Apple doesn’t just make computers or mobile devices, they create entire ecosystems for getting work done, creating projects as well as enjoying audio and video entertainment. Here are some Apple products that can help make the most of the summer.
It’s an exciting time for users of Apple products, specially for those that have invested in Mac OS powered desktops and notebooks as well as iOS enabled iPhones and iPads.
Apple is one of the few companies that builds the hardware, software, and manages the services as well as tries to make the experience as seamless and friction-free for users.
So, while a lot of care and attention goes into designing and building the products themselves, Apple devotes just as much energy into making sure that many of the functions work well across devices.
Notebooks
Apple has a wide range of notebook products in various sizes and price points. Starting from the popular MacBook Air, all of Apple’s notebooks have a premium feel and are crafted out of aircraft-grade aluminum, feature backlit keyboard, above-average battery life, FaceTime video cameras, and some have USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports as well as the magnetic MagSafe adapter.
The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry level notebook line and features thin and light notebooks in 11-inch and 13-inch configurations. The strongest feature of the MacBook Airs is long battery life (9 hours for the 11-incher and around 15-hours for the 13-inch MacBook Air).
Ideal for summer travel, the MacBook Air is ideal for staying in touch as well as keeping entertained. You can watch various movies stored in your MacBook Air or, if you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can rent or buy movies via iTunes.
One of the more compelling features in notebooks today is the Retina Display, which offers a dense display where pixels aren’t discernible. This means you can see high resolution images and video in full clarity.
This feature was only available on the more upscale MacBook Pro models (with 13-inch and 15-inch variants).
The MacBook Pros are thicker than the MacBook Airs, offer shorter battery life but have desktop-grade processors and graphics cards which means that they’re built for more demanding tasks (animation, graphic design, video editing).
The Retina Display is also available in the new 12-inch MacBook. The thinnest and lightest notebook Apple’s ever made, features a number of innovations.
It has a Force Touch trackpad with no moving parts that simulates button presses. It also has a new keyboard that’s thinner than previous versions while offering larger keys. More even backlighting and an all-day battery make the new MacBook an ideal all around notebook.
The MacBook does only have two ports, a standard headphone jack and a singular USB Type-C port that supports power, video and USB 3.0 connectivity. This isn’t ideal for people who need to plug in SD Cards or connect to wired peripherals but road warriors can get by.
For users that are more inclined to desktops, the Mac Mini offers a compelling entry-level option, specially if you’re already using a keyboard, monitor and mouse. The new iMac, which comes in a smaller 21-inch variant as well as 27-inch variants with and without an industry-leading 5K display, is one of the more feature packed all-in-one PCs in the market and is versatile since it can run Mac OS X as well as Windows through emulation.
iPads
The more portable content consumption devices and creative tools are also the most popular tablet devices out there.
Apple’s iPad mini and iPad Air 2 offer very similar specs in two sizes. The iPad has grown from being a device for games, communication, reading, watching videos to a device that can shoot and edit video as well as server as a canvas for lots of creative projects.
The smaller iPad mini is the most portable option and can run all the apps made for the larger iPad Air 2.
I load my iPad mini with games, apps, movies and music for travel and camping. It gives me a great option to the magazines and shows provided by the airline I am riding.
iPads are also great for creating projects this Summer. You can edit photos, make cards, sketch out ideas and even collaborate on various projects.
iPads with 4G-LTE connectivity can stay connected even without Wi-Fi connectivity and make sense if you travel a lot. You can pop in a prepaid SIM card and use the iPad as a wireless hotspot for your other devices as well as a convenient way to check email, social media feeds, share pictures as well as navigate using the built-in GPS functionality.
iPhones
OF course, the most personal devices are smartphones and there’s a wider range of iPhones than ever before.
The iPhone 5c, available is various colours, is the most basic smartphone Apple offers with a 4-inch display and a polycarbonate body.
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the latest and most advanced smartphones that Apple offers, they are also the largest iPhones we’ve seen. The iPhone 6 is a 4.7-inch device that features a sleek stainless steel and glass case plus one of the best 8 megapixel cameras and software in the market.
The iPhone 6 Plus ups the ante with a larger 6-inch display plus optical image stabilization. It is Apple’s answer to the growing large smartphone segment and a good in-between device for anyone looking for something bigger than a smartphone, yet smaller than a tablet.
While the iPhone 6 Plus’ size is quite a departure from older 3.5-inch and 4-inch iPhones, it does bring better battery life and a more detailed display.
It is possible to use the iPhone 6 as your only camera for Summer, specially since it does take photos and videos equally well. I love the slo-mo feature as well as the HDR feature on the iPhone 6. If you love going outdoors, you’ll enjoy taking panoramic shots as well as macro photos thanks to the iPhone’s wide ƒ/2.2 aperture really soak in the details.
The iPhone 6 also works great in tandem with nearby Macs. Thanks to features like Continuity and Handoff, you can route incoming calls from your smartphone to your computer, you can reply to messages and texts to your phone through your PC as well as use your iPhone’s data and cellular plan to make calls or act as a mobile hotspot for your connected Mac.
These are just some of the benefits of working within the Apple ecosystem of devices, solutions and services which are designed to work better together. Check out the range of Apple products at Best Buy.
