Review: Mophie’s Juice Pack Reserve & Power Reserve Offer Power in Small Packages
Back in September, Mophie launched two brand-new battery products, the Juice Pack Reserve, a $59.95 battery case for the iPhone 6 and 6s, and the Power Reserve 1X, a small $34.95 external battery for smartphones and wearables. I have been testing both for the past two weeks in regular daily use and at a wedding, an environment that tends to be more smartphone-intensive than a typical day.
Mophie says the Juice Pack Reserve is the most compact battery case it’s ever created, adding just 0.3 inches of thickness and 75 grams of weight to the iPhone 6 or 6s. In my testing, I found that Mophie’s claim that the case is in a form factor that “you’ll barely notice” is mostly true, although with a caveat. Its soft-touch back provided a comfortable and easy-to-grasp grip despite feeling noticeably more dense. However, the case’s lower lip, where the speaker grille resides and the case plugs into the iPhone, is far more noticeable and users not accustomed to the extra length will have to spend some time acclimating to it when scrolling or typing.
The case’s extra mass was not a hindrance when attemtping to quickly capture moments at the wedding though, as it slipped in and out of tuxedo pockets fairly easily. In fact, the in-pocket feel of the case was barely noticeable in tuxedo pants, even during more intensive activites like dancing. The extra mass of the case is, however, more obvious visually. In more regular daily use, the case was even less of a hindrance.
Mophie claims the Juice Pack Reserve will provide an additional 60 percent charge to an iPhone 6 or 6s, with the latter carrying a 1,840 mAh battery. This claim was actually conservative in my testing, with an iPhone 6, as I was able to consistently get a full charge from the case. For example, I was able to go from 10 percent to 100 perfect battery in just about two hours and six minutes and then 4 percent to 93 percent in about the same time.
T-Mobile Announces ‘Un-carrier Unwrapped’ Promotion Offering Free LTE Data for All Customers for Three Months
T-Mobile today announced a new holiday promotion it’s calling “Un-carrier Unwrapped,” offering free unlimited LTE data for all of its Simple Choice customers for the next three months. All existing Simple Choice postpaid customers as of the end of the day on November 23 will get the unlimited data.
T-Mobile also plans to unveil additional “gifts” for the next month, with a new gift coming each week. The company is teasing a “special holiday gift” for Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon customers, with one gift per carrier per week.
“We’ve had a fantastic year, and we’re going to spread that T-Mobile cheer by starting with the most important people first… our existing customers! Now you get Unlimited LTE data on our blazing fast network for three full months as a gift from the Un-carrier to you,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “But that’s not all….we know that Verizon, AT&T and Sprint customers need some holiday cheer, too – so we’ve got presents coming for them. Just wait!”
The unlimited data offering for Simple Choice customers will begin on December 1, 2015 and will last through March 1, 2016. Unlimited data will kick in once all existing data and Data Stash data has been used up. T-Mobile does require its Binge On video streaming service to be activated.
Unveiled earlier this month, Binge On provides T-Mobile customers with video streaming that does not eat into data plans, but it uses a data compression algorithm that streams video at a reduced 480p quality.
T-Mobile is also offering Black Friday deals on Samsung smartphones and discounting the UE Boom Bluetooth speaker by $100, dropping the price to $99.
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New ‘Sidefari’ App Allows iPad Users to View Side-by-Side Safari Windows
While Apple introduced a Split View mode in iOS 9 for iPad users to be able to use two apps side-by-side, it did not allow users to open two Safari windows side-by-side. A new app called Sidefari from developer Francisco Cantu (via MacStories) allows users to have two webpages open side-by-side to meet various browsing needs.
The app works by using Safari View Controller to open a second webpage via Split View. To activate Sidefari, all a user has to do is open the Slide Over app picker and choose Sidefari. The app also works in multiple sizes, allowing users to use Sidefari to take up either half the screen or smaller. Sidefari is only available for the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro as they are the only devices that support multitasking.
Sidefari for iPad is available in the App Store for $0.99. [Direct Link]
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Over 100 Million iPhones Now in Use in U.S., Nearly Two-Thirds Are iPhone 6 or Later
More than an estimated 100 million iPhones are being used in the United States, according to new data shared by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners [PDF]. At the end of the September 2015 quarter, more than 101 million iPhones were in use, and two-thirds of those iPhones were newer iPhones that have been released in 2014 and 2015.
