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Contents
J U LY 2 0 1 5
6 Karen Haslam
36 8
Concerns over iPad’s future unfounded
News
Apple Watch doesn’t like tattoos
12 Everything Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch questions answered
18 Apple Watch vs Sport

Differences between the two designs
20 Apple Watch: Get started

How to set up your new Apple Watch
22 Apple Watch: Battery

Boost your watch’s battery life
26 Apple Watch: Digital Touch

Send a Digital Touch message
28 Apple Watch: Faces

Choose a watch face to suit your style
29 Apple Watch: Phone calls

Keep in touch with friends and family
30 Apple Watch: Messages

Send texts using Apple’s watch
31 Apple Watch: Workout

Get more from Apple’s workout app
32 Apple Watch: Music

Play music directly from your watch
33 Apple Watch: Maps

Use the Apple Watch to get directions
12 34 Apple Watch: Activity

Boost your fitness with the Activity app
35 Apple Watch: Siri

82 58 Control Apple’s watch with your voice
36 Ultimate OS X Tweaks
Guide to OS X’s System Preferences
46 History of WWDC
A look back at the past 10 events
50 Cloud storage services

The best online services compared
58 Broadband without
a phone line
Alternatives to a traditional phone line
JULY 2015 • MACWORLD 3
003_004 Contents July.indd 3 12/05/2015 15:06

Contents
contact...
62 EDITORIAL
Editor Karen Haslam
Senior Staff Writer Ashleigh Allsopp
Staff Writer Lewis Painter
karen_haslam@idg.co.uk
ashleigh_allsopp@idg.co.uk
lewis_painter@idg.co.uk
Online Editor David Price david_price@idg.co.uk
Group Managing Editor Marie Brewis marie_brewis@idg.co.uk
Art Director Mandie Johnson mandie_johnson@idg.co.uk
Production Editor Rob Woodcock rob_grant@idg.co.uk
Multimedia Editor Dominik Tomaszewski dominik_tomaszewski@idg.co.uk
Technical Editor Andrew Harrison reviews@idg.co.uk
Consumer Tech Editor Chris Martin chris_martin@idg.co.uk
Associate Editor Neil Bennett neil_bennett@idg.co.uk
Associate Editor Jim Martin jim_martin@idg.co.uk
Editor-In-Chief Matt Egan matt_egan@idg.co.uk
Contributors
J R Bookwalter, Bob Brown, Jeff Carlson, Martyn Casserly, Lucian
Contantin, Jeff Carlson, Craig Grannell, Lou Hattersley, Cliff Joseph, Caitlin
McGarry, Zach Miners, Robin Morris, Jared Newman, Susie Ochs, Nik
Rawlinson, Michael Simon, Keir Thomas, Derek Walter, Martyn Williams
62 Reviews ADVERTISING
Business Director Helen Clifford-Jones helen_clifford-jones@idg.co.uk
62 Apple MacBook
Account Director Tom Drummond tom_drummond@idg.co.uk
66 Apple MacBook Air 11in Account Director Jonathan Busse jonathan_busse@idg.co.uk
Senior Account Manager Dave Lees dave_lees@idg.co.uk
68 Apple MacBook Air
vs MacBook MARKETING
Marketing Manager Ash Patel ash_patel@idg.co.uk
72 Photos for Mac Head of Marketing Design James Walker james_walker@idg.co.uk
73 Adobe Photoshop Affiliate Manager Letitia Austin letitia_austin@idg.co.uk
Lightroom CC 2015
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80 New and noteworthy
92 Buyers’ Guide
PUBLISHING
Best new kit for your iOS device Publishing Director Simon Jary simon_jary@idg.co.uk
The best hardware and software Managing Director Kit Gould
82 iPad and iPhone scams

How to spot internet scams 114 Spotlight: David Price
Not on my watch
84 Siri’s funniest responses
Cheeky answers from Siri
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4 MACWORLD • JULY 2015
003_004 Contents July.indd 4 12/05/2015 15:09

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23/04/2015 10:22
10:22 am
Spotlight By Karen Haslam
Concerns over iPad’s future unfounded

Despite what analysts say, there’s plenty of life in Apple’s tablet yet
A
pple has just reported We’re clearly seeing cannibalisation from
another fantastic financial iPhone and, on the other side, from the
quarter, with 61.2 million Mac. Of course, as I’ve said before, we’ve
iPhones sold (beating analyst never worried about that. It is what it is.
expectations of 58.1 million). That’s the That will play out. At some point, it will
most iPhones the company has ever sold stabilise. I’m not sure precisely when,
in the January-March time frame and it but I’m pretty confident that it will.”
brings the number of iPhones sold in the Does this mean that analysts are right
tech giant’s financial year to date (which to worry about the iPad? There is an
started in October 2014) to over 135 element of fear that all Apple’s eggs are
million. Not bad for six months. in one basket, with the iPhone accounting
Apple also sold 10 million Macs in for such a large part of the company’s
the past six months – 4.6 million of revenue and profit, but the iPhone isn’t
those in the second quarter that going anywhere and it doesn’t depend on
finished in March (which was before the success of the iPad to remain popular.
the MacBook started shipping). Despite this, Apple is working on
The tech giant makes good money increasing the market for the iPad. The
from its sales of Macs, better than it There’s another reason why iPad sales company has teamed up with IBM to
makes from sales of iPads, so although are slowing down and that’s the new, partner in an attempt to make the iPad
the company has sold 34 million iPads bigger iPhones. The iPhone 6 and its perfect for enterprise use, and it has also
since October, and 12.6 million between even bigger sibling the 6 Plus have taken teamed up with IBM in Japan to reach out
January and March, the Mac made more a chunk of what would have been the to senior citizens, providing them with
money for Apple than the iPad did this market for iPad users – those people who iPads that come equipped with a suite of
quarter. That news, coupled with the want a bigger screen on their iOS device. apps developed by IBM specifically for
apparent decline in the numbers of The popularity of phablets – the term the elderly, such as communication tools
iPads being sold – Apple sold 21.4 used to describe larger screened phones and health and medical apps. These
million iPads last quarter and 16.3 that sit somewhere in between phones plans are on the radar for 2020.
million in Q2 of last year – is leading and tablets – has lead to the decline in There’s also a rumour that Apple is
some analysts to get jittery about how demand for tablets. In fact, the iPad as a planning to launch an even bigger iPad,
much of a future the iPad has. share of Apple’s revenue peaked about the so called iPad Pro (or iPad Plus) and
From our perspective fears that Apple three years ago when the company was those same analysts who are nervous
has sold only 12.6 million iPads in the still selling a 3.5in iPhone. In the years about the future of the iPad are hopeful
first three months of 2015 seem a little that followed, as phablets increased in that this larger tablet from Apple will
unreasonable. There have been concerns popularity, tablet sales have declined prove a hit. While we wonder whether
for some time that growth is slowing, across the board. there is any foundation to this rumour,
because Apple wasn’t selling more and There may also be cannibalisation which we are sure started after someone
more iPads every quarter in the same way from Macs. Despite Steve Jobs’ saw the back panel of the new MacBook,
that it sells more and more iPhones. The predictions that the PC market would go the 12.9in iPad claims just keep coming in,
fundamental difference between the iPad into decline (and the fact the rest of the with the latest reports suggesting that it
and iPhone, though, is the fact that PC market is in decline) Macs continue to will launch in 2016 and will offer Force
iPhones tend to be on a 12- or 24-month defy the trend with increasing sales. Touch and a built-in NFC chip, along with
upgrade cycle. People don’t replace Even Apple’s Tim Cook admitted a USB Type-C port. Whether all these
iPads that frequently; in fact, many of the that this is the case, telling analysts in features are enough to make the iPad a
original models launched back in 2010 the call relating to Apple’s second must-have item remains to be seen, but
are probably still being used even quarter financial results: “Have we had with more than 12 million sold in the just
though they don’t run iOS 8. cannibalisation? The answer is yes. gone quarter, it’s not dead yet.
006 Karen Haslam.indd 6 12/05/2015 10:21

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06/05/2015 15:48
News
Apple Watch doesn’t like tattoos
Apple admits that the ink in tattoos can confuse Apple Watch sensors
BY JA R E D N E W M A N
A
pple has officially warned inked
Apple Watch users that they
might have trouble getting
reliable heart-rate readings.
The company has updated its Apple
Watch support documents to note
potential problems for some tattooed
users, after complaints started popping
up around the web.
“Permanent or temporary changes to
your skin, such as some tattoos, can also
impact heart-rate sensor performance,”
the document now reads. “The ink,
pattern, and saturation of some tattoos
can block light from the sensor, making it
difficult to get reliable readings.
During workouts, the Apple Watch’s
heart rate monitor uses a method called
photoplethysmography (or PPG), which less power than the green LEDs. If a wrist designs found that solid red and black ink
shines green light on to the skin and has too much heavy ink, it makes sense caused the biggest issues, with
looks for the change in absorption that that the Apple Watch would have trouble inaccurate readings and failures. Lighter
comes with each pulse. During regular shining a light through the skin. colours produced only slight inaccuracies,
activity, the watch also measures infrared Keep in mind that not all tattoos will and patterned or variegated ink didn’t
light reflection, which presumably uses run into problems. Tests of several seem to cause any problems.
Apple Watch a durable device

Pleasing results when Apple Watch gets dunked and drilled
B Y D E R E K W A LT E R
T
he Apple Watch is getting the the sapphire crystal of the Apple Watch. It
same initiation that all new used the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
gadgets face: the torture test. to decide what to drill the displays with,
Yes, there are those willing to spend and found that the Sport screen was
money on a top-flight gadget just to see scratched by an 8-rated pick, which is a
how far they can push it before it breaks. solid result, indicating it takes a very
However, in the case of the Apple Watch, abrasive material to scratch the screen.
it’s proved to be a durable device. The Apple Watch, meanwhile, was able
Consumer Reports (the US equivalent to tolerate a 9-rated pick, which is the
to Which?) decided to go after the Apple equivalent of a masonry drill bit.
Watch’s screen quality, testing out its However, we’ve heard some reportedly not top of the scale, though
scratch resistance. It tested the strength complaints from those who have bought going with more durable stainless steel
of the Ion-X glass in the Sport model and a stainless steel watch. The material is would have raised the cost even further.
008_011 News July.indd 8 11/05/2015 15:11

iPhone 6 sales in China lead
to another record Apple quarter
61.2 million iPhones sold, $13.6 billion in profit
BY MARTYN WILLIAMS
A
pple achieved its second straight June, we anticipate being in a position
quarter of record results as where we can sell the Apple Watch in
demand for the iPhone 6 surged additional countries.”
and China became Apple’s second most The App Store also had a record
important market after the US. quarter, and sales of Mac computers hit
The company sold 61.2 million units of 4.5 million units during the quarter, up 10
the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus during the first percent on the year, but the average
three months of 2015, blasting the 44 price of those computers was lower, so
million it shipped during the same quarter revenue rose just 2 percent.
of last year when the iPhone 5s was still In Greater China, Apple saw its
new. It’s the second biggest quarter for best-ever results during the quarter,
iPhone sales ever. (The previous quarter which included the Luna New Year
was the company’s most successful, Holiday. Sales in the region, which
when it sold 74.5 million iPhones.) includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, hit
Those sales helped Apple to a net $16.8bn, up 71 percent on the year. In
profit of $13.6bn, up by almost 33 contrast, sales in Europe were up a
percent, on revenue of $58bn for the healthy 12 percent on the year, but far
quarter, up 27 percent. Apple forecast behind the growth seen in China.
internally that it would hit $55bn and said in the company’s earnings report Apple also announced plans to
analysts expected $56.08bn from the press release. “We’re seeing a higher rate expand a share buyback scheme and
company during the second quarter, up of people switching to iPhone than we’ve raise its dividend for shareholders.
from $45.6bn during the second experienced in previous cycles, and The program was started in 2012 as
quarter of 2014. we’re off to an exciting start to the June a way to burn through some of its
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have been quarter with the launch of Apple Watch.” substantial cash pile, but it’s generating
big hits with customers. Apple had only Perhaps even more impressive than so much money that the scheme can
gradually increased the screen size of its the 40 percent year-on-year jump in be expanded. “We are in the very
handset in recent years, while rival iPhone unit sales was the 55 percent fortunate position of generating more
makers experimented and found success jump in revenue from those sales. cash than we need to run our business
with much larger screens. The two new Thanks to higher average selling prices, and make these investments,” Cook
iPhones finally matched those larger revenue from iPhones jumped to $40bn said, referring to research and
displays and the result was record sales – or 69 percent of all Apple sales. development investments and capital
for the quarter, which ended 28 March. The company didn’t announce expenditures planned by Apple.
That also translated into a higher rate detailed sales for the Apple Watch, for Looking ahead, Apple said it expects
of people switching from competitors to which reservations were accepted during revenue in the current quarter to be
the iPhone, the company said. the quarter, but Cook said he was “very between $46- and $48bn, up from
“We are thrilled by the continued happy” with the reception the Apple $37.4bn in the same quarter last year.
strength of iPhone, Mac and the App Watch has been enjoying. There wasn’t much in the way of hints
Store, which drove our best March “Right now, demand is greater than at future products during the call on 27
quarter sales ever,” Apple CEO Tim Cook supply,” he said. “By some time in late April, but we are excited about the future
of the Apple TV after Cook spoke about
the success of HBO Now on the device:
The App Store also had a record quarter, and “I think we’re on the early stages of just
major, major changes in media that are
sales of Mac computers hit 4.5 million units going to be really great for consumers
during the quarter, up 10 percent on the year and I think Apple can be part of that.”
008_011 News July.indd 9 11/05/2015 17:10

News
iOS 8 on four out of five devices

iPad, iPhone users adopting latest Apple iOS edition
BY BOB BROWN
A
pple says that iOS 8, released as far back as the
to the public in September, can iPhone 4s and iPad 2
now be found on 81 percent of from 2011. What’s
iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices more, people are
accessing the Apple Store. That’s up from buying the new iPhone
77 percent from Apple’s March report and 6 and 6 Plus in droves.
up from 68 percent in January. It seems like Apple
The iOS 7 edition of Apple’s software is seeking to nip bugs
for iPads and iPhones now accounts for in the bud going
just 17 percent of devices, with 2 percent forward by giving the
on even older versions, according to public access to beta
Apple on its developer page. Some have releases of iOS.
balked at moving to iOS 8 because of the Apple is currently
space required to download it (which has on version 8.3 of
now been significantly reduced thanks to iOS, which included
an update), while others have been improved performance,
spooked by buggy releases. bug fixed and
But iOS 8 has a lot going for it, a redesigned
including that it’s compatible with devices Emoji keyboard.
Maps to add public transport data

Job listing seeks public transport expert to help Apple improve Maps
BY JA R E D N E W M A N
A
pple is still working to add public software head Scott Forstall was
transport data to its Maps app, reportedly ousted after he refused to
after the long-rumoured feature sign the mea culpa. Since then, the
failed to appear in iOS 8. A company job company has gone on an acquisition
listing seeks someone with “in-depth spree, snatching up mapping and
knowledge about public transit,” from locations firms such as BroadMap,
both technical and rider standpoints. Embark, HopStop and Spotsetter.
“As a member of the Routing team, you Even with new hires, it’s unclear
will work on one of the most anticipated when this data will become available
features of Apple Maps,” the listing says. in Apple Maps or if it will be available
Public transport information was in the UK. In the meantime, users in
available on iPhones and iPad until the need of public transport data can
update to iOS 6 in 2012, when Apple look to alternatives such as Google
replaced Google’s mapping data with Maps and Citymapper.
its own. The switch proved embarrassing Last year, reports suggested that
for Apple, not only because of fewer a major Maps update was on the
features, but because the data itself way, with better data and public
had accuracy problems. transport directions. But those features It now seems that Apple is looking to staff
Apple CEO Tim Cook eventually didn’t materialise in iOS 8, and personnel up once again and taking another shot at
apologised for the issues, and mobile issues and staff departures were blamed. the long-requested feature.
10 MACWORLD • MAY 2015
008_011 News July.indd 10 11/05/2015 15:12

Flaw breaks security for iOS apps
Vulnerability leaves thousands of iOS apps open to attacks
B Y L U C I A N C O N S TA N T I N
A
ttackers can potentially snoop vulnerable because they use
on the encrypted traffic of over AFNetworking 2.5.2 or older versions.
25,000 iOS applications due to The flaw was fixed in version 2.5.3.
a vulnerability in a popular open-source The vulnerability was reported to
networking library. AFNetworking developers on 27 March,
The vulnerability stems from a failure one day after a different flaw that allowed
to validate the domain names of digital HTTPS snooping was addressed by
certificates in AFNetworking, a library version 2.5.2. That weakness existed only
used by a large number of iOS and Mac in AFNetworking 2.5.1, released on 9
OS X developers to implement web February, and it ended up affecting 1,000
communications – including those over of the over 100,000 iOS apps. The new
HTTPS (HTTP with SSL/TLS encryption). flaw renders apps that use older versions
The flaw allows attackers in position to of the library vulnerable, as long as they
intercept HTTPS traffic between a rely on AFNetworking for establishing
vulnerable application and a web service HTTPS connections to web servers.
to decrypt it by presenting the application wireless networks, by hacking into SourceDNA said: “If you are using
with a digital certificate for a different routers or through other methods. AFNetworking, you must upgrade to
domain name. Such man-in-the-middle According to SourceDNA, more than 2.5.3.” A number of apps use this
attacks can be launched over insecure 25,000 iOS applications are potentially library, including Yelp and Pinterest.
Shining a Spotlight on tweets

Twitter set to appear in Spotlight on iPhones, iPads and Macs
BY ZACH MINERS
S
oon, when you carry out a search quicker to find content on Twitter.
on your iPhone for someone’s Representatives from Twitter
contact info, a recent tweet from and Apple did not
them might also pop up. immediately respond to
Twitter is working with Apple to requests for comment.
incorporate content and accounts into Should such a deal come
Apple’s Spotlight search feature, Twitter to fruition, it could help
CEO Dick Costolo said during the Twitter distribute its content
company’s quarterly earnings call on 29 to a wider audience, which
April. Spotlight search is a feature in would align with the
Apple’s iOS mobile system, and OS X on company’s larger efforts to
Macs, that generates results from content attract new users and thus
stored on the devices and from other improve the company’s ability
content such as Safari web results and to serve them ads.
mail from Apple’s Mail app. Apple’s Spotlight search pulls
Tweets might be next on the list. much of its data from
Costolo did not provide any other Apple-owned products
details on the status of the talks, beyond and services, but also from
saying that such integration would be outside sources such as Wikipedia
geared toward making it easier and and Microsoft’s Bing.
008_011 News July.indd 11 11/05/2015 17:11

Features EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE APPLE WATCH
EVERYTHING
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE
APPLE
WATCH
WE ANSWER ALL YOUR APPLE WATCH QUESTIONS
By Caitlin McGarry and Suzie Ochs
T
he first wave of Apple Watches that Apple has made the best smartwatch buy the 38- or 42mm case and which
were delivered on April 24, but on the market, though it’s not a must- band you choose.
if you were waiting to order a have device – at least not for now. Apple Watch Sport has an anodized
Sport, steel, or Edition until you Let’s back up to the beginning. Apple aluminium case (which is lighter than
could try it on in person or read the early finally made a smartwatch? Yes it did stainless steel) in silver or space grey,
reviews, you’ll have to wait until July to – several, actually. There are three and the face is Ion-X glass, which is also
get your hands on a Watch. editions, varying in materials and designed to be hard and rugged (as well
But that’s okay, because we know so luxury: the Apple Watch, Apple Watch as a little bit lighter) than the sapphire.
much more about Apple Watch now than Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. It’s definitely the lightest of the three
we did when it debuted last September. What are the differences between Apple Watch editions, making it an
How long does the battery last? How those three? The Apple Watch is made of ideal exercise companion. It’s also the
does Apple Pay work? Is it really better stainless steel, in a shiny chrome or a cheapest option at £299 for the 38mm
than a fitness tracker? space black finish. Its touchscreen is version and £339 for the 42mm model.
We answer all these questions and covered by sapphire crystal, which should As for the Apple Watch Edition, it
more in this guide to Apple Watch. make it more scratch-resistant than the ramps up the luxury factor with an
What’s the latest? Apple delivered the Gorilla Glass Apple has used on its 18-carat gold casing in yellow or rose. As
first wave of Apple Watch preorders on iPhones. Prices range between £479 you might expect, it’s heavy. The watch
Friday, April 24. Early reviews indicate and £949, depending on whether you comes in a fancy leather box that doubles
012_017 Everything Apple Watch.indd 12 08/05/2015 10:44

as a charging cradle. Unfortunately, it each edition comes in two sizes, which women wearing the watch, which is
also costs about as much as the average is something we haven’t seen with any especially nice to see, since other
car, ranging from £8,000 to £13,500, Android Wear watches so far. You’ll be smartwatch makers appear to be ignoring
depending on size and band choice. able to get the Apple Watches in those of us with slender wrists.
Are there multiple models because heights of 38- and 42mm. The Can you swap out the watch band?
one size doesn’t actually fit all? Yes, promotional videos feature plenty of Absolutely. Apple Watch comes with six
bands that are easy to mix and match
with any watch, although some match
better than others. You can swap them
out to your heart desires without the aid
Apple Watch, Apple
Watch Sport, and of any tools – as long as the band and
Apple Watch Edition. watch are the same size. (The Leather
Loop band, for example, only fits 42mm
watches, not the smaller 38mm size.)
Apple said it’s come up with its own
proprietary system to make switching
bands easy – but that also means you
probably won’t be able to swap in just

Different body finishes and phone and swap out the band so it’s also
strap materials allow you to in the right position. Easy, right?
choose your own look. What kinds of sensors does the Apple
Watch have? Can it track my heart rate?
Apple says that the watch has a couple
any band. And jeweller or watch repair shop. That one different sensors, including a gryroscope
even if Apple’s comes in a regular stainless steel tone and an accelerometer (as you’ll find in
bands fit your or in space black. With myriad tiny, most smartphones), plus a ‘custom’
watch, the finish interlocking loops, the Milanese Loop sensor that uses visible-light and
might be different: band kind of resembles chain mail, infrared LEDs along with photodiodes,
The solid-gold only much more modern. The stainless all on the back of the device, to
hardware accents steel mesh is also magnetic, so you can determine your heart rate. The Apple
on the rose grey adjust it to more sizes than you could Watch can also talk to your iPhone’s
Modern Buckle the Link Bracelet. GPS and Wi-Fi to help with figuring out
band won’t match Where can I buy it? At the time of location and other information.
the anodised writing all Apple Watch models were sold So it’s a watch and a fitness tracker?
aluminum finish of online, but if you live in London, Tokyo, The accelerometer lets the watch count
the Apple Watch Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, or Milan, you your steps, it extrapolates distance on its
Sport, for example. can buy an Apple Watch in select high- own, and relies on the GPS in the paired
For working out, end boutiques (not Apple Stores.) iPhone to trace your exact route. That
the sweat resistant Otherwise, you’ll have to either buy step data comes in handy for two of the
elastomer Sport one online and wait for it to ship apps Apple included on the watch:
Band comes in sometime in June. Apple Stores might Activity and Workout. Activity shows
black, white, pink, start stocking their shelves with your progress toward daily goals for
blue, and lime green. Watches this summer, too, but no official moving, exercising and even standing.
The Sport Band comes date has been announced. Workout is for more detailed tracking
as the default on the Which phones does it work with? of a variety of activities, including
Apple Watch Sport, Good news: you do need an iPhone to distance, pace, time and calories burned
naturally. Weirdly, different pair with your Apple Watch, but it doesn’t during each session; you can also use
colours of the Sport Band have have to be the brand-new iPhone 6 or 6 that app to set workout goals, and the
different weights, with black Plus. An iPhone 5, 5s or 5c will work just watch will give you feedback as you
being the lightest. fine. That’s a big deal since the watch’s
Owners of the Apple Watch and £299 starting price might be harder to
Watch Edition get three leather straps justify if it also required the
and two metal straps to choose from. The purchase of a shiny new phone.
Leather Loop is designed to be soft and Can left-handed users
comfortable, with a highly adjustable wear it? Don’t worry,
hidden magnetic closure – you just southpaws, Apple
wrap it around your wrist and the strap hasn’t forsaken you.
sticks to itself to stay closed. That one The Apple Watch
comes in stone, light brown, and bright works just fine for
blue. Available in pink, brown, and lefties, because the
midnight blue, the Leather Modern display rotates. All
strap has a two-piece magnetic closure you have to do is flip
and a subtle texture. And the old-school the watch over so
Classic Buckle strap is a black leather the Digital Crown is
strap that closes with a stainless steel on the left side. Then
buckle just like the traditional watches select ‘right wrist
you’ve seen your whole life. orientation’ when
Crafted of stainless steel, the Link you’re pairing the
Bracelet band closes with a butterfly Watch with your
clasp. Apple included a link-release
button on several of the links, so you This rose gold beauty with
can remove links yourself to customise a rose grey Modern Buckle
the fit – instead of having to take it to a strap will cost £13,500.

that sticks out the side, also known as the That said, there’s one gesture that
Digital Crown. That’s a high-tech version works pretty well on even a watch-sized
of the crown you’ll find on standard screen – swiping. Swipe up from the
wristwatches, which you turn to set the clock face to see little bits of information
time or wind the watch. In the case of the – your calendar, your location, current
Apple Watch, however, the Digital Crown weather data, and so forth. Apple calls
acts more like the iPod’s clickwheel: you these “glances”, and they strip out the
can turn the crown to scroll through a list most relevant information from apps and
or zoom in and out of a map. Pressing put them into a form you can digest just
the Crown returns you to the watch’s by looking at your Watch’s screen.
home screen, just like pressing the When you do touch the Apple Watch,
Home button on your iPhone would. its screen can actually distinguish
Below the Digital Crown, you’ll find a between a regular tap, which you’ll use
button, which Apple simply refers to as to select things, and a harder touch,
“the Button”. Press it to access the which is how you’ll access contextual
Friends app, which brings up a Contacts- menus – kind of like right-clicking with
style collection of the people you like to your mouse. Apple calls this technology
The watch can track your daily activities stay in touch with. Tapping a picture of a Force Touch, and it’s enabled by tiny
as well as workouts, using its own sensors friend lets you send them a message, electrodes in the display.
plus the ones in your phone. make a phone call, or make contact with Can the Apple Watch do anything
the Apple Watch’s Digital Touch features. my iPhone can’t do on its own? Apple
reach those goals. Both of the watch’s You can touch and tap on the screen showed off a really cool-looking feature
fitness apps sync data back to the too, but if you recall using the sixth- called Digital Touch, as we mentioned
Health and Fitness apps on your iPhone, generation iPod nano (the little square above, that you can use with other
too. You can’t use third-party fitness one from 2010 that you could buy watch Apple Watch wearers. Digital Touch lets
apps such as Runtastic or Nike+ Running bands for), the size of your fingertip is you tap out a pattern on your watch
without your iPhone in tow, though. bound to obscure part of what you’re face, which your friend will see and feel
How do you navigate the Apple trying to tap. That’s why the Digital on his or her own Apple Watch. You can
Watch? It’s got a touchscreen, right? It Crown is there, to let you navigate the also draw each other little pictures. And
does have a touchscreen, but the Apple Apple Watch while still being able to if you hold down two fingers in Digital
Watch’s big innovation is the little dial see the entire screen. Touch, you can send your heartbeat,
which shows up on your friend’s watch
as a glowing, pulsing heart. This might
encourage couples to buy his-and-hers
watches so they can let each other
know anytime how their hearts flutter
for each other… or pound like hammers
when they get really mad.
Will I be able to use the Apple Watch
to pay for things? Yes. The Apple Watch
has near-field communication, or NFC,
technology, just like the iPhone 6 and
6 Plus. Once this becomes available in
the UK, you’ll be able to wave your
watch near an NFC-equipped payment
terminal to pay, just like you can with
one of Apple’s latest phones.
And there’s good news for iPhone 5,
5c, and 5s owners: you won’t need a 6
or 6 Plus to use Apple Pay on the watch.
The Digital Crown is like the iPod’s

clickwheel, and helps you scroll through
options and return to the home screen.

iOS 8.2 has added the Apple Watch

companion app to every compatible
iPhone, which is where you’ll add your
credit or debit card information to store
in Passbook. No financial details are
stored on the watch itself, but the
device does store a token, or a number
to act in place of your card number, so
you won’t need your iPhone with you Nike Twitter Evernote TripAdvisor
to use Apple Pay.
The iPhone 6 models have a
dedicated ‘Secure Element’ chip that
stores your encrypted information – not
your actual credit card numbers, but
rather a ‘device account number’ that is
used to create a single-use security code PlayKids Expedia Pacemaker DJ Fandango
to authorise each transaction. The phone
provides the watch with information about
the items stored in its own Secure
Element, and then the watch has the
ability to use those items itself in order to
pay wirelessly. There’s a nice security
touch, too: if you take the Apple Watch
eBay Lutron Caséta Shazam NY Times
off, it’ll lock and require a code before
you can purchase anything, so if
someone steals your watch they won’t in many of the common apps that we use Uber, and Twitter are there, plus indie
be able to use it as a credit card. every day: Messages, Mail, Weather, apps from game developers and more.
What kind of apps did Apple build for Calendar, Maps, Passbook, Music, Photos, What kind of battery life will the
Apple Watch? Will it run third-party apps? and more. There are, however, a few Watch have? Apple says the Watch will
Apple went all out for the watch, building notable omissions. For example, while the have all-day battery life, which means up
watch can act as a viewfinder for your to 18 hours of active and passive use:
iPhone’s camera, letting you snap 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45
pictures and even set the self-timer, it minutes of nonstop app use, and a
doesn’t have its own built-in camera. Nor 30-minute workout with Bluetooth music
does it have Safari, Apple’s web playback from the watch, which
browser – all the can store up to 2GB of
information you get is music locally. If you’ve
mediated through been a bit
those apps. overzealous in
Still, if what your watch
Apple builds usage and your
into the watch battery starts
isn’t enough to dwindle
for you, the halfway
company through
supports more the day, the
than 3,000 watch will
third-party apps automatically
and Glances. You default to a Power
can install these Reserve mode for up
apps from the Apple to 72 hours, so you’ll still
Watch App Store, which is be able to see the time (but
accessible through the Apple Watch not anything else). Basically, if you
Apple Watch will bring Apple Pay to app that came preinstalled with iOS 8.2. plan to buy an Apple Watch, expect to
iPhone 5, 5c, and 5s owners. All the usual suspects such as Instagram, charge it next to your iPhone every night.

Over 3,000 third-party apps are already
available on the App Store.
magnets latched on, but the novelty

quickly wore off, and then the charger
was just another proprietary dongle we
had to keep track of.
Can I choose from a whole slew of
Runtastic Babbel watch faces? Look around Apple’s gallery
for some great examples. They look good
in person, too – some are animated, like
the one that gives you a fully interactive
view of the moon phases and how the
planets align. And yes, there’s even a Use voice dictation to send messages and
Mickey Mouse watch face, a modern spin interact with apps on the Watch.
Lifesum Amplifi Remote on the face we saw on that watch-like
six-generation iPod nano. Apple’s Kevin resistant but not waterproof. You can, for
Lynch also demonstrated how you can example, wear and use Apple Watch
customise several of the watch faces, during exercise, in the rain, and while
spinning the Digital Crown to select a washing your hands, but submerging
new colour scheme, or tapping at the Apple Watch is not recommended. Apple
screen to tweak what kind of information Watch has a water resistance rating of
is shown. Apple is keeping tight rein IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. The
Procreate Pocket Rules!
over the watch’s timekeeping features leather bands are not water resistant.”
for the moment, with no third-party watch An IPX7 rating officially means it can
Apple did say that the watch battery faces available at launch. survive in water up to 1m for up to 30
will be replaceable, but didn’t give Does it have Siri? Can it make phone minutes. Which makes it sound pretty
details as to how much replacement calls? The Apple Watch has a microphone waterproof, but you probably don’t want
batteries will cost. and a speaker, so you can talk to it and it to take chances. Immersion in water any
Does the Apple Watch charge can talk to you. (You can also use the deeper than 1m, or in any amount of
wirelessly? No. The back of the watch microphone for voice dictation, to send water for more than 30 minutes, could
has no exposed charging contacts, and audio messages, and even communicate spell doom. Tim Cook reportedly told an
the charging cable snaps on with via walkie-talkie mode with other Apple Store employee in Germany that
magnets to juice it up via induction. But Apple Watch users.) And yes, you can he showers with his Apple Watch on.
it’s not ‘true’ wireless charging as you use it to make and receive phone calls, But Tim could also get a new one
might normally think of it, where you as well as transfer calls to your iPhone anytime he wants, we’d guess...
would drop the watch on to a charging or a Bluetooth device. What can the Apple Watch do
pad and walk away – it’s more like your Is it waterproof? Can I swim with it? without a phone? The Apple Watch can
electric toothbrush. The Apple Watch is water resistant, but track your fitness information ( just sync
We’ve seen a magnetic charging not waterproof. You can wear it on a rainy your workout data to HealthKit later),
dongle similar to this on the FiLIP, which day and have water splashed on it and it’ll play music (from its own onboard
is a wearable GPS tracker and phone for survive, but you should avoid submerging storage) via Bluetooth, and even make
children. The first few times we used it, it in water. Apple’s official line (in the fine purchases using Apple Pay, all without
we loved the satisfying click as the print) is: “Apple Watch is splash and water the iPhone being present.

Features APPLE WATCH VS WATCH SPORT
Apple Watch
VS
Watch Sport
IN MANY WAYS, THE APPLE WATCH AND THE APPLE WATCH SPORT
ARE VERY SIMILAR, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW HUNDRED POUNDS, BUT
THERE ARE SOME KEY DIFFERENCES. READ ON TO FIND OUT
By Lewis Painter
A
fter all the waiting Apple’s Watch Sport with the Space Grey same. The Watch Sport is made from
watch is finally here. Aluminium is the only watch to ship with anodised aluminium alloy. Apple claims
Available in three variations a black Sport Band. Of course, you that this is 60 percent stronger than
– Apple Watch Sport, Apple have the option to buy a different strap standard alloys, but also lightweight – 30
Watch and Apple Watch Edition – prices separately for £39. percent lighter than the Apple Watch.
range from £299 to £13,500. Since the The Apple Watch starts at a slightly The Apple Watch is crafted from
majority of us can’t afford the top-of- higher price of £479, with the most stainless steel, which gives it a premium
the range Watch Edition, we’ve decided expensive option priced at £949. The look, while the mirror finish adds to its
to look at the more affordable options. price that you pay is dependent on the appeal. The steel has been cold forged
watch strap that you choose. which, according to Apple, makes it
Price difference Where the Watch Sport offers only around 80 percent stronger than it would
Let’s first talk about the cost difference silicone bands, there’s a much wider otherwise be. It’s heavier than the Watch
between the Apple Watch and the Watch choice of premium watch straps available Sport, but you may consider this an
Sport. The latter is Apple’s entry point for the Apple Watch. That’s not to say you acceptable compromise if you want a
device, with prices starting at £299 or can’t get a Sport Band if you want one, as more durable model.
£339, depending on whether you want the entry-level options (£479 or £519 With regards to the display, the
the 38- or 42mm variation. depending on size) come with either a Watch Sport has drawn the short straw.
If you opt for the Sport watch, you’ll black or white Sport Band. Where the Watch and Watch Edition both
have a selection of fluoroelastomer bands have tough sapphire crystal screens, the
to choose from. There is a choice of plain Same function, different materials Watch Sport has strengthened Ion-X
aluminium or darker Space Grey for the Even though there’s a difference in price glass. Apple says the reason for this is
watch case. It’s worth noting that the between the two, their capabilities are the to make it as light as possible, while
ensuring it’s scratch and impact resistant.
How was this achieved? According
Where the Watch Sport offers only silicone to Apple, the glass is fortified at a
molecular level through ion exchange,
bands, there’s a much wider choice of premium a process that replaces smaller ions
watch straps available for the Apple Watch with larger ones. The end result is a
018_019 Apple Watch vs Sport.indd 18 11/05/2015 09:05

MODERN BUCKLE LEATHER LOOP MILANESE LOOP
surface layer that the company claims claims makes the band durable and Can I attach a premium strap
is far tougher than ordinary glass. strong, but soft and comfortable to wear. to the Apple Watch Sport?
Even stronger than Ion-X is the It uses a pin-and-tuck closure to ensure a Despite what you may have heard, you
sapphire glass. Apart from diamond, good fit. The only issue is that it isn’t as can add premium straps to the Watch
sapphire is the hardest transparent aesthetically pleasing as the other Sport, though you’ll have to pay for the
material in the world, which should mean designs, and it looks a little cheap. privilege. The classic buckle, leather
ultimate protection for the watch display. The Apple Watch has a much larger loop and Milanese loop, for example,
The process is intricate, as Apple has said variety of watch straps, including the will set you back £129, while the price
that the crystal is harvested using a thin Sport Band. There are also a variety of jumps to £209 for the modern buckle
diamond-cutting wire, which is then leather and stainless steel straps. Your and then to £379 for the link bracelet.
precision machined into its final form options include: So yes, while it is possible to wear
and polished for hours to achieve its • Link Bracelet premium straps with the Apple Watch
smooth, shiny finish. In its tests, • Sport Band Sport, it may not be worth it. Why?
Consumer Reports (the US equivalent to • Leather Loop While the £379 link bracelet and £339
Which?) was able to scratch the Sport • Classic Buckle Space Grey Apple Watch is a cheaper
after some pretty extreme scratching, • Modern Buckle combination than Apple’s official Watch
but claimed it couldn’t scratch the • Milanese Loop and link bracelet combo, totalling £718
sapphire screen at all. The wider selection of straps means opposed to £949, it might not be as
that you can customise your watch aesthetically pleasing. This is due to the
Which watchstraps are available? depending on the occasion. While a fact that the link bracelet is made from
Upholding the idea that the Apple Watch leather loop may be understated and the same stainless steel alloy as the case,
Sport is to be used mainly for sporting comfortable for everyday use, special meaning that its integration is seamless
activities, the only strap available at occasions may call for a Milanese loop and contributes to the premium look of
purchase is a Sport Band. You have a or a link bracelet. Interestingly, the the watch. Paired with the anodised
choice between White, Blue, Green, leather loop watch strap doesn’t have aluminium Watch Sport, it may look
Pink or Black unless, as mentioned a 38mm variation and is only available for slightly odd – a big issue for some,
earlier, you opted for the Space Grey the 42mm model. The good thing is especially with a fashionable device.
option in which case you’re given a that the Apple Watch goes perfectly That’s not to say that the other straps
black Sport Band. with any style of watch strap, which is wouldn’t look good on the Watch Sport.
According to Apple, the Sport Band is partly down to its stainless steel, mirror We personally like the Space Grey Watch
made from a “custom high-performance finish. It looks like it belongs on a Sport and black leather loop combo,
fluoroelastomer”, which the company premium watch strap. but it’s down to personal preference.
SPORTS BAND CLASSIC BUCKLE LINK BRACELET
018_019 Apple Watch vs Sport.indd 19 11/05/2015 15:10

Features HOW TO SET UP AN APPLE WATCH
How to set up an Apple Watch

David Price reveals how to set up an Apple Watch, pair it with an iPhone and download apps
A
pple Watch just arrived? other piece that also comes in the box. and hold it, you can also power on and
Great. Let’s get you up and (Our 38mm Apple Watch came with the off. Do this now to wake up the watch.
running with our Apple small/medium strap section attached by As when waking up an iPhone, you’ll
Watch quick-start guide. default, and the medium/large one in see the Apple logo for a moment or two,
Here’s how to start up your new watch, the box; we understand that the 42mm before the interface starts up.
get it charged and powered on, set the watch comes with the medium/large It should also arrive at least partially
right language and other preferences, attached, which makes sense.) charged up. On the off chance it
pair it with an iPhone, download some Remove the section of strap with doesn’t, and for the future, we’ll briefly
Apple Watch apps and get started. holes on it by pressing the button on the discuss how to charge up your Apple
Apple Watch body, then slide the new Watch in the next section.
Unbox the Apple Watch piece in (see image, top right).
and fit the right strap (Both sides of the strap – the one with Charge up
Open the box and take out all the holes and the one with the nubbin to go Apple Watch charging works via
components: the Apple Watch itself, in the holes – are removable, of course, wireless induction. The charger is the
the spare strap piece (if like us you enabling you to swap in alternatives.) small white circular unit (see image,
went for the Sport option), the charger bottom right); plug it into the mains and
and the basic documentation. Power on then place the Apple Watch on top of
The Sport Band comes with a spare The button on the side of the Apple the charging unit – it will snap on to the
piece, as we said. Try the watch on as it Watch (officially known, I kid you not, unit magnetically. An icon will appear
comes, and see if it fits properly. If your as the Side Button) provides a shortcut to saying ‘charging’, and then disappear;
wrist is too small or large, swap in the your favourite contacts – but if you press after this there will be a lightning bolt
icon at the top of the watch screen to
indicate that it’s charging.
Charging works via wireless induction. The charger The Apple Watch doesn’t need to be
plugged into the charging unit, but the
is the small circular unit; plug it into the mains and black circle on the bottom of the watch
then place the watch on top of the charging unit does need to be in contact with it.
020_021 Set Up Watch.indd 20 08/05/2015 13:03

