[andi*pandi]

Something something new iphone 16? new camera buttan?
https://www.apple.com/apple-events/event-stream/

I do need a new phone. The new colors are very toddler, but that's what cases are for.

no new giant imac.

Summary/live blog:
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/09...eptember-2024/

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

no new giant imac.

I think that’s a big, dead horse now. Buy a Mini and hook-up whatever screen you want.

[subego]

That’s what I’ve been doing. Rumor is new Minis will be AppleTV sized, suitable for hanging off the back of a choose-your-own-panel.

[Waragainstsleep]

The giant iMac rumour is an old one, but I have heard it resurrected reasonably recently but the rumour was that it's not due until maybe 2026. Not really sure what would take so long tbh.
Mac Mini M4 supposedly has AppleTV footprint but it's taller so might not fit behind a TV quite so comfortably. Remember it has to ventilate an M4 Pro. Probably.

I'm waiting for a new entry level iPad. Was hoping to see one today but in hindsight, they weren't going to let it jump the announcement gun on the A18 before the iPhones, and it would make no sense to introduce it after them either.
So maybe in a few weeks. I'm hoping it's either A18 or maybe M1 if they have leftovers. As long as it has the gubbins to run AI I'm happy.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by subego 

That’s what I’ve been doing. Rumor is new Minis will be AppleTV sized, suitable for hanging off the back of a choose-your-own-panel.

AFAIK, there’s only like two panels equivalent to the old 27” iMac, and the Apple one is the cheaper and better of the two…

[subego]

One is the LG 27MD5KL-B, which has been my go-to. It doesn’t strike me as inferior to the iMac panel. It’s currently $1,230 on Amazon, which isn’t cheap, but is about what I’d expect it to cost.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by subego 

One is the LG 27MD5KL-B, which has been my go-to. It doesn’t strike me as inferior to the iMac panel. It’s currently $1,230 on Amazon

Is it? It no longer seems to be available anywhere that I can find. So if you're seeing it somewhere, I assume it's on blow-out sales pricing.

When my colleague priced them out a few months ago, the Apple display was on sale someplace and considerably cheaper than the LG. It's been a while since I checked up on the alternatives, but I seem to recall the Apple Display being the better of the two in some manner or other…

[subego]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07XV...b_b_asin_title

LG can have problems keeping things in stock.

[OreoCookie]

Is it just me or is the Pro phone line-up uninteresting:

• Boring colors. Really, Apple.
• Apart from the telephoto camera, no big incentive.

The Watch is more interesting: it got the nice glossy black I got for my iPhone 7 (my last new iPhone), and the titanium option of the regular Watch is back. That means, whether you go Ultra or not is largely a matter of taste rather than screen estate. (I'd go Ultra.)

[Spheric Harlot]

The little extra camera button is nice, and it looks like the regular iPhone may offer a camera mode that isn't "wide angle or SUPER wide angle?"

Sadly, they only come in unpocketable and idiot-slab sizes, so I'll be hanging on to this 13 mini for as long as I can.

[OreoCookie]

I remember back in 2012, I first saw someone with a Samsung whatever-it-was-called-back-then smartphone/tablet thing that had a 7" screen. My iPhone 4S had a 3.5" screen. Now the large iPhone has pretty much the same screen size, and Apple is a late bloomer when it comes to humongous smartphones.

I am still happy with my iPhone 12 mini size-wise. The battery life is, unfortunately, atrocious, even though I had Apple replace my battery this year. Bummer. I reckon I will get a new phone next year.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Really debating whether to buy out my 13 Pro or take a decent offer on the 16 Pro. It definitely feels like there’s not much other than AI (no idea if I’ll use much) and the camera (which I definitely will, but the 13 is already pretty nice).

[Laminar]

Same - more than happy with my 13 Pro. Wife has an 11 Pro that still works perfectly but doesn't support 5G. With Verizon's price hikes we're paying over $190 a month for two lines and one watch, and their newer plans cost even more. Thinking of jumping carriers and maybe getting her something new.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

With Verizon's price hikes we're paying over $190 a month for two lines and one watch, and their newer plans cost even more.

I think you can definitely get a better plan. We just changed our Verizon plan, and it’s only $162/mo. for five lines and unlimited data.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Same - more than happy with my 13 Pro. Wife has an 11 Pro that still works perfectly but doesn't support 5G. With Verizon's price hikes we're paying over $190 a month for two lines and one watch, and their newer plans cost even more. Thinking of jumping carriers and maybe getting her something new.

My wife has an 11 (non-Pro) and got the battery replaced this year. I don't think she has any plans to replace it. My 12 also works perfectly and doesn't feel slow (unlike my 7, which at the end was struggling and did not have enough memory).

Since this is not a hobby, but a tool, I prefer to replace it after about 5 years. Longer than that and in my experience, something might go wrong. I replaced the iPhone 7 with the 12 mini, because the Lightning port was fried and I couldn't charge it. Bummer. The 12 mini has wireless charging, so I have two ways of charging it in the future. Once you do make the leap, then the upgrade is huge, though. Going from 7 to 12 mini was just wow. FaceID and Apple Pay are amazing.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

The camera is pretty huge. Especially when taking pictures and videos of the kids. But until I know if AI will be useful, I honestly don’t see anything else.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

I think you can definitely get a better plan. We just changed our Verizon plan, and it’s only $162/mo. for five lines and unlimited data.

I do have two perks with our current plan - the D+/Hulu bundle for $10/mo and Apple Music/Arcade for $10/mo.

I just priced out the latest plan with NO perks. The lowest level does not get you 5G Ultra Wideband or mobile hotspot, so you have to jump up to the next level for that, which is "$70" per line. Once they tack on all of their taxes and fees, it's a wash:



Then I'd have to start paying $17/mo for Hulu and $11/mo for Apple Music and just drop Arcade since we rarely use it.

"Visible by Verizon" offers unlimited plans for $45/line all inclusive. Mobile hotspot data is throttled to 10Mbps and you are locked to Verizon's towers, so if you're traveling and the only reception is from an AT&T tower, you will just have no coverage.

T-Mobile has a plan for $150/mo for two phones and fast data, but they bundle in Netflix with ads and ATV+, neither of which I'd pay for otherwise, so it's a waste of money.

[Brien]

I’m on the legacy (as of 2022) VZW iPhone plan with ‘free’ AppleOne Family, so any of these new plans would be $40 plus more per month. It just doesn’t make sense to upgrade.