back to article iPhone 6: Advanced features? Pah! Nexus 4 had most of them in 2012

Apple unsurprisingly revealed a new iPhone that'll come in two sizes for the first time: the regular iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch 1334x750p screen, while the Plus version boasts a 5.5-inch 1080p screen. Both models now feature the Retina marketing tag, but while the hardware might not be revolutionary, Apple’s new iOS 8, …

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  1. KroSha

    I get why the vitriol is spreading, but a large part of the reason that NFC is being included now is because Apple have found a use for it. Sure, they could have included it years ago, but why bother? I can easily see someone querying it in the design stages for the 4S or 5, but being dropped because they didn't have a compelling reason to include it.Now they have Apple Pay, there is a useful scenario, that adds value to the product.

    1. Kristian Walsh Silver badge

      NFC was never just payments

      There are other user benefits of NFC - device-to-device sharing uses it to authenticate, the Bluetooth 3 specification added NFC pairing, and the technology has other uses in general medicine (particularly medication management for patients) and logistics that Apple have been missing out on because they didn't implement it.

      In the consumer electronics space, NFC makes discovery and authentication so much easier than any alternative technology: tap your NFC phone against another to share the current picture, or send contact detais, tap your NFC device on your Bluetooth speaker and it takes over playing your music; tap it on a Miracast device, and your screen is projected onto your TV (Nokia just launched a Miracast dongle with a detachable NFC disc to handle the pairing - you can leave the disc on your coffee table, and the receiver behind your TV; the disc identifies the player and provides an authentication token for the phone/tablet to use when connecting to the player).

      1. Edwin

        Re: NFC was never just payments

        The pairing feature is quite nice, but the 'tap to share' NFC feature on the Lumias is something I use almost daily. Want to share a contact card, photo or web page with someone? Hit 'share', 'tap to share' and tap the two phones together and you're sorted. No hunting for active bluetooth profiles, typing emails or anything like that.

        I think there are loads of use cases for NFC. What nobody else has managed so far is to make the payment process work. Apple's ecosystem may change that, and that's what the real news is IMHO.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      I get why the vitriol is spreading, but a large part of the reason that NFC is being included now is because Apple have found a use for it. Sure, they could have included it years ago, but why bother?

      I've had NFC on my last two Android phones dating back four years now and never had a use for it once. Only place I've seen advertising NFC is at bus stops where you can scan the tag and view a film trailer based on the advert they have there, but it was MUCH quicker saying "ok google film name trailer"

      The specifications on this Apple phone are far from top notch and I even sold my iPhone 4 to buy a Nexus 4 the day they came out, but I'm tempted by the new iPhone. Everywhere will rush to make sure they can take NFC payments now whether that be Apple Pay or other and hopefully this will give Google a kick up the backside to release Google Wallet over here, which has been coming soon for as long as I can remember.

      Hopefully the bus companies will get a kick up the backside and start fitting NFC readers, so you don't have to use change and they don't have to give you a look like you've killed their first born every time you produce a bank note

      1. Geoff Campbell Silver badge
        Go

        NFC Uses

        I have some cheap NFC tags from eBay (about a fiver for twelve, if I remember correctly) which I have stuck around the place. So when I sit down at my desk, or in my car, or go to bed, or sit in front of the TV, I touch the phone to the NFC tag and it sets up a complete profile relevant to that location.

        Would I miss it if it wasn't there? Probably not. Is it a good use of the technology? Very much so.

        GJC

      2. h4rm0ny

        I've had NFC on my phone for quite a while as well (Lumia 820). However, although I like the idea of it and think it could be great, I've never used it. Apple probably will be a big part of changing that. Not because I'm going to buy an iPhone! But because they will increase uptake of NFC payments.

        Apple have seldom been the pioneers of new technology, but they have a very successful history of picking up new technology just when they are ready to move with it and making a big success out of it. Both the iPad and the iPhone are examples of this - the technology to do both existed but was still new-ish. They don't always invent the steam engines, but they're great at knowing when it's Steam Engine time.

        If Apple haven't moved on this before, it's because they didn't have the plans and infrastructure in place to make a play for market dominance with NFC payments. Now they are prepared and they'll turn the full weight of their resources on doing it.

        The good thing for me as a WP8 user (and Android users too), is that they can't do that without also encouraging uptake of NFC payments for others also.

        At least I sincerely hope they don't have some trick up their sleeve to close the market!