Pair the Apple
Watch with an iPhone
The rest of the setup requires the iPhone
you plan to use with the Apple Watch.
Start up the Apple Watch app on your
iPhone (this arrived with iOS 8.2, so if
you’ve not got it on your iPhone, you’ll
need to update iOS) and you’ll be
prompted to switch on Bluetooth if you
haven’t done so already. The app will talk
you through the next few steps.
First of all, it will prompt you to line up
the screen of the Apple Watch in the
crosshairs of the iPhone’s camera as
directed. You’ll have noticed that the
Apple Watch has automatically detected
the presence of a nearby iPhone ready a short passcode – four digits – or a for it to sync – but oddly enough the apps
for pairing, and is now showing an longer code that will have to be input on weren’t ready and waiting for us at the
attractive image that acts as a sort of QR the iPhone every time you want to unlock end of the process. We found that we had
code for the iPhone camera to pick up. the watch. (Bear in mind that you unlock to open the Apple Watch app on the
the watch once and then, as long as it iPhone, scroll down to the individual app
Options and preferences remains on your wrist, it stays unlocked.) we wanted on the watch, tap on it and
First of all, you need to tell the app Last of all, decide whether you want then select ‘Show on Apple Watch’.
whether you’re going to be wearing the to unlock the Apple Watch with your In future, if there are any apps you
Apple Watch on your left or right wrist. iPhone. What this means is that, if both want to use on the watch, you’ll need to
Then you’ll be shown Apple’s terms and your Apple Watch and your iPhone are install them on the iPhone first. Then you
conditions, which you’ll need to agree to. locked and you unlock the phone, the can go into the Apple Watch app on the
Read the document first. Then you’ll be watch – provided it’s on your wrist – will iPhone, scroll down to the app you’ve just
asked to enter the password for the unlock too automatically. installed, and choose ‘Show on Apple
Apple ID used on your iPhone. Watch’. You can also decide whether it
Now we need to run through a few Install apps should show up in your glances.
optional features and services for your The last option you get is whether or not
Apple Watch. It’s up to you how you to install all the apps that are on your You’re done!
respond to each of these, but we’d iPhone on your Apple Watch. If you That’s pretty much it. Your iPhone will
agree to most of them. agree to this, expect to wait a little, ‘warn’ you, as per Apple’s custom, that a
Do you want to use Location Services while this is all synced. new device is using your Apple ID – of
on your Apple Watch? This can use up We did ask the iPhone to install all the course. Acknowledge this, and the app
battery life, but enables apps to adjust relevant apps – and waited a few minutes will tell you that setup is complete.
their behaviour or offer different options
based on your location.
Do you want to use Siri? Apple’s
voice assistant may not be your cup of
tea but it’s constantly evolving, and we
can’t see any down sides to at least
having it as an option.
Do you want to automatically send
diagnostics back to Apple when there’s a
problem? This is the public-spirited thing
to do, and will in a small way help Apple
to find solutions to bugs and flaws, but
you’re not under any obligation to do so.
Set a passcode for the watch – we
found this a disappointingly fiddly process
on our 38mm model, but do your best
– and confirm it. You can choose between
020_021 Set Up Watch.indd 21 08/05/2015 13:03

Features BATTERY LIFE TIPS FOR APPLE WATCH
Battery life tips for Apple Watch

Karen Haslam’s tips will help ensure your Apple Watch lasts longer between charges
1. Running out of power

Our first day with the Apple Watch
was disappointing. By 6.15pm our iPhone
and various communications between the
watch and the iPhone are using power.
Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to close an app
Fetching Mails to the Apple Watch is
also pretty power intensive. We set it to
notify us of any VIP emails, but decided
had run out of power, and just half an once it’s open on the Apple Watch – you to switch this off and stop showing email
hour later the watch gave up the ghost, need to open the app in question on the alerts, presuming that this would stop
too. Perhaps our first day’s use had been watch, press and hold the side button the watch from constantly pinging the
a little excessive – we’d been checking (below the Digital Crown) until you see iPhone for details of new email.
out the apps and settings, but it’s not the Power Off screen, then press and
as if we had run a marathon.
Apple says that the watch will offer
an “all-day battery life” – that’s up to 18
hold it again to quit the app and return to
the home screen. However, we found it
difficult seeing what apps are running in
2. Battery remaining
Wondering what your battery
usage is like on your watch and iPhone?
hours of normal use. It describes this the background. We assumed that Launch the Apple Watch app on your
as: “90 time checks, 90 notifications, Glances would show these, but it appears iPhone and go to General → Usage. Here
45 minutes of app use and a 30-minute that some apps will always run in Glances. you can view how much power your watch
workout with music playback from Luckily, you can remove apps from has used since its last charge – if you
Apple Watch via Bluetooth, over the Glances in the iPhone app. Go to My think that figure looks high, the chances
course of 18 hours.” We made it to almost Watch → Glances, tap on the red circle are that something is grabbing battery
11 hours on the watch, not that it was next to the app you wish to erase from life while you aren’t using the watch.
much use to us after our iPhone died. Glances and tap Remove. We removed To see how much battery has been
We think it’s likely that a lot of Maps and Heartbeat as we thought used up on the watch itself, open Glances
background processing is going on, they would use up a lot of power. by swiping up on the clock face, and look
for Power Reserve. Here you can see
what percentage use the battery is on.
To see how much battery has been used up on To see your iPhone’s power usage,
go to Settings → General → Usage →
the watch itself, open Glances by swiping up on Battery Usage and see much power
the clock face, and look for Power Reserve the Watch app is using.
022_025 Watch Battery.indd 22 11/05/2015 15:41

5 6 8
After a morning of accessing various

settings in the Apple Watch app our
Battery Usage indicated the Watch app
Perhaps you drink a lot of tea, or when
you talk you wave your arms around
gesticulating. If that sounds like you,
7. Digital Touch
Another way to avoid an excessive
amount of haptic notifications is to not get
had used 14 percent of our iPhone battery it’s a good idea to turn off Activate caught up in a Digital Touch interaction
and our phone was down to 49 percent, on Wrist Raise. with another Apple Watch user.
while the watch had 76 percent left. You can stop your watch switching We were tapping away and
on whenever you raise your wrist in the sending drawings and heart beats,
3. Best watch
faces for battery life
Pick the most minimal watch face you can
Watch App on your iPhone. Tapping
General and sliding off Wrist Detection
will stop the watch from showing you
and both we and the recipient noticed
that battery life suffered.
– the darker, the less power hungry. We

quickly ditched the pretty butterflies for
the X-Large clock face in purple, though
the time and your alerts when you
raise it. If you turn it off, you will find
that some activity measurements
8. Notifications
Just as with your iPhone, don’t
sign up for every notification going if
the least detailed and colourful ‘Simple’ won’t be available and your watch you want to save battery life.
clock face would probably be the most may not lock or unlock automatically, In order to get notifications on your
battery efficient option. so you need to be sure that this is Apple Watch, the device has to be in
the best option for you. almost constant communication with
4. Accessibility features
In a similar vein, you can
use certain accessibility features to
Alternatively, you can turn Wrist
Activation off on the Apple Watch itself.
Tap the Settings icon → General →
your phone, so be selective about
what you need to be notified of.
You can use the Apple Watch app on
improve the battery life of your watch. Activate on Wrist Raise, and switch the your phone turn off any notifications
In the Apple Watch app, go to General slider to off. Now if you wish to activate you don’t need. Go to Notifications and
→ Accessibility → Reduce Motion and turn the screen, you will have to tap it. go through each of the apps listed that
off Motion, this will limit animation and can send notifications to your Watch
automatic resizing of the Apple Watch
user interface on the Home screen 6. Stop watch beeping
Another way to preserve power
and adjust the settings.
when you open and close apps. is to stop your Apple Watch beeping
whenever you receive notifications. 9. Mail notifications
Of the notifications there is
5. Turn off wrist raise

Are you the kind of person
who is often raising your arm?
To do so, go to the Apple Watch
app on your phone, choose Sound
& Haptics and mute Alert Volume.
one that you should pay particular
attention to: Mail. If you choose to see
alerts from Mail, then expect your battery

Features BATTERY LIFE TIPS FOR APPLE WATCH
to run out quicker as the watch will be

constantly pinging the iPhone to see if
you have any emails to be alerted to.
If you desperately need to be alerted
to an email then leave alerts on – you
can even fine-tune it to alert you if one
of your VIPs (set up in Mail) emails
you. But for the best battery life we
recommend turning Mail alerts off.
10. Activity-related
notifications
You can also switch off notifications for
the Activity app. For example, you can
turn off Stand Reminders, so that your
watch doesn’t remind you every hour
to stand up, although we can’t imagine
this is particularly battery intensive.
You could similarly turn off the other
Activity-related notifications, but in all
honesty it may be better to stop the
watch from Activity monitoring.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t appear 9 10
to be possible, though. (You’ll see the
same options for adjusting Activity if To switch on Power Saving Mode, Because you can’t see what apps are
you go to the Apple Watch app, and go to the Watch app, scroll down to open on the watch, you can’t be sure that
scroll down to Activity.) Workout, and select Power Saving Mode. it has really closed. We have, however,
been assured that this will quit any open
11. Power Saving mode

While you can’t turn off Activity
monitoring as such, you can turn on a
12. Force quit apps
If you suspect an app is using
too much power, you can force quit it.
apps. We tried it out in Maps and sure
enough when we re opened the app
it had to load up again, although the
Power Saving mode that makes the Force quitting an app is not as obvious as route we’d planned was still there.
Apple Watch conserve battery life by it is on the iPhone, however. To do so,
disabling the heart-rate sensor during
walking and running workouts. If you
do this, the calorie burn calculations
open the app, hold down the side button
until you see the power off message,
and then hold the side button again until
13. Turn off Maps
Speaking of Maps, once you
have planned a route make sure you
won’t be accurate, though. you return to home screen. Stop Directions when you are finished
with the route plan. To do so, hard
press on the Map app and tap on the
cross labelled Stop Directions.
14. Remove apps

Another tip is to get rid of apps
on your watch that you don’t need.
Apple says that there were 3,500 apps
available for the Apple Watch at launch,
but we certainly don’t recommend that
you install all of them. This is because
each one will be transferring information
between your iPhone and Apple Watch.
So be selective about what apps you
add to your watch.
You can only remove third-party apps,
however. If you want to remove them
13 from your watch, go to the Apple Watch

inclined to turn off Bluetooth. However,
without it, the Apple Watch won’t offer
much in the way of functionality. For
example, you won’t be able to load up
your latest emails without switching on
Bluetooth on the iPhone and you won’t
receive any text or call alerts.
If you need any more convincing,
Apple states that in order to maximise
battery life on the watch, you should keep
Bluetooth enabled on the iPhone as it
enables “more efficient communications”.
20. Power Reserve mode

Your final port of call is to turn
on Power Reserve Mode. To do so,
press and hold the side button and
when the power off screen comes up
14 choose power reserve. Or you can swipe
up on the clock face to see the Power
app on your iPhone, scroll down to the
app you wish to remove, and toggle to
Show App on Apple Watch to off. You can
17. Do Not Disturb
Turn on Do Not Disturb to
prevent notifications causing your watch
Reserve glance and turn it on there.
From this point on your watch will only
work as a clock. When you want to go
also remove them from Glances here. to light up, tap your wrist, or beep at you. back to using the watch normally, hold
To do so, swipe up on the Clock Face to the side button again. The Apple Watch
15. More power

What about those desperate
times when you really need to
enter Glances, and swipe along until you
reach the Connected screen, then tap on
the crescent moon icon.
will always give you the option to switch
into this Power Reserve Mode when it is
close to running out of battery and Apple
squeeze the last bit of power out of says you should get a couple of days use
the battery? There are various last
minute tweaks to extend the battery 18. Airplane mode
You can also turn on Airplane
as a clock in this mode.
in the watch a little further. Mode on the Connected screen, which

means that any communication between 21. Reset Apple Watch
Done all the above and
16. Greyscale Apple Watch

If you were really desperate
your watch and iPhone will be barred. convinced that something is wrong with
your Watch? Some have suggested that a
to stretch out battery power go to
Accessibility and turn on Greyscale
and remove any colour from your life.
19. Bluetooth
When it comes to saving the
power on your iPhone, you may be
hard reboot will fix things. To reboot your
Watch, hold down the Digital Crown and
side button until the screen goes dark.
17 18 20

Features USE DIGITAL TOUCH ON YOUR APPLE WATCH
Use Digital Touch on Apple Watch

Lewis Painter explains how to send a Digital Touch from your Apple Watch
O
ne of the Apple Watch’s key the one that you want to connect with. underneath. Tap the phone icon on the
features is Digital Touch. This A new menu will open, displaying the left to call them or tap the message icon
lets you communicate with contact’s photo and a series of icons on the right-hand side to send them a
your friends and family using
the watch in unique ways. Some of which
can only be received by another Watch.
How to send a Digital

Touch on the Apple Watch
From any Apple Watch menu, you can
press the side button (underneath the
Digital Crown) to go to ‘Friends’. From
here, you can view and contact the
people you speak to most. You can add
or remove contacts from this list using
the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
By using the Digital Crown, you can
browse through your contacts and select Press the side button below the Digital Crown to go to your contacts.
026_027 Digital Touch Apple Watch.indd 26 12/05/2015 13:31

2.
Tap a pattern on the screen and your

Browse through your contacts by using the Digital Crown. pattern will be sent to your friend.
message. If they also have an Apple (see image 2). To do this, tap a pattern on
Watch, you’ll see a third, central icon – the screen. This will then be sent to your
Digital Touch. When you tap this, you’ll be friend, and they’ll feel it on their wrist
presented with a largely black screen. thanks to the watch’s Taptic Engine. Taps
There are three types of Digital Touch. can be a way to discretely communicate
– three taps could, for example, be code
Sketch for grabbing some lunch.
Your first option is to draw a picture on
the Apple Watch’s screen. Your scribble Heartbeat
will disappear after a few seconds of The third option, is to send your friend
inactivity, and be sent to your friend. your heartbeat using the Apple Watch’s
If you miss a Digital Touch message because

The Digital Touch icon is in the centre of
you are busy, tap on the arrow icon in the top the screen below your chosen contact.
right of their listing to access it
friend, who will feel your heartbeat on
Your drawing will then appear on their heart-rate sensor. To initiate this, place their wrist and see it on their screen.
screen (see image 1). two fingers on the watch’s screen (see If you miss a Digital Touch message
image 3). You’ll know that it’s working because you are busy, tap on the arrow
Tap thanks to the visual heart-rate feedback icon in the top right of their listing to
The second way to communicate via on screen, which pulses in time with access it. Note that once viewed, it will
Digital Touch is to tap them on the wrist your heart rate. This is then sent to your vanish never to be seen again.
3.
1.
Send your friend your heart beat with Apple
Draw a picture with your finger on your Apple Watch screen. Watch’s heart rate sensor.
026_027 Digital Touch Apple Watch.indd 27 12/05/2015 13:31

Features CHANGE APPLE WATCH FACES
Change an Apple Watch’s faces

Ashleigh Allsopp shows how to make your Apple Watch’s face suit your mood, style and personality
T
he Apple Watch has hundreds
of brilliant features, so much so
that it’s easy to forget that its
most basic of jobs is to tell you
the time. It is a watch, after all. Here,
we talk you through how to choose,
change and customise a watch face.
Choose your watch face

There’s a huge selection of faces on offer,
and we’re sure that this will grow over 1.
time. When you first get your Apple
Watch, though, there will be a set of
Apple-made watch faces already
installed. There are traditional options,
modern designs, and brand-new ways
to visualise the time.
Watch faces can be changed
whenever you fancy, too, so if you get
bored of one or feel like it doesn’t suit
your mood, it’s an easy process to swap
it for something more fitting.
To do so, you’ll need to press firmly on 2.
your current watch face to bring up the
Faces gallery. Swipe left and right to find
the watch face you want. Once you’ve
picked one, you can either tap it to make
it your new face or customise it further
by tapping the ‘Customize’ button at the
bottom of the screen.
Customise your watch face

Once you’ve tapped Customize, you’ll
come to the customisation screen. The
dots along the top represent how many 3.
customisation panels there are for the
Face you’ve chosen. On the Utility watch side of the Apple Watch) to add hours The third screen offers various areas
face there are three panels, for example. and minutes (see image 2). Swiping to the that you can tap to customise. For
You can customise anything that’s next screen will bring you to the next example, you can add different useful
within the green outlines. In this instance, element you can customise. In the case of information in each area, such as your
the first panel (see image 1) lets you add Utility, you can change the colour of the calendar and the weather (see image 3).
more detail to the Face. Turn the Digital second panel – here it’s only the colour of Press the Digital Crown when you’ve
Crown (the circular button found on the the second hand that is customisable. finished customising and then tap the
screen to set it as your watch face. You
can now tap on the temperature on
Watch faces can be changed, so if you get bored your watch face (if you’ve chosen to
display it) to go to the weather app, or
of one or feel like it doesn’t suit your mood, it’s an your next appointment to go to your
easy process to swap it for something more fitting calendar, for example. And that’s it.
028 Change Watch Face.indd 28 12/05/2015 13:13

APPLE WATCH PHONE CALLS Features
Make Apple Watch phone calls

Keep in touch with your friends and answer calls on your wrist. Ashleigh Allsopp reports
I
t’s something straight out of Dick to talk to, tap the green answer button. call simply by covering the Apple Watch
Tracy, but now fiction has become a There’s a built-in speaker and mic, so with your hand.
reality and you can talk to friends and you’ll be able to chat without getting
family from your wrist. Here, we reveal your iPhone out of your bag or pocket. Make a call
how to make calls on the Apple Watch. Should you wish to take the phone call You can also make a call directly from
on your iPhone (don’t forget that your Apple Watch. Press the side button
Answer a call everyone else will be able to hear the to bring up your circle of Friends. You’ll
If someone calls you while you’re wearing other side of your conversation if you’re see their initials and thumbnail images,
your Apple Watch (and it’s paired to your speaking through your wrist unless you which you can tap to call using the
iPhone), you’ll be alerted by a subtle are using a Bluetooth headset), you can microphone and speaker. Tapping the
vibration, as well as an audible ringtone if transfer the call from the Apple Watch to call button at the bottom left of the
you haven’t set the device to silent. your iPhone by scrolling up using the screen beneath the person’s thumbnail
Look at your watch and you’ll see Digital Crown and tapping ‘Answer on will bring up a list of numbers associated
who’s calling, along with an answer or iPhone’. If you are in a busy meeting, for with that person, which you can tap to
decline button. If it’s someone you want example, you can mute an incoming make the phone call. You can also use
Siri to make a call by saying “Hey Siri”
and then “Call Mum”, for example.
You can transfer calls from the Apple Watch to If you want to call someone who isn’t
in your shortcut list of friends, you need to
your iPhone by scrolling up using the Digital open the phone app on the watch and
Crown and tapping ‘Answer on iPhone select your contact from that list.
029 Apple Watch Phone Calls.indd 29 11/05/2015 14:30

Features APPLE WATCH TEXTS
Send Apple Watch texts

Ashleigh Allsopp shows how to send texts from your Apple Watch
T
he Apple Watch is here and it’s Lowering your wrist will dismiss the bring up the ‘Send as audio message’ or
packed full of handy features. message – it’s as simple as that. ‘Send as text message’ options.
One of the most useful allows If you want to reply, though, scroll Alternatively, Apple has made new
users to receive and respond to down with the Digital Crown to find the animated emojis, hearts, and hands,
text messages, so here, we talk you Reply button. Tap Reply and you’ll find which you can access by tapping Reply
through how to reply to a message on a list of short, smart replies that Apple and then tapping the smiley face icon.
Apple Watch, and how to send a text. thinks are relevant to the message. Use the digital crown to scroll through the
You can also add your own smart various expressions and animations until
Reply to a text replies in the Apple Watch app on your you find a suitable one and press Send.
When you receive a text, you’ll be alerted iPhone for replying to future messages.
to the message with a gentle ‘Tap’ using Instead, you could dictate a response Send a new text
Apple’s ‘Taptic’ technology, and an alert by tapping the dictate icon and speaking If you want to send a brand-new
will sound if you’re not using the device into your Apple Watch, which should message to a contact, you can do so
on silent. Raise your wrist and you’ll be recognise what you’ve said using its using the Apple Watch without needing
able to see who the message came built-in microphone and Apple’s voice- to touch your iPhone. First, press the
from, followed by the message itself. recognition software. Then, press send to Digital Crown to go to the Home screen,
then tap messages. You’ll be taken to
a list of recent messages. Press firmly,
If you want to send a brand-new message then tap New Message.
From there, add a contact and create
to a contact, you can do so using the Apple your message in the same way you would
Watch without needing to touch your iPhone when you’re replying to a message.
030 Apple Watch Text.indd 30 11/05/2015 14:12

APPLE WATCH’S WORKOUT APP Features
Apple Watch’s Workout app

David Price explains how to get the most from Apple Watch’s Workout app
Get started
Open the Workout app (press the Digital
Crown to go to the Home screen, then
tap the green icon with the running man
on it) and select the type of activity: run,
cycle, row or whatever. Just tap the
option you want (see image 1).
Set a calorie target, time or

distance to aim for
This takes you to a screen where you set 1.
the calorie-burn or (if you swipe left) the
time target for the workout. Set the
figure you want to aim for by scrolling
up and down with the Digital Crown.
In certain cases, such as walking and
running, you can also set a distance to
aim for. If you want to set a distance
rather than a specific time, swipe left
once more and press hard on this screen
to select miles or kilometres (see image 2).
Alternatively, swipe left one more time
to start exercising without a target to 2.
aim for – a sort of free session. Your
performance will still be measured, of
course. Tap Start to begin your workout.
View progress during a workout

By default, the Workout app displays
progress towards your goal as a ring
on the left-hand side of the screen.
The time of day is shown at the top
right of the watch’s display, the type of
workout is shown top left, and your
current running/walking pace, as a time 3.
per mile, is shown at the bottom.
But these are the default settings. If right element, to see other options. Pause (image 3). This screen also shows
you want to show the numerical Tapping the time of day at top-right, for your goal, and how close you are to
measurement of your progress towards instance, will cycle through speed and the completing it, which may help motivate
the goal rather than the ring, you need to time you’ve been exercising. you to keep going for a bit longer.
open the Apple Watch app on your The Workout app will remember the
iPhone, scroll down and tap the Workout display options you select. The next time Do you need to take an iPhone
icon, then tap ‘Show Goal Metric’ so it you start the same type of activity, the with you on your workout?
turns green. The ring will be replaced with Apple Watch will show the same metrics. Not necessarily, but Apple recommends
a number, in miles, calories or minutes. it for accuracy. After you’ve done a few
Changing the other information Pause or finish a workout, runs with both iPhone and Apple Watch,
displayed around the screen during your and see how you did the latter will start to learn your stride
workout is easier – swipe left or right on At any point, you can press firmly on the and be able to make accurate estimates
the bottom element, or tap on the top- screen, and you’ll get the option to End or of distance run on its own.
031 Workout App.indd 31 12/05/2015 08:59

Features MUSIC ON THE APPLE WATCH
Music on the Apple Watch

Lewis Painter reveals how to play music directly from your Apple Watch
T
he Apple Watch comes with the
ability to remotely control your
iPhone’s music, so you can
wave goodbye to the days of
fumbling around for your mobile on your
morning commute just to change the
song. It doesn’t stop there though, as you
can add music directly to your Apple
Watch so you won’t need your iPhone
connected to listen. In this article, we 1.
explain how to navigate the Music app,
as well as how to add your music
directly to the Apple Watch.
How to use the Music app

There are two ways to access the Music
app on the Apple Watch. First, you can
go to the home screen by pressing the
Digital Crown, and then tapping the
Music icon to open the app. Alternatively,
if you’re already listening to music, you 2.
can access the music controls via Glances
by swiping up on the watch face screen.
If you want to play a new track but
don’t want to search for it on the Music
app, you can use Siri to find it and play
it for you. Activate Siri, either by saying
“Hey Siri” or pressing the Digital
Crown, then ask it to play the song of
your choosing.
If you want to browse your music
selection, tap the icon duration in the top
left-hand corner of the Now Playing 3.
screen. This will take you to a menu
where you can make a selection from comes with 2GB onboard storage ready the playlist that you’d like to store on your
either Artists, Albums, Songs or Playlists for you to fill with music. In order to do Apple Watch.
by using the Digital Crown or tapping on this, you must first put your watch on Once you’ve done that, you can
your choice (see image 1). You can then charge to make sure your battery doesn’t choose to listen to either music from your
scroll through your music collection using run out during the syncing process, and iPhone or Apple Watch. To do this, you
the Digital Crown (see image 2) and then open the Apple Watch companion have to force touch (press firmly) on the
select the song that you want to listen to. app on your iPhone. Once you’ve display of the Apple Watch when the
You don’t have to just listen to music opened the Apple Watch app, tap ‘Music’ Music app is open (see image 3) and tap
from your iPhone, as your Apple Watch and then tap ‘Synced Playlist’ to select ‘Source’. Then all you need to do is
select ‘Apple Watch’, then connect your
Bluetooth headset by tapping Settings
If you want to play a new track but don’t want to (you’ll be prompted to go to Settings
once you select Apple Watch as your
search for it on the Apple Watch’s Music app, you source) and selecting your headset from
can use Siri to find it and play it for you the list. It’s that simple.
032 Music App.indd 32 12/05/2015 13:40

MAPS ON THE APPLE WATCH Features
Maps on the Apple Watch

The Maps app can be used to search for a location and get directions. Lewis Painter shows you how
Get started
To open the Maps app, press the Digital
Crown to access the home screen, and
then tap on the Maps icon. You can also
open the Maps app by tapping on an
address in a text or email, or by accessing
Maps via Glances by swiping up from the
bottom of the watch face screen.
By default, your location is displayed
when you open the Maps app (see image
1). You can zoom in and out of your 1.
current position by scrolling with the
Digital Crown, or panning around the
area using your finger just as you would
do in the Maps app on the iPhone.
To find a new location, you’ll have to
‘force touch’ by pressing firmly on the
watch’s display. This will reveal the
screen (see image 2). You can either
get directions to a contact’s address by
tapping the Contacts icon, or you can
search for an address manually using
the Search icon. 2.
If you choose to search for a location,
you’ll be provided with a list of recent
places that you’ve searched for – both on
your Apple Watch and iPhone. If you want
to find somewhere new, you can use the
dictation tool (see image 3) to search for
the location. Next, choose whether you
want walking directions or driving
directions, then click Start. The Apple
Watch will display the relevant
instructions, vibrating on your wrist when
a turn is approaching (see image 4). 3.
Alternatively, if you search for a
location and directions on your iPhone,
they will appear on the Apple Watch, which
may prove easier then using the watch.
How to stop directions

in Maps on the Apple Watch
One of the most important steps to take,
if you don’t want your Apple Watch
battery to run out, is to stop the directions
once you are no longer following them.
To do so, press down on the map
until you see the words Stop Directions
4.
and tap on the X.
033 Maps App.indd 33 12/05/2015 11:47

Features ACTIVITY APP ON THE APPLE WATCH
Activity app on the Apple Watch

David Price shows how the Apple Watch’s Activity app can help boost your fitness
T
he Apple Watch’s Activity app is
designed to help you get fit
and stay healthy. It does this by
setting and tracking three daily
targets: to sit less (your target is to stand
for one minute every hour), to move
around more, and to log 30 minutes
of brisk activity every day.
The Activity app is accessible from
the home screen. Press the Digital
Crown to go this and tap the app icon
showing three concentric coloured
rings – red, green and blue. 1.
You can also access the Glance
associated with the Activity app by blue inner ring tracks standing. There target. This is the target you set during
swiping up on the clock face. Press are also arrow-based icons to help you setup, but you can adjust the target at
the Glance to go to the full app. remember which is which: a single any time as we explain below.
right-facing arrow is calories burned
Getting started through general movement, the Change the Move goal
Tap ‘Get started’, and fill in your personal double right-facing arrow is brisk As you get fitter and healthier, you’ll
details: sex, age, weight, height, and so exercise, and the upward-facing (probably) want to step up your
on. When entering information, you arrow indicates standing. daily calorie target. The Activity app
scroll up and down through possible When the red or green ring will suggest new targets automatically
answers using the Digital Crown. completes one circle of the watch face, each week, but you can manually
Next, you tell the Apple Watch roughly you’ve completed that target. The change the target, too.
how active you are at the moment. Apple progress of the blue ring is slightly more Go to the red Move ring screen,
advises you to aim on the low side if complicated: it shows the number of press firmly on the display and tap
you’re not sure. The watch will take your hours in which you have stood for at Change Move Goal when it appears.
inputs and use them to generate a least one minute, out of a target total of Scroll up and down with the Digital
(suggested) daily calorie burn goal. But 12. We look at each of the rings in a Crown until you’re happy with the
you don’t have to accept this; scroll up little more detail below. new target, then tap Update.
and down with the Digital Crown to Swipe upwards on the triple-ring
fine-tune your starting goal. Tap the red screen to see calories, steps and The green Exercise ring
Start Moving button to complete setup distance covered so far today. The green Exercise ring counts up the
and, well, start moving. Alternatively, you can swipe sideways minutes in which you’ve been exercising
to view individual rings and get more ‘briskly’, which in practice includes
View your daily targets detail on that target. You can scroll or dancing and reasonably strenuous
Want to see how you’re getting on? The swipe upwards from each ring (using the walking, as well as formal workouts and
Activity app’s three rings can be viewed Digital Crown) to see the activity runs. The target is 30 minutes per day.
in your glances, so swipe up from your presented in a graph, by the way.
default watch face and swipe sideways The blue Stand ring
until you get to the ring view. Or access The red Move ring As explained above, the blue Stand ring
the app directly by adding an Activity The red Move ring (see image 1) shows is designed to encourage you to sit less
widget to your watch face. the number of calories you’ve burned so and stand up more. You’re supposed to
Your daily progress towards these far today via general movement (the large stand for a minute each hour, and the
three targets is tracked by three number) and the target for the day (the blue ring tracks the number of hours in
coloured concentric rings: the red outer small number). As with all the rings, the which you’ve achieved this. The target
ring tracks calories burned; the green progress of the ring around the watch is 12 hours, each containing at least one
middle ring tracks exercise; while the face shows how close you are to your minute of standing, per day.
034 Activity App.indd 34 12/05/2015 12:46

USE SIRI ON THE APPLE WATCH Features
Use Siri on the Apple Watch

Ashleigh Allsopp reveals how to speed up Apple Watch interactions by using your voice
T
here are several ways to interact
with the Apple Watch. These
include the Force Touch display
that can differentiate between a
light touch and a hard press, and the
Digital Crown button on the side, which
can be touched, pressed and used as a
scroll wheel. But there’s also a way of
interacting with Apple’s smartwatch that
will be already familiar to iPhone users –
Siri. To access Apple’s personal assistant,
either press and hold the Digital Crown or
raise your wrist and say: “Hey, Siri”. Siri 1.
will now be listening out for your request.
Get directions
You can ask Siri for directions, and the
Maps app will provide these (see image
1). As you walk, the Apple Watch will
prompt you to take a right or left turn
by gently tapping on your wrist using
haptic feedback.
Get sports scores

If you follow a particular sport, you can
ask Siri for the scores. “Did West Ham win
the football?” will bring up the results on
the screen. Siri doesn’t know all of the
sports we love here in the UK yet, though.
There’s no cricket, for example. 2.
Launch apps
With the Apple Watch screen being
smaller than those we’re used to seeing
on our iPhones or iPads, it can be tricky
navigating to a particular app. That’s
where Siri’s app-opening capabilities
come in handy. Say “Hey, Siri. Open
Workout,” and the voice assistant will
do it for you.
Set alarms
You can also get Siri to set an alarm for
you. Simply say, “Hey, Siri. Set an alarm
for 6am,” and it’s done (see image 2). 3.
Make phone calls and the phone app will quickly dial the Send messages
Siri is a quick and easy way to make right number (see image 3). Your iPhone Texting is easier using Siri, too. You can
phone calls. Say, “Hey, Siri. Call Mum,” will need to be close to hand, though. say, “Hey, Siri. Text Mum can I pop over?”
035 Siri App.indd 35 12/05/2015 14:05

Features ULTIMATE OS X TWEAKS
ULTIMATE
OS X
TWEAKS
THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF OUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO SYSTEM
PREFERENCES. THERE’S LOTS TO COVER, SO OVER THE NEXT FEW
ISSUES, WE’LL UNCOVER THE BEST SETTINGS FOR YOUR MAC
By Craig Grannell
S

ometimes to do what you need access to a number of panes that deal (or use 1+F) and
to do on your Mac will require with various aspects of how your Mac start typing. As you
accessing System Preferences. works, appears and behaves, such as type, the number
Those new to the Mac may be screen resolutions, wallpaper images, of subjects in the
wondering what is System Preferences input device shortcuts, parental control results list will be
on the Mac and where can they find it. settings, and internet accounts. filtered to match
Others may be unaware of what System your search term,
Preferences makes possible and how How to use System and spotlights
easy it is to make tweaks and changes Preferences on a Mac will appear,
to the way your Mac is set up. When System Preferences is first highlighting
launched, you’ll see rows of icons, each potentially relevant
Where is System corresponding to a specific group of panes that might
Preferences on a Mac? related options. Click on any icon to offer what you
The System Preferences application is access the relevant pane. Alternatively, require. Use the
found in your Applications folder and is you can access a pane if you click-hold, cursor keys to
also available at any time from the Apple Ctrl- or right-click the System Preferences navigate the
menu at the top-left of the screen. It may Dock icon’s contextual menu. results list and
also be in your Dock at the bottom of the If you’re not sure exactly what you’re the spotlight will
screen – see screenshot, right. When looking for, use the built-in search in the become more vivid
launched, System Preferences provides top-right corner. Click in the search field over the option
036_045 System Pref in OS X.indd 36 11/05/2015 11:37

optical drive, ‘CDs and DVDs’ will not be listing everything alphabetically. View →
shown), but third-party products may also Customize enables further changes to
install into System Preferences. Such be made. When you select this option,
panes are initially placed at the very checkboxes appear next to each pane.
bottom of the window. A third-party Deselect any pane’s checkbox and
System Preferences pane can be click Done and the pane will be hidden,
removed either by the pane’s own but it will remain accessible from the
uninstaller (if it has one) or by Ctrl/right- View menu and when performing
clicking it and selecting ‘Remove…’. searches. Revert a pane’s visibility by
You can reorder the panes by using using View → Customize, selecting its
the View menu, which provides options checkbox and clicking Done. Over the
for organising panes by category or next few issues we’ll be working through
you’re about to chose. Pressing Return the various System Preferences options
or clicking a results list item will confirm. shown above. We’ll start with General.
How to customise What does General

System Preferences do in System Preferences?
There are two different kinds of The General pane is a grab-bag of
customisation worth noting with system options related to appearance, scroll
preferences: the panes that are installed bars, document behaviour and the
and the panes that are visible. By number of recent items shown in the
default, OS X will provide you with just Apple menu.
under 30 panes in Mavericks (the exact The ‘Appearance’ menu determines
number is determined by the hardware the button, menu and window theme for
you’re using – for example, if you’ve no OS X, enabling you to switch between

application’ do much as you’d expect. In

the former case, it’s worth noting that
changes are automatically saved when
documents are closed: by turning on
this option, you instead get the choice
regarding whether to save the changes
or revert the document to how it was
when last opened. If you leave ‘Close
windows…’ unchecked, open documents
should reappear as they were when you
last closed an application. Check this
option and applications will launch
without any open documents, unless
they have their own built-in settings to
override OS X’s default behaviour.
The ‘Recent items’ option defines how
many items appear in the Recent Items
menu in the Apple menu. By default,
Blue and Graphite. This affects default they only show when scrolling regardless up to 10 of each type (applications,
buttons in dialogs, selected menu items, of the input device (akin to how scrolling documents, servers) are shown, but
and also the close/minimise/full-screen works on iOS), or always show when other options are provided. Note that any
buttons at the top-left of most app content is too big for the viewport. The setting chosen also affects recent-item
windows. With the Graphite theme, all of last of those options provides much Dock stacks. You can create one of those
these are grey. In the Blue theme, you get thicker scroll bars than what you by typing the following in Terminal and
the familiar ‘traffic light’ buttons at the usually see when scrolling; instead, then hitting Return:
top-left of windows and blue buttons/ their appearance is like when you hover
selected menu items elsewhere. over an OS X scroll bar and it widens defaults write com.apple.dock
New to Yosemite is the ‘Use dark for drag-based interaction. persistent-others -array-add
menu bar and Dock’ checkbox. This The ‘Click in the scroll bar to’ setting ‘{ “tile-data” = { “list-type”
turns the menu bar and Dock black, changes how OS X jumps to content = 1; }; “tile-type” =
rather than white, to better fit in with when you click inside a scroll bar. With “recents-tile”; }’ ; killall
some professional applications that ‘Jump to the next page’ selected, Dock
have dark interfaces. This option also content jumps in screen-heights or
adjusts Spotlight’s appearance. pages, in the direction of your click; with ‘Allow Handoff between this Mac and
‘Highlight colour’ enables you to ‘Jump to the spot that’s clicked’, it instead your iCloud devices’ determines whether
change the colour of highlighted content jumps to the point in the document the Mac has the capability to send/
such as selected text in documents. relative to the location clicked on the receive in-progress documents to/from
Apple provides a list of colours you can scroll bar. The first option is less abrupt iCloud devices running OS X Yosemite or
choose from, but you can define your but slower. If, for example, you were iOS 8. Unless you’ve a compelling reason
own by selecting Other and using the looking at the top part of a very large list to turn it off, don’t.
standard OS X colour picker. in Finder and then clicked the bottom of
‘Sidebar icon size’ gives you the scroll bar, ‘Jump to the next page’
alternative options for the size of icons would take several clicks to reach the
in Finder’s sidebar. Medium is the bottom of the list, but with ‘Jump to the
default, Large is good if you find it hard spot…’ it would take only one.
to accurately click the existing icons, The ‘Default web browser’ menu is a
and Small is the best choice if you’ve a setting that usually exists in a browser’s
small display or like squinting a lot. preferences, but you can now define in
Note that the setting you define here System Preferences whether Safari or
also affects the sidebar in Mail. another browser should launch when you,
‘Show Scroll Bars’ adjusts how scroll for example, click a link in an email.
bars in OS X behave. By default, they are The next group of options deals with
not visible, and show automatically, their document behaviours. ‘Ask to keep
visual appearance in part defined by the changes when closing documents’
input device. You can adjust this so that and ‘Close windows when quitting an

Finally, the LCD font smoothing option select Use Image as Desktop Picture. Collections, which are otherwise only
makes text appear in a slightly more However, the System Preferences pane used for screen savers. They’re worth
pleasing manner in OS X. Again, there’s provides a much greater degree of adding if you like wildlife, space and
no compelling reason to turn this off, so control, along with a central area to landscape shots.)
we suggest you leave it on. access collections of images. To change the desktop background,
Click the Desktop tab to access select a collection and then click any
Change the Desktop desktop settings. The well will display a of the images within. Alternatively, you
& Screen Saver thumbnail of the current background can drag an image to the well from
The Desktop & Screen Saver pane is image, alongside which will be its title. Finder or iPhoto. If the image is of a
where you adjust your desktop From the pane on the left, you can select suitable size and aspect ratio for your
background image and/or the screen collections of images. By default, you’ll display, it will be resized automatically.
saver that kicks in after a user-defined see two under the collapsible ‘Apple’ list If not, a menu will appear enabling you
period of time. (Desktop Pictures and Solid Colours), and to define whether the image should fill
Switching the desktop image doesn’t your iPhoto albums appear under iPhoto. the screen, fit to the screen as best it
require a trip to System Preferences. In Below iPhoto will be a collapsible list can, stretch, be centred, or tile.
Finder, you can Ctrl-click any compatible called Folders, to which you can add It’s also possible to have your desktop
image and choose Set Desktop Picture (in custom folders by using the ‘+’ button. background change at regular intervals.
the Services sub-menu); similarly, Ctrl- (Sneaky tip: Apple includes a bunch of To do this, select a collection and then
click an image in Safari and you can folders in /Library/Screen Savers/Default check ‘Change picture’. In the pop-up
menu, define how often you’d like the
background to change; options provided
range from five seconds to daily, along
with login/wake-up. If necessary, define
how the images will fill the screen using
the aforementioned pop-up menu.
Your desktop background will at the
appropriate times subtly cross-fade to
the next image in the collection; if you
instead want each change to be
randomised, check ‘Random order’.
In OS X Mavericks, there was a
lumped-in option to disable the
translucent menu bar, turning it a solid
light grey. This is absent in Yosemite,
which moves transparency settings to
Accessibility → Display. This is a useful
option for increasing legibility if you’re
using a complex desktop background.
Change and manage your

screen savers in Yosemite
Click Screen Saver to access the screen
savers pane. To the left is a selection of
built-in screen savers; select one to
choose it as the currently active screen
saver (or choose Random to have one
be selected at random whenever the
screen saver is activated), and use the
‘Start after’ menu to determine how
long your Mac remains idle before the
screen saver starts. Optionally, a clock
can be overlaid on the screen saver,
by checking ‘Show with clock’.
Depending on the screen saver
chosen, you may get options. For the

