The AppAdvice tech week in review: The iPhone 6s is here, but not for everyone
The biggest story of the week: the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus arrive in stores
On Friday, Sept. 25, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus arrived in stores around the world. The ninth-generation handsets are the first iPhones to feature 3D Touch and Live Photos.
Hmph. Must be something going on today. #applestore #torontoeatoncentre pic.twitter.com/1aA9TyCnVm
— Eustace James (@mr_e_james) September 25, 2015
The new iPhones have been met with terrific reviews. Apple’s new iPhone Upgrade Program? Not so much. Some customers who wanted to use the Citizens Bank, N.A.-backed service on Friday to buy an iPhone were turned away.
AppAdvice readers were among those turned away.
Lori Darwish noted, “I … stood in line yesterday for 4 hours and was denied credit for the Apple upgrade program. I tried 3 different times with 2 different credit cards. I was infuriated. I have perfect credit. Came home and checked credit scores and they were impeccable.”
BMoreGoHard also had problems explaining “I could not believe I was turned down today. My credit score is not as high as a few people I’m read in here, but dang I am at around 730, and I know because I have a “myFICO” account and check it almost everyday.”
Like AT&T Next and Verizon Edge, the iPhone Upgrade Program allows users to spread the cost of a new phone over 24 monthly payments with the option to snag a new iPhone after 12 months.
For more news on the iPhone 6s launch, see:
- 10 great 3D Touch-enabled apps to try out on your new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus
- The usual suspects tear down the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
- Some of the best new cases for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
Also making news: Pebble looks to battle Apple Watch with its new Time Round
Smartwatch pioneer Pebble has come full circle. Just months after introducing its Pebble Time, the company unveiled the Time Round featuring a circular display.
Much like the Time, the new round watch features an always-on color e-ink display and is designed to show you notifications, incoming calls, and more. Weighing in at 28 grams and measuring 7.5mm, Pebble says its the “thinnest and lightest smartwatch in the world.” For comparison, the Apple Watch measures 10.5mm.
Big app news
One of the first third-party photo apps for iPhone received a massive update this week. Hipstamatic version 300 features a new Pro mode that gives users the ability to adjust the focus, white balance, exposure, shutter speed, ISO, and aspect ratio. Instead of only square photos, the app now supports multiple aspect ratios, including 16:9 widescreen.
Other app news:
- Google unveils its Evernote-like Keep service for the iPhone and iPad
- The Camera+ apps now support handy quick actions
- Track shows and movies you have seen with the Yidio update
- Will it rain this weekend? Your Weather Mate knows
- Shazam is 3-D Touch-ready, and gets optimizations for iOS 9
What’s coming up? The week ahead
The workforce-based BoxWorks conference begins tomorrow, Sept. 28. The three-day event is being held at a familiar place: the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.
Also starting on Monday are three tech-based conferences at the Santa Clara, California Conference Center, including DataWeek, Integrate, and API: World.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Google is holding a Nexus-based press event.
Finally, the GeekWire Summit is being held Oct. 1 to Oct. 2 in Seattle, Washington.
What will be happening in the week ahead? Visit AppAdvice to find out.
Image credit: The Verge
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