pdnoble

I had six HomePods but two were used on their own: one grey, one white. So I just bought one each grey (one of the last) and white (from Apple) and now have four pairs. They sound better than 2x when used in stereo. They are wonderful. I consider myself the lucky recipient of Apple's incredible R&D. I also have an AirPod Max. Wonderful. Thank you, Apple team, for both!

The Anker Powerline+ II braided cable is much nicer, more durable and flexible and worth the extra $6. Mated with their new PowerPort III mini 30w charger you get the smallest, most elegant option for fast charging an iPhone. Anker just continues to deliver the very best portable power accessories on the market from my POV.

Both are terrific. Absolutely the best ever and with no material differences beyond screen size and battery life. After a month with the Max, and after a year with the X, I feel the Max was the better choice for me. I have relatively small hands but always use it two handed. The majority of my daily use is mail, text, notes and browsing/news apps. Typing is marginally less error prone. News/web site layout is more generous and more comfortable to read (as are Books - single page being close to double page on an iPad Mini.) Photos/editing is easier, camera function a little less so, size-wise. And, no doubt, using it to watch a movie in flight the extra screen size makes all the difference.

I personally carry my Max around all the time in my jeans front pocket, no issue, or in a jacket 'wallet' pocket. It is a bit heavier for sure, but not, for me, unacceptably so. One thing I would add: I use Apple's silicon case. I have used their leather cases in the past but I find they wear quickly on their edges. This is a minimalist case that adds very little to the Max's size or weight. It works perfectly for me, giving me enough protection (I have never dropped my iPhone) and grip. On the other hand, if you like big, bulky, heavy, super protective cases, that may tip the scale for you re the size and weight versus the Xs. 

Some have mentioned that Apple's lack of ongoing support for the iPad Mini form factor suggests they see the Max as being an effective substitute.I really don't think it fully is and I'd buy an updated Mini 5 or Pro in a minute if they introduced it: same form factor with a slightly larger screen and Face ID, to replace my aging 4. But the Max certainly gets closer and when I travel internationally I will likely continue to leave the Mini 4 behind. Less to bring with a single always connected mobile device with one daily international roaming charge.

I have FiOS (1 gigabit) and cut the cord primarily to unify and simplify control down to an Apple 4K TV remote and am extremely pleased with the results. However, in the above comparison service quality is not discussed and maybe the assumption is (and frankly was for me) that QoS is not an issue. However it very much is, from my experience. 

I tried Hulu Live since I already had their regular service and it’s live streaming was totally unwatchable, certainly for the channels we watch, though streaming of their back catalog always was and is fine.  I switched to Google and it was and is absolutely perfect. 

All these services come with free trials and no contracts but if the service you select is anything but perfect (assuming adequate bandwidth) switch to another.

I tolerated Hulu for several weeks out of ignorance and regret it: constant glitching, buffering, loss of sync, sudden sub SD quality and worse: try sound not only several seconds out of sync, but duplicated another second further out of sync. Stereo from hell. 

I also had to contend with my wife’s highly justified demands that I switch back to cable!

Total Swiss watch Industry sales (2014) were $22 billion. That's everything from $50 Swatches to $1.7 million Richard Mille Felipe Massas and including Rolex at $4.5 billion.   

At $8.4 billion in first year sales Apple would be close to double Rolex and 40% of total Swiss watch sales which are already in significant decline, impacted at least partially by Apple, I think, but certainly also the crackdown on corruption in China.

I personally think Apple's impact on the ultra luxury Swiss watch market will be significant as the utility value (and coolness) of an Apple Watch diminishes the appeal of five figure plus high status mechanical watches. Just as personal digital audio has impacted the high end audiophile market and smartphones have impacted the high end camera market.