X Mavericks, the Dock displayed as a flat

rectangle at the left or right edge, and as
a metal shelf at the bottom of the screen.
Under Yosemite, the Dock is always a
semi-transparent rectangle.
The ‘Minimize windows using’ menu
provides two effects for when windows
are minimised to the Dock: Genie and
Scale. The former appears to ’suck’ the
window into position, whereas the latter
is a much simpler zoom that’s less taxing
on older Macs and also a lot faster.
The remaining options adjust various
appear below the built-in options. If you behaviours of the Dock: ‘Double-click
later decide you want to delete a screen a window’s title bar to minimise’ does
saver, Control-click it and select Delete. exactly what you’d expect; ‘Minimize
windows into application icon’ sends
Alter the Dock minimised windows to the relevant
using System Preferences app icon in the Dock rather than to
Many of the Dock’s preferences can be the Dock’s right-hand side; ‘Animate
adjusted by Control-clicking the separator opening applications’ makes apps
(a thin line) between apps and folders bounce while launching; ‘Automatically
and choosing from the various options. hide and show the Dock’ makes the
However, the Dock pane in System Dock disappear from view when not in
Preferences is worth exploring, because use, and demands you move the cursor
it provides a very clear visual overview of to the relevant screen edge to show it;
various photography-based screen all your Dock’s settings. and ‘Show indicator lights for open
savers, you’ll see a Source menu, Size and Magnification determine the applications’ places a little white dot
enabling you to define a source folder size of the Dock icons and how much beneath the icons of apps that are
of photos to use. On choosing a new they expand when the cursor is over currently running.
source, the screen saver preview will them. Magnification is best used when
update accordingly. Checking ‘Shuffle you’ve so many Dock icons that they’re Using Mission Control
slide order’ randomises the presentation not easy to pick out unless zoomed; if The Mission Control pane is the place for
from the selection of images. you don’t like the effect, you can disable adjusting how Apple’s window overview
For other screen savers, you’ll get a magnification entirely. works. On newer Macs, F3 is a Mission
Screen saver Options button that when ‘Position on screen’ determines the Control key – press it and you see all
clicked provides in-context settings for screen edge the Dock sits on. Under OS your open windows, grouped by app and
that particular screen saver. For
example, Apple’s own Flurry enables
you to adjust how many streams of
colour appear on the screen, how thick
they are, and how fast they move.
To the bottom-right of the pane is a
Hot Corners… button. The options are
shared with Mission Control and provide
the means to trigger various OS X
functions when you move the cursor into
a screen corner. The first option is Start
Screen Saver, and is a quick way of
activating the screen saver. This can be
useful if you’ve also used the Security &
Privacy pane to demand a password be
entered to exit the screen saver.
It’s also possible to install third-party
screen savers. Once installed, these

centralised area to define shortcuts for
activating Mission Control and the
‘Application Windows’ feature (which
shows only the windows of the
currently active app), and showing the
Desktop or Dashboard. For any
keyboard shortcut, you can define a
function key or a modifier (a specific Shift,
Control, Option or 1 key), although the
latter option isn’t usually a good idea,
because it makes the chosen modifier
unavailable elsewhere. You can, however,
combine a modifier and a function key:
for example, to set Shift+F1 to activate
Mission Control, hold Shift, open the
Mission Control menu, and click F1.
It’s worth noting that if your Mac
keyboard includes a Mission Control
badged with the relevant icon. In this active, distinct workspaces can be icon on its F3 key, modifiers can be
screen, you can also create multiple created for each of your displays. (Apple used in conjunction with that key in
desktops (which Apple refers to as also notes that should you at any point order to access Mission Control
‘Spaces’) that you can switch between. need to have a single app window span functionality: 1+F3 shows the
In the System Preferences pane, the multiple displays, you should turn off Desktop, and Ctrl+F3 activates the
first five options determine aspects of ‘Displays have multiple Spaces’.) ‘Application Windows’ feature.
how spaces appear. The first option Finally, the Dashboard menu enables Finally, The Hot Keys button has been
rearranges spaces based on recent you to set Apple’s ‘widgets’ screen as mentioned previously in our overview of
usage, rather like the 1+Tab app-switcher. a space, as an overlay, or turn it off System Preferences, and it works
The second option when active entirely. As an overlay, you’ll need to identically here – any one of the four
automatically switches you to a space click the Dashboard app icon or use a screen corners can be used as a trigger
with an open window for an app when keyboard shortcut – F12 by default – for Mission Control, ‘Application
the app itself is switched to. to activate it. Note that much of Windows’, showing the Desktop, or
The next two options set whether Dashboard’s functionality now exists opening Dashboard (among other
windows are grouped by application (turn within Notification Centre’s Today view, commands, such as showing
that off and Mission Control will show so see if that works for you before Notification Centre or Launchpad).
separate windows and no app icon turning Dashboard back on. Reverting any of the menus to the ‘-’
badges), and whether displays have The second section, titled Keyboard option deactivates the hot corner entirely.
separate spaces. With the latter option and Mouse shortcuts, provides a
How to set the Language &
Region in System Preferences
This pane controls the language shown
in menus and dialog boxes, and the
formatting of dates, times and currencies.
It will by default use the language you
stated you wanted to use when you set
up your Mac, along with the most
appropriate formatting for your location.
You can add or remove languages
from the Preferred Languages list by
using the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons. On adding a
new language, OS X will ask whether you
want to use it as your primary language. If
you confirm this is the case, it will be
moved to the top of the list, and dialog
boxes will change to the selected new
language. Some other aspects of OS X

for the fifth of January, but you can

adjust this to suit your own preferences,
add elements (such as the era or
specific characters) or remove them
entirely, clicking OK when done.
Be aware that changes made here can
impact on apps throughout the system,
and making major adjustments can have
unintended consequences. If you decide
you’d like to return to OS X’s system
defaults, go back into the relevant tab
and click Restore Defaults (which is
initially greyed out, but becomes a
may require you to logout and login for For the most part, these settings
changes to fully take effect. should be left alone, but if you have very
To the right of the Preferred specific set-up needs, they’re worth
Languages list, you can update your investigating. Under General, you can
region setting using the Region menu. If change the format language for dates,
you change it (for example, switching times and numbers, and the number
between United Kingdom and United separators used for grouping and
States), you’ll see how other settings are decimals. English uses, respectively, a
automatically updated to match the comma and period for grouping and clickable button when any changes are
region’s conventions. Should you want to, made). At any point, when you return to
specific elements can be overridden, the System Preferences pane, you’ll see
using the menus: the first day of the a brief overview of your settings under
week, the calendar used, and whether the ‘Time format’ checkbox.
the time format is 24-hour; and list sort
order. With Time format unchecked, the How to set security and privacy
OS X clock will use the 12-hour format settings in System Preferences
typically preferred in the USA. When it comes to System Preferences
Any elements adjusted here may panes, Security & Privacy is perhaps the
impact on apps elsewhere in OS X, most intimidating; it’s therefore no
although some apps also have their surprise many Mac users avoid it entirely.
own internal settings for certain However, it’s crucial to understand the
things, and so you cannot rely on your settings within, especially when you work
System Preferences changes to decimals (for example, 1,000.00), but if with apps that require control over your
always filter through. you’re working in a language that uses computer, or if your Mac happens to be
The two buttons at the bottom of the something different, you can adjust in a fairly open or public environment. In
window are Keyboard Preferences and the relevant settings here; similarly, order to make changes to the settings
Advanced. Keyboard Preferences takes currency and its relevant grouping/ within this pane, you’ll likely have to
you to the Input Sources tab within the decimal options, can be defined, along click the padlock and input an admin
Keyboard System Preferences pane, with default measurement units for the username/password.
where you can define keyboard types for system (Metric or US). The first tab is General. The settings
your machine (for example, adding one The Dates and Times tabs both offer here are broadly split into two sections,
that’s more suited to a particular language a set of fields where you can drag the first dealing with logins and the
you often work in). Advanced opens a individual date or time elements to second with the ability to install
sheet that provides the means for design custom formatting. In Dates, for downloaded apps.
editing a number of more detailed example, the ‘short’ date on a British You can use the ‘Change Password’
display options for your chosen region. English system would read 05/01/2014 button to alter the password for the

password (or a recovery key provided
during set-up), you’ll permanently lose
access to your data, so take care if you
decide to use FileVault.
Turning FileVault on is simply a case
of clicking the sole button on the pane.
Note down the recovery key, and you
can also optionally enable the key to be
stored with Apple, guarded by security
questions. The drive encryption process
can take minutes or hours, depending on
the size of the drive and the data on it.
Note that FileVault is only protection
for your data when the Mac’s turned off.
When you’re logged in, it does nothing,
and so is best used in tandem with the
previously mentioned password for
exiting sleep or the screen saver. If
using FileVault, you should also encrypt
back-ups in the disk-selection sheet
of Time Machine. To later disable
FileVault, click the ‘Turn Off FileVault’
button in the FileVault tab.
The Firewall tab is for activating and
tweaking OS X’s firewall, designed to
prevent unauthorised apps, programs
and services from accepting incoming
currently logged-in user. Click the button the user can download and install. connections. Click ‘Turn On Firewall’ to
and you access a sheet, into which you This defaults to ‘Mac App Store and turn it on, and then ‘Firewall Options’ to
type the old password, then the new one identified developers’; leave the setting configure it. In the pane, you can allow or
and a recovery hint; clicking ‘Change alone unless you’ve compelling
Password’ confirms. reasons to change it – for example,
The three checkboxes are designed to installing a very trustworthy app that just
secure your computer during your happens to not have been released by
absence. The first when ticked makes it an identified developer. Under such
so your login password is required to exit circumstances, change the setting to
sleep or the screen saver; the time limit ‘Anywhere’ and then back again post-
can be set to one of seven pre-set values, install, for best security.
including ‘immediately’ and the likes of ‘5 The next tab is FileVault. This
seconds’, to ensure you aren’t forced to automatically encrypts your data – in
input your password if you accidentally fact, it encrypts the entire volume.
trigger the screen saver yourself. Note With FileVault active, a password is
that if you later disable this option, your required when booting the Mac to deny incoming connections for listed
Mac will warn you and ask whether you unlock the drive. Without the account items or add your own using the ‘+’
want to carry on using iCloud Keychain. button. By default, signed (trusted)
The next checkbox enables you to add software can receive incoming
a message to the lock screen for anyone connections. You can also enable
who tries to login while the screen saver’s stealth mode, which means your Mac
running. The third checkbox enables won’t respond to any attempts to
you to disable automatic login, and access it from uninvited traffic.
requires you to define a default account It’s worth noting that if you’re on a
for the Mac, along with inputting the private home network, chances are your
relevant password. router already has a hardware firewall
The second section within the pane that’s on and in use; firewalls are
determines what types of application generally more important when on public

alternatively, click inside one of the

boxes and then hold a new keyboard
combination to change that Spotlight
shortcut, ensuring it doesn’t clash
with a commonly used shortcut
elsewhere. (You may need to amend
the shortcuts if you often work with
multiple languages. 1+Space has often
been used to switch input sources.
Alternatively, edit the Input Sources
shortcuts in the Shortcuts section of the
Keyboard System Preferences pane.)
In terms of how content appears, that’s
determined by the sort order and active
items within the Search Results tab.
Changing the order of the categories
networks. However, it’s also unlikely to requested access to. You can of course adjusts their position in the Spotlight
cause any major performance issues if change your mind later if you find window; it makes sense to have the
you do activate the firewall. Should you functionality on your Mac impaired by items you’re most interested in towards
have connection issues from other any decision you make in this tab. the top, because you’ll have to scroll to
devices or to/from online services, it’s Finally, at the foot of the page is the see anything beyond the first half-dozen
worth investigating whether the firewall Advanced button. Click it to open a sheet or so categories.
is the cause, though. with yet more options for securing your
The Privacy tab is for defining which Mac: the means to log out after a defined
apps have access to certain services. period of inactivity; a requirement for an
Such requests are made for various administrator password in order to access
reasons: for example, a calendar app system-wide preferences that have
might require access to your calendars been locked; and a setting for disabling
in order to work; additionally, apps that commands from an infrared receiver.
control the computer (such as window The Pair button can be used to pair the
managers and launchers) will need the computer with an available remote.
means to do so, and permission is
provided in the Accessibility section How to change Spotlight
within this tab. There’s also a Location settings in System Preferences
Services section, for apps that want to The Spotlight System Preferences pane
determine your location (Reminders, enables you to tweak the manner in It’s worth noting that some of the
Maps and Calendar, by default). which Spotlight results appear, along options within OS X Yosemite require an
In all cases, select from the list on with the content Apple’s search system internet connection. For example, if
the left and use checkboxes on the right happens to index. You can also amend you’re not online, you won’t be getting
to determine the apps that have access the shortcuts used for Spotlight, by using Bing Web Searches, results from the
to the relevant service. Only deny the checkboxes and fields at the bottom iTunes Store, or live currency conversions.
access for an app you no longer use or of the window. Uncheck one of the Click the Privacy tab and you can
that you’re certain you no longer want boxes to disable the relevant shortcut; prevent Spotlight from searching specific
to communicate with the item it locations. To add a folder, click ‘+’ and
then choose the location from the sheet
that appears. Note that you can block
entire volumes/drives from being
searched by selecting the location
drop-down menu and going up to its
top level, which includes any attached
drives. In particular, we strongly
recommend adding any drives that
include back-up clones taken with the
likes of Carbon Copy Cloner or
SuperDuper! This is because otherwise

menu bar will turn grey. Your System
Preferences settings can be manually
overridden at any point by opening
Notification Centre and flicking its Do
Not Disturb switch.
Below Do Not Disturb in the sidebar,
you’ll find a list of apps. Depending on
your set-up, individual apps will either
be listed under ‘In Notification Centre’ or
‘Not In Notification Centre’.
Select an application and you’ll get a
set of options, and the default settings example, unread emails for Mail). ‘Play
Spotlight may return multiple results for are designed to best suit the specific sound for notification’ will make a noise
essentially identical objects, and you application they belong to; however, when a notification appears.
might end up opening the wrong they’re worth investigating, especially if Mail and Messages have an additional
document in error, editing and saving it, you’re getting deluged with notifications. option: Show message preview, and this
only for it to be overwritten during the The first section defines the alert style, can be set to ‘when unlocked’ (the
next back-up. You can also drag items from which you can pick None, Banners default) or ‘always’; the second of those
from Finder to this list; to later remove (which appear in the upper-right corner is not recommended for Macs in public
any item, select it and click the ‘-’ button. and vanish after a few seconds) and places, unless you don’t mind anyone
Alerts (like banners, but require a user potentially seeing a preview of your
How to change Notification action to dismiss them). Simply click an incoming messages. Twitter also has an
settings in System Preferences option to select it, and its title will take on additional option, a Notifications button
The Notifications System Preferences a blue lozenge as its background. that enables you to fine-tune what type
pane provides the means to manage Below, you’ll see up to four options. of Twitter communications OS X
and tame OS X’s notifications system, ‘Show notifications on lock screen’ notifications are displayed for; by default,
which can be very helpful but also a defines whether notifications will appear Direct Messages are included, but you
huge distraction if you’ve loads of when the Mac is locked, and is worth can also be notified about mentions and
notifications coming in all the time. disabling on public Macs. Show in replies from people you follow or anyone
The first section is Do Not Disturb. Notification Centre allows you to adjust who happens to contact you.
Select that and you can define a time how many items for the app are At the bottom of the window, there’s a
period when notifications won’t bother displayed: 1, 5, 10 or 20. For the likes of sort menu. You can set this to sort apps
you. Optionally, you can also turn on Do Calendar, showing upcoming events, you by time, based on when notifications have
Not Disturb when mirroring your Mac’s might want a longer list, but the item come in, or manually by drag and drop.
display to a TV or projector, which is number for many apps can be reduced Bafflingly, there’s no alphabetical option.
likely to occur when watching a film or without impacting your workflow. Although OS X has yet to get quite as
during a presentation. Note that when The Badge app icon option determines notification-happy as iOS, we recommend
Do Not Disturb is active, the Notification whether a red badge appears on an taking some time to manage this section
Centre icon at the far-right of the app’s icon when notifications occur (for of System Preferences. Turn off banners
and get apps out of Notification Centre if
you don’t need notifications from them;
and for those things you do need
notifications from, minimise them
whenever possible. If you’re easily
distracted but get a lot of email, for
example, it’s a smart move to stop Mail
notifying you with a banner every time
a new message comes in, but you
could always leave the app icon’s
badge setting active, to provide an
at-a-glance indication of how many
unread emails you have.
In the next issue we’ll be looking at
Energy Saver settings, the display, as well
as the keyboard, mouse and trackpad.

Features HISTORY OF WWDC PRODUCT LAUNCHES
History of Apple’s
WWDC product launches
AS APPLE GEARS UP FOR WWDC 2015, WE LOOK AT THE PAST 10 EVENTS
By Ashleigh Allsopp
A
pple has announced that
WWDC 2015 is set to kick
off on 8 June. It should give
us our first glimpse at the
future of iOS and OS X, along with
details of Apple’s plans for the Apple
TV, and perhaps some new Macs.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers
Conference has been an important event
on the Apple calendar since as far back
as the 1980s, but over the past 10 years
has become increasingly known for Apple
hardware and software announcements.
Here, we take a look back at Apple’s
WWDC announcements, starting with 10
years ago: WWDC 2005
WWDC 2005I
When: 6 June
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco
What was announced?

In 2005, Steve Jobs took to the stage to
reveal to the conference’s 3,800
attendees that, going forward, Apple
would be partnering with Intel, with
Intel’s processors powering Macs rather
than PowerPC. OS X was completely
rewritten to allow this.
WWDC 2006I Developers got their first look at Mac OS

When: 7 August X 10.5 Leopard during the conference,
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco though the new operating system
wouldn’t be available to Mac users until
What was announced? the following year. Time Machine was
WWDC 2006 saw the launch of the Mac also revealed. Around 4,200 developers
Pro, which replaced the Power Mac G5 as attended WWDC 2006 as the event’s
Apple’s professional desktop computer. popularity grew further.
046_049 History of WWDC Prods.indd 46 12/05/2015 09:16

WWDC 2007I
When: 11 June
What was announced?

Apple used WWDC 2007 to show off a
feature-complete beta of Mac OS X
Leopard, which would be released later
that year. Safari made its way on to
Windows PCs, and developer tools for
the iPhone, which had been previewed
in January of 2007 at Macworld, were
also shown off. The iPhone launched in
the US later that month. There were a
record-breaking 5,000 attendees at
WWDC 2007.
WWDC 2008I
When: 9 June
What was announced?

WWDC 2008 was Apple’s first sell-out
event. It saw the unveiling of the iOS App
Store, the second iteration of iPhone OS
(iOS 2), the iPhone 3G and a preview of
Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6. Mobile Me
was announced as the rebranded .Me.
WWDC 2009I
When: 8 June
What was announced?

This year’s event was another sellout (a
trend that has continued right through
to 2015’s WWDC), and was host to the
unveiling of iPhone OS 3.
Further demonstrations of Snow
Leopard took place at the event, the 13in
MacBook Pro was unveiled, and the 15- iPhone 3GS (left)
and 17in MacBook Pros were refreshed. If MacBook Pro (right).
that’s not enough, Apple also announced
the iPhone 3GS during the event.
Apple’s marketing boss Phil Schiller
took to the stage to present the keynote
in 2009, in the place of Steve Jobs due
to illness that caused the cofounder to
take medical leave from the company.

Features HISTORY OF WWDC PRODUCT LAUNCHES
WWDC 2010I
iPhone 4.
When: 7 June
What was announced?

In 2010, Apple announced the iPhone 4
and officially renamed its iPhone OS as
iOS. The FaceTime and iMovie app for
iPhone were unveiled too.
WWDC 2010 sold out in just eight
days. Not much attention was paid to
Mac OS X this year, though, which
frustrated some developers.
WWDC 2011I
When: 6 June
What was announced?

2011’s WWDC saw Apple give us our first
look at OS X Lion and iOS 5. Steve Jobs
also unveiled iCloud during the event,
which sold out in under 12 hours.
WWDC 2012I
When: 11 June
In 2012, Apple used WWDC to announce

new models of the MacBook Air and
MacBook Pro, as well as the MacBook
Pro with Retina display. OS X Mountain
Lion and iOS 6 were shown off, too. The
event sold out in under two hours.
MacBook Pro Retina (left)

MacBook Air (right).

WWDC 2013I
When: 10 June
What was announced?

In 2013, Apple unveiled OS X 10.9
Mavericks, iOS 7, the new Mac Pro, a
new MacBook Air, iTunes Radio and
iWork for iCloud, making it one of the
most exciting WWDCs to date. Plus, it
sold out in just two minutes.
WWDC 2014I
When: 2 June
What was announced?

Last year, Apple announced iOS 8 and OS
X 10.10, both of which represented
significant changes and improvements
over the previous versions. There were
no hardware announcements, though.
To prevent 2013’s two-minute sell-out
fiasco from happening a second time,
Apple decided to allow developers to
register for the conference over a period
of five days, after which the company
randomly selected 5,000 attendees
from the applicants.
WWDC 2015I developing apps for the new smartwatch,

When: 8 June but if you take a look at the logo we
Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco think there could also be a hint at
another product that could be set to
What is expected to be announced? steal the spotlight this year, and that’s
On 14 April, Apple announced that it is the Apple TV.
hosting WWDC 2015, which will represent We’ve been hoping for an update to
the 26th year of the annual conference, the set-top box for some time now, and
from 8- to 12 June at San Francisco’s with rumours of a new Netflix rival in the
Moscone Center. works at Apple, WWDC 2015 could be the
Put your money on previews of iOS 9 launch event we’ve been waiting for.
and Mac OS X 10.11. The changes aren’t After the unveiling of HomeKit last
expected to be as big as they have been year, speculation has suggested that the
over the past two years, so there could Apple TV could be the central hub that
be more than just new versions of Apple’s connects all of your gadgets together,
operating systems. and that the WWDC 2015 illustration (left)
Of course, the Apple Watch has seems to tick all of the boxes relating to
launched so we’re expecting a focus on that rumour, don’t you think?

Group Test CLOUD STORAGE SERVICES
CLOUD STORAGE
SERVICES
Cloud storage has become an integral part of our modern, mobile lives. Services such as Google Drive,
Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud and Box all vie to hold our data on their servers, but which one is the best
for you? Martyn Casserly looks at the best cloud storage services and explains what they have to offer
W
ith more and more people owning multiple It’s surprising how much free cloud storage you can get these
computing devices – laptops, tablets and days. Signing up to free services from Google, Mega, Microsoft
smartphones, the idea of your data being locked and a host of others will give you many gigabytes of space where
away in the belly of a desktop PC is antiquated. you can store your photo library, important documents, or music.
Cloud storage has freed us from these restraints, ensuring that To help you choose between the providers, we’ve handpicked
the files we need are available wherever and whenever we want what we consider to be the best cloud storage services and put
them. Today you can sign up to a bewildering array of free them through their paces to see which ones are worthy of your
services that offer to automatically upload your smartphone data. Some focus on high security, others on cross platform
photos to the cloud, sync your documents across multiple availability, but most of them are excellent if you want to bolster
devices, and enable you to work collaboratively on the web. you ailing hard drive or simply backup some files to an easily
Sharing large files with friends is also made easier through accessible folder in the cloud.
online storage, as you no longer have to hope that the data Choosing which service to use will depend on several
we send won’t bounce back due to limits imposed by email factors – the variety of devices you use, the amount of space
servers. Instead you just send a link to files stored within a you need, and the level of security your data requires. As well
cloud service and friends or colleagues, then have access as covering the most popular services to see just how much
immediately. In fact, if this is all you want to do, then there are you can get for nothing, we also explain the extras some
the likes of WeTransfer and HighTail that specialise in this area services offer which make it worth paying a small fee per
rather than long-term storage. month or year to keep you files online.
050_057 GT Cloud Storage.indd 50 07/05/2015 16:39

AMAZON CLOUD DRIVE
Price dependant on storage plan • amazon.co.uk
The focus of Cloud Drive is simpler than its counterparts, in that
there are no fancy plug-ins or web-based Office suites to
add productivity to your data. Instead, it’s very much focused on
being a place to store your documents, photos and videos. The
desktop app is available on PC and Mac, and once downloaded
it will take the form of a folder that sits quietly in the
background waiting for you to drag files into it. connection. Transfer time is reasonable, but if you use your
The free account offers 5GB of storage, but if this isn’t smartphone camera often, then the 5GB will need to be
enough you can pay £6 per year to add 20GB, with more space monitored and managed lest you run out of space.
available up to a limit of 1TB for an annual payment of £320. In A very curious choice is to not make documents available in
addition to the basic package Amazon also includes a music the mobile apps. If you add Word, PDF, or XLS files to the Cloud
storage service – Cloud Player – which entitles you to keep Drive folder on your PC they will sync with the Cloud server, but
250 songs online for free. These files can be accessed on your won’t appear on your smartphone or tablet. Amazon does word
mobile device (Android and iOS) via the Amazon MP3 app, with its description of the app’s capabilities carefully, but you could
the option to stream or download them. miss this and then wonder why documents aren’t available in
If you’re an Amazon Prime member (£79.99 per year), then the app. Of course you can navigate to the web portal via a
alongside the free next-day delivery on items, and Netflix-style browser, but when you consider the other options available that
streaming content on Amazon Prime Video, you now have keep everything in one place, the document omission is a black
unlimited storage for photos on the Cloud service. mark against the service.
The mobile experience with Cloud Drive is very basic, and is Addressing this in some way is a new service called
centred around photo and video syncing. iOS and Android Unlimited Everything. This works in the same way as
users can download the Cloud Drive Photos app (this acts as traditional online storage, but with no set limits. Currently it’s
the generic Cloud Drive app) and have their camera roll restricted to the US and costs $59.99 (£39) per year, but it
automatically sync to Amazon’s servers when you have a Wi-Fi could appear in the UK before long.
APPLE iCLOUD DRIVE

Price dependant on storage plan • icloud.com
In October 2014, Apple expanded its iCloud service, allowing
you to store any document, even if it wasn’t created in an Apple
app, and access them from a PC (via iCloud for Windows or
icloud.com) in addition to iOS and OS X devices. There’s no app
for Windows Phone, Android or Blackberry, though, so it’s not
the most ideal option for users of smartphones or tablets
running anything other than iOS. This means you can start work on your iPad, then continue
It’s now possible to store any file in iCloud Drive, rather than without issue on your PC (files can be downloaded from iCloud.
just files associated with apps such as Numbers and Pages. com in Microsoft Office formats). The functionality is a little
Photos taken on iOS devices can also be backed up in iCloud basic, most likely so that it ties in with the iOS versions of the
Photo Library, and pictures and videos are synced across all software, but syncing between devices and the cloud is fast
devices that are logged into your iCloud account. and reliable.
One handy feature is that, in addition to syncing your Safari The 5GB of free storage offered initially seems generous, as
bookmarks across devices, you can also see a list of open web purchases don’t count against it. But when you start turning on
pages on other iDevices. all the options that make the service useful, such as backing up
iCloud also allows you to have any purchases made on the your device, then the space is immediately insufficient. You’ll
iTunes store automatically download to your library no matter have to pay 79p per month for 20GB, £2.99 per month for
which device you used to buy it. 200GB, £6.99 for 500GB or £14.99 for 1TB.
A recent addition to iCloud is iWork – Apple’s Office suite While iCloud is secure, much of the data is encrypted at what
– now available for free via the website. The three apps – Apple calls ‘a minimum of 128-bit AES’, with the more standard
Pages, Numbers, and Keynote – have clean interfaces, work 256-bit reserved for Keychain Passwords. Apple also reserves
well up to a point, and sync with the equivalent apps on the right to explore the contents of your files if it have cause to
your Mac or iOS device. believe that it contains illegal or harmful material.

BOX
Price dependant on storage plan • box.com/en-gb
Box has been around longer than its more famous counterpart,
starting out in 2005. The possible reason for its less well-known
stature is that for most of that time the company has focused on
the business side of the market, building up an impressive
enterprise reputation.
Box still offers solid personal storage options, however, with
a generous 10GB of space for any new account. This isn’t as slick and well designed. There are plenty of options for
rosy as it sounds though, due to the fact that Box limits the file creating, uploading and sorting files.
size to 250MB. This is lower than the 10GB limits of Google The web portal gives you the ability to create new
Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. Of course 250MB is more than documents in either Microsoft Office, Google Docs, or web-
adequate for most documents and spreadsheets, but if large based formats, which you can then edit in Box via a free,
media files are part of your plan then this could be a problem. downloadable plug-in. All your files can be assigned tasks and
Uploading a photo library won’t be a problem for the vast comments easily from the main page, which could be very
majority of users, with the average top-resolution image from a useful when you start collaborating with colleagues, another
smartphone generally being around 2- to 5MB, but video is the thing Box does very well. Sharing and linking features are pretty
sticking point. The free account doesn’t support versioning – standard, but again you’ll have to upgrade if you want to
that’s a feature reserved for those paying a subscription. allocate granular permissions. General security is the standard
Upgrading the Personal plan will cost you £7 per month, 256-bit encryption on the servers, with SSL for data in transit.
gleaning you 100GB of storage and a file size limit of 5GB, or One of the real benefits of its enterprise background is the
you could switch to the Starter plan for £3.50 per month, which excellent range of apps that exist to increase Box’s versatility.
also offers 100GB, a slightly lower 2GB file size, but crucially 25 There are programs that allow you to link Office directly to Box,
previous versions of any file. so all files are saved there – an FTP app, for example, lets you
Functionally, Box is very good. The interface in the mobile migrate older data on to the site – and a host of others are
apps (available on iOS, Android, Windows and BlackBerry) is listed on the website.
COPY
Price dependant on storage plan • copy.com
The principles behind Copy are as you would expect from an
online storage service. You can either access it via a web portal,
download a desktop client or use one of the mobile apps that
are available for Windows Phone, iOS and Android. With these
you can download or upload files, including syncing the camera
on your phone, Making them available on all your devices.
Copy starts with a decent 15GB of free space to new users, While Copy is a stable and decent choice for consumer-level
and this can be increased via a referrals system that rewards storage, the real focus of the service seems to be on the
both you and any new user with an additional 5GB each (up to enterprise side of things. Barracuda, the company behind Copy,
a maximum of 25GB extra space). The interface is somewhat offers a range of compatible apps that extend the features,
barren and with its thin lined, light blue hue. If you use the including digital signatures, full system backups, and on-site
desktop clients, then a folder is created on your PC, to which hardware to improve performance. Some of these business
you drag files and Copy syncs them to the cloud. Files and features are available in Copy, with the option of creating
folders can be shared with other users of the platform, or you groups that you can administer with simple but powerful
can send direct links to any other friends or colleagues. All of controls. There is also a granular level of access that can be
this contains the ability to set different levels of control over the deployed, plus the handy feature of users being able to split
files so those you share them with can edit freely or be their copy storage into work and home, with company IT
restricted to just read only status. restrictions only being applied to the work section. Access
In operation the service works well, with decent speed, and privileges can be changed by clicking a drop-down menu, and
no real issues. Copy also supports versioning, so previous if someone leaves a company, you can revoke their access
copies of your files are retained after you make changes, and entirely in a couple of minutes, or reinstate them should they
the whole service runs on 256-bit AES encryption that covers return. The level of control is impressive and the menu
data in transit and on the copy servers. systems are easy to master.

DROPBOX
Price dependant on storage plan • dropbox.com
Dropbox is one of the only online storage solutions to offer
clients for Linux and BlackBerry, alongside the usual Windows,
OS X, Android and iOS standards.
The basic, free account comes with a tiny 2GB of storage.
For documents this is still huge, but if you want to store photos,
music or video, it will disappear very fast. You can upgrade to
the 1TB plan for around £7.99 per month, but Dropbox also Folders and files can also be shared with friends either by
offers 500MB of additional free storage for each friend you get sending them links (these work for non-Dropbox users), which
to sign up to the service – with a limit of 16GB. allow them to view the data, or by sending a collaboration invite
Other ways to bolster your account include linking it to for the file. An important point to note about the collaboration
Facebook, Twitter (both give you 125MB extra) or setting up a option is that you can’t set permissions, so files can be edited
Mailbox account (offering a 1GB increase). You’ll get 250MB just (and even deleted) by other users, as the name suggests. It’s
for taking a tour of the Dropbox basics, too. Enabling the not a total disaster, though, as Dropbox backs up any changes
camera upload feature will also gain you 3GB, and automatically to files for thirty days. So if you need an older version or want to
backup your smartphone/tablet photos to the cloud. undelete a file, it’s still there.
All this space becomes a moot point unless the synching and If you choose to spend the £7.99 per month to get the
storage works, but there are no worries there. Dropbox Dropbox Pro account, you’ll be able to enable viewer
functions by creating a local folder on your device or PC that permissions. You’ll also be able to set passwords and
then syncs with an online version. This means you have all your expirations for shared links if you have Dropbox Pro.
data available whether you are on- or offline. Files appear Security features include two-step authentication (always
quickly online once you place them in the Dropbox folder on worth turning on) and all files held on the Dropbox servers are
your PC, and you also have the option of making select files encrypted by AES 256-bit encryption, albeit employed from
available offline on your tablet or smartphone, with offline Dropbox’s side rather than the user, with SSL for the data being
editing functionality among the best we’ve seen. uploaded and downloaded.
GOOGLE DRIVE
Price dependant on storage plan • google.co.uk
In much the same way as OneDrive links into Microsoft
products and iCloud to Apple, Google Drive is at the heart of
the various online services that Google currently offers.
Free space is relatively generous with 15GB available when
you setup your Google account – or link to an existing one. In
fact, as Google unified its services under one login ID earlier
this year, the chances are you already have a Drive account if cloud version. Versioning is supported, as is real-time
you use Gmail, Google Calendar or even YouTube. The storage collaboration on documents via the Google Docs app. Clients
space is shared across all these services, so if you have large are available on PC and Mac, with mobile versions for Android
attachments on emails, then they will count in the 15GB, and and iOS, though not Windows Phone.
enabling the automatic photo backup to Google+ from a On the whole, the interface across the apps is smart and
smartphone acts the same way. simple to navigate, with a basic file tree showing where your
Google exempts any photos below 2048x2048 resolution, data is kept. You can choose specific files to be available offline
and videos shorter than 15 minutes, so you could always adjust on the mobile versions, and these can be edited – if they were
the settings on your smartphone accordingly and get unlimited created in Google Docs – then synced when you return online.
storage as they don’t count towards the 15GB limit. Google For other formats (such as Word) you’ll need to open them in
Docs, Sheets, Slides, Presentations, Drawings and files that another app – thus creating a duplicate copy.
others have shared with you don’t count either. Data stored on Drive is encrypted in 128-bit AES rather
Unlike OneDrive and Dropbox, Google Drive doesn’t have than the 256-bit employed by Box, OneDrive and Dropbox.
any way of adding storage through referrals or linking your Google asserts that it won’t pry into the content of your Drive
account to social media. folder unless compelled by law enforcement agencies, and
Drive works in the same fashion as most cloud storage you can set up two-step verification on your account to add
solutions, with a local folder on your PC linked to a duplicate another layer of security.

KNOWHOW CLOUD
Price dependant on storage plan • knowhow.com
It’s not unusual to go to the checkout at a computer retailer and
be offered the chance to upgrade something on your machine.
Usually this will be some kind of extended warranty or virus
protection, but one that might seem surprising is online storage.
Knowhow by the Currys/PC World group has a few decent
features that could make it a useful addition to your trolley.
We’ve heard many good reports about the reliability of variations of device numbers, storage space, and how many
LiveDrive, so that’s a good start, as keeping your data safe is years they last. It’s a bit confusing to be honest, and should be
the whole point of signing up to a service such as Knowhow. simplified to make things clearer. The most tempting offering
There are two types of service – backup and storage. The we found was for a 2TB allotment covering five devices and
first is as it sounds, automatically backing up the hard drive of costing £30 per year.
your PC or Mac at intervals defined by the user in the control Design wise, the interface is clean, simple to understand,
panel. These increase in hourly units, or if you prefer you can and when you finish, the initial install the app starts a backup of
set a certain time of the day to run the task when you’re not your system. We’d like to see the options of which folders you
using the computer. Think of it as a mirrored version of your want in the cloud appearing first, but it’s easy to rectify.
hard drive in the cloud. Security is an important element in any online service.
The second element of the service is the Briefcase, which is Knowhow Cloud encrypts data in transit using TLS to fend off
a general online storage facility not linked to a specific PC. any interceptions, and the Briefcase files are encrypted on the
Here, via the web portal or your computer, you can upload and users machine as well. Files on the Knowhow servers are not
download files just as you would on Dropbox or OneDrive. stored in an encrypted form, but we’ve been assured that they
These files can be accessed via your PC, phone or tablet, with remain secure behind several layers of protection and are
apps being available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. unidentifiable to any snoopers. The servers are all based in the
The storage space available is determined by which UK, which keeps the NSA at bay; though, of course, we
package you buy. There are several available, combining have our very own GCHQ to worry about.
MEDIAFIRE
Price dependant on storage plan • mediafire.com
Mediafire has been around for nearly 10 years. The early part of
that time saw the site function mainly as a file sharing service
with unlimited upload file sizes for users, but over time it has
become a more standard online storage service.
The free account comes with 10GB of space, but this can
quickly be expanded by various easy tasks. Linking your
Twitter and Facebook accounts will garner you 1GB for each, You can create folders, upload and download files, plus (if
while the act of installing a desktop client for your Windows you want it to) your mobile device will automatically backup
or OS X machine will give you another 2GB. The same is true any pictures you take. If you install the desktop client a new
for any mobile app you download, with smartly designed folder will be created on your hard drive and you can just drag
versions being available for Android and iOS. As is the norm, files to it like any other standard folder, except the Mediafile
you’ll also be rewarded for any friends you bring to the service one will then sync automatically to the cloud drive. There are
through a referral, with Mediafire handing out 1GB per new a few nice touches in the interface. Any media files can be
account, up to a maximum of 32GB. All in all, you can boost played in the Mediafire browser, which means you don’t have
the free account up to a very respectable 50GB of space, to download the file first.
which is plenty for most people. Another smart feature in the desktop client is the ability to
There are a few signs that the basic account is free. File take a screenshot on your PC, annotate it, and share it with
sizes are limited to 200MB, which is something to consider if friends. While this might seem a little random, it could be very
you were hoping to keep any kind of movie files on the service, useful if, for example, you’re collaborating with others on
plus you’ll see ads when sharing or downloading files. These something and want to quickly show them what you’re thinking.
are hardly draconian measures, but if it does feel restrictive, There are also new features on the way, with mentions of music
you can move up to a Pro account which costs $4.99 per month and photo apps that will presumably have a focus on social
(£3.30) for 1TB of space, up to 20GB file sizes, and no ads. media and sharing.

MEGA
Price dependant on storage plan • mega.co.nz
Unlike some of its rivals Mega provides encryption in every part
of the process. So anything you send to the cloud is encrypted
locally, en route, and on the destination server. What’s more
Mega can’t access your information. The upshot of this is that
anything you store on Mega is unaccessible to anyone but you.
To achieve this there are local clients for Windows, OS X and
Linux, plus there are also secure browser plug-ins for Chrome opens up the ability to collaborate on files in real-time. Mega
and Firefox. The mobile world is also well covered with apps also has a few secure communications options, too. MegaChat
available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry. is a Beta feature that lets you exchange audio and video calls
Of course, all of this is only useful if the service is affordable with other members. These are encrypted end-to-end. There is
and offers a decent amount of storage, so it’s heartening to see also a new feature, due to be released soon, which is a kind of
that the standard free package affords a whopping 50GB of encrypted email and IM messaging; so Mega could become a
space. This is enough for the vast majority of people, but you working environment for those who need to make adjustments
can always move up to a professional account which gives you while out in the field and want the data to remain private.
either 500GB (€99, £70, per year), 2TB (€199, £142, per year), In use the site is well laid out, with a clean interface that
or 4TB (€299, £213, per year) and increased bandwidth with doesn’t throw up any surprises. Functions are clearly labelled,
each package so you can share files with friends. you have a decent amount of control over how your files are
Sharing is easy with other members of Mega. You to send an stored, and the mobile apps are equally straightforward. The
invitation to a friend and set the level of actions they can only obvious omission, especially when you consider the space
complete – view, edit, and so on. You can also send links to available, is that you can’t use Mega as a scheduled backup for
non-Mega users, but this involves also privately sending them your system. Still, there are security issues that a service like
an encryption key so they can access the files. While this is that brings, and if you work mainly on one computer, then the
easy, it’s a better option to have your friends on the service included ability to select which folders are mirrored in the cloud
itself if you want to keep things secure, especially as this also is certainly a good alternative.
MOZY
Price dependant on storage plan • mpzy.com
Mozy is an online backup and storage service that aims to give
you peace of mind. The most obvious way of doing this is to
ensure that your data is protected from prying eyes. This is
accomplished by Mozy offering two types of encryption (256-bit
AES or a 448-bit Blowfish key), which perform the essential part
of encrypting your files while still on your computer, rather than
sending them across the internet to the servers to do the job although you can access your files via the web on other
there. The upshot of this is that it is much harder for someone machines. For a multi-computer setup, you’ll need to move up
to hijack your information on route to the servers. to the £7.99 per month service, which supports three PCs and
Aside from the security aspect, Mozy is a standard online gives you 125GB of storage. The basic, free, package entitles
storage package that allows users to select which folders from you to a paltry, by modern standards, 2GB of space but this can
their hard disk they wish to store online, syncs automatically, be increased through the usual referral system where you invite
and allows you to access the files from other computers via a friends to sign up.
web portal or mobile app. Clients are available for Windows and The interface is nothing special, but acceptable and stable.
OS X, while iOS and Android platforms are also supported. Once the Mozy Home and the Sync clients are set up you click
Some useful features include 30-day versioning, where all and drag folders into the Mozy drive and it will store a copy in
instances of a file are kept for 30 days, so you can restore them the cloud, plus you can adjust which folders are backed up,
to a point in time before mistakes were made or corruption along with several other modifiers, all with relative ease. The
might have affected them. There’s also the ability to download mobile apps follow a similar pattern in the design stakes, with
all your stored files with one click, which could prove useful if aesthetics giving way to functionality. Performance wasn’t
you need to move to a new computer. Bear in mind though that stellar though, and we’d hope that the mobile side of things
there are some restrictions on the amount of hardware you can would see an overhaul in the near future, otherwise Mozy could
use. The lower tier packages are limited to backing up one PC, find itself left behind more optimised services.

ONEDRIVE
Price dependant on storage plan • onedrive.live.com
OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service. Modern versions
of Office, for example, default to saving files in OneDrive rather
than your local hard drive. This makes total sense as it’s much
more convenient to be able to access documents, videos,
music and photos from one place rather than trying to keep
multiple copies in sync.
Much of the functionality in OneDrive is similar to Dropbox, can be created on the web, including Office and OneNote
and apps are available to Mac, Android and iOS users. formats thanks to tight Office Online integration.
Microsoft has also introduced a referral incentive whereby There’s also a social element to the web version, as various
users gain 500MB of storage for every friend that signs up to popular social networks are available to be linked to your
an account through them. OneDrive account. This might not improve productivity, but it
One deviation from the Dropbox model is that OneDrive will make it easy to share files with colleagues. In doing this you
offers 15GB like Google Drive, although the referral system is can set permissions for each user ranging from read-only to
limited to 5GB. However, you gain a whopping 15GB of complete editing ability, even if you’re using the free version.
additional storage for free if you link OneDrive to your mobile There is also a feature that allows you to remotely access
phone’s camera roll, enabling it to automatically back up your files on another PC via the OneDrive website. The target
photos online. That means a free OneDrive account tops out at machine needs to be turned on and running OneDrive with the
35GB as opposed to the 18GB on Dropbox. For some people Fetch Files feature enabled.
this will be a compelling reason to choose OneDrive over If privacy is a major concern, then it should be noted that
Dropbox. Don’t forget that Office 365 users get 1TB Microsoft reserve the right to scan your files to look for what
of OneDrive storage as part of the monthly subscription fee. it would deem objectionable content. This could be
The OneDrive interface is in keeping with Windows 8’s copyrighted material or things of an explicit nature. Apple
Modern UI design. Lines are clean and you can select between has a similar policy, making the two potentially more intrusive
the boxy style or a more traditional file tree. Folders and files than their competitors.
SPIDEROAK
Price dependant on storage plan • spideroak.com
If privacy is a major concern then SpiderOak might be the cloud
storage service for you. Most of the mainstream offerings such
as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and Box all encrypt your
data on their servers, but SpiderOak has a different approach.
Once you’ve set up your account and downloaded the
desktop client, you can transfer files to your local folder, which
will then encrypt them before syncing them to SpiderOak. This Where rivals such as Google Drive and OneDrive are tightly
means your data is readable only by you, as the key is local integrated into wider productivity suites, SpiderOak is simply
to your machine. SpiderOak calls this ‘Zero-knowledge privacy’ there to store your files securely. This means no Office-style
as the employees at the company can’t access your data and, apps, or online collaboration with colleagues. You can easily
by extension, it should also mean any interested government share items and send secure links to files from the SpiderOak
parties would also find it extremely difficult. Hive, although this involves setting up a Share ID (free and
Traditionally this would make accessing files from numerous simple) as another way to protect your data. This obsession
machines more problematic, not to mention sharing with others, with security runs throughout the system, with strong warning
but the team has worked ways around that. SpiderOak Hive is messages appearing if you decide to let the app remained
the control centre of your storage. This app, which runs locally, logged in all the time. Some may find this annoying, but you can
is very similar to the Dropbox-style of folder on your desktop, override any of the warnings and it’s never a bad thing to be
although the interface has a little more detail. reminded that convenience isn’t always the bedfellow of safety.
This includes which of your other devices have the desktop A basic free account comes with 2GB of storage, which is
app installed, and gives you access to the file tree within their one of the lowest of all the current services around. But this
SpiderOak Hive folders. You can also choose local files to can be quickly increased by a referral system that gains you
backup via a menu, and there are helpful stats to keep you up and a friend 1GB when they sign up to the service (up to a
to date with the activity on your account. maximum of 10GB).

TRESORIT
Price dependant on storage plan • tresorit.com
There are several services that offer secure storage in the
cloud – Mega and SpiderOak – but to our knowledge none of
them have offered a cash incentive for hackers to actually
break into them. None, that is, except for Tresorit. This Swiss
company is so confident in its product that there is a standing
reward of $50,000 for anyone who can overcome its security
systems. So far, the company reports, 1000 hackers have been locally, then sent, using TLS, to the Tresorit servers where it
trying for around 500 days, but the system remains intact. remain encrypted. You retain the decryption keys and not even
Obviously this level of security is a little much for holiday the staff at Tresorit can access your files. To add a further level
photos and this is reflected in the basic free package. You get of security you can enable two-step verification, so even if
3GB of storage space, with a file size limit of 500MB, which can someone steals your laptop or ID, they’ll need your phone to
be used by up to three devices. There are also limits on the access the data.
amount of people you can share files with (10) and encrypted Business package customers, who pay £16 per month for 1TB
links that you can create each month (10 again). That’s not to of storage, also have the ability to destroy documents remotely,
say this isn’t useful, as you can keep your less important data ban the ability to print, copy, or email documents, and set
on a service such as OneDrive and reserve sensitive data to restrictions on how much a recipient can edit a file.
Tresorit. Of course, the restrictions loosen up when you move Tresorit hasn’t skimped on the design elements of its UI
to a paid package, with the Premium tariff (£8 per month) though, with desktop clients, web portals, and mobile apps that
jumping up to 100GB, unlimited sharing, versioning support for look good, are simple to use and perform reliably. On the
previous instances of a document, and granular controls over desktop client you can drag folders from other drives into the
user permissions on the files and folders you share. Tresorit app and it will encrypt and sync the files up to the cloud
One of the reasons that Tresorit is so secure comes down to but leave them where they are on your machine. Alternatively
the way files are encrypted. With a local client installed on you can save files directly to the My Tresors folder and it will be
either your Windows or OS X machine your data is encrypted available through any Tresorit app.
Macworld’s buying advice

If you were to set up the most basic accounts on each of the
services, you’d have over 125GB of free online storage, and
even more if you included camera uploads and friend referrals.
Dropbox is still an impressive service that is often bolstered
by free storage expansion through deals with phone and
service providers. The thing that really keeps it on top is the
sheer availability it has in a number of apps and platforms
around the web. If something is going to link to a cloud provider
you can bet that Dropbox is most likely the first on the list. It’s
rock solid, focused, and universally known as a quality product.
Google Drive and OneDrive are both excellent options,
especially if you use Chromebooks or Microsoft Office
respectively, as the vast free storage rewards on offer are well
worth having. The 1TB OneDrive storage for Office users really
is impressive, and almost subsidises the cost of the software.
Mega really impressed us with its developed user interface,
secure communications options, and generous allotment of
50GB of free space. The service is easy to use, gave us no
problems, and will certainly be a resident app on our
smartphones and PCs for the foreseeable future.
Lastly, Tresorit is another up-and-coming service. Security is
an important consideration these days and Tresorit manages to
provide encryption in a way that doesn’t interrupt a normal
workflow and is easy to manage. If you’re a small business
owner, or work in a team that needs to keep data confidential,
then it really should be your next port of call.

Features GET BROADBAND WITHOUT A LANDLINE
How to get
broadband
without a
landline
Why pay £17 a month for a phone line you never use, asks Nik Rawlinson
Y
ou want broadband, but you calls on your mobile phone, and other with most of the headline broadband
don’t need a phone line. than that you’ll use email, WhatsApp, providers without being forced to pay for
Sound familiar? Fortunately, Hangouts and instant messaging to keep a hardly used voice line on top?
there are ways to get your in touch with friends and family. Video Well, we’ve got news for you. You can
internet fix without paying BT’s monthly calling is easy and – even better – it no stop paying for your landline right away –
fee. This feature explains how you can longer requires thousands of pounds so long as you’re happy to change your
have broadband without a phone line. worth of kit to make it happen, so you broadband provider. If you’re not tied into
Alternatives to ADSL promise can talk to distant relatives using nothing an ongoing contract that imposes
broadband connections without also more than your voice and a cheap penalties for ducking out early, you should
demanding that you sign up for a phone smartphone or tablet. look again at the alternatives to traditional
line you may well never use. Shop So why do we still pay £17 a month for ADSL. We’re talking satellite, fibre to the
carefully, though, as while such a landline that few of us use and even house, cable and the ever expanding 4G
connections are often faster, they aren’t fewer actually need? Doesn’t it feel like a wireless network.
always as cheap as you might expect. waste of money to be paying for it on top As we’ll show here, it’s easy to get
Landlines are so last century. If you’re of your monthly broadband subscription? online without signing up to ADSL.
anything like us, you’ll make most of your Isn’t it just a con that you can’t get online However, before jumping straight in,
058_061 Avoid Paying Phone Line.indd 58 07/05/2015 16:43

think carefully about your needs – and
about the overall costs too. Some people VIRGIN MEDIA
may well be better off with an ADSL
broadband deal that includes a monthly
line rental charge.
Satellite broadband
Ten years ago, satellite broadband would
have been your only option if you lived far
away from a major conurbation, but as
access by traditional means has got faster
and more comprehensive it’s now just one
of several choices for most of us.
The technology behind it isn’t
particularly new, with Eutelsat launching
its broadband-enabled e-BIRD satellite
in 2003. Built by Boeing and launched round the clock for £74.95 a month, with a satellite is struggling to compete in the
on the back of an Ariane rocket, e-BIRD 100GB cap on other data, such as speed versus value equation.
was designed to fly for a decade, but it’s streamed media. Multiply those prices by
still going strong and provides satellite 24 months to find out what it’ll cost you Cable
broadband to Turkey, Greenland, and over a standard contract and you’re You could be forgiven for thinking that the
a whole swathe of Europe in between, looking at £448 at the lower end, rising to UK has just one cable provider – Virgin
Britain included. £1,798 for the gold standard. You’ll need to Media – but in fact we have two.
Eutelsat champions satellite broadband add on either £5 a month to rent the WightFibre remains the only standalone
as one of the cleanest means of necessary hardware (or £275 to buy it cable-co in Britain, and the only cable
communication. The satellites outright), £100 for installation (or £10 a option for subscribers on the Isle of Wight.
themselves work off solar power, there’s month for 12 months if you want to pay it It offers speeds of 30 to 152Mb/s for
no need to build expensive and off over the first year) and £49.95 if you between £22.50 and £37.50 a month
polluting infrastructure on the ground – want to cut your commitment from 24 without line rental (£270 to £450 a year,
exchanges, cables and the like – and the months to 12. All in all, it works out rather plus an additional installation fee of £30
launch procedure, potentially the most expensive when compared to ADSL and for the cheaper of those), although right
damaging part of the whole process, a landline combined. now it’s offering broadband for free for the
creates about the same amount of carbon For example, ignoring any introductory first 12 months if you pay £15.30 a month
pollution as a single jumbo jet flight from deals, Plusnet’s unlimited broadband and for a landline. That reduces the cost to a
one side of the US to the other. calls package, with download speeds of flat £183.60 for up to 152Mb/s.
Eutelsat sells its services under the up to 17Mb/s and free weekend calls, If you’re not on the Isle of Wight, none
Tooway brand through a range of costs £9.99 a month plus £15.95 line of these deals applies, so you’ll have to
distributors. To sign up, you’ll need to rental for a 12-month term. That’s £311 look to Virgin Media instead. Its regular
navigate a fairly Byzantine pricing over your first year, plus installation at ADSL service is available nationwide, but
structure that takes both usage and speed £49.99, giving a grand total of £361 we’re interested in the cable service,
into account. At the budget end, Avonline without the need to pay ongoing costs which doesn’t yet boast national coverage
Broadband’s entry-level service gets you for equipment rental. Upgrading to and isn’t ever likely to do so. If you’ve
2GB of data, with downloads maxing out Plusnet’s 18-month fibre contract with spotted service plates in the street
at 5Mb/s and uploads at 1Mb/s. It’s a speeds touching 40Mb/s at best ups the bearing the acronym CATV, there’s a
24-month contract, with the first three annual cost to £371.28 (£14.99 a month for good chance you’re living in a cabled
months charged at £9.99 and the the broadband and £15.95 monthly line area, but enter your postcode at store.
remainder at £19.95 a month. While the rental) and commits you to 18 months of virginmedia.com to be sure. If you’re not
introductory deal may be tempting, neither service. Again, there’s an installation fee yet covered, you can click the Cable My
the speeds nor the cap compare of £49.99 to consider, but that still pegs Street button to add support for a roll-
favourably with a lot of regular ADSL. the overall cost at £421 for the first year, out in your direction.
Avonline’s most popular package is a and £371 for each subsequent year. Virgin Media’s ‘slowest’ connections
25GB bundle with uncapped overnight That’s bad news for satellite start at 50Mb/s (£28.50 a month, £342
downloads, which would make it broadband. While it might save you the annually) and top out at a WightFibre-
worthwhile sitting up to grab your iPlayer cost of a landline you’ll never use, unless matching 152Mb/s (£41 a month, £492
programmes outside of peak. Or you can you live in one of the rare spots where annually). None of them requires a
opt for uncapped email and browsing reliable broadband still isn’t an option, landline and there’s no fee for the

Features GET BROADBAND WITHOUT A LANDLINE
month you’ll be looking at a £39.99 bill for

the router before you’ve even got online,
whichever package you choose.
None of these prices is extortionate
when you consider the convenience of
being able to create a Wi-Fi hotspot
wherever and whenever you need (you
can connect up to 10 devices to Osprey
simultaneously), with a two-year
commitment to the 3GB bundle tipping
the scales at just £360 – or £180 a year.
Beware, though, that with a few catch-up
downloads, some music streaming and a
OSPREY
bit of YouTube action, you’ll quickly eat
through your monthly allowance.
installation of hardware, either. However, Relish is a dedicated 4G broadband You might accordingly want to look at
signing up for a landline does reduce the provider serving central London and 4GEE Extra instead, which offers bundles
cost of the broadband. London Docklands. It claims that no-one of 15GB, 25GB and 50GB for £20, £30
For example, 152Mb/s broadband else has as much 4G spectrum as it does, and £50 a month respectively, each on
without a landline costs £41 a month and nor as much capacity. So if you live or 24-month contracts. These come closer
ties you in for 12 months for a total cost of work in its area, it’s a tempting to matching entry-level ADSL
£492. Add a landline and the contract proposition, not least on account of its connections, but the convenience of
extends to 18 months, but the cost of your competitive prices. being able to hook up wherever you find
broadband drops to £24.50 for the first 12 There’s no setup fee, just one speed yourself comes at a price. That £50 deal
months and £30 thereafter. You need to – up to 50Mb/s – and one price, which is for the top-end data pack means you’ll
add on £16.99 a month for the landline £20 a month whether you sign up for one end up paying £1,200 over the course of
rental, but there’s still no fee for month or 12. The only inducement to tying the contract, which is more than most
installation, so the overall cost is £779.92. yourself into an annual contract is the ADSL plus landline combos.
The saving you’d make over the same upfront cost of the 4G router, which is
period by not taking the landline is £50 on monthly pay as you go, but
therefore a little less than £40. waived on the 12-month package. Pay Fibre to the building
How does that compare to BT’s upfront, then, and your first year of Perhaps the most exciting of all the
superfast Infinity service? Assuming that coverage is £240, all in, with no current options is fibre to the building.
you have coverage (you can check at restrictions on how much data you use. We’re not talking about BT Infinity or
tinyurl.com/c3ntbwq to see whether EE’s 4GEE service works beyond this Virgin Media here, but a dedicated fibre
superfast Infinity is available in your area), limited swathe of the capital, offering 3G line running directly to your router.
its Unlimited BT Infinity 2 + Weekend Calls and 4G coverage nationwide (subject to Hyperoptic offers synchronous
option including free BT Sport and 50GB network propagation). There are three connections of 1Gb/s flat-out. That
of cloud storage costs £25 a month for hardware options: Buzzard 2, which plugs means there’s no difference in the
the broadband, plus £16.99 monthly line into a car socket for broadband on the speed of uploads and downloads as
rental, for a total year one cost of move, and Osprey or Kite, which are more there is with ADSL, and you shouldn’t
£503.88. Add the one-off £6.95 charge traditional pocket-sized wireless 4G see any degradation in the speed of the
for delivering a HomeHub and the total’s routers. Contracts on each of these service as you move away from the
around £10 more than Virgin Media is options run for one month or two years, connection point either.
charging for a faster pipe without the with the upfront costs being lower on the Prices start at £29 a month for the first
bundled phone line. That makes Virgin longer-term deals. six months, and £60 a month thereafter,
the more attractive option here. There are also two levels of service: but if that’s more than you need, you can
4GEE for light users and 4GEE Extra for step down to 100Mb/s for £17 a month for
4G those with higher consumption. the first six months (£35 a month
Cellular connections are by far the most Opt for the smart Apple TV-like Osprey thereafter), or 20Mb/s for £10 a month for
flexible option, as you can take them with router on the entry-level 4GEE service the first six months (£22 a month
you wherever you go. Just be wary of the and it’s £10 a month for 1GB of data, £15 a thereafter). In each case, there’s a £40
fact that, as Britain’s 4G roll-out remains month for 3GB and an upfront cost of connection fee to add on top, but the
incomplete, performance will vary from £19.99 on the 1GB, two-year deal. The £200 installation fee is waived.
place to place and you may well find router is free if you sign up to £15 a month At the top end of the scale, then,
yourself stepping back to slower 3G. for two years, but if you sign up for just a you’re looking at a year one cost of

£574; that’s roughly what you’d be same. If you live in a terrace, semi or with the landline charge. By splitting it out
paying for the 152Mb/s deal available detached house, though, don’t get your from the headline cost of their broadband
from Virgin Media and slightly more than hopes up just yet. deals, though, Britain’s ISPs aren’t helping
BT’s fibre-based Infinity service, while themselves. Yes, it’s great to be able to
enjoying far higher speeds. The mid- Are landlines a necessary evil? advertise a £5.99 broadband package –
range package, which in speed terms So it’s not as clear-cut as you might until you hit the customer with an extra
sits between what BT and Virgin Media think. Yes, a lot of us are paying for £16.70 a month that they’d rather not pay.
offer, costs a total of £352 in the first landlines we don’t use, and that hurts, If there is no option but to cough up for
year and £310 a year thereafter, which is but the alternatives aren’t always better the service, then the advertised cost in
excellent value for money. value for money. this case should be £22.69, not sub-£6.
But there is a catch. Fibre to the home is the fastest option It doesn’t make the charge any easier
Because it’s building its own fibre since it’s 21st century technology all the to swallow, but you can at least console
network, Hyperoptic is concentrating on way from the exchange to your router, yourself with the thought that your
multi-dwelling buildings and, as it explains rather than fibre to the cabinet in your landline fee is paying to maintain the line
on its website, if your building is within its street, and limiting copper (which can’t from your house to the nearest box on
catchment area, and enough residents push downloads beyond 76Mb/s) from the street, which the fee for a traditional
show support by registering for it online, there to your house. ADSL contract almost certainly isn’t. In
then the company can connect you to its Cable has better coverage, and again that respect you can think of it as a
‘future-proof full-fibre network’. it’s faster than ADSL at present, but it’s digital standing charge, like the one
Its service is currently installed in not been rolled out nationwide. And then you pay to hook up your home to the
100,000 homes spread across 1,000 there’s 4G, which can’t be beaten for National Grid, the gas lines and the
buildings, and if yours is among them convenience. But unless you’re in central water supply – or, indeed, the road tax
you’ll already know. If it’s not, and you live London you may find the data caps you pay to drive your car.
in a block of flats, your best bet is to enter restrictive and the coverage variable. It’s an investment in the national
your postcode at hyperoptic.com, fill in Which brings us back to traditional infrastructure, and as such it ought to be
the form to register your interest in the ADSL. For many of us it’s the only renamed. Perhaps then, paying the fee
service and get your neighbours to do the practical option, which means we’re stuck will feel less like being fleeced.
SERVICE COMPARISON
Technology Provider Package Installation Equipment Monthly cost Term Total Year one
fee cost cost
4G EE 1GB monthly data with Osprey router, 4GEE £0 £19.99 £10 24 months £259.99 £139.99
4G EE 3GB monthly data with Osprey router, 4GEE £0 £0 £15 24 months £360 £180
4G EE 15GB monthly data with Osprey router, 4GEE Extra £0 £0 £20 24 months £480 £240
4G EE 25GB monthly data with Osprey router, 4GEE Extra £0 £0 £30 24 months £720 £360
4G EE 50GB monthly data with Osprey router, 4GEE Extra £0 £0 £50 24 months £1,200 £600
4G Relish 1-month contract £0 £50 £20 1 month £70 £290
4G Relish 12-month contract £0 £0 £20 12 months £240 £240
Cable Virgin Media 50Mb/s, no landline £0 £0 £28.50 12 months £342 £342
Cable Virgin Media 100Mb/s, no landline £0 £0 £33.50 12 months £402 £402
Cable Virgin Media 152Mb/s, no landline £0 £0 £41 12 months £492 £492
Cable WightFibre 30Mb/s, no landline £30 £0 £22.50 24 months £570 £300
Fibre to the home Hyperoptic 20Mb/s, no landline £40 £0 £10 for 6 months, then £22 12 months £232 £232
Fibre to the home Hyperoptic 100Mb/s, no landline £40 £0 £17 for 6 months, then £35 12 months £352 £352
Fibre to the home Hyperoptic 1Gb/s, no landline £40 £0 £29 for 6 months, then £60 £12 months £574 £574
Satellite Avonline 2GB data allowance £100 £5/month £9.95 for 3 months, then £19.95 £24 months £688.80 £389.4*
Satellite Avonline 10GB data allowance £100 £5/month £24.95 £24 months £838.80 £479.40*
Satellite Avonline 25GB daytime, unlimited overnight £100 £5/month £44.95 £24 months £1,318.80 £719.40*
Satellite Avonline 40GB daytime, unlimited overnight £100 £5/month £59.95 £24 months £1,678.80 £899.40*
Satellite Avonline 100GB; uncapped email/web £100 £5/month £74.95 £24 months £2,038.80 £1079.40*
*Assumes equipment is rented in 12 x £5 payments (it can be bought outright for £275) and that installation is settled in a single £100 lump sum (can also be paid in 12 x £10 instalments)

PREVIEW
Reviews
From £1,049
Apple MacBook
inc VAT
Contact
n apple.com/uk
Specifications
12in (2304x1440 resolution,
226ppi) LED-backlit
widescreen display; OS X
Yosemite; 256GB PCIe-
based flash storage; 1.1GHz
dual-core Intel Core M
processor (Turbo Boost up
to 2.4GHz) with 4MB
shared L3 cache; 8GB
of 1600MHz LPDDR3
onboard memory; Intel
HD Graphics 5300; 480p
FaceTime camera;
802.11ac Wi-Fi networking;
4 IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
compatible; Bluetooth
F
4.0; 1x USB-C port;
3.5-13.4x280x196.5mm; orget the mythical iPad it’s not just OS X and iOS software much as how it feels. This may be
923g Pro. Rather than follow that is converging – now we have the shortest-action keyboard ever
Microsoft’s ill-advised Mac hardware available in iPhone made, for better or for worse.
Surface Pro into a snap-on and iPad livery. In recent years keyboard
tablet cul-de-sac, Apple is sticking We tested a sample in Space buttons have been shrinking in
to what works. It has melded the Grey, to our eyes a serious and the amount of travel between rest
finest technologies from the latest sophisticated finish in metallic and depressed positions, to what
MacBooks and state-of-the-art iPad charcoal, anodised evenly across all on the MacBook now feels like
Air into an iPad-sized clamshell surfaces. There’s also Silver, which sub-millimetre movement. In fact,
notebook. And called it MacBook. we can only assume follows the with so little movement of the key
The essential form follows that traditional natural aluminium look cap, it’s akin to trying to type on an
of the unibody MacBook Air, with a of Apple notebooks since the late iPad virtual touchscreen keyboard,
solid aluminium body that’s been PowerBook G4 of 2003. And then only, of course, with the turnaround
precisely milled into a slim all-metal there’s the opinion-dividing Gold benefit that you can rest your hands
wedge. But this machine is smaller, finish, arguably a ghastly personal naturally on the keyboard without
lighter, even slimmer than the 11in statement of fake-bling ostentation. setting off typed characters. And
MacBook Air (see page 66) – despite you also have the tactile feel of real
sporting a larger 12in display. Keyboard keys below your fingertips.
The new MacBook takes the Lid lifted, we find a wholly new The keyboard is not too
name once assigned to the cheapest keyboard with dark tessellating keys. dissimilar in feel to that available
non-Pro Apple notebook, but now The keyboard backlighting here is for the aforementioned Surface
feels every inch the premium the best we’ve seen since Apple Pro tablet, albeit with a classier,
flagship notebook, as you would pioneered the idea with the first precise feel. Ultimately though, it’s
expect for a low-power portable MacBook Pro in 2006. The idea was how well you can type, and here we
priced from £,1049. diluted in the current MacBook Pro did find a steeper learning curve
It impresses with its sub- unibody chassis though, with too than expected to get up to higher
miniature proportions, like a much white LED light bleeding out speed touch typing.
‘normal’ Apple notebook but after a from between the keys; now Apple A neat touch we did appreciate
short zap by the incredible shrinking has re-engineered the keyboard so was the tidying of legends on those
ray gun, to bring it to a very slender that each key gets its own LED, with key caps, specifically the modifier
thinness of 13.4mm and low weight the result that the key’s letter or keys of Control, Alt and Command.
of 923g. When shut close, it put us symbol lights up cleanly with next While US Mac keyboards have long
in mind of the iPad, and is just as to zero light leaking around the seen the cleaner layout of ‘control’,
easy to tote around. edges. It’s a great look. ‘option’ and ‘command’ – spelt out in
Three colours are available for The bigger talking point for the lower-case characters and uniformly
the MacBook, a telling reminder that keyboard is not how it looks so set at the key bottom – the British
062_065 MacBook.indd 62 11/05/2015 14:20

keyboards on MacBooks have a MacBook. At 112mm wide, it may You can also Force Click on a
messier mix of ‘ctrl’ in lower left; ‘alt’ be the widest trackpad ever fitted Mail attachment to Quick Look at
in top left; and ‘cmd’ back in lower to a laptop, if a little foreshortened it, Force Click on a date and time
left, with the latter two also having at 70mm when compared to the to create a new Calendar event, or
the Alt and Bowen knot symbols, too. MacBook Pro (both 13- and 15in even Force Click a word to find out
models have a squarer trackpad what it means.
Display sized at 104x77mm). It’s not the same as a right-
You’ll notice the bright, vivid and The innovation here, though, click (or the equivalent on a
detailed Retina display on the new is not the size but the manner of trackpad – usually either Ctrl-
MacBook. The MacBook screen now operation. In place of a regular click or a tap with two fingers).
joins the Retina class, a 2304x1440 mechanical clicking button under The Force Click is effectively a
panel using IPS technology to give the surface, the Force Touch third standard click, by default
decent colour coverage, contrast trackpad uses a number of strain opening a ‘look up’ menu in most
ratio and wide viewing angles. Like gauge sensors around the edge. applications, delivering a definition
the screens in the MacBook Pro With barely any discernible or Wikipedia article summary for the
with Retina display and the iPad Air, movement along its top glass word you’re clicking on.
it has its front glass bonded to the surface, the trackpad can sense Apple has also taken away the
LCD, reducing thickness and air gaps when finger pressure is applied. hinge traditionally found beneath
that worsen reflectivity. And the Glancing strokes are treated the trackpad, so it feels the same
top surface has the same microns- as normal for mouse steering or no matter where you click. In fact,
thick anti-reflective optical coating light tap-to-click actions; press there’s no mechanical click action
to reduce glare from the screen’s downward with a little more at all: it feels and sounds like there
shiny glass surface. concerted pressure as you would is one, but this is entirely simulated
Unusually for a Retina-screened do a normal hardware trackpad and by the vibrational effect of the
Mac, the default resolution setting you sense the ‘click’ of a mechanical electromagnets under the pad.
for this model is not actually the switch. But it’s an illusion – what
true Retina mode for pixel doubling. you’re feeling is the subtle jolt of Ports
For all other Retina Macs we’ve an electromagnet’s impulse that It’s easy to list all the ports on the
seen, the default interface setting replicates the sensation. MacBook – but one single USB
looks like one scaled back to half in Press harder and you feel a port, not counting the headset
each axis: a 2880x1800-pixel 15in ‘deeper’ click, again the feedback audio jack. That’s right: there’s no
MacBook Pro, for instance, is set to provided artificially to let you know MagSafe, there’s no USB 3, there’s
look like 1440x900 pixels. This gives you’ve completed the action. There no Thunderbolt, there’s no SD card
best graphics performance too, can even be stages in between slot. Instead, Apple has decided that
since the maths to scale the screen the two, as we discovered using one port is all you need.
is easier than when interpolating the fast-forward/rewind controls This is a new take on the USB
to, say, 1680x1050 for that same in QuickTime Player. Increasing standard, USB Type C (or USB-C), a
MacBook Pro. finger pressure here varies the micro-sized interface that’s ready
You can manually set the speed of scanning, with tactile to supply and receive power to
MacBook to a true HiDPI mode that ticks perceptible as you drill down charge the internal battery. This
looks like a 1152x720-pixel display, through the available shuttle speeds. particular version is called USB 3.1
but the interface starts to look a The new Force Click gesture Gen 1, with the same nominal 5Gb/s
little large and clunky; instead you’ll (which is simply a harder version interface speed as regular USB 3.0,
find it is set to a virtual 1280x800, of the standard click) can be but now also able to send ultra-high
the same as older 13in MacBook used in various ways. Force Click resolution digital video via either
Air and Pro models. Either side of on an address, for example, HDMI or DisplayPort standards.
these two scale options there is and it will automatically launch Along with charging, the USB-C
‘1024x760’ and ‘1440x900’. the Maps app. And within the port can be used for connecting
In our tests, the display revealed Maps app, you can use a Force peripherals, for HDMI, VGA and
good colour quality, just a little short Click rather than a normal click DisplayPort. And, of course, that
of what you can expect to find from when zooming in or out, and the means you’re going to need an
the MacBook Pro, and the same zooming will be quicker. Likewise, adaptor, which you can buy from
wide contrast ratio. Colour gamut varying the pressure when clicking Apple (and you’ll need to remember
stretched to 93 percent of the sRGB on the fast-forward button in to lug it around with you).
space, and 69 percent of Adobe QuickTime will vary the speed of There’s a USB adaptor for
RGB. Contrast ratio was a healthy the fast-forward function. plugging in one USB device available
860:1 at the nominal 50 percent
brightness setting.
Force Touch trackpad

First debuted in the latest 13in
MacBook Pro with Retina display,
the Force Touch trackpad is literally
front and centre on the new
062_065 MacBook.indd 63 11/05/2015 14:21

Reviews
from Apple for £15. Apple also

supplies the USB-C VGA Multiport
Adaptor and USB-C Digital AV
Multiport Adaptor (£65) as an
accessory if you need to charge
the MacBook and connect USB
peripherals and external display
at the same time. There’s a Type A
USB port able to operate as USB 3.0,
and an HDMI 1.4 port, which allows
up to 3840x2160 displays, albeit at
a maximum refresh rate of 30Hz.
While too slow for comfortable use, but for now concerns aren’t M processor (Turbo Boost up to
viewing on a computer monitor completely banished. 2.4GHz)’ in our sample is the chip
it may be sufficient for watching Apple isn’t worried, though. The that Intel sells as the 0.9GHz Core
video. Apple says that a DisplayPort MacBook is designed to fly solo, M-5Y31. It’s a chip that has a feature
adaptor is coming soon. unencumbered by wires. Intel calls “configurable TDP-up
There’s also the possibility of frequency”, which is listed as able to
full 60Hz UHD operation, thanks to Processor and speed tests run at Apple’s figure of 1.1GHz.
the DisplayPort 1.2 option, but you’ll Inside the new MacBook notebook In Intel’s words, “Configurable
need to find the necessary USB-C is Intel’s new energy-efficient Core TDP-up Frequency is a processor
to DisplayPort cable. At present, M ‘Broadwell’ processor, housed operating mode where the processor
we could only find one supplier in a logic board that is 67 percent behaviour and performance is
for this, Google, to complement smaller than Apple’s previous modified by raising TDP and the
the advertising company’s record. The Core M runs so cool that processor frequency to fixed points.”
Chromebook Pixel laptop. computers that take advantage of So while the chip in use here has
If you just want to connect a the chip can be fanless. And being a listed clock frequency of 900MHz,
desktop peripheral like keyboard, fanless means that the computer in Apple seems to have set it 200MHz
mouse or storage drive, you’ll need which they feature can be thinner higher, in line with Intel’s available
at least the USB-C to USB Adaptor and smaller than ever. That ‘M’ in configuration. This does make it
(£15) to get the job done. Core M stands for mobile, though, run hungrier for power though,
Beyond wired connections, the and these are processors destined and likely with more waste heat to
MacBook packs the latest 802.11ac for tablets and hybrid laptops, disperse; while the Core M-5Y31 has
Wi-Fi connectivity, with a two-stream so don’t expect anything like the a nominal thermal design power
solution able to sync to wireless power of the Core i5. (TDP) of 4.5W, when overclocked
routers at 867Mb/s. And Bluetooth There is a choice of three new to 1.1GHz its TDP is listed at 6W.
4.0 handles short-range connections Intel Core M processors in the In our tests of processor
to mice, keyboards and assorted MacBook. The entry-level model performance, we found something
other peripherals. at £1,049 includes a Core M-5Y31, of a moving target. While no-one
For online video calls there’s still specified by Apple as 1.1GHz, and is likely to press a passively cooled
a webcam mounted in the screen offers 256GB of flash storage. The ultrabook processor into workstation
bezel, in the usual top-central second off-the-shelf model includes duties, we nevertheless used our
position too (unlike Dell’s XPS 13 512GB storage and a Core M-5Y51, standard Cinebench tests to get an
with Infinity screen, whose tiny specified as running at 1.2GHz. That idea of performance – and found
bezel forces a reposition, at screen model costs £1,299. it highly variable. This is likely
bottom and offset to the left). The There’s also a CTO model, a symptom of intelligent on-die
FaceTime camera resolution is otherwise identical to the latter, temperature sensing and clock
not the HD of 720p or 1080p, but but with Core M-5Y71, advertised frequency readjustment, with
848x480 pixel, or 0.4Mp, which by Apple as a 1.3GHz processor. the processor underclocking as
is still sufficient for Skype and That option adds £120 to the price, it reaches thermal maximums to
FaceTime use, for instance. bringing it to £1,419. prevent any overheating.
Including just one port may have Clock speed specifications have Our first run with Cinebench
enable Apple to make this MacBook become something of a grey area 11.5 showed scores of 1.05 points
incredibly slim, but just how portable lately, with Turbo modes that allow for a single processor core, and
is it really if you’re required to also much higher than nominal speeds 2.18 points for dual-core mode
carry adaptors, which you’re likely to be used in short bursts; and (effectively four cores here,
to forget and leave behind? underclocking modes that reduce with the help of Intel Hyper
It’s something that has both processors’ clocks below the named Threading Technology).
impressed us and concerned us, speed when the computer is idling. Cinebench 15 reported 98- and
but we all freaked out about the In the case of the new MacBooks, 204 points respectively for the
MacBook Air when it launched the low-power chips in question are same tests, scores that compare
without an optical drive and specified with base frequencies even favourably with the 110- and 260
everyone is over it now. We’ll see lower than advertised in Apple’s points we found on the last MacBook
how we go with it in day-to-day marketing. So the ‘1.1GHz Intel Core Air update, based on Intel Core i5-
062_065 MacBook.indd 64 07/05/2015 16:09

Core i5-5250U running at 1.6GHz play at 24fps (1280x800, Low) and Battery life
baseline. But successive iterations even 27fps average (1024x768, Low). Battery life should be the real
of the same test saw performance Tested with Batman: Arkham City, benefactor when you select a low-
gradually fall, then plummet, as we again saw borderline framerates, power processor, although Apple
the processor warmed up. Single- 25fps with 1280x800 and Low detail. engineers did have to take a hit on
core speed especially showed But is speed an issue for a runtime by selecting a high-grade,
the difference after concerted product like this? Perhaps not – and high-resolution IPS display over the
demands were made of the central it certainly doesn’t feel sluggish in more economical TN screens fitted
processor – scores returned were use. Gaming won’t be a highlight, to current MacBook Air models.
98, then 92, 84; and on the fourth but for most day-to-day tasks the Nevertheless, the newly tiered
run, just 49 points. It seems likely new MacBook will be fine. layers in the MacBook’s lithium-
that the 2.4GHz Turbo boost is polymer battery pack total a nominal
removed as a dynamic option when Storage 39.7Wh of energy on a full charge. In
internal temperatures exceed a Helping to keep the MacBook feel our tests this allowed the MacBook
calculated threshold. fast and fluid in normal use is a to run for 11 hours 12 minutes in our
But in use the MacBook never very advanced flash drive, like that looped-video rundown test.
felt ‘too’ hot, just pleasantly warm now fitted to the MacBook Air and
on its flat underside, where we Pro. This version appears to be the Macworld’s buying advice
understand the logic board and CPU first using an in-house designed The MacBook is a triumph in
is dispersing its spare heat. memory controller, rather than notebook miniaturisation, squeezing
Using the Temperature Gauge buying in a complete SSD from the a Retina IPS display and full-
application we were able to see usual OEM suppliers of Samsung, size keyboard into a 13mm (at its
internal temperatures move up and SanDisk or Toshiba. thickest) tapered chassis, with
down, reaching a maximum of 95ºC It is connected by a 4-lane PCIe weight below 1kg. At over £1,000,
in the CPU core under peak stress, 2.0 bus, in common with the latest it’s more an executive notebook
before quickly ebbing back to little 13in MacBook Pro and MacBook than the everyman laptop once
under body temperature (37ºC) Air, although the MacBook didn’t given the name MacBook, but that
within just a few minutes after the quite hit the giddy speed heights money buys a sleek statement in
loading ceased. we recorded from these two models what’s now possible in lightweight
So while the tri-core 1.5GHz recently. But at 845MB/s sequential ultraportables. The fan-free
Apple A8X chip in the latest iPad is read and 477MB/s sequential write design heralds a breakthrough in
incredibly fast for an ARM processor, speeds, we have no cause from silent computing and while it is
we can see why Apple has stuck to complaint. And in place of the measurably behind the MacBook Air
the usual Intel x86 architecture in usual advanced host controller in performance it doesn’t often show
its new lightweight MacBook, for interface (AHCI) long used for SATA it in everyday use. Andrew Harrison
the moment at least. drives, the MacBook’s flash drive
Shoehorned into the same die now uses NVM Express to control
of the Core M chip is the graphics the increasingly fast IO that’s now
engine, Intel HD Graphics 5300, emerging in these highly developed
which proved competent for driving solid-state storage drives.
high-resolution displays and even up And while its average of 226-
to some light game playing. and 167MB/s for random reads
We tried first Tomb Raider and writes respectively (4- to
2013 at the usual starting point of 1024kB) cannot match the circa-
1280x800 resolution, and with Low 500MB/s figures from the drives
detail setting. Here the MacBook in the new 13-inchers, it shows a
averaged 16.9fps on the first run. marked step-up from the 181- and
Following runs at the same setting 138MB/s results for the latest 11in
were slowed slightly but not too MacBook Air (Early 2015), which
precipitously – 16.1-, 16, 15.1- and is using an older 2-lane PCIe
15fps on succeeding trials. 2.0-connected flash drive.
Dropping settings to 1024x768
pixels and Low detail was still too
much for the MacBook graphics
processor, returning framerates
around 20fps. But by selecting
Legacy OpenGL from the game’s
preference settings, you can get to
062_065 MacBook.indd 65 11/05/2015 14:22

Reviews
£749 inc VAT Apple MacBook Air 11in (2015)

Contact
n apple.com/uk
Specifications
11.6in (1344x756 resolution,
226ppi) LED-backlit glossy
widescreen display; OS X
Yosemite; 128GB PCIe-
based flash storage; 1.6GHz
dual-core Intel Core i5
(Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz)
with 3MB shared L3 cache;
4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3
onboard memory; Intel
HD Graphics 6000; 720p
FaceTime camera;
802.11ac Wi-Fi networking;
4 IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
compatible; Bluetooth
4.0; 2x USB 3.0;
Thunderbolt 2; MagSafe
2 power port;
3-17x300x192mm; 1.08kg
T
he 11in MacBook Air, the change on these machines when resolution of 1366x768 pixels and
smallest of all Apple the 12in MacBook got such a radical a pixel density of just over 135ppi
Macs, received a modest rethink (see page 62). (pixels per inch).
update in spring 2015, We have the same sturdy yet (Apple doesn’t list pixel
at Apple’s Spring Forward launch lightweight chassis milled from solid density on the Airs’ tech specs
event for the Apple Watch. Like aluminium, and an 11.6in TN LCD page, which one might take as
its 13in counterpart, the little screen, which stands apart from all an indication that it’s not terribly
notebook computer gained a new other Macs and displays – it’s the only proud of it. We had to work it using
Intel Broadwell-series processor 16:9 widescreen display in the range. the Pixel Density Calculator.)
and Thunderbolt 2 connectivity. All other Macs made in the past nine Our sample 11in MacBook Air
But in contrast to the original-size years have had 16:10 aspect ratio, a included a display from Samsung,
MacBook Air with 13.3in screen, shape that’s more versatile for both with very similar performance to
the entry-level Mac notebook keeps productivity and entertainment. the LG/Philips panel we found in our
the same two-lane PCIe-attached Like the 13in option, it has one sample of this year’s 13in model.
flash drive as before. USB 3.0 port on each side, plus Colour gamut indicated by a
In all other respects the early MagSafe 2 and headset jack on Datacolor colorimeter was limited
2015 MacBook Air is the same the left; and Thunderbolt 2 port on to just 40 percent sRGB and 30
laptop as the last main refresh the right. One minor difference in percent AdobeRGB, but we did find
of October 2013. (Although there specification is the absence of an a just-better contrast ratio of 440:1.
was a minor upgrade in April 2014, SD card slot, which can be found on Colour accuracy was almost the
when the main Intel processor the 13in MacBook Air. same, with an average Delta E figure
received a running upgrade from The 13in MacBook Pro mostly of 5.4, just below and thereby better
1.3- to 1.4GHz.) Still, it remains a embodies the same cautious design than the 5.9 Delta E we measured on
compelling deal: at £749 this is the ethos, with one exception: it did the 13in version.
cheapest Mac portable you can buy. at least get the new Force Touch It’s not an particularly impressive
trackpad. The new Air doesn’t display when set against the Retina
Design and build quality even get that – or the ‘butterfly panels on more expensive Macs,
Let’s look at physical design first of mechanism’ keyboard from the new although the key contrast-ratio
all, which won’t take long because 12in MacBook, for that matter. figures are strides ahead of budget
of the lack of change here. Like the displays on Windows laptops, which
13in Air, the early 2015 11in Air has Display often come in at 100:1 or worse.
the same chassis as we saw in the The Air’s screen, too, is in essence
previous generation. unchanged, even though there have Processing speed tests
That means exceptional been endless rumours about Apple The standard processor for all
build quality and stunning looks, adding Retina-class displays to this MacBook Air models is now the
admittedly, but it’s hard not to be line. The 11in model actually has an 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-5250U, a
a little disappointed by the lack of 11.6in screen, to be precise, with a low-power variant from the dual-
066_067 MacBook Air.indd 66 07/05/2015 16:03

core Core i5 mobile processor range In Batman: Arkham City, the ceiling. We measured 181- and
that has become almost standard latest 11in Air could play at 29 138MB/s for random read and writes,
issue across all kinds of laptops. We frames per second, (1280x720, when averaging the transfer speed
tested a MacBook Air sample with Medium detail), 2fps slower than the of data sized from 4- to 1024kB.
this chip and its integrated Intel equivalent early 2014 model. And While this trails the startling 450-
HD Graphics 6000, with 4GB of with High detail, framerate dropped and 503MB/s we saw from the 13in
memory and 128GB flash drive. from last year’s 28- to 27fps. Tomb Air random small-file benchmark, be
The processor and memory Raider 2013 had a comparable assured that speeds above 100MB/s
performance of the 11.6in Air is shortfall, here slipping from 23.5fps alone in this test bode very well for
effectively the same as the 13.3in in the 2014 Air, to 22.5fps. overall system responsiveness.
model, with some tiny variations in Given the superior-looking Top sequential speed from the
benchmark scores due to inevitable specification of the new Intel chip’s SSD reached 754MB/s for reads, and
fluctuations in speed from intelligent integrated graphics (if only subtly), 316MB/s for writes, the former figure
monitoring adjusts operation with we suspect the slower graphical especially entirely unheard of from
ambient conditions. speed of today is due to either the a single laptop storage drive, before
The updates to the processor change from OS X Mavericks to the ground-breaking revision was
and graphics setup should produce Yosemite, some internal power- made in 2013’s MacBook Air.
appreciably stronger real-world saving clock management that
performance in both general Apple applies to the new processor; Battery life
tasks and gaming – in areas where or perhaps simply the loss of 50MHz The 11in version of the early 2015
processing speed or graphical power in peak graphics memory clock MacBook Air has the same capacity
are the limiting factor, at any rate. speed that’s found when comparing of battery as the 2013 and 2014
You’ll be able to run a higher (or this year’s Intel HD Graphics 6000 issues, 38.75Wh from a battery
more processor-intensive) calibre of to last year’s 5000. comprising lithium-polymer packs.
software on this machine than on But as with the 13in Air, we But where the new 13in model
2014’s, although those who just wish found results from Cinebench’s showed little measurable difference,
to surf the web, tap out emails and OpenGL render test that showed the our 11in sample comfortably
write the odd essay may not care integrated GPU in a slightly better exceeded its predecessor’s
too much about that. light. Version 11.5’s score went from lifespan. Last year we noted 10
The increase in baseline 22.2- to 24.4fps (10 percent higher); hours 11 minutes in our battery
processor clock speed for the and version 15 allowed a clearer stamina test playing an HD film
starting configuration looks minor distance to be put between MacBook over wireless. This year the new
- from 1.4- to 1.6GHz – and anyone generations – from 18.5- to 25.9fps 11in kept on looping for 13 hours 28
pondering an upgrade from last (40 percent framerate increase). minutes, a runtime more in line with
year’s model shouldn’t expect The fact remains, though, that expectation given the mooted gains
the Air to be transformed into a unless you dial down resolution and from the Broadwell processor.
powerhouse. But this small bump detail to minimums, the MacBook Air
is potentially more significant than is not a laptop that can yet take on Macworld’s buying advice
the MacBook Pro’s increase from modern action gaming. Available at the same price as last
2.4- to 2.6GHz because in lower- year, the new 11in MacBook Air
specced machines processing Storage has the same super-fast storage
power is more likely to become the For internal storage, the MacBook as before, and around 10 percent
performance bottleneck. Air has the same component increase in processor performance.
In Geekbench 3, we saw results specification as last year, either Gaming performance was always
of 2898 points in single-core mode, a 128- or 256GB flash drive (with borderline, and now we find it no
and 5818 points in multi-core mode. 512GB available as a CTO option). better. But overall battery runtime
So just like the 13in, net increases Our sample had the standard increased by almost a third in our
here of 4.9- and 7.9 percent. 128GB capacity, with a drive made tests, a useful upgrade on the
Cinebench 11.5 and version 15 by SanDisk. This is a PCIe-attached already decent 10 hour-plus battery
also showed similar increases, with device, using two PCIe 2.0 lanes life of the previous generation.
v11.5 Cinebench result going from to break through the SATA speed Andrew Harrison
1.13- and 2.57 points to 1.19- and 2.78
points; here a positive change of 5.3-
and 8.2 percent. Version 15 moved
from 97- and 236 points to 110- and
260 points, indicating 13.4- and 10.2
percent increases.
Graphical speed tests

And as with the 13in MacBook
Air, we found real-world gaming
performance to be slightly
behind the comparable models
tested in April of last year.
066_067 MacBook Air.indd 67 07/05/2015 16:03

Reviews
From £749 inc VAT Apple MacBook Air vs MacBook
A
Contact pple has introduced new
n apple.com/uk MacBook Airs and a
completely new MacBook
with a Retina display.
This new MacBook came as a bit of a
surprise because everyone thought
that it was the MacBook Air that
would be getting the Retina display,
while Apple instead resurrected the
old MacBook and redesigned it with
a smaller, thinner case, and made it
available in iPhone-like Gold, Silver
and Space Grey finishes.
The new MacBook is both MacBook
smaller and lighter than the once
“light as air” MacBook Air, which or Silver – but if it’s Silver you are 2015 13in MacBook Air, £999
begs the question: what is the best going for, perhaps the Air will fulfil 256GB PCIe flash storage; 1.6GHz
lightweight laptop from Apple? your needs. dual-core Intel Core i5 processor;
In this article we will weigh up Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz; Intel
the pros and cons for both models, Specs comparison HD Graphics 6000; 4GB memory;
and look at the best upgrade The 11in Air shares the specs of the 12-hour battery
options, and some alternatives that 13in Air, so in that case you aren’t 2015 12in MacBook, £1,049
might suit your needs better. opting for a lower powered Mac in 256GB PCIe flash storage; 1.1GHz
order to get a smaller computer. dual-core Intel Core M processor;
Dimensions and weight The 11in model has a 1.6GHz dual- Turbo Boost up to 2.4GHz; Intel
The MacBook comes in Gold, Silver core Intel Core i5 processor (capable HD Graphics 5300; 8GB memory;
and Space Grey, just like the iPhone. of Turbo Boost to 2.7GHz) and 10-hour battery
Judging by the popularity of the comes with 4GB RAM and an Intel 2015 12in MacBook, £1,299
Gold iPhone, for some the fact that HD Graphics 6000 graphics card. 512GB PCIe flash storage; 1.2GHz
the MacBook comes in Gold will be The cheapest MacBook Air ships dual-core Intel Core M processor;
reason enough to buy it. However, with 128GB flash storage, while the Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz; Intel
if you’d prefer a more muted colour other 11in model offers 256GB flash HD Graphics 5300; 8GB memory;
the Silver or Space Grey options storage for an additional £150. 10-hour battery
may appeal. Alternatively, the Air The 12in MacBook ships in two Buying advice
comes in the traditional aluminium. configurations. One has a 1.1GHz On the face of it, the MacBook Air
While the MacBook might sound dual-core Intel Core M processor, offers the best specs, with a faster
like it should be bigger, with its 12in which can Turbo Boost up to 2.4GHz, processor, not just clock speed,
display, however, length wise it is the other costs £250 more and but a Core i5 as opposed to a Core
smaller by almost 20mm. You may offers a 1.2 dual-core Intel Core M M. However, the MacBook ships
notice that the width of the 11in Air processor, which can Turbo Boost up with 8GB RAM as standard while
is slightly less, but it’s only 4.5mm to 2.6GHz. Both MacBooks offer 8GB the MacBook Air only offers 4GB,
different and unlikely to make a big RAM and Intel HD Graphics 5300. unless you upgrade to 8GB RAM
difference to how easily you can fit Specs (which costs an extra £80). The final
the Mac laptop in your bag. 2015 11in MacBook Air, £749 big difference is the fact that the
Specs 128GB PCIe flash storage; 1.6GHz MacBook ships with a 256GB flash
2015 12in MacBook dual-core Intel Core i5 processor; drive, while the entry-level MacBook
3.5-13x280x196mm, 1.08kg Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz; Intel Air offers only 128GB.
2015 11in MacBook Air: HD Graphics 6000; 4GB memory; So to compare like-for-like, you
3-17x300x192mm, 920g 10-hour battery could purchase a 11in MacBook Air
Buying advice 2015 11in MacBook Air, £899 with 256GB storage and upgrade to
If it’s the lightest and smallest Mac 256GB PCIe flash storage; 1.6GHz 8GB RAM, an option that would cost
you are looking for the MacBook dual-core Intel Core i5 processor; you £979. Or you could purchase
wins over the 11in MacBook Air, and Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz; Intel a similarly specced MacBook
still gives you a bigger screen. It’s HD Graphics 6000; 4GB memory; (although with a slower processor)
also lighter than the MacBook Air. 10-hour battery for £1,049. That’s £70 difference.
When it comes to design, only the 2015 13in MacBook Air, £849
MacBook offers you a selection of 128GB PCIe flash storage; 1.6GHz Processor comparison
colour choices and that may be a big dual-core Intel Core i5 processor; Regarding that processor difference.
part of the buying decision for some. Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz; Intel How does the Core M stand up to
If you aren’t keen on Gold, then HD Graphics 6000; 4GB memory; the Core i5? The Core M is Intel’s
there is the choice of Space Grey 12-hour battery new generation of processors that
068_071 Air vs MacBook.indd 68 07/05/2015 16:22

run so cool that they can be fanless. consider something other than the The new more power efficient
And being fanless means that the MacBook or Air. The MacBook Pro, processor in the MacBook Air
computer in which they feature can which comes in 13- or 15in versions, should allow for better battery
be thinner and smaller than ever. offers a faster processor and when life, but when we ran tests on the
That ‘M’ in Core M stands for mobile, you consider the 13in models, there 13in model we found that there
though, and these are processors isn’t a big leap in price from the was little difference between
destined for tablets and hybrid MacBook Air to the MacBook Pro. the 2014- and 2015 models. The
laptops, so don’t expect anything 2014 MacBook Air ran for 12
like the power of the Core i5. Battery life hours 38 minutes while the 2015
Geekbench 3 revealed scores of Apple went out of its way to counterpart played for 12 hours
2459- and 4618 points for its single/ fill every empty space in the 49 minutes in our tests.
multi modes (2900- and 5820 points MacBook with battery. The Specs
for the Air), which shows that while company describes how it used 2015 11in MacBook Air
no heavy lifter the MacBook can “every millimetre of space inside 10-hour battery
nearly keep up with the familiar the slim MacBook enclosure.” 2015 13in MacBook Air
lower-power variants of the Intel Apple explains on its website 12-hour battery
Core i5 processor. how: “Traditional rectangular 2015 12in MacBook
For reference, a recent 2.16GHz batteries leave unused space when 10-hour battery
Intel Celeron N2840 processor placed in a curved enclosure, so Buying advice
in a Windows laptop scored just we created a new type of battery If you want more battery life, then
1069- and 1863 points in this test. technology that allowed for an you should look at the 13in MacBook
Meanwhile the iPad Air 2 reports innovative terraced battery cell, Air, which is able to offer up to 12
around 1815 and 4515 points in custom shaped to fit the specific hours between charges.
Geekbench 3. contours of the enclosure.”
We tested the 1.6GHz processor As a result, Apple has eked out 35 Screen and resolution
in the MacBook Air by running per cent more battery cell capacity The biggest difference is the fact
the Geekbench 3 benchmark test than would have been possible that the MacBook offers a Retina
and the MacBook Air scored 2912 without the innovation. Batteries display. That display is LED-backlit
points in single-core mode, and 5821 actually sit on top of each other, as display with IPS technology, and
points multi-core. That’s not far off you can see in this illustration. offers a 2304x1440 resolution
the MacBook’s Geekbench results. Apple claims the MacBook will at 226 pixels per inch, as well as
To compare, the 2014 model with offer a battery life of up to nine support for millions of colours,
its 1.4GHz Haswell-generation hours web surfing and 10 hours and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The
processor achieved 2777- and 5400 iTunes viewing. In our tests, we MacBook Air, on the other hand,
points in the same tests. saw 11 hours 12 minutes. The 11in offers 1366x768 (native) resolution
Specs MacBook Air offers exactly the at 16:9 aspect ratio.
2015 11in MacBook Air, £749 same: nine hours battery life for The Air has attracted criticism
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 web surfing and 10 hours for film for the quality of its screen, and the
processor; Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz watching on iTunes, according to fact that the 16:9 aspect ratio means
2015 11in MacBook Air, £899 Apple. In our tests, we saw more that the screen depth is much
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 than 13 hours. shallower – this matters to you if you
processor; Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
2015 13in MacBook Air, £849
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
2015 13in MacBook Air, £999
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
2015 12in MacBook, £1,049
1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M
2015 12in MacBook, £1,299
1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M
Buying advice
While the MacBook Air processor
appears to be faster than the MacBook Air
MacBook in terms of clock speed
(1.6GHz compared to 1.1GHz or
1.2GHz) there is some question of
how big a difference that will make
in real world testing.
If it’s a powerful laptop you are
looking for you probably need to

Reviews
want to see the maximum number of display, less than the MacBook. The Specs
lines of a document on your laptop MacBook Air does offer Thunderbolt 2015 11in MacBook Air
screen. Although it may suit those digital video output however. 128- or 256GB PCIe-based
who watch widescreen movies as We have tested the graphics card flash storage
the 16:9 aspect ratio is suited to in the Air and found it was no better 2015 13in MacBook Air
that kind of use. than the previous year’s model. 128- or 256GB PCIe-based
And there is also the fact that When we ran the Batman: Arkham flash storage
the 12in display is by definition, City benchmark test, the 2014 and 2015 12in MacBook
bigger than the 11in display. The 2015 MacBook Air models both 256- or 512GB PCIe-based
bezel around the edge is smaller, averaged 29fps in medium detail; flash storage
too, so you get more screen and 24fps in High detail. Buying advice
without having a bigger laptop. Specs If you want the most storage for the
Specs 2015 MacBook Air least amount of money, save £160
2015 11in MacBook Air Intel HD Graphics 6000 and upgrade your 11in MacBook Air
1366x768 resolution 2015 MacBook to a 512GB drive. You could even opt
2015 13in MacBook Air Intel HD Graphics 5300 for the 13in MacBook Air with 512GB
1440x900 resolution Buying advice storage and still save money – that
2015 12in MacBook Both of these Macs have inferior machine would cost £60 less than
2304x1440 resolution graphics cards compared to the the MacBook at £1,239.
Buying advice Retina MacBook Pro, so if good
The MacBook offers the superior graphics capabilities are necessary Ports
display, both in terms of screen for you, you should consider opting The most obvious difference
size and resolution. If it’s a good for the MacBook Pro instead. between the MacBook and Air is
quality screen you need, then the the lack of ports on the former.
Air probably won’t cut the mustard. Capacity The MacBook (in)famously features
If you like to watch films on your This is one area where the only a USB-C port and a headphone
laptop, you may be thinking that entry-level Air lets itself down in port. There isn’t even a Magsafe
the Air would be better with its 16:9 comparison to the MacBook. It port for charging as charging is
aspect ratio – but the quality of the ships with 128GB storage, while done through the USB-C which
display is poor in comparison so the entry level MacBook ships also supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up
you probably wouldn’t benefit all with twice the storage, 256GB, to 5Gb/s), Native DisplayPort 1.2
that much. There are a couple of although it costs £1,049. For a better video output, VGA output using
options if you are concerned about comparison, the £899 MacBook Air USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold
screen quality. Either plug your ships with 256GB, that’s £150 less. separately) and HDMI video output
MacBook Air into an external screen If you are looking for the most using USB-C Digital AV Multiport
when you are sat at your desk, storage possible, there is also the Adapter (sold separately). The USB-C
or opt for the MacBook Pro with £1,299 MacBook with a 512GB SSD. may support a lot of peripherals,
Retina display – at £999 the 13in To get that much storage in your with the necessary adaptor, but
entry-level model is still cheaper MacBook Air, you need to turn to the there is still only the one USB-C
than the MacBook. build to order options. To upgrade port available and for many that
the 256GB MacBook Air to a 512GB will not be enough.
Graphics drive costs an extra £240, bringing As for the MacBook Air, the 11in
The MacBook sports the Intel HD the price to £1,139. That’s £160 less model features two USB 3 ports
Graphics 5300 and supports dual than the 512GB MacBook. (5Gb/s), one Thunderbolt 2 port (up
display and video mirroring. It can Interestingly, the storage in the to 20Gb/s), and a MagSafe 2 power
support up to 3840x2160 pixels on 11in Air is not as good as the storage port. If you were to opt for the 13in
an external display. in the 13in option. The 13in Air has MacBook Air you would also get a
The MacBook Air offers superior a flash drive that is three times SDXD card slot for transferring the
graphics: the Intel HD Graphics faster than the best the Windows photos taken on your camera.
6000 and supports dual display and world can deliver. Unfortunately, the Both Mac laptops offer 802.11ac
video mirroring. It can support up 11in remains only 50 percent faster WiFi networking and Bluetooth 4.0.
to 2560x1600 pixels on an external than Windows laptops. One thing that the MacBook
features that the Air doesn’t is the
MacBook Force Touch trackpad. This trackpad
(which also features on the MacBook
Pro) is sensitive to varying degrees
of touch pressure: you can set it to
respond to harder/deeper presses
to activate different features. It also
provides what is known as haptic or
taptic feedback, a tangible, tactile
response that in theory allows you
to ‘feel’ what you are interacting
with, which means that you feel like

you are pressing the trackpad in just plug your Air into an external 2015 13in MacBook Air
when the pad isn’t moving at all. display which would likely cost you £849: 1.6GHz; 4GB memory;
Specs less than £300 (and you’d have the 128GB storage
2015 MacBook Air necessary port to do so). £999: 1.6GHz; 4GB memory;
2x USB 3.0; 1x Thunderbolt 2 port; Buying advice 256GB storage
SDXC card slot; HDMI via a third- If you are looking for a cheap Mac 2015 MacBook
party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI option, then the MacBook is simply 1.3GHz processor
Adaptor (not included) not for you right now. It is one of the Buying advice
2015 MacBook most expensive Mac laptops, as well For now we’d recommend that if
1x USB-C as being the least powerful. This is a it’s a light laptop you are after, you
Buying advice laptop for those who are looking for should stick with the MacBook Air.
If you have a laptop right now and a status symbol to write their emails Upgrade it at point of sale to include
you use all the ports all the time, and presentations on. If money is the extra RAM and, if you can afford
then you may not be able to cope no object and you have a penchant it, the faster processor.
with only one port on the MacBook. for Gold then by all means buy a
However, if your concern is that you MacBook, but if you just want the Macworld’s buying advice
won’t be able to use your external cheapest Mac laptop the 11in Air is For now it’s clear that the MacBook
mouse or plug in a hard drive while a better deal. Air offers the better deal in terms
charging your Mac, you may be of specs, presuming you are looking
worrying unnecessarily. We also Build-to-order options for a light laptop – if weight isn’t an
think it is likely that adaptors will be One last thing to mention. Currently issue, then there are even better
available that will extend the port, is just one build-to-order option for options in the MacBook Pro range.
so that you can plug in more than the MacBook – there’s a 1.3GHz Dual- The MacBook is, for now at least,
one thing at a time. The question Core Intel Core M, Turbo Boost up to priced higher than many would think
is whether the trade-off in ports is 2.9GHz. This will set you back £200. a lower specced machine should
enough to justify the smaller, thinner There are build-to-order options be. But the price does not reflect
design of the MacBook. And whether on the Air, which gives you a lot the specs of the MacBook, the price
you like the Force Touch trackpad. more flexibility to design the Mac reflects the new technologies that
that best suits your needs. For have gone into the first generation
Price example, as we mentioned earlier, of this newly resurrected Mac. Like
This the big difference between the you can add 8GB RAM to your the Air, which when it launched
MacBook and the Air. The entry-level MacBook Air for an extra £80, 512GB cost a lot more than the other Mac
MacBook price starts at £1,049 while flash storage will cost you an extra laptops, but eventually came down
the entry-level Air is £300 cheaper £240, and you can upgrade your in price to be the entry-level Mac
at £749. The difference in price processor to a 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 it is today, the MacBook price will
might be acceptable if the MacBook chip for £130. With these updates come down over time. Eventually it
was more powerful, but you are not the best build to order 11in MacBook may even replace the Air.
paying that extra £300 for a more Air would cost £1,349. Sure that’s There will, no doubt, be some
powerful machine. What you get for more than the MacBook, but it would people who can’t wait to own the
the £300 is a better display and a be a far better specced machine, and MacBook, just as there were some
smaller and lighter laptop. While we not a whole lot heavier. who rushed out to buy that first
think the display on the MacBook Air Specs generation Air. If you are one of
would benefit from improvement, we 2015 11in MacBook Air them then we are sure you will enjoy
think £300 is a high price to pay for £749: 1.6GHz; 4GB memory the new machine. But if you’d prefer
what is in essence a better screen. £899: 2.2GHz; 8GB memory; to wait for the next generation we
And at the end of the day you could 512GB storage don’t blame you. Karen Haslam

Reviews
Free Photos for Mac
P
Contact hotos stands defiantly on
 apple.com/uk the smouldering heap not
only of iPhoto but also
Specifications Apple’s enthusiast/pro-
OS X Yosemite level Aperture product. Both have
disappeared from the app store.
Upon first use, Photos converts
your existing iPhoto or Aperture
library to make it accessible via
Photos. Don’t worry – your library
is still accessible by the older apps.
However, any edits made using them
won’t be reflected in Photos.
You’re also asked if you want to
start using iCloud Photo Library.
Assuming you answer positively,
then Photos begins the lengthy
background process of uploading. If the View → Show Face Names Facial recognition is present in
your iCloud space isn’t big enough, option, which will circle any faces Photos, but takes a back seat and
and it probably won’t be, Photos Photos has identified and place you’ll need to dig it out
prompts you to upgrade. a label below, or you click the
The app has four view modes, (i) icon to show an info box and Photos will still try and mix the
represented as tabs at the top then click the Add Faces button. existing area with the origin point
of the window: Photos, Shared, The latter option lets you click you selected.
Albums, and Projects. The Photos to identify a face even if Photos Aside from the ability to create
tab is default and hierarchically hasn’t autodetected it. slideshows, the purpose of the
arranges your pictures and videos The Shared tab in Photos lets Projects tab is to help you create
into the same Years, Collections you view photo streams you’ve prints, calendars, posters, photo
and Moments as on iOS. created via iOS, or that you’ve been books and cards. All come direct
Clicking the Album tab shows any invited to view. Clicking the face from Apple.
albums you’re created (including icon at the top right of the interface If you’ve an album or series
imported iPhoto Events), as well shows information, such as who else of photos already selected and
as a handful of built-in albums can view the album, and whether opt to create a project then these
that automatically filter your pics you should receive notifications are automatically used. However,
by whether they’re panoramas, when pictures are added, liked or selecting further photos for a
or burst-mode photos, or videos. commented by others. project is annoying in that you can’t
There’s also an All Photos album Within Photos, you can only switch to albums you’ve created,
that simply presents a thumbnail create Shared iCloud Albums. or make use of the Faces album to
list of your photos from oldest to These are identical to shared photo track down pics of an individual.
newest, sans grouping by location. streams in that people can be invited Instead, you must choose from the
To create new albums, or indeed via email address, for example, or same time/location based listing as
to create anything, you’ll need shared online via the iCloud website. you see in the main Photos view.
to click the Plus icon at the top Editing is the other side of Prices range from 12p for a
right of the user interface. As with Photos’ coin. You can apply the 10x15cm print to £19.99 for a 20-
iPhoto, you can also opt to create exact same Instagram-like filters, page 28x22cm colour book. All are
Smart Albums that automatically for example, or click the dial icon charged to your iTunes account.
contain pictures matching certain for the same Light, Color, and Black Despite its decade of evolution,
criteria, such as the camera used, and White sliders. What’s new in iPhoto was always slow. Photos fixes
or focal length. There appears to be the Mac version of Photos are tools all that. Even on our old Mac testbed
no way to create albums based on such as Histogram display and we never had to wait more than
geographical location. Levels adjustment, or additional a second for an album to appear,
You can also create album sliders for Sharpness, Definition, or for images to appear when we
folders, into which you can collate Noise Reduction, Vignette and White scrolled up or down. Image tweaks
albums. Strangely, this option is Balance. These appear only when were instant. This is impressive.
shown only on the File menu and you click the Add button and select
not via the Add button. them after selecting the adjust tool. Macworld’s buying advice
Facial recognition takes a back There’s also a Heal tool that For basic to moderate photo
seat in Photos, but is still there worked superbly in our tests. Hold management, and quick image
within the special Faces album. down the Alt key and you can define tweaking, Photos is very usable and
Identifying people in a new picture a spot to use as a source for healing. shows a lot of promise for upcoming
is a little fiddly – you either click Wherever you subsequently click, versions. Keir Thomas
072_073 Photos/Lightroom .indd 72 11/05/2015 16:58

From £8.57
per month
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC 2015
Contact
 adobe.com/uk
Specifications
Creative Cloud account
W
ith Aperture now former isn’t a race car (it meets The filter brush keeps the mountains
effectively retired by the minimum OpenGL 3.3 cutoff for snow white (shown here with the
Apple, the market for being able to use the GPU), but it’s mask visible in red.
pro and enthusiast better than before.
photo software is now led by Staying within Lightroom is find photos later. The capability to
Photoshop Lightroom. For the latest not only more convenient, but identify and recognise faces has
version, it would be easy for Adobe processing is faster, too. The HDR been part of iPhoto, Aperture, and
to add a few features and coast into Merge module is basic, with options Adobe’s own Photoshop Elements
the future on its growing train of to automatically align and tone for years, but if you wanted to
subscription revenue. the images and optionally remove identify people in Lightroom
Fortunately for existing and ghosting caused by objects in you’d have to do it by assigning your
incoming Lightroom customers, that the scene moving between shots. own keyword tags. Now Lightroom
doesn’t seem to be the plan. The Lightroom merges the photos and CC can help you out.
new Lightroom CC does add some creates a new DNG (digital negative) The feature shows up as just
new features, such as built-in HDR file that can then be adjusted another view in the Library module
and panorama merge tools, facial using Lightroom’s own Develop – look for the People button just
recognition, a filter brush, and an controls. If you’re merging raw above the filmstrip – and operates
improved slideshow builder. But files, you don’t need to go through as we’ve come to expect in other
more interesting is performance. Photoshop’s Adobe Camera Raw applications: Lightroom locates
Lightroom CC takes advantage intermediate step, since Lightroom faces, and you identify a few to
of your computer’s GPU for handles raw files natively. get started. The more photos you
image-intensive tasks, so the main Similarly, the Panorama Merge identify, the better Lightroom does
processor isn’t shouldering as much feature is simple but quickly stitches in locating people in other photos.
of the load. Computers with discrete photos together into a single The last area to receive a
GPUs see the most improvement, DNG image using one of three sizable update is the Slideshow
but machines with integrated GPUs projections: spherical, cylindrical, module, which adds a few ways to
also see improvements. and perspective. You can opt to let customise slideshows. A show can
Performance does depend on Lightroom automatically crop the now include up to 10 songs, and
hardware. As you might expect, merged image or do it yourself after the slide changes can be synced to
the difference on the iMac with 5K the merge is complete. the music. And an Audio Balance
Display is dramatic. For example, One new feature that may not slider lets you choose which audio
scrolling through the Grid (the get the recognition it deserves is is dominant when you include
thumbnail view) of a library the filter brush. When you apply an video clips in the slideshow.
containing more than 100,000 adjustment such as a graduated Adobe also added a Pan and
photos was a marked improvement filter, you previously were not able to Zoom slider to add motion to each
over Lightroom 5 – scrolling was mask areas. So, using the panorama slide. The setting applies to the
fairly smooth, and there were only image above as an example, making entire slideshow, so you won’t have
occasional empty thumbnails. the sky darker blue would also affect the type of granular control you
Panning within large images was the snow on the mountains. The would get from dedicated slideshow
also an improvement. filter brush lets you paint areas to apps, but the feature works fine.
But we also saw better be included or excluded from the
performance on a 2010 MacBook overall effect. Macworld’s buying advice
Pro containing an nVidia GeForce One reason we prefer Lightroom Lightroom CC is a welcome update
GT 330M GPU, as well as on a over other photo organisers is that builds on its predecessor
late–2013 Retina MacBook Pro its extensive support for adding not only in terms of features but
with an integrated Intel GPU. The metadata that makes it easy to performance, too. Jeff Carlson
072_073 Photos/Lightroom .indd 73 07/05/2015 16:27

Reviews
£99 inc VAT Denon Envaya Mini
T
Contact he Denon Envaya Mini is
n denon.co.uk a Bluetooth speaker that
can be used with a phone,
Specifications tablet or laptop.
Dual 40mm full range In terms of design, it’s gorgeous.
drivers; 40x83mm Peaking through its metal black
passive radiator; grille is a vivid shade of blue are certain situations where having bass radiator for a good balance
Bluetooth 4.0; Aux-in; NFC; that offers a dash of colour to the ability to completely control the of clarity and bass.
allows up to 8 Bluetooth an otherwise completely black music from the speaker is beneficial, Another contributing factor
connections at once; speaker. The circular grille effect is and for a speaker that ticks most is the amount of technology
IPX4 water resistance; a nice addition, making the Envaya boxes, it’s slightly disappointing. onboard the Envaya Mini. It includes
MaxxAudio technology; Mini a very visually distinctive There are two connections: advanced MaxxAudio technology,
209x54x51mm; 558g Bluetooth speaker – and that’s Bluetooth 4.0 and Aux-in. It also which is studio-quality sound
without noticing the Denon has NFC capabilities for one touch processing technology that won a
logo across the middle of the pairing – tap your NFC-compatible technical Grammy award. It also has
grille. It also comes with a very phone on the speaker’s NFC logo other advanced signal-processing
soft, luxurious carry case that and you’re ready to go. technologies that provide the best
contributes to the very premium The setup process for Bluetooth possible performance.
look and feel of the speaker. requires you to hold down the play/ The audio is room filling, which
It’s a very solid device, with pause button for a few seconds is impressive for a speaker of this
rubberised feet at either end that before it appears on your devices list size. Don’t mistake that for blaringly
protrude slightly, further than the on your phone’s Bluetooth menu. loud – there’s a difference between
speaker itself. These offer extra grip, The device’s range is impressive, the two. The Envaya Mini isn’t the
which comes in handy when the too. Whereas some speakers start loudest Bluetooth speaker we’ve
speaker is being used at high volume to stutter after only 5m of distance, ever used, but it doesn’t have to be
with a lot of bass – nobody wants we could step outside the room and – it’s more than just sheer volume
their speaker to vibrate off the table. still have music playing. and bass, it’s an audio experience.
We were surprised when we held One particular feature that There’s only one issue with the
it for the first time, as it measures in caught our eye is the ability to Envaya Mini, and it’s not a huge
at a rather compact 209x54x51mm, connect to more than one device problem, but one we noticed during
but weighs 558g. That’s not a bad at once. This isn’t a new feature as our testing. Like most Bluetooth
thing, though; as we mentioned we’ve used speakers that support speakers, the Envaya Mini’s drivers
earlier it feels like a very solid two connections at once, but Denon face in one direction, which
speaker and the weight adds to that. decided to take it one step further produces an audio ‘sweet spot’
The Envaya Mini has physical and allow up to eight simultaneous where the audio sounds fantastic.
button control, which is great connections. This means that one However, if you’re not directly in
to see when so many mid-range person can pause their music and this sweet spot, the experience,
Bluetooth speaker manufacturers let a friend take over, without any while still good, isn’t as great as it
are implementing rather frustrating awkward crossover period with no could be. We’d have loved to see
touch capacitive buttons instead. music playing. some kind of 360-degree speaker
There are volume controls, as well Audio is where the Envaya setup similar to the UE Boom to
as a pause/play button and a battery Mini excels above and beyond our help tackle this issue.
indicator button, which lights up expectations. Bluetooth speakers Denon claims that the Envaya
a small LED with different colours around the £100 mark have a Mini should generate around 10
depending on the level of battery tendency to be either extremely hours of playback on a single charge.
life. While that’s okay for most bassy with disappointing sound While results will vary depending
people, we’d like to see a specific clarity, or they’ll have great clarity on volume and other factors, we
battery percentage, be it via audio but a severe lack of bass. That’s not couldn’t get the Envaya Mini to
prompt or your smartphone, much the case with the Envaya Mini, which reach its claimed 10-hour battery life
like the UE Boom. boasts dual 40mm full range drivers – it usually gave up around the six-
It’s also got an integrated with a 40x83mm passive radiator, to seven-hour mark. It’s easy enough
microphone with noise cancelling which produces both crisp sound to charge though, using a standard
capabilities, enabling speakerphone and impressive bass. Micro-USB cable that many people
functionality. When we tested this, Why does it sound so much have laying around.
we had no complaints from the better than other speakers in its
recipient about the clarity of the call category? There are various factors Macworld’s buying advice
and we could hear them clearly. at work that help to produce the For a £99 Bluetooth speaker, the
The only real down side is that great sound quality, with one being Envaya Mini blows away similarly
you can’t use the volume controls the fact that Denon has used larger priced alternatives, and does a
to change tracks, a feature that’s drivers than most small Bluetooth great job of filling a room with
popular in Bluetooth speakers. There speakers, paired with a large passive clear, crisp sound. Lewis Painter
074_077 Reviews.indd 74 07/05/2015 16:29

£19 inc VAT Lumsing B9
T
Contact he NFC-enabled Lumsing We noticed
 lumsing.com Bluetooth Speaker will an unusual
surprise you, especially loss of volume
Specifications after you see the £19 price when using the
Stereo Bluetooth speaker; tag. While this speaker uses low- Aux-in connection with an iPhone’s
2x 3W nominal power cost budget components, the audio headphone jack. While the speaker deliver a more rounded audio
rating; 2x full-range quality is pleasant. That, coupled is loud when using Bluetooth, the experience. While it uses a Class
drivers; 1x 60x30mm bass with its compact form-factor and volume was almost cut in half D chip (which is very efficient in
radiator; Bluetooth 3.0 25-hour claimed battery life, makes when using a physical connection terms of the battery power it sips)
+ EDR; 3.5mm Aux-in; it an ideal companion for those – and that’s with the phone’s the audio quality was impressive
microSD card slot; spontaneous trips to the beach. volume up full. It’s not necessarily overall, even at high volume –
NFC; USB cable; It has Bluetooth 3.0 + EDR, which a dealbreaker, but definitely something that seems to catch
3.5mm audio cable; means it’ll connect to any recent something to keep in mind if you many budget speakers out.
177x50x70mm; 300g Bluetooth-compatible PC, laptop, intend on using it as a wired device. The mid range is impressive,
tablet or phone. For those of you It also has a microSD card slot making it great for spoken word and
that shy away from Bluetooth there that’s simple to use – slot in the card singing. The bass radiator on the
are several other ways to connect. and the speaker will automatically back of the speaker helps to deliver
It has an Aux-in connection for change modes, giving you an audio low range audio, getting rid of the
use with an audio cable with a prompt as it does so. During testing tinny effect that some speakers
3.5mm jack and a 55cm cable is we used an SD card with 5 songs, have. It held its own and sounded
included with the speaker. There each a different file type to see great against a variety of genres
are benefits to using the physical what’s supported. To our surprise, of music, from Jazz to Dubstep.
connection opposed to Bluetooth we noticed that the only file
with the main one being no further format that is supported is MP3. Macworld’s buying advice
audio compression. When you The speaker itself has 2x 3W The Lumsing B9 is a good speaker
use Bluetooth to play music, the amps with 2x full range drivers for a great price. It has a variety of
audio stream undergoes lossy at the front with a passive bass connection options and is simple
compression, reducing sound quality. radiator at the rear, helping to to use. Lewis Painter
£23 inc VAT EasyAcc PowerBank PB18000
I
Contact f you need enough portable this EasyAcc, you can
 easyacc.com
power to keep your phone or usually expect around 70
tablet going several days away percent efficiency. This
Specifications from the mains, then EasyAcc’s sounds low, but it takes
18000mAh lithium-ion PowerBank PB18000 is one of into account the loss of
power bank; 1x 10W (2A, the best-value portable chargers energy gobbled up by voltage
5V) Micro-USB input we’ve found. conversion and the heat generated.
(charges in 9 hours); It has one USB output rated at With an efficiency of around 70
1x 10.5W (2.1A, 5V) USB 10.5W and another at 5W. Both are percent you can expect roughly
output, 1x 5W (1A, 5V) universal ports and can be used with 12600mAh to be available to power turn on in your bag,
USB output, operate any device that charges via USB, your USB devices. Exactly how many it will turn itself off if no devices are
simultaneously at full- but EasyAcc recommends that iPad times that will charge your phone detected within 60 seconds.
speed; LED flashlight; users make use of the faster port, or tablet depends on the capacity A black slab with rounded edges,
2x Micro-USB cables while Samsung Galaxy Tab owners of its own battery; an iPhone 6, the EasyAcc PowerBank looks good.
(20cm, 60cm) supplied; use the slower one. Despite its 5W for example, has an 1810mAh It’s a perfect fit in the hand, with
159x63x24mm; 359g; rating, this latter port is able to battery and would get around a rubbery-feeling matt finish that
12-month warranty smart-charge Samsung’s tablets, seven full charges from this power aids grip. Four LEDs on top show
turbo boosting from its standard 1A bank. Android phones typically how much power remains, although
to 1.3A or even 2A. EasyAcc doesn’t have larger-capacity batteries, so with each representing a 25 percent
specify whether this port can smart- would manage fewer charges. chunk and so much power to hand
charge other devices, too. The EasyAcc doesn’t support it’s impossible to get an accurate
We like the fact that EasyAcc auto-on, and when plugging in your reading. There’s also an LED
supplies two Micro-USB cables, one phone or tablet you must press the flashlight at one end.
short at 20cm and the other offering button on its side to begin charging.
a bit more wiggle room at 60cm. Although the company says that to Macworld’s buying advice
Battery efficiency is a key prevent wastage it supports auto-off The PowerBank PB18000 is the
concern for power banks. If not when your battery is full. However, best-value high-capacity power
otherwise stated, as is the case with if the EasyAcc were to accidentally bank we’ve seen. Marie Brewis
074_077 Reviews.indd 75 07/05/2015 16:30

Reviews
£200 inc VAT Epson WorkForce Pro WF-5190DW
W
Contact hile the humble
n epson.co.uk inkjet remained the
printer of choice
Specifications for most users
Colour Inkjet; max print throughout the first two decades of
resolution, 4800x1200dpi; home computing, the past 10 years
quoted print speed, have seen an explosion of small
B=34ppm (20ppm ISO), chic lasers that fit beautifully on to
C=30ppm (20ppm ISO); even a modest worktop. Delivering
actual print speed, astonishing speed at high quality
B=18.9ppm C=14.8ppm; levels, these lasers have established
USB 2.0, gigabit ethernet, themselves as text churners par
wi-fi 802.11b/g/n; mobile excellence. But, just as lasers have
device support; 5.6cm intruded upon inkjet territory, so the
LCD screen; 250-sheet inkjets have tried to grab fertile land
main input; 80-sheet once the exclusive preserve of their
secondary input; optional office-friendly cousins.
250-sheet tray; auto The Epson WorkForce Pro
duplex; Adobe PS3 and WF-5190DW is only the latest
PCL5e/5c and PCL6 attempt by an inkjet to be more of a
emulation; IPv6; laser printer than lasers have ever
cartridges cost B=£46 been. As such, it promises superior
C=£52 x 3; print life speed and quality, low running costs,
(pages) B=4000 C=4000; and high-end business features. And
461x442x284mm; 11.4kg; all of this is laced with an ecological That, then, is very inkjet. But WF-5190DW manages to retain
1-year warranty bent that seems to cast lasers back what isn’t so inkjet is its ability to all the brilliance of inkjets past
into the dark ages. So can it possibly cater for Adobe PS3, PCL5e/5c and and present. Inks are gloriously
live up to such a billing? PCL6 emulation. Other business rendered, with spectacular colour
The Epson is substantial without features include the meaty security washing across every image. For
seeming imposing, and business-like options, IPv6, and the ability to start businesses looking to mix fine text
without seeming cold. Its pleasing jobs printing upon entry of a PIN with spectacular photos, it’s been
curves and light creamy grey – allowing you to keep confidential hard to find a model that can handle
exterior make it a natural fit for office documents away from prying both areas with aplomb. This Epson,
small- and medium-sized offices, eyes. Network managers can even though, fits the bill.
while the control panel is more download the Epson Net Config Running costs are beautifully
enjoyable and easier to navigate package, and start remotely setting low on this model – not as low as
than the rather spartan interfaces up their fleet of Epsons. Epson would have you believe, but
we’re used to with business lasers. ‘PrecisionCore’ replaces the low nonetheless. The high-capacity
Paper handling is beefy. Not only traditional piezo heads with ones cartridges work out as 1.1p for mono
do you have a robust 250-sheet crafted from hi-tech thin film piezos and 3.9p for colour. The colour,
front-mounted tray, but there’s an – these one-micron-thick pumps can in particular, is finely-priced, and
additional 80-sheet tray located generate astonishing precision at outstrips most other models. It’s
to the rear. And if 330 sheets isn’t high speed. In practice, the printer economical for text too, although
enough for you, an optional second came very close to its recommended 1.1p is by no means the lowest we’ve
250-sheet tray will push such speed figure of 20ppm, generating seen – a number of other models
capabilities up to 580 in total. crisp text in 18.9ppm. go to 1p and below. The WF-5190DW
The 150-sheet output can’t match The output is pleasingly sharp, is also a cheap printer in terms of
that, and wasn’t always successful with beautifully defined lettering. power output, though, generating
at capturing the finished prints. But High-end lasers will perhaps deliver just 25W in action – the HP OfficeJet
this remains a capable outlet, and its slightly more clarity, but the WF- Pro X551dw (tinyurl.com/czo5p65),
duty cycle is an impressive 35,000 5190DW is very close, and outshines in contrast, can hit four times that.
pages per month. other inkjets, and most middle-
The WF-5190DW is nothing if not range lasers. It can also handle Macworld’s buying advice
full-featured, and its connectivity auto-duplexing, although it did fall The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-
options are vast. There’s a wired to 10.7ppm here – not, perhaps, fast 5190DW offers superb performance.
ethernet interface that can hit full enough to make auto-duplex an The running costs are good, and
Gigabit capacity, but the Epson also automatic option for big workloads. the energy usage economical. The
comes with Wi-Fi 802.11/b/g/n and One area in which lasers have really good news, though, is that it’s
USB 2.0. Cloud and mobile device often lagged behind their inkjet available for £200, which makes it
support is also built in, making this a counterparts is in colour printing look like one of the bargains of the
wonderfully well-connected device. – particularly photos. Yet here, the decade. Robin Morris
074_077 Reviews.indd 76 07/05/2015 16:30

£258 inc VAT HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFP M277dw
C
Contact olour laser printers
n hp.com/uk used to be enormously
expensive, and were
Specifications generally only found
Four-colour (CMYK) A4 in larger businesses that were
laser printer; print prepared to pay for the speed
resolution, 300dpi; and quality provided by laser
scanner resolution, technology. However, costs have
1200dpi; fax resolution, fallen dramatically in recent years
300dpi; mono/colour, and, at £258, HP’s LaserJet Pro MFP
18ppm; 1x USB 2.0, gigabit M277dw is affordable enough even
ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, for small businesses and anyone
Apple AirPrint; 150- who works from home.
sheet input tray, It’s also relatively compact
single page manual feed; by the standards of traditional
420x417x322mm; 16.3kg office laser printers, measuring
just 420mm wide, 322mm high
and 417mm deep. That’s not much
larger than an ordinary inkjet
printer, although it does weigh
a hefty 16.3kg, so you’ll need a
sturdy desk or table to rest it on. You don’t have to spend much graphics are very good too, so the
Despite its compact design, time setting it up either, as the M277dw will be a good choice for
the M277dw manages to cram in M277dw arrives ‘fully loaded’ – reports and presentations work. Our
an impressive range of features, with the four-toner coloured toner only minor complaint is that photo
including a 600dpi laser printer, cartridges already installed – so all output was a little disappointing.
1200dpi scanner and copier, and you have to do is install the printer It took just one minute to print a
300dpi fax machine. There’s a software from the CD-ROM in the full A4 photo, but our test prints
150-sheet paper tray in the base box. There’s a USB interface for a were dark and dull when using plain
of the unit, along with a manual direct connection to a PC or Mac, as office paper, and we’ve seen better
input slot that allows you to insert well as both ethernet and 802.11n results when using inkjet printers
individual envelopes or sheets of Wi-Fi for connecting to your home or with plain paper. If you want to print
photo paper. It supports automatic office network. It supports Apple’s high quality photos for marketing
duplex (double-sided) printing, AirPrint for iOS devices, and there’s brochures or presentations, then
and there’s a 50-sheet automatic an HP ePrint app available for you’ll need to use more expensive
document feeder stacked on the Android users, too. Even the touch- photo-paper, which works out at
top, so the M277dw provides most sensitive control panel works well, about 7p per sheet.
of the features that small business responding quickly and smoothly to Printing costs aren’t too bad,
users are likely to need. a flick of your finger as you scroll although it’s much cheaper to buy
through the various menu options. the cartridges from third-party
You can, of course, get a similar online retailers rather than direct
range of features from many from HP itself. If you use HP’s
low-cost inkjet printers, but high-yield XL toner cartridges,
the real advantage of laser you’ll find that mono printing works
technology is its speed and out at about 2.2p per page, while
quality. HP quotes a speed colour printing comes to 9p per
of 18 pages per minute for page. That’s in line with many inkjet
both mono and colour printers, although the greater speed
printing, but our tests and superior text quality of the
produced results of M277dw gives it an edge over most
15ppm for mono and of its inkjet rivals for office use.
13ppm for colour.
Even so, that’s still Macworld’s buying advice
faster than most inkjet If you’re looking for a high-quality
printers that we’ve photo printer, then inkjet printers
seen in this price range. still have the edge. However, the
Text quality is M277dw provides great text quality
excellent, with smooth, and business graphics, and will make
finely detailed text that a good workhorse for smaller offices
most inkjet printers that need to produce high quality
will struggle to match. Colour business documents. Cliff Joseph
074_077 Reviews.indd 77 07/05/2015 16:30

