Tile Tracker Review Pros, Cons and Synopsis

Pros:

• Accurate tracking of your stuff
• Sound beacon helps you find your possessions
• Durable, attractive, waterproof key loop ready
• Fast setup
• Easy to use app
• Features Apple Watch app

Cons:

• Battery is not user replaceable resulting in 1-year lifespan
• Speaker could be louder
• Thickness adds bulk to wallet
• Limited community diminishes usefulness of crowdsourced lost mode

In short: The Tile Tracker is an invaluable device for tracking keys, wallets, remotes and pretty much anything that you are looking to track. There are apps for both iOS and Android, making it easy to setup and use. In 2020, we recommend the Pro version of the Tile, which can be purchased for around $40. See current price at Amazon. 

The Tile is a small square measuring at 37mm x 37mm x 5mm. There is a sizable circular cut-out which makes it easy to attach to keys. It’s thicker than I expected, which may present problems for those with skinny wallets. Inside this little plastic wonder is a non-replaceable CR2 battery. There is no charging and it’s always on. Tile is manufactured to be waterproof and the battery is soldered to the circuit board, so even amateur hackers should probably avoid attempts at replacing its battery. According to the company, the lifespan of a Tile is 1-year, at which time you can recycle your old tile for a new one, at a discounted price. There’s no mention on their website of what you can expect to pay. Using their current price as a parameter, a single tile costs $25. You can get discounts of up to 60% by adding more Tiles. You can expect the average cost per Tile to be in the area of $17.50 to $25. I’m assuming that with discounts, renewals likely end up in that range. You also get the advantage of any new tech that finds its way into the newer replacement Tile.

Tile Tracker App Review

Tile works in conjunction with both iOS and Android apps. The Bluetooth chip in Tile communicates with your iPhone, within a range of 100 feet, keeping track of its location.

I received a four-pack of Tile, which actually was a gift from my wife, who has spent over 10 years hearing me ask, “Hey, have you seen my {wallet, keys}?” The timing of a gift to track things could not have come at a better time. The setup process was easy. You download the app, create a new account and you’re ready to get started.

You tap on the ‘+’ and with the Tile next to your phone, press on the ‘e’. Underneath it’s plastic casing is a button to pair it to your iPhone. You assign it a name and either attach it using the key loop, drop it in a bag or use the enclosed stickers to stick it on a possession. If you foresee yourself have changing needs, you might want to invest in a small pack of velcro. This would make it easy to move it around as you see fit.

For the most part, the app works in the background, requiring little if any input from its owner. Your phone acts as a conduit to keep the location of your possessions up to date. The application has two tabs. One lists your items, their last known location and when that location was recorded. You can add unlimited Tiles. A second tab provides you with an Apple Map that displays the locations of your Tiles. Location isn’t granular. The Tile app can not map the inside of your home. “Go upstairs, your keys are in the bedroom.“

It will tell you if you’re hot or cold. If you misplaced a book bag, you’ll immediately know if it was at home or a last location. I took the liberty of dropping my wallet and keys into places I recently found my items – a toy bin and my dresser drawer. With the house relatively silent, I selected my wallet and tapped Find. Tile immediately notified me that I was steps away. There’s an immediate value here. If this had been a typical scenario, I would no longer stress that my wallet and credit cards were lost.

Going on the hunt within my house wasn’t much different. The unique feature of the Tile is to emit a sound, similar to Find My iPhone and definitely one of my favorite Apple Watch features. Where as the phone is loud, I can’t say the same for Tile. I knew where I was looking and still, the sound was incredibly muted. Testing both the toy bin and dresser drawer, the sound isn’t something you’ll notice when you enter a room. I conducted my tests when the house was silent. With two kids, that’s not common. The suppressed sound from the internal speaker is an unfortunate offshoot of making the Tile waterproof. What good is the Tile if you wallet is accompanying an item lost in the ocean or a pool?

When you initiate Find, there is a map that displays the location. During my testing, it was accurate and was updating often. If you lose an Tile outside your home, the last location is displayed. As you get closer, the green rings will illuminate until they form a perfect circle.

I noted earlier that it is reliant on your iPhone. That’s true, to an extent. If you lose an item, there is a lost mode, again taking a page from the iPhone. The difference here is that the lack of a GPS chip makes it impossible for the Tile to send its location. When in lost mode, it relies on other Tile users to report back to the cloud. There is no action needed on their end, nor is any personal information exchanged. It will ping the cloud and notify you of an updated location. In theory, this sounds fantastic. From a practical standpoint, it relies on the Tile community. Does it increase the chance you’ll get your item back? Yes, but chances certainly diminish if it’s not at the last known location established by your iPhone.

Since I often need help finding things, I appreciate the inclusion of sharing within the Tile app. You can invite one other person to connect to your Tile. One person can connect at a time. So if my wife leaves with the keys, she’ll connect and my connection will drop – as you’d expect.

I like Tile, a lot. If I had to guess, that admiration will increase over time as it helps me battle my forgetfulness and a clever 3-year old who has a fondness for hiding things. I don’t so much mind the yearly upgrade cycle, provided that comes with improvements, which I hope includes a louder speaker. In Tile, you’re buying a hardware and software product, one that is well thought out and priced right. If the idea of never losing your stuff sounds appealing, you should consider Tile.

Shop Tile starting at $25 at Amazon

• The out of box experience
• What you’ll love about Apple Watch
  • Having a watch to tell time
  • Apple Watch takes messaging to a new level and it’s awesome
  • Bite sized information in the form of notifications, glances and apps
  • Battery life is not good, it’s great
  • Phone feature is useful, really
  • Apps can be very good
  • Apple Pay is wonderful
  • Activity Tracker
• What’s not so great about Apple Watch
  • • • Apps are awful
      • Usability and software challenges
      • The Apple Watch app is confusing, convoluted
      • Hey Siri, can you hear me now?
• A complex purchase
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion and Rating

The out of box experience

I joked that at first sight, I was like Magatu from Zoolander. “Dear God, it’s beautiful.”

I feel that’s an appropriate movie reference, given it’s humorous take on fashion. There is a big time fashion component to Apple Watch. That being said, I’m about as qualified as the characters in this movie to offer fashion advice. All totaled, there are 38 models, enough to satiate the style requirements of most anyone. You can opt for small (38mm) or medium (42mm). These aren’t to be confused with the big-body Pebble smartwatches, which scream, look at my technology-laden wrist. The watches always look bigger in photos. If you like the way the 38mm looks in photos, chances are you’ll be happy with a 42mm. These are good-looking watches, with a nod to the stainless models for a more premium look.

The packaging differs between models. The Sport version comes in a long, large box. A big, yet very basic presentation. When you jump to the stainless model, it comes packaged in square, glossy white box that resembles the old Airport Extreme. Its presentation more akin to boxes you’d receive when purchasing a higher end watch. Both come with the band you selected and an inductive charging base, attached to a longer than usual charging cable and a 5w USB power charging adapter. The base of the magnetic charger varies between the sport to mid-range, going from white plastic to steel. It’s a nice value add for those jumping to the middle-tier. Apple sells the more premium magnetic charging cable for $39.

It’s a beautiful looking product, much like the first generation iPhone. It’s chunkier than I’d like, but I found that I didn’t notice the depth of the watch case when wearing it. The stainless model is slightly more heavier than the aluminum of the Sport, which alone with other reasons, gives it a decidedly more premium feel. The side button and Digital Crown both have a more distinct click that I attributed to higher quality materials. I found it to be only slightly heavier than a J.Crew Timex. This is important if you don’t typically wear a watch. The stainless steel model is susceptible to fine scratches. I was careful, yet you can see fine scratches. It reminds me of the older stainless steel backed iPods. You can buff these out with Brasso, which I still have from the old days.

The transition from not wearing a watch at all to Apple Watch is not without bumps. There is a bit of brain re-training. Initially, I found the sport band to be irritating. Switching to a larger band and ultimately, a looser fit resolved my issues. This does however have a slight impact on usability. You can activate the display by either tapping on the screen or by raising your wrist. For the display to turn on, there needs to be a definitive twist. I would have sacrificed battery life if I could adjust the sensitivity, allowing for more casual glances offered by slight wrist movement. If you opt for a sport band, your watch will ship with two sizes, making it easier to find a perfect fit. I’ve had a few try-ons with other bands. Though it wasn’t enough time to properly evaluate them, I did find more comfort with the more fashionable bands.

What you’ll love about Apple Watch

Having a watch to tell time

Phones in some respects have replaced the need for watches. After all, time and date is always just a home button click away. That’s unfortunate, because our phones aren’t always at arm’s length. Going back to wearing a watch has offered that convenience of having that information accessible with a simple raise of the wrist. There are an assortment of watch faces designed by Apple. Each of which offers different customization. Depending upon your needs, you can change the look of the watch face from a simple clock to one that has information regarding calendar events, battery life, activity levels, world clocks, a stopwatch and more. There are 10 options in all. Anything that you’d typically find on a standard watch is here, in digital form, which offers the advantage of changing colors or choosing a design that animates. Sounds crazy, but you’re buying a watch and this will be the most used feature, by far. I can see how some might find frustration in Apple now allowing custom watch faces. I’ve always deferred to Apple when it came to the UI design on the iPhone and I’m more than content with the current crop of watch faces. I would however like to see the custom wallpaper option that was mentioned during the initial product introduction.

Apple Watch takes messaging to a new level and it’s awesome

The killer app on Apple Watch is Messages or better yet, messaging on a whole. It’s the one function that immediately felt natural, as if I had been messaging from a watch for years. When you receive a message, it’s effortless to tap replay and use one of the pre-set messages. These can also be customized, adding further utility or you can use standard emoji. Tap on a thumbs up emoji and it gets sent. If would be ridiculous to add a keyboard. There are times when emoji or a select list of messages just won’t cut it. That’s where Siri steps up and in a big way. I’ve been a harsh critic of Apple’s voice assistant. Maybe it’s my Long Island accent, but her track record hasn’t been stellar. When it comes to finding a contact using Siri, I typically get around her ineffectiveness by making use of relationships. Messages are unique, so it’s paramount that she’s able to be more effective at dictation. I found Siri to be vastly more efficient. If you do run into an issue, you’re presented with an option to send as Audio Clip or text message. I prefer sending text messages and to date, have yet to send a single audio message. I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent accurate, but I’ve been more than pleased with the results.

When you tap on the emoji icon, there are all new animated emoji options. Within each of the three panels (accessible by swiping left to right), lets you select each group. You can change the look of that particular emoji by using the Digital Crown or by swiping down on the display. With each turn or swipe, the animation will change, smiling to frowning, a heart to broken hearts or a fist bump to a hold sign. The hand signs feature a white glove. Apple’s recent expansion of emoji has seen them offer greater diversity. Given the limited options of these new animated emoji, the glove does serve its purpose, despite it looking odd. I could see how they might appeal to a younger audience. As for my tastes, I have a tough time reconciling the use of a refined classic timepiece to send a tongue wagging emoji.

Messaging gets some other new tricks on Apple Watch in the form of Digital Touch. You can send doodles using your finger and a choice of seven colors. Even when tasked with a pen, my drawing skills are poor at best. Using my finger resulted in abominations. This is a novel idea, with that novelty wearing off rather quickly after a few sketches. Even drawing short words I found my finger slogging around the display.

Apple takes advantage of Digital Touch with both the heartbeat and tap features. Someone can be across the country and feel the Taptic Engine of your heartbeat or a tap. The physical nature of this type of interaction elevates messaging and communication. It’s really well done, but its use will be limited depending on the adoption rate of your friends and family.

Bite sized information

Information flows through you iPhone to Apple Watch. This comes in the form of notifications, glances and inside applications. How much, where and when you see information is controlled through the companion app. Let’s take this one by one.

