iPhone 6 Plus

472 'iPhone 6 Plus' stories September 2014 - October 2014

The iPhone 6 Plus ($299 and up from the Apple Store) is Apple’s flagship phone, and one of its most popular products, period. Equipped with a 5.5″ Retina HD display, the iPhone 6 Plus boasts full 1080p HD resolution (1920 x 1080) at 401 PPI, the sharpest-looking screen on any Apple device. It’s also color-accurate, with a full sRGB color gamut and a wider viewing angle than prior screens. Three capacities (16/64/128GB) and three colors (gold/silver/space gray) are available.

Due to its larger screen, the iPhone 6 Plus has the ability to display the Home screen in landscape mode for the first time. It also has the best virtual keyboard yet offered in an iPhone, making accurate typing a lot easier for people with larger hands. Video viewing is dramatically better than older iPhones, as well.

Apple has upgraded the 6 Plus with a second-generation 64-bit A8 chip, delivering 25% faster CPU performance and up to 50% faster graphics than the iPhone 5s. Despite the superior processing and thinner body, 6 Plus blows away other iPhones in battery life, typically running for at least a full day without requiring a recharge. iPhone 6 Plus includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, Voice over LTE with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others abroad, and Wi-Fi calling using T-Mobile in the US. It also has a Touch ID sensor with full support for secure Apple Pay transactions, both in retail stores and online.

The 8MP iSight camera has been improved. Although the 1.5µ pixels and ƒ/2.2 aperture aren’t hugely different from before, there’s an all-new sensor that improves focus, face detection, and image stabilization. The iPhone 6 Plus also includes an “optical image stabilization” feature that isn’t present on the iPhone 6. Video can be recorded in 1080p at 30 or 60fps, with slo-mo video at 120 or 240 fps. Small hardware improvements to the front-facing camera come from a new sensor and a larger ƒ/2.2 aperture, as well as H.265 video support for much smoother FaceTime calls.

Even with a big screen and improved hardware, the iPhone 6 Plus measures only 7.1mm thick, versus the iPhone 5s’s 7.5mm. The only question is whether it will fit in your pocket or purse. If it will, go with the Plus, which is our top iPhone pick.

Digitimes says iPhone 6 Plus accounting for 60% of iPhone 6 shipments, but usage stats suggest otherwise

Benjamin Mayo Oct 3 2014 - 3:16 am PT

25 Comments

A new report by Digitimes says that, contrary to public opinion, the iPhone 6 Plus is receiving more orders after beating initial demand expectations. The report says 60% of iPhone production is iPhone 6 Plus units, which may be interpreted as the iPhone 6 Plus being the more popular model. It also says that Foxconn is responsible for iPhone 6 Plus supply, whereas Pegatron is taking up iPhone 6 output.

However, Digitimes doesn’t have the best track record and this information sort of defies other evidence. Firstly, it is important to note that production does not correlate proportionally to demand. It was well publicised that the iPhone 6 Plus was supply-constrained in the runup to release. The burst of iPhone 6 Plus production now may simply be restoring the balance, clearing the backlog of orders.

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2 million reservations in 6 hours: China shows strong early demand for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Benjamin Mayo Oct 2 2014 - 3:32 am PT

2 Comments

According to AppleInsider, Chinese carriers have recorded more than 2 million reservations of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the first six hours of opening. Although official preorders start on October 10th, carriers are already offering presale signups.

By contrast, Apple announced preorders of 5 million units across a 24 hour period for nine countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Although reservations don’t translate directly into formal orders, it is still a good showing and a great indicator that Chinese iPhone sales will continue to boost Apple’s bottom line.

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Pioneer finally brings CarPlay equipment to mass market, Spotify app update adds CarPlay support

Benjamin Mayo Oct 2 2014 - 2:23 am PT

12 Comments

The CarPlay situation has been murky. Since being announced in the spring, most manufacturers have been quiet on when CarPlay equipment will actually be available to purchase. Pioneer is the first company to deliver on its promise, adding CarPlay as an update to its aftermarket dashboard panels (unless you count Ferrari’s integration into its high-end Ferrari California T).

Existing Pioneer device owners may not need to purchase any extras, as the CarPlay update is free for supported devices. Aforementioned units include the AVIC-8000NEX, AVIC-7000NEX, AVIC-6000NEX, AVIC-5000NEX and the AVH-4000NEX with prices ranging from $700 to $1400.

