Technology
Gadgets, tools, and the small obsessions of a life lived through good hardware. Enthusiasm, applied responsibly.
Wordleconomics
When in doubt, SLATE it out.
Over the past year, I've become quite invested in Wordle. Actually, Taylor and her family started playing first, and I quickly joined in. Soon enough, I even got my mom hooked on it!
If you're not familiar, Wordle is an engaging daily puzzle where you have six tries to guess a secret five-letter word, guided by helpful color-coded hints.
Throughout the year, I consistently chose the same starter: SLATE.
It felt safe and reliable—I always knew my next steps based on it. However, Taylor experimented with different starters and consistently crushed it.
This made me curious: what are actually the best starting words? After some digging, familiar contenders: CRANE, SLATE, TRACE, CRATE, CARET. I've compiled a comprehensive list below for (both of our) future reference.
S L A T E
T R A C E
C R A T E
C A R E T
Identifying the Optimal Starters
Rather than relying solely on intuition or AI, I wanted to see if a straightforward, "old-school" program could crack this puzzle. First, we needed a suitable dictionary of words. Unix and macOS provide the standard words library, but this includes obscure entries that Wordle may not recognize.
Next, we required an effective scoring method. A straightforward approach is to calculate letter frequency across all words—the more frequently a letter appears, the higher its score.
Quickly, some letters emerged as particularly common:
- Most frequent:
S,E,A - Moderately frequent:
O,R,I
Interestingly, four of these letters are vowels: E, A, O, I.
Positional frequency matters too—letters are scored higher if they're common in specific positions within words.
Notably:
- The
{S, 4}combination (a trailing "S") dominates, suggesting many plurals.{S, 4}: ____S
- Other frequent positional letters:
{A, 1}: _A___{E, 1}: _E___{E, 3}: ___E_{I, 1}: _I___{O, 1}: _O___{S, 0}: S____{T, 0}: T____{U, 1}: _U___{Y, 4}: ____Y
Finally, by combining aggregate letter frequency and positional data, a hybrid scoring system emerged. This method offers a more balanced and nuanced approach, producing unique top words: AEROS, SOARE, REAIS, AROSE, and RAISE.
S O A R E
R E A I S
A R O S E
R A I S E
Even when you feed my script the same 2,309‑word official Wordle answer list that WordleBot uses, our rankings still diverge because of how we each value information: my hybrid metric simply adds up how frequently each letter—and, to a lesser degree (10 % blend), each letter‑in‑position—appears across all answers, then zeroes out any word with duplicate letters on turn one, so high‑coverage vowel‑heavy options like AEROS and SOARE dominate; WordleBot, by contrast, runs a full entropy simulation for every guess and keeps duplicate letters if they shrink the remaining solution space, which is why consonant‑balanced staples like CRANE and SLATE top its chart. In short, we share the same dictionary; the gulf comes from aggregate‑frequency math versus entropy‑driven feedback simulation, plus my harsh repeat‑letter penalty and modest positional weight.
Parting Thoughts
Choosing the ideal Wordle starter is about balancing letter frequency and positional insights. Popular starters like CRANE and SLATE remain consistently strong choices due to their strategic letter placement and high-frequency letters. Meanwhile, hybrid scoring systems, which blend multiple metrics, offer compelling alternatives like SOARE and AEROS, maximizing initial guess effectiveness.
Whether sticking with tried-and-true favorites or exploring data-driven options, the real fun of Wordle lies in its daily puzzle-solving and the friends and family your spend doing it with.
My Words
The words generated by my program rank first by a hybrid metric (10% blend), then positional, then aggregate letter frequencies. The metrics are calculated by a sum of the letter’s value, with the value equaling the number of letter occurrences / total words. Positional does the same over the individual positions.
| Word | Hybrid # | Hybrid | Position # | Position | Aggregate # | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEROS | 1 | 0.98841 | 1 | 1.89498 | ||
| SOARE | 2 | 0.98324 | 3 | 1.89498 | ||
| REAIS | 3 | 0.97544 | 7 | 1.86772 | ||
| AROSE | 4 | 0.97213 | 2 | 1.89498 | ||
| RAISE | 5 | 0.96532 | 6 | 1.86772 | ||
| SERIA | 6 | 0.96462 | 9 | 1.86772 | ||
| SERAI | 7 | 0.96366 | 8 | 1.86772 | ||
| LARES | 8 | 0.96129 | 19 | 0.77624 | 17 | 1.82195 |
| RALES | 9 | 0.96041 | 20 | 1.82195 | ||
| TARES | 10 | 0.95962 | 6 | 0.79354 | ||
| ARISE | 11 | 0.95871 | 5 | 1.86772 | ||
| ALOES | 12 | 0.95772 | 10 | 1.83063 | ||
| AESIR | 13 | 0.95761 | 4 | 1.86772 | ||
| RATES | 14 | 0.95669 | ||||
| TOEAS | 15 | 0.95635 | 13 | 1.82518 | ||
| ARLES | 16 | 0.95380 | 14 | 1.82195 | ||
| RANES | 17 | 0.95379 | 23 | 0.77186 | 41 | 1.80754 |
| NARES | 18 | 0.95341 | 29 | 0.76567 | 40 | 1.80754 |
| EARLS | 19 | 0.95316 | 15 | 1.82195 | ||
| LAERS | 20 | 0.95265 | 16 | 1.82195 | ||
| REALS | 21 | 0.95174 | 21 | 1.82195 | ||
| TERAS | 22 | 0.95116 | 37 | 1.81649 | ||
| LEARS | 23 | 0.95079 | 19 | 1.82195 | ||
| TEARS | 24 | 0.94912 | 35 | 1.81649 | ||
| AEONS | 25 | 0.94816 | ||||
| PARES | 1 | 0.81023 | ||||
| BARES | 2 | 0.80168 | ||||
| CARES | 3 | 0.79946 | ||||
| MARES | 4 | 0.79818 | 90 | 1.74042 | ||
| PANES | 5 | 0.79441 | ||||
| PORES | 7 | 0.79219 | ||||
| BANES | 8 | 0.78586 | ||||
| PALES | 9 | 0.78458 | ||||
| BORES | 10 | 0.78364 | ||||
| CANES | 11 | 0.78364 | ||||
| DARES | 12 | 0.78364 | 60 | 1.75988 | ||
| MANES | 13 | 0.78236 | ||||
| CORES | 14 | 0.78142 | ||||
| GARES | 15 | 0.78028 | ||||
| MORES | 16 | 0.78014 | ||||
| FARES | 17 | 0.77765 | ||||
| PONES | 18 | 0.77637 | ||||
| BALES | 20 | 0.77604 | ||||
| TORES | 21 | 0.77550 | ||||
| MALES | 22 | 0.77253 | ||||
| HARES | 24 | 0.76998 | ||||
| PATES | 25 | 0.76856 | ||||
| ALOSE | 11 | 1.83063 | ||||
| STOAE | 12 | 1.82518 | ||||
| LASER | 18 | 1.82195 | ||||
| SERAL | 22 | 1.82195 | ||||
| ARETS | 23 | 1.81649 | ||||
| ASTER | 24 | 1.81649 | ||||
| EARST | 25 | 1.81649 |
Top Words
Top recommended words based on expert analysis. Check mark ✓ applies to words that have been Wordle words before.