An estimated 58 million of the 101 million iPhones in use were the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, while four million were iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models. The iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus are the four iPhones that have larger 4.7 and 5.5 inch screens, and the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 appears to be the most popular model. CIRP’s data was gathered in September, shortly after the iPhone 6s launch. iPhone 6s and 6s Plus numbers are likely much higher now.
“The analysis shows the continued strength of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, now one year old,” said Mike Levin, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP. “We estimate a combined 60 million of these flagship phones sold in the US from the September 2014 launch through September 30, 2015. For comparison, the iPhone 5S sold about 28 million in the same period in 2013-2014. With only a weekend of availability in the quarter, we estimate 4 million of the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus sold in the US.”
CIRP’s data suggests that while the larger-screened iPhones make up a large chunk of the iPhones in use in the United States, iPhone adoption is slowing as the U.S. market matures. For the past eight quarters, the iPhone installed base grew an estimated average of eight percent, but the installed base grew four percent in the September 2015 quarter and six percent in the September 2014 quarter. Growth numbers were as high as 17 percent in the December 2013 quarter following the launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c.
As the U.S. market becomes saturated with smartphone owners, Apple has increasingly focused its attention on luring customers from Android and other competing platforms. Apple has introduced a new “Move to iOS” Android app, an Android-switching microsite, and a trade-in program for Android users looking to switch to an iPhone.
Apple’s efforts have been successful, and in October, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple saw the highest rate of Android switchers it had ever measured in the fourth quarter of 2015. 30 percent of customers who were upgrading from an existing smartphone to an iPhone were former Android users.
CIRP’s numbers are extrapolated from a September 2015 survey of 500 U.S. Apple customers who purchased an Apple product in the preceding quarter. CIRP analyzes data on iPhone buyers, their new model selection, and their prior phones and compares that to iPhone sales data adjusted to the U.S. market.
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Adele’s New Album Won’t Be Available on Apple Music
Following in the footsteps of Taylor Swift, Adele is opting to restrict her upcoming album from streaming music services. “25,” Adele’s highly anticipated album set to release tomorrow, will not be available on Apple Music, Spotify, or other Internet-based streaming music services, reports The New York Times.
Citing three sources with knowledge of the album release plans, The New York Times says Adele was involved in the decision not to share her album on streaming music services. “25” is Adele’s first album in nearly five years and has been preceded by “Hello,” a single that’s already extremely popular, so the decision to restrict the album from streaming services may make fans unhappy.
Taylor Swift was one of the first major artists to take a stand against streaming music, opting to pull her songs from services like Spotify that offered a free listening tier. According to Swift, she did so because “music should not be free” and artists should value their work. It’s likely Adele has similar motives, as restricting Swift’s latest album “1989” from music sites did not significantly impact its popularity. “1989” sold upwards of 1.2 million copies during its first week of availability, and its believed Adele’s new album could sell 2.5 million copies.
Swift initially refused to share her songs on Apple Music because Apple executives did not intend to pay artists during the Apple Music free trial period, but after the company reversed course, she too changed her mind and allowed Apple Music to stream “1989” and her other albums.
While Adele’s new music will not be available on Apple Music, customers interested in obtaining the album will be able to purchase it through iTunes.
Adele had also asked Apple to stock her new album in its retail stores, but Apple declined the offer. It’s not likely the refusal impacted Adele’s decision not to offer her music on streaming sites, and Adele and Apple have also reportedly discussed a possible $30 million tour sponsorship. The status of that potential deal is not known.
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Apple Now Allowing Personal Pickup in Canada and Australia
As of today, Apple has launched an in-store pickup feature in Canada and Australia allowing customers in those countries to order and pay for devices online and pick them up in retail Apple Stores. Personal Pickup has long been available in the United States, but this is the first time it’s expanded to additional countries.
MacRumors reported on the possible expansion of Personal Pickup in early November after receiving word Apple was training retail employees in Australia, France, Canada, the UK, and other countries. While Personal Pickup has currently only expanded to Canada and Australia it may roll out to additional countries in the near future.