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Review: Kenu Airframe+ car mount for iPhone 6 Plus

Zac Hall Oct 1 2014 - 9:49 am PT

44 Comments

One of the problems the new iPhone 6 models present is where to put it when you’re in the car. You may not want to keep it in your pocket for obvious reasons, especially the iPhone 6 Plus, and the new models are larger and slipperier than ever. Keeping it in the seat next to you probably means it’ll end up on the floor. With the larger displays and new features introduced with iOS 8, using a car mount is more useful than ever. I’ve been trying out Kenu’s Airframe+, which supports even the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus (with a case too), and I’ve found using a car mount offers up a number of benefits.
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The iPhone 5c was the best selling phone in UK, before iPhone 6 debut

Benjamin Mayo Oct 1 2014 - 5:40 am PT

21 Comments

The iPhone 5c is often criticised in light of its beefy powerful cousins, acting as a bit of a laughing stock for the technology industry. However, it is often reported as one of the top phones by sales volume in many countries (usually beating out Samsung’s offerings).

In fact, for August the iPhone 5c was the best selling smartphone in the UK, even outselling the iPhone 5s, according to Kantar World Panel.

The iPhone 5c was the best selling phone in Britain in August with 8.9% share, outselling the flagship iPhone 5s with 7.6% and the Samsung Galaxy S5 with 6.0%.

Normally, Apple phone sales drop in the runup to the next-generation devices, as customers hold off on iPhone purchases until the new versions are announced. However, Kantar says that the success of the iPhone 5c meant that Apple’s decline was much lower than in previous years.

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Add a real thermal heat-seeking camera to your iPhone for $199

Benjamin Mayo Oct 1 2014 - 2:55 am PT

2 Comments

Go beyond Photo Booth’s fake ‘Thermal’ filter with this iPhone accessory by Seek Thermal. The company now sells a real thermal imaging camera attachment for $199 on its website. The gadget plugs in using a Lightning port, so it works with any iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus you may have lying around.

The product will also work with Lightning-equipped iPads, but the company says the accessory is not optimized for iPads, which probably means be prepared for some wiggling.

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Siri changes in iOS beta provide further evidence of Apple Pay coming in version 8.1

Mike Beasley Sep 30 2014 - 4:35 pm PT

2 Comments

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users will soon be able to use Siri to access credit cards stored in the Passbook app, if the beta version of iOS 8.1 is any indicator. We’ve already seen the Apple Pay privacy statement and other asssets pointing to this release being the one that enables the payment system next month, but now there’s even more proof.

Starting with version 8.1, if you ask Siri to show a credit card, the phone will bring up Passbook. Currently the app lacks the ability to add credit cards, but Apple has previously confirmed that this will be the application to manage Apple Pay cards. iOS 8.0 included an updated icon with a credit card glyph despite the fact that the functionality was not yet available.

Apple is currently developing iOS 8.2 and 8.3 alongside version 8.1.

Thanks for the tip, @Lakewoodr.

Opinion: Why the iPhone 6 bends and why it wouldn’t be an issue if Apple addressed it properly

Dom Esposito Sep 30 2014 - 8:55 am PT

335 Comments

Last week, #BendGate took the Internet by storm. I’m sure you’re all familiar with it by now, but if not, BendGate was created from an alleged bending issue with Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus. There’s a specific weak point on the inside of the chassis right beneath the volume buttons that allows it to bend very easily with pressure added in the right place. To most, it may seem like a non-issue, but a single video sparked one of the biggest viral moments this year in tech…
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Europe’s best-selling computer magazine Bild gets Apple PR accreditation revoked after #bendgate video

Ben Lovejoy Sep 30 2014 - 6:08 am PT

99 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-DcUASffHU]

Computer Bild, Europe’s best-selling computer magazine, has had its PR accreditation pulled after posting a video of one of its journalists bending an iPhone 6 Plus.

The german PR department of the company reacts in a disturbing way: Instead of answering the questions about why the iPhone 6 Plus is so sensitive, a manager called Computer Bild and told us, that Computer Bild will not get any testing devices and no invites to official events any more …

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iPhone 6 finally approved for sale in China following regulatory hangups (U: Pre-orders start Oct. 10, available Oct. 17)

Mike Beasley Sep 29 2014 - 7:51 pm PT

5 Comments

Earlier this month it was discovered that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus would be delayed in China due to regulatory hold ups when Chinese authorities decided that they were not pleased with the current state of security on iOS. According to Bloomberg, Apple has cleared the last hurdle and received the licenses necessary to run the device on Chinese cellular networks.

Apple reportedly agreed to make undisclosed changes to the privacy settings on the device to appease the regulators. Yesterday we reported that Apple was apparently preparing for a Chinese launch on October 10th, but that date has not yet been confirmed. Update: Apple has announced through a press release that the phones will be available for sale in China on October 17th with pre-orders starting on the 10th.

Apple also released a beta version of iOS 8.1 today, which may or may not include the updated privacy settings necessary to get approval from the Chinese government.

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Kindle & Facebook Messenger updated for iPhone 6 support

Zac Hall Sep 29 2014 - 11:57 am PT

4 Comments

The list of updated apps for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is still somewhat small since developers only learned of the new iPhone display resolutions earlier this month. The Kindle iPhone app from Amazon is joining that short list today, though, with a new version optimized for the iPhone 6.

That means that like iBooks, text you read in Kindle’s iPhone app won’t be fuzzy or scaled up. If you prefer the zoomed up version, however, iPhone 6 users do have that option to make every app larger using the Display Zoom feature found in the accessibilities section of the Settings app on iOS.

Kindle’s previous added a handy widget in Notification Center’s Today view for quickly accessing books you’re reading. Kindle for iOS is available for free on the App Store.

Facebook Messenger has also been updated for the new iPhone models. Notably, the chat app has beat the primary app for the social network in updating for the new iPhones.

Apple seemingly preparing for China iPhone 6 launch on October 10th

Benjamin Mayo Sep 28 2014 - 8:35 am PT

8 Comments

A supposed screenshot of a notice (via TechWeb) sent to Apple retail employees suggests that Apple is readying a China iPhone 6 (and 6 Plus) launch for October 10th. As stated on the Chinese site (translated):

It is important that the person broke new iPhone prototype store shelves will be put on Oct. 7, and should be officially on sale in October 10. A few days ago the Ministry of Industry Minister Miao Wei once said in an interview, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has entered the final stage of the audit, which means the phones will soon be landing in mainland China.

This is shortly after China’s national week-long holiday. Independently, the Chinese press have also reported the same October 10th date for the iPhone 6 debut. Last week, regulators stated that the phone was nearing final approval, causing black market iPhone 6 prices to plummet.

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Consumer Reports puts ‘bendgate’ to bed, finds iPhone 6 easier to bend than Plus model

Mike Beasley Sep 26 2014 - 6:41 pm PT

116 Comments

Consumer Reports released a new video today taking on claims of overly-flexible iPhones that have appeared online recently. Apple noted that only a handful of complaints have come in and gave journalists a look at its testing procedures. Regardless of Cupertino’s claims, Consumer Reports kept its promise to conduct testing that was a bit more scientific in nature than previous YouTube videos.

To address these claims, several different phones were tested under up to 150 pounds of pressure to see when each model would stop “snapping back” to its original shape. The devices tested were the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and LG G3.

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Review: Worried about iPhone 6/6 Plus bending in your pocket? This might be the perfect case for you

Jordan Kahn Sep 26 2014 - 12:48 pm PT

25 Comments

LD-West-Holser-01

This holster case from Toronto-based LD West seems completely ridiculous at first glance, but it starts to make a lot more sense when you realize your oversized iPhone 6 or 6 Plus might no longer fit in your pants pocket. Strapping my phone to my side with what looks like an over-the-shoulder gun holster doesn’t exactly vibe with my usually minimalistic approach to iPhone cases. But it turns out the product is much more than just the gimmick I thought it was.
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9to5Toys Last Call: iOttie iPhone 6 car mount $18, Anker 15000mAh power bank $33, iMac up to $220 off w/ .edu, more

Sep 26 2014 - 9:01 am PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

polaroid-cube-lifestyle-cam-preorder-01

Polaroid’s Cube action camera is just over 1 cubic inch, shoots 1080p, and is less than $100
Fashion: Amazon fall styles 20% off, Timbuk2 charging backpack $76 , more
Anker Portable Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker $33 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)
Multi yr magazine subs from $3.50/yr: Maxim, Wired, GQ, Rolling Stone, many more
Home: Nespresso Pixie espresso maker $100 (orig. $220), Philips Saeco auto espresso maker $350 (orig. $1500), more

iottie-easy-one-touch-2-iphone-mount

iOttie Easy One Touch 2 smartphone car mount (works w/ iPhone 6/6 Plus): $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

anker-astro-e5-power-bank Anker Astro 15000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger $33 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)

apple-mac-imac-computer-2014

iMac current gen. lineup $120 off or $220 off w/ .edu email, 21-inch as low as $880 shipped (Reg. 1,099)

belkin-metallic-lightning-cable

Roundup: the best ultra tough Lightning cables for your new iPhone 6/6 Plus

Small States: The jamstik wireless MIDI guitar controller for iPad, iPhone and Mac, $560 worth of giveaways

Other new deals:

Versio Mobile 3.4A 12W MFI Apple Certified Lightning Car Charger with USB Port: $17 shippedhttps://t.co/VIkOeu5wC5 pic.twitter.com/HmPL1mHtGG

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) September 26, 2014

New! Sony 725W 5.2 channel 4K A/V Receiver (refurb) $185 shipped (Reg. $279)
New! Sennheiser HD over-ears 439 $42, MEElectronics Air-Fi wireless $40, more
New! 25% off 3 accessories at AT&T store: Apple, Beats, JBL, Jambox and more
New! Games/Apps: City Maps 2Go Pro free, Minecraft Explorer Pro 50% off, more
New! GRID 2 Reloaded Edition is now available on Mac
New! Daily Deals: Westinghouse 55″ HDTV $380, Scosche Bluetooth speaker $25, more

Netgear Dual Band AC 1200 Gigabit Wireless Router $60 shipped (orig. $205) http://t.co/3TabzGMpO0

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) September 26, 2014

More deals still alive:

ZyXEL pocket-sized $15 (orig. $40), TRENDnet wireless AC $24 (orig. $60), more
Logitech Ultimate Ears 500vm Noise Isolating Headset w/ Mic & Controls $14 (Reg. $30+)
Over $135 worth of Android apps for free: OfficeSuite Pro 7, SketchBook Pro, much more
13.3-inch MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (newest version) $1,300 w/.edu ($199 off)
LifeProof nüüd case for iPad Air $68 shipped (Reg. $130)
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for Apple iPad Air (refurb) $30 shipped (Reg. $100)
Sennheiser Momentum over-ear headphones (brown) $180 (orig. $380)
Media: John Wayne 38-disc DVD collection $69, Ariana Grande free album, more
Laptop backpacks 20% off (Ogio, SwissGear, more)
Staples $10 off purchases of $40 or more: Amazon Fire TV $74, more
Timbuk2 Ripstop Aviator wheeled travel bag $100 shipped (orig. $259), more
Dyson blade-less AM06 fan $180 (orig. $300), AM07 tower fan $280 (orig. $400)
Virgin Mobile LG Optimus F3 4G No-Contract Cell Phone $40 shipped (Orig. $180)

More iPhone 6/6 Plus deals, accessories, and trade offers:

Faster 2.1A chargers/batteries, more for iPhone 6/Plus quick charging (roundup)
$5 off $20 iPhone 6 accessories at eBay – chargers, cases, car mounts, more
Apple isn’t making an iPhone 6/6 Plus dock, here are your best options
Couldn’t score a 128GB iPhone? Add storage to any iPhone w/ a wireless drive
Best iPhone 6/6 Plus plan in US? T-Mobile unlmtd.100 mins talk: $30/month
ZAGG 20% off sitewide coupon: iPhone 6/6 Plus protection from $12 shipped, more
Should you protect your new iPhone 6/6 Plus with AppleCare+ or SquareTrade?
AT&T announces iPhone 6 trade-in promo, includes $200 min. for iPhone 4/4s
Walmart to offer $20 or greater discount on 16GB iPhone 6/6 Plus + $15 gift card
Upgrade your iPhone 4 (or newer) to a Verizon iPhone 6 for free w/ 2-yr contract
Radio Shack looks to attract iPhone 6 buyers with free $50 iTunes gift cards

New products/ongoing promos:

