It's Glowtime!

[Webzcas]

Apple Glowtime that is and if you are wondering in particular what @dunover will be doing in a little over 5 hours, I expect he will be glued to Apple's Youtube Channel !

Today sees the release of the iPhone 16 and its variants, as well as the Apple Watch 10. Plus could we have finally a new iPad Mini launch, as it is due a refresh!

Rumours abound that the M4 Mac Mini could also be launched, which if this is the case, @maxd keep away from this thread!

 

[dunover]

Apple Glowtime that is and if you are wondering in particular what @dunover will be doing in a little over 5 hours, I expect he will be glued to Apple's Youtube Channel !

Today sees the release of the iPhone 16 and its variants, as well as the Apple Watch 10. Plus could we have finally a new iPad Mini launch, as it is due a refresh!

Rumours abound that the M4 Mac Mini could also be launched, which if this is the case, @maxd keep away from this thread!

I can't find the rolleyes emoticon on the menu any more.

It'll keep the crapple fans happy I suppose, as they sit with privates in one hand and debit card in the other later on, as they join the bleating flock to spend 50% of their inflated cost on the product and the other half on the logo...

P.S. Found it in the lower menu.

 

[Webzcas]

 

[Kroffe]

 

[Webzcas]

Don't worry Kroffe, I am sure @dunover will be joining me in this thread at 6pm to comment on the new products

 

[Webzcas]

Less than two hours to go and Apple have taken down the Apple Store. Will come back online after the event, with the new products. Definitely the iPhone 16, plus Apple Watch 10 and Apple Watch Ultra. New airpods are also rumoured...

 

[dunover]

Don't worry Kroffe, I am sure @dunover will be joining me in this thread at 6pm to comment on the new products

See the excitement's getting up outside the crapple store right now....

 

[dunover]

So how are those at the front of the flock getting on now it's 6PM?

Oh, never! The website cannot cope with the smell of sheep dip, or has the wool dust clogged the cooling system up?

Really inspires confidence, but it's probably deliberate so when the thing does work, you'll snap one up for FOMO.......

Remember - when the whole flock's facing one way, the rear end is left unguarded.

 

[Webzcas]

LOL - Dunover the resident Fandroid.

Good takeaways so far. My Series 9 Watch is getting the latest health updates. Different Class - Love my watch.

Also my Airpods Pro 2 come the Fall / Autumn update in iOS will be able to perform clinically verified hearing tests!

 

[Webzcas]

Looking great too on my 5K display

 

[Webzcas]

So in summary, no new products that make me want to upgrade to. My Series 9 Watch does everything I need it to do and more importantly gets the health app benefits Series 10 will get in the next release of Watch OS.

Likewise. The iPhone 16 is another spec bump. Still very happy with my iPhone 13 - besides looks like Apple have ditched Product Red :-(

No Watch in red or phone in red :-(. But the update to iOS for the Airpods Pro 2 - is another big win.

Yep, I love Apple, I am well bought into the ecosystem. From MacOs and WatchOs and health apps.

IMO you get what you pay for

 

[maxd]

… IMO you get what you pay for

Obviously I’m not as invested in the Apple ecosystem as Webzcas but I absolutely agree with that last bit. Can’t remember EVER having had more bang for the buck than this new Mini of mine.

That said I have to add that doing a deep dive into the OS has been what’s brought the real beauty of Apple to light for me. Aside from making nice gear I think that’s where Apple really has it over the competition, their OS is truly a thing of beauty. Well, that and their in-house chips which are pretty amazing tech in themselves.

So yeah, nice gear + superb OS + awesome silicon + exceptional Support (BTW) = a pretty damn good deal IMHO. I think the case for Apple would become progressively weaker as you started scratching some of those off your wishlist.

- Max

 

[The Dude]

I'm still used to the 20th century. I really don't see the need in buying another contraption that I'm always charging up that can tell me the weather (look outside!), search for things to buy, take more photos that no one will see, or that can give the government (or anyone that can hack Google, etc.) details of my every waking moments. Addiction by design. LOL

 

[justdoit]

Samsung has better offer, I got Samsung S24 for £799 and free Chromebook worth about £300

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[justdoit]

I'm still used to the 20th century. I really don't see the need in buying another contraption that I'm always charging up that can tell me the weather (look outside!), search for things to buy, take more photos that no one will see, or that can give the government (or anyone that can hack Google, etc.) details of my every waking moments. Addiction by design. LOL

dont tell me you still use Commodore 64

 

[maxd]

I'm still used to the 20th century. I really don't see the need in buying another contraption ...

Yeah, I don’t see myself doing the watch, pods, space-glasses thing. Love my iPhone, love my Mini computer, they work very well together and are probably all I need or want. Until my trusty cheapo Asus monitor dies that is, then a VERY difficult decision will have to be made.

- Max

 

[Webzcas]

I'm still used to the 20th century. I really don't see the need in buying another contraption that I'm always charging up that can tell me the weather (look outside!), search for things to buy, take more photos that no one will see, or that can give the government (or anyone that can hack Google, etc.) details of my every waking moments. Addiction by design. LOL

You best migrate to Apple then as they take privacy seriously. If you watched the event yesterday, of which a large chunk concerned the forthcoming Apple Intelligence, you would realise that any interaction with Apple Intelligence would be encrypted and not stored in the cloud and accessible to all and sundry. Further proving Apple's commitment to end user privacy.

A case in point

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Also, one of my cousins passed away last year. He had an M2 MacBook Pro, an iPhone 14 and an Apple Watch Ultra.

The phone and Watch were linked to his Apple ID.

His brother at the end of last week has only now managed to get Apple to remove the Apple ID lock from the phone. The Watch is still locked to his brother's Apple ID. Basically it is an expensive paper weight.

My cousin has probably spent over 40 hours on the phone and in store at the Genius Bar all told, trying to get both devices unlocked to this point. Even though he has the sales receipts for the devices and finally received the full Death Certificate a few months back.

Another good selling point of Apple Products, if your devices are stolen and you have them linked to your Apple ID, they are rendered next to useless to the person who stole them. Plus you can send a signal to them to remotely format them and remove all your personal data, should the person who steals them powers them up and connects them to the internet.

 

[Webzcas]

Samsung has better offer, I got Samsung S24 for £799 and free Chromebook worth about £300

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View attachment 200747

That is a great offer and whilst I recognise Samsung make great phones with exceptional cameras, I just cannot get on with Android. I tried for two years after I upgraded from my smashed to bits iPhone 3gs ( First iPhone I ever had ) and I hated the Android OS - Was very relieved at the end of my 2 year contract and migrated back to iOS and the iPhone5 ( Which I still have )

 

[dunover]

dont tell me you still use Commodore 64

Pssst.. keep it quiet, I still have a C64 in the garage. But my everyday device is the unrivalled Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

I still use my S20 Ultra I paid about 1k 3 or 4 years ago, brilliant camera etc. runs all the Windows stuff and they had transference well before crapple did (*where you simply load your old phone seamlessly on to the new one) the only frippery was a special case linked to the phone which has a digital LED dot matrix display on the outside when closed, tells you the time, message status and calls etc.

Oh, and it doesn't end up like a banana if you have it in your back pocket then forget and sit down.

 

[Webzcas]

@dunover do you still have your ZX Spectrum??? Is it the original 48k rubber keyed version?

 

[Webzcas]

I have a Spectrum Emulator

 

[dunover]

@dunover do you still have your ZX Spectrum??? Is it the original 48k rubber keyed version?

I had the ZX 80 as a kid about 13, when it first came out, 16kb lol little white thing with touchpad keys like a modern microwave say has. Paid £15 for it at the time to one of my *ahem* less than scrupulous friends. That went in the garage when I got the Spectrum, a black/grey design 48kb with cassette loading etc. I loved it, the old primitive games that ran out when you got to the end and just stuck in a loop.

My dad in the air force worked in computers so got a C64 with cassette loading, and I don't know if this was a bit *naughty* but he brought games home, one day he gave me a tape with a programme called 'Turbo' on it - if you loaded this (took about 2 minutes) the games on cassettes would then load in about 1-2 minutes afterwards themselves and be ready, as opposed to the usual 8-15 minutes without Turbo. I mentioned this on some chat 15 years later and the people on there were very intrigued and hadn't heard of the Turbo so I reckon it was something developed in the MoD to accelerate tape loading, they couldn't believe I could load up say Turrican or Falcon or Raid Over Moscow in 3-4 minutes.

I do recall now not being allowed to take the Turbo tape out of the house. I remember when he brought home a little white calculator with red LED display, another Sinclair, back when I was at primary school in 1974-5 and I thought this was amazing, played with it for hours.

I have the C64 and cables, sadly when I helped clear his garage out last year after he passed, only the 64 was left, the ZX 80 I remember he chucked back in the 1990's and the Spectrum ZX81 too had gone. It was the one with grey rubber keys.

 

[dunover]

10 "print:wanker"
20 "goto10"

 

[Webzcas]

This is coming out in November!! So want it for Christmas!! My first computer was the 48K ZX Spectrum which I got for Christmas 83. I then migrated to the Spectrum +2 ( The first Amstrad designed Spectrum ), then the Amiga A500 in 88.

 

[justdoit]

This is coming out in November!! So want it for Christmas!! My first computer was the 48K ZX Spectrum which I got for Christmas 83. I then migrated to the Spectrum +2 ( The first Amstrad designed Spectrum ), then the Amiga A500 in 88.

is Amstad made in UK by Alan Sugar?

 

[Webzcas]

is Amstad made in UK by Alan Sugar?

Amstrad was Alan Sugar's company which he started in 1968. Known for selling cheap hi fi's and later moving into the personal computer market. Ended up manufacturing satellite television boxes for Sky in the late 80's.

Amstrad bought Sinclair Research in 1985 after Clive Sinclair blew all their money on his wacky C5 vehicle.

 

[justdoit]

That is a great offer and whilst I recognise Samsung make great phones with exceptional cameras, I just cannot get on with Android. I tried for two years after I upgraded from my smashed to bits iPhone 3gs ( First iPhone I ever had ) and I hated the Android OS - Was very relieved at the end of my 2 year contract and migrated back to iOS and the iPhone5 ( Which I still have )

I dont like iphone batter they dont last long,I thing Samsung is much better phone, my first phone was nokia banana, only worked by tv you move it no signal

 

[Webzcas]

This was my first phone, a Nortel Handset with an aerial that came out LOL

 

[ternur]

Another uninspiring event in the garden of planned obsolescence from apple.

Tech today is in a sad state.

 

[dunover]

I dont like iphone batter they dont last long,I thing Samsung is much better phone, my first phone was nokia banana, only worked by tv you move it no signal
View attachment 200749

LOL, pretty much the shape of a crapple iPhone after being in your pocket too long.

 

[Webzcas]

LOL, pretty much the shape of a crapple iPhone after being in your pocket too long.

Have you got a grand derrière per chance

 

[goatwack]

This is coming out in November!! So want it for Christmas!! My first computer was the 48K ZX Spectrum which I got for Christmas 83. I then migrated to the Spectrum +2 ( The first Amstrad designed Spectrum ), then the Amiga A500 in 88.

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Now that's something I can get behind - physical emulation curios have been popular in the last decade or so, notably with the 'miniaturized' consoles, of which I've acquired the NES, SNES, Megadrive, NeoGeo etc.

One of those was the C64 Mini of course, and so talk of the rubber-keyed Spectrum was rife for a while now.
Definitely worth getting, albeit more for collecting purposes if already using an emulator. Or buy a couple, as these things appreciate in value like crazy, i.e the SNES mini - it's gone from its RRP of £70 to around £250+!

The most important lesson here is to just not use the Spectrum when you buy it, let alone unbox it. Control your nostalgic impulses at all costs!

 

[Webzcas]

I have the SNES mini!! I'd be happy to sell that, didn't keep the box though. :-(

Just gutted I passed on my 48k Spectrum and sold my +2.

I also agree with keeping the boxes nowadays. It drives my wife nuts. But all my Apple Products since the iPhone 8, I have kept the boxes. For example the box for my 2020 27' iMac go for around £50 on their own.

Also when reselling a product, if it comes with the original box and packaging which are kept in good condition, it certainly adds value!

 

[goatwack]

Always keep the box of an expensive tech item or even just as a general rule, as tech can yield the strangest collector's pieces, even when using said item.

Say with any older consoles or home computers/ games, you'll find preserving the condition of the goddam box to be more important than the defunct item, often commanding more than the tech itself.

Maybe not so much with every assortment of mobile phone or bootleg computer wizardy, but most certainly with anything of relative quality or reputation

 

[ternur]

anything of relative quality or reputation

So no apple products then?

But I agree, keep your boxes people. It's the preferred waste management method. The kids these days might even call it a trash META.

no

 

[dunover]

Have you got a grand derrière per chance

I meant my front pocket.

 

[goatwack]

So no apple products then?

But I agree, keep your boxes people. It's the preferred waste management method. The kids these days might even call it a trash META.

View attachment 200752
no

For the most part, Apple products in of themselves are stylish, well-made and nice pieces of tech. I've owned an Apple product - actually, make that two - and I enjoyed the year and a bit they both lasted!

Problem isn't the company itself, they've achieved the turnaround they sought in the mid-90s to now become market leader and iconic brand. It's more the hypnotized cult they've purposely created whereby they could release i-fart-in-a-bath and their devotees would trample each other to death in pursuit of getting that delicious Apple clout!

