Now it can be confirmed, well, for the most part. Apple itself confirms nothing, but trusted tech insiders are. Apple’s anticipated iPhone 7 to launch September 9, 2016.
That’s a bit misleading. Pre-orders are expected to start September 9. The iPhone 7 will be available in Apple stores September 16, according to many tech insiders. This 5.5 inch smartphone should have major hardware changes. This includes a new duel lens camera, missing headphone jack, twin external speakers, and Smart Connector. One debut feature is the blue color option. The iPhone 7 Plus will be a little slimmer than the iPhone 6 Plus. There has been many concerns with iOS 9.3.3. But Apple and their insiders assure such concerns have been resolved. Remember the iPhone SE, the bite sized iPhone that came out in March 2016? From what I’m reading, that was a pre-cursor to iPhone 7. When someone gives you a product for a deep discount, they hope you buy the real thing at regular price. That’s what Apple did with iPhone SE. iPhone SE was the promo. iPhone 7 is the product they really want you to invest in. Apple stocks depend on iPhone 7 success. So does Apple’s competitive spirit. Last time I checked, Apple only controlled 26% of the tablet market. Android controlled 65%.
I know iPhone 7 isn’t a tablet. But if iPhone 7 beats expectations, maybe that can spill into the tablet market. I bet Tim Cook hopes so. With caution, I commend iPhone with the SE strategy. They’d better hope people want the real product. Many people are satisfied with just the samples and promo discounts. So Apple lovers, mark September 9 on your calendar. If you’re smart, you’ll pre-order. But I’m sure there are some who’ll camp out at an Apple store at all hours of the night. There are some who will stand in line for many hours. There are some who will even get into fist fights over the last iPhone 7 (I sure hope they stock up!). If that’s you, then why?
Wasn’t that a wonderful Olympic opening ceremony yesterday (depends on who you ask)? Today, the games are off to a flying start. Technology helps covers it all. Technology also fights a more serious battle…the battle against the Zika virus.
In the last year or so, the Zika virus spread like wildfire throughout Brazil. The Olympic games were affected. Some Olympians even chose not to participate because of the Zika threat. Smartphone apps are fighting the Zika threat. The WHO (World Health Organization) has the WHO Zika App. It arms you with critical Zika information. It gives general information, symptoms, and prevention measures. And it updates people on the latest Zika related news. The WHO isn’t the only one developing apps fighting Zika. The PDC (Pacific Disaster Center) app tracks Zika all over the world. It highlights breeding grounds. Using GPS systems, the PDC tracks where Zika is most acquired, most suspected, even which areas are most venerable. According to their maps, Columbia and El Salvador are at high risk. This app also reports on earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural threats. Thermometer company Kinsa is doing it’s part. Kinsa uses high tech thermometers to track symptoms and uncover local outbreaks.
All these apps are good to have. If you’re in Brazil, I highly recommend you get one. They’re available on all Apple and Android devices and they’re free. But the PDC app is the most thorough. It gives total Zika cases by nation and by a nation’s region. It gives the number of cases among pregnant women. This is extremely important. It’s believed the Zika virus among pregnant women causes microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition where babies are born with shrunken heads. This could lead to huge development problems later in life. Brazil is faced with a lot of problems right now. During the opening ceremonies, there were mass protests surrounding them. Let’s hope these apps will keep people safe. I’d like to keep the focus on the games themselves. Don’t you?
According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple Pay is the real MVP. Cook said Apple Pay made up 75% if all paperless and card less transactions in the US. Cook stated he got that news from retailers. Apple Pay started in 2014. You transfer your debit/credit card information on their Apple smart device. The Apple Pay app is often called a ‘mobile wallet’. You can even do this on your iWatch. Now you can go anywhere that supports near-field communication (NFC) technology. Just tap your phone or watch to the retailer machine, or have your phone scanned by the clerk. That’s how you pay without cash, check or card. But this technology is only two years old. So not every store will accept Apple Pay…yet. In fact, only nine countries have Apple Pay access. Those nations are the US, UK, Canada, China, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore. Cook says Apple Pay users and transactions have increased four and five fold from this time last year.
There’s a reason I titled this report …according to Apple. That’s because there are no hard numbers to support these claims. Sure, it’s possible. Sure, it’s likely. Apple Pay is on the rise. I see it offered everywhere, from grocers to coffee shops. Personally, I’m a little weary of it. What if hackers break in Apple Pay? Does anybody ever wonder about that? There’s another factor Cook didn’t mention. Apple Pay has competition. Google has Android Pay. Samsung has Samsung Pay. Apple has an advantage over them now. They’re only in two countries (US and UK). But you know that will soon change. Is Apple Pay winning…according to Apple?