Notifications are pushed to the watch coupled with a tap on the wrist and text tone, both of which can be customized to your liking. I’m particularly careful when allowing apps which are permitted to use notifications. By default, notifications on the watch are set to mirror your iPhone. Instantly, without needing a compatible watch app, you’re receiving notifications from all of your apps. I found the watch quickly became my default notification center, with the iPhone being relegated to the middle-man. Information never gets lost in the recesses of the iPhone’s notification center with Apple Watch. Having a device that’s strapped to you can certainly boost the delivery rate of notifications. Whether you’re at home or the office, your iPhone may not always be in reach. It doesn’t have to be when you wear the watch and I found this to be an immediate benefit. In many cases I did find the lack of a supported app resulted in what I’ve deemed a notification dead-end. It became an instance where the watch actually increased my iPhone usage, since I became so aware of each notification, the moment I was tapped on the wrist.

Notifications are pushed, where as glances are pulling information, at your request. Swiping up from the watch face, will show you informational glances. Within glances, swiping right and left moves you between each app glance. These are single panels of information. Tapping on them will launch the corresponding watch app. Once I pared down the apps to those I’d commonly use, I found it to be an efficient way to check the weather, see how my activity goals were progressing, control my music and get the score from the previous night’s Yankees game. A quick settings glance offered a bonus, the ability to ping my iPhone. Sure enough, my iPhone would emit a sound and was easier to locate. More often than not, glances were pulling information. Controlling the Music app was the exception, providing you with a controller.

Applications buck the trend, for the most part. I was able to view my inbox, but some are not readable on Apple Watch. Instead it lets you know that a full version isn’t available, but you can read it on your iPhone. It would have been great to have the capability to reply to emails much in the way you can reply to messages.

Battery life is not good, it’s great

While battery life on the iPhone is very good, it remains an area that many would like to see improved. Leading up to the release, battery life on the Apple Watch was supposed to be its achilles’ heel. It dominated headlines feeding into initial concerns over battery life. It’s rated as having a battery life of 18 hours of mixed use. Battery ratings can differ based on the user. They’ve provided the following which provides a bit more information on different uses and the impact.

No one is going to use the watch for three hours of talk time within a day, unless you’re using it wrong. This is a mixed use device, once that supplements your iPhone experience. My initial assumptions were that on the first few days, I’d be reaching for the charger by day’s end or earlier. That could not be further from the truth. On heavy use days, not once did I reach the point of where Apple Watch went into Power Reserve mode. That’s been a consistent trend, after weeks of use. My custom watch face started with the option to view current battery levels. I’m quickly finding that it’s no longer a need, at least on day one. There are days when I don’t have to charge at night. I attribute this to how I use the Apple Watch coupled with tweaks they’ve made to maximize battery life and the overall rating.

Battery life isn’t just good, it’s great.

Phone feature is useful, really

What I found interesting about my experience are the comparisons between how I anticipated using the watch and how that contrasted with real-world usage. You can make or take phone calls with the Apple Watch. It’s the one feature that while necessary, didn’t seem like it was going to be a good fit for me. Why would I use my watch, when I’ve got a perfectly good iPhone 6? When life takes over, sometimes the watch makes more sense. Having a 2-month old baby it’s not uncommon for me to be holding him, while my iPhone is out of reach. On more than one occasion, the watch would ring. I’ve been able to take calls and have conversations, without having to search for my phone. In some ways, it’s like having the convenience of a Bluetooth headset, without having to look goofy, because talking into a watch doesn’t look goofy.

The call quality is surprisingly good, on both ends. I went in thinking I would not use it for calls. As it turns out, I like talking calls on the watch and will use it often for this purpose.

Apps can be very good

You’re going to read plenty about apps on Apple Watch. Let me start by saying that some applications are great. In particular, I’ve found apps that act as a remote control or controller tend to be work well. My hope was that the watch would radically change smart homes. To this point, smart homes often contain a mash-up of really great technology. Corralling and controlling that technology can be a daunting task. These are the sorts of interactions that excel on Apple Watch, provided the manufacturer has upgraded their app.

For me, the best Apple Watch app experiences have been those which extend widgets to the Apple Watch. They tend to render faster, since little to no information is being pulled from the iPhone. Commands via tap are processed quickly, with only a slight lag. Though some apps work well, it can be disappointing when you learn they don’t support Glances. Instead, they require you navigate the sea of app icons.

Apple Pay, Passbook is wonderful

There’s not much not to like about Apple Pay and Passbook. Both offer an extraordinary level of convenience and Apple Pay is one of the most secure payment methods available today. My only complaint has been wanting more stores to support it. In time, that will happen. When you are checking out, there is the issue of pulling out your iPhone. While there are security advantages, essentially your pulling your iPhone out of your pocket or purse, instead of your wallet. Apple Watch lessens the burden.

You can tap into Apple Pay with a quick double tap of the side button. I found that it can be slightly awkward to twist your wrist so that the contactless reader can process your payment. The gentle tap of the Taptic Engine and beep offered both auditory and physical cues that my payment had been made. As more people are using their Apple Watch to make payments, stores will use this cue for more optimal placement of their contactless payment readers.

Activity Tracker

I approached this section of my review understanding my coach potato status. I’ve never owned, nor had an interest in purchasing a FitBit, Nike Fuel or other tracker. Still like many others, I do have a general interest in improving my health. At one point, I was extremely active, almost completing the entire P-90 program. Those days however, are long gone. The Activity Tracker gladly accepted my request of the lowest goal setting of 320 calories, 30 minutes of exercise and a once-per hour stand goal of 12. Each is tracked and represented by circle that when filled is a target. On the single day that I came close to achieving all three goals, it did provide me with a sense of accomplishment, something I didn’t see coming. So while the Apple Watch didn’t spur me to dust off my gym membership, it did provide me with attainable goals. As someone who works in front of a computer all day, I welcome the reminders to stand. At a minimum, I’ve tried to achieve my standing goal. The iPhone app does a great job of reminding me just how sedentary my lifestyle has become. It was somewhat depressing to see a visual representation that highlighted weeks of unfulfilled goals.

My concern with Apple Watch is no different than any high end watch. Do you want to subject to it the rigors of the gym, the sweat of hard work? I can see an advantage to those rubberized activity trackers that are built to withstand just about anything. However, if you haven’t invested in one thus far, I can’t see why you spend $100 on a one-trick pony. For a few hundred dollars more, you get infinitely more features and there are a number of highly rated fitness apps that already support Apple Watch.

What’s no so great about Apple Watch

Apps are awful

But wait, you just said apps can be great. It’s been my personal experience that they are few and far between. Apple says there are 3,000 apps for Apple Watch, which sounds like a large number. These are existing iPhone apps that are compatible with Apple Watch. When you look at your stable of apps, the ones that you love enough to install on your iPhone, that number end up being a small percentage of what’s available. I don’t see Apple Watch compatibility as a compelling enough reason to switch from your favorite iPhone app. I should note the term Apple Watch apps can be a bit of a misnomer. Some are fully fledged apps, with some being nothing more than a widget, but on your watch. The apps that I spoke so glowingly about are all widgets. It’s as if they were transported from the Notification Center to your wrist. Apps that do the least, shine on Apple Watch.

Isn’t that headline a bit harsh? No, in fact it is entirely appropriate to properly express my disappointment with apps on Apple Watch. Most apps, including some of those included in Watch OS, are painfully slow. There is nothing you as the user can do to speed things up. Despite having a fast WiFi connection at home and the iPhone in close proximity, apps would continuously spin at launch. It’s been so bad that the display on the watch will time out multiple times before you see any information. I’ve had a popular app (a 4.5 star rating with over 21,000 reviews) which had chosen to support glances, display zero information. If you tap on it, you jump to the app and experience time-outs. The rare slow-loading app is actually an improvement.

This isn’t the fault of the developers, including those who have shipped apps and those considering support for Apple’s new device. They find themselves in a bit of conundrum. The current Watch OS SDK (software development kit) does not allow for native apps. These apps were developed on a computer and not using an actual watch. There was no way they could anticipate the unbearable load times.

If and when Apple allows native third party apps, there’s no guarantee that will improve things. Stock apps like Maps can also render slowly. It all feels very beta and it’s made worse by the fast-loading, awesome apps found in your pocket, on your iPhone. Understanding the challenges of developers and that’s it not one app, the fault lies with Apple. Either that’s software that needs refinement or attempts to push the limits of the hardware, which I’d still consider an amazing technical achievement. Technology is harder when you’re dealing with incredibly small devices. Greatness takes time, refinement and advances in critical components like chipsets. There also needs to be a better understanding between developers and users on expectations and what makes a great app experience on Apple Watch. As it stands now, that’s not happening with any regularity.

Usability and software challenges

The Apple Watch isn’t as easy or intuitive as an iPhone. There’s a learning curve to finding things. Navigating uses a mix of the Digital Crown, side button and the display. At times, there are hidden options which are revealed when you apply more pressure to the display or what Apple calls Force Touch. I’d say that it took a day or three to find my comfort zone. Even so, it’s far from perfect.

From the watch face, pressing once on the Digital Crown brings up a sea of tiny app icons. The layout can be customized to your liking on the companion app. There are multiple ways of opening an app. You can scroll with your finger and tap when a target is big enough. I found the added space of the 42mm display helped with my targets. I also kept my favorite apps on the edge of grouping of apps. Apple’s method of dealing with smallish icons is to allow you to use the Digital Crown to zoom in and launch an app. I guess they suspect you’ll navigate with your finger and zoom with Digital Crown to open. I presume they want to help those with large fingers that blocks the display. If there were ever a time to allow the removal of default apps, the Apple Watch is shining example. There is a desperate need to remove the clutter of unwanted apps.

I found myself wanting the Digital Crown to act like the iPhone’s home button, a single click returning me to the safe zone of the watch face. That works, some of the time. When you are navigating within apps, it can act as a back button. To get from within an app back to the watch face, you need to execute two quick clicks.

I find myself generally enamored with notifications and glances. The latter can get crowded and quick. Even the default settings are a bit overwhelming. You might have a different tolerance level for scrolling left to right, but I see little value past 7 or so glances. This isn’t the fault of Apple, but a limitation of wearables. Limiting the number of glances and re-ordering them can make a world of difference.

When the Activity app first recommended I stand, I welcomed my new found transition to a new, healthier me. There were a few occasions where it would ask me to stand when I was standing and moving. It also asked me to stand when I was driving. It’s been two years since the Moto X was released and it would switch modes if it recognized you were driving. One would think the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch could figure this out?

After a few weeks, I’ve had my fair share of miscellaneous software issues. I’ve had the watch lose its iPhone, despite being on a the same WiFi network. It will also routinely lock, despite not being removed. These are minor quibbles and I expect there will be quite a few interface changes as this product progresses.

The Apple Watch app is confusing, convoluted

I’m not going to call the companion app a dumpster fire, but there are burning embers inside of that app. Every setting is jammed into one long scrolling list under the My Watch tab. It’s all set against a black background, as if to intentionally change the UI to stand out from iOS. Glances can be set in two places or not at all. Some apps required I open their respective app to enable it for the watch. I had one app that showed glances as available, but it never happened on the watch. I’m not entirely sure if the millions of individual settings speak more to the complexity of Apple Watch or the inability of Apple to create an app that is simple, easy and effective.

One of the tabs is filled with commercials, though if you dig deep, there are some general use videos that may prove helpful. Rounding out this app is the Featured and Search tabs, which acts as a filtering of the App Store to display nothing but watch apps.

While I appreciate the granular level of the settings, there’s something inherently wrong with its presentation. This app looks and feels like I’ve been kidnapped and forced to use some convoluted settings you’d find in Android or worse yet, a Samsung device.

Hey Siri, can you hear me now?

I found Siri to be excellent when I dictated messages. On Apple Watch, Siri is always on and you can make requests by saying, Hey Siri, followed by your request. I found this feature to be extremely inconsistent and frustrating. I’d summon Siri and issue a request. There were no shortage of times that I was met with the watch face, meaning she was asleep at the wheel. I also found that Siri responded the default message “Interesting question, Christopher, ” when she had no answer. This would happen when she correctly heard my request and times when it was half a sentence. Other times, I’d have to tap on the microphone icon to engage voice recognition. Sometimes I’d see Hey Siri and white line bouncing back and forth. When it works, it is like magic. I did find Hey Siri useful for setting timers when cooking.

Again, referencing my time with the 2013 Moto X and it to this day is world’s better at this sort of passive listening and acting on requests. This feature is supposed to be a time saver and it is, when it works. It’s these sort of half-baked experiences that had me using Siri less on the iPhone and might limit my use on Apple Watch.

No Reminders app

One Apple app that didn’t make the cut was Apple’s excellent Reminders app. To me, this was a glaring omission and one that I immediately miss on the watch. I use Reminders to share grocery and other lists with my wife. Having access to these on my wrist would be a huge win. You can use Siri to set a reminder, but you can’t get a pure list without using a third party app.

A complex purchase

The different size watch cases and bands make this an incredibly complex purchase decision. Prior to taking shipment, I ventured to the Apple Store shortly after the pre-order frenzy. I wish I had the luxury of a try-on before making my purchase. Also weighing heavily was price and the fear of early adopter hurt. Let’s face it, it won’t be long until we’re talking about the second generation Apple Watch, which will be slimmer, faster and more refined. If you need evidence, look no further than iPhone > iPhone 3G or iPad > iPad 2. Prices start at $349, but know this, it’s easy to find yourself slowly moving up the product line. If you want a 42mm watch with something other than a sport band, expect to pay $699 or more, unless you purchase the band separately. You can always add a band later, but you’ll save $50 if you buy it with your watch. That is, if you have no interest in the sport band, which is the base model (least expensive) for Sport, mid-range and Edition. I should note that all bands work with all watches, provided they are the same size (42mm, 38mm), though they might not look great. The purchase process can be confusing, which is why we created an extensive Apple Watch Buyers Guide. Should you decide to purchase a watch, it should help provide you with the guidance you need to make the right decision. Should you have further questions, our Apple Watch forums are a great place to get feedback from real folks who are using the Apple Watch.

Pros:

• Messaging is fantastic
• Watch design and bands are fashion conscious
• Siri shows significant improvement for dictation
• Battery life is well beyond expectations
• Notifications, glances are useful
• Apple Pay gets easier
• Doubles as activity tracker

Cons:

• App loading times are painful, often resulting in an awful experience
• Watch cases are chunky
• Hey Siri is hit or miss
• Configuration using companion app can be confusing
• Display can be difficult to view in sunlight
• Expensive
• Buggy software
• No Reminders app

Apple Watch Series 1 Review Conclusion and Rating

The Apple Watch represents the fanatical design ethos that’s expected of Apple. Whether you’re spending $350 or $18,000, the companies meticulous attention to detail spans the entire range. The flexible design allows for easy swapping of bands to meet your personal style, though at present you are confined to pricey options sold by Apple. Despite what I found to be stunning hardware, the cost of admission might sting when the inevitable thinner, faster next generation appears a year later.

Hardware aside, it is the software where Apple Watch earns its place as first generation product. Third-party and to some extent, native apps are plagued by painfully slow loading times. At what point is the convenience of having information on your wrist compromised by slow loading apps? Siri continues to be a mixed bag. Apple’s voice assistant excelled in her ability to handle dictation. Hey Siri attempts to provide completely hands-free access. I found it to be inconsistent at best, finding myself staring blankly at the watch face. There were a number of miscellaneous software issues emblematic of a 1.0 product, which I suspect will get corrected in the forthcoming software updates. Overall, these were minor and shouldn’t impact your purchase decision.

In Watch OS, the groundwork has been laid for a seriously compelling platform, but one that will always require an iPhone in the background doing all of the heavy lifting. Most times, this is transparent to you, the user, until its Taptic Engine taps you on the wrist. The Apple Watch instantly became my new hub for managing notifications, controlling lights, alarms and music. All the while, it was tracking my every step, every calorie burned and gentle suggestions to stand offered a subtle way to a healthier life. It’s take on messaging was fast and fun, taking it to new levels with Digital Touch. And there were surprising aspects of its feature set like taking calls that actually have their place in real-world usage.

In Apple Watch, you get a smartwatch that boasts impeccable hardware design with the promise of a product that improve over time as the software matures and third party developers learn how to exploit its capabilities.

With the iPhone, there was no mistaking the functionality. The now infamous quote from Steve Jobs at Macworld during the announcement still makes sense today.

An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator… An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator… An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator… Do you get it? These are not three separated devices. This is one device, and we are calling it iPhone.

It was worth repeating. These were features that everyone understood. The iPod was super popular and cellphones were mainstream. The iPhone would replace those two devices with one. And for the small percentage of people using smartphones, this was also a device that could also provide a browser, email and other Internet functionality. The takeaway was clear and if it wasn’t, Jobs drove it home, repeatedly. The iPhone wasn’t creating a new experience, it was replacing others and doing it a thousand times better. Despite such a clear vision for the product, for some, its value was still lost upon them. This was well before smartphones became mainstream. Despite being years ahead of the competition, changing people’s perceptions of need and value, takes time. This was a time when flip phones and iPods ruled. The writing was on the wall. One device can replace them and it would do just that.

Fast forward eight years and seven iPhones later, the entire mobile landscape has changed, with smartphones seeing explosive growth. Apple is once again on the verge of releasing yet another disruptive technology. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook calls the Apple Watch,

“…the most personal device we have ever created.”

Cook’s quote perfectly embodies the Apple Watch. But what about the iPhone? Isn’t that an extremely personal device. Yes and no. Even today, it’s core functionality remains the same. It’s a phone, an iPod and an Internet communicator. The hundreds of thousands of apps help create a personal experience, but at its core, the iPhone is a phone that makes calls and sends text messages. Outside of telling time, it would be difficult to pigeonhole the feature-set of the watch.

The selling proposition for the Apple Watch is much more difficult task, clearly evident by Cooks’ quote. You can’t paint its functionality with a broad brush. Perhaps that’s why we’ve seen such polarized reactions to it. Jobs quote from 2007 could apply to the Apple Watch, but it’s far too constraining. It can make calls, but I’d wager that some won’t ever use that feature, outside of the initial Dick Tracy novelty.

The Apple Watch will be be different things to different people and that’s ok. That’s what makes it such exciting technology. We’re breaking new ground in how we interact with our phones. They’ll continue to be the hub of information, pushing important bits to our wrists, accessible by simply raising them. We’ll also enjoy a new level of control, something that’s become increasingly important with the new larger iPhones. How you use Apple Watch is unique, personal and that’s its selling proposition. It’s impossible to fully process just how this will impact you or I. I for one am excited to see.

Updated for iOS 7 and iOS 8

• Reset All Settings
• Erase All Content and Settings
• Reset Network Settings
• Reset Keyboard Dictionary
• Reset Home Screen Layout
• Reset Location and Privacy

Reset All Settings

This will reset all settings. This will not delete any data. If you’ve got 16GB of music, videos and photos, this option won’t remove it.

1. Open Settings > General
2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on ‘Reset’.
3. Select Reset All Settings > Tap button to Reset All Settings > Tap Button Again to continue. Apple makes you click through twice, to be sure that you really, truly mean it.

When you complete the process, your iPhone will reboot. Despite the scary two step warning, this doesn’t affect your data. All of your email accounts will remain in tact, as well as any SMS text or iMessages.

What this effectively does is to reset some of your Settings to factory default. It’s not a complete removal of settings. It removes all of your preferences for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do No Disturb, Notifications, General, Sounds, Brightness & Wallpaper and Privacy.

When to use it? If your iPhone is acting up and you want to avoid having the longer process of a complete erase.

Erase All Content and Settings

This is the nuclear option. This will erase everything on your iPhone or iPad. So not only does this reset settings, it deletes media. Photos, music, email, videos and even your apps. This brings your iPhone back to its default factory state. I should note that it will still restore to the last iOS update you installed. So if you updated to iOS 8, a factory restore won’t magically downgrade your iPhone to iOS 7. To erase all content and settings:

1. Navigate to Settings > General > Reset
2. Select Erase All Content and Settings. Tap button twice to confirm.
3. Erase all content iPhone

Your iPhone or iPad will now reboot. At the conclusion, you’ll be guided through the setup process.

When to use it? You’ve exhausted all troubleshooting tips and have decided to delete everything. It’s also the option you’ll want to explore if you plan on selling your iOS device or gifting it to a lucky relative.

Bonus Tip: While it may delete your apps, Apple has a record of your purchase history in the App Store, making it easy to download to a new iPhone.

Reset Network Settings

No real surprise here, but this resets your network settings. Your iPhone and iPad save usernames, passwords for networks you’ve accessed in the past. For example, if you visited your in-laws last year, you won’t have to chase down your relatives for their WiFi password again. Your devices recognize previous WiFi access points. To Reset Network Settings:

1. Navigate to Settings > General > Reset
2. Select Reset Network Settings. Tap button twice to confirm.
3. Reset network settings

When to use it? If your WiFi has become unreliable, it could be a ghost in the machine. This brings network settings back to the factory defaults. For troubleshooting WiFi and/or network issues, this is an easy enough option that might fix problematic network issues. Be sure to have your WiFi network name and password handy. You’ll need it to reconnect to your home network or others that you might typically access.

Reset Keyboard Dictionary

As you type on your device, you’ll on occasion be greeted by the autocorrect feature. In some cases, this is fantastic and can save you from your own typing. There are many times when iOS doesn’t get it right. When this happens, you can tap on the x to dismiss the autocorrect. When you do this, two things happen.

• iOS will not autocorrect
• The new word will be added to your custom dictionary

If you’ve spent a good amount of time having your iPhone learn words, this option will undo all of your handy work.

Tip: If you have created keyboard shortcuts, these are not deleted when you reset your keyboard dictionary.

1. Navigate to Settings > General > Reset
2. Select Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Confirm.
3. Reset keyboard dictionary

When to use it? This is a tough call on the appropriate use. If you are sharing a device, your dictionary might not be ideal for the shared users.

Reset Home Screen Layout

This will reset the home screen to the default grouping of apps. If you have other apps on the home screen, they’ll be shifted to another screen. If you’ve moved a stock app out of the home screen, this of course returns it home.

1. Navigate to Settings > General > Reset
2. Select Reset Home Screen Layout. Confirm.
3. Reset home screen layout

When to use it? A loved one has unintentionally customized your home screen or you crave the appeal of a stock home screen layout. One reset button, brings things back to ‘normal’.

Reset Location and Privacy

This will reset location and privacy settings to the factory default setting. By default, Location Services (Settings > Privacy) is set to Off. I should caution you that setting this to Off has implications, the biggest of which is the inability to track your device using Find My iPhone. If you lose or have your iPhone stolen, Location Services must be enabled along with Find My iPhone in order for the service to work.

1. Navigate to Settings > General > Reset
2. Select Reset Location and Privacy. Confirm.
3. Reset location privacy

This will reset defaults for third party apps. You will have an opportunity to re-enable location services on an app by app basis.

When to reset settings on iPhone or iPad

When to use it? You’ve enabled location services for all sorts of third party apps and need to restore control.

Your iOS device has a number of options for resetting your device. These can all be accessed from the Settings panel or in some cases, by using Find My iPhone. Where possible, it’s always advised that you backup your device before using the reset options. This enables you to restore your iPhone to a previously saved state. Knowing when to use the assorted reset options can prove helpful in solving small problems or when preparing your device for sale.

1. Use The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a guideline for composing images. It requires a grid of two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. These create what looks like a tic-tac-toe board or 9 equally spaced boxes. The four intersection points may be used for interesting elements. When you are composing your subject using the guide lines, the most important elements of the person or object should be at either along the lines or at their intersections. A common technique when shooting people is to line up their eyes to a horizontal line and their body to a vertical line. People tend to look at the intersection point and not the center of a photo. You want important elements at places that are natural focus points for people viewing your images. Here’s a photo I took on the left, which did not follow this rule. When I edited it after, the intersection point runs through the eye. The result is an image that naturally brings you eye to the subject. I could have avoided the need for the editing, but it’s worth noting that cropping can be used to better inform the viewer of the intent of your photo.

How to turn on grid lines on your iPhone’s camera

By default, the grid isn’t enabled in iOS 8. Here’s how to turn the grid lines in iOS on your iPhone.
1. Navigate to Settings > Photos & Camera
2. Toggle Enable Grid Lines to ‘On’.

When utilizing in the real world, feel free to experiment within these guidelines. Once you begin shooting using these principles, you’ll quickly that these are not hard and fast rules, but rather a good way to maintain proper composition.

2. Horizons above or below the middle of frame

If you are taking any sort of landscape photo, we can also apply the rule of thirds. The horizon should never be centered. It should be below or above the center point. Using our grid, we can align a visual element with either the top or bottom horizontal lines.

This doesn’t apply to photos of just landscapes. If you are taking a photo of someone at the beach, the horizon or line that would divide the water and sky, should be horizontally off-center. As for the person, align them to the left or right, leaving space for other elements to breathe.

3. Fill Your Frame

If there is a primary subject of your photo, make sure that’s readily apparent in your photo. Too often, people are forced to rely on cropping an image. That can and should be avoided when you are taking your photo. Where possible, I’d avoid using the digital zoom. It can make it more difficult to focus and hold steady. Unless you’re trapped in quick sand, use your legs and move closer to your subject. Getting up real close, for example to capture a child’s smiling face, can help convey emotion of the moment. When you are framing your shot, look beyond your subject. An up-close photo of a house cat can look can draw comparisons to his distant wild jungle cats. In comparison, pulling back would revealing his getting comfortable on a couch from Pottery Barn. How you fill your frame matters and can have an immediate impact on your photos.

4. Don’t Forget Your Background

Filling your frame isn’t always practical and nor will it yield the best results. Often we’re going to use backgrounds. It’s a contributing factor to your overall image and one that often gets overlooked. A film isn’t great because of a single actor. It’s often the supporting cast that helps propel a film to greatness. Your photos are no different. Think of the background as your supporting cast.

Create a proper ratio between your background and your primary subject. The background should be interesting. Don’t be afraid to dial it back or add more. If you are vacationing and taking a photo of a family member, consider having them move towards you, creating more space between them and the background.

Be careful not to have a background where the brightness is more so than your subject. People will focus on the brightest section of your photo. The background is there to serve a purpose and that’s providing contrast to your photo. Stark backgrounds can also have a positive impact by providing a simple backdrop.

5. Photograph People Looking Off-Frame

All photos tell a story. When a person being photographed is looking directly into the lens, the story is simple – “someone is taking my picture.” We’ve all seen and taken these photos. And while some are good, they are commonplace. Think of someone celebrating a birthday. Which photo would tell a better story? A photo of them looking directly at the camera or of them looking at a brightly-lit birthday cake? This photo below is out of focus, but I still love it. For me it works because it captures that sense of curiosity of a 1-year old opening a present.

What if there is no birthday? Well, cake is always good, but let’s say that’s not available. If you a photographing a person who is looking right, create a fair amount of space between the subject and the edge of the of viewfinder. Without a secondary object, this will create a sense of intrigue when viewing the photo.

If the object is moving, providing space to a side of an image can convey that movement. Look at any car ad and you’ll see this in practice. Think about how you apply this principle to your own photos.

6. Follow Leading lines

Whether you are shooting architecture, a road or a set of winding stairs, you’ll want to focus on the composition of what are called leading lines. When you are viewing your surroundings, imagine lines from your position to the end of what would be your frame. Using ‘lines’, you can create a journey for your viewers that draws them and leads through photograph. In some cases, that can be leading to infinity, often seen with the end of a road. They can be a walkway to leads to a house or a winding staircase where the focal point is a castle.

In this photo, I could jumped in front of these two, but that wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting. The leading lines of the walkway creates a nice visual impact that takes the viewer on this journey.

Leading lines do not have to be literal like stairs or walkways. They can be background elements which are pointing or directing the user visually. Other types of objects which lend themselves to leading lines include boardwalks, lamp posts, rivers, waves, shorelines, bridges and more.

From where you are taking your photo, use lines to draw in the user and lead them visually from your vantage point to your subject, in the process telling a story through your lens of your iPhone. To infinity and beyond!

7. Change Your Perspective For More Impact

I mentioned earlier that two people with the same iPhones, taking the same photo, can yield incredibly different results. If you’ve ever wondered why some friends have the best Facebook or Instagram photos, it might just be a unique perspective. Think of this as the relation between the lens on your iPhone and the subject. We live in a three dimensional world, but our photos ultimately end up as two dimensional. Decisions you make can help convey space, dimension, depth and distance. Are you standing straight up, focusing and shooting? Consider changing your position. That can mean getting on one knee and shooting up, great for capturing a skyscraper. By filling the frame of the bottom of the image, a viewer is more likely to see the scale of building. Sometimes that can be more important than capturing the entire building, which would include distracting elements.

The best advice here is to change your position and thus the viewfinder. Use a step ladder and shoot down.Lay flat on the ground and shoot up. Shoot at different angles. All of these can impact your iPhone photos and produce winning shots.

8. Avoid The Middle

Nothing can kill a great subject like centering them in the middle. Again, we’re going to lean on our steadfast guideline that is the rule of thirds. This will help you avoid the dreaded middle. When you take photos that are centered, it can often result in a static feel. In iPhone photography, you want your 2D image to convey a bigger sense of dimension. Sometimes backing up from your subject and placing them off-center can yield great results. When dealing with horizons, placing it in the middle can cause a photo to feel as if it were split in two.

9. Learn from the best

There are no shortage of wonderful iPhone photographers, all of whom are doing some amazing things. Start by following someone like Martin Reisch on Instagram and see how he can time and time again use composition to create stunning photos. Don’t be intimated by professionals. In no time, you’ll be applying similar principles to your own photography.

If you’ve made it this far, it’s safe to say that you’ve already taken more than your fair share of photos. Using the tips you’ve learned here, take a look back at your favorite photos. Look for the reasons as to why it was great. At the same time, look at your photos and look for ways on how you can improve. The only way to improve is to keep shooting. Hopefully, a few tips mentioned here will spur your creativity.

10. Break the rules

No that I’ve neatly outlined some tried and true tips in 1-9, you might be surprised at number ten. If at any point you feel constrained by a rule, go ahead and break it. It’s your photo, your story. If you have a vision for a particular photo that doesn’t match what’s been said, you need to run with it. The beauty of the iPhone and digital photography, is that you have an unlimited amount of do-overs. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

The WeMo Light Switch comes with everything you need to get up and running. If you are familiar or comfortable working with electricity, you could characterize this is a moderately difficult install. I’m not a trained electrician, unless they are handing out certificates for watching a ton of YouTube videos from actual professionals. The single most important tip is to turn off all of your electricity at your panel whenever you are pulling out or installing new switches. Before touching any wires, I use a cheap voltage tester to be on the safe side.

If you are completely new to home automation, I’d say that at some point you will want to replace switches. If you want to get your feet wet, without the wiring, there are number of products that work well with lamps. You plug them into any socket and it instantly becomes a smart outlet. In fact, we use an outdoor option that allows us to control our Christmas lights from anywhere in the world. For indoor use, the Belkin WeMo Switch can offer similar capabilities, without having to purchase a hub. More on that later, but hubs can help you manage a myriad of products from different manufacturers.

Before getting started, I turned off all electricity at my circuit breaker. Using a Phillips screwdriver, I proceeded pull out two perfectly good, but dumb, light switches. Here’s where things can and often do, get confusing. There are many factors, including the age of your home and who did the original wiring. If you purchased a pre-existing home, the last owner might have had a bit of DIY spirit, resulting in some odd wiring. These being basically on/off switches, the wiring is typically very straight-forward.

The copper is always your ground. On this particular switch, there are two black wires and the switch itself doesn’t clearly show which is the hot or power line. Don’t worry, with the WeMo Light Switch it does not matter which is which. While I’m not advocating or recommending how I do things, here’s how I handle it if I encounter a switch where I need to know the hot. I’ll turn on the electric and use that handy voltage tester to see which is the hot cable. Once you figure that out, the rest should be relatively easy.

Note: While my old switches don’t use a neutral wire, they are in the box and you must use them when installing.

Tip: Use your iPhone’s camera to take pictures of the existing wiring. Should things go bad, having a back-up plan is vital. While this particular install went smooth, I’ve had nightmare installs when working with 3-way Z-Wave switches.

Installation of the WeMo Light Switch involved three wires. I connected the two black wires using the supplied wire nuts and wired the neutral wires to the neutral in the box. The green wire gets wired to your copper wire. Before completing the install, I turned on the power at the circuit breaker, just to be sure things were in working order. This way, if things are not working afterwards, something would have likely occurred when placing the switch back in the wall. An orange glow indicated the switch was up and running.

Probably the biggest challenge of the this install was putting all of the wires back in the box. The WeMo was larger than the old switch, so required more space. I’m guessing this is due to the included electronics that makes them smart. For some, this could present a more challenging install, if not a deal breaker.

The switches have a very distinct look. When the lights are not on, there is a black circle at the bottom of the switch. I didn’t find it particularly bothersome, but it was immediately noticeable by my wife. So if any husbands are planning a surprise DIY, you might want to check with your significant other.

Setting Up WeMo Light Switch

Once you’ve wired your switch, it immediately functions as your previous switch. Flip the paddle and you can toggle your lights on or off. This is an important distinction between WeMo (or any Z-Wave light switch) and Philips Hue. For the Hue bulbs, you shift control to your phone, Harmony remote or a $70 Hue controller. This change in control is often hard to convey to others in your household.

The WeMo works like a normal switch, which is good. There are no dimming features in this particular switch. But hey, you came for the smart features, so that does require a few additional steps. To connect to your WiFi network, you have to first connect your iPhone (or Android phone) to the switch over WiFi.

1. Navigate to Settings > WiFi > Select WeMo. Your switch should now connect directly with your phone.
2. Select your WiFi Network. Tap to select your network and you’ll need to enter your password.
3. Once connected, you’ll have an opportunity to name your switch and select a device icon. Both are helpful as you start to add new lights to your network.

Immediately after configuring my network, I was immediately greeted by a a notification that new firmware was available. That was a bit scary, fearing this might undo all of my setup. My fears were unfounded, as the firmware patch was applied pain-free. In fact, WeMo pushes these firmware updates semi-regularly. They include a playful message that your devices are feeling happy and running the latest software. A “Hooray” button dismisses the notification, which I found refreshing in the sea of “OK” confirmations.

Using the WeMo app

The WeMo app brings up a list of devices and your custom name for each switch or device. Next to these are big power buttons. When you turn them on, there is a subtle animation as the button turns green. Lights went on immediately after pressing the button. My router is about 30 feet from the switches and it’s not on the same level. I’ve never had a single issue with the switches disconnecting from my WiFi network. They’ve always been accessible and working as intended.

The second tab lets you set custom rules for your devices. They can be controlled by a set time and allow for repeating events. There’s also an option to turn them on or off at sunrise or sunset. I ended up setting up my switches for my porch and front lanterns. While I wanted them to go on at sunset, I used a second, but also supported method. There is also an Away mode, where you set the time when the lights should go on or off.

Integrating with IFTTT

Built-in to the app is support for IFTTT. This allows you to use ‘recipes’ which are actions based on certain events. This can be your arrival or in my case, I use IFTTT to turn my lights on at sunset. This sounds like a trivial feature, but there’s something incredibly nice about never having to turn your outdoor lights on, yet having them on at the exact time it gets dark. I also use IFTTT to turn off my lights at 10:30 every night. On occasion, I’ll override this with either the WeMo app or using SmartThings. At last check, there are 316  IFTTT recipes for use with WeMo devices.

Works with SmartThings

My house has become a melting pot of smart home technology. At the center of this a hub, which isn’t uncommon. There are hubs from Wink, Staples, Vera and my current hub – SmartThings. WeMo can be a completely self-contained system. Additionally, it work with Vera, Wink and I suppose others. Your mileage may vary, but my experience has been quite good. SmartThings allows me to integrate WeMo lights within my actions. For example, a ‘Good Night’ action can include turning off all of your lights. Handy if you have multiple lights, switches and they are from an assortment of manufacturers.

Belkin WeMo Light Switch Review: Should You Buy A WeMo?

Whether you are new to home automation or integrating into an existing system, the WeMo Light Switch is a very good option. If you are working with an existing hub, you may find the WeMo products can be slightly more expensive at around $10 more per switch. Most standard Z-Wave switches run around $40, with Insteon running around $50. At times, you’ll find Amazon offering the WeMo at around the same price.

Having the flexibility of using their dedicated app, IFTTT and your hub is well worth the added cost. You’ll need some basic electrical skill, but that’s the extent of the difficulty. Installation and setup was fast and easy. I’ve found the WeMo Light Switch to be an incredibly stable product, that works as intended, making it a perfect addition to any smart home.

Shop the WeMo Store at Amazon.

Belkin WeMo Light Switch from $31 at Amazon

Since the existence of smartphones, screen protectors have been a necessary evil to protect displays from unwanted scratches. Often made of plastic, these still remain highly effective for the intended task. Over the years, manufacturers have expanded their offerings with different styles. You can purchase versions that offer a matte finish and in some cases, there are different price points for higher quality options.

These are still available and prices have come down incredibly low, with a 3-pack often costing less than $10. In my experience, the Corning Gorilla Glass on the iPhone has seen vast improvements. Scratch protection is a smaller battle when looking to keep your iPhone in pristine condition.

• How to install the Zagg Glass on iPhone
• How and what it protects
• Does it fit with a case
• Usability
• What happens when an iPhone with tempered glass meets the pavement
• Pros and Cons
• Rating

How to install the Zagg Glass on iPhone

When you purchase a tempered glass screen protector, you get one. That’s due to the higher cost and quality of the product and applies not only to the Zagg Glass, but any manufacturer offering a similar product. Included in the box is an alcohol wipe, microfiber cloth, instructions and the Glass.

The Glass itself has plastic covering both the front (where it adheres to your display) and the back (removed after install). Zagg provides a video describing the install method. Before you rush off and watch it, I do have some issues with their prescribed method.

With any screen protector, installation is best done in a dust-free and well-lit environment. One trick I’ve learned is to turn on a hot shower and install in a bathroom. This tends to reduce the micro dust in the air. The install process is relatively straight-forward, but truth be told, it can easily go bad. They include a wet wipe to clean your display. The actual process is a dry install, which is light years ahead of the days when we had to squeegee water, only to see it drip off the sides of our phones.

Remove the front plastic and the Glass is ready to applied to the iPhone. On the back, Zagg includes two tabs on the top and bottom of the protector. Now in their instruction video, they show the install done with the iPhone laying horizontally. I’ve found that method makes it slightly more difficult to line up the home button. For me, that was critical in performing the best possible install. By having your iPhone vertical, I found it easier to align.

Once the Glass hits the display, it immediately starts to adhere with minimal effort. The yellow tabs don’t offer much in the way of paddling back from poor alignment. Pulling these will just remove the yellow backing from the Glass. Have a piece or two of scotch tape available. You can apply these to the back of the protector to pull up and re-align, if need be. I’ve also used them to pull up a rogue piece of dust that got caught under the protector during one of my installs.

Once you apply the Glass and are comfortable with the alignment, press in the center of the screen. You’ll see it crawl to edges. I’ve done a handful of tempered glass installations and I’ve had little in the way of air bubbles. Gently pushing outwards to the edges is sure to remove any remaining bubbles.

How and what it protects

The Zagg InvisibleShield Glass is tempered glass rated at 9H hardness. It’s incredibly thin at just .4mm. With the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple has moved to displays that are curved at the edges. This certainly helps, even if just a bit, with reaching certain tap targets. That could be intentional or just a result of a design that simply looked great. It does however present a problem for accessory manufacturers like Zagg. Glass by definition is rigid, making it difficult to account for the edge of the display.

A quick perusal of comparable products on Amazon yield a similar result – none offer edge to edge coverage. Going back to the durability of Gorilla Glass, scratches shouldn’t be your biggest concern. Dropping your iPhone and being out $130 to replace a smashed display; that’s what you should be looking to prevent. The Zagg Glass is certainly capable, should the impact zone be the actual protector. These corners still represent a weak spot. Maybe it’s not a major issue, but tell that to the architects behind the Death Star.

Does it fit with a case

Zagg markets Glass as being ‘case friendly’. Not being able to provide edge-to-edge coverage does have some advantages. I would safely say that most cases will fit with the Glass installed. I’ve been using it with Apple’s Leather case without issue. That’s not to say it’ll fit all cases. Certainly any case that covers the front of the iPhone may not work. If you are planning on using this product with a case, those gaps of coverage may no longer be a concern, considering most cases will grip the sides and corners. Here it is shown with the Apple Leather Case.

Usability

I’ve found the Zagg Glass to be incredibly smooth whether tapping, swiping or using gestures. Everything works exactly the same as a stock iPhone, with absolutely no loss in touch sensitivity. It also has remarkable clarity. I didn’t find I lost any of the vivid detail of the retina display. But what about the feel? For comparison, I did a thumb comparison on the iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s, which had no screen protection.

To my surprise, the Glass was smoother and felt better. I’ve always been of the notion that it was exactly like the iPhone’s display, but in fact, it feels a bit better. The edges are beveled. Due to the increased size of the iPhone 6, I hardly encounter the edges. The 0.4mm thin size coupled with beveled edge does make it hardly noticeable, even when purposefully sliding your thumb between the display and the protector.

Zagg Glass features an oil-resistant nano-coating. I found it to be comparable to the oleophobic screen on iPhones. Yes, it will get some fingerprints, but it’s certainly better than most phones. At no point did I find the fingerprints to be an issue and a t-shirt rub clean things up quickly. Overall, this seems to work very well as a natural extension of the iPhone. The true test of any accessory is to ‘not get in the way’ and at the same time, add value. This product accomplished both.

What happens when an iPhone with tempered glass meets the pavement

When an iPhone hits concrete or any hard surface, it has an uncanny ability to shatter the screen. Seriously, I’ve met entirely too many folks who needed only one drop to completely shatter their displays. Thankfully, the cost of replacing a screen has dropped significantly. Still, $130 isn’t a drop in the bucket and AppleCare+ costs $99 plus $79 for each incident. In theory, the Zagg Glass will shatter instead of your display, provided it doesn’t hit the exposed edges I referenced above. It won’t create shards of glass. In fact, you can simply peel it off and exchange for a new one, at no additional cost.

Invisible Shield Review Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Protects screen and thus costly replacement in event iPhone is dropped
• Truly becomes ‘invisible’
• Incredibly smooth surface
• Works with most cases
• Free replacement if damaged

Cons:

• Does not offer 100 percent coverage
• Install process can be tricky

Tempered glass screen protectors handle double duty. They protect your iPhone against scratches and in the event of a drop, it could seriously save your display and thus a costly screen replacement. The Zagg Glass isn’t perfect, but like all third-party manufacturers, it’s virtually impossible to get one hundred percent coverage due to Apple’s decision to curve the edges. Zagg has made the choice to not overextend the size of the protector.

If I had to guess, they’re betting that you’re going pair this with a case. The trade-off is sacrificing a few millimeters of coverage for a screen protector that works with most cases. Installation is relatively easy, provided you’re not hung up on achieving the perfect alignment. Again, most of this is offset when you put a case on your iPhone. Having tempered glass protection means you can opt for a more minimal style case.  After weeks of use, I found the Zagg Glass to be a fantastic product and one that I highly recommend.

Zagg InvisibleShield Glass from $20.99 at Amazon

The case comes in traditional minimalist packaging that we’ve come to expect from Apple products. There are directions for installing the case. It’s recommended you snap on the case from top to bottom and working the sides to be sure it’s properly inserted. Removing the case is just as easy, accomplished by reversing the process. As for the overall fit, it’s snug, but not what I would describe as tight. I often switch cases, so for me, this is perfect. There is zero movement between the case and the phone. Should you drop your phone, I think it’s highly unlikely that your iPhone 6 would dislodge from the case. I think the materials play a big part in providing a case that fits well, is easy to remove and will stay on during any sort of impact. Let’s talk a bit about the materials.

These leather cases that are infused with a dye to provide color. Oh by the way, you can choose from brown, soft pink, navy blue, red or classic black. I’ve been using the brown, while my wife has been using pink. These look fantastic out of the box, but I waited a few weeks so that I could test how the respond to wear and tear. The previous leather case from Apple did have its share of critics with regard to durability. A quick perusal of reviews at Apple’s website seem to show more negative reviews for lighter cases, which are more susceptible to showing dirt. So how did our cases hold up?

My case (yes I’m using brown), did not show any dirt. The leather does seem a bit more worn in on the back. Nothing alarming. It’s just the natural progression from new to being thrust into a world of hands. Your hands naturally have oils and this will help age your case. I personally like how it’s been worn and although it has no scratches yet, I’m not opposed to a case that has a bit of character and scratches can do that. Yes, scratches can be a good thing. While I’ll most certainly resell my iPhone 6 at some point, I don’t have any expectations of resale from my case. Plus, it’ll probably fit the iPhone 6S, assuming Apple follows their traditional release schedule. One of my concerns was how it would react to my cheap plastic car holder. It’s not terrible, but the one-touch snap does grip tightly. I noticed one small mark on the side. Overall, it seemed to fair well to daily use.

I can say with relative certainty that my wife doesn’t care for her phone at my level of obsession. It’s routinely dropped in the cavernous bottom of her pocketbook, left to fend against makeup, loose change, keys and more. Checking in on her case produced some differences from mine. She had a few noticeable scuff marks on the sides, where you can see small pieces of grain lifted from the surface, likely caused by an encounter with a set of keys or something rigid. For a soft pink case, it was extremely clean.

Two users, two different cases and both fared well. My wife’s scuffs are minor and unless you’re hypersensitive to keeping things perfect, these are the types of wear that can be expected from a leather case. Care for it as if it were your iPhone 6 and it should remain in good condition. This being leather, you’ll want to avoid water. This sounds obvious, but we put our phones on kitchen counter daily. A plastic case won’t see the affects of water, but this case might.

Apple Leather Case Review: Feel, Function and Protection

This case feels great and certainly gives my already premium iPhone 6 that same premium feel, but it in a case. The leather is extremely soft and it’s easy to grip. It’s not the thinnest case on the market, but should still have appeal to those who prefer minimal style cases. The volume up/down and sleep/wake buttons are all covered. Don’t worry, you can still feel the click of the buttons with the case on. There is a cutout on the back, with a black inlay, for the camera. The camera on the iPhone 6 naturally protrudes. With this case, there is zero movement if you lay it down on a flat surface.

The ringer switch cutout feels a tad bit small for my taste. I don’t access it all that often. If I were switching this on/off a few times daily, this might be a bigger issue for me. I have to wedge my fingernail in the hole to make the switch.

