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Apple Announces iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

As expected, Apple today announced two new iPhone 6 models and its first wearable device named the "Apple Watch". The iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch 1,334 x 750 Retina Display HD, and the iPhone 6 Plus boasts a 5.5-inch Retina Display HD. Both devices are powered by Apple's new A8 chip, which is 25 percent faster than the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5s. The A8 is also 50 percent more energy efficient offering up to an estimated 14 hours of talk time, 11 hours of video and 10 days of standby.

iPhone 6 Plus

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are equipped with an 8MP rear-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture and a new imaging chip with improved features such as better noise reduction and so on. Both models also support 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second, and slow-motion video is now capable of 240 frames per second. The iPhone 6 Plus also includes optical image stabilization. Other features include 802.11ac WiFi, 150Mbps LTE data, WiFi calling, one-handed mode, NFC and Apple Pay.

Will the iPhone 6 Camera Feature Optical Image Stabilization?

The iPhone 6 keynote presentation at Flint Center is coming up fast. Speculation and last minute leaks have been piling up for weeks, with the next generation camera being one area of interest. Apple routinely touts the lens improvements and low-light capabilities of the iPhone camera. Now, parts photographed by Feld & Volk show optical image stabilization (OIS) could be entering the mix.

iPhone 6 camera leaked parts1

OIS works by allowing the components to physically move, in turn sharpening the image by reducing vibrations and other movement at the image sensor. The rear camera parts pictured here are said to be from the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. It remains unclear whether or not the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model will also feature OIS. Compared to the current iPhone 5s camera module (below, right) the new part is larger and flatter.

Apple Weekly News Roundup: iPhone 6 Event Announced, More Security for iCloud, iWatch Details and More

Much of the news over the past week was about Apple's big event this coming Tuesday, September 9th. Apple announced on Thursday that the event would be streamed live on Apple.com. Official invitations were sent out the previous Thursday. The iPhone 6 will definitely be unveiled, and it is almost certain at this point that the company's wearable device (popularly, but unofficially, dubbed "iWatch") will make its debut as well. The event will take place at the Flint Center for Performing Arts, which has about four times the capacity of Apple's traditional venue, the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco.

Flint Center for Performing Arts

In addition to the unveiling of the iPhone 6 and iWatch, many analysts believe the next generation iPad Air will be announced as well. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities believes it will debut next week and will feature an A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor and an improved camera. You also may be able to get it with a gold chassis.

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New iOS Apps, Games and JB Tweaks of the Week: Angry Birds Stella, Mikey Boots and More

It was a big week for Rovio Entertainment who released Angry Birds Stella to the App Store on Thursday. The gaming studio also got the internet buzzing with its retro 80's trailer for Angry Birds Transformers. The Angry Birds / Transformers crossover will be available for mobile devices on October 15, 2014.

In non-Rovio news, Team Meat released more details about Super Meat Boy Forever, and Sony announced that Run SackBoy! Run!, a LittleBigPlanet endless runner, is coming to PS Vita and mobile devices later this year.

Apple's Tim Cook Announces Additional Security Features for iCloud Users

After announcing that an iCloud security breach was not to blame for hackers posting nude photos of celebrities to the internet, Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down with The Wall Street Journal for his first interview since the leak. Cook claims that the hackers either correctly guessed security questions to gain access to celebrity accounts, or that the celebrities themselves fell for a phishing scam.

iOS 8 iCloud Security

Apple plans to give iCloud users a better sense of security by sending a notification every time someone attempts to access an iCloud account for the first time on a new device or alter any information like passwords. The new notifications will begin rolling out in two weeks when iOS 8 is expected to be released to the public.

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