Haven smartlock can stop a battering ram and will integrate with Apple HomeKit
Apple Store offers 11.6″ MacBook Air (2012 model refurb) w/ 1-year warranty: $599
IK Multimedia intros its new iRig Pads portable MIDI controller for iOS and Mac/PC
Refurbished 2013 Mac Pro models now on Apple online store at 15% discount
Gameloft’s new 80’s inspired Asphalt Overdrive lane racer now availble
Dragon Dictate for Mac 4 (digital download) $100 (Reg. $200)
Karma’s pay-as-you-go mobile hotspot offers nationwide LTE, pre-orders $50 off
Wink’s new touchscreen controller brings added convenience to home automation
Tintag Bluetooth item tracker takes aim at Tile’s biggest shortcoming
Corsair’s new gaming keyboards and mice, PS TV will have 700 games on launch day
New iOS 8 app bundles offer popular apps/games at discounted prices
VIZIO “future proofs” your living room with its P-Series 4K HDTVs

Conan O’Brien joins in on the bent iPhone 6 ribbing (Video)

Mark Hearn Sep 26 2014 - 7:31 am PT

14 Comments

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHEmO-kRCSs?feature=player_detailpage]

Apple’s new iPhones have sold quite well, but their launch hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. From hardware issues to botched software, the Cupertino-based software giant has had a lot on its plate over the past few days and of course critics have been quite vocal about the company’s recent challenges. Recently, late night TV funny man Conan O’Brien joined in on the Apple ribbing by putting together a bogus Samsung ad that offers a solution to troubled iPhone owners.

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How much does it cost to charge the iPhone 6 for a year? Less than you might think

Mike Beasley Sep 25 2014 - 7:22 pm PT

9 Comments

via Opower

Some new numbers from the Opower blog have revealed how much you can expect to spend when charging your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. At average U.S. energy prices, the cost comes in at a mere $.47 per year for the smaller 4.7-inch device. The 5.5-inch model will run a little extra due to its larger battery, coming in at just over half a dollar for a total of $.52 per year on average. As you might expect, this year’s larger devices will cost a little more than the smaller iPhone 5, which cost only $.41 per year.

According to the blog, adding up the energy used by each of the 10 million units sold over opening weekend would come out to less power than the entire state of Nebraska uses in 12 hours. By comparison, a typical desktop computer uses about 41x the power of an iPhone 6, while Microsoft’s Xbox One console uses has much as 61x as much energy.

As was pointed out last week, while charging your device may be fairly inexpensive, it can cost you a lot of unnecessary time if you’re using the charger that ships with it.

You can find more facts and figures about the new iPhone’s power consumption over at the Opower blog.

The quality assurance manager responsible for iOS 8.0.1 also oversaw—you guessed it—Apple Maps

Mike Beasley Sep 25 2014 - 4:54 pm PT

71 Comments

Bloomberg has uncovered details of what went wrong at Apple and who is to blame for the botched release of the iOS 8.0.1 update yesterday, citing sources who point to a quality assurance manager in charge of overseeing iOS updates who also managed QA for the Apple Maps project before its launch. To quote Bloomberg:

The same person at Apple was in charge of catching problems before both products were released. [redacted], the mid-level manager overseeing quality assurance for Apple’s iOS mobile-software group, was also in charge of quality control for maps, according to people familiar with Apple’s management structure.

According to the report, this was also the individual responsible for hunting down any crucial bugs in the iOS 6 Maps software, which debuted to a chorus of negative reviews and bad press.

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Apple provides a look inside its iPhone stress-testing facility following ‘bendgate’ controversy

Mike Beasley Sep 25 2014 - 3:33 pm PT

54 Comments

via The Verge

After a few YouTube videos hit the web claiming that the iPhone 6 Plus could be easily bent out shape in a user’s pocket, Apple addressed the issue by stating that the device was designed to meet its quality requirements and that only a handful of owners had complained about any issues. To further prove its commitment to building solid devices, Apple gave journalists access to the lab where it tests the build quality of its iPhones.

In a tour of the facility guided by SVP of Hardware Engineering Dan Riccio, reporters were given an in-depth look at how each new generation of the iPhone is tested to ensure that it can endure all of the rigors of daily life. Each device the company makes—including its notebook computers—is put through thousands of rounds of testing that simulates everything from twisting the device to flexing the screen, or sitting on a bench with the phone in the back pocket of your skinny jeans.