Google is improving it’s maps systems. This is especially true for Apple and Android smartphone users. Whether you’re commuting or on vacation, Google wants to guide your steps.
They removed road outlines and made it easy to spot points of interest, like train stations, gas stations and subway/bus stops. The cleaner Google Maps will highlight things to see and do. The neighborhoods with lots going on? Those will be shaded in orange. This allows users to explore a certain neighborhood virtually before they do so physically. These areas are determined at random. The system automatically picks the areas with the most businesses. But highly density populations are more human controlled. Other geographical areas are shaded in colors. Highways are shaded in orange or yellow. Hospitals and schools are in beige or gray. Parks are in green, naturally. Bodies of water are in blue, naturally. More changes will soon be on the way. Do you use mass transit? Google maps will alert you if there are delays. This map will be a Wi-Fi only mode. Some are asking Google Maps to put local public transit maps on their website. They could show you when the train/bus is coming and when it’s not.
I live in Boston and depend on public transit often (you try driving in Boston). Say I go to the subway platform. I check my phone to see if the train is late. It’s very late. But I had no way of knowing that. Because the train platform doesn’t get Wi-Fi. I would have to check at home before I’d know the train is late. Something has to be done about that. Sorry, I’m not feeling the other changes either. I can just type ‘store’ or ‘coffee shop’ in a neighborhood and find one. It only takes a few seconds. What’s with coloring public facilities? Just put what the facilities are. Oh, right, they already do that. Some of these shades are so natural is ridiculous. What do you think of these Google Map changes?
In 2013, whistle blower Edward Snowden revealed the government uses technology to spy on US citizens. He was a hero to many. He was a traitor to others. But Snowden isn’t going away. Edward Snowden designs smartphone security.
Snowden is helping design an iPhone case that does more than prevent glass breakage. This case prevents governments, corporations, hackers, nosy family members and friends, and anybody else from spying on smartphones. Snowden believes smartphones are easily traceable. He and Andrew Huang work on a case connected to the phone. This case alerts the user when the phone makes transmissions. The case’s wires connect to the SIM card slot and read other smartphone components. The case has it’s own computer and display. The display alerts the user of any suspicious activity, no matter where it’s coming from. They nickname this case ‘introspective engine’. They submitted this patent at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Well, Huang did. Snowden is still living in Russia. He’s still virtually held hostage there a US fugitive. Nonetheless, Snowden promoted ‘introspective engine’ through a video conference. This introspective engine case is literally in it’s infancy. No smartphone company has dared picked up the idea. We don’t even know what MIT Media Lab thinks about it.
We’ll just have to stay tuned to this one. I believe Snowden and ?Huang’s hearts are in the right place. They want to do everything they can to stop spying. They want to ensure your privacy rights. I respect and applaud this. But is it practical? People can just use airplane modes. Some are turning off their smartphones whenever they’re not in use. How can their privacy be invaded when it’s not even on? Snowden’s device just warns you when you’re being invaded. It just doesn’t interfere and fight off the invaders. That’s just what’s wrong with this device, so far. Personally, I hope they can get it patented, back, and sold. It’s one more weapon against surveillance. We can never have too many of those. Does the ‘introspective engine’ have a chance?
It’s that time of year again, iPhone lovers. Get your sleeping bag ready. Save your place in line. Apple’s iPhone 7 is coming. And it’s coming soon.
First off, Apple does not have an official iPhone 7 release date. But Venture Beat reporter Even Blass is one of the most respected bloggers in the tech media. He has an excellent record of predicting Apple release dates. Yesterday, Blass tweeted the next iPhone will be on the week of September 12, 2016. Other rumors are out there. The rumors say there will be three versions of iPhone 7. There are blogs and photos bragging about larger screens and more storage. There’s a rumor of an iPhone 7 professional version, but Blass dismissed it. Blass speculates two new versions. Blass tweeted their potential code names: Sonora and Dos Palos. Other insiders and analysts predict a September release, but so far, Blass has been the most specific. A September release is Apple’s strategic move. A September iPhone 7 release could do wonders to boost 3rd quarter 2016 profits. The price of the iPhone 7 is not yet known. Apple doesn’t respond to speculation and rumors, no matter the accuracy. They’re not going to start now.
As usual, Apple’s bottom line, as well as their hopes and dreams, will depend on this upcoming release. But this year, they may have a harder row to plow. China is in the midst of a recession. They’re one of Apple’s biggest consumers. The US economy isn’t so hot either. The numbers might look good. But dig down deeper, and you’ll see a different story. Every insider says the release date is critical. Even a couple of days off can throw the whole event out of whack. So I hope Apple is very careful with every detail with this promotion and release. More is riding on iPhone 7 results than any other iPhone in history. How much would you pay for an iPhone 7?