| # | Word | Why it ranks |
|---|---|---|
| Tier A | ||
| 1 | CRANE (✓) | Highest WordleBot skill 99/99 |
| 2 | SLATE (✓) | ditto 99/99 – classic S‑start, E‑end |
| 3 | TRACE (✓) | 99 — covers C/R/T trio |
| 4 | CRATE (✓) | anagram of TRACE |
| 5 | CARET | 99, never an answer yet |
| 6 | CARTE | same 99 rating |
| 7 | SLANT | WordleBot 99, "hard‑mode friendly" |
| 8 | PLATE (✓) | newest 98/99 pick after CRANE |
| 9 | STARE (✓) | long‑time player favorite, 97 |
| 10 | SAINT (✓) | 97, nice S‑start / NT ending |
| 11 | LEAST | WordleBot 97, duplicate‑safe |
| 12 | STALE (✓) | 97, frequent solution ending |
| 13 | TASER | 97, yet unused answer |
| 14 | PARSE | 97, R/S/E trio |
| 15 | SNARE (✓) | 96, hits S/A/R/E combo |
| 16 | TRADE (✓) | 96, D tests mid‑freq cons |
| 17 | PLANE | 96, vowel‑balanced |
| 18 | SANER | 96, "anser" pattern |
| 19 | PLACE (✓) | 96, common C/E ending |
| 20 | SLICE (✓) | 96, tests C/I vowel |
| Tier B | ||
| 21 | TRICE (✓) | 98 WordleBot |
| 22 | DEALT | top hard‑mode 99 |
| 23 | LANCE | 98 alt to SLANT |
| 24 | TRIPE | 95 (hard‑mode) |
| 25 | SHALT | 94 skill; avoids ‑S plural issue |
| 26 | TAILS | 94; S‑ending test |
| 27 | PETAL | 93; alternate to PLATE |
| 28 | ROAST | high 97 in WordsRated pair study |
| 29 | RAISE | Tyler Glaiel's top "answer‑valid" pick |
| 30 | SAUCY | Hi‑score 'future‑answer' word, Feb 2024 |
| 31 | SAUCE | runner‑up to SAUCY |
| 32 | SOAPY | high vowel‑con repeat test |
| 33 | SEIZE | Z‑check without Q/J |
| 34 | CEASE | double‑E confirmation |
| 35 | BRINY | tests Y‑ending |
| 36 | CRIER | common bigram ‑ER |
| 37 | SALLY | WordleBot 92 but strong Y test |
| 38 | SADLY | similar Y test, avoids E |
| 39 | SOOTY | vowel+Y, covers double‑O |
| 40 | BRINE | #4 on WordsRated score list |
| Tier C | ||
| 41 | SALET | MIT "optimal" (avg 3.42 guesses) |
| 42 | SOARE | Glaiel/Fan #1 eliminator |
| 43 | SAINE | Hackernoon highest exact‑green probability |
| 44 | SLANE | MIT list #6 |
| 45 | SAREE | Bertrand Fan entropy #2 |
| 46 | SEARE | entropy #3 |
| 47 | SAICE | WordPlay top‑10 |
| 48 | REAST | MIT #2 overall |
| 49 | TRAPE | MIT #5 |
| 50 | PRATE | MIT #7 |
| 51 | TEALS | MIT tied #9 |
| 52 | TRAIN | MIT tied #9 – introduces N |
| 53 | RANCE | 3Blue1Brown "max‑4‑guess coverage" |
| 54 | RATED | same study – strong D check |
| 55 | RANTS | alt w/ S‑end |
| 56 | RONTE | high entropy variant |
| 57 | RAILE | WordPlay top‑10 (rare but allowed) |
| 58 | TRICE (✓) | already in Tier A — demonstrates overlap |
| 59 | LATER | Top TikTok/Reddit frequency‑ranked list pick |
| 60 | AROSE | Excel/YouTube statistical pick |
| Tier D | ||
| 61 | IRATE | linguist‑approved vowel+RT |
| 62 | ALTER | common ALT‑ pattern |
| 63 | ADIEU | 4‑vowel classic |
| 64 | AUDIO | 4‑vowel alt, tests U |
| 65 | ARISE | vowel/R/S spread |
| 66 | ROATE | best pure eliminator, not an answer |
| 67 | SAUTE | five high‑freq letters+U |
| 68 | POISE | balances mid vowels/cons |
| 69 | TEASE | vowel‑dense w/ common T/S/E |
| 70 | CAUSE | WordRated score #7 |
| 71 | SHINE | fills H/N combo hole |
| 72 | NOTES | Wired letter‑freq starter |
| 73 | RESIN | ≈ NOTES but R swap |
| 74 | TARES | Wired / Real‑Stats top 5 |
| 75 | SENOR | same Wired set |
| 76 | ROAST | already Tier B — popular SmartLocal |
| 77 | TALES | Prof. Smyth simulator #1 |
| 78 | CONES | simulator #2 |
| 79 | HATES | 97 % success in 3‑word strat |
| 80 | POUTY | vowel‑light follow‑up favorite |
| Tier E | ||
| 81 | CLINT | best second word for SOARE combo |
| 82 | ROUND | part of 3‑word meta |
| 83 | CLIMB | third word in same set |
| 84 | SALLY | WordRated list (tests double L/Y) |
| 85 | SADLY | Y‑ending + D check |
| 86 | SOOTY | digs into double‑O / Y |
| 87 | BRINY | rare B/Y test |
| 88 | SEIZE | Z‑probe after vowels |
| 89 | DEALT | already Tier B — hard‑mode default |
| 90 | LANCE | already Tier B |
| 91 | OUIJA | meme‑ish 4‑vowel+J probe |
| 92 | ABOUT | vowel‑heavy common pick |
| 93 | CANOE | community vowel test |
| 94 | STORE | SmartLocal "other good word" |
| 95 | COALS | best two‑word pair (COALS+NITER) |
| 96 | NITER | complement to COALS |
| 97 | SUITE | Tom's Guide demo of today's solve |
| 98 | PIQUE | tests rare Q/I pair |
| 99 | TARSE | Reddit pick beats SALET in 2024 tweaks |
| 100 | TILER | frequency‑based R‑ending probe (Real‑Stats) |
Source Code
Want the source code? Find it here.
IllyaStarikov
I avoid the Mac App Store as much as possible. It's buggy. It's slow. Apps are getting pulled from it left and right. But I couldn't avoid it permanently because of software updates. As macOS Sierra 10.12 rolled out, I clicked on the App Store, followed by updates, and...
I couldn't get the updates page to open. Killed App Store. Restarted computer. Everything.
After doing some research, I discovered there's a way to update software from the terminal: softwareupdate. So, after running one command (sudo softwareupdate -iv), I'm writing this from the latest version of macOS Sierra.
Apps of 2014
My favorites from a landmark year.
As this is my first year of writing about apps, I wanted to do something this Christmas: thank the apps and writers that made this year such a special year. I have broken down my favorite iOS and OS X apps and articles.
As there are many great apps this year, it is impossible to catalog them all. So I have decided to break it down to my personal favorite, runner-up, and a selected few honorable mentions.
Congratulations to everyone who made the list, and I hope to see you all next year with the wonderful things you create in the coming year.
iOS
This was the second biggest year for iOS developers, runner-up to the introduction of the App Store. iOS 8 expanded the capabilities of what the iPhone and iPad could do. Thanks to extensions and continuity, iOS has never been more powerful. A more powerful iOS means more powerful apps.
With so many apps, there are equally so many opportunities. Applications that were never possible before are now on the App Store—not to mention the Today View widgets, keyboards, extensions, and so much more.
This is why the runner-up Workflow is such an intriguing, new app; it builds on the power and functionality of iOS. However, the winner this year is Overcast.
Winner: Overcast
Among the podcast renaissance, Overcast shines as the most notable choice for iOS enthusiasts. There are many features that make Overcast shine, apart from the developer and Accidental Tech Podcast host Marco Arment. The favorite features: Smart Speed and Voice Boost.
Smart Speed is without a doubt my favorite feature in any podcasting app. It builds upon the current speed setting, and skips pauses and gaps in audio to save minutes or hours a week. The best part of it all? The fact that I never notice the boost in speed. Sometimes I don't believe that Smart Speed is on, only to check and realize it's on 1.2x or even 1.3x speed. Furthermore, the Voice Boost works just as the name suggests, boosting the voice and nothing more. With the suppressed iPhone speaker, sometimes it is impossible to hear podcasts through the background noise when I'm doing dishes, laundry, or just dealing with outside noise. The accuracy of Smart Speed and Voice Boost is unmatched, and quite frankly I don't think there is any podcast app that is comparable to it.
In addition to Smart Speed and Voice Boost, Overcast also features intuitive playlists, a customary and elegant iOS 8 appeal, a huge directory of podcasts, Twitter recommendations, and curated playlists. There are other things that Overcast doesn't do that simply delight me: it never pesters you to buy the in-app purchase if you haven't purchased it, never nags for a review, and the decision to not incorporate top lists. Plainly, everything about Overcast delights me.
Overcast is free on the App Store, with a $4.99 in-app purchase to "unlock everything"—Smart Speed, Voice Boost, unlimited playlists, and more.
Runner-Up: Workflow
The newly-released app by the team at DeskConnect is an exceptional example of iOS automation. With many powerful actions, variables, and automation tools, Workflow is amongst the most powerful apps within the App Store. The possibilities are almost endless.
Of the many things possible via Workflow, some of the workflows I have forked and created from the internet can do things never before possible on iOS, such as:
- Markdownifying webpages
- Cross-posting images to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
- Annotating and deleting screenshots
- Getting all my calendar events and sharing availability
- Getting a random dining option
Though it is most certainly a power-user app, the interface is simplistic enough that just about any user can unlock its full capacity.
Workflow is $2.99 on the App Store.
Honorable Mentions
- 1Password: my go-to password manager, an app that I use religiously. With an encrypted vault, powerful password generator, and Launch Center Pro capability, I could not think of an app that deserves a more honorable mention.
- Launch Center Pro: an application that takes advantage of iOS's URL schemes, adding the potential to create powerful shortcuts and workflows.
- Editorial: the most powerful text editor on iOS. Editorial supports Markdown, plain text, TextExpander, custom workflows, and so much more.
- Evernote: my central note-taking app. On iOS, I use the Evernote share sheet more than any other, simply because it's so simple yet powerful.
- Tweetbot: my Twitter experience. I use Tweetbot over Twitter simply because of the iCloud syncing, no advertisements, more powerful mute filters, better font options, and better appeal.
OS X
I took a different approach than what most people are doing—instead of showcasing apps that took full advantage of Yosemite, I wanted to show off the most-used applications on my Mac.
Granted, Yosemite did bring a visual redesign that brought a downright beautiful experience to the Mac; however, this was not the only change to the Mac. Continuity brought about a more seamless Mac experience, making things like Handoff and Text Message Forwarding possible. Many other little things got an upgrade, like Mail, Notification Center, and Spotlight.
Ironically, even though Spotlight got a major improvement, this year's winner is Alfred 2, with runner-up being 1Password.
Winner: Alfred 2
As this is my first year doing favorite apps, what better app to introduce than one I use most: Alfred. Alfred was amongst the first set of apps I downloaded on my first MacBook—it was the best decision I have ever made. Since January 27, 2014, I have used Alfred 15,867 times, averaging 49.0 times per day. There is no app that comes to mind that I have used nearly as much.
After the Yosemite reveal, Spotlight was revamped to have more of an Alfred appeal; however, Spotlight cannot replace Alfred (and will unlikely ever replace Alfred). Granted, Spotlight and Alfred do similar things: they launch files, can give directions and addresses, provide contact information, and offer many shortcuts that save me hours a week.
So why is Alfred so important to me? Simple: workflows and expanded functionality. I am not confined to the default features of Spotlight—I can make or fork workflows. Instead of just launching apps, I can also kill and quit apps. If I have an app to look up, I don't have to search via the Mac App Store. That would be tiring. Instead, I search via Alfred. Find Evernote notes? There's a workflow for that. Netflix search? Workflow for that. The possibilities are only constricted by my imagination.
Alfred 2 is free via their website, and the Powerpack price varies.
Runner-Up: 1Password
1Password is an application that I use religiously—on iOS and OS X both. With a visual overhaul to match Yosemite's flatter and translucent design, 1Password makes password management actually enjoyable.
1Password brings 21st-century peace of mind in an internet filled with malicious intentions. Being the powerhouse of security, password storage, and password management that 1Password is, you can sleep safe and sound knowing your passwords won't be compromised.
1Password is $34.99 on the Mac App Store or the AgileBits website.
Honorable Mentions
- TextExpander: saves time by expanding short abbreviations into frequently-used text.
- OmniFocus: my choice for task management. OmniFocus is an unparalleled task manager that is simply unmatched by any other application on OS X.
- iStat Menus: a utility that quickly displays the statistics of my MacBook. Currently, I have many items enabled: CPU history and CPU cores, memory used/free, disk activity, bandwidth and bandwidth history, sensors, and time. Everything I need quick access to is a glance away, and more in-depth statistics are a click away.
- Bartender: with so many iStat Menus enabled, there is no space for menu items—my solution is Bartender. Bartender has all of my menu items outside of iStat Menus, including Backblaze, Dropbox, TextExpander, and 1Password.
- Yoink: after dragging and dropping time and time again, you might realize how frustrating it can be sometimes; Yoink brings a solution. Every time you drag something, Yoink slides a little window to store that file in—and keeps it there until you're ready to drop it somewhere. Simple yet so powerful.