All four corners of the iPhone are covered. At the bottom, there is a wide cutout that leaves the entire bottom exposed. This could lead to damage if there is a direct impact. Personally, I’m more concerned with small scratches over time. Lots of people put their phones in a cupholder while driving. That’s off limits with this case. Let’s talk a bit more about protection.

The left, right and top edges of the case are slightly higher than the display. The best thing this has going for it would be the corners, which can be phone-killers. When I look at the design, I think it was intended to keep the display off the surface if you lie it face down. Case or no case, I’m not sure why anyone would do that, but it does offer protection for your display. The back is completely covered. On the interior of the case is a soft microfiber lining, perfect for keeping your iPhone 6 scratch free.

The level of protection you’re going to get is minimal. You should know this going in. This case is big on fashion and style. Protecting it should it bounce off pavement? Not so much. The lack of any serious raised bezel, a wide open bottom and no real shock protection are concerns, if your main objective is protecting your phone against drops.

How you care for your phone should help inform your decision on whether you should buy this case. There’s nothing more deflating than dropping your iPhone and seeing your display shatter into a giant spiderweb. No one knows with absolute certainty if a drop is in their future. Self-assess based on your past experiences and set your expectations for this case accordingly. A tempered glass screen protector paired with this case isn’t a terrible idea. They typically absorb any shattering. It’s much better to be out $30 than $130 (the cost of replacing a screen at Apple). If you’re tough on your iPhone (and its case), this case isn’t for you. While our cases didn’t experience loss of color or dirt, there are enough users with similar complaints to indicate the problem does affect a lot of folks. If you’ve had smashed displays in the past, ask yourself if this time will be different. Is the tradeoff between carrying a minimal case worth the risk?

If you’re still reading and I haven’t scared you off, there’s plenty to like with Apple’s iPhone 6 leather cases. I find them to be meticulously designed, offering a fit that is both snug, but not so tight that switching is effortless. There is a focus on usability that is also to be appreciated. My iPhone 6 works no differently, with our without the case. Adding it brings a premium feel and an element of class, distinction. Over time, it’ll get a few nicks and that’s normal, as is the natural wear and tear that will be evident in any leather case. If you can get past the minimal protection, the look, feel and quality is well worth the investment, making it a perfect accompaniment to your iPhone 6.

Apple’s leather case for the iPhone 6 retails for $45. If you have a 6 Plus, that’s slightly more expensive at $49.

iPhone 6 Review – Table of contents:

• Physical Appearance
• Retina HD Displays
• Colors
• Apple Pay
• Storage
• Battery
• Camera
• FaceTime Camera
• Slow Motion Video
• A8 and M8
• iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus
• Software: iOS 8
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion
• Editor FAQ

Next to improved battery life, the most requested change is often the size of the screen. I’d submit that changes to the font and use of white space in iOS 7 was a contributing factor. For some, it was getting increasingly difficult to read email and text on the smaller display. Despite the world class applications available to iOS users, it had become more common for people to move away from the iPhone to a Galaxy S5, Note 3 or some other ‘giant’ phone. Sure there are a cross-section of power users that make the move to Android purely based on customization options, but even that’s dwindled thanks to widgets and other changes that have made iOS 8 more open.

For some, iOS remains too restrictive. No matter how big Apple makes their displays, those eternal tweakers will always call Android home.”

Physical Appearance

To accommodate the bigger screens, they displays are taller and wider. The height both at the bottom and top seem no different than the 5/5S. The edges of the display are beveled. Previous iPhones were very utilitarian in their look, where the iPhone 6 has a more inviting look and feel. The edges do help with the feel of the phone.

When expanding the size of the display, it’s paramount to make changes that help with the overall comfort of holding your iPhone. The iPhone 6 is curvy, bringing back fond memories of the iPhone 3G. It strikes a resemblance to the 5th generation iPod touch. The design choices are both practical and flat out gorgeous.

The overall design is slimmer, curvier and a bit heavier. The amount of its heft depends on whether you choose the standard or plus.

• iPhone 6 Plus 6.07 ounces
• iPhone 6 4.55 ounces
• iPhone 5S 3.95 ounces
• iPhone 5C 4.65 ounces

Being a bigger device allows the weight to be more widely distributed. The iPhone 6 feels lighter than the iPhone 5s, though it’s not. The iPhone 6 Plus does have a more noticeable weight difference. These displays use Corning’s Gorilla Glass and not the much harder sapphire. The iPhone 6 display isn’t protected by a raised bezel. This does not have the appearance of having any greater level of protection against accidental drops on a hard surface. One saving grace is the reduced cost associated with having a display replaced. Your local Apple Store will replace your iPhone 6 display for $129.99 and that’s if you don’t have Apple Care Plus. While the design is different, the materials used are virtually the same. Glass, aluminum and sapphire for the Touch ID button.

The design has changed, but the materials remain the same. What you’re seeing is an even higher level of refinement that makes last year’s model seem outdated.”

These aren’t waterproof and durability should be similar to previous generations. There were early reports that the iPhone 6 Plus was susceptible to accidental bending that could happen from something as common as carrying your phone in your front pocket. According to Apple, only 9 customers have contacted them regarding this issue, thought additional reports keep cropping up. When looking at this situation, you have to keep things in perspective. Are these folks being intentionally hard on their phones? My experience with both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus did not yield any bending and that included plenty of front pocket time.

I can’t see using either of these new iPhones without a case, unless you like living on the edge. With my hands, my ability to grip decreased with the iPhone 6 and further with the 6 Plus. If bending concerns you, the added rigidity of a case should help. No one should ever put their phone in their back pocket, ever. That’s asking for trouble. These are finely crafted computing devices that start at $649 and should be treated as such.

These are incredibly intricate tiny computers constructed of aluminum, glass and processing chips. That’s not something you should carry in your back pocket.”

The back of the iPhone 6 is aluminum, with the trademark Apple logo. The color is uniform throughout, with antenna bands outlining the top and bottom. These are not very pronounced and ultimately, necessary for the device to operate.

Some have questioned the aesthetic of the protruding rear camera, not seen since the last iPod touch. A minor issue and one that goes away if you put a case on your phone. This is one of the consequences of going thin. Not sure about you, but I’d take that trade any day.

Retina HD Displays

The new displays have higher resolutions. The larger iPhone 6 Plus has a 401 ppi (pixels per inch), compared to 326ppi on the iPhone 6/5S. The newer models promise a higher contrast ratio. According to Apple, these displays use UV light to precisely position the display’s liquid crystals. In theory, this should result in a more accurate alignment, offering deeper blacks and sharper text. The iPhone 6 employs dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles and improved accuracy corner to corner.

The display on the iPhone 6 is the infinity pool of smartphone displays. Gorgeous, seemingly endless and makes you want to jump in.”

Colors

The 2014 iPhones are available in the same color options. Space Gray comes with a black display cover. Both silver and last year’s breakout hit gold, come with white front panels. The silver and gold models offer more noticeable accents around the Touch ID home button.

Apple Pay

If there is one feature that stands out as completely new on iPhone 6, it is Apple Pay. The new iPhones are equipped with NFC (near field communications). Starting sometime in October, you’ll be able to use the iPhone 6 to make payments. Using Passbook in iOS 8, you can scan one or more supported credit or bank cards into the app. Apple Pay allows for multiple cards.

The process of making a payment is similar to using Passbook. You use Touch ID to authorize payments when checking out. The service isn’t available yet, but we’ll update our review it becomes available. Having made extensive use of payments using Passbook at Starbucks, I’m going to venture a guess that Apple Pay will offer a similar, painless transaction – all by just using your iPhone.

“The convenience of Apple Pay should be readily apparent with your only concern being support of your favorite retailers.”

Recent news of iCloud hacking and celebrity photos might have you a bit concerned about your iPhone becoming a payment device. Don’t worry. For one, the accounts themselves were hacked and not iCloud. Semantics I know, but Apple Pay is completely different. For one, you need your finger or any approved Touch ID fingerprint to make a purchase. Moms and Dads, be careful about letting your kids scan in their Touch ID fingerprints.

As for card information, Apple stores that in a secure element (chip) inside your iPhone. That information is never shared on Apple’s servers or with merchants.

“…when you make a purchase, the Device Account Number, along with a transaction-specific dynamic security code, is used to process your payment.”

Since you’re never handing a physical card, or your phone for that matter to a cashier, your card numbers and name are never shared. There’s a privacy aspect of Apple Pay that has to be appreciated.

Apple Pay should offer a added level of convenience. One pain point might be initial support at your favorite retailer. Sales of 12 million iPhones and growing, should spur retailers to jump on board. Apple has also promised support of online transactions. There’s nothing great about entering your credit card numbers at a website and with retailers like Target, that will no longer be a requirement.

Storage

Amidst all of the upgrades, Apple changed the storage capacity options. With an increasing number of premium smartphones offerings starting at 32GB, there have been no shortages of calls from users for Apple to double storage capacity. This year, they took two steps forward and one step back. Instead of simply doubling storage across the board, Apple chose to double the the 32GB and 64GB options respectively to 64GB and 128GB. While those are great moves, they ignored the biggest problem in their product line. The 16GB iPhone 6/6 Plus, priced at $199/$299, doesn’t get a storage bump. Apple’s very own iOS updates require a significant amount of free storage, beyond the actual size of the update. So although I’ve often preached that you don’t need the one with bigger gee-bees, most folks do need more than 16GB. I highly recommend either the 64GB or 128GB models. Both offer a much higher value proposition than the base model. As a reminder, this price includes a costly 2-year contract, which subsidizes the price of the iPhone 6.

There is no sustainable reason for a company that prides itself on delivering the absolute best user experience to outfit the entry-level iPhone 6 with 16GB of storage.”

Battery

Next to display size, battery life is chief among concerns of iPhone buyers. Good news awaits those jumping to the new iPhone 6 and even more so for those opting for the big boy. There are a number of inherent advantages to big phones, beyond the obvious larger display. Battery technology has largely remained stagnant. Software and energy efficient processors can only do so much. This is one area of the new models, where the iPhone 6 Plus clearly trumps the base model. Compared to the iPhone 5S, Apple rates it as offering 2 more hours of LTE Internet use, 4 more hours of video playback and a whopping 40 additional hours of audio playback. Talk-time over 3G is 24 hours, more than double the previous model.

Battery life is very subjective. How you use your iPhone will greatly impact your battery life. If we use the marker of a ‘full days use’ as acceptable, that can be impacted by a number of factors. Streaming 1080p videos and making heavy use of data will impact any phone. Weak signals can also play a key role in draining your battery. If you’re getting acceptable battery life from your current iPhone, you can expect improvements.

Moving from the iPhone 5s to the iPhone 6 Plus, I was shocked at how difficult it was to kill the battery on the Plus. I had purposely left it off its charger in an effort to drain it to zero. When it had reached 1%, I had to pick-up my daughter. With my previous phone, that would result in a dead phone by the time I arrived at her school. While waiting for her, I was checking email, Twitter and current web stats. All data intensive and battery killers. It didn’t budge. I arrived home and took her out for a bike ride. I pulled out my 6 Plus and that 1% continued to dare me to use my phone. I took a few photos, one of which I sent via MMS. It lasted another 15 minutes or so, which was plenty of time to get home and finally charge it.

Having 1% remaining usually means a phone that’s about to die. The iPhone 6 Plus was like a prize-fighter. No matter what I threw at it, it refused to go down.”