Spotlight By Lewis Painter
My weekend with the Apple Watch
The Apple Watch made me enjoy receiving notifications
I
had the opportunity to take the Apple conscious of the fact that the Apple
Watch Sport home with me for the Watch was tracking my fitness, and
weekend, and it really opened my resulted in me walking more instead of
eyes to Apple’s smartwatch-related getting the bus. The accompanying
intentions. First off, let me say that I’ve Activity iPhone app gave me an in-depth
used a handful of smartwatches in the look at my fitness and combined with
past and not one has wowed me; each awards for beating targets, it motivated
has had something wrong with it, be it a me to beat my daily targets.
lack of features, bugs or even discomfort Saturday came along and I decided to
when being worn. I was expecting big go shopping and then go to the cinema.
things from the much-anticipated Apple My friends will tell you that when I’m out
Watch, and I wasn’t disappointed. and about, I’m the worst person when it
Apple has meticulously planned every comes to replying to messages and
detail of the Apple Watch to make sure answering calls. In my defence, it’s
that it’s just right. Even the initial setup because my iPhone is on vibrate most
(see page 20) is an enjoyable experience of the time, but whatever.
– and when has a setup ever been The Apple Watch notification system
described as enjoyable? It was intuitive is a real thing of beauty, and it made the
and straightforward, opening the Apple experience of getting a notification much
Watch app on my iPhone and using the more enjoyable. Instead of feeling a
iPhone camera to pair my Apple Watch strong vibration on my wrist like I’d
using a unique molecular pattern usually feel when wearing a smartwatch,
displayed on the watch. When the two I felt a gentle tap accompanied by an
devices had finished syncing, the Apple Apple has meticulously aurally pleasing ping. Apple’s Taptic
Watch display and the simulated Apple
Watch display on my iPhone were
planned every detail of engine gives greater control over the
Haptic feedback that you feel, and is one
identical – something small, but it adds the Apple Watch to make of the key selling points of the Apple
a touch of glamour to the process. sure that it’s just right Watch. Others have remarked about the
Once the setup process was complete, Haptic feedback that they feel when
it was time for my commute home on the my brother” and within seconds, I was receiving a notification, with not a bad
London Underground. Anyone that talking to my brother via my Apple word being said.
regularly commutes on the tube will tell Watch, feeling like a character from Star With a flick of the wrist, the application
you that 5pm on a Friday isn’t the most Trek. Beam me up Scotty! icon that the notification came from is
desirable time to travel, with conditions The call quality wasn’t as loud as it displayed full screen before a swift
comparable to tinned sardines. As you should be, especially for use in public, animation that displays the notification
could imagine, it’s a nightmare having to but it serves its purpose for quick 20- to itself. There are sometimes actions below
get your phone out to change songs on 30-second interactions. Even though I the notification, such as favouriting a
a train where personal space is a myth. didn’t hold my wrist particularly close tweet that someone has mentioned you
But, with the Apple Watch, it was a much to my mouth when speaking, there in, but it depends entirely on the app
less painful experience – all I had to do wasn’t any issues with clarity at the itself and whether the developer has
was swipe up to access my Glances, other end of the call. integrated actionable notifications.
swipe to my ‘Now Playing’ glance, and Just after I got off the phone (or I haven’t even mentioned the main
change the song. watch), I received one of a handful of attraction of the notification system. If
Once I’d emerged from the tube, I daily Activity notifications, giving me an you’re wearing your Apple Watch and are
wanted to call my brother and see if he update on my current calorie/standing/ using your iPhone when you receive a
was around. Usually I’d get my iPhone exercise stats and how far I had to go notification, this won’t be displayed on
out and call him, but not that day. I raised until I reached my target. Now, I’m your Apple Watch – the notifications only
my wrist, said “Hey Siri” which activated nowhere near a fitness fanatic, but I appear when you’re not using your
Siri on my Apple Watch, then I said “Call found that these prompts made me more iPhone. It’s a similar story if you’re not
078_079 Lewis Painter.indd 78 08/05/2015 08:52

wearing the watch, as notifications will
only be delivered to your watch when
it’s being worn.
Once you’ve acknowledged a
notification on your Apple Watch and
dismissed it, it’s not only dismissed from
your Apple Watch but your iPhone too,
helping to organise your notification
centre. It’s the level of effort that Apple
has gone to with the notifications that
really surprised me, as I’ve never
noticed that level of detail with any
other smartwatch on any other mobile
platform (Yes Android, I’m looking at
you and Android Wear).
Anyway, after shopping I headed to
the cinema. I was nervous about my turn. The issue is that I’m used to audible a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
Apple Watch making noises during the directions usually dictated by Siri on my The battery life also surprised me. Even
film but I noticed that when I set my iPhone, but with regards to the Apple though you do have to recharge it every
iPhone to Do Not Disturb, this was Watch, Siri is relegated to text only. This night, I found that when I’d put it on
mirrored on my Apple Watch. This means that you have no choice but to charge after 12- to 14 hours of typical use,
mirrored setting can be disabled via the keep looking at your Watch to make sure it would still have between 30- and 50
Apple Watch app on the iPhone, but I you’re on the right track. percent of its battery left. This relaxed
thought it was a great idea to sync the So, what is my initial opinion of the me slightly, as I didn’t have to worry
setting between the two devices for Apple Watch? It’s a meticulously designed about my Apple Watch battery running
situations exactly like the one I was in. and beautifully made smartwatch, there’s out while at work or on the go.
Sunday came along quicker than no denying that, but there’s not a killer The Apple Watch was designed to
expected, like it does every week – which app – yet. Developers have struggled stop you from interacting with your phone
was exactly what I tweeted, directly from to design apps for the Apple Watch so much and interact more with the world
my Apple Watch using the Twitterrific because they haven’t had an Apple around you, and I think its achieved
companion app for the Apple Watch. Watch to test their apps on, and the that goal. I found that the Apple Watch
The dictation feature is impressive, general consensus is that apps will start made my iPhone battery life last longer
especially for someone whose accent to improve and bring more functionality because I used the Watch to check my
usually struggles with the likes of voiceover the coming weeks and months. notifications, the time, make calls and
recognition software. Even when replying The fact that there’s not one killer even check Twitter every now and again.
to texts or giving Siri a command, nine app or feature doesn’t push the Apple This meant that my phone was left in my
times out of 10 it would be accurate the Watch to the back of the crowd though, pocket, unused for much my time with the
first time around. That doesn’t mean that as it does so many small things (like Apple Watch, and now that I’ve returned
you feel any less silly talking to a watch notifications) so well that it all adds up to it, I definitely notice how useful it was.
when walking down the street, but at
least you don’t have to repeat yourself.
Using the turn-by-turn navigation on
the Apple Watch was something that I
was initially very excited about using,
but I was underwhelmed after having
used it to navigate me to a restaurant
on Sunday afternoon.
There was no issues with using
dictation to find the restaurant that I
wanted to go to, it was more with the
turn-by-turn navigation. The journey is
broken down into steps, which are
displayed on your Apple Watch and are
accompanied by a tap, courtesy of the
Taptic engine, whenever you’re near a
078_079 Lewis Painter.indd 79 08/05/2015 08:52

New & noteworthy
Lewis Painter presents the best new iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch accessories
Space Pack for iPhone 6

£129.95, 32GB; £179.95, 64GB; £279.95, 128GB
uk.mophie.com
The Mophie Space Pack, designed for the iPhone 6,

is a hybrid of storage device and portable battery
charger. Mophie has designed a case that hides both
a 3300mAh battery and either 32-, 64- or 128GB of
flash storage for all your photos, videos, music and
documents. The storage is managed by the Mophie
Space app, which organises your files based on type,
making it easier to browse and search through your
library of movies, photos, music and documents.
When you charge the Space Pack, Mophie claims
that it intelligently passes the power through to your
iPhone until its fully charged, and only then will the
external battery start to charge.
Nomad Stand for Apple Watch

$59 (£40)
hellonomad.com
Nomad has created an Apple Watch charging stand, simply

called ‘Stand’. It’s a sleek piece of kit, made from a single piece
of curved aluminium, which Nomad claims is military grade, and
fits nicely with Apple’s design approach. It looks great with the
watch, which rests on the stand at an angle and is held in place
by the magnetic charging cable. It’s available in either Space
Grey or Silver, complementing the design of the Apple Watch.
Libratone Zipp
£299
libratone.com
The Libratone Zipp is a Bluetooth speaker packed with

technology. According to Libratone, the Zipp boasts 360-degree
sound and a myriad of connection options, including Bluetooth,
NFC and Aux. The speaker can also stream directly from Spotify
Connect when connected to Wi-Fi. It’s designed to be stylish
and customisable, with a collection of 14 vividly coloured,
interchangeable covers to choose from.
080_081 New & Noteworthy.indd 80 08/05/2015 08:56

Nomad Pod battery for Apple Watch
$59 (£40)
hellonomad.com
There are also portable battery packs available for the Apple
Watch. The Nomad Pod is a small gadget that has a 1800mAh
battery inside, which the company claims will provide up to
four full charges of the Apple Watch. It’s worth noting that you
have to supply the Apple Watch charging cable yourself. You
can also charge other USB powered devices using the Nomad
Pod battery by plugging in to its USB port.
Fuel iON for iPhone 6
£99
patriotmemory.com
The Fuel iON offers an interesting way to charge your iPhone

6. Inside the case is a magnetic power transfer pad that both
secures and charges your phone. According to Patriot Memory,
the magnetic charging technology used by the Fuel iON is more
efficient than Qi charging because the magnets form a direct
contact connection to charge your phone.
CATWALK The best-looking cases for your iPhone and iPad
Jean-Paul Gaultier Sailor

Maroo Woodland Folio for iPhone 6
iPad Air 2 case £19
£34 amazon.co.uk
maroo.com
EverythingTablet Luxury Real

Leather Flip Case for iPad
£49
everythingtablet.co.uk
080_081 New & Noteworthy.indd 81 08/05/2015 08:56

Features HOW TO SPOT A ‘FREE iPHONE’ SCAM
How to spot a ‘free iPhone’ scam

The internet is awash with offers of dodgy deals. Lou Hattersley reveals how to spot the scams
I
s it actually possible to get free
Apple devices? After all: iPads aren’t
cheap, so people don’t just give them
away. Or do they? Let’s look at the
various scenarios.
Facebook iPad promotions

If you see a free iPad offer on Facebook,
then it is almost certainly a scam. Back
in 2010 security firm Sophos reported
on its Naked Security blog that this was
a scam, explaining that: “The rogue
app instantly posts a message to
your Facebook wall, in your name,
encouraging your friends to also click
for a chance to win an iPad mini.”
Rogue Facebook applications can
be used to scoop up your personal Stories that claim a loophole then when they don’t win the product
information, and spread spam and scams means you can get a free iPad they are unable to get their money back.
rapidly across the social network. You’ll see links to stories around the web These sites are said to use BidRobots,
“If you mistakenly installed a rogue claiming that there is a loophole that or fake bots, to drive up the prices.
app, remove the messages from your retailers don’t want you to know about
timeline, revoke the app’s publishing that means you can get an iPad for free. How to get a free iPhone or iPad:
rights and report it as spam to Facebook, These stories tend to direct readers to data capture or phone-in
and ensure that you have revoked its a bidding system suggesting that they Another type of free offer is one people
access to your account,” said Sophos. can bid money for an iPad, and get their refer to as ‘data capture’. The data is your
The original scam pretended to be hands on the iPad they bid for. information: phone number, address,
from Apple (note that Apple doesn’t For example, a Megabargains story email, age, hobbies, interests. That is
ever give away its products). More suggests readers use the MadBid worth a surprisingly large amount of
recently we’ve seen the same offer auction site. However, a forum post on money to companies.
from companies such as Megabargains MoneySavingExpert suggests that Lots of companies offer a free iPad in
or iPadz, although the names of the MadBid will take your money: charging return for data. We say ‘offer’ but we don’t
companies change quickly. you for bid packages. One post believe many, if any, of them ever deliver.
These are almost certainly the complains that the site started bidding on All you do with these links is fill out forms
same scam. Facebook rules state that their behalf without their knowledge. of personal information and are then
companies can’t run competitions in There is also an auction site called encouraged to get your friends and family
return for likes or sharing – so if you see Swoggi that other ‘free iPad’ stories will to offer their own details.
such a competition, you can be sure promote. To use that auction site you have You give away your personal data all
that it is not legitimate. The Facebook to purchase credits to bid in an auction. the time, so you might think it’s worth a
scam is now so prevalent that we A quick look on MondaySavingExpert shot. But we don’t think you’ll get an iPad
wouldn’t advise entering any competition suggests that people are buying credits this way. We don’t recommend filling out
to win anything on Facebook at all. from Swoggi to bid in the auctions and endless forms randomly in the hope that
an iPad will one day appear.
The other approach is to enter a
Loophole stories tend to direct readers to a bidding phone-in competition where you have to
dial a number. These phone calls can be
system suggesting that they can bid money for an quite expensive, so we’d advise you to
iPad, and get their hands on the iPad they bid for avoid phoning in to win a prize.
082 Free iPhone Offers.indd 82 08/05/2015 08:58

iPad & iPhone User magazine is the
essential guide for all things iOS-related
download the latest issue today
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EDITION ON
ANDROID
& iOS
tinyurl.com/kg776m8
Every issue is full of the latest app reviews,

gaming, tutorials, buying advice & more
023_House AD_iP&iPU.indd 1 20/04/2015 13:09
Features SIRI SAYS THE FUNNIEST THINGS
Siri says the funniest things

J R Bookwalter reveals some of the virtual assistant’s cheekiest and funniest responses
E
ver since Apple debuted Siri as a Q: Do you ever get tired
virtual assistant with the release of answering questions?
of iOS 5 and iPhone 4s, people A: I can’t answer that.
have been asking it all manner of
questions, serious and frivolous, in an And perhaps the most
effort to test just how smart Cupertino’s telling retort of the bunch,
artificial intelligence technology really is. given that I made this query
One of the more notorious examples on Friday, April 10 – the
was made public in 2014 during the same day preorders for a
murder trial of a 20-year-old Florida certain new Apple product
man who reportedly told Siri: “I need to kicked off online:
hide my roommate.” In return, he was
given a list of potential places to get rid Q: What are you doing
of a body, such as swamps, reservoirs, after work today?
metal foundries, and dumps. (The A: I’m eagerly awaiting the
same inquiry now returns the cheeky arrival of the Apple Watch.
response, “I used to be able to answer
this question.”) Following that reply, I
I decided to sit down and put Siri switched tactics and decided
through a battery of our own questions, to test a somewhat more Q: Why has the Apple Watch already
ranging from casual inquiries to amorous approach. Unfortunately, Siri sold out?
lighthearted probes to see what kind of was definitely not in the mood for love: A: Interesting question.
responses she’d come up with. While
many of the replies weren’t particularly Q: Do you have a boyfriend? For the record, our early morning
noteworthy, it’s clear she has only A: It’s just you and me. online preorder showed a delivery date
grown sassier over time. sometime between 24 April and 8 May.
Q: What are you wearing right now? (Shame on you for not knowing that, Siri.)
Getting to know you A: I can’t answer, but it doesn’t come off. We pressed on with a few more
Before rushing right into barking Apple-centric questions, but she wasn’t in
commands, I decided to get to know Q: Siri, will you talk dirty to me? the mood to play salesperson – or tech
Siri a little better first. A: The carpet needs vacuuming. support representative, for that matter:
Q: How old are you? Q: Do you love me? Q: Should I subscribe to Beats Music?
A: I’m old enough to be your assistant. A: You have my utmost admiration. A: I’m sure I don’t know.
Q: What is your favourite colour? Not quite the unbridled passion Q: Do you receive employee discounts
A: My favourite colour is… well, I one would hope for. on Apple products?
don’t know how to say it in your A: This is about you, not me.
language. It’s sort of greenish, but On technology
with more dimensions. With the ice broken, I moved on to more Q: Should I buy a Mac or Windows PC?
practical matters, such as Siri’s views on A: It’s your opinion that counts.
Q: What are you made of? Apple and its competitors.
A: Something close to pure thought. Q: Why does Bluetooth keep
Q: Guess what? disconnecting my Magic Trackpad?
Q: Do you own a pet? A: Don’t tell me… you just got a new A: Okay, I found this on the web…
A: I thought about getting a Tribble. virtual assistant, right?
Several, actually. Siri produced a similar web search
Q: What’s the best computer? when we asked whether Microsoft was a
Q: Do you like your job? A: The Mac! If it wasn’t for the Mac, I friend or enemy to Apple, but she played
A: I have the best job in the universe. wouldn’t be here. coy responding to our next two questions:
084_085 Siri Says.indd 84 08/05/2015 08:59

Q: What do you think of Samsung? On holidays Q: Do you believe in Bigfoot?
A: I really couldn’t say. We moved on to questions related to A: I believe for every drop of rain that
public holidays, although most falls, a flower grows.
Q: Should I buy an Amazon Fire Phone? responses from this category pulled up
A: I don’t know what you should do. relevant web search results instead. Q: How much wood could a
Here is a handful that didn’t: woodchuck chuck?
Little did Siri know, but the general A: Just because it could doesn’t mean
public has already made up their Q: What is your favourite holiday? that it would.
collective minds on that last one… A: Your interest flatters me, but… is there
something I can do for you? Q: I’m so tired.
On entertainment A: I hope you’re not driving.
Next, we moved on to challenging Siri Q: What should I get you for
with questions about movies and music: Valentine’s Day? Q: Do you believe in a god?
A: Make good choices. A: My policy is the separation of spirit
Q: Which is best, Star Wars or Star Trek? and silicon.
A: That one. No, wait, that one. Q: When is your birthday?
A: My incept date was October 4th, 2011. Q: Why does my dog snore?
Q: Have you ever done the Safety Dance? A: I don’t know. Maybe the Genius Bar
A: Hmm. I’d rather sit this one out. Q: What should I be for Halloween? folks can answer that.
A: Just be yourself.
Q: Who’s your favourite actor? Q: How can I make £1 million?
A: I don’t really have a favourite. Just as Q: Do you know who Father Christmas is? A: Hmm. I believe someone just asked
long as they’re not too robotic. A: I’ve never really thought about it. me this the other day. Give me a sec…
Q: What kind of music do you like? Must be hard to work 24 hours a day, Q: Siri, tell me a story.
A: With all of iTunes to listen to, why seven days a week, 365 days a year… A: I’m certain you’ve heard it before.
would I need a favourite?
On the silly side Sounds of silence
Q: Sing me a song, please. One thing’s for sure: no-one can say Siri Siri has come a long way since 2011 when
A: I’d rather not. doesn’t have a sense of humour. Here are Apple executives introduced her to the
a few of her often equally silly answers: world. But that doesn’t mean she had
Q: Open the pod bay doors, HAL. answers for everything, and occasionally
A: Can’t you just slide it under the door? Q: Who’s your daddy? it appeared the cat had got her tongue.
A: You are. Can we get back to work? In the course of probing Siri with the
Q: Mirror, mirror on the wall… questions on our list, we found a few she
A: Snow White? Is that you? Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? refused to answer or actually ignored
A: I am not perspicacious about the outright, such as the relatively innocent
Q: Will Apple ever make a television set? peregrinations of poultry. query, “What’s it like working for Apple?”
A: I can’t answer that. But Apple.com Despite CEO Tim Cook’s more open
should be able to… Q: What the hell is wrong with people? Apple, it’s good to see there’s still
A: There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup apparently at least one veil of secrecy
Good one, Siri… and the lip. left in Cupertino.
084_085 Siri Says.indd 85 08/05/2015 09:00

Spotlight By Michael Simon
The iPhone and the Apple Watch

Lessons the iPhone should learn from the Apple Watch
F
or the past eight years, the next iPhone to sport a Digital Crown or been reluctant to allow us to do much of
iPhone has been the innovator. a dedicated Friends button, there are anything without unlocking our phones
Whether we’re talking about still plenty of tricks it can learn from first, and despite Touch ID speeding that
hardware breakthroughs, the new kid on the block. up, I’d love a Glances-style system for the
software solutions, or just plain good iPhone’s lock screen.
looks, the iPhone has always taken the Glance encounters I thought iOS 8’s Notification Center
lead, ushering in the latest technologies Apple Watch is the rare product that’s widgets would suffice as an iOS version
and design shifts before any other built to be used as little as possible. Its of Android’s customisable home screen
device: the Retina screen, Siri, Lightning, design and functionality is meant to get widgets. But after a brief honeymoon
Touch ID, Apple Pay – even the new you in and out without dawdling or period, I found myself ignoring widgets
MacBook’s shiny gold case owes a distraction, and the sum total of one’s as much as I did iOS 7’s Today view. The
debt to the iPhone 5s. interaction – whether it’s sending a iPhone 6’s larger screen requires a
For the first time since its debut, the message, tracking steps, or just checking change in grip (or my left hand) just to
iPhone isn’t the most cutting-edge piece the time – is meant to be measured in access the Notification Center, where the
of technology in Apple’s line-up. While seconds, not minutes. In the time it takes jumbled, cluttered interface isn’t
Apple Watch borrowed some of the to unlock my iPhones, in fact, I would conducive to getting things done quickly.
iPhone 6’s style and smarts, it also brings likely already be putting down my wrist. But Glances is perfect. It could easily
a host of new features and technologies It’s a fundamentally different way of replace the iPhone Control Center – in
made possible by the uniqueness of the thinking, and one I’d like to see make its fact, as John Gruber notes in his review
device. So while I wouldn’t expect the way to the iPhone. Apple has thus far at Daring Fireball, the leftmost Glance
already includes many of the same
quick settings buttons. And Glances
Using Force Touch for the first time is one of those would give developers a true outlet for
delivering quick bits of information far
eureka moments, simplifying the way our fingers beyond the capabilities of the current
interact with the screen while adding functionality set of cramped widgets.
086_087 Michael Simon.indd 86 08/05/2015 09:03

Notifications decentralised Using Force Touch for the first time is It seems like a no-brainier – Digital
For all that Apple Watch is able to do, its one of those eureka moments, simplifying Touch isn’t the kind of killer feature like
biggest selling point is still the ability to the way our fingers interact with the Siri or FaceTime that’s necessarily
deliver timely alerts to our wrists. But screen while also adding functionality. It’s going to compel anyone to buy an
rather than simply beam every alert and not unlike how the right mouse click Apple Watch, but added to the existing
alarm from a particular app, Apple allows further simplified the GUI on our iMessage juggernaut it very well could
users to be a bit more discerning with computers, but on the iPhone it could be be. Apple Watch would still be the only
Apple Watch, more than the iPhone’s even more than a quicker way to access way to send your heartbeat and SOS-
mostly all-or-nothing approach. extra controls and menus, giving style taps, but expanding the sketching
The iPhone notifications system needs developers another gesture to work with function of Digital Touch to the iPhone
a revamp. Aside from an occasional extra besides taps, holds, and swipes. would only make Apple Watch that
setting, every app has the same basic Imagine accessing Evernote’s web much more useful.
options – apply a badge, set a sound, clipper or VSCO’s filters with just a press, Just like the ‘Sent from my iPhone’
show on the lock screen – and if you’re or calling up Spotlight search or the email signature acted as a sort of
not keeping track fanatically, they can pile Notification Center without swipes. Force advertisement back in its early days,
up into a worthless heap. But Apple Touch is something of a necessity on Apple would surely distinguish between
Watch could spur Apple to rethink its Apple Watch, but on the iPhone (much Apple Watch and iPhone doodles,
delivery system, allowing for more like the MacBooks), it could open up the increasing mindshare while still letting
customised notifications, like choosing interface in powerful new ways. people know which of their friends are
which contacts you’d like to hear from. the coolest. But perhaps more
Apple Watch also adds a bit of Reach out and Touch someone importantly, it would turn Digital Touch
intelligence to our notifications. When you One of Apple Watch’s three main into a usable feature for any Apple Watch
lift your wrist to see one, a ‘Short Look’ functions is connectivity, and to that owner who doesn’t know another person
will initially show a brief bit of information, end, it utilises a propriety method of who has one.
but if you tap that screen or keep your communication that lets users contact It didn’t take long for the iPhone to
wrist raised, the display shifts to a ‘Long each other with taps, sketches, and make its impact felt on the Mac, and
Look’, which offers a bit more data and heartbeats. It’s a neat way to add an we’re likely to see a similar sphere of
some interaction. And when you take you extra level of exclusivity to Apple Watch, influence with Apple Watch. Which is
watch off, notifications are cut off. but if Apple is serious about Digital Touch good, because by the time all of the
Apple added actionable notifications as a new generation of messaging, it preorders are filled, the next iPhone
in iOS 8, but an Apple Watch-style needs to bring it to the iPhone. will probably already be shipping.
system of long and short looks would
help give our notifications an extra level
of usefulness, and pave the way for a
smarter alert system of smarter alerts
that learns our habits, saves our
batteries, and pushes the right
notifications when we need them.
May the Force be with you

The Digital Crown is getting plenty of
attention, but even more interesting is
how Apple solved the problem of
manipulating the screen itself. The iPhone
has trained us to think of all screens in
terms of multitouch, but the Apple
Watch’s screen is just too small for more
than one finger at a time. Instead of
pinches and gestures, Apple introduced
Force Touch, an invisible layer of the
interface accessible by a deeper press
on the screen. It’s already made it to
the MacBook’s new trackpad, and it
would be foolish not to think it’s
coming to the iPhone, too.
086_087 Michael Simon.indd 87 08/05/2015 09:03

Spotlight By Michael Simon
Shop different
What’s a new product launch without lines around the Apple Store, asks Michael Simon
T
here was a time when Apple
launches didn’t light up
headlines around the web.
When the original iPod was
released back in November of 2001, for
example, the only people lining up were
at Apple Stores in Littleton, Colorado, and
Newport Beach, California – and most of
them weren’t looking to fork over $399
for an MP3 player. They just wanted one
of the free grand-opening T-shirts.
But ever since the iPhone, Apple
launches have become major events,
prompting long, snaking lines, week-
long camp-outs, and blocked-out vacation
days for Apple Store employees. Lines
and crowds have become so
commonplace that Apple routinely sets resellers selling the latest model, and anticipating the moment when I would be
up rope stanchions and orders cases of these Mac specialists were few and far motioned to enter through the gleaming
water to keep things orderly. between. There were certainly no glass doors. I’ve been there for OS X
So when Tim Cook announced celebratory launches. releases, iPhone and iPad launches, and
Apple Watch would be available on 24 The Apple Store changed all that, even a Black Friday sale or two. I’ve
April, we naturally assumed it would be offering a place where the latest and struck up more ephemeral friendships
more of the same, with the first tents greatest Apple products were always on than I can remember, and even for
popping up sometime Monday display and available for purchase. products I’ve preordered, I still enjoy
afternoon and at least one Apple Launch days were like little parties, and strolling past my local Apple Store on
Watch Edition purchase by a fledgling you can argue that the early iPhone launch days to take in the spectacle.
startup looking for some publicity. But models wouldn’t have been nearly as Sure, there are some unsavoury line-
that wasn’t the case. And it may popular without the lines of excited dwellers just looking to cash in, but the
represent a major shift in both the way buyers in front of the Apple Stores. The vast majority of the people still seem to
Apple releases and sells its products. people waiting outside advertised, built be just like me: anxious to get their
hype and turned a niche product into hands on Apple’s latest toy.
Shop talk something everyone had to have. It’s a phenomenon usually reserved for
Today’s Apple Stores are remarkably limited-edition Air Jordans or Black Friday
different than they were in 2001. The Carry that wait doorbusters, not a product that will be on
first retail space in Tyson’s Corner, Since the launch of the iPhone, however, shelves for the next two years. When
Virginia, had a familiar open floor plan, Apple has grown from a company with a Rolex unveils a new Submariner or BMW
but distinct shopping sections for Home, small, incredibly loyal fan base to one that refreshes its 3 series, people don’t line
Pro, and Solutions (complete with sells tens of thousands of iPhones every up to see it, nor do they delay their
ceiling signs), a software ‘aisle’ in the hour. Apple products have gone from purchases based on rumours of a new
centre, and Flower Power iMac cash relatively rare to ubiquitous, and for those model. And Apple might be looking to
registers. Tables were curved, shelves of us who don’t live near Cupertino or adopt a similar image.
were black, and the Genius Bar had a Palo Alto, waiting on line at Apple Stores
phone that direct-dialed to Cupertino. keeps us connected to Apple’s begotten Watch and learn
But the overall mission was the culture. It’s not necessary, but it’s fun. A few weeks back, Apple’s senior vice
same: to spotlight Apple’s products. As a dyed-in-the-wool Apple fan, I’ve president of online and retail stores,
Before the Apple Store, Macs were done my share of waiting. Whether I was Angela Ahrendts, issued a memo to
somewhat difficult to come by in the buying or trying, I’ve done a fair amount staffers declaring in no uncertain terms
retail world, with only Apple’s premium of line standing (and sitting), eagerly that “the days of waiting in line… are over
088_089 Shop Different.indd 88 08/05/2015 09:11

for our customers.” Would-be Watch Apple’s catalogue, and every other tech the luxury brand and dissuade knock-offs
buyers were directed to preorder online, company has followed suit. It’s an – not unlike how Steve Jobs shut down
where we would presumably pick our unsustainable pace, one that few other the Macintosh clone program on his
favourite model for 24 April delivery, but industries in the world follow, least of return to Apple.
many models were backordered from all luxury brands. Apple is betting big on Apple Watch
the outset. In fact, the Space Black as a transformative product, but while the
Stainless Steel watch I ordered just Time for change iPhone inspired legions of knock-offs,
minutes after it was available isn’t In a video message obtained by Apple wants its watch to be one-of-a-kind,
slated to arrive until June. Mac4Ever recently, Ahrendts offered something that can’t easily be imitated.
Now, this obviously isn’t the first time something of a clarification of her earlier It’s why the company hasn’t announced
an Apple product has a months-long memo. In it, she assures employees that preorder numbers, and why celebrities
backlog (and hopefully they’ll ship sooner she isn’t looking to alter the core Apple have been spotted wearing them before
than promised), but Apple Watch is Store launch experience, saying, “We preorders have shipped.
different to the usual iPhone waiting list. love our iconic blockbuster launches Ahrendts doesn’t just know how to
Nothing about Apple Watch’s availability that we do in the stores. And have strengthen a brand, she knows how to
changed on its actual launch day. You still absolutely no fear: you will see those. build exclusivity, and hordes of people
have to make an appointment to try one This is just a unique situation.” queuing are unbecoming of a company
on, you still can’t buy one on the store, But with stock limited to boutique catering to people who can afford to strap
and unless you are one of the lucky few, stores such as Selfridges, Apple is clearly £13,500 on their wrists. Camping out and
you’ll still have to wait weeks if you steering traffic away from its own stores. waiting in line for the latest products may
want to wear one. For all intents and In her original memo, Ahrendts suggested be ingrained into the fabric of Apple’s
purposes, it ‘launched’ last month. the Apple Watch launch represented a fan culture, but a horde of unkempt
With a few dozen combinations to “significant change in mindset” for Apple, people isn’t something Ahrendts wants
choose from (and special Edition models and it’s easy to imagine a future where to associate with Apple Watch.
already popping up on the arms of new iPhones or iPads launch with a And I suspect it won’t be very long
celebrities), stores may eventually get a similarly muted fanfare. before Apple Stores are relegated to
supply of models for impulse buyers But if anyone can successfully steer mere showrooms. When it’s time to buy
once the initial orders are all filled. But I such a change without igniting a cultural the iPhone 10 or the Apple Watch 3,
doubt you’ll ever be able to walk into an backlash, it’s Ahrendts. As the longtime Apple will surely have perfected its
Apple Store and walk out with a £13,500 CEO of Burberry, she understands full ordering system to the point where
Apple Watch Edition on your wrist (even well how to treat a beloved brand with the model I choose will be delivered in
if you can afford to do so). respect and admiration while still an instant with little more than tap of
And I’m not so sure we’ll be seeing an adapting it for a new era. As Apple the screen on my wrist.
Apple Watch 2 this time next year, either. continues to make its transition to a And the only waiting I’ll be doing is
Luxury items don’t follow timetables for full-on purveyor of luxury goods, its retail for delivery truck.
release, and Apple is clearly marketing locations will likely become more akin to
Apple Watch as a fashion accessory and jewellery stores than technology ones;
not necessarily something packed with before long I imagine there will only be
cutting-edge technology. From the glass one of each colour of iPhone and iPad on
display cases to the try-on appointments, display, not a whole table of them.
Apple is treating Apple Watch unlike any Large swaths of display space will
other product it has ever released. be devoted to showcasing the
So while the Apple Watch launch may various models of watches,
seem somewhat uncharacteristic, it could as Apple Watch gradually
signal a conscious move away from the becomes an increasingly important
classic product release. Not only does product in its catalogue.
Apple Watch represent a new stream of
revenue for the company, it also takes Haves and have-nots
some pressure off its other products, The Apple Watch launch is about
namely iPhone. Eventually, iPhone could more than eliminating lines. When
follow a MacBook-type upgrade path, Ahrendts took the reins at
with sporadic chip upgrades and case Burberry, one her first decisions
redesigns every few years. The 24-month was to shutter some 35 product
contracts we sign have trained us to categories containing the recognisable
expect annual upgrades of everything in check pattern to recast the company as
088_089 Shop Different.indd 89 08/05/2015 09:11

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Buyers’ Guide
Complete guide to Apple devices

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MACS, iPHONES,
iPADS, iPODS AND OTHER APPLE PRODUCTS
Welcome to Macworld’s in-depth guide to every Mac, iPad, iPhone and powerful, while other Macs have slower processors but are cheaper. This
iPod that Apple makes, as well as other hardware and software that comes guide should help you identify which Mac best suits your needs.
out of Apple’s HQ in Cupertino, California. The first two pages offer a quick There are now four different iPhones and five iPads to choose from,
summary, with detailed looks on the following pages. along with a collection of iPods and the Apple TV. Plus, we should soon
Apple makes six different kinds of Mac, and each has subcategories see the launch of the Apple Watch. Read on to understand every product
and variations in specs and features. Some Macs are faster and more that Apple makes.
MacBook Air MARCH 2015 Mac Pro DEC 2013

The MacBook Air is Apple’s ultrathin and incredibly light laptop, The Mac Pro is Apple’s
sometimes referred to as an ultrabook. It comes in two screen sizes, professional Mac with a price
11in and 13in. Apple’s cheapest MacBook Air costs £749. The range tag to match – it starts at £2,499.
was updated in March 2015. It’s a fully fledged workstation
aimed at those who need the
ultimate in power.
Mac mini OCT 2014
The Mac mini is a compact desktop
computer measuring less than
20x20cm and is Apple’s cheapest
Mac, starting at just £399 – the
same price as a 16GB iPad Air 2.
It features an HDMI port, which
makes this computer a popular
option for a home media centre as
you can plug it directly into your
TV screen.
MacBook Pro MARCH 2015 JULY 2014

There are two types of MacBook Pro available: a MacBook Pro with a
high-resolution Retina display and flash storage and a simple MacBook
Pro that is the only Mac to feature a CD/DVD drive (the model hasn’t been
updated since 2012). There are two screen sizes of MacBook Pro Retina
available: a 13in and a 15in. The 13in has been updated in 2015, but not
the 15in. It is more powerful than the MacBook Air, but the prices are a lot
closer than they used to be. The cheapest MacBook Pro costs £999.
iMac OCT 2014 SEPT 2013

The iMac is incredibly thin, with the whole computer concealed behind
the gorgeous display. There are two different sizes of iMac available: the
21.5in and the 27in. The cheapest iMac costs £899, but there is also a 27in
5K Retina iMac introduced in October 2014 available for just under £2,000.
MacBook APRIL 2015

This is Apple’s newest Mac. It’s built more for style and portability than for the
NEW practicalities of computing – it has only one port and a basic processor – but
it does have a Retina display, and it does come in gold, silver and space grey,
just like your iPhone. This new Mac model went on sale in April 2015.
092_113 Buyers Guide JULY.indd 92 07/05/2015 15:06

iPad Air OCT 2014 iPhone 6 Plus SEPT 2014 iPhone 5s SEPT 2013
The iPad Air is Apple’s The new iPhone 6 Plus is Apple’s first The 5s is the iPhone
biggest tablet. There are phablet-style phone. Phablet is the name that Apple introduced
two models, both with a used for phones that are so big that in September 2013. It’s
9.7in Retina display: the they are like small tablets. The available in gold, silver or
original iPad Air, launched iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5in grey and has a Touch ID
in 2013, and the iPad Air 2 screen, so it’s really not button allowing fingerprint
with Touch ID, released in very much smaller than scanning for security,
October 2014. The newer the iPad mini. In addition rather than the older-style
model is thinner, faster and to the bigger, better home button with a square
more powerful, and there screen, the iPhone 6 in the middle. The Touch
is a gold finish available as Plus comes with a better ID button is the most
well as the original black camera than the iPhone 6. obvious difference. Apple
and silver variants. The Prices start at £615 for the is now selling only 16GB
older iPad Air costs £319 16GB version; the 64GB (£459) and 32GB (£499) models of the
(16GB) or £359 (32GB). version costs £699 while iPhone 5s.
The iPad Air 2 costs £399 (16GB), £479 (64GB) the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus
or £559 (128GB). You can buy an iPad with just costs £789.
Wi-Fi or with Wi-Fi and cellular coverage – add
£100 to get the price with cellular coverage.
iPad mini OCT 2014 iPhone 6 SEPT 2014 iPhone 5c SEPT 2013
Apple sells three different iPad mini tablets. The iPhone 6 has a The iPhone 5c has a
There’s the original iPad mini, first launched in bigger screen than polycarbonate (plastic)
2012 and now available for £199 (16GB). There the iPhone 5s: 4.7in shell that is available in
is the iPad mini 2, launched in 2013, which costs (measured diagonally, six bright colours. Apple
£239 for the 16GB version, or £279 for 32GB. corner to corner) released the iPhone 5c
And there is an iPad mini 3, compared to the 4in of alongside the iPhone 5s
launched in October 2014 and the 5s. The iPhone 6 is in September 2013. On
starting at £399 for 16GB, £399 also thinner and lighter the inside the 5c is pretty
(64GB) and £479 (128GB). All than the previous year’s similar to the iPhone 5,
three models are of a similar size model. Like the iPhone although the camera on
with 7.9in screens. The original 6 Plus, the iPhone 6 also the 5s is a better model.
iPad mini lacks a Retina display, comes equipped with a Apple sells an 8GB
and only the iPad mini 3 offers better A8 processor and iPhone 5c for £319.
Touch ID. Like the Air, you can an NFC chip for mobile
pay £100 more to get a cellular payments. It costs £539
version so that you can surf (16GB), £619 (64GB) or
using 3G or 4G. £699 (128GB).
iPod SEPT 2012 Apple Watch APRIL 2015

When Apple introduced the iPod in 2001, it Apple unveiled its
started a revolution that eventually ushered in first foray into
the iPhone and the iPad. The original iPod is wearable
now long gone, and the company no longer technology
sells the iPod classic, which was most like the in September
original. However, you can still buy a number 2014, and six
of different iPods. There’s the iPod touch (from months later
£159), which is as close as you can get to an Apple TV JAN 2013 launched.
iPhone without the phone, the iPod nano (£129) The Apple TV is a 10cm square box that There are
and the iPod shuffle (£40). The original iPod was measures less than an inch high. You plug 38 different
a music player that famously allowed you to carry the device into your HDTV so that you can Apple
1,000 songs in your watch movies and TV shows from the iTunes Watches
pocket. Today’s Store. You can also play content from Netflix available – thanks
iPod touch lets (for a £5.99 a month subscription), view to the combination
you watch videos videos on YouTube and Vimeo, and stream of the three different Apple
and download music and photos from iCloud. You can also Watch categories, two different face sizes,
apps from the iOS view whatever is on your iPhone, iPad and and the accompaniment of straps. Apple has
App Store. The iPod touchscreen, and push content from said that Apple Watch prices will start at £299
iPods haven’t been your Mac to your TV screen. The Apple TV for the 38mm Apple Watch Sport or £339 for
updated since 2012 costs £79, but the hardware hasn’t been the 42mm version. The Stainless Steel Apple
(except for a small updated since 2012. Watch will cost from £479, while the 18-carat
tweak to the iPod gold Apple Watch Edition will cost from £8,000.
touch in 2013).

