Eric_in_CT

radarthekat said:

Am I the only one who watched that and saw not a single folding display but a big dark gap, suggesting two separate displays attached by a non-display folding membrane?  Otherwise why would there be a dark area in the display?

I thought the same thing as radar.

Doesn't the iPhone screen bend-around on itself to allow rounded corners when viewed from above?

It looks to be two of those very close together.  Not exactly foldable, but to be fair it is only a teaser ad...

E.

Luxury products over-deliver, which is part of the luxury.

Imagine a Porsche-911, a $90,000 car I think; with cloth seats and 150hp engine.  Both would suffice and it's still a well designed luxury car and a great experience, but it's just not right.  The buyer's don't NEEEEED 400hp, but it's part of the over-delivered luxury expectation.

Base Macbook Pro is $1299 U.S.  Processor is yesteryear (debit), Core i5 (debit), 8GB RAM (debit),  128GB (debit). 
Where's the luxury for the $?  Every aspect is a downgrade, and price is still ultra-premium.
Even if Apple's data shows most people only use Safari & Mail and don't use big-storage; it's just not "enough", luxury wise, for that price.

Through my spouse I've paid a smidge of attention to luxury handbags. 
I can appreciate them because, like Apple products, they're very $, but VERY well made. 
What if some of that double-stitching goodness went away?  Full-$, but only one row of stitch?
"Don't worry, our data shows it won't fall apart and is just as good for what YOU'RE going to do with it".  No thanks.

Luxury MEANs extra.  Over-made, over-done, Better than better.

I know Apple sells to the high ends, but it also seems like Apple could meet the public in the middle, and still be a luxury provider:
Perhaps base config should be $799 for 7th Gen i5, 8GB, 128GB. 
Membership is the luxury.  The O/S is the luxury.  Specs are JUST ENOUGH to get into the luxury Apple club.
i7, 16GB and 512GB:  $999?  That's a high price right there.
And GRADUALLY go up from there?  15", 32GB, 1TB SSD, etc etc.

Right now the buyer is getting it on both ends.  Very high $, and less "zing", less "pizazz".

Good weekend all.

Is it fair to ask if the pencil comes in black?  (Like Bruce Wayne asking about the Tumbler).

The bezels are black.  A black pencil would fade into the background, esp when a monitor is above the ipad in some of the pix.

That white really sticks out.  Doesn't seem very Jony Ive where the device fades into the background and only your content remains.

White or black, purchaser's choice.

Product-Red for $10 more?  Less likely to lose it on a desk.

Then colors like the apple watch bands.  That rich blue is nice.

E.

Tremendous value.

I normally don't trust Refurb products, but with Apple & AppleCare I do.

Does an iPhone 8 64GB for $500 in the Refurb area make a compelling value-argument against $750 XR, for an ordinary user?  Maybe.
https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/iphone/iphone_8

I think I know what people are saying about the passcode to charge.

As we know when plugging into power it makes a comforting buzz to let you know charging is underway.

In our car, there's a USB under the radio (that I don't like to use since it auto-connects/auto-plays Pandora when I'm listening to sports-radio).

There's another USB in the console between the seats.  So when plugging into THAT (with iOS12), the buzz is different.  It's like a shake.  The phone is shaking for your attention, and there's a message that says something like "enter passcode to use accessories".

Then I recalled reading about increased security and USB-mode etc etc (that i read about here on AI).

A TouchID later, and it buzzes that it's charging, as it's accepted the Accessory.

I joked to my wife that with iOS12 our entire Subaru was demoted to an "Accessory" by the phone.

I'm good with it.

E.