Early this morning, Apple started taking orders for the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the newly redesigned Series 4 version of the Apple Watch. I placed orders for an iPhone XS and the Series 4 Apple Watch. At the time that I placed my orders, the delivery date for the iPhone XS and the aluminum version of the Series 4 Apple Watch was September 21. However, I ordered the Stainless Steel version of the Apple Watch, and even though I placed my order immediately when the Apple Store opened, my Stainless Steel model has a delivery date of September 28 to October 2. For folks looking to get the iPhone XS Max, I see that it did not take very long for delivery dates to go past September 21 for many of the configurations. It will be interesting to see what kind of demand there is for all of the new products announced this week and how far back the delivery dates start to slip. [UPDATE: Just a few hours later, the Apple Watch delivery dates are now 3-4 weeks, and some models of the new iPhones are now at 1-2 weeks for delivery. We can only guess whether this is a function of supply or demand, but considering that the Apple Watch is a brand new design whereas this is an “s” year for the iPhone, my guess is that Apple Watch demand is particularly high.] And now, the news of note from this busy week in the iPhone and Apple Watch world:
- One of the notable new features in the Series 4 Apple Watch is the the ability to perform an EKG. Christina Farr of CNBC has an excellent explanation of this new feature and what it can do.
- In addition to selling AppleCare+ for the iPhone, Apple has started a new insurance program called AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. As the name implies, this program will cover two incidents of accidental damage, theft, or loss, although there is a deductible. Get more information on the Apple website.
- Christina Passariello of the Washington Post talked to Apple’s design chief, Jony Ive, about the new Apple Watch.
- Last year, Apple announced the AirPower charging pad, but it still hasn’t been released, and most references to it were removed from the Apple website this week. Mike Wuerthele of AppleInsider has some theories on why.
- Readdle makes some of the most useful apps for attorneys including Scanner Pro (which I use on my iPhone every week, and sometimes every day) and PDF Expert. Killian Bell of Cult of Mac reports that the company’s apps have now been downloaded 100 million times. Congrats, Readdle!
- You can now use ApplePay at nearly all 7-Eleven stores, as reported by Juli Clover of MacRumors.
- It is widely known that Apple is planning to open its own video streaming service in the future. Ben Lovejoy of 9to5Mac reports that Apple just won its first Emmy award for Apple-produced content, this one for Carpool Karaoke. I suspect that this won’t be Apple’s last Emmy for a TV show.
- If you own an Apple HomePod, it’s going to get better next week. As Ryan Christoffel of MacStories reports, the device will gain support for multiple timers, phone calls, and the ability to play a song if you don’t know the name but you do know a line of the lyrics.
- Geoffrey Fowler of the Washington Post discusses the challenges with recycling consumer electronics such as iPhones and iPads containing lithium-ion batteries.
- In what almost seemed like a response to that article by Fowler, Apple’s keynote featured a presentation by Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President in charge of environment, policy and social initiatives. (She is also the former administrator of the EPA.) Horace Dediu of Asymco discusses the most interesting aspects of Jackson’s presentation.
- And finally, Apple released lots of videos in connection with this week announcements, but today I’m just picking one that is silly and fun. The opening video for this week’s keynote address features someone running across Apple’s new campus in Mission: Impossible style. (As Roger Fingas of AppleInsider points out, Apple took some liberties for the path used by this runner.) The video is entertaining, and also gives you some good views of Apple’s new campus: