command_f

I don't think that the speedy sell-out of these phones tells us anything about the demand for a new small iPhone (like the SE). It could just as easily be about the demand for a cheap iPhone.

I would love a new small iPhone of approximately SE size but containing the latest generation functionality (as the SE was to the 6s). I don't know if it will happen but I don't believe that a new "cheap" iPhone will happen. I actually gave up waiting and bought a Xs that was neither small nor cheap 

StrangeDays said:

command_f said:

I think the Lightning connector is physically superior to USB-C (having used an all-USB-C MBP since late 2016). I do see the need for USB-3 speeds, especially when setting-up a new phone or pad, but I continue to believe that Apple could engineer that into Lightning in a backwards-compatible fashion.

Putting USB-C on the other end of the cable seems more important to me. With my MBP 2 years old and Apple's apparent drive for USB-C, I couldn't believe that my new iPhone XS needed a dongle to connect to my MBP. So let's have a brave drive for the future at the charger/host end of the cable first.

You do not require a ”dongle” to plug the XS into your MBP, you simply need a cable. 

You are technically correct of course. The point is that what comes in the box is not interoperable: a MacBook Pro and iPhone XS, out of their respective boxes, cannot be connected using the cable supplied. I said dongle because, living in the real world with a laptop, I have found essential, and bought, a USB-A dongle (well, two actually). I have also now bought a USB-C to Lightning cable.

If Apple believes that USB-C is the future (and the MBP, plus statements at its launch, suggest that they do) then why does the iPhone, two generations later, not come with a USB-C charger and cable? Or with a USB-C cable in addition to the USB-A one (which would be analogous to the inclusion of a headphone dongle with previous generation iPhones).

It's not the cost at issue, it's the lack of system thinking and integrated ecosystem that used to be a hallmark of Apple kit (the "it just works" bit)  Transitions are always difficult but Apple doesn't seem to be consistent on this one.

I think the Lightning connector is physically superior to USB-C (having used an all-USB-C MBP since late 2016). I do see the need for USB-3 speeds, especially when setting-up a new phone or pad, but I continue to believe that Apple could engineer that into Lightning in a backwards-compatible fashion.

Putting USB-C on the other end of the cable seems more important to me. With my MBP 2 years old and Apple's apparent drive for USB-C, I couldn't believe that my new iPhone XS needed a dongle to connect to my MBP. So let's have a brave drive for the future at the charger/host end of the cable first.

TomE said:

I believe you can set the TouchBar to always display the Function Keys...  
I forget where the software switch is located - perhaps in assistive services for the keyboard.  You do not always have to press the Fn key.

System Preferences: Keyboard. That can give you full time F keys but they're still touch keys so no physical feedback, if that's important to you.

crowley said:

Isn't Open Street Map a thing?  I think Apple was even using it for a while (though did they ever contribute back?)

Indeed it is: https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=6/54.915/-3.428 and its existence is relevant to the proposal.

The proposal is not sensible. A company (eg Google, Apple) invests a whole lot of money to create a competitive advantage (ie make their products more useful to their customers that their competitors' products are). They're then expected to give it away so all their competitors can use, thus removing the competitive advantage that was the reason for investing the money in the first place.

Why would any company invest in mapping?