Cameras

The megapixel count on the 2014 iPhone 6 models remains at 8-megapixels, but underwent major changes. For one, it’s an entirely new sensor with Apple’s ‘Focus Pixels’. When they communicate with the new image processor, it results in faster and improved focus. I’ve grown leery of manufacturer hyperbole, but Focus Pixels delivers on its promise. I went out shooting in the dead of night and during a bright, sunny day on Long Island. Before heading out, I took photos of my doorway, with my black cat Floyd in the frame. These were impossible shots and I was not expecting any sort of usable image. I was curious as to how the iPhone 6 would compare to the iPhone 5S when shooting the worse possible conditions. Admittedly, both images are not good. If you look closely at the image on the right, it actually did a much better job of capturing the image, while the iPhone 5S (left) had significant distortion in the background, specifically the wall.

Heading outside, with only the glare of light from my front porch, the iPhone 6 repeatedly bested the iPhone 5S when it came to focusing. Both shooters performed admirably and in some cases, it was hard to tell the difference between the two. The iPhone 6 seemed better equipped at allowing light into the lens and the focus capabilities were infinitely noticeable.

The speed at which the iPhone 6 can focus was wicked fast, where at times the 5S would struggle.”

On the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple has included OIS (optical image stabilization). The primary benefit will be when shooting videos of moving objects. The video below shot by Ty Moss does a fantastic job of showing how the Plus is able to limit camera shake when shooting while moving. The auto-focus is impressive and despite what appears to be a fair amount of movement, the resulting video is steady.

OIS can also impact your photos taken where lighting is not optimal, providing you with an additional edge. The detail and color reproduction is quite amazing.

When it came to shooting during the day, results from both cameras were similar. The focus speed of the iPhone 6 remained lightning fast. In the end, we all want great pictures and both of these phones delivered just that.

The bigger displays made it easier to preview shots. For me, this was a big win. As you move up the line from 5S to 6, to 6 Plus, the improved capability to preview can make a difference in the framing of your shot. Often with the smaller 5S, I’ve relied on the camera and not what I’m seeing through the display. With the sixes, you’ll be able to see what could be an issue with focus or framing.

From taking the shot to viewing it on the 5.5-inch display, the iPhone 6 Plus offered the complete photo experience.”

The increased screen real estate pays off when you view your photos and videos. If you’ve ever pinched and zoomed to see parts of your photo, there is less of a need with these devices. On the iPhone 6 Plus, you get iPad-like viewing, with no waiting. Instant gratification.

FaceTime Camera

Admittedly, I’m not the selfie type, but clearly I’m in the minority. The front-facing FaceTime camera, formerly relegated to video, now plays a key role in photo taking. Apple has improved the face-detection and it allows up to 81 percent more light. I took selfies in the dead of night, again more to gauge light than replicate a real-world scenario. Both are awful photos, but the light on the iPhone 6 FaceTime camera confirms the increased light allowed into the sensor. Now you won’t be talking selfies in the dark, but if you did, the new cameras are clear winners.

A more accurate selfie would be on a sunny day. Here we have two photos, one with the iPhone 5S and the other using the iPhone 6. This shouldn’t be construed as scientific testing. These are real world selfies, taken just as you would, without any extreme setup allowing the phones to adjust and deliver results. The odd glare aside, the overall picture quality and clarity goes to the iPhone 6.

Slow Motion Video

Last year, new video options included slow-motion video at 120FPS (frames per second). The pair of iPhones (2014) can shoot at 240FPS or 120FPS. Shooting at 240FPS can result in some breathtaking video that has cinematic appeal.

A few unwilling seagulls and an annoying human showcase just how easy it is to get cinematic video from the iPhone 6.”

The phone can be an incredibly powerful tool for video making. Standard video shot at 1080P also gets a boost from 30FPS to 60FPS.

A8 and M8

Both models feature the new A8 processor and the co-joined M8 motion processor. Last year’s move the A7 saw significant gains with the first 64-bit processing chip on an iPhone. Scores nearly doubled. This time around, the improvements are not as drastic. What’s a bit surprising is that according to Geekbench, the iPhone 6 actually edges the iPhone 6 Plus.

The on-board M8 processor handles measuring your activity, including a new barometer sensor. I’ve yet to see any apps that make use of this sensor. Its primary use is to measure elevation, something that will appeal to fitness enthusiasts, hikers and the like.

Killer performance gets all of the headlines, but the real magic here is in the power efficiency of the A8 chip.”

Speed gains can be seen in the CPU performance (up to 50x faster) and more so in the GPU performance (up to 84x faster)*. The big story here may be the increased energy efficiency. These are massive screens, so having a chip that offers up to 50 percent more energy efficiency is major benefit. *According to Apple’s calculations.

Anytime a company offers you faster performance coupled with energy efficiency, that’s a winning combo.”

Over the past year, we’ve highlighted a number of console quality games. This trend should grow further thanks to Metal, technology that empowers developers to create more immersive graphics that push the limits of these new A8 chip. There isn’t a more powerful handheld gaming device than the iPhone 6.

iPhone 6 Plus vs iPhone 6

The iPhone 6 embodies much of what I expected from Apple when they made their eventual jump to big displays. It checks all the boxes. Thin, check. Light, check. Amazing display, check. The curved body also helps you reach more of the screen. For me, this is Apple’s perfected big device. That being said, it’s not the only phone. Its big brother, the iPhone 6 Plus is shockingly large. Whereas the the 6 aims to offer some semblance of one-handed usability, you can forget about that with the Plus.

For some, that’s not an issue. It really depends on how you use your phone or maybe how you plan to transition to a new way of using your iPhone. Personally, I think either choice will result in some level of uncomfortable transition. You almost have to re-train your brain as to what’s a normal, acceptable size for a smartphone. I purchased the iPhone 6 Plus and used it for two weeks before forming my thoughts for review purposes.

My previous phones included the iPhone 5S and the Moto X (2013). I’m a fan of natural wood and couldn’t resist the custom bamboo back offered by Motorola. I remember that phone feeling too big, but in time, it felt normal. I was curious if the same logic would follow suit with the iPhone 6 Plus. Spend sufficient time with a phone and regardless of the size, it becomes normal.

In a matter of days, I started to get accustomed to the big boy. The luxury of having an iPad-like experience with phone capabilities was not lost on me. I’d take a photo of my daughter and immediately enjoy it on what is an amazing screen. I can see how this phone will have a select, yet wide appeal.

The iPhone 6 Plus is a smartphone version of the Cadillac Escalade, but with stunningly good gas mileage.”

Apple’s now infamous commercial showed us how the iPhone 5 was designed, allowing easy control with one hand. That phone saw users jumping from a 3.5-inch to 4.0-inch display. In part, the commercial assuaged fears that the larger screen might impact usability. I think the main focus was explaining why a smaller screen was more desirable at a time when Apple had been dealing with competitors continuously pushing the boundaries of display sizes. Now it’s Apple that’s doing that pushing.

The shift to bigger displays leaves one-handed usability and that saddens me.”

Where phones are concerned, iPhone 5/5s are the perfect match of screen size and true one-handed usability. Sadly, there is no 4.0-inch iPhone 6. I’ve cradled my 5th generation iPod touch, thinking of what could have been. In reality, the 2014 form factor on a small device would have been difficult to exceed the battery life on the 5S.

It’s about trade-offs and in 2014, most will gladly trade one-handed usability for a bigger iPhone. Some will jettison it completely, happy to use two hands to grasp the monster-sized plus. What did I choose? I share that below in my Editor’s FAQ.

Software: iOS 8

For owners of the iPhone 4S or later, iOS 8 is a free upgrade. There are a few features worth noting that are specific to the iPhone 6 and in some cases, just the iPhone 6 Plus. Both of these phones support Reachability. This is a software fix for retaining one-handed usability on a big phone. A quick double-tap of the home button (not a full depress, but two taps), will cause the top of the viewing area to squeeze down (see image below), so it’s in range of your fingers. I tested Reachability and it works as intended.

It won’t make you forget your finger-friendly four-inch iPhone, but could help in a pinch.”

The iPhone 6 Plus supports an iPad-like software experience. For example, if you view your mail in landscape mode, you’ll enjoy two panes. One side allows you to move through your inbox, while the right side shows the message.

iOS 8 offers hundreds of new features, many of which we’ve been continuing to document. Where iOS 7 was a major overhaul, iOS 8 is more about polish, refinement and extending functionality. It’s by far the most open we’ve seen from Apple, with support for extensions, third-party keyboards and widgets. It’s also been notably more buggy than we’ve seen from Apple. Their insistence on delivering major software updates that dovetail with new hardware finds the company starting to compromise on their history of rock-solid releases. Stability is no longer a mainstay of iOS, at least during the first few weeks of major updates. With two maintenance releases completed at the time of this review, this should not concern you.

With these new iPhones, developers need to optimize their code to support the new, bigger displays. Applications that haven’t been optimized can result in blurry text. If you’ve ever run an iPhone-only app on an iPad, it’s similar in nature. Not as bad, but still worth noting.

Pros:

• Big, beautiful displays
• Wonderful camera that now offers faster, more accurate focus
• Better battery life, specifically on iPhone 6 Plus
• Increased storage/value on middle and upper range models (64GB, 128GB)
• Touch ID coupled with Apple Pay should offer nice mix of convenience with secure transactions

Cons:

• Lacks one-handed usability of previous models
• Early iOS 8 releases have been buggy
• Some third-party apps do not support iPhone 6/6 Plus
• Increased storage options not applicable to base models which remain stuck at 16GB
• Positioning of on/off button can inadvertently trigger volume buttons when gripped
• Reachability feature seems like an afterthought

Conclusion

We’ve grown accustomed to the bi-yearly changes to the iPhone, but none have been bigger than the iPhone 6. These phones don’t just represent a move to bigger displays, which by the way, are glorious. The design language has undergone major changes. When you compare the iPhone 4 released in 2010 to the iPhone 5S (2013) which launched last year, there are similarities. Straight lines, boxy and hard edges. The 2014 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus retain the primarily aluminum and glass construction, but in a curved, inviting design. Though the large phones present challenges for one-handed usability, the thin and curved body does help. An offshoot from the bigger phones are bigger batteries. Coupled with the energy efficiency of the A8 chip, improvements are readily apparent, even more so in the iPhone 6 Plus. Apple’s cameras continue to be best-in-class, save for Nokia’s Lumia 1020, with its unsighltly protruding lens. Focus Pixels live up to their marketing mojo offering faster, accurate focus that should help you capture life’s moments with relative ease. In the age of selfies, the FaceTime camera is also much improved.

Another year, another phone that is more powerful, more capable and more efficient. This is Apple doing big phones and getting it right.

Editor FAQ

Should I upgrade to the iPhone 6?
If you are out of contract with your wireless carrier, that means you’re entitled to an upgrade. Your monthly cellular bill has costs built-in to offset the cost of a phone. When you sign a 2-year contract, the cost of your phone is subsidized. When your contract ends, your bill doesn’t go down. In effect, you’re still paying for a phone that’s paid off. New iPhones don’t actually cost $199 and up. The actual cost is $649 and up. The carrier makes up the cost of the phone over the span of the contract. Here’s how to check your eligibility and upgrade to the iPhone 6. We’ve also included information explaining early upgrade programs from AT&T (Next) and Verizon (Edge).

Should I buy the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus?
That’s a big question, pun intended. I’d highly recommend visiting a local Apple Store and holding them. Think about how you use your phone and how the shift to a much bigger phone will impact your usage. I found that I was consistently making excuses for the iPhone 6 Plus. Sure the screen was fabulously large, but my the size of the device didn’t gel with my daily usage. For one, I pocket my iPhone and I also have a toddler that I’m regularly chasing. The iPhone 6 Plus can feel bulky to carry. I also like to use my phones on-the-go. The Plus isn’t the type of phone you can grab with one hand, check Twitter and slip it back into your pocket.

I didn’t find any of the iPhone 6 Plus software enhancements to be of great value. The landscape home screen didn’t offer any perceived benefit and iPad-like software experiences on the iPhone weren’t as valuable to me as I had envisioned.

