Love them or hate them, you cannot deny Apple gets people talking.
A major talking point, however, seems to have flown under the radar.
The fever pitch of the iPhone 7 (and 7 Plus) release is finally starting to fizzle down, with consumers already getting their hands on the new device, or enviously waiting on an extensive backorder list.
Its release was followed by a smorgasbord of reviews, most of which lambasted the tech giants for their lack of ingenuity and a design almost identical to the iPhone 6s. Consumers took to social media to vent their frustrations, particularly about the removal of the headphone jack.
Just tried to put my old headphones into my new iPhone 7 #noheadphonejack pic.twitter.com/lZxOpzcq1F
— Justin Wendling (@WendlingGraphic) September 19, 2016
Yes, they removed it.
Get over it.
If you truly miss it that badly, perhaps you could follow these smart individuals and make yourself one – fair warning, Apple doesn’t insure against stupidity.
It seems that amid the storm of reviews and fandom, a quite progressive update has flown under the the radar. The latest update for your Macbook, named MacOS Sierra, was launched on September 21, and brought with it some much needed improvements.
Siri
Sierra allows users to take advantage of Siri on their Macbook, and certainly makes looking up files a lot faster.
How Siri works on a Mac: Sierra OS review https://t.co/1GIpgsddCs via @edbaig
— USA TODAY Tech (@usatodaytech) September 21, 2016
The problem I find with this is you have to be very specific with your wording. Asking Siri to look up a photo of the Harbour Bridge for example was fine, and with the new integration system I could simply drag and drop it down onto a project without the hassle of the copy-and-paste monotony.
Simple questions seem to be the struggle, and it can get frustrating when she redirects you to the “here’s what I found on the web” script. Once you’ve over-pronounced every detail for her, the ability to multitask becomes easier. Asking Siri to find a restaurant near you, play iTunes, all while you’re answering emails, creates a very presidential feeling – complete control over a vast network, working for you.
Copy on one, paste on another
The universal clipboard app allows you to copy an image on your iPhone, and paste it into another app on your Mac, and vice versa.
Simple and effective, this integration between devices seems to be a hit among Twitter followers.
Universal Clipboard between iOS 10 and macOS Sierra makes things so much easier…
— Pat Lee (@patlee) September 29, 2016
As someone who transfers screenshots from the phone to the laptop on a daily basis, Universal Clipboard is AWESOME. Thank you @Apple!
— Kalle Paulsson (@kallepa) September 26, 2016
If you have taken a fantastic shot on your iPhone, and wish to use it for your blog, it can be implemented immediately with this new feature; gone are the days of having to wait to plug in your phone to retrieve your photos.
iCloud Drive
Keeping all things equal, Apple are playing catch-up with this one. Google Drive has been the benchmark for file storage and sharing, with every Android user being privy to their information across multiple devices.
The main concern I have for iCloud Drive is its pricing, and how it divides the storage.
According to cnet.com/au, Apple gives:
Free storage – 5GB
50GB – $1.49 (Australian per month
200GB – $4.49 per month
1TB – $14.49 per month
Compare that to Google, which gives:
Free storage – 15GB
100GB – $2.15 per month
1TB – $10 per month
10TB – $108 per month
The fact of 5GB, compared with 15GB, is disappointing to say the least, but the ability to load old files onto an external server is a welcome addition to Mac users – no matter how belated.
this whole storing your old files on iCloud is pretty nifty with sierra. Ive got an extra 100gb on my drive now
— Rob_McCallum (@rob__mccallum) September 20, 2016
Picture in picture (PIP)
Apple’s picture in picture function is about to make flicking between your work and the TV show you’re procrastinating on a lot more fun; though your employer may not think so.
Use this macOS Safari extension to easily watch videos in PIP from YouTube, Netflix and more https://t.co/DJjm6QFmQ9 pic.twitter.com/ReI6yhE5wA
— 9to5Mac (@9to5mac) September 21, 2016
Not just a distraction machine, PIP allows for Apple to relentlessly shove multitasking down our throats, and generates a much more relaxed and entertainment-filled way to respond to emails. All fun aside, it certainly adds some practicality to your Mac, with the ability to seamlessly view and write at the same time. Any TV show reviewer will find this extremely handy.
The PIP will have a dedicated button when watching from iTunes, but accessing this feature on YouTube is a little different. It can be done, but for those who enjoy browsing the web on Chrome, it won’t work. Access it through Safari, however, and you’ll be able to control and click to bring up the preference. This Chrome omission is slightly annoying, and it certainly follows the Apple tradition of keeping everything in house, considering Safari is their own browser.
Technology seems to be plateauing, and companies are finding it harder to impress the public with their hardware, but the advances in system software are, in my view, some of the most exciting to date. Ease of use, multiple device integration, instant sharing between devices, and the ability to multitask without breaking a sweat is the future.
If we do not adapt to these new features, then we will continue to see our devices as the same. If we begin to use these additions, however, we will start to see them in a very different light.
Unfortunately, holographic, all-thinking, all-knowing phones and computers will have to remain in Orwell’s 1984 – for now. – Phil Logan
Top image from digitaltrends.com.
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