Today in San Francisco, Apple held an event to announce new iPhones-the 6S and 6S Plus-and updates to Apple TV. Apple also unveiled the iPad Pro.
The 6S and 6S Plus iPhones have 3D Touch technology and 4K video capability. They will cost about $200 with a two-year contract.
The camera on the new phones has greater clarity and detail than previous versions. The new iPhone's camera has 12 megapixels, while the last one had 8. Apple also introduced "Live Photos," which allows users to animate photos with sound and movement. Sounds like GIFs to me.
Katie Brenner at The New York Times tweeted, "It's amazing that the camera Apple made for a phone is better than most point-and-click cameras made by companies that specialize in camera-making."
Brian X. Chen of The New York Times tweeted, "My dogs will look better than ever on Instagram. Can't wait."
The new iPhone's A9 chip has an "always on" feature. If you say "Hey Siri" at anytime, she can answer. It is similar to the "OK Google Now" feature on Android phones.
You might be wondering what 3D Touch technology is. Chris Ziegler of The Verge explains that a 3D Touch screen "can sense multiple levels of pressure. The feature first appeared in simpler form on the Apple Watch as "Force Touch," where it can be used to clear all notifications with a single press. In the iPhone, a system measures the distance between the glass and the backlight to detect how hard the user is pressing."
Farhad Manjoo writes, "One thing that 3D Touch does is unlock an extra layer of menu actions in apps. This is essentially a power feature - and a sign that Apple is beginning to think of its devices as productivity devices. Hidden menus used to be anathema on iOS; they're the domain of more complex interfaces, like Android. Not anymore."
Apple is also introducing an iPhone Upgrade Program that allows users to get a new iPhone every year. It costs $32 a month. T-Mobile and AT&T already offer similar upgrade programs.
Apple TV's new features include "voice commands, games and new apps, plus a remote with a new glass touch surface. It will be available in October for a starting price of $150," according to The New York Times.
The iPad Pro has a smart keyboard and a writing instrument called the Apple Pencil. It features Microsoft and Adobe productivity apps.
Tim Cook also presented new Apple Watch bands and watchcase finishes.