The hardware OIS didn’t show itself to be enough to sway my decision.

Just because I chose the iPhone 6 doesn’t mean the 6 Plus isn’t a good option for you. If you’re on the fence, go with the Plus. If for some reason during the first 14 days you find it to be too big, you do have options.

Which color iPhone 6 should I buy?
This is a purely personal decision. With iPhone 5, I went black. Last year, I jumped on the gold bandwagon. For my money, the white/silver still remains as the most Apple-like color combination. That being said, Space Gray reminds me of the very first iPhone. The black display cover also creates a more immersive experience. You’re buy a case, right? Think about your end game. What color combinations will work best for you? As for me, I plan on going with Space Gray with a black leather Apple case. For practical purposes, my wife has white and silver, so there’s no confusing our phones. Don’t be surprised if next year, my iPhone 6S is silver and white. If you upgrade each year, alternating isn’t the worst idea. I’ve never experienced any issues with the aluminum of either black or silver.

What storage capacity should I buy on the new iPhone 6?
The 16GB is least expensive, but it also offers less value than either the 64GB or 128GB models and this applies to either the 6 or 6 Plus. For most folks, the 64GB will be more than enough. If you have a large audio or video collection that you must carry with you, go big. Invariably, music, videos and photos will have the biggest impact on your storage. What’s your current storage space? Have you run into storage issues when trying to install an iOS update OTA (over-the air)? While it’s important to get sufficient space for your stuff, don’t go crazy. To check the storage capacity of your current iPhone, go to Settings > General > Usage.

If cost is concern, check out our article on how to make the most of your storage.

Is the contract-free T-Mobile iPhone 6 unlocked?
Yes. They ship with a T-Mobile nanoSIM card, but you can use this model with any GSM carrier.

Amazon Fire TV Review Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Fast, intuitive interface
• Voice search works great with Amazon Prime, Amazon Instant
• Nice array of connectivity options including ethernet, optical audio, USB, HDMI.
• Inexpensive way to enjoy casual gaming

Cons:

• No HBO Go
• Showtime Anytime audio sync issues
• Voice search does not work outside of Amazon
• Movies and TV shows in Amazon Prime don’t list other viewing options (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

Out of the box, the Amazon Fire TV looks similar to the Apple TV. It’s as if the Apple TV was flattened, squared off and rebranded. It’s small enough that you could easily mount it behind your HDTV and it will be barely noticeable in most any entertainment center. Amazon uses Bluetooth for their remote, so you do not need line of sight IR when using the Fire TV. For $99, you get the Amazon Fire TV, power supply and 2 (AA) batteries which power the remote.

When it comes to content, most of the major players are available, offering little differentiation from what you’d find on an Apple TV, ROKU or Chromecast. Netflix, Hulu, Vevo and Crackle are among them. When compared the Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV has Showtime Anytime, but lacks HBO GO and the Disney channels. The company is reportedly working with HBO, but there are not guarantees as to when this might be available. In most cases, premium channel content requires a subscription. Netflix and Hulu are monthly stand-alone subscriptions, while channels like Showtime Anytime require a clumsy one-time activation process through your cable company. If channel selection is your criteria, ROKU boasts the largest selection.

When it comes to movie or TV rentals or purchases, the box is tied directly to Amazon Instant Video. Your content can be accessed through the Fire TV or in the case of iPhones or iPads, using Amazon’s free iOS app. Google’s Chromecast lets you buy or rent through the Play Store, while Roku has the relatively new M-GO store. In my experience, I’ve found no difference in pricing. If you are heavily invested in purchased movies or TV through iTunes, the Apple TV instantly becomes a more attractive device, playing nicely within the iTunes ecosystem. If you primarily rent or purchase to watch at home on your HDTV, you could give a slight edge to Amazon, Apple and Google for a larger selection. If you are shopping mainstream movies and TV shows, those too are available through M-Go on the Roku. I have found that some lesser known movies and documentaries were not available on M-Go, but was on the big three.

Amazon Fixes, Breaks Search
During the press briefing, Amazon executives correctly called out search as delivering a poor experience on competitors boxes. Using hunt and peck with an on-screen keyboard is painful. Amazon’s approach was to include a microphone in the Fire TV remote. Using it is easy. You press and hold the microphone and say the title, “Good Wife”, let go and boom, you have an option to select Good Wife. During my testing, this worked incredibly well. If you use a universal remote, you lose any benefit of the voice search. It’s a Bluetooth remote, so does not require line of sight. In fact, the range was impressive. My audio visual gear resides in my basement and the remote worked well, despite being one floor up.

For all of its utility, Amazon has managed to fix and break search in a single release. While the voice activated search feature works phenomenally well, it’s limited to Amazon Instant and Amazon Prime content. The Fire TV has tons of content channels, but voice search does not work with them. Touted as one of the differentiating features, it’s a bit misleading. Search for House of Cards and you’ll find one option – purchase through Amazon. Even the Other Content Options does little to help me find my way to House of Cards on Netflix. Compare this with Roku, which neatly searches all of the available channels and content providers. Voice search on the Amazon Fire TV manages to pull of the feat of being both magical and disappointing.

The Fire TV is Fast
Amazon has packed a quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM, which they claim is 3x the processing power of the current generation Apple TV and 4X the memory of the ATV, Roku or Chromecast. The result is an experience is that is fast and fluid, with zero lag. The remote has a very tactile response and the UI is incredibly responsive. The two-column layout reminded me of Plex. It’s extremely visual with its display of channels, movie and tv cover art, but in no way cluttered.

On both Apple TV and Roku, apps are the focal point. When your boot up the Fire TV, it immediately gets populated with available movies and TV shows from Prime and Instant, in addition to channel apps. On competing devices, channels as apps are the main focus, whereas in a sense, they become secondary on this box. This is Amazon’s product, so quite naturally, it’s set up to make it easy to access their programming. That in mind, a recently used list is up top, so channels or content you watched last is readily accessible.

The trouble with any of these boxes is the mix of interfaces and Amazon’s Fire TV is no different. Take the Netflix channel, which is presumably the most popular of the bunch. It resembles Netflix on TiVo, arguably the worst of all the Netflix UIs. Late last year, Netflix made bit of splash with the unveiling of the new Netflix experience. Think of it as moving from iOS 6 to iOS 7. It’s a vastly improved interface. It’s available on the Roku 3 (but not on older Roku devices yet), but not the Apple TV or this new Amazon Fire TV. If you spend most of your time watching Netflix, the Roku 3 gives you the best looking experience. Over time, you can expect updates to channels, but this is a poor start.

Amazon hasn’t done a great job of selling Prime as a video service, instead pitching it as a throw-in to their free 2-day shipping. That’s likely to change now as they have a platform and have started developing original programming. They’ve also scored exclusives like Justified , The Good Wife and corralled Nickelodeon whose programming had been available on Netflix. If you have young children, this is where you’ll find Dora The Explorer, Yo Gabba Gabba and more. With the Amazon Fire TV, they’ve created a fantastic platform for their subscribers. Beyond the magic of voice search, the interface is really well done. If you are scrolling through a TV season, you’ll see plot information and a photo from the episode. For those who are binge watching series, this makes it easy to recognize where you left off, which can be even more important in households with multiple people who are at different points in a season.

Amazon also promises a faster start-up of shows and they deliver on this promise. Based on your previous usage, they pre-cache content, resulting in faster load times. Start times were almost instantaneous. Again, this was specific to Amazon Prime. Load times for shows on Netflix and other content channels did not feel much different.

Functionality aside, it feels fresh, new and what I want from a TV product. This is not only the best you can get for streaming Prime content, it’s one of the best interfaces across the board.

Hey, Look It Can Play Games
Roku was the first to lay stake to games on a streaming media box, but it was half-hearted at best, requiring you use their remote for game play. Amazon seems serious, offering an Xbox-like controller (sold separately for $39.99). Given the incredible demand, the controller we ordered for testing was back-ordered, but you can expect this review to be updated once it ships. There are a handful of compatible games, with more promised. As they’ve done with TV shows, Amazon has a dedicated studio whose sole purpose is to develop games.

The first release is Sev Zero, a shooter that requires the game controller. These games aren’t meant to replace console quality gaming, instead offering a nice add-on for casual gamers. I played a few games, RipTide being one, and wasn’t wowed by the graphics or gameplay. If you’re seeking quick, pick and play gaming, that’s about what you can expect from the Fire TV. I suspect the quality and breadth of compatible games will improve, should Android developers get on board. If they sell a fair amount of these boxes, and I suspect they will, there is a good opportunity for developers and game studios.

Amazon Cloud Drive Works Like Photo Stream
Using the free Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app, you can set it to automatically upload photos and videos from iOS device directly to Amazon’s Cloud Drive. The app comes with 5GB of free storage, the same amount offered by iCloud. Amazon’s storage plans is more affordable than iCloud, by a large margin. For example, Apple charges $20/year for 10GB additional storage. Amazon charges just $10/year. Apple’s 50GB plan (which ends up being 55GB total) is $100 a year compared to just $25/year for 50GB on Amazon’s service.

With the Cloud Drive Photos app, you can set it to upload everything or pick and choose which photos or videos you’d like on the Cloud. Once uploaded, they were easy to access on the Fire.

Third Party Apps
Based on Android, it means that some apps were already available, provided they were compatible with Fire TV. Having a Mac mini HTPC running Plex, I was curious how this performed. The UI was familiar to the desktop app, fast and the Fire TV had no trouble handling large MKV files encoded with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Roku offers a Plex app, which is similarly capable. If you’ve gone through the trouble of setting up Plex (easily worth it), the Amazon Fire TV is the best and most affordable way to extend access throughout your home. If you are looking for cheap, that would be Google’s Chromecast, combined with either an iOS and Android Plex app that can offer playback.

Apple TV vs Amazon Fire TV

Apple has distinct advantages for people who own an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Support for AirPlay makes it dead simple to push photos, videos and other content to your TV in a matter of seconds. iCloud integration means that the last 1,000 photos can be made available and family members can view shared Photo Streams. Additional perks include support for iTunes Match and Home Sharing. Apple also has HBO Go and various Disney channels. You can watch Amazon Instant video using AirPlay.

On the Amazon Fire TV side of the ledger, it brings a super-fast experience with voice search that shines with Amazon content. It doesn’t have HBO Go yet, but does have Showtime Anytime. It supports gaming and thanks to the Xbox-like controller (sold separately), it makes for a solid, inexpensive gaming experience. Supporting third party apps allows apps like Plex.

Roku vs Amazon Fire TV

Roku is open to all content providers. They offer everything, including HBO Go. They partner with M-Go for rentals, but they don’t have a dog in the fight. Apple and Amazon want you to buy/rent content from their stores. Despite advances made by Amazon with voice search, Roku’s universal search is still the best way to seek out content. For iOS users, the Play on Roku option offers AirPlay-like features, but it does not offer the cloud-based storage options offered by Fire TV.

Roku has a larger selection of content, the new Netflix experience and better search. Amazon is better for Prime customers, who won’t miss HBO Go. They also offer better gaming with a dedicated controller and iCloud-like storage options for photos and videos.

To declare any of these boxes a clear winner is near impossible without knowing your viewing habits and ecosystem lock-in.  If you’ve purchased a ton of iTunes movies, make heavy use of AirPlay, it’s hard to argue against the Apple TV. The content and search winner is Roku. The Amazon Fire TV is fast, filled with content and the absolute best option for Amazon Prime subscribers, but it’s far from perfect. Voice search is by far its most impressive feature, so limiting it to content from Amazon is disappointing, as is the lack of the ‘new’ Netflix experience and the omission of HBO Go. Adding support for games adds appeal, but you should not expect console-quality games. In the end, this is an extremely capable set-top box, but one that does not provide for a consistently great end-to-end user experience.

Amazon Fire $99 at Amazon