        1. NumptyScrub

          NFC gives me the same feeling as Wifi Protected Setup; my phone had it disabled within 5 minutes of turning it on the first time, like my router got WPS disabled just after I changed the admin password. There is without doubt a use case for the technology, and there is without doubt the potential for exploitation to gain access to the device; indeed my phone model was one specifically mentioned for an NFC exploit 2 years ago. In the fight between convenience and security, personally I normally choose security. If Apple succeed in making NFC far more ubiquitous, then expect far more people attempting to exploit NFC for personal gain :(

          What surprised me far more was Apple deciding that the smallest model was going to expand to 4.7", IMO it would have been far more sensible to keep it at iPhone 5 size. Many Apple using friends liked the fact that their 3 / 4 was the size it was and did not like the idea of my jumbo 5" phone, and I now have to wonder what their next phone is actually going to be if their only Apple choices are now that size or larger.

          1. tom dial Silver badge

            I may be overly cynical, but I do not believe Apple would have bothered with NFC and payment processing unless they had a plan for domination.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              "I may be overly cynical, but I do not believe Apple would have bothered with NFC and payment processing unless they had a plan for domination"

              I'd go with customer lock in over domination, essentially they waited for Apple Pay to be ready, and will now prevent any other NFC payment applications as they compete with core services (which I believe is in the developer terms for iTunes).

          2. SEDT

            "Many Apple using friends liked the fact that their 3 / 4 was the size it was and did not like the idea of my jumbo 5" phone, and I now have to wonder what their next phone is actually going to be if their only Apple choices are now that size or larger."

            I'm betting they'll stick with Apple and suddenly love those big screens. Now that the fruit tree has told them that they're OK.

        2. Mark .

          "Apple have seldom been the pioneers of new technology, but they have a very successful history of picking up new technology just when they are ready to move with it and making a big success out of it. Both the iPad and the iPhone are examples of this"

          Please check Apple's actual sales in 2007-2008, compared to other platforms/companies.

          Symbian dominated until 2011, and the huge growth of smartphone sales came almost all from Android.

          Just like everyone now talks to their phones and makes video calls all the time thanks to Apple... Of course, it may well be that some places only introduce NFC now that the minority of Apple users can use it - but I'm not sure that's something to be thankful for, on the contrary, we should be asking why they aren't already supporting the majority of Android users, and why we have to wait years if things are only supported when Apple get round to it.

          "They don't always invent the steam engines, but they're great at knowing when it's Steam Engine time."

          Steam Engine time simply gets defined as whenever Apple do it, whether it's early, late, or sometime in between. It's the bullseye Apple fallacy - draw a ring round whenever Apple released something, and say "Look, that was the defining point!", never mind what actually happened at the time.

          "At least I sincerely hope they don't have some trick up their sleeve to close the market!"

          I can see it now - "Pay with NFC!" Let me just pay with my iphone - oh wait, I can't, because like the rest of the world I use Android.

          1. cambsukguy

            > Just like everyone now talks to their phones and makes video calls all the time thanks to Apple

            Hardly anyone talks to their phone, often at least. Those that do occasionally do it in private so that others don't laugh, the phone has half a chance of understanding and the response can heard and not overheard. The most obvious use of speech is while driving and this is definitely not a Siri speciality - I have had to explain to more than one iPhone user that text messaging via speech is baked-in on my phone to which the response is always "How do I do that" (the answer being "Hell if I know - ask the phone"). Even Android users I know have to 'turn on' their speech to use/demo it - either because of battery issues or some invasive nature of it.

            Hardly anyone makes video calls, especially on their phone.

            Front cameras had/have almost no use at all. Obsessive selfies from narcissists have begun to make them used if not useful, Personally, the occasional shot of oneself as needed is far better taken with the main camera using a clever app (like Lumia Selfie) to bring the high quality of the main camera to bear (and touch up features to make the result bearable).

    3. DrXym

      The main use for NFC has not been realized

      I want to steal the RFID from Skylanders figures and play them back from the phone. Is there an app for that?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: The main use for NFC has not been realized

        "I want to steal the RFID from Skylanders figures and play them back from the phone. Is there an app for that?"

        I already tried. I think it and Disney Infinity use a different protocol standard. When I tried with my S4, I consistently got balked with incompatibility errors.

    4. Wiibloke

      I agree 100%. Google put technology in phones but truly never do anything with it. At least Apple have added NFC and created a use for it.

      Also, more than full HD on a Phone screen. I have a 37" TV which is full HD and that looks great. Anything bigger on a phone is just there for Specs and offers no day to day benefit.

  2. DrXym

    Stop listing the price on contract

    Saying the phone is $199 on contract is meaningless without knowing the cost of the contract. The contract can be (and is) jacked up to cover the price of the phone and plan/cost covering one phone might not be the same as another to obfuscate this.

    All that should ever matter is how much the phone costs in an unlocked SIM free state.

    1. D@v3

      Re: Stop listing the price on contract

      Much like amazon's Fire phone. "From Free on 2 year contract*"

      *$80pm.

    2. JeffyPoooh
      Pint

      Re: Stop listing the price on contract

      @DrXym

      You're missing a possibility. For those that are already under a grandfathered monthly plan that they like, and plan to keep, then their monthly fee might remain exactly the same if they keep their old phone, or if they buy a subsidized phone, in either case remaining under the terms of their existing contract. Just locked in for another two years. Which they'd like anyway.

      This is our situation. This is how my lovely wife got a 5S for just $300 a few months ago. So she'll have to wait 2 years for another subsidized phone. But *I* can buy the new iPhone at a discount, and our monthly bill will not change at all. So do I want the iPhone 6 Plus 128 GB for probably $500 or not? Hmmm? Do I want to lock-in my fantastic monthly plan for another two years? Hell yes.

      I understand the alternative of going contract free. But in these parts that results in a very low allowance of data, and wandering around looking for free wifi. They end up either not using their phones they way they should, or paying most of what I pay, but they have MB of data, not GB, per month.

      There are different solutions for different needs. Or budgets.

  3. WonkoTheSane

    NFC woes to come

    I can see the banks jumping onto Apple Pay, and leaving Android handsets with NFC by the wayside as they have been doing since 2010.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: NFC woes to come

      As an owner of an Android phone with NFC, all I can say is, good.

      Want to get cash from an ATM? Get your card out

      Want to pay for something at a shop without Apple Pay? Get your card out.

      Flat phone battery? Get your card out.

      You have to have your card with you, so, just use that instead all the time.

      1. Piro Silver badge

        Re: NFC woes to come

        100% agreed.

        Maybe in the US this type of thing is a novelty, but in the UK we already have contactless cards.

        Why potentially introduce security issues by having your payment details readily available on your phone, when you can just pull out a much smaller plastic card and tap it instead?

        NFC payments work in terms of cards, but I have 0% interest in it for my phone.

        1. JaimieV
          FAIL

          Re: NFC woes to come

          You're comparing an always-on tap-to-pay card with no security except physical, to a phone that requires your fingerprint to authorise payment.

          1. VinceH

            Re: NFC woes to come

            "You're comparing an always-on tap-to-pay card with no security except physical, to a phone that requires your fingerprint to authorise payment."

            Yeah, because the iPhone 5's finger print scanner definitely wasn't defeated within a few days of the phone going on sale, was it?

            1. slhilly

              Re: NFC woes to come

              It's a good rule of thumb that every security feature gets defeated. Locks and safes are rated for how long they resist defeat, not for being undefeatable. Chip and pin was defeated within days or weeks of coming out.

              But

              It's not whole-hog-or-none. Security features can stil be useful. They reduce the pool of attackers with the tools to attack successfully, sometimes dramatically. They slow attacks down. Etc. Touch ID is just an example of this -- not going to concern the FSB or a technically minded organised crime ring, but very likely going to slow things up for a random mugger wanting to use your iPhone

        2. ThomH

          Re: NFC woes to come (@Piro)

          The funny thing is, although the cards here don't even have chip and pin yet, the contactless terminals are widely deployed. I've no idea what they're expecting to talk to; I assume it's an international economies-of-scale thing that would have made it more expensive for American retailers to purchase the ones with NFC taken out again.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: NFC woes to come

        I really don't get this obsession with using your phone to make payments (apart from the carriers wanting a cut, that is).

        In the Benelux they've had for at least 15 years e-wallets on the chip that is on your debit card anyway.

        You load some cash into it (it's an option at the ATM, from your current account to the e-wallet) and because the balance is on the chip, the retailer doesn't need to communicate with the bank to take payment.

        Pop your card in the holder, click OK for the amount and you're done. No pin, no waiting for balance confirmation, nothing. The retailer can then transfer their balance to their bank whenever suits them (hourly, daily, whatever)

        No fumbling around with change for public transport, parking meters, vending machines, small purchases at corner shops etc.

        When are banks in other countries finally going to catch on (or catch up?)

        Make my debit card work for me properly please (and for the retailers) and once that's done properly then you guys can dick about with your phones as much as you like.