Merry Christmas!
iOS 8 Guide
Your complete guide to iOS 8.
App extensions. PhotoKit. HealthKit. Touch ID for all. Those are few of the many capabilities iOS 8 has brought as it has finally shipped to the public as of 12:00 PM on September 17th. iOS 8 brings much more capabilities to your phone, and Tim Cook even said it will be the biggest update since the App Store. On the Apple developer site, a basic gist of iOS 8 can be described as:
iOS 8 includes over 4,000 new APIs that let you add amazing new features and capabilities to your apps. Deeper integration with iOS means you can extend the reach of your app content and functionality. And with bold new technologies for game development, you can create even more incredible, responsive, and immersive gaming experiences.
Here is our breakdown of the most important features of iOS 8.
The Compatibility
First things first, no need to get hyped up if your phone is not supporting iOS 8. The devices that support iOS 8 are as follows:
- iPhone 4s
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPod touch 5th generation
- iPad 2
- iPad with Retina display
- iPad Air
- iPad mini
- iPad mini with Retina display
App Extensions
Quite possibly the biggest feature of iOS 8 has to be the added extensions, which allows extending an "app's functionality and content throughout the system by supplying an app extension—code that enables custom functionality within the context of a user task."
It may be difficult to grasp at first, but essentially it allows the app to reach bounds outside of just within the app. An example of extensions would be the Today View, like OmniFocus's Today View widget.
Another popular example is 1Password—the popular password manager. Instead of having to constantly exit an app or webpage that requires a password to go into 1Password, it is much easier to have 1Password allow a popup with a Touch ID request to give you access to that particular app or webpage.
Which brings us to another new capability: Touch ID.
Touch ID
Touch ID had very limited usage in iOS 7. It was restricted to first-party apps made by Apple and the lock screen. With iOS 8, this is no longer the case. Apple has created an API that allows third-party developers access to this capability. And do not worry, it is completely secure.
Instead of getting the actual user fingerprint, the API simply asks iOS if the fingerprint provided matches the fingerprint initially provided and returns a yes or no token. No third-party developer will have access to user fingerprints.
HealthKit
Coming into iOS 8, something that might jump right out is the new Health app.
The Health app synthesizes all the health apps' information, fitness devices' information, and M7 processor information (for distance traveled and steps traveled) and brings all of it into one, safe location.
HealthKit enables third-party developers to provide data for the new Health app, upon which you can choose which sources are allowed to provide data for the Health app.
Continuity - iPhone, iPad, and Mac Connected Like Never Before
Continuity provides a seamless experience when collaborating with an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apps work beautifully together, making a transition from a Mac to iPhone/iPad and vice versa easier than ever—and in some cases, eliminated.
The three main counterparts of Continuity are Handoff, SMS Relay/Phone Calls, and Personal Hotspot.
Handoff
Imagine this: You get an email, read it, start typing back and realize something—the reply is going to be longer than you expected and you really wish you used your MacBook. You wish you could simply just open your Mac and there it is for you to finish typing. With Handoff, this is easier than ever.
Handoff lets you pick up where you left off. Not only does it do this in Mail, but Safari, Messages, Calendar, and you can expect many more from Apple and plenty of third-party developers.
SMS Relay and Phone Calls on the Mac
One of the biggest frustrations with Messages on the Mac was that it was limited to iMessage only—this is no longer the case. Macs are now empowered to send text messages through your iPhone.
Personal Hotspot
Not connected to WiFi? No problem. If your carrier supports tethering, just by clicking WiFi and having Bluetooth enabled, you can enable your iPhone's WiFi hotspot.
Interactive Notifications
Tired of having to unlock your iPhone to reply to a message? Want to archive a mail message by swiping down on the notification? Accept or decline an invitation in a snap? You got it.
More Powerful Messaging
Apple has now entered the messaging wars, and iMessage has never been more powerful.
In a standard message screen, the biggest difference is the send button is replaced by a microphone icon and the contact is replaced by details. The microphone is used for audio messages, but in a more simplistic way than ever before. Holding down the icon records a message, sliding up sends the message, and sliding left deletes the message. The messages are then only kept after playing once to conserve storage. As for the details, it breaks it down into multiple items:
- Contact
- Send My Current Location
- Share My Location
- Do Not Disturb
- All Attachments
Muting a noisy conversation is finally possible. Finding an image that was sent a long time ago is now easier than ever. Finding out when your spouse is home from the grocery store (or other, more curious reasons).