Personal Pickup is available for a number of Apple products, from Macs and Apple TVs to the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. When an order is placed for an in-stock item for Personal Pickup, Apple employees get it ready to go and then send an email to a customer whenever it’s ready. Out of stock items are able to be shipped to a store for Personal Pickup.
This week has been big for both Australia and Canada. Along with the availability of Personal Pickup, both Canada and Australia have also gained Apple Pay through a partnership with American Express. Apple Pay is available in Canada as of today and will be available in Australia on Thursday.
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Jony Ive: Apple Pencil Will Not ‘Replace the Finger as a Point of Interface’
To promote the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Smart Keyboard, several Apple executives gave interviews to a number of media outlets ahead of the release of the tablet and its accessories. Last week we shared a Jony Ive interview from The Telegraph where he spoke on the Apple Pencil, and today, Wallpaper has published a second Ive interview with even more of the design chief’s thoughts on the stylus accessory.
Speaking on the conception of the Apple Pencil, Ive said that while it was originally “fundamentally important” to develop a user interface that was based on fingers, Apple discovered there were people who would benefit from an instrument that would enable more precise interactions for drawing and writing. Ive said developing the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro in tandem was essential for a natural drawing experience.
It was important that we develop the UI based upon multi-touch, based on our fingers. The reasons are obvious. I think it is equally obvious that you’re just not as dexterous as you are with a pen or a pencil for certain things.
What we found is that there’s clearly a group of people that would value an instrument that would enable then to paint or draw in ways that you just can’t with your finger. And I suspect that this isn’t a small group of people. I don’t think it’s confined to those of us who went to art school.
Ive went on to talk about the naming of the Apple Pencil, explaining that he preferred “Pencil” to “stylus” because stylus “seems a product that’s about technology,” while Pencil “seems very analogue in its association.”
Apple has a specific role in mind for the Apple Pencil, and that is not as a finger replacement. According to Ive, the Pencil is for making marks, while the finger is to be used for other user interface interactions. Each tool has its purpose, with the Pencil serving as a “far better” way to make marks on the iPad Pro.
I think there’s a potential to confuse the role of the Pencil with the role of your finger in iOS, and I actually think it’s very clear the Pencil is for making marks, and the finger is a fundamental point of interface for everything within the operating system. And those are two very different activities with two very different goals.
So we are very clear in our own minds that this will absolutely not replace the finger as a point of interface. But it is, and I don’t think anybody would argue, a far better tool than your finger when your focus becomes exclusively making marks.
For more of Ive’s opinions on the Apple Pencil, his full interview is worth checking out over at Wallpaper. The Apple Pencil can be ordered from the online Apple Store for $99, but shipping dates range into late December. Apple retail stores have begun receiving larger Apple Pencil shipments as of today, so customers hoping for an Apple Pencil may want to seek one out in a store.
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Apple Shares New Apple TV Ads Highlighting Apps and Games
Apple today shared five new ads for the fourth-generation Apple TV on its YouTube channel, highlighting a handful of notable and popular apps that are available for the new device. These mark some of the first Apple TV ads Apple has released since the fourth-generation Apple TV launched in late October.
Each ad is just sixteen seconds in length and depicts one of five Apple TV apps and games, including Crossy Road, Netflix, HBO NOW, Disney Infinity 3.0, and Asphalt 8. The videos show a brief glance at each app before cutting to an overall view of the new interface of the Apple TV.
The fourth-generation Apple TV features both an entirely new operating system and a full App Store for the first time, letting users access apps and games on the device. These new Apple TV ads, which will help with app discovery, will likely start showing up on TV over the course of the next few days.
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Apple now has 95% of the smartphone industry’s profits
Earlier this year, a report by The Wall Street Journal caused a minor uproar among many fans in Android land when it reported that, as of Q1 2015, Apple was raking in 92% of the smartphone industry’s profits, with Samsung earning 15%. The numbers exceed the standard 100% due to these two companies making profits at the expense of other companies such as LG or BlackBerry. While some might still be reeling in reaction, the profit picture about to be painted is likely to push them over the edge: according to a new study by Canaccord Genuity, as of Q3 2015, Apple is now making 95% of the profits.
