Apple just unveiled two new iPhone models — the iPhone 6 at 4.7 inches, and the iPhone 6 Plus, with a 5.5 inch screen. So far the announcements from Cupertino, Calif., are playing out exactly as expected.
They’ll hit the market on Sept. 19. The iPhone 6 will sell for $199 for 16GB; $299 for 64GB, and $399 for 128GB, with a two-year contract, in gold, silver and space gray.
The iPhone 6 Plus will sell fo $299 for 16GB, and $399 for 64 GB, and $499 for 128 GB. The iPhone 5S will drop to $99, and the iPhone 5c will be free with a contract.
The company says the included A8 chip is 25 percent faster processing in general and 50 percent faster graphics processing.
The updated M8 motion processor now measures distance and elevation, to give users credit for running up flights of stairs. Apple’s marketing chief Phil Schiller says Nike is working on a new version of the Nike+ app to incorporate the new features.
The new phones will also support Voice over LTE, or VoLTE, with the ability to hand off calls from WiFi to the cellular network. That WiFi capability is launching initially with T-Mobile in the U.S., says Schiller. (See related story.)
Apple says the new iPhone camera can record video at 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second; slow motion at 120 or 240 FPS. They feature an 8MP iSight camera, with f/2.2 aperture, True Tone flash, and can take 43MP panoramas.
Another big announcement today is Apple Pay, a new payments platform that leverages NFC wireless technology which is embedded into the iPhone 6. (see related story), and the long-rumored Apple Watch (see related story).
Watch the live stream from Apple here (it has been spotty at best) and check back for coverage of the news on GeekWire as the morning unfolds. In the meantime, these giant white box structures are causing a stir outside the venue.