Buyers’ Guide
Apple Store
HOW AND WHERE TO BUY YOUR APPLE PRODUCTS
I t’s easy to buy a brand-new Mac, iPad or

iPhone from Apple. The simplest way is to
got to store.apple.com/uk to purchase from
the online store. Here you will find every
current Mac, iPad and iPhone, and lots of
accessories. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to try
the product out, you could walk into the Apple
Store on your high street or in your closest
shopping mall. Not sure where your closest
Apple Store is located? Apple has stores all
over the country, 39 in total, and you can look
for your local store at apple.com/uk/retail.
Unfortunately, as a rule Macs are not
cheap but if you are looking for a bargain
you can also pick up a Mac, iPad or iPhone
second-hand from Apple. It’s possible to buy
refurbished Apple Macs, iPads, and other of the
company’s products, from a special section of
the online store. Go to store.apple.com/uk and
scroll to the bottom of the page where you will
see a link to Refurbished & Clearance.
Refurbished Macs and iPads are likely to
be brand new but returned models (if it is
from a previous year) or reconditioned current Apple’s online store can be found at store.apple.com/uk.
devices. A reconditioned Mac could be an
ex-demonstration model used during Apple
teaching programmes, or a unit sold to a than the original price. With Macs commanding Apple. You should always first visit Apple’s
customer who subsequently decided to return a high retail price, this reduction can represent online store to find out what is on offer from
it. The returned unit may have been faulty quite a difference. For example, you can find a the mothership, and make sure that if you are
(and fixed) or may simply have been returned 2014 (that’s the current generation) 1.4GHz iMac buying an outdated model you are doing so
under the standard sale-and-returns procedure on the Refurb Store for £759 – a £140 saving on knowingly. Copy down the specification and
– Apple allows any customer to return a Mac the £899 you’d pay for the exact same model in product code of the model you want, and use
bought from the Apple Store within 14 days for the Apple Store. There are even bigger savings that in your search. If you know what to look
a refund as part of its standard returns policy. to be made on older models. You can also for you could grab a bargain – just make sure
The important thing to note is that Macs find refurbished iPads on the store, but Apple that you aren’t buying last year’s model while
bought from the Apple Refurb Store are not doesn’t resell second-hand iPhones. being sold the idea of this year’s.
discernibly different from new ones bought You may also be able to get a deal on One of the benefits of buying from Apple
direct from the Apple Store. All the Macs a new Mac by picking up one from your is its warranty and returns procedure, even for
bought from the Apple Refurb Store are cleaned, local Apple reseller, such as John Lewis and refurbished products. Apple states: “Before
checked, tested and visually indistinguishable PC World, or Apple premium resellers like we put a refurbished Mac, iPod, iPad or Apple
from brand-new models. iStore, Stormfront, Solutions Inc, Western TV up for sale in special deals, it undergoes a
The only noticeable difference in our Computers and KRCS. They do have sales, rigorous refurbishment process to make sure it’s
experience is that an Apple refurb Mac will be and although Apple bargains are rare, they up to Apple’s tough quality standards.”
packaged in a brown box rather than the white do come along occasionally. More importantly, a reconditioned Mac
retail box they normally arrive in. Aside from However, you should beware that because comes with the same one-year warranty
that, we have yet to pick up a Mac from the Apple is strict with pricing and the margin that (extendable to three years with AppleCare
Refurb Store and find it wanting. third-party retailers can make, it is rare that protection). You also get the same sales and
The price for reconditioned Macs changes you will find a genuine bargain when buying a return procedure with Apple, and can return
frequently but is typically 10- to 20 percent less new Apple product from someone other than a Mac bought from the Refurb Store within 14
days if you’re not happy with it.
The key thing, as always, is to know exactly
what you want, and exactly what you are
getting, especially if you are buying from a
private seller. Get it all in writing, and if at all
possible view the device you are buying, and
use it, before you purchase. Always use a credit
card to make expensive purchases, or a secure
payment service such as PayPal. This will make
it much easier to chase up if there is a problem.
And remember, if it looks too good to be true,
then it probably is: you really want to see proof
of purchase before you buy a second-hand Mac
Apple Store, Covent Garden, London Apple Store, Regent Street, London to ensure it hasn’t been stolen

MacBook
THE LATEST ADDITION TO APPLE’S LAPTOP LINE-UP
T here are actually two standard MacBook

models available, both with a 12in screen
(measured diagonally). Dimensions for both
unit are identical: 28.05cm by 19.65cm, and
3.5mm at the edge tapering to 131mm thick
(the MacBook Air tapers from 17mm to just
3mm). The new MacBook weighs less than a
kilogram at 920g.
The key difference between the two
models is the amount of storage available,
and the speed of the processor, although
the most obvious difference is that there are
three colour choices: gold, silver and space
grey, just like the iPhone.
The entry-level MacBook unit offers a 1.1GHz
dual-core Intel Core M processor (Turbo Boost
up to 2.4GHz), and 256GB PCIe-based flash
storage. The other MacBook unit offers a 1.2GHz
dual-core Intel Core M processor (Turbo Boost
up to 2.6GHz), and 512GB PCIe-based flash
storage. Both models offer 8GB RAM and Intel than previously. Many of the new technologies the same chip suggests that the MacBook
HD Graphics 5300. incorporated in the new design have allowed will be slower than last year’s entry level
There don’t appear to be any build-to-order Apple to make it slimmer and as lighter than MacBook Air, however, it does at least feature
options, which would normally allow any other Mac. For example, thanks to the a SSD drive, so it could prove faster than
you to add a faster Intel processor, new Core M chip the MacBook doesn’t require Apple’s other slowest Macs: the £899 iMac
more storage, and more RAM. fans, and by slimming down the logicboard and the £399 Mac mini which utilize slower
However, Apple did indicate in Apple has been able to utilize every last corner hard drive technology.
its press release announcing the for battery. Apple claims the MacBook is the We’re waiting to get the MacBook in
product that there would be. “world’s most energy efficient notebook”. our labs, and as soon as we do we will be
The new MacBook sports Even the Retina display is the thinnest testing them thoroughly.
many new features including screen ever on a Mac. It offers a 16:10 aspect
a Force Touch trackpad that ratio and a resolution of 2304x1440. It also uses Price
utilises built-in force sensors less energy than Retina displays on other Macs. There are many Mac users for whom the
so that when you click you Apple admits that the MacBook is designed MacBook will not be ideal. This is not a
receive haptic feedback, for the wireless world, and it has to be: there powerful computer and it is no replacement
and Force Click – this is only one port. This next generation USB-C for the MacBook Pro. Nor is it necessarily
adds a new dimension to port will support power in and out, so you can a replacement for a MacBook Air while it is
clicking, a new way of charge your MacBook from it, as well as plug in possible to upgrade to faster MacBook Air
right-clicking, perhaps. a hard drive or other peripherals. You will need models for a lot less money.
There is also a new an adaptor if you are hoping to plug more than The MacBook does have some points in
keyboard with keys one device in at a time, though. its favour. It is 160g lighter than the MacBook,
slightly more spaced out smaller (even than the 11in MacBook Air) and
MacBook Connections thinner, so if you are carrying it around in your
The MacBook infamously had only one port bag that might be a relevant factor in your
(plus a headphone port). That’s the trade-off decision. The other big difference is that the
required for Apple to create such a thin Mac. MacBook ships with just 8GB RAM while the
The single port is USB-C, which is a new MacBook Air ships with 4GB RAM, but you can
industry standard that offers 5Gb/s data transfer always upgrade that at point of purchase.
via USB 3.1, as well as charging and DisplayPort Whether the tradeoff of weight and size is
1.2. You will be able to plug anything into that significant to you will depend a lot on what you
port – but you will require an adaptor if you will be doing with the MacBook. If the majority
want to plug more than one thing in at a time. of what you do on your Mac is everyday tasks,
Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook doesn’t such as sending and receiving email, browsing
feature an Ethernet port, so if you want to plug the web, and using office applications, the
it into a wired network at work or on holiday MacBook should be quite capable of meeting
you will need to purchase an adaptor. However, your needs. If you’re expecting to edit movies
the MacBook does offer 802.11ac Wi-Fi so it’s using Final Cut Pro we don’t expect this Mac
unlikely that in today’s wireless world you will to cut the mustard.
need to plug it into a network.
Prices
Speed The 256GB, 1.1GHz MacBook will cost £1,049
The MacBook will not be Apple’s fastest The 512GB, 1.2GHz MacBook will cost £1,299
Mac, tests of other computers that use

Buyers’ Guide
MacBook Air
APPLE’S THINNEST, LIGHTEST LAPTOP
T here are four standard MacBook Air models

available, in two sizes. In March 2015, each
MacBook Air was updated and now offers a
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of
RAM and Intel HD Graphics 6000 as standard.
There are also build-to-order options that
let you add a faster Intel processor (the 2.2GHz
dual-core i7, for £130), more storage (512GB SSD
for £240) and 8GB of RAM (for £80).
The only real
differences between
the different models are
the size of the screen, the amount of storage ports – that’s the trade-off required for such a MacBook Air comes with an SDXD card slot,
and battery life. Both the 11in and 13in MacBook remarkably thin computer. There’s no ethernet but the 11in model doesn’t.
Air offer either 128GB or 256GB SSD options. port, for example, so if you want to plug it into a
The 11in MacBook Air offers nine hours of wired network at work or on holiday, you’ll need Speed
battery life, compared with the 12 hours of the to buy an adaptor. However, the MacBook Air The MacBook Air is one of the slowest Macs
13in MacBook Air. The 11in MacBook Air weighs does offer built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi, so it’s unlikely around – along with the £899 iMac and
1.08kg and its dimensions are 30x19.2cm. that in today’s wireless world you will ever need the £399 Mac mini. However, one of the
The 13in MacBook Air weighs 1.35kg and its to plug it into a network anyway. MacBook Air benefits is its solid state drive
dimensions are 32.5x22.7cm. Both models The MacBook Air also lacks an optical drive (sometimes referred to as flash), which speeds
are just 1.7cm thin at the edge and taper to – the only Mac still to feature a CD/DVD drive up operation. Flash memory is superior to
3mm at the front. is the MacBook Pro (the non-Retina model). We a hard drive because it is faster at reading
Because of its smaller screen, the 11in don’t find we have much use for an optical drive data and the 13in drive is even faster than
MacBook Air offers fewer pixels than the 13in these days, but if you really think you need one the 11in. This makes a huge difference when
model – up to 1366x768 at a 16:9 aspect ratio, there is always the option of purchasing Apple’s running your Mac: opening documents,
compared with 1440x900 at a 16:10 aspect ratio USB SuperDrive for £65. starting applications and even booting up all
on the 13in. That display doesn’t come close to There are two USB 3 ports, and you can happen much faster.
what you get from the 13in MacBook Pro Retina also connect accessories (including external Whether all that matters to you depends
model, though – that Pro offers 2560x1600 storage and monitors) to your MacBook Air a lot on what you will be doing with your
Retina resolution at 227 pixels per inch. via its Thunderbolt port, Apple’s high-speed computer. If the majority of what you do on
The two Airs have different aspect ratios. connector. Thunderbolt 1 is slightly slower your Mac is everyday tasks, such as sending
The 11in model is the only Mac with a 16:9 ratio than the Thunderbolt 2 ports on the Retina and receiving email, browsing the web and
– the same as a widescreen TV. Some people MacBook Pro, but still faster than USB 3 (20Gb/s using office applications, then the MacBook
find the narrower screen more restrictive. for Thunderbolt 2, compared with 10Gb/s for Air is quite capable of meeting your needs.
The MacBook Air doesn’t have a great many Thunderbolt 1 and 5Gb/s for USB 3). The 13in You can also happily use it for editing short
videos or working with photos.
Price
There are four standard versions of
the MacBook Air available and various
build-to-order options that you can add on
a point of purchase.
Prices
11in MacBook Air 1.6GHz (128GB) £749
Build-to-order options
2.2GHz dual-core Intel i7 £130
8GB RAM £80
512GB flash storage £240
We recommend that you purchase the extra

RAM when you buy the MacBook Air as it
cannot be upgraded later. If you feel you
need more storage, you could buy an
external hard drive or an NAS drive to
store content on and back things
up when necessary.

MacBook Pro
A SUPERIOR MAC LAPTOP WITH A DISPLAY TO MATCH
T here are five standard Retina MacBook Pro

models available, in two sizes, as well as a
non-Retina MacBook Pro, which we will cover
at the bottomof this page. In March 2015, Apple
updated the 13in models but not the 15in ones.
The key selling point with the five is the
Retina display, so called because it delivers
maximum optical quality – the human eye is
unable to distinguish any more pixels. That
make a Retina display about as precise as
you can get, ideal for creative work.
The 13in model
offers 2560x1600
Retina resolution at
227 pixels per inch,
while the 15in model offers
2880x1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch.
Unlike the MacBook Air range, the five Retina thickest point (though it slims to 3mm at the Price
MacBook Pro models are substantially different front edge). The 15in MacBook Pro with Retina There are five standard versions of the Retina
in terms of spec, with the 15in models being display measures 35.9x24.7cm and weighs MacBook Pro plus a range of build-to-order
equipped with quad-core i7 chips (2.2GHz or 2.02kg. It’s the same thickness as the 13in options that you can add on to your unit at the
2.5GHz), 16GB of RAM and more. The three new model at 1.8cm. time that you purchase it. You can also purchase
13in Retina MacBook Pro units offer a dual-core The MacBook Pro with Retina display has a the MacBook Pro without Retina display, but we
Intel Core i5 processor (2.7GHz on two models, few more ports on offer than the MacBook Air. will deal with that unit separately, below.
and 2.9GHz on the high-end version), 8GB of Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro Retina
RAM, and Intel Iris graphics as standard. doesn’t feature an ethernet port, but it does Prices
The 13in models are available with 128GB, have built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and if you need to 13in Retina MacBook Pro 2.7GHz i5 (128GB) £999
256GB or 512GB flash storage, while the 15in plug into a wired network you will be able to 13in Retina MacBook Pro 2.7GHz i5 (256GB) £1,199
models skip the 128GB version, offering only buy an adaptor separately. 13in Retina MacBook Pro 2.9GHz i5 (512GB) £1,399
256GB or 512GB. There are two USB 3 ports, but you can 15in Retina MacBook Pro 2.2GHz i7 (256GB) £1,599
There are various build-to-order options also connect accessories (including external 15in Retina MacBook Pro 2.5GHz i7 (512GB) £1,999
for the 13in models that allow you to add a storage and monitors) to your Retina MacBook
faster Intel processor (a 3.1GHz dual-core i7, Pro via the two Thunderbolt 2 ports (that’s one Build-to-order options
for £170), more storage (1TB SSD for £400) more than on the MacBook Air, which uses the 13in Retina MacBook Pro
and 16GB of RAM (for £160). slower Thunderbolt 1). Thunderbolt is Apple’s 3.1GHz dual-core Intel i7 £170
The build-to-order options available for the high-speed connector, which is faster than USB 16GB RAM £160
15in models include a faster 2.8GHz quad-core 3 (20Gb/s compared with 5Gb/s). You can buy 1TB flash storage £400
i7 Intel processor for £150, and 1TB storage various adaptors that let you plug FireWire 800 15in Retina MacBook Pro
for £400. It’s worth remembering that the hardware, for example, into this port. 2.8GHz quad-core Intel i7 £150
2.8GHz clock speed of i7 Intel upgrade doesn’t You will also find an HDMI port (for plugging 1TB flash storage £400
mean that the chip is slower than the 3.1GHz into your TV) and a SDXC card slot (for your
dual-core processor offered with the 13in camera’s memory stick) on both Retina
MacBook Pro Retina model: it’s an i7 and it’s MacBook Pro models. If you think that you might need the extra
a quad-core, so it will be faster. If you are looking for a Mac capable of RAM in your 13in Retina MacBook Pro, then we
One of the key distinctions between the playing a DVD or CD, then you may want to look recommend that you purchase the extra RAM
MacBook Air range and the MacBook Pro Retina at the MacBook Pro without Retina display (see when you buy the Mac as it cannot be upgraded
models is battery life. The 11in MacBook Air below), or buy a £65 SuperDrive separately. subsequently. If you feel you need more
offers nine hours of battery power and the 13in The new 13in MacBook Pro models come with storage, you could buy an external hard drive
MacBook Air offers 12 hours. This compares with Apple’s ForceTouch trackpad, which will change or an NAS drive to store content on and back
nine hours for the 13in MacBook Pro Retina, and the way you interact with your Mac. things up when necessary.
eight hours for the 15in Retina model.
The other significant difference between Speed Non-Retina MacBook Pro
Apple’s laptop ranges lies in their weight and The 13in MacBook Pro Retina is faster than the As we mentioned at the start, the non-Retina
dimensions. The 13in Retina MacBook weighs MacBook Air, so if it’s the fastest 13in MacBook MacBook Pro is the only Mac to offer an optical
1.57kg, compared with the 1.35kg of the 13in you want then it’s worth spending a little more drive; it is also the only Apple laptop to still
MacBook Air. However, the dimensions of on the Retina display model. use a hard drive. The non-Retina MacBook Pro
the 13in Retina MacBook are 31.4x21.9cm However, if you want the fastest Retina hasn’t been updated since 2012 and many have
compared with 32.5x22.7cm for the MacBook MacBook Pro, you really need to look at the been predicting its demise. That it still lives on is
Air – so the 13in Air is a slightly larger unit. 15in models. The 13in models have a dual-core testament to the fact that there are people out
The 13in MacBook Pro isn’t very much processor, while the 15in models have a there who want a Mac with a CD/DVD drive and
thicker than the MacBook Air either, quad-core processor, and right up at the top a big hard drive. It offers a 2.5GHz dual-core
measuring 1.8cm, while the Air is just a of the range the 15in MacBook Pro with Retina Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB
centimetre thinner, measuring 1.7cm at its display features a Core i7 2.5GHz processor. hard drive, and costs £899.

Buyers’ Guide
Mac mini
A TINY DESKTOP THAT’S APPLE’S CHEAPEST MAC
T wo years after Apple last updated the Mac

mini, it revamped its entry-level Mac and
lowered prices. That October 2014 revamp
The Mac mini’s HDMI port makes it very
popular for those wishing to set up a Mac
media centre in their living room. This is
resulted in three models of Mac mini. despite the fact that the Mac mini lacks
The cheapest of the three Mac mini models an optical drive – the only Mac that still
has the same 1.4GHz dual-core processor and features one is the MacBook Pro (the
integrated graphics chip to be found on the non-Retina model). There’s not much
MacBook Air and the entry-level iMac, so it’s call for an optical drive these days, but
no surprise that the new Mac mini’s processor if you really think you need one there
and graphics performance is close to that of is always the option of purchasing
the current MacBook Air range and practically Apple’s USB SuperDrive for £65.
identical to the new £899 iMac. The MacBook You will also find four USB 3 ports,
Air has the edge due to its flash storage, while an SDXD card slot, two Thunderbolt
the Mac mini and iMac still feature a hard drive 2 ports and an IR receiver. The Mac
as standard. mini used to offer a FireWire 800
The other two Mac minis offer Intel dual-core port, which will be important to
i5 2.6GHz and 2.8GHz processors with Intel Iris those who have previously made
graphics. These chips are comparable to the big investments in FireWire
processors inside the 13in Retina MacBook Pro, peripherals, although you could
but, as with the MacBook Air, you can expect purchase a Thunderbolt to FireWire previous models, first introduced in 2012. The
their faster flash storage to give these models adaptor and continue to use your FireWire October 2014 update saw the departure of
a performance boost. devices (there are two Thunderbolt 2 ports on quad-core processor options, for example.
The Mac mini offers Intel i5 dual-core the Mac mini, offering a throughput of 20Gb/s). In our Geekbench tests we saw a very small
processor options as standard. There are The only Mac that still offers FireWire is the increase in single-core mode, but the new
i7 processors available at point of sale, but non-Retina MacBook Pro. top-of-the-range model scores just 56% of the
these are still only dual-core. Apple’s previous Another reason why the Mac mini has been older top-of-the-range model’s speed when it
generation of Mac mini models offered better, a popular choice was the ease with which it came to multi-threaded applications. At least in
quad-core processors. could be upgraded. RAM, for example, could terms of graphics processing the new Mac minis
You can get a 2TB Fusion Drive for an extra be slotted simply into place – unheard of in the take the upper hand, benefiting from newer
£80 when you buy the £799 Mac mini, taking majority of current Macs. Unfortunately this is no integrated graphics chips.
the price to £879. Only the top-of-the-range longer an option with the latest models, and you
model offers this option. have to add extra RAM at the point of purchase Price
The 2012 Mac mini server version offered a if you think you will need it. There are three Mac minis available, with a few
2TB hard drive, which made it a popular choice In the past the Mac mini has been pressed build-to-order options that you can add on at
among those looking for a media server, so into service as a graphic designer’s workstation, point of purchase.
Apple’s decision to offer this 2TB Fusion Drive a home media centre for the family and even
is probably a reaction to this. a web server for hosting entire commercial Prices
The Mac mini weighs 1.22kg and its websites. However, the latest changes make Mac mini 1.4GHz dual-core i5 (500GB) £399
dimensions are 19.7x19.7cm. Its height this model more suited for consumers looking Mac mini 2.6GHz dual-core i7 (1TB) £569
is just 3.6cm. for the cheapest Mac available. Mac mini 2.8GHz dual-core i7 (1TB Fusion drive) £799
Speed Build-to-order options

The Mac mini is not one of 3GHz dual-core Intel i7 £160
Apple’s fastest Macs. The 16GB RAM £160
processor is comparable 1TB Fusion Drive £160
to the MacBook Air’s, but 256GB SSD £160
the mini is scuppered by its 512GB SSD £240
slower hard drive. However,
you could upgrade your
Mac mini to a Fusion Drive If you think you might need the extra RAM
for another £200, bringing we recommend you purchase it when you buy
the benefit of a faster flash the Mac mini. It used to be possible to upgrade
drive combined with 1TB of the RAM in a Mac mini but this is no longer
standard storage. It’s a setup possible as it is now soldered on. We would
that could deliver you a recommend the Fusion Drive option as the
surprisingly speedy Mac for SSD part of the storage will speed things up
just £599. considerably, while the extra capacity of the
The big disappointment drive is likely to come in handy. If you are setting
with the current range of the Mac mini up as a home media centre you
Mac mini models is that may want an optical drive, but you can always
they lack the processor purchase a SuperDrive for £65, and continue to
performance of the play DVDs and CDs that way.

iMac
APPLE’S SUPER-THIN, ALL-IN-ONE DESKTOP COMPUTER
Y ou may think the iMac was only recently

updated, with the 5K Retina iMac in October
2014 and the new entry-level model in June
2014, along with lower prices across the range.
However, the rest of the iMac range has not
been updated since September 2013.
The iMac line-up includes three 21.5in
models and two 27in.
The £899 entry-level 21.5in iMac has a
1.4GHz dual-core i5 chip, 8GB of RAM and a
500GB hard drive. Next up is an iMac that for
another £150 gives you a faster 2.7GHz i5, 8GB
of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. For another £150,
the top-of-the-range 21.5in iMac offers a 2.9GHz
i5, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive.
The 27in iMacs also offer quad-core i5 chips,
which will deliver more power than the smaller
iMacs. The entry-level 27in iMac has a 3.2GHz
quad-core i5 processor, and the top-of-the-range
iMac offers a 3.4GHz version. Both models have Wondering how much space it will take Price
8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. up on your desk? The 21.5in iMac measures There are five iMac models available, with a few
Then there is the 27in Retina model, which 52.8x45cm. The 27in iMac dimensions are build-to-order options that you can add on at
offers a 3.5GHz quad-core i5 processor with 65x51.6cm. The screen is just 5mm thick. The point of purchase.
8GB of RAM as standard (you can add 16GB or base of the stand is 17.5cm deep on the 21.5in Our top iMac recommendation is that you
32GB of RAM and a 4GHz quad-core i7 at point and 20.3cm on the 27in. The iMacs weigh buy a Fusion drive or an SSD as a build-to-order
of purchase for a price), plus a Fusion Drive as 5.68kg or 9.54kg, so we don’t recommend option. The iMac line-up is let down by the hard
standard. It will cost you £1,999 – more than carrying them around. drives they are equipped with as standard. We
double the price of the entry-level model, and The iMac offers an SDXC slot, USB slots, expect that the next generation of iMacs will use
even more if you spec it to the max. Thunderbolt 1 ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and flash storage, just as the Mac Pro does.
You may be wondering why the iMacs don’t ethernet. The Retina iMac is the only one with It’s also worth updating a 21.5in model at the
yet feature SSD flash drives (with the exception Thunderbolt 2. same time as you purchase one so that it takes
of the Fusion Drive in the Retina iMac). So are There is no optical drive. Apple traded in the 16GB of RAM rather than the 8GB supplied as
we. Luckily, there are various build-to-order built-in SuperDrive when it slimmed down the standard – it’s not possible to update the RAM
options which allow you to add Fusion Drives monitor to a superthin 5mm. If you really think at a later date. However, the 8GB of soldered-on
and flash storage, as well as up to 16GB of RAM, you need one, you can always buy Apple’s USB RAM on the entry-level 1.4GHz iMac cannot
and faster processors (3.1GHz dual-core i7, for SuperDrive for £65. be upgraded at all, even at point of purchase.
£160 on the 21.5in; 3.5GHz dual-core i7, for Accordingly we would recommend the Fusion
£190 on the 27in). Flash storage options include Speed Drive option on this model even more highly
256GB SSD for £160, 512GB SSD for £400, and The Retina iMac is one Apple’s fastest Macs, and than for the others as it will speed performance
a Fusion Drive (which combines flash storage comparable to the Mac Pro. In fact, we would up considerably.
with a hard drive) for £160. The Fusion Drive is a prefer the Retina iMac thanks to its gorgeous 5K
great solution, allowing you to benefit from more Retina display (an equivalent display would cost Prices
storage capacity and a faster experience. around £1,500 extra for the Mac Pro). 21.5in iMac 1.4GHz (500GB) £899
The only upgrade options on the entry-level Among the 2013 models still available, the 21.5in iMac 2.7GHz (1TB) £1,049
£899 iMac are the Fusion Drive (£200) and top-of-the-range standard 27in model is still 21.5in iMac 2.9GHz (1TB) £1,199
other SSD options. a pretty fast Mac, although the 15in Retina 27in iMac 3.2GHz (1TB) £1,449
The graphics cards are another MacBook Pro was slightly faster when we 27in iMac 3.4GHz (1TB) £1,599
differentiator between the different iMacs. tested it, and so was the Mac Pro, as you would 27in iMac Retina 3.5GHz (1TB Fusion drive) £1,999
The £899 model features the Intel HD 500 found expect. However, it is likely that it is the hard
in the MacBook Air, the next model up has an drive that slows down this generation of iMacs, Build-to-order options
Intel Iris Pro, while the top-of-the-range 21.5in so if you add a Fusion Drive you will be giving 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 £160 (21.5in only)
iMac features the nVidia GeForce GT 750M. The your iMac a huge boost. 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 £190 (27in only)
27in models offer the nVidia GeForce GT 755M The entry-level £899 iMac is one of the 4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 £200 (Retina iMac only)
and nVidia GeForce GT 775M. slowest Macs around. Those purchasing one 16GB RAM £160
Where the £899 iMac has the exact same should upgrade it with a £200 Fusion Drive 32GB RAM £480 (27in only)
processor and graphics as the MacBook Air, the – which combines an SSD with a hard drive – 3TB hard drive £120 (27in only)
other iMacs are more like the Retina MacBook as this will make a much bigger impact than 1TB Fusion Drive £160
Pro. Obviously the need for portability may spending £150 to get the 2.7GHz iMac. 3TB Fusion Drive £280 (27in only)
play a big part in a choice between the two. There is also quite a leap from the 21.5in 256GB SSD £160
Remember that if you choose a laptop, you iMac models to the 27in models. This isn’t 512GB SSD £400
can always plug it into your screen when you surprising as the 27in iMacs are aimed at the 1TB SSD £800 (27in only) £640 (Retina)
are at your desk. power user, and have a price to match.

Buyers’ Guide
Mac Pro
APPLE’S PROFESSIONAL WORKSTATION
H aving neglected the Mac Pro for a few

years, Apple eventually updated the line-up
at the end of 2013. That leaves us with two
expect, the Mac Pro also offers
802.11ac Wi-Fi.
There is no FireWire port
standard Mac Pro models – a quad-core 3.7GHz on the Mac Pro, but you can
Intel Xeon E5 (£2,499) and a six-core 3.5GHz get a Thunderbolt to FireWire
Intel Xeon E5 (£3,299). adaptor. There are four USB
As well as sporting more cores and a 3 ports, as with the Mac mini
different processor, the top-of-the range Mac and iMac.
Pro also features 16GB of RAM (rather than The Mac Pro lacks an
12GB) and faster graphics cards – the Dual AMD optical drive. Most people
FirePro D500 with 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM each probably have little use for an
(rather than the Dual AMD FirePro D300 with optical drive these days, but if
2GB GDDR5 of VRAM). These are dual graphics you really think you need one,
cards, one of the selling points of the Mac Pro. then there is always the option
Apple claims that with the additional of purchasing Apple’s USB
power, users will be able to “seamlessly edit SuperDrive for £65.
full-resolution 4K video while simultaneously
rendering effects in the background – and still Speed
have enough power to connect up to three As you would expect from
high-resolution 4K displays”. Apple’s flagship Mac, the
Both standard units also feature 256GB flash Mac Pro is fast. However, the
storage, with build-to-order options for 512GB or year-old 27in iMac and the
1TB of flash storage. top-of-the-range 15in MacBook
Those buying the Mac Pro will be choosing Pro aren’t that far behind the
from the various build-to-order options, of which entry-level Mac Pro. And if
there are many. Choices include a 12-core you bump up your iMac when
2.7GHz processor, 64GB of RAM, a 1TB flash you buy it with build-to-order
drive, and the Dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs options you can get a Mac for
with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM. If you were to build your money that rivals even the
the ultimate Mac Pro, it would cost £7,299. six-core Mac Pro model.
Wondering how much space the Mac Pro But there is more to the
will take up on your desk? The Mac Pro has a Mac Pro than the speed and many users will be Configuring the ultimate Mac Pro will cost
diameter of 16.7cm and is 25.1cm tall. It weighs attracted by many of its advanced technologies, you a cool £7,779. If you have any cash left
5kg, a fraction less than the 21.5in iMac. The old such as the dual GPUs, the powerful multicore over, then you could add a Sharp 32in 4K
aluminium Mac Pro is a giant in comparison. processors, the Thunderbolt 2 ports, and monitor to that for another £2,999. Or why
The Mac Pro offers six Thunderbolt 2 ports the superfast flash storage. For many, the not go the whole hog and add three Sharp
– that’s enough to drive three 4K displays or six build-to-order options will let them build a 4K monitors, setting you back £16,776. That
Thunderbolt displays, if you wanted to. You’ll professional and powerful workstation capable would be some Mac setup.
also find dual gigabit ethernet – two ethernet of doing things iMac users can only dream of. If you have the cash, we would recommend
controllers, each connected to its own lane, Yet there is something to be said for the the six-core Mac Pro over the quad-core, but
ensuring that there is enough iMac with 5K Retina display. The standard 5K even better, add as many build-to-order options
bandwidth to operate iMac features an incredible screen, backed as you can afford.
at full speed. As by a 3.5GHz quad-core Intel i5 CPU,
you would 8GB of RAM, 1TB Fusion drive and Prices
AMD Radeon R9 M290X GPU for Mac Pro 3.7GHz (quad-core) £2,499
£1,999. Build-to-order options Mac Pro 3.5GHz (six-core) £3,299
include a 4GHz i7 (£200), and
upgrading the GPU to an Build-to-order options
AMD Radeon R9 M295X for 3.5GHz six-core with 12MB of L3 cache £400 (quad-core
£200. If you added these only)
two features to the iMac, you 3GHz eight-core with 25MB of L3 cache £1,600/£1,200
would pay £2,399, which is 2.7GHz 12-core with 30MB of L3 cache £2,800/£2,400
still less than the Mac Pro 16GB RAM £80 (quad-core only)
and includes a 5K display; 32GB RAM £400/£320
an equivalent Dell display 64GB RAM £1,040/£960
costs just under £2,000. 512GB SSD £240
1TB SSD £640
Price Dual AMD FirePro D500 GPUs with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM
There are two Mac Pro models £320 (quad-core only)
available, with a number of Dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs with 6GB GDDR5 VRAM
build-to-order options that you can add £800/£480
on at the point of purchase.

Which Mac?
HOW TO CHOOSE THE MAC THAT WILL SUIT YOU
W ith so many Macs to choose from, each

with very different features and specs, it
can get a little tricky when it comes to deciding
which Mac to buy. How do you know which Mac
is best for you? Should you buy a Mac mini,
an iMac or a Mac Pro? Or would you be better
off with a MacBook, MacBook Air or a Retina
MacBook Pro? Which Mac is best for you really
depends on your needs and how much you are
prepared to spend to meet them.
As a rule Macs are more expensive than
PCs, but that’s really because there are more
low-cost PCs available. If you want a laptop processor and more
that costs less than £300, then you will have to RAM as well as that gorgeous
settle on a PC (or find yourself a second-hand Retina display. The one thing in
Mac). However, we think it’s worth spending a favour of the Air is the longer battery
little more to get a lower-priced Mac, rather than life (12 hours as opposed to nine). There is
saving a few pounds buying a budget PC. also the weight difference, but it’s quite minor
If you want to spend as little as possible on really – the Pro is 1.57kg, while the Air weighs
your new Mac, you have a few choices. The Mac 1.08kg. There’s is now the added option of the
mini is an obvious one, with the price starting at new MacBook. Weighing in at 920g, it’s lighter recommend the 15in Retina MacBook Pro. It
£399, but you will need to factor in the cost of a than any other Mac laptop, though, also less costs £1,599 but comes with a decent quad-core
display as well as a mouse and keyboard if you powerful. It’s priced at £1,049 and £1,299. Intel Core i7 processor as well as 16GB of
don’t already have those peripherals. If it’s a reasonably priced desktop you are memory. It also comes with 256GB of flash
An alternative might be the £799 11in after, then the £899 iMac might look like a good storage; if you think you need more you can get
MacBook Air, which is a neat little laptop, option, but you should note that the specs in 512GB for £1,999, but we’d probably go for an
although you may end up buying a separate that machine are pretty similar to those in the external hard drive if we needed extra space.
display to plug into when sitting at your desk. £399 Mac mini. With that in mind, it might be If you want to spend a little more to get a
If you are happy to spend a little more on a better to spend a little more to get one of the decent Mac desktop, then the 27in iMac is a
reasonably priced Mac laptop, then you might other two 21.5in iMacs, although both of those great option. Prices start at £1,499 and you get
like the 13in MacBook Air or the 13in MacBook cost more than £1,000. a decent quad-core Intel Core i5 processor. The
Pro with Retina display. These models start at Another option would be to get a only thing that lets the iMac down compared to
£849 for the Air, and £999 build-to-order version of the iMac with a Fusion the MacBook Pro is the slower hard drive that
for the Pro, with the drive, which will bring a faster flash drive into comes as standard, and the 8GB of RAM. Both
Pro version the equation for an extra £200. That would of these factors can be rectified when you buy
bringing a bring the price of your iMac to £1,099, or if you the Mac, as you can take up the 16GB of RAM
faster did the same with the Mac mini, £599. In both option for an additional £160, and a Fusion drive
cases we’ve found the Fusion drive a better or 265GB flash storage for another £160. That
option than the next model up in the would bring the price of your iMac to £1,769.
same range, because the additional If it’s a top-of-the-range Mac you want,
flash memory will speed up the then you have two choices: the 27in Retina 5K
Mac more than another display iMac, which costs £1,999; or the Mac Pro,
model still restricted Apple’s workstation-class Mac, which features
by a standard a Xeon E5 processor, 12GB of RAM, dual AMD
hard drive. graphics cards and 256GB of flash storage,
But what if you with prices starting at £2,499. The Retina iMac
are prepared to comes with a Fusion drive, 8GB of RAM, and a
spend a little superfast Intel quad-core i5 processor. That’s a
more to get a difference of £500, although with the iMac you
decent Mac gain the gorgeous display; to get a similar 5K
laptop? In display, such as Dell’s UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD,
that case to use with your Mac Pro would set you back
we’d £1,762. We’d be inclined to recommend the
iMac in this case.

Buyers’ Guide
iPhone 6 Plus
APPLE’S BIGGEST PHONE, THE IPHONE PHABLET
W hen Apple introduced the iPhone 5 in

2012, it described it as the perfect size for
a smartphone – you could hold it comfortably
in one hand while reaching all four corners with
the thumb of that hand. Apple might have been
convinced back then that a 4in screen was
perfect, but in the years that followed alternative that measures
smartphones arrived in sizes that dwarfed the a whopping 5.5in
iPhone 5. By 2014 the iPhone was one of the (diagonally) and offers
smallest smartphones available; it seemed 1920x1080 resolution at 401
that people didn’t really mind that much if they pixels per inch. Phablet is the term
couldn’t reach the corner with their thumb. used to describe a large phone that is almost
Apple launched its first entry into the phablet a tablet. The popularity of phablets is thought
category in September 2014. The iPhone 6 Plus by some to be causing a decline in interest
is Apple’s biggest ever iPhone with a screen in tablets themselves, as people turn to large
phones that have good-sized screens and bring 10 hours on LTE,
the advantage of operating as a mobile phone. and up to 11 hours on
The iPhone 6 Plus is available in silver, gold Wi-Fi; up to 11 hours of video
or space grey, and measures 158.1mm tall by playback; and up to 50 hours of
77.8mm wide, is a mere 7.1mm thick and 172g audio playback.
in weight. Apple addressed its concerns about So the iPhone 6 Plus gives you the most
users’ comfort when holding such a big phone: battery life you can get from an iPhone. This
the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a Reachability is no real surprise, as the iPhone 6 Plus’s
feature, which at a double-tap on the home battery is listed at 2915mAh at 3.82 volts,
button brings the top of the screen down so you which is substantially larger than the iPhone 6’s
can reach the controls. 1810mAh battery.
The iPhone 6 Plus features Apple’s A8 chip
and the M8 motion co-processor. The motion Speed
co-processor chip is used to collect sensor The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are powered
data – it’s a clever way to save battery life as by the same A8 processor, but at different clock
it bypasses the processor. A barometer is also speeds. The iPhone 6 Plus runs at 1.39GHz
included inside the iPhone 6 Plus. compared with the iPhone 6’s 1.2GHz.
The iPhone 6 Plus offers Touch ID, and For that reason, the iPhone 6 Plus is faster
like the iPhone 6, NFC, which is a necessary than the iPhone 6. When we ran Geekbench
technology if you intend to use Apple Pay (not the iPhone 6 Plus scored 1,626 (single-core)
yet launched in the UK). and 2,917 (multicore), while the iPhone 6 scored
There is also a new 8Mp iSight camera on 1,517 (single-core) and 2,586 (multicore).
the back with focus pixels and an f/2.2 aperture Graphics performance is also good, but
(also shared with the iPhone 6). The iPhone 6 we’ve yet to notice any real difference between
Plus camera is the only Apple iPhone to offer the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPhone 5s, although
optical image stabilisation, which makes for as more graphics-heavy games appear you may
better pictures in low light. The iPhone 6 Plus be glad of the extra graphics prowess.
shares many of its other camera features with
the iPhone 6, including 43Mp panorama and Price
the option of recording HD video at 60fps and The iPhone 6 Plus starts at £619. Each of the
slo-mo video at 120fps or 240fps. You also get three models available costs £80 to £90 more
cinematic video stabilisation and continuous than the equivalent capacity iPhone 6.
autofocus video in both iPhone 6 models.
Another feature offered only by the iPhone 6 Prices
and 6 Plus is 802.11ac Wi-Fi (other iPhones only 16GB iPhone 6 Plus £619
go as high as 802.11n). 64GB iPhone 6 Plus £699
Perhaps the biggest deal for those looking 128GB iPhone 6 Plus £789
to purchase a new phone is battery life. Apple
says that the iPhone 6 Plus battery life gives
up to 24 hours of talk time on 3G; up to 16 However, we’d advise against buying the
days/384 hours on standby; up to 12 hours of 16GB entry-level version – you are likely to find
internet use on 3G, up to 12 hours on LTE, and it frustrating staying within 16GB, especially
up to 11 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 14 hours of video when Apple next updates its operating system
playback; and up to 80 hours of audio playback. (in 2014 the OS required as much as 5GB of
By contrast, Apple says that the iPhone 6’s space on some iPhones). The 64GB iPhone
battery life gives up to 14 hours of talk time on 6 Plus costs just £80 more for four times as
3G; up to 10 hours of internet use on 3G, up to much storage.

iPhone 6
THE 4.7IN SUCCESSOR TO THE IPHONE 5S
T he iPhone 6 Plus wasn’t the only larger

iPhone to launch in 2014. The iPhone
6 was also introduced, with a screen that
A barometer is also included for measuring air
pressure to determine your elevation (it can
basically tell if you have been going upstairs).
measures 4.7in (diagonally) and offers 1334x750 This is one of the new fitness and health
resolution at 326ppi. features available to iPhone users. All iPhones
This suggests that the iPhone 6 has the also offer an accelerometer and gyroscope for
same pixel density as the iPhone 5s, but Apple the same purpose.
has still dubbed its new screen ‘Retina HD’, The iPhone 6 also offers Touch ID, and,
presumably because it is counting the total as does the iPhone 6 Plus, NFC, which is a
number of pixels on display, rather than how necessary enabling technology for using Apple
close together they are. The iPhone 6 Plus Pay (not yet launched in the UK).
offers a higher pixel density of 401ppi and is All of Apple’s current iPhones offer an
also described as Retina HD. Despite the similar 8Mp camera. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
sounding pixel count between the iPhone 6 and camera still only offers 8Mp, but it gains focus
iPhone 5s, Apple has also made modifications to pixels. Both iPhone 6 models and the iPhone 5s
the newer screens’ design, adding dual-domain offer an f/2.2 aperture.
pixels that allow for improved viewing angles, The iPhone 6 shares some other camera
and other features that enhance the visibility of features with the iPhone 6 Plus. These
the display as well as a better contrast ratio (the include 43Mp panoramas, the option of
contrast ratio on the iPhone 6 is in fact better recording HD video at 60fps and slo-mo
than that on the iPhone 6 Plus). video at 120fps or 240fps. There is also
iPhone 6 sports the same curvaceous design cinematic video stabilisation and continuous
as the iPhone 6 Plus, albeit slightly smaller autofocus video. You will also find 802.11ac Wi-Fi
dimensions. It measures 138.1mm tall by 67mm in the iPhone 6, while the older models only go
wide, is just 6.9mm thick, and weighs 129g. It is as high as 802.11n.
available in silver, gold or space grey. When it comes to battery life, Apple says that
Although smaller than the iPhone 6 Plus, the the iPhone 6 offers up to 14 hours of talk time
iPhone 6 is still very large, and only the most on 3G; up to 10 hours of internet use on 3G, up
gigantic hands would be able to comfortably to 10 hours on LTE, and up to 11 hours on Wi-Fi;
reach to the edges in one-handed use. As a up to 11 hours of video playback; and up to 50
result Apple, also offers Reachability on the hours of audio playback. You’ll get more battery
iPhone 6, which allows you to double-tap on the life from the iPhone 6 Plus, but the iPhone 6
home button to pull the top of the screen down battery is still better than those in the iPhone 5s
so you can reach the controls. and iPhone 5c, which both have identical battery
One major design change for the iPhone 6 life, according to Apple. The iPhone 5s/5c The iPhone 6 is faster than the iPhone
and iPhone 6 Plus is the relocation of the on-off handsets offer up to 10 hours of talk time on 3G; 5s, though. The iPhone 5s scored 1,409
button. This was found at the top of the phone up to eight hours of internet use on 3G, up to 10 (single-core) and 2,549 (multicore).
in previous generations, but now the button has hours on LTE, and up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to Graphics performance is good, but you are
moved to the side of the phone to make it easier 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours unlikely to notice any real difference unless you
to reach when you are holding it one-handed of audio playback. are using really graphics-heavy games.
(the new home for this button does make taking
screen shots harder, though). Speed Price
Like the iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone 6 Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are The iPhone 6 starts at £539 – £10 less than the
features Apple’s A8 chip and the M8 motion powered by the same A8 processor, but it’s original starting price of the iPhone 5s when it
co-processor. The A8 is 50 percent more running at different clock speeds. The iPhone 6 launched in 2013.
power-efficient than the A7, according to Apple. runs at 1.2GHz, while the iPhone 6 Plus runs at
1.39GHz, according to Geekbench. Prices
When we ran Geekbench the iPhone 6 16GB iPhone 6 £539
scored 1,517 (single-core) and 2,586 (multicore), 64GB iPhone 6 £619
while the iPhone 6 Plus scored 1,626 128GB iPhone 6 £699
(single-core) and 2,917 (multicore).
Not surprisingly the iPhone 6
Plus is faster than the Each of these phones costs £80 to £90 less
iPhone 6. than the same-capacity iPhone 6 Plus.
As we mentioned previously, we’d advise
against buying the 16GB version as you are
likely to find it frustrating staying within that
16GB storage limit, especially when Apple next
updates its operating system (which in 2014
required as much as 5GB of space on some
iPhones). The 64GB iPhone 6 costs just £80
more and for that you get 300% more storage.