Other problem of course being that Apple aren't the be-all and end-all to stylistic dominance over its rivals they once were, when PCs looked liked paving slabs. So in that sense, there's so much consumer choice now that yes, when thinking of Apple one thinks prestige, yet also somewhat overpriced and perhaps even overhyped. Each to their own I guess

 

[satchnz]

The ZX Spectrum is the goat of 8 bit home computing. I grew up with one in NZ and went through many keyboard membranes from mashing those rubber keys while playing Daley Thompson’s Decathlon.

I had 300+ games in my collection, and only one or two of those were originals (probably came with the Spectrum when my parents purchased it for me). I was able to remove the copy protection from games thanks to an interface I owned. I even worked out how to convert games to “hyperload” saving loading time via tape!

I’ve got an emulator on my slots PC with tons of Spectrum, PSX, and arcade games on it but it just isn’t the same.

Bringing it back on topic…nothing announced yesterday attracted my attention. My Ultra 2 remains current, as do my AirPods Pro 2 (although I don’t use them much and they don’t sound as good as my Sony wireless earbuds did). My 13 Pro still does everything I need. I did upgrade to the M4 iPad earlier this year and that will last me for years to come. The only things I truly feel anre unmatched by any other manufacturer are my Apple TVs. They are literally the best streaming device out there (although the software is a little too locked down for my liking). Never had a Mac, and having growing up on DOS/Windows PCs, I’d never switch.

FFS I’m more of a fanboy than I realised. How embarrassing…lol

 

[dunover]

For the most part, Apple products in of themselves are stylish, well-made and nice pieces of tech. I've owned an Apple product - actually, make that two - and I enjoyed the year and a bit they both lasted!

Problem isn't the company itself, they've achieved the turnaround they sought in the mid-90s to now become market leader and iconic brand. It's more the hypnotized cult they've purposely created whereby they could release i-fart-in-a-bath and their devotees would trample each other to death in pursuit of getting that delicious Apple clout!

Other problem of course being that Apple aren't the be-all and end-all to stylistic dominance over its rivals they once were, when PCs looked liked paving slabs. So in that sense, there's so much consumer choice now that yes, when thinking of Apple one thinks prestige, yet also somewhat overpriced and perhaps even overhyped. Each to their own I guess

crapple are the equivalent of Nike trainers - equivalence or better is available much cheaper via alternative brands. OK, a bit unfair as Nike trainers are pretty much the worst quality of any 'big' brand and crapple aren't the worst tech of the big brands. But both charge excessively for the manufactured prestige of the badge.

Can't beat my 20+ year old still-functioning flip phone:

 

[satchnz]

For the most part, Apple products in of themselves are stylish, well-made and nice pieces of tech. I've owned an Apple product - actually, make that two - and I enjoyed the year and a bit they both lasted!

Problem isn't the company itself, they've achieved the turnaround they sought in the mid-90s to now become market leader and iconic brand. It's more the hypnotized cult they've purposely created whereby they could release i-fart-in-a-bath and their devotees would trample each other to death in pursuit of getting that delicious Apple clout!

Other problem of course being that Apple aren't the be-all and end-all to stylistic dominance over its rivals they once were, when PCs looked liked paving slabs. So in that sense, there's so much consumer choice now that yes, when thinking of Apple one thinks prestige, yet also somewhat overpriced and perhaps even overhyped. Each to their own I guess

Although the Apple bashing and “Android is better than iOS” debates are just as dorky as the Apple fanboyism, I have to agree with your post Goaty. Some people take the Apple devotion way too far!

BTW, did you catch the release date for the iFart-in-a-bath? Might be worth lining up outside the Apple Store the night before release day

 

[Webzcas]

crapple are the equivalent of Nike trainers - equivalence or better is available much cheaper via alternative brands. OK, a bit unfair as Nike trainers are pretty much the worst quality of any 'big' brand and crapple aren't the worst tech of the big brands. But both charge excessively for the manufactured prestige of the badge.

Can't beat my 20+ year old still-functioning flip phone:

I get the 'Apple Cult' that @goatwack references. But just from my experience, the Apple products I have, have lasted, helped my workflow and also helped improve my fitness.

Unfortunately @dunover, you are as bad as the Apple Sheep that you reference. Haters gotta Hate I guess

 

[Webzcas]

Oh and don't diss Nike. I have Nike gym shorts and a Nike T-Shirt ;-)

Along with Adidas, Under Armour and Reebok trainers

 

[justdoit]

View attachment 200757

I get the 'Apple Cult' that @goatwack references. But just from my experience, the Apple products I have, have lasted, helped my workflow and also helped improve my fitness.