Spotlight Search - Bigger. Brighter.
Spotlight is no longer restricted to apps and data specific to your iPhone only. Spotlight can now suggest websites, apps, give showtimes, find iBooks, and more.
iOS 8: The World's Most Advanced Mobile OS
iOS 8 brings more functionality than ever before. Extensions, Touch ID compatibility, interactive notifications, and a seamless experience are only a few of the many features brought about. Not only is iOS more intuitive than ever, but it is more elegant than ever. The hardware works perfectly with the software. It is no question: iOS 8 is the most advanced mobile operating system.
Apple Keynote: September 9th, 2014
iPhone 6, Apple Pay, and One More Thing.
In January of 1984, the Macintosh was unveiled to the world. In January of 2007, the first iPhone was introduced. Now, in 2014, the... Oh. My. God. This can't be happening. This isn't happening. There's no way. How is this possible?
As tones of mellow and hipster-like music filled the room, crowds of reporters, bloggers, and fashion critics started flooding the Flint Center. As you overlooked the crowd, you could see the enormous amount of light emanating from the iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. Everyone was eager, everyone was curious. What would Apple introduce to the market? Was it an iWatch? Was it a new iPhone? A new iPad? As Tim Cook appeared on stage, the apex of the curiosity and suspense had been reached. The keynote had begun.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Bigger Is Better
Tim Cook started by going straight into the new iPhones, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. They were the biggest iPhones Apple has ever created, and Cook claims they are the best iPhones Apple has created.
By just catching a glimpse, you could see there was no drastic difference between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s apart from the size and the continuous design. The continuous design can be quoted as more "curvy," no longer having those sharp edges of the iPhone 5s. This is done to ensure better grasp of the larger phone. As for the size, as rumors had claimed, it was a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch. Naturally, the new sizes did constitute a new resolution. The new iPhone 6 runs a resolution of 1334 by 750 with 326 pixels per inch; the iPhone 6 Plus runs a resolution of 1920 by 1080 with 401 pixels per inch.
Thanks to these beautiful new resolutions, the text is sharper. The images are crisper. Graphics are beautiful. In compliance with the new resolution, there is also now more in store for the iPhone 6 Plus. It truly is a "phablet," for when you turn your phone in landscape, there is a new view.
In addition to the new landscape view, there is a new landscape home screen.
With over 1.3 million apps within the App Store, it would be irresponsible of Apple to be negligent to iOS developers. With the newly assembled Xcode, iOS 8 with the capability to run Metal, it's time for change. That change is going to be coming with Apple's A8 chip. Not only are graphics 84 times faster than the original iPhone, but processor performance is 50 times faster than the original iPhone. Talk about one-upping yourself. The new processor and Metal capabilities add the ability for higher frame rates, higher sustained performance, and games are now at a new standard. Now, it's up to the gaming industry.
Apple can only do so much when it comes to games. As they set the foundation for the gaming community with iOS 8 and Metal, the titles are coming. Big, industry-leading companies are now developing for Apple.
One of them, Super Evil Megacorp, gave a live demo from a game they are developing: Vainglory. Stephan Sherman of Super Evil Megacorp said, "We are so thrilled about the performance of iPhone 6 and Metal." That enthusiasm pours into the game, which is downright beautiful.
Naturally, none of this would be possible without iOS 8. Although it was not available to the public outside of the developer community until September 17th, iOS 8 was already causing quite a stir. Most of the commotion was due to the Health app. It can measure all physical activity, it adds interactivity to notifications, and will be able to support the groundwork for NFC. Essentially, iOS 8 laid down the foundation for Apple Pay and the Apple Watch.
So we've seen the new iPhone design, we've seen the games—what's left? The camera. The iPhone 6 camera has a better 8MP iSight camera, True Tone flash, new sensors, and focus pixels (which allow it to have better tone mapping, noise reduction, and can focus up to twice as fast). The video is now full 1080P with 30-60 fps. That is quite a bit; scratch that, that is a lot. The new camera is no doubt Apple's admission into the higher-end camera market.