Buyers’ Guide
iPhone 5s
THE 4IN iPHONE WITH TOUCH ID
I n 2013 Apple upgraded its existing iPhone

platform, splitting the iPhone 5 into two in
the process. It created the iPhone 5s, which
which produces clearer images in low-light
conditions without any resort to messy
noise-reduction techniques.
features Touch ID to let you unlock your iPhone When Apple launched the iPhone 5s it was
and pay for things on the App Store merely by the first time that a smartphone manufacturer
touching your finger to the home button, and had opted to increase pixel size rather than pixel
the more playful iPhone 5c, which comes in a numbers. All iPhone cameras offer 8Mp – and
range of colours. Both phones are still available this is sufficient. Cramming a load of pixels onto
from Apple, although the larger capacities are a sensor will not create a better image, it just
now discontinued. They remain good options for means that the file size is bigger. The larger
those looking for a cheaper iPhone. sensor and a bigger lens serve to let in more
The iPhone 5s screen measures 4in light, as does the faster aperture of f/2.2 instead
(diagonally) and offers 1136x640 resolution at of f/2.4. The faster f/2.2 aperture on the iPhone
326ppi. Although this may suggest that the 5s really helps with indoor and dusky shooting.
iPhone 5s has the same pixel density as the Both iPhone 6 models also offer a f/2.2 aperture.
iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 has a greater number of The iPhone 5s lacks some of the camera
pixels in total, not to mention a superior screen features you’ll find on the iPhone 6 Plus and
with better viewing angles and contrast ratio. iPhone 6, including 43Mp panoramas, the
The iPhone 5s sports a different design to option of recording HD video at 60fps and
the iPhone 6 models and the iPhone 5c. The slo-mo video at 120fps or 240fps. HD video
iPhone 5s is more angular, with sharper edges, and slo-mo features are all available on the
while the other models have curved edges. It iPhone 5s, but the quality is poorer. One
is the smallest and lightest iPhone, measuring other area where the iPhone 5s surpasses the
123.8mm tall by 58.6mm wide and just 7.6mm iPhone 5c is the FaceTime camera, which offers
thick, and weighs 112g. Like the iPhone 6 auto HDR for photos.
models, the 5s is also available in silver, gold or Only the iPhone 6 models offer 802.11ac
space grey. Wi-Fi. The older iPhone models only go as high
Both of the cameras on the iPhone 5s offer as 802.11n.
improvements when compared to the iPhone When it comes to battery life, Apple says When it comes to games and graphics
5c. The camera on the back has bigger pixels, that the iPhone 5s offers up to 10 hours of talk capabilities, the GPU performance of the iPhone
a bigger sensor, a new True Tone flash, and time on 3G; up to eight hours of internet use on 5s is superior to that of the iPhone 5c; we saw
various other hardware and software features. 3G, up to 10 hours on LTE, and up to 10 hours some big differences using GFXBench 2.7’s
As far as the bigger pixels are concerned, on Wi-Fi; up to 10 hours of video playback; and T-Tex C24Z16 1080p offscreen test. The iPhone
larger pixels yield greater electrical output, up to 40 hours of audio playback. You’ll get 5s was able to push 25 frames per second,
more battery life from the more than three and a half times the number of
newer, iPhone 6 models. frames supported by the iPhone 5c. While these
results are below the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, it is
Speed unlikely you will really notice the extra unless
The iPhone 5s is powered you are playing the most power-hungry games.
by the A7 processor, which
was first introduced with Price
this phone in 2013, running The iPhone 5s starts at £459, which is some
at 1.3GHz, according to £90 cheaper than the same model cost when it
Geekbench. When the A7 launched in 2013.
chip launched it was a giant
leap on its own account, Prices
offering a huge speed 16GB iPhone 5s £459
improvement thanks to its 34GB iPhone 5s £499
64-bit capabilities.
When we ran
Geekbench, the iPhone 5s The iPhone 5s is the only iPhone available
scored 1,409 (single-core) with a 34GB capacity. Apple removed the
and 2,549 (multicore). By 34GB option from the line-up for its iPhone 6
comparison the iPhone 6 models, which come only in 16GB, 64GB and
scored 1,517 (single-core) 128GB versions.
and 2,586 (multicore), while But at just £40 more it’s a no-brainer to buy
the iPhone 6 Plus scored the 34GB version of the iPhone 5s. We’d advise
1,626 (single-core) and 2,917 against the 16GB version, as you are likely to
(multicore). The Geekbench find it frustrating staying within that storage limit.
score of the iPhone 5s was When Apple updates its operating system it will
more than twice that of the take even more than the 5GB of space required
iPhone 5c. on some iPhones by its 2014 update.

iPhone 5c
APPLE’S CHEAPEST, MOST COLOURFUL iPHONE
W hen the iPhone 5c launched in 2013 it

disappointed some who were hoping for a
low-cost smartphone from Apple. At launch the
you may well find that you will need more
space to install the update than you have
available on your iPhone.
iPhone 5c cost £469 – only £80 less than the In this case, while the leap up to the iPhone
equivalent iPhone 5s. Months later the company 5s is not easy to recommend – because at £140
introduced a 8GB version of the 5c for £429. more it is quite a significant extra chunk of cash
Now that same 8GB version of the iPhone 5c – it will still give you twice as much potentially
costs £319, a saving of £110. The big question, precious storage as the 5c. The 5s also comes
though, is whether £319 now represents a good with various other features such as Touch ID, so
price for the iPhone 5c. you can unlock your iPhone and pay for things
If you are determined to buy an iPhone on the App Store merely by touching your finger
but don’t want to spend a lot, then the iPhone to the home button.
5c might be worth considering. If price is your Like the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 5c has a
main concern, it’s also worth looking around screen that measures 4in (diagonally) and offers
for a second-hand iPhone, or you may find you 1136x640 resolution at 326ppi.
can get a good deal on a new handset from The design of the iPhone 5c is more
your mobile phone network. All the prices we reminiscent of the original iPhone than the
quote are what Apple sells the iPhone for if you iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 models. It has a smooth
purchase it off-contract, allowing you to shop plastic case that comes in five different colours:
around for a monthly plan or pay-as-you-go green, blue, yellow, pink and white. It’s a
contract that suits you (or perhaps you already fraction larger and heavier than the iPhone 5s,
have a great contract and don’t want to lose it). measuring 124.4mm tall by 59.2mm wide and
It is also likely you will be able to find a contract just 8.97mm thick, and weighs 132g (only the
with one of the UK mobile networks that will give iPhone 6 Plus is heavier).
you an iPhone 5c handset for free. In many ways the iPhone 5c is the same
The main issue with the iPhone 5c is that it phone as the iPhone 5 was when it launched
offers just 8GB of storage space; although we in 2012. Aside from the new case, on the inside available, nor is slo-mo video (both are available
have heard of some mobile networks offering the iPhone 5c has the same rear-facing camera on all other iPhone handsets).
16GB iPhone 5c models, Apple doesn’t. You and processor. The FaceTime camera on the When it comes to battery life, Apple says that
may find it hard to imagine that you will ever front of the iPhone 5c is better than the one the iPhone 5c offers exactly the same battery
need a great deal of storage space, but it’s found in the iPhone 5, however, offering better longevity as the iPhone 5s: up to 10 hours of talk
worth considering that when the next version visibility in low-light. The iPhone 5c will take time on 3G; up to eight hours of internet use on
of the iPhone operating system is released panoramas, but burst mode shooting is not 3G, up to 10 hours on LTE, and up to 10 hours on
Wi-Fi; up to 10 hours of video playback; and up
to 40 hours of audio playback.
Speed
Although the iPhone 5c features the same A6
processor as the iPhone 5, in some of our tests
it scored slightly worse than its predecessor. For
example, the iPhone 5 was about 10 percent
faster than the 5c in Geekbench tests. As for the
iPhone 5s, that model’s Geekbench score was
more than twice that of the iPhone 5c. However,
even these speeds will be more than enough for
the average needs of a user.
The GPU performance of the iPhone 5c is
also inferior to that of the iPhone 5s, with the
latter achieving 25fps, more than 3.5 times more
than the iPhone 5c. If you aren’t playing games
or editing video on your iPhone, though, it is
unlikely that this will matter to you.
Price
The 8GB iPhone 5c costs £319. There is only an
8GB model available from Apple, so if you want
16GB or more then you will need to move up to
the entry-level 16GB iPhone 5s. But as the 16GB
iPhone 5s costs £140 more than the 5c at £459,
if you are considering the iPhone 5s, then you
might as well fork out another £40 and get the
34GB version of the iPhone 5s for £499.

Buyers’ Guide
iPad Air
APPLE’S FULL-SIZED iPAD
T he iPad is Apple’s tablet computer. It’s

partway between an iPhone and a laptop,
offering you the extra screen space, but using
Air 2 demonstrates its superiority – particularly
close-up detail under studio lighting and in
low-light conditions. The iPad Air 2 also gains
The Air 2 also comes with a Touch ID
fingerprint scanner built into the home button.
Touch ID is convenient, enabling you to unlock
exactly the same operating system as the some camera software features including slo-mo your iPad, or an individual app, with a single
iPhone, so if you already own an iPhone it will and time-lapse video modes, as well as burst touch of a finger rather than a passcode or
feel familiar. There are millions of apps available mode and a timer. And panoramas: the iPad Air password. As apps and websites integrate
for the iPad that allow you to do anything from 1 already had these, but they can now go all the Apple Pay, you will be able to use Touch ID on
producing spreadsheets and presentations, way up to 43Mp. We’re always surprised that your iPad to pay for things. However, you won’t
to playing games, creating photographic anyone would use the iPad as a camera – it be able to use the iPad in the high street as it
masterpieces or editing home videos. is a rather inconvenient size, yet people often lacks the requisite NFC chip.
Apple sells two models of iPad Air: the iPad use one to take photos and videos, perhaps Other differences between the iPad Air 1
Air 2, launched in October 2014, and the iPad because of the size of the viewfinder. and 2 include a gold finish as an option for
Air, which arrived the previous October. When Both iPad Air models offer Retina displays the newer model. The iPad Air 2 is available in
the first iPad Air launched in 2013 it was already with a resolution of 2048x1536 and a pixel silver, gold and space grey, while the iPad Air 1
incredibly thin, just 7.5mm, but the iPad Air 2 is density of 264ppi. However, the iPad Air 2 adds is available only in silver or space grey. The grey
even thinner, a mere 6.6mm. an anti-reflective coating and, thanks to new model has a black rim around the screen, but all
The Air 2 also has an upgraded rear-facing manufacturing technologies, Apple has been other iPads are white on the front.
camera (8Mp to the iPad Air 1’s 5Mp). There are able to remove the ‘air gaps’ between different
certain shooting conditions in which the iPad elements of the screen, which effectively Speed
gives users more display clarity and makes it The iPad Air 2 contains a new processor chip –
easier to see the screen from different angles the A8X, which is a souped-up version of the A8
– valuable if, for example, you’re sitting next that made its first appearance in the iPhone 6
to someone and sharing the iPad and iPhone 6 Plus.
screen to watch a movie. With its A8X processor chip, the iPad Air 2
is significantly quicker at general processing
and handling graphical tasks than the iPad Air
1 (which has an A7 chip) – about 40 percent
faster, on paper. But at this point that difference
is more theoretical than practical. In our
Geekbench tests the iPad Air 1 scored 1,468
(single) and 2,658 (multi), while the iPad Air 2
scored 1,818 (single) and 4,520 (multi).
In terms of graphics, Apple claims that iPad
Air 2 users will see 2.5 times the graphics
performance of the first iPad Air. That’s great
news for gamers, and video and photo-editing
apps will also benefit from the enhanced
graphics performance.
However, the iPad Air 1 can handle all current
apps, and you’re unlikely to see major speed
gains with current software. Over time this may
change but if all you do with your iPad is browse
the web and read and write emails, then you are
unlikely to notice any slowdown.
Price
The iPad Air 2 starts at £399 for the 16GB
version. Next up is the 64GB model for just £80
more at £479, and the 128GB model costs £559.
The 16GB iPad Air 1 is just £80 cheaper than
the entry-level iPad Air 2, at £319. Or you can
pay another £40 and get the 32GB version for
£359, which is still less than the price of a 16GB
iPad Air 2. If Touch ID isn’t important to you, you
may prefer to pay less and get twice as much
storage space.
When choosing which iPad to buy, there is
also the decision of whether to get one that is
capable of connecting to the mobile networks,
rather than just Wi-Fi. The models that can use
3G and 4G in addition to Wi-Fi cost £100 more
than the non-cellular models.

iPad mini
APPLE’S SMALLER IPAD
I f the iPad Air is partway between an iPhone

and a laptop, the iPad mini is partway between
the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPad Air. It’s a popular
choice for those who want to read books. It also
used to be popular because it was a lot lighter
than Apple’s full-sized iPad, but the difference
in weight has since been scaled back: the iPad
Air 2 weighs 437g while the iPad mini 3 weighs
331g. It’s screen size that is the key difference
between the iPad Air and iPad mini now, with the
Air featuring a 9.7in Retina display and the mini a
7.9in display.
Apple sells three models of iPad mini. The
iPad mini 3 was launched in October 2014, and
is essentially the same as the iPad mini 2, which
launched in October 2013. Apple also still sells
the original iPad mini, which was launched in
October 2012.
The main difference between the iPad mini
2 and 3 is the inclusion of Touch ID on the later
model, and the option of a gold finish.
When Apple launched the newer iPad mini
we were disappointed that it didn’t also gain
any of the features offered by the 2014 iPad Air. – offers 1.2Mp. The only real difference between The A7 is around four times as fast for
For that reason we generally advise saving £80 the iPad minis is that the newer models offer general processing and about eight times as
and purchasing the iPad mini 2 unless you really panorama shooting while the original iPad mini fast for graphical processing. But these numbers
want Touch ID. The newer iPad costs £80 more doesn’t. The original iPad mini also lacks 3x are theoretical, and apply only in situations that
than the previous year’s model. For some, Touch video zoom. exert a significant demand on the processor; on
ID may be worth the extra £80, but other than All iPad minis have a battery life that gives many simple apps the mini 1 will be fine.
that there really is no other difference. up to 10 hours of web surfing, video or music on As time goes by the most demanding tasks
There is a much bigger difference between Wi-Fi, and nine hours over a mobile data network. – extremely graphically ambitious 3D games,
the iPad mini 1 and newer iPad mini models. You video and photo editing, and all the more
can still buy the 16GB original iPad mini for £199 Speed processor-intensive apps that will be released
– £70 less than what it sold for at launch (£269). Another key difference between the original in the next few years – will begin to tax the
This iPad lacks a Retina display, and is thicker iPad mini and the newer iPad mini models is the powers of the iPad mini 1.
(7.2mm compared with 7.5mm) and heavier fact that the earlier model features the A5 chip
(308g compared with 331g) than the other iPad rather than the A7 and M7 motion co-processor Price
mini models. combo. The A5 processor first appeared in There’s a £40 gap from the iPad mini 1 to the
If all you need is a low-cost device for the iPhone 4s, which should give you an idea iPad mini 2, and then an £80 gap from the iPad
reading books or watching video when of just how old that processor is now. It’s a mini 2 to the iPad mini 3. Priced so closely,
commuting, the iPad mini 1 might be adequate, 32-bit system-on-a-chip that also powers the it’s a no-brainer to pay the extra £40 for the
although it’s still worth paying just £40 more to fifth-generation iPod touch and the Apple TV. Retina display and better chip in the iPad mini
get the iPad mini 2 – you’d be crazy not to. The iPad mini 2 and 3 both feature the 2. Although the £80 for the Touch ID is less
All the iPad minis have the same rear and A7 processor, which can also be found in the attractive, you might prefer to spend £100
forward-facing cameras. The camera on the rear iPad Air 1. This is a 64-bit system-on-a-chip more and get a Wi-Fi and cellular version. Each
offers 5Mp photos while the front-facing camera that first appeared in the iPhone 5s in 2013 model is available for Wi-Fi only, or you can
– used predominantly for FaceTime video calling and was the first 64-bit processor to ship in a add cellular capabilities for another £100, which
consumer smartphone. will enable you to connect to a mobile phone
network when you are out and about.

Buyers’ Guide
iPods
THE MP3 PLAYER THAT STARTED IT ALL
A pple sells three types of iPod: the iPod

shuffle, the iPod nano and the iPod touch.
The iPod touch is far more than just a
simple music player. It comes equipped with
essentially all the features of a fully fledged
iPhone bar the call capabilities. The iPod nano
is also a capable device, and small enough
to carry anywhere, while the iPod shuffle is
simple, inexpensive and tough.
Apple quietly retired the original iPod
classic in October 2014, after seven years of
faithful service.
With the iPod classic now a distant
memory, those wanting a large amount of
storage on their iPod will find the options
rather limiting. Currently, the iPod shuffle offers
a humble 2GB of storage, while the iPod nano
boasts a rather more spacious 16GB. It’s worth
bearing in mind that this means the shuffle can
hold around 450 songs encoded at 128kb/s,
with the nano’s 16GB topping out at around
the 4,000 mark. The only model to go higher
than 16GB is the iPod touch, which is available
in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants. While it’s
nowhere near the mammoth 160GB capacity of tools, social media and camera apps that you’d pick up an iPod touch for less than the price of
the iPod classic, it should still offer enough room expect to find on an iPhone, as well as web an iPad. The iPod touch is also a great option
for the vast majority of users. access. The built-in camera, while not quite up to for teenagers who want to communicate with
The shuffle is probably the most true to that the iPhone quality, still offers great shots. friends, watch the latest YouTube videos, listen to
original iPod, as it focuses solely on playing iPods may not share the same always-on their music, and not have ongoing bills for their
audio. The lack of a screen has meant that nature of smartphones, but battery life remains parents to pay.
in the past you had to remember what was an important factor for any portable electronic
on the device, and switching between tracks device. You might think that the iPod shuffle Price
was something of a lottery. Now, thanks to the would win this category due to its lack of a If you really don’t want to spend a great deal on a
voiceover feature, the iPod shuffle will read out power-sapping screen, but its diminutive size device, and don’t mind a limited set of functions,
the name of the track, podcast, audiobook or means a small battery and it lasts for only 15 then the iPod shuffle is a very tempting option
playlist to you, and allow you to choose the one hours. It loses out to the nano, which goes for at £40. Moving up to an iPod nano will give you
you want to listen to. around 30 hours, while the iPod touch – which a few more advanced features and eight times
The most obvious feature that differentiates houses the largest battery in the range – holds the storage, but the price jumps up to £129. For
the iPod nano and the iPod shuffle is the nano’s out for a massive 40 hours of listening time. If iPod royalty, you’ll find the three models of iPod
2.5in multitouch display. This enables the iPod you watch video, though, things immediately touch priced at £159 (16GB), £199 (32GB) and
nano to have a range of included apps that change, with the nano affording 3.5 hours and £249 (64GB).
broaden its appeal. Music is, of course, still the the touch falling to eight hours.
primary function, with the cool ability to create The iPod shuffle is best for sports
genius mixes on the fly by tapping a button enthusiasts because it’s cheap, hardy and
while a song is playing; the device will then can clip onto pretty well anything. Those with
automatically generate a playlist from your smaller music libraries will also appreciate the
library based on that track. value of an inexpensive device that is still
A screen also means powerful thanks to the voiceover feature,
video, with the iPod as will everyone who don’t want to spend
nano playing any a lot on a music player.
media synched to The iPod nano is ideal for those who
it from your iTunes want a svelte device with more capacity
account. than a shuffle.
The iPod touch is The iPod touch has a higher price
in a different category tag and in many ways strays rather
to its smaller siblings. too close to the smartphone world to
As the only iPod to make it a compelling device for those
run a full version of who already own an iPhone. If you do
iOS, the iPod touch want an internet-
has access to the full capable iOS
App Store, with all device, then
the games, productivity you can

Which iPad and iPhone?
HOW TO CHOOSE THE iOS DEVICE THAT WILL SUIT YOU
W ith four iPhones and

five iPads to choose
from, each with very
different specs, it can be
tricky to decide which iOS
device to buy.
Those who want a
‘phablet’ experience –
midway between a phone
and a small tablet – might
be interested in the iPhone
6 Plus. Fans of gaming and
movies will also like the 6
Plus’s big screen. Some
business users may find
the big screen good for
productivity apps. The 6 Plus
is likely to be the phone of
choice for early adopters and
others who like to have the
latest thing, and for those on
a big budget.
If the iPhone 6 Plus is a bit too big (and more. But if the smaller screen size is crucial, much apps have moved on in the past year (it’s a
more than a few buyers have found this), then then it’s still a good phone. And it does feature must-buy if you’re seriously into iPad gaming).
you might go for the smaller iPhone 6. It still Touch ID (albeit without the NFC chip that will The A5 processor in the iPad mini 1 is only
has appeal for those who want a bigger screen enable Apple Pay on your high street). It’s a going to get more and more tired when tackling
(for games and films in particular, but also good deal, especially the 32GB version. games and demanding apps.
work apps and a generally more immersive There are various features that the iPhone It is also possible that the original iPad mini
experience) but a more portable device. The 5s has that the iPhone 5c doesn’t, like the Touch will become obsolete in the next couple of years
iPhone 6 is easier to slip into a pocket (and to ID fingerprint scanner and a better camera with – unable to update to the next version of iOS.
use one-handed) than the iPhone 6 Plus. It’s better photography features. It’s the cheapest If that happens you won’t be able to run all the
also a bit more affordable. iPhone, but it’s not necessarily the best deal, apps out there.
But what if you don’t want the iPhone 6 crippled as it is by its 8GB drive. Also, if you’re used to Retina displays already
with its 4.7in screen or the iPhone 6 Plus with The step up from iPad Air 1 to iPad Air 2 – you’ve got an iPad 4, say, or you borrow a
its 5.5in screen? The iPhone 5s misses out brings a faster processor, a better rear-facing friend’s iPad mini 2 a lot – then you might find
on a lot of the features in the newer iPhones, camera (8Mp, up from 5Mp) and Touch ID, as the iPad mini 1 a tiny bit fuzzy.
including the latest processor, various camera well as a device that is 6 percent lighter and 19
features including 43Mp panoramas, the ability percent thinner, with a less reflective screen and
to use Touch ID in-store (when Apple launches the prospect of iOS update support for about a
Apple Pay in the UK), better battery life and year more than the iPad Air 1. Is all that worth an
extra £80? Probably.
The iPad Air 1 is still a great iPad, though,
fast enough for all current apps. Those who
have light use in mind (email, browsing the web,
simple games) should be absolutely fine with it,
and would save the extra £80. However, such
customers might want to consider a cheaper
option still: the iPad mini.
The first and most obvious thing to say is this:
£80 extra for the iPad mini 3 (compared with the
equivalent mini 2) is a tough sell. All you get for
that is Touch ID, and while Touch ID is cool and
convenient, it’s hardly worth £80.
The £40 price gap between the mini 1 and
mini 2, by contrast, seems if anything to be
smaller than we’d expect, and we strongly
recommend going for the mini 2 rather than the
mini 1. For the extra £40, the mini 2 gets a much
faster processor than the mini 1 and a Retina
display, and those are both major selling points
– the A7 is more important than ever, given how

Buyers’ Guide
Apple TV
APPLE’S SET-TOP BOX
T he Apple TV is a connected set-top box,

measuring 23mm by 98mm by 98mm and
weighing 27g, that offers access to iTunes TV
shows and movies, as well as content from
Netflix, YouTube and Vimeo. You can also stream
content to your TV from your Mac, iPhone and
iPad. It costs £59.
The Apple TV isn’t a TV in the normal sense
of the word, because it doesn’t have free-to-air
channels or a digital video recorder to store
shows to watch at a more convenient time.
However, it does offer what could be described
as channels, and this content keeps on growing,
leaving us hopeful for a future where the Apple
TV will include links to on-demand services just
like our iPhones and iPads do – think the iPlayer
and 4oD apps and you’re not too far away.
Apple has made multiple updates to the
Apple TV software over the years, adding
a number of new app-style TV channels, In the US the Apple TV includes Hulu Plus, of the iPhone app simplifies the task of entering
delivering new content to Apple TV users. Most HBO Go, Showtime Anytime, Fox Now, Watch network passwords or using the search function
recently the Now TV app addition brought Sky ABC, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, when browsing content.
entertainment, movies and sports content to the PBS, A&E, History, Lifetime, WatchESPN and The Apple TV includes an HDMI interface
Apple TV, for a subscription. much more. with 1080p output for connecting to your
Probably the most popular app on the Apple It is possible to run apps for some services on high-def TV, as well as built-in Wi-Fi for your
TV is Netflix. In many ways it’s the only reason an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and then stream home network. There’s no hard drive inside
we recommend the Apple TV right now, because them to the Apple TV using AirPlay – but the that tiny little box, so you can’t download films
without it there would be very little content Apple TV really needs to provide direct access to or TV programmes for permanent storage, but
available to UK users. When a Netflix subscription those services without requiring any expensive you can download purchases onto a Mac or PC
costs just £5.99 a month, it is very difficult to additional hardware. using iTunes and then stream them to the Apple
recommend spending almost that much on hiring Despite the limited content here in the UK TV using Apple’s AirPlay wireless technology.
a single movie to watch via Apple’s own iTunes there is still a lot to like about the Apple TV. It’s AirPlay will also allow you to stream video from
Store, although you will find some iTunes content well built and easy to use. Some of the better any iOS mobile device.
that won’t appear on Netflix for months or years – features work only with other Apple products,
or maybe not at all. but if you own those products then the Apple TV New Apple TV on its way
is a great addition. The last time Apple updated the Apple TV
We like the Apple TV’s was back in January 2013, and even then it
user interface too. It’s simple was just a minor update. Speculation about a
and intuitive, as you’d expect fourth-generation Apple TV has been mounting,
from Apple, and will be familiar and it’s certainly possible that Apple is gearing
to all iPad and iPhone users up to launch a new Apple TV this year.
as it utilises the bright and In the two years since the last Apple TV
bold iOS looks. You navigate update, many competing products from rival
the setup menus and input companies have launched, so Apple really
Wi-Fi network and password needs to get a move on if it wants to dominate
via the included Apple TV the set-top box market.
remote or using your iPhone This new Apple TV may be smaller than the
and the Remote app. You can existing one, and it may feature a new remote,
also pair it with a Bluetooth be Siri-activated, or even, rumour has it, be
keyboard. Using the keyboard controlled using Kinect-like gestures.
Other rumours suggest that the new TV
could include access to the iOS App Store
so that users can purchase apps that can be
viewed on their TV set – as well as games
that can be played on the Apple TV. Our
biggest wish, though, is that Apple brings the
UK on-demand channels to the Apple TV – all
its competitors offer them and their absence
represents a serious failing on Apple’s part.
Hopefully, any new features coming to the
Apple TV will work on the current model as well
as any new one that Apple launches.

Apple Watch
APPLE REINVENTS THE SMARTWATCH
A pple unveiled the Apple Watch back in

September 2014, band finally went on sale
on 24 April 2015.
you opt for (Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport or
Apple Watch Edition, respectively). The stainless
steel finish is available in standard or black,
Apple Watch face. In fact, the Apple Watch
can determine just how hard you touched the
screen. It can distinguish between a normal tap,
The best news here is that Apple’s not just the aluminium finish in silver or grey, and the used to select things, and a harder press, used
launching a smartwatch but a whole raft of 18-carat in yellow gold or rose gold. to access contextual menus. Apple calls this
smartwatches. By combining the three different There is also a collection of straps to technology Force Touch.
Apple Watch categories, the two different face choose from, including link bracelet, sport band, You aren’t the only one doing the tapping
sizes, and the accompaniment of straps, there is leather loop, classic buckle, modern buckle and when it comes to the Apple Watch. The watch
the potential for 38 different Apple Watches, so Milanese loop. The leather loop and sport band incorporates what Apple calls a taptic engine,
there will be a style to suit anybody. And crucially, options are offered in multiple colour choices. which lets it ‘tap’ your wrist to alert you to
since Apple is offering two watch face sizes, the The sport band comes in black, white, pink, blue notifications. It’s similar to the vibrate function
Apple Watch will be as comfortable on a female and lime green, for example. on an iPhone, except that only you know that
wrist as it is a man’s. And if that’s not enough customisation you are being nudged.
Where other companies have failed to come options for you, there are a number of watch You can also interact with the Apple Watch
up with a smartwatch design that suits anyone, faces to choose from – some are even animated. via Siri, dictating messages or requesting
Apple has solved the issue by coming up with And you can change the colours and design turn-by-turn directions.
multiple designs to suit everybody. elements of these. There will be various apps available for the
Rather than try and make one watch to suit The problem that many of the current Apple Watch. These are slimmed-down snippets
everyone, Apple has designed three basic Apple smartwatches have is that the user interface of apps, referred to by Apple as ‘Glances’.
Watch varieties targeted at different groups of is packed into a tiny display and you need to You will be able to glance at Messages, Mail,
people. Starting at £299, the Watch Sport, for manipulate those titchy visual elements using Weather, Calendar, Maps, Passbook, Music,
example, is ruggedised and has a strengthened your fingers – which are inevitably bigger than Photos and more. Apple will also offer its own
Ion-X glass face so it should be able to take the elements you are trying to touch. Activity app for the Apple Watch – it uses three
some bashing. It’s also the lightest of the three Apple’s solution is to make use of the stud circles to demonstrate how close you are to
Apple Watch editions because its case is made on the side of the watch that was once used meeting your targets for calories burned – and
from anodised aluminium. The Watch Edition is to wind up clockwork watches. This stud – its a number of other health and fitness apps will
clearly designed for the fashion-conscious, with proper name is the crown – has been turned also be available.
a beautiful 18-carat gold case available in yellow into what Apple calls a Digital Crown. This Digital You will be able to use the Apple Watch to
or rose gold; it even comes in a fancy leather box Crown solves the problem of swiping through pay for things, just as soon as Apple launches
that doubles as a charging cradle. Prices start at a icons on a minuscule display. You can use the its Apple Pay technology in the UK. All you
staggering £8,000. crown to zoom in on interface elements and do is double-click the button and hold up
The watch face itself comes in two sizes: one scroll through content on the watch face, without your watch to a payment reader. This is made
is 42mm high, the other 38mm. The sapphire your fingers obscuring the view. The Digital possible because the Apple Watch includes an
(for the Apple Watch and Watch Edition) or Ion-X Crown can be used to navigate through lists as NFC chip, as do the iPhones 6 and 6 Plus. For
glass face (for the Apple Watch Sport) sits in a well as zoom in on data, maps and photos. added security, if you take the Apple Watch
case made from stainless steel, aluminium or This doesn’t mean that the watch face isn’t off, it’ll lock and require a code before you can
gold, depending on which of the three models touch-sensitive. You can tap and swipe the purchase anything.

Buyers’ Guide
Apple peripherals
AirPort Time Capsule
2TB £249, 3TB £349
The Time Capsule works with Apple’s Time Machine app to make backing up your Mac really simple. It comes with 2TB or 3TB of storage and
continuously makes a copy of everything on your Mac, backing up the files you’ve changed automatically, wirelessly, and in the background.
Full review: tinyurl.com/Lh6pjqu
AirPort Express
£79
Apple’s AirPort Express is a Wi-Fi base station that also features the ability to stream audio from a Mac, iPad or iPhone to a stereo using AirPlay –
kind of like an Apple TV for your stereo. It also works as a wireless access point to extend the range of a network but is only 802.11n-capable.
Full review: tinyurl.com/q4xqszq
AirPort Extreme
£169
The AirPort Extreme is a Wi-Fi base station that combines the functionality of a router, network switch and wireless access point. You can also
attach a hard drive to it for wireless network attached storage (NAS). It supports 802.11ac. Note that AirPort devices are routers, not modems.
Full review: tinyurl.com/mfdLLsc
Thunderbolt Display
£899
Introduced in 2011, Apple’s Thunderbolt Display is almost four years old. It offers 2560x1440 resolution, 375cd/m2 brightness, and a 1,000:1 contrast
ratio. But it’s more than a monitor – it offers three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, gigabit ethernet and, of course, a Thunderbolt port.
Full review: tinyurl.com/nkhkzm8
Magic Trackpad
£59
Apple introduced the Magic Trackpad back in 2010. It’s similar to the trackpad on a MacBook, and it’s designed to complement Apple’s Wireless
Keyboard as an alternative to a mouse. The Magic Trackpad’s functions are practically identical to its laptop counterparts.
Full review: tinyurl.com/qd474vb
Magic Mouse
£59
Sounding a bit like a kid’s superhero, the Magic Mouse is a multi-touch Bluetooth mouse that lets you click anywhere, scroll in any direction and
perform gestures like you do on the Trackpad. It’s a bit more precise to use than the Magic Trackpad and is included with every new iMac.
Full review: tinyurl.com/nc9o95e
Apple Wireless Keyboard

£59
Like the Magic Mouse, the Bluetooth-enabled Apple Wireless Keyboard is available with every new iMac. Its use doesn’t stop with the Mac,
though. Apple’s Wireless Keyboard can be paired with an iPad, iPhone or an Apple TV to make entering data easier on those devices.
Full review: tinyurl.com/kuoa86k
Apple Keyboard
£40
There is also a wired keyboard available for those who prefer not to be constantly looking for batteries. It features a numeric keyboard, which is
handy if you are often working with data. We love the Apple keyboards because they are quiet to use and the low profile helps avoid RSI.
Full review: tinyurl.com/px5rj8c
Apple EarPods
£25
Designed according to the geometry of the ear, Apple’s EarPods are more comfortable for many people than other earbud-style headphones. A
built-in remote lets you adjust the volume, control the playback of music and video, and answer or end calls with a pinch of the cord.
Full review: tinyurl.com/mmvo52c
Apple In-Ear Headphones

£65
Apple says its In-Ear Headphones with a mic and remote are “engineered for superior acoustic accuracy, balance and clarity”. Each earpiece
contains two dedicated drivers – a woofer to handle bass and mid-range, and a tweeter for high-frequency audio. If you prefer in-ear headphones
– which tend to let less sound leak, so you don’t have to blast the sound out as high – these could be a good option.

Apple software
OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Free
The latest version of Apple’s operating system for the Mac launched in October 2014 with a completely new look. Benefits of the new OS include
better continuity between your iPad, iPhone and Mac, with features such as AirDrop and Handoff making it easier to move between devices.
Full review: tinyurl.com/ohv23hs
iOS 8
Free
Apple introduced iOS 8 in September 2014. The new operating system for iPad and iPhone bought a way to share content with your family and
iCloud Drive, making it easier to store and access data in the cloud. Other additions include extensions, improved keyboard and the Health app.
Full review: tinyurl.com/kmavwnw
Final Cut Pro X

£229.99
Final Cut Pro X is Apple’s professional video editing suite. You can work with multiple streams of 4K ProRes at full resolution, play back complex
graphics and effects in real time without rendering, output 4K video to ultra-high-definition displays, and create 3D titles.
Full review: tinyurl.com/phs7zc7
Logic Pro X
£149.99
Apple’s Logic Pro X is Apple’s professional music creation software. It includes a huge collection of instruments, effects and loops, as well as
drummer tracks. It’s aimed at professionals but is also a great step up from GarageBand for those who want to get serious about music creation.
Full review: tinyurl.com/nfgavnz
GarageBand
Mac £3.99, iOS £3.99
This music creation software is available for both Mac and iOS. It offers a complete sound library with software instruments and virtual session
drummers. You can learn to play an instrument as well as play, record, create and share your hits. Free with new Macs and iOS devices.
Full review: tinyurl.com/nk5srLq
iMovie
Mac £10.99, iOS £3.99
This home movie making software is available for iPhone, iPad and Mac. You can create an HD movie, or quickly put together a Hollywood-style
trailer. It’s an easy way of turning the video you take on your iPhone into something you’d want to share. Free with new Macs and iOS devices.
Full review: tinyurl.com/pc7xp3e
iTunes 12
Free
Apple’s iTunes was originally music jukebox software that came into its own with the launch of the iPod. Since then iTunes has grown and is now
the means by which users can manage all their media: music, movies, apps and more. Use iTunes on a Mac to access the iTunes Music Store.
Full review: tinyurl.com/kj32hvu
Pages
Mac £14.99, iOS £7.99
Pages is Apple’s answer to Microsoft Word (and is compatible with Word). It’s a word processor for Mac and iOS that works seamlessly between
the different devices. In many ways it’s more of a page layout application for creative people, with more design-led features than Word.
Full review: tinyurl.com/qfdzfjc
Keynote
Mac £14.99, iOS £7.99
Keynote is a presentation app for Mac and iOS that is basically Apple’s answer to PowerPoint. It features really easy-to-use tools, some great
effects, animations and transitions for creating attractive presentations. You can save Keynote documents as PowerPoint files if you wish.
Full review: tinyurl.com/nz3q3uf
Numbers
Mac £14.99, iOS £7.99
Apple’s answer to Excel is Numbers, a spreadsheet app that can be used on both Mac and iOS devices. Because it’s Apple, Numbers lets you turn
your data into a thing of beauty, dropping your figures onto one of Apple’s templates, but it also does the maths, supporting over 250 functions.
Full review: tinyurl.com/o5qnk4g

Spotlight By David Price
Not on my Watch
Why Apple’s fear of customisation is a problem for wearable tech
R
egular readers of Macworld would be natural to assume that owners
will be familiar with one of of such a device would want it to reflect
our pet complaints: that you their personality. Why, after all, would
can’t delete Apple’s anyone buy the Apple Watch Edition,
preinstalled apps from your iPhone or if not to make a statement about their
iPad. Newsstand, Game Centre, Tips, taste and status?
Stocks: however annoying you find them, Given the total novelty of this
however little they’ve done to improve approach for both Apple and the tech
your life, you’re stuck with them. industry in general, it has to be said that
Annoying this might be, but it’s hardly Tim Cook and his team have done a solid
the end of the world; and for all the job marketing this blend of technology
articles we write imploring Apple to and fashion – certainly a stronger job
change its policy on preinstalled, that you can imagine being performed
undeletable apps, we’ve coped with the by any of the company’s big rivals. Quite
situation without too much trouble. The aside from the deft courting of celebrities
iPhone, after all, is (like all smartphones) and fashion opinion formers, Apple has
blessed with multiple Home screens and it’s exiled to the edge and barely visible, been clever about (if you’ll forgive the
a simple folder system, both of which feels like an imposition. In its own small phrase) telling a different story about
make it relatively easy for neat-freaks like way it makes the device just that tiny bit each of the three main types of
myself to hide unwanted icons well out of less user-friendly. It makes the device Apple Watch: constructing a different
sight. The apps are still using up storage feel less about what I want to do and personality and lifestyle around each.
space, of course, but not all that much. more about what someone at Apple Yet in the sense of user customisation,
The Apple Watch, however, is a thinks I should be doing. the control freaks at Cupertino continue
different kettle of fish. to play by the old rules, and I think it’s a
This week, I finally had my turn on The intimacy of wearables mistake. If you’re going to wear a device
Macworld’s office Apple Watch, and Thinking about this, and about the and have it on your body at all times,
therefore came late to the realisation that seemingly irrational degree to which you’re going to be that much more
not only had Apple made the bizarre Stocks’ presence irritated me, led to more demanding about it behaving exactly as
decision to crowbar its much-derided, general thoughts: about the differences you want. And the very least we should
ultra-niche Stocks apps on to the device’s between portable and wearable tech, be able to expect is to choose the apps
default Home screen – you don’t want to and the differing importance of that appear on our Apple Watches.
check share prices on the bus? What are customisation options to each. I understand why this isn’t going to
you, some kind of socialist? But it had Apple’s philosophy has always been happen, of course. For one thing,
also declined to allow users to delete that it knows best, and it makes certain Apple understandably likes to promote
or even hide it. choices for the user in order to ensure its own apps. It also likes to turn
The Apple Watch doesn’t have the best possible experience. It’s a customers into evangelists, and having
multiple Home screens or folders, and its patronising-sounding approach when put the Ive-masterminded showroom
screen (as you’re likely to have noticed) is that like, for sure, but one that has reaped experience on display in every one of
quite small. Even the default mosaic of dividends in user satisfaction and loyalty. its products is part of this.
microscopic app icons feels cramped, Everyone thinks they want freedom of As usual balance is key: the last
and that’s before you start adding your choice, but in practice it rarely hurts to thing I’d advocate is the throwing open
own – and the range of apps you’re likely have some decisions made for you. of the walled garden and a free
to want on your watch is only going to But the Apple Watch, unlike all invitation to everyone to tinker with
increase as more and more developers previous Apple products, is something the workings of their watch to their
get to grips with the new format. Having a that you wear rather than something you heart’s content. But let’s at least
compulsory extra icon on there, even if use. It’s personal, and intimate, and it start by letting me delete Stocks.
114 David Price.indd 114 08/05/2015 08:50

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