The above chart essentially says everything. After the iPhone 5 released in 2012, it would appear the company’s sales started to slide, however things began to pick up early in 2013 and then have continued to climb to ever higher heights since then. Samsung’s profit data, on the other hand, is an almost mirror image of Apple’s, with 2013 serving as the highest point in the recent past, and dropping sharply thereafter.
Of all the other companies listed, BlackBerry has fallen the farthest, however things may start to change now that the Priv has released. Lenovo/Motorola and Sony have almost no growth whatsoever. LG and HTC have also fallen over time.
About Apple
Like it or not, Apple can command such a profound profit despite only accounting for around 15% of global smartphone sales. This is due in no small part thanks to the pricing of the iPhone, which as Phone Arena points out, “the price of the average iPhone going up from $620 back in 2014 to $670 during Q3 2015, and this at a 37 percent operating margin. Apple doesn’t need to win the volume game in order to dominate the profit charts.”
The study found that Samsung now has an average sale price of $180 per handset, which means that despite the success of devices like the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Note in some countries, the world-at-large clearly isn’t purchasing such expensive handsets. Part of this can also be attributed to the Innovator’s Dilemma, a subject matter that came up in recent weeks due to one analyst’s decree that Samsung will exit the smartphone business within the next 5 years.
To boil the idea down into a simple situation, now that there are so many OEMs making Android phones, and due to all of them using Android, customers will no longer be inclined to pay top dollar for a device that has the same features or functions as a cheaper one. Even adding in extra bells and whistles typically will have no effect on the average customer, who is looking for the best deal possible rather than having a burning compassion to purchase the absolutely tip-of-the-top.
This is also why Apple can still command such a high price tag for its products: no one else can make iOS devices, thus if you want in you need to pony up the pennies. As the iOS/iPhone brand can not be “eroded” by the presence of competition, those who want an iPhone are thus forced to either buy one, or else “settle” for an Android alternative, something that some people absolutely refuse to consider. Likewise the fact that Apple itself doesn’t make a “cheap” iPhone ensures that even within its own customer base, the profit picture will always be paramount.
What will happen?
Each year, there are “doomsday” predictions that Apple will finally bite off more than it can chew; that its latest product portfolio will fail to attract. The iPhone 6S for example, was criticized by some for making 3D Touch a major selling point despite criticism that it’s not simplistic or intrinsic. Still, the company has broken all iPhone sales records once again.
What is not usually highlighted is the fact that Apple is also releasing its devices in new territories each year, which means more sales opportunities. It would be quite interesting to see what the profit picture might look like if the company was consistently releasing its hardware only in the same markets year-after-year. While growth is growth, the current situation is a bit tantamount to a fish swimming in a bowl one year, a pond the next year, and the ocean the year after that: as the magnitude itself increases so too does the potential for new things to happen.
The Size Problem
Perhaps the one big “problem” Apple may face with respect to its iPhone is the size itself: there are, and will continue to be, customers who simply refuse to go beyond the 4-inch form factor that was last seen on the iPhone 5S and 5C. Even on a personal level, I know dozens of avid Apple supporters who are still sporting their own 5S due to the “unwieldy” size of even the standard 6. Many don’t want to purchase another 5S if theirs breaks due to outdated hardware, but feel abandoned as Cupertino has “forgotten” about them.
It is with this contention that rumors of an iPhone 6C coming in Spring 2016 seem more plausible. Apple itself must be aware of the segment of its customer base resisting change, and at the risk of losing them entirely, could easily put out an appeasal product. The 6C need not be the creme-de-la-creme, but so long as it has updated hardware components beyond the 5C and perhaps a new design (even if it’s plastic) it will appeal to them.
7th Heaven may be (somewhat) less likely
2016 will also bring with it the probable production of an iPhone 7, and with it a brand new design. This of course, will restart the entire “buy it again” purchase cycle and thus, provided nothing major changes in consumer spending habits, next year will see even greater sales. Perhaps. While there will always be a dedicated collective of customers who purchase Apple no matter what, looking at the general public, next year could – in theory – be the first to break the recent growth trend.