Unfortunately @dunover, you are as bad as the Apple Sheep that you reference. Haters gotta Hate I guess

 

[mack341]

Ah the Sinclair spectrum, that's given me a big dose of nostalgia. Gaming wise what they achieved with it should make current game developers blush.

Reading the wiki they were manufactured by the timex factory in Dundee, which to me is another cool aspect.

In today's money the 48k model would be around £800! Makes you realise what Apple must be raking in worldwide, given their following. But to me feels all a bit bland and predictable compared to yesteryear, though if Sinclair had followed their strategy we'd be on the zx spectrum 580000 by now!

I wish I could remember all the names of the games, the variety and creativity of which was staggering really.

Arcade conversions was probably a weaker area, though remember loving 'renegade' (which I kicked some serious arse on) word soon got around re my acquisition of said game, had friends queuing up to borrow that off me!

 

[satchnz]

Ah the Sinclair spectrum, that's given me a big dose of nostalgia. Gaming wise what they achieved with it should make current game developers blush.

I couldn’t agree more. The playability of games on a system with such limitations is staggering compared to today’s fodder.

I wish I could remember all the names of the games, the variety and creativity of which was staggering really.

Have a poke (pun intended) around this site for some speccy nostalgia

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[justdoit]

 

[Webzcas]

I couldn’t agree more. The playability of games on a system with such limitations is staggering compared to today’s fodder.


Have a poke (pun intended) around this site for some speccy nostalgia

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Ah the Sinclair spectrum, that's given me a big dose of nostalgia. Gaming wise what they achieved with it should make current game developers blush.

Reading the wiki they were manufactured by the timex factory in Dundee, which to me is another cool aspect.

In today's money the 48k model would be around £800! Makes you realise what Apple must be raking in worldwide, given their following. But to me feels all a bit bland and predictable compared to yesteryear, though if Sinclair had followed their strategy we'd be on the zx spectrum 580000 by now!

I wish I could remember all the names of the games, the variety and creativity of which was staggering really.

Arcade conversions was probably a weaker area, though remember loving 'renegade' (which I kicked some serious arse on) word soon got around re my acquisition of said game, had friends queuing up to borrow that off me!

Loved the Spectrum, my first ever computer. Not the first ever gaming machine. We had one of those Grandstand paddle games that plugged into the tv, which you could play bat and ball on. Then upgraded to the Atari 2600 cartridge console.

But the Spectrum was amazing. A friend had a ZX81 before the Spectrum was released and I was well envious. Flight Simulator in Black and White on a 1kb machine - The size of my post is a lot bigger than that LOLOL.

The Spectrum in its own right is half responsible for the successful IT industry that grew in the UK.

 

[Webzcas]

Great review. For me the 16 is a meh upgrade. More than happy with my 13. Apple like with the launch of Apple Silicon, really undid themselves with the launch of the iPhone 12.

Anyone who owns a 12 or above does not need to upgrade. Wow they all get Dynamic Island from 14 pro onwards. So what LOL.

The 16 is all geared around Apple Intelligence, yet that hasn't even been launched yet.

If it takes off when it does launch and the development of it is very quick and good enough to catch up with the likes of Google. Then, maybe worth an upgrade.

Until then, my 13 is well good enough for my needs. I mean I can record video content in 4K and it does a bloody good job at that, if I say so myself. See here which was filmed on my iPhone 13 and edited on my iMac and also M2 Pro Macbook Pro.

 

[goatwack]

Because of their fairly minimalist stylings and brand emblem it'd be actually quite needless to own their latest releases anyway, given the negligible upgrades in-between models.

As mentioned, you'd not find any revelatory differences between say the 13 and 15, yet their Appolytes' fear of missing out is hardwired at this point.

Forget Apple Intelligence (though by all accounts it's coming along nicely and is scarily almost sentient-like), far more impressive would be if they created Apple Consumer Intelligence. Now that'd be something!

 

[satchnz]

Because of their fairly minimalist stylings and brand emblem it'd be actually quite needless to own their latest releases anyway, given the negligible upgrades in-between models.

As mentioned, you'd not find any revelatory differences between say the 13 and 15, yet their Appolytes' fear of missing out is hardwired at this point.

Forget Apple Intelligence (though by all accounts it's coming along nicely and is scarily almost sentient-like), far more impressive would be if they created Apple Consumer Intelligence. Now that'd be something!

Don’t you know anything?? The camera alignment on the non pro 16 model is different. A fanboy will notice that in a second, and you’ll get ridiculed!