    2. Jagged

      Re: NFC woes to come

      Does Apple also charge the Banks 30%?

      1. JaimieV

        Re: NFC woes to come

        Apple gets between 0.15 and 0.25% commission per transaction. Compared with 2-4% for the card company.

    3. DrXym

      Re: NFC woes to come

      "I can see the banks jumping onto Apple Pay, and leaving Android handsets with NFC by the wayside as they have been doing since 2010."

      I doubt it. Banks probably resent Apple pay as much as the retailers - it's another finger in the pie and ultimately could see the banks becoming the funding source but not profiting from the transaction. Retailers are bound to be hit too with higher transaction fees. Most probably their point of sale systems might cope with multiple NFC payment schemes but they might well resent/favour particular ones if it cuts into their profits.

      The optimal solution for bank / retailer would be they continued to issue proximity payment cards and if Visa / Mastercard released a payment app for a phone that the card could be registered with. The finger to pie ratio stays the same as does the transaction charge.

      Also from a personal security point of view it seems a bit dodgy to wave around a £600 phone for all to see, particularly if a potential thief knows it's loaded with cash too.

      1. Keith Langmead

        Re: NFC woes to come

        "The optimal solution for bank / retailer would be they continued to issue proximity payment cards and if Visa / Mastercard released a payment app for a phone that the card could be registered with. The finger to pie ratio stays the same as does the transaction charge."

        I think that's kind of the point. It's only being released in the US where as I understand it they don't have proximity payment currently. Here in the UK it'd be yet another system, but in the US there's currently no competition. The differences between card security and mobile NFC security aside (since normal users won't know or care) I assume there must be a reason for the lack of US rollout, perhaps due to more diversity in banks etc across states making it harder to have a single system nationwide (like the old Baby Bell issue with mobile networks). If that's the case then I can imagine banks being tempted to back something like this rather than have to find a way to do it themselves nationally.

    4. Tapeador
      FAIL

      Re: NFC woes to come

      "I can see the banks jumping onto Apple Pay, and leaving Android handsets with NFC by the wayside as they have been doing since 2010."

      Does not being able to pay by NFC really leave a handset "by the wayside"? My Moto G at least does swipey-text, has easy file transfer, and is actually affordable - these are much more valuable to me than being able to pay by NFC, a benefit by the way which seems to me is solely for retailers who can save five seconds per purchase (big deal...) rather than consumers who will likely be paying much more for the privilege, when all costs are apportioned.

  4. Jay 2
    Facepalm

    Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

    Not a huge fan of NFC, but if it gives the option of walking into an Apple store, picking something up off the shelf, paying for it, then walking out without interacting with a member of staff, then that would be great.

    On the recent few occasions I've had to buy something from an Apple store trying to flag down a salesdroid to pay for something has been a most infuriating and time-consuming operation. I've even complained to Apple and pointed out that having a till may not be aesthetically pleasing to them, but it will allow them to close a sale, unlike the punter getting pissed off and walking out the shop to buy elsewhere (or not at all).

    1. ElReg!comments!Pierre

      Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

      Same experience here. Both times I entered an Apple store to buy something I ended up leaving empty-handed, cursing them for the lost 45 minutes on my lunchtime, and buying the stuff in 10 minutes in a "regular" shop.

      1. RyokuMas
        Thumb Up

        Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

        I had a great experience the last time I went to an Apple store...

        I was looking for a basic iPhone to test the iOS port of a game on. First up, the salesgirl pointed me at the iPod touch. I explained that in order to test, I needed to be able to receive incoming calls, so I could make sure that the game behaved correctly if someone called the phone mid-game.

        She pointed me at the lowest cost iPhone. I asked if they did any reconditioned old handsets or second-hand, to which she said "no, but you could try Computer Exchange down the road..."

        She then glanced round furtively, fished in her pocket, pulled out a very well used 4S and said quietly "it's where this came from."

        I grinned, thanked her and walked out. 20 minutes and a swift transaction later, I was the proud owner of a secondhand 4S, and two hours later, I was testing my game on device. :)

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

        Queing up in the cold for new products is just insane. Buy from Google, get it delivered the next day. Job done.

    2. Steve Todd

      Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

      There's an app for that. Run up the Apple Store app, scan the barcode of the item you want to buy, fill in your Apple password, wait for confirmation and walk out of the store with it in hand.

      1. h4rm0ny

        Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

        That's pretty neat. Out of curiosity, how is shop-lifting prevented?

