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The iPhones XS

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Re: The iPhones XS

#2
> Apple describes the glass (front and back) on the iPhone XS as “the most durable glass ever in a smartphone”. I asked, and according to Apple, this means both crack and scratch resistance.

This is great news if it is solid enough. I would happily spend +$1k for a phone only if I can let it fall without causing damage.

Re: The iPhones XS

#3
I'm very pleased with the point cloud technology called "depth cameras". What was, and is, a gigantic attachment to the xbox is now smaller than my fingernail and there's two of them in the Iphone X series.

What I'd like is for greater range and more situations for the algorithmic depth to kick in (ie Instagram's focus camera). My use of exchangeable lens cameras in traditional form factors is about to disappear if I can use it for selective focus on subjects 20 feet away. (Note: my use of cameras are a means of expression, and although I'm well versed in the technology and discipline I don't have any interest in the elitism of how an image was captured.)

I don't think this new generation of Iphones achieve that, but its an area I'm watching.

The other improvements suggest a 2019 or 2020 model will be amazing.

Re: The iPhones XS

#4
> Apple describes the glass (front and back) on the iPhone XS as “the most durable glass ever in a smartphone”. I asked, and according to Apple, this means both crack and scratch resistance.

I feel like I hear this statement every other year. I'm not invested enough to go back and actually validate my theory, but this definitely isn't the first time I've heard that from a phone company. They always seem to fail the 6ft drop test.

Re: The iPhones XS

#5

> Apple describes the glass (front and back) on the iPhone XS as “the most durable glass ever in a smartphone”. I asked, and according to Apple, this means both crack and scratch resistance. I feel like I hear this statement every other year. I'm not invested enough to go back and actually validate my theory, but this definitely isn't the first time I've heard that from a phone company. They always seem to fail the 6…

I guess they get a little bit better each year, just a little bit. But not enough.

Re: The iPhones XS

#6
Why should we consider this fawning opinion piece by a world renowned Apple fanboy, a review?

iPhone cameras haven't been the best on smartphones for years now, let alone among all camera devices.

Re: The iPhones XS

#7

Why should we consider this fawning opinion piece by a world renowned Apple fanboy, a review? iPhone cameras haven't been the best on smartphones for years now, let alone among all camera devices.

Those of us with iPhones are interested in how the new generation compares to the old.

He's not comparing the cameras to other phones, although he does briefly discuss the device vs cloud processing approaches.

And, shockingly, even fanboys can have useful information to share.

Re: The iPhones XS

#8
post #7

Why should we consider this fawning opinion piece by a world renowned Apple fanboy, a review? iPhone cameras haven't been the best on smartphones for years now, let alone among all camera devices.

Those of us with iPhones are interested in how the new generation compares to the old. He's not comparing the cameras to other phones, although he does briefly discuss the device vs cloud processing approaches. And, shockingly, even fanboys can have useful information to share.

Indeed they can. "Is the iPhone XS the world's greatest phone of the year, or all time?"

"No science involved, but Apple engineers and I agree that the iPhone XS camera is the best"

I bet fanboys print out DXOMark as cleaning paper for their iPhone lenses - "best lens cleanser for the iPhone is DXOMARK ratings of other phones being better"

Re: The iPhones XS

#9

> Apple describes the glass (front and back) on the iPhone XS as “the most durable glass ever in a smartphone”. I asked, and according to Apple, this means both crack and scratch resistance. I feel like I hear this statement every other year. I'm not invested enough to go back and actually validate my theory, but this definitely isn't the first time I've heard that from a phone company. They always seem to fail the 6…

Being the most durable glass is a bit like being the sexiest person in the burn ward. I mean, yes, good, but you know what's far more durable than the most durable glass? Anything that's not glass.

It's kind of mind-boggling that, first, we took an object we knew people were going to drop frequently, and wrapped it in glass; and then, second, that billions are consequently being spent to come up with a glass that is sufficiently un-glass-like to be practical when wrapped around those objects.

Re: The iPhones XS

#10
(Following on Gruber's examination of the camera lenses on the XS)

I have a full-size mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens (Sony alpha-5000), and I love it. I usually import all pictures I take with it to Photos, and you can immediately tell if a picture was taken with it or with my current iPhone 7 (no surprise).

But here's the catch: I understand many principles of photography, but I'm no professional photographer. I try to make adjustments to focal distance, aperture, manual focus, and etc when taking pictures, but the results are usually not good (it's all fun though, especially when you get it just right).

Therefore, even when I take my camera with me, I will still snap pictures with my phone because the balance between how easy it is vs the quality of the product really favours smartphones. And it only gets exponentially harder with difficult light conditions (overcast skies, moving vehicles, etc). I've ordered a XS despite the high price but I'm really looking forward to using its camera and comparing it with my Sony camera.

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