Finally, the financial side. The lowest tier is naturally $199 and unfortunately a 16GB model. However, the second tier is a 64GB costing $299. Finally, the highest tier is a new 128GB tier costing a whopping $399.
Apple Pay: The Faster, Smarter Way To Pay
Apple, along with many other companies, have all had the vision to replace the wallet. With over 200 million daily transactions, a debit or credit card is no longer enough. A piece of plastic that has all your numbers exposed, is easy to steal, and is utterly unsafe should by no means be the standard for transactions. And thanks to Apple, it no longer might be.
Apple Pay is a faster, smarter way to pay. Tim Cook showed a comparison of two videos showing a traditional way to pay and Apple Pay. The difference was approximately about twenty-five seconds, with the traditional way taking about thirty seconds overall and Apple Pay taking five. Twenty-five seconds doesn't seem like a big difference? Well, put into perspective that 25 seconds is more than 80% time saved on every transaction. Not only is it faster, it is more secure.
First off, Apple Pay uses NFC. NFC is very secure and reliable. Second, you need Touch ID to allow any transactions. No fingerprint, no money. Third, it uses tokenization. Tokenization ensures that your card number is not saved, but a one-time payment number is used. Not only does the store not really know who you are or what your number is, Apple won't know what the store is or what you bought. Security and privacy going hand in hand, as it should.
The simplistic approach is applied online too. One-time checkout with the merchant with no real data being interchanged. Major companies like Uber, Groupon, Panera, MLB, OpenTable, and naturally Apple are adopting this method. With a new Apple Pay API soon to be available, there should be no reason why apps won't support this either.
Apple Watch, Available Fashionably Late
As Tim Cook got back up on stage, the favorite words any Apple enthusiast likes to hear. As Cook said "One more thing..." with a sheepish grin, everyone went dead silent. Everyone knew it was time for the Apple Watch.
In the announcement video, Jony Ive talks about the user interface of the new Apple Watch. Ive shows the great consideration taken to get to this point, and what were the ultimate deciding factors. Apple knew they couldn't just take the iPhone and squish it down into a watch, so they had to find alternatives to making a smartwatch.
The Apple Watch's functionality lies within the crown (the dial on the side), simply called the Digital Crown. With the Digital Crown, you can scroll, zoom, and navigate Apple Watch without covering the display, a problem that Tim Cook pointed out. The user interface is mostly simplistic, as that is the only thing it can be. The home page is round apps, upon which you can use the crown to zoom in and zoom out and touch interface to select the apps you want to use.
Kevin Lynch, a software engineer, took over as he did a live demo. He showed off the multiple watch faces, notifications, and maps.
As for the specs, it features a flexible Retina display, force integration, heart rate detection, and genuine craftsmanship. Other hardware specs lie within the different models. There will be WatchKit within Xcode, allowing third-party developers to create apps, notifications, and other Apple Watch-related software.
As Tim Cook gets back on the stage, he demonstrates the fitness and health portion of the watch. Apple Watch comes with two apps that give a complete picture of your health and fitness. The Activity app monitors movement throughout the day. The Workout app tracks dedicated workouts. Cook also emphasizes how the watch gets to know you. The more you use it, the more it can provide goals and accurate data. He also mentions the ability to control Apple TV, walkie-talkie apps, Apple Pay integration, and ensures that as developers use it more, it will get better.
An iPhone is required for the Apple Watch, however it does not have to be an iPhone 6; iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s are all supported. The price, however, is not so flexible. The starting price is $349 in early 2015, but he ensures it is worth the wait.
One More Thing
As fanboys all over the internet had guessed, Tim Cook went into the details of Apple's relationship with the music industry. Reminiscing how iTunes changed the music industry, he commented saying "Music runs deep within Apple." And he was right. With iTunes Festival this month, iTunes still bringing in huge profits, Apple did have a strong connection with the music industry.
All the more reason to bring U2 into the mix.
As they were finished, Apple had a surprise for the people with an iTunes account. They were giving away U2's latest album for free. It is within your iTunes library now.
Time of My Life
What was clearly a monumental day for Apple, Tim Cook looked pleased as he walked off the stage.
"One More Thing. Having the time of my life. It's a privilege to work with everyone at Apple." — Tim Cook