Video and more photos below:

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Consumer Reports devising authoritative test for iPhone 6 bending issues

Zac Hall Sep 25 2014 - 11:58 am PT

50 Comments

Consumer Reports LG G Flex

Not sure what to believe about recent claims that the iPhone 6 Plus has a malleability issue? Consumer Reports says it is in the process of undergoing authoritative testing to find its own answer to the question of whether or not the larger iPhone has a bending problem.

According to their post, Consumer Report will critically test the new iPhones against other popular smartphones using their “sophisticated machinery” which can apply up to 1,000 pounds of force previously used to test the LG G Flex and determine whether or not the iPhone 6 models are more likely to bend than other phones.
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Apple responds to iPhone 6 Bendgate controversy, says only 9 customers have complained

Jordan Kahn Sep 25 2014 - 11:06 am PT

83 Comments

iPhone 6 Plus bend

Apple has officially issued a statement regarding the iPhone 6 bending controversy saying the issue is rare during real world use and that it’s only received complaints from 9 customers (via CNBC). Apple adds, according to the reports, that the “new iPhones feature steel/titanium inserts to reinforce stress locations and use the strongest glass in the industry.” Apple also commented that bending is “extremely rare” during normal use and that it performs a number of strength and durability tests (as you’d expect) before it ships new devices (via WSJ):

Since going on sale Friday, Apple said only nine customers have contacted the company about a bent iPhone 6 Plus—the larger and more expensive of its two new iPhones. Apple said both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus passed a series of tests meant to check the products’ strength and durability to withstand every day, real-life use.

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1Password iOS beta previews upcoming iPhone 6/6 Plus enhancements

Zac Hall Sep 25 2014 - 9:36 am PT

2 Comments

The popular password and data management app 1Password was ready on day one with a powerful, systemwide extension for accessing your vault and Touch ID support for unlocking the app with your fingerprint. The latest beta version sent to testers today promises one more useful feature its users will appreciate: iPhone 6 optimization.

The new version of 1Password currently being tested by beta users no longer relies on zoomed scaling on the larger display devices and takes advantage of the new screen sizes more efficiently. iPhone 6 Plus users have shared that the new version supports the new iPad-like split-view introduced to certain Apple apps as well.

1Password recently changed its pricing model from a paid application to a freemium model allowing new customers to try 1Password and unlock pro features within the password management app.

While the iPhone 6/6 Plus-optimized version is currently in beta, 1Password users should expect to see the update on the App Store after adequate testing and approval.

Apple kicks off iPhone 6 sales in 20 more countries starting w/ New Zealand

Jordan Kahn Sep 25 2014 - 8:38 am PT

14 Comments

NZ carrier Spark offers customers life-sized cardboard emoji characters to reserve their spot in line for iPhone 6

Apple’s second wave of iPhone 6 sales has just kicked off with customers in New Zealand getting access to the device through retail stores and online as we roll into the morning of September 26 in the country. We’re also approaching the launch in a total of 20 countries today as the device goes on sale the morning of September 26 local time in the following locations:
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Apple says some bent iPhone 6/Plus phones will be replaced under warranty

Ben Lovejoy Sep 25 2014 - 5:01 am PT

47 Comments

ben

An Apple support representative has told TNW that iPhone 6/Plus phones that have experienced warping in normal use would qualify for replacement under warranty if they pass a test known as “a visual mechanical inspection.” It should be noted that this is simply one AppleCare rep speaking, and not an official statement by Apple.

That is 100 percent up to the Genius you speak with at the store. There is a test called a Visual Mechanical Inspection that the device will have to pass. If it is within the guidelines, they will be able to cover it. If not, the replacement would be a paid one.

Apple was not able to provide any information on what the test involves, though one commentator below suggests that it is simply comparing the phone to a set of reference photos used to distinguish phones damaged by misuse from those considered faulty. In some rather Steve-like phrasing, the representative said that support chatroom comments revealed that “we’re looking into this with an insane amount of detail.”

Photos of the iPhone 6 and, especially, 6 Plus bending whilst in pockets starting emerging a couple of days ago. Video tests, though, do seem to indicate that a substantial degree of force is required.

Our own poll suggested that around 30 percent of readers are concerned about the issue, with 11.5 percent saying that they already own an iPhone 6 and are worried about damaging it, and 18 percent stating that they are delaying purchase until the issue is resolved.

iDevice warranty specialists SquareTrade found that the iPhone 6 passed all its breakability tests, describing it as the “toughest iPhone yet” and noting that it beat all other phones in its drop tests.