apple has managed to bring noise cancelling to wireless in-ear buds, and it works. Along with the air venting system, the noise cancelling blocks out most ambient noise while not feel uncomfortable doing it. Now the noise cancelling is not as good as what you get from a pair of Sony or Bose OTE headphones, but the AirPods Pro can deliver good noise cancelling in a very compact form.

The mode that really blows me away is transparency. I use this mode the majority of the time and it’s amazing. External mics, on each AirPod Pro, pipes noise from your surroundings into your speakers, along with whatever it is you are listening to. The sound that comes through is so clear, you can easily have a conversation with someone and forget you are wearing in-ear headphones. I can easily put them in my ears at 8:30 in the morning and leave them on all day listening to podcasts, music, and having in-person conversations with people. Other noise cancelling headphones have this feature, but often the ambient noise that gets piped in is very distorted and shrill, as the AirPods Pro feel very natural.

The In-Ear I Never Knew I Always Wanted

I honestly, had given up on in-ear headphones. I was content with my regular AirPods and my Sony WH-1000MX3. But, the AirPods Pro are a no-brainer replacement for my old AirPods and I am using my Sony’s a lot less lately. I highly recommend these and urge anyone looking to upgrade, or purchase for the first time, a pair of AirPods, to consider going Pro.

iPhone Memory Lane

This year, I upgraded my iPhone X to an iPhone 11 Pro Max. While, I was unboxing and setting it up, it dawned on me that this was my ninth iPhone. For the record, this is the thirteenth year Apple has released new models. Clearly, I didn’t get a new phone year over year, but I have been using an iPhone since 2008. So, I thought it would be fun to look back and review why I bought the models I bought and whether they were worthy upgrades.

iPhone 3G – Black 16GB (2008)

In June 2008, I purchased my first ever iPhone. Living in Canada, we never got the original iPhone as it was never released outside of the US. I bought my iPhone 3G through my carrier, Rogers, as Apple wasn’t selling it in store or online. I’m not sure what the supply and demand was at that time, but I was surprised to get my hands on one so soon after launch day.

As I mentioned, I never had the original iPhone, so this was my first smartphone of any kind and it was mind-blowing. Texting alone was a game changer. It was a whole new way of communicating and connecting, and there was no looking back.

However, looking back the device was very very slow, both because of the hardware itself and the fact that it was only a 3G device. Also, the build of the device wasn’t great. The back was made of plastic which was prone to cracking, especially around the 30-pin connector.

Of course, hindsight being 20/20, I can’t judge the 3G against future models. The iPhone 3G was the best at the time, and it was a must have for me.

iPhone 3GS – White 32 GB (2009)

Apple’s first S version of an iPhone promised speed improvements and introduced video recording. I wasn’t going to upgrade to this iPhone, but my carrier had a promotion where they would wave the remaining balance on my iPhone 3G if I started a new contract.

The iPhone 3GS was physically identical to the 3G, but was speedier and the video recording capabilities was amazing for someone who never had a video camera in their phone before. I also appreciated that I now had a whole 32GB of storage space. 2009 was a different time.

The iPhone 3GS was an improvement over the 3G, but it wasn’t a major upgrade, something we would soon learn about all S models. If it wasn’t for the upgrade promotion my carrier offered, I wouldn’t have upgraded, but having the speed bump and the video camera was a nice to have.

iPhone 4 – Black 32GB (2010)

The iPhone 4 was such a shift in design and technology, I could not have passed on this upgrade. The design was so elegant with the stainless steel frame and glass back and front. It was more square and flat than any iPhone before it. But, most importantly, this was the first iPhone with a Retina display, which instantly rendered all previous displays obsolete. This was also the first iPhone to have a front facing camera, which introduced FaceTime and, more importantly, allowed for making selfies.

I loved this iPhone. The departure from plastic was such a welcomed change. This piece of hardware felt so good in the hand and look amazing.

As many will remember, this was the antennagate iPhone. This was the issue where if you gripped the device in a certain way, you would affect the antennas which were built into the steel frame. Apple gave out free bumpers, that would cover the frame, to remedy the issue. I never had the issue, and I never used the bumper, so I didn’t have that negative experience. For me, this was a solid iPhone.

iPhone 4s – White 32GB (2011)

The big selling point of the iPhone 4s was the introduction of Siri. I remember watching the keynote and thinking, “this was going to change everything.” It didn’t. At least, not right away. Siri has come along way, but the first iteration of the smart assistant was very limited and just not very good.