        1. Steve Todd

          Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @h4rm0ny

          The app provides you with a receipt, and I assume it talks to store security.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @h4rm0ny

            "The app provides you with a receipt, and I assume it talks to store security"

            Tom and Dick walk into a very busy Apple store on a Saturday, and it's packed. They both wander over to the iPhone 6 stand, and scan a barcode, using their iPhone 5s. Tom continues through to pay for the new iPhone 6, Dick cancels the transaction. Tom then walks out of the store, with a receipt and a new iPhone. Harry is waiting, round the corner, for Tom. Tom gives him the old iPhone, with receipt. Harry then walks into the store, and slips the old iPhone to Dick, who then walks out of the store. Security stops him, he pulls out "his" iPhone and shows them the receipt. They check the CCTV, sure enough, at the time on the receipt, there is Dick scanning and paying for a new iPhone. "Sorry to have delayed you, sir" say security, and off Dick goes, with his nice new, free, iPhone 6.

            1. Charles 9

              Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @h4rm0ny

              I may be wrong, but I believe the actual phones are kept in the back (every store I've been to the high-ticket items are kept under some kind of lock and key). You use the app to present to the desk, and they fetch it for you, then you leave with it. The desk would be able to verify the receipt is used once and once only.

              1. cambsukguy

                Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @h4rm0ny

                > present to the desk, and they fetch it for you, then you leave with it.

                That is the Argos model here in the UK. Works pretty well since you can also buy the stuff online before you go in (or within the store via a screen).

                Only one Hume involved, the person that passes you the goods.

                All we need now is a carousel system suited to a large percentage of the items and a scanner thingy that opens the door for you when you show it the receipt. Result - no humes, even more unemployment (I mean redeployment to more useful jobs).

                Add robot or two at the warehouse side and the only Human would be the manager type person needed for customer service, theft deterrence and rebooting stuff.

                1. ElReg!comments!Pierre

                  @cambsukguy Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @h4rm0ny

                  Yup, works pretty well for hard-discount shops around the world. It's the Online-shop-without-delivery model.

                  Good value for money usually. Also, fast service. No comment.

            2. Steve Todd
              FAIL

              Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @AC

              Firstly you can only buy the stuff they actually have out on the shelves that way. They don't keep boxed iPhones/iPads/Macs out on the shelves. Secondly they can check the user's account for a purchase, cancelled transactions should be quite obvious. CCTV is unlikely to be called on to check if a given customer paid or not. Thirdly the app on a given phone holds the receipt after purchase, the user can prove purchase from that, plus they get an emailed copy too.

            3. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy... @h4rm0ny

              Apple waits until the stolen phone is activated and making a call, and then they detonate it by remote control.

      2. fandom

        Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

        "Run up the Apple Store app"

        How does that work with first time Apple buyers?

      3. ElReg!comments!Pierre

        Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

        " There's an app for that. Run up the Apple Store app, scan the barcode of the item you want to buy, fill in your Apple password, wait for confirmation and walk out of the store with it in hand."

        Funny that, there's a tech store near my place that works like that (but better because they offer the same through a standard web interface, not just a silly app).

        They do it to keep the costs down: it's a heavy-discount store. Glad to see Apple keeping up with the "premium" image...

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Coat

      Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

      I had the same experience when I went to buy my macbook, just wanted to speak to a someone and hand over my money, easy sale you'd think.

      But I was directed to one of the ipads and told to virtually queue WTF? The sales bod was just standing there doing nothing, how hard is it to take my money and give me the goods I want.

      I ended up walking out, I did get the macbook in the end (couple of weeks later after I'd finished telling everyone I knew how sh*t the apple store was) but I did in at a PC store where a sales person actually spoke to me. It's the small things in life.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Take my money! Oh, you're too busy...

      The only way to get their attention (at the Apple Store), is to start acting a bit weird. Perhaps drop your trousers around your ankles. Or start complaining loudly to no one in particular. Or start serving other customers yourself.

      You'll find an Apple employee will approach you almost instantly. So you can reinstall your trousers, and then you can complete your transaction and be out the door in five minutes. Easy.

      It's a very strange system, but I guess that's how they want to play the game...

  5. David Lawton

    Yet i've had Airplay on my Apple iPhone/iPad/Macbook and Apple TV for years now and Chromecast has only just come out.

    Its mainly not about specs with Apple, its all about user experience, and thats what some people just don't get. I did not get it years ago, i was not an Apple fan now all my tech almost is Apple, because the user experience i had on 1 device i wanted on the rest.

    1. returnmyjedi

      I could stream from my Nokia N8 to an Xbox 360 back in 2010. Do I win a prize?

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