Can the iPhone 7 have anything as “revolutionary” as Force Touch/3D Touch?
Even with an all new design, the iPhone 7 is less likely to have “revolutionary” features though the company will certainly seek to market something. Consider that, for many, the iPhone 6 represents the epitome of the product they always wanted. It’s bigger and better than those iPhones that came before it, and in theory it’s enough. The iPhone 6S gets a major market simply because all those on two year contracts are upgrading. Likewise, some customers specifically wait for the “S” models to change as they typically have more dramatic differences than the “non-S” iPhones which are mainly used to show off a new design.
Even if the rumors are true and Apple puts an AMOLED screen into the iPhone 7, the tangible benefits may be less noticeable for content consumers. Sure the colors might be richer and the blacks inkier, but faced with the prospect of spending on an all new phone when their current one is more-than-suitable, who is to say how many will open their wallets.
What does all this mean for Android
For Android OEMs, the profit picture is seemingly getting bleaker by the minute. Whereas last year saw a few “shockers” like the OnePlus One – top tier specs in affordable clothing – this year has seen even the budget phones go big. The Moto G (3rd Edition) for example, has some very impressive features and specs for some very modest money. The result is that a new product such as the HTC A9, with a $500 price tag, is perceived by many as absurdly overpriced, especially given its specs.
Android makers such as Samsung have already demonstrated that they understand the problem at hand and are in need of major changes. But it’s obviously not easy. Companies like Huawei and Xiaomi are growing in no small part due to their sales strategies focusing on online retail instead of big box outlets. That Huawei was chosen to produce the Nexus 6P was a major endorsement by Google. OnePlus gets an endless supply of free PR with its invitation system, and thus need not spend money when it has the tech press pouncing on any possible potential for another window to purchase.
OEMs will continue to focus on the mid-to-low end market to account for sales in developing countries, but it may be more difficult to reduce money for marketing. At the very least, a lack of visibility on TV commercials or online ads might be seen as a sign of weakness, or else it might literally mean that some customers forget about the company when it comes time to make the next major purchase.
What this means for Consumers
Perhaps the real key here, is that unlike with Apple, in Android land the consumer is the real winner. Phones have become more affordable than ever, and this has allowed millions around the world to enjoy good products at prices that meet their own individual needs. Customers in developing countries don’t have to settle for outdated specs from years ago simply because they don’t necessarily have the disposable income to afford a Galaxy S.
It ultimately becomes the company’s responsibility to find new ways to make a profit, and that goes back to the very nature of business itself: remain competitive and constantly invent or innovate to stay alive. It should be clarified that, while larger more financially sound corporations may be able to do this through much research, development, investment, and resilience, many smaller companies can not. To this end, the effect can be disastrous and that ultimately has a profound effect on the employees’ livelihood as well.
At the same time, Apple becomes less and less relevant in the lives of many around the globe simply because they can’t afford the products or else don’t want to pay such prices. While one might argue this doesn’t really matter given the company doesn’t cater to the “have nots” anyway, it also means that Apple is under less direct pressure to invent something new, save for the heat from shareholders. And let’s not forget that companies like Samsung and LG have far more on their plate than just smartphones, and companies like Huawei are eager to expand into new markets.
Wrap Up
Android fans may be disappointed by this the data reported in this piece, however it’s important to keep in mind that it has little bearing on your own ability to enjoy and love Android. Google’s mobile OS is only getting stronger, and will continue to do so in the future. Likewise, while companies are currently facing a tough time when it comes to make money from mobile, there is (hopefully) light at the end of the tunnel, be it a new product category or else some other change entirely. There is so much in tech these days, the sky’s the limit.
What do you think? We would love to hear your thoughts: please leave us your comments below!
Here’s what our readers think of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus aren’t going to wow you with a new design — that’s not the point of Apple’s ‘s’ phones. Instead, they offer a lot of under-the-hood updates, including a faster processor, better cameras and the addition of a pressure-sensitive 3D Touch, leading our reviewer Chris Velazco to call the two phones “more than just a modest refresh.” Now that many of our readers have gotten their mitts on one, we’ve taken a look at the user reviews to find out if the 6s and 6s Plus truly constitute a “worthy upgrade.”
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