If I recall correctly, I bought the iPhone 4s unlocked, directly from the Apple Store. I’ll come straight-out and say it. I regretted buying this iPhone. It was such a minor update and the flagship new feature wasn’t good and I never really used it. Sure it had spec bumps and an improved camera, but it just wasn’t worth the money to upgrade.

iPhone 5 – Black and Slate 64GB (2012)

Like the iPhone 4, the iPhone 5 was a must have upgrade. The design was another big leap forward. It was the first time the screen size changed going from a 3.5-inch display to a taller 4-inch display. The new larger, rectangular shape changed everything from the amount of content on the display, to the physical UI. Along with spec increases and the increasingly better camera, this phone was the biggest upgrade to date. The new monolithic design was impressive and felt great in hand. I absolutely loved this iPhone.

iPhone 6 Plus – Space Grey 64GB (2014)

I skipped the iPhone 5s, after learning my lesson from the 4s. The addition of Touch ID didn’t justify the upgrade for me. The iPhone 6 however, was not one I was going to pass up. The new form factor and increased size was such a major shift in direction, that its fundamental design is still the basis for the current iPhone models.

Clearly a response to other smartphone manufacturers, Apple finally released not one, but two large screen iPhone models. A 4.7-inch display and a 5.5-inch Plus sized display. I jumped in head first and went for the iPhone 6 Plus. The leap from the iPhone 5 to the 6 Plus was jarring to say the least. At first, it didn’t even feel like an iPhone anymore. It felt more like a mini iPad mini, hence why, for a time, these phone were dubbed phablets. But, once I adapted to the size and trained myself how to hold, it became second nature. Sure, you couldn’t reach the top of the screen anymore with your thumb, but I found using two hands wasn’t such a big deal.

I really loved the iPhone 6 Plus and it really changed my perception of what a phone can be. The old 4-inch and 3.5-inch iPhone screens just looked so small and restrictive in comparison. I couldn’t imagine going back and watching Netflix or looking at photos or even browsing on a smaller display.

iPhone 7 Plus – Black 256GB (2016)

Having skipped the iPhone 6s and waiting for another reimagining of the iPhone, I was initially a little disappointed with the iPhone 7. It was the first time Apple went three years with the same design and with the rumours of a newer design coming in 2017, it was clear Apple’s development train was taking a little longer between stations. But, what ultimately sold me on upgrading to the iPhone 7 Plus was introduction of the dual camera system. Specifically, Portrait mode is what hooked me.

In the end, I am glad I had Portrait mode for the year and a bit I had my iPhone 7 Plus, but if I were to do it again, I think I would have held off buying it. Sure, I would have had my iPhone 6 Plus for three years, but the iPhone 7 Plus really wasn’t that different.

A note on the storage size I chose. I really wanted to get the 128GB model, but all the store in my area had them all reserved on launch day. So, despite the iPhone 7 being very similar to the 6 and 6s, there seemed to be demand, at least for the Plus models.

iPhone X – Silver 256GB (2017)

Like the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 5 before it, the iPhone X was not an iPhone to be passed up. Despite having purchased the previous year’s model, there was no doubt I was getting this iPhone.

FaceID, no Home button, edge-to-edge display, stainless steel frame with a glass back for wireless charging, this was a very different iPhone even if the core chassis design was the similar to the iPhone 6, 6s, and 7.

This was an amazing device. It changed everything and made every other iPhone and any phone that still had a chin and forehead look like ancient technology. It looked and felt new and fresh.

A note on the storage size again. I still only needed a 128GB iPhone as I only used about 80GB on my iPhone 7 Plus. However, Apple no longer offered that capacity size and offered only 64GB, 256GB and 512GB models.

iPhone 11 Pro Max – Gold 256GB (2019)

Like the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 5s, I skipped the iPhone XS. It really didn’t offer any significant upgrade to the iPhone X. The only major difference was they offered a Plus sized model that they called the iPhone XS Max. It was a Plus sized phone, like an iPhone 7 Plus but with an edge-to-edge display, which made it a whopping 6.5-inch screen. But, having spent so much money on the iPhone X just a year ago, I passed this one up.

Jump ahead to present day, and I have in my hand an iPhone 11 Pro Max. It has been widely reported that the two major upgrades to this years flagship model is the battery life and the cameras. For me, the improved cameras are a huge highlight, producing images where I can instantly see improvements over previous models. But, the other major feature was finally getting the Max size screen. The screen is what brings me the most joy.

Looking Back

The reason why I wanted to write this article, was to look back and see how far the iPhone has come and revisit the features and designs that excited me over the years. I think it’s important to look back to see how far the iPhone has come and not get wrapped up in critiquing the lack of year over year improvements.

From 0 to 4

A few weeks ago, I finally replaced my Apple Watch with a new 44mm Stainless Steel Series 4. My previous watch was the original Apple Watch from 2015 dubbed by many as Series 0.

It goes without saying that the new Series 4 is vastly better than the original Watch in terms of performance, but for someone coming from a three year old device, there’s a lot more than just speed.

Speed and Performance

Ok, so let’s just get this one out of the way. The original Apple Watch was never fast. It always felt like it needed to be held back another year to get the right hardware inside. It was usable, but using it beyond telling the time, getting notifications and tracking your health, you really didn’t want to push the device and further as the experience was slow and frustrating. Something as simple as relying to a message would be so agonizing. From launch the app, to scrolling through the messages and replying would take so long, you ended up using your iPhone.

The minute I started using the Series 4, I knew I was in for a treat. The immediate response to tapping something on the watch face was revolutionary. I have to issues now opening an app and immediately being able to set a timer, scribble back a reply, check the weather. No load times, no lag.

I know has been incrementally addressed in all the versions of the Watch since the original. I remember hearing that the Series 2 was such an improvement in performance when it was released. But, making that leap from 0 to 4 was so dramatic, I feel like this is a completely new product. It’s like I’m experiencing the Apple Watch for the first time.

The Display

I’ll talk about the new display size in a second, but first I need to mention the screen brightness. The original Apple Watch’s display was 450 nits. It was well known that if you were outside in the sun, it sometimes was hard to see your watch face. Every Apple Watch from the Series 2 onward, has had a display with 1000 nits, including the Series 4. This was a much needed upgrade and the benefit is subtle, but a great improvement.

Of course, the most notable display difference, and the most notable difference of the whole Series 4 line, is the larger, rounded screen. The new curved corners add a little height and width to the display, but more importantly, it bring the display closer to the edges of the watch itself. Apple calls it edge-to-edge and I can tell you it’s not quite that close. But, it does make the display more naturally blend into the whole device. It also doesn’t hurt that the watch is a little bigger. The larger screen is luxurious.

The Infograph Watch Face

A byproduct of the larger display and new rounded, edge-to-edge design is the new Infograph watch face. Able to showcase upto eight complications, the new face really gives the flexability to customize your watch like never before. Many complications, if put in the corner positions, give additonal information in the form of a bar of text or a scale. For example, putting the Weather complication in a corner position gives the additional information of a temperture scale that tell the low and high of the day. You can pack so much information in one place, I hardly ever have to leave the main watch screen.

Lots of Great Little Things

The Series 4 is as big as an overhaul you will see with the Apple Watch anytime soon, and while it does have some key changes, it’s really a lot of little things that make this version feel so refined and fully realized. The way the entire Watch is just a little more rounded makes it feel even more precious. The slight clicking of the digital crown when scrolling through lists. The better speaker and mic. The list goes on and on. My Series 4 feels familiar, but also like I’m using an Apple Watch for the first time.

The new iPad Pro is the tablet we’ve been waiting for

I will come right out and say it: The new iPad Pro is the iPad we’ve all been waiting for. However, the price will be a barrier for many.

The first major design change since the iPad Air in 2013, the latest iPad Pro has no home button. edge to edge display, Face ID, a thinner design, and wireless charging for a new Apple Pencil. It is the culmination of every iPad from the past 8 years, and while I’m sure the product will continue to evolve, I’m sure this was the iPad that was envisioned nearly a decade ago.

The Display

The new Liquid Retina display comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch options and takes cues from the iPhone X, Xs and XR. Edge-to-edge display. Rounded corners. No home button. Face ID. However, relative to the iPhone, the “edge-to-edge” display is not quite to edge to edge. It actually has quite a bit of a bezel still, but when you handle the device, you quickly understand why the screen isn’t closer to the edge. For one, Apple needed to fit the Face ID camera array in to the bezel. But, the more subtle reason, is that when you hold the iPad, your thumb wraps around the front of the device and you see that the bezel perfectly accommodates this.

More importantly, the new display removes the forehead and chin of the iPad, better utilizing the footprint of the iPad. The 11-inch model has the same footprint as the 10.5-inch model, but by removing the top and bottom bezels, the screen gains that additional .5 inches. As a by-product, the 11-inch model has a new aspect ratio of about 4.5:3. The 12.9-inch model has the same screen size and aspect ratio, but by removing the forehead and chin, the overall size of the 12.9-inch model is smaller than the previous version.

These are truly impressive screens and is the clear stand out feature of these new models. The 12.9-inch model in particular is so immersive, it really feels like you’re just holding your content.

The Design

The new, more squared, design is very slick. Reminiscent of the iPhone 5 and the original iPad, the design is very slab-like. It’s the thinnest iPad ever (of course) and it does feel really nice in hand. I do like the design, but I feel this is a 1.0 design and when the iPad gets inevitably thinner, I can see Apple going back to a more rounded design again.

New Accessories

Two new accessories were also introduced along side the new iPad Pro models. A new Smart Keyboard Folio and a new Apple Pencil.

The new Smart Keyboard Folio is a full back and front cover for the iPad that opens up to a keyboard. This is a different take on the previous fold out smart keyboard. It’s very similar to the Microsoft Surface design. The original Smart Keyboard has a confusing origami fold out design that confounded users and the build quality was always a little soft. The new Folio case simplifies the usage by magnetically connecting to the back of the iPad allowing for a more simple open and set motion. The build quality of the keyboard is also much improved. The keys are less mushy and the overall case is more rigid.

The other new accessories, but definitely not least, is the new Apple Pencil. This new design is just amazing. First, it pairs and charges wirelessly by magnetically connecting to the iPad Pro on its right side, or top side, depending on the iPad’s orientation. So, no more taking off a cap and sticking it into the iPad. The new Pencil is also shorter, has a flat side, and has an accelerometer so you can double tap the Pencil to change tools in a given app. It also just feels great in-hand. Version 2.0 of the Apple Pencil is a full realization of the product and makes it a must have accessory for the iPad Pro.

An iPad You Will Want, But Won’t Likely Need

The new iPad Pro is a device you will really want, but with the cost, will be hard to justify if you already have an iPad Pro or even an iPad Air 2. The edge-to-edge display and the new Apple Pencil huge, positive features, but the price tag will likely only entice people who are buying a Pro for the first time, or haven’t upgraded their iPad in a long time. iPad users are more like MacBook user, and less like iPhone users. People tend to not upgrade as often. Most people will hold on to their iPad for 3 or 4 years before upgrading. So, if you are looking for a new iPad and have the extra cash to invest, the new iPad Pro won’t disappoint.

Apple’s MacBook Conundrum

Since the October 30th Apple event, I’ve been dwelling on the new MacBook Air. I’ve already written about this, but I wanted to take a couple days to construct a better thesis on why the introduction of this notebook is confounding me.

Let me be clear, I think the new MacBook Air is a great notebook. I have never had an issue with the new low profile keyboards, and the new third generation butterfly keys are fantastic. I also never hated on the USB-C ports. I have had to use dongles from time to time, but not enough that it was a burden. The new MacBook Air is a sleek, lightweight laptop with some really great technology built-in. I don’t have an issue with the new MacBook Air at all, but I have thoughts and questions about three other notebooks in Apple’s lineup; the 12-inch MacBook, the previous generation MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar.

The 12-inch MacBook

I’ve done some thinking since the event and I’ve come to the conclusion that there is still a place for a 12-inch MacBook. There are customers who want the smallest and most compact notebook. Having said that, the pill I’m having a hard time swallowing is two fold. First is the price. Still set at $1299 USD, the 12-inch MacBook is $100 more than the new MacBook Air. I know Apple’s response to this is that the technology put into the 12-inch to make it so small and compact is more costly, but I think this would be a bit easier to accept if we at least saw a refresh. Faster processors, Touch ID, a 720p FaceTime camera. Instead, Apple just changed the shade of the gold option. Now, I’m sure Apple will refresh the 12-inch MacBook at some point and is following it’s own refresh cycle, but as it stands now, the 12-inch MacBook is not a good buy.

The Previous Generation Air

A slight disappointment many had, with the new MacBook Air, was the $1199 USD price point. The previous generation Air was $999, and it still is. Apple decided to keep the previous generation Air in the lineup and this is likely for two reasons. First, I’m sure Apple couldn’t bare the idea of not having a $999 notebook in the lineup and because they couldn’t hit that price point with the new model, they keep the older model around. The other reason Apple is keeping this aging model around; it is now the last MacBook to have the older I/O ports. Apple won’t admit this, but I believe Apple is still easing customers into the USB-C only era. Bottom line, don’t expect to see this MacBook Air around for much longer.

The MacBook Pro without Touch Bar

Originally marketed as a lower cost option for people wanting a MacBook Pro, the 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar fell somewhere in-between the MacBook Air and Touch Bar models. It sported a slower processor and fewer USB-C ports, so pros who wanted the top of the line had to go with the Touch Bar versions. However, this past summer, when the Touch Bar MacBook Pros got refreshed, the non-Touch Bar model got no love. It was widely assumed that it was going to be phased out, likely by the end of the year, but with the release of the new MacBook Air, this model still remains in the lineup.

I suppose there is a place in the lineup for this computer. The new MacBook Air is still not as powerful as this MacBook Pro, especially when you consider the MacBook Air doesn’t have an i7 option and some people just don’t need the higher specs of the Touch Bar versions. But, just like the 12-inch MacBook, it’s puzzling why we didn’t see Apple refresh this model in light of the new MacBook Air.

A MacBook for Everyone

The point is moot, but I believe Apple has some of the best MacBook models they’ve ever release, on the market today. The new MacBook Air is going to be a great computer for pretty much everybody. The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is such a solid and powerful machine from the entry level 13-inch to the highest end 15-inch. But, the lineup as a whole is a bit convoluted. My best guess is Apple going for “a MacBook for everyone” approach. You want the cheapest? The $999 last generation MacBook Air is for you. You want the smallest possible notebook? The 12-inch MacBook might be for you, but it’s older tech and costs more than the new Air. You want a more powerful computer, but don’t want to pay the premium? There’s the MacBook Pro without Touch Bar. I get what Apple’s trying to do, but it’s not elegant and it’s confusing. We’ll see if Apple is bold enough to next year to drop some of the dead weight.

The new MacBook Air, Attempted Course Correction

Today, Apple announced a new MacBook Air, which is more of an attempted realignment and a renaming, than it is a whole new design of the popular notebook.

Apple was in full spin mode on this “new” MacBook Air announcement. The focus was on how this new Air was such a vast improvement over the old MacBook Air. Smaller footprint, lighter, thinner, retina display, butterfly keyboard, better trackpad, small bezels, etc. Sound familiar? These specs are nothing new, when you consider this is just a newer 12-inch MacBook. Apple has just finally decided to name the MacBook, the MacBook Air, but with a few notable upgrades. 13-inch display, 2 USB-C ports and Touch ID to name a few. It’s essentially, the all new MacBook, but rebranded MacBook Air. The odd thing is, Apple is still selling the 12-inch MacBook for $1299 with no refresh. Apple, why?! It doesn’t make any sense to sell the smaller, lower spec MacBook for $100 more. The 12-inch MacBook shouldn’t even exist, or at the very least, drop the price to $1099. And, that’s the other thing I am a little disappointed with. The new Air’s price point not being $999 and Apple’s decision to keep the older MacBook Air model around to fill that price point. I’m guessing the retina display demanded the higher price tag, but this decision just muddies the waters.

Despite the $200 premium over the older MacBook Air, I think the new MacBook Air is a great notebook and is the full realization of the 12-inch MacBook. However, Apple has just made their MacBook line-up even more convoluted. After all this time, we had hoped Apple would simplify and tidy up the MacBook family. Instead, it’s as confusing as ever.