Apple unveils new phones, watch

By ERIC JOU in Cupertino (China Daily USA) Updated: 2014-09-10 07:00

SIDEBAR

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Hands–on

Apple's latest entries in the iPhone series are two different screen sized phones. As when Apple upped the screen sizes with the iPhone 5, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus take screen sizes to higher level.

Similar to all previous iPhones, the 6 and 6 Plus are made of aluminum blocks. In lieu of the blockier older look, the new iPhones look slick. Both models are thin, much thinner than the iPhone 5s.

And both are surprisingly light, light enough to be almost worrisome. The lack of "heft" in the devices feels like it detracts from the premium feel that Apple has cultivated.

That said, once the phone is turned on, the premium feeling comes right back. Both phones come with the new "Retina HD" screens, however the 6 Plus benefits from having a larger screen size. Both screens produce clear crisp images. Visiting ESPN with its bright reds looked amazing.

The bigger screens have brought a change in button orientation. Gone are the days of the top power-wake button. Taking a cue from Android hardware, the new bigger iPhones have the power-wake button on the right hand side of the device.

As for operations, there is an obvious speed advantage over the 5S. Web browsing and apps both loaded markedly faster, a performance upgrade that was to be expected.

In terms of camera performance, the new Slo-mo function on the camera looks more fluid than previous versions. Unfortunately, China Daily wasn't able to test the Facetime burst function and the Time-lapse function on the new iPhones.

Apple Watch

Hands-on Impression

Apple computer's first entry into the smart wearable device market is a surprisingly comfortable one.

Coming out with two different screen sizes and technically three different models (all together 6), the Apple Watch is quite a sight.

It's not so thick that it stands out; it feels and looks a bit smaller than a standard Casio G-Shock watch. Of course looks are in the eye of the beholder, considering other mobile device manufacturers have made circular watches. Apple's device is "rectangular".

In terms of operation, Apple did not allow the media to play with the device directly. Test devices were only allowed to be worn by the press, with the software demo being played on a loop.

The device felt and looked good, but without a full hands-on test drive with the software, there are still many questions about the Apple Watch.

Ericjou@Chinadaily.com.cn

Phil Schiller, Senior Vice-president at Apple, Inc. speaks about the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus during an Apple event at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California, September 9, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]