The iPhone 7 is here. Announced at Apple’s September Launch event today, the new device and its sibling, the iPhone 7 plus, have arrived after months of rumors, leaks and anticipation. The phones are loaded with a bevy of new components, including a new pressure-sensitive home button and bluetooth headphones, marking another step in the journey toward our wireless future.
Of course, in spite of the hype that the new iPhone will inevitably get—as it always does—it’s not the only smartphone on the market. Many will point to the fact that its expected RAM capabilities (2GB for the iPhone 7 and 3GB for the 7 Plus) still lag behind some competitors (for comparison the Samsung Galaxy S7 has 3GB and the S7 Edge 4GB), while the upgraded 32GB storage and newly-found water-resistance are no more than catching up with Apple’s competition. Nonetheless, Apple’s iPhone 7 also features a number of features that could make it a phone perfectly suited to architects. Read on to find out exactly why.
1. Improved Camera
In many ways, smartphone cameras have already replaced traditional cameras for casual, everyday usage. But with the latest iPhone camera upgrade, the quality may now challenge that of your DSLR as well.
The 12 MP camera uses technology Apple acquired from LinX Imaging this past spring to produce crisper, brighter photos. Optical image stabilization and a finely tuned aperture window let in more light with shorter exposure times, resulting in pictures with reduced noise and higher clarity, even when taken in indoor or low-light environments.
For architects, this means you no longer need additional light sources when looking to snap a few shots of architectural details on a dim construction site, and the improved clarity means increased understanding of how parts come together as well.
2. Dual-Lens Camera System on the 7 Plus
For even more control over the photos you’re taking, the iPhone 7 Plus contains two camera lenses: one wide-angle lens and one telephoto lens, finally allowing users to zoom up to 2x without any loss of quality. And thanks to the improved picture clarity, digital zoom is now available up to 10x. Coupled with new real-time deep depth preview, which allows you to adjust the focal depth on screen, it is now possible to take quality photos, even from a distance.
Stuck behind a fence and can’t reach the building detail you want to photograph? Increased zoom will take you where you couldn’t quite get before. What could be even more exciting for architects is that this depth perception could potentially be implemented into a variety of apps where measuring space is important, from room-scanning apps to a variety of augmented-reality implementations.
3. HomeKit Home Automation
Included on iOS 10, a new Siri-enabled built-in app will allow your phone to seamlessly serve as the control center for your smart home products. By pairing the iPhone with other Internet of Things products, you will be able to control your work environment remotely; or even start a fresh pot of coffee to be waiting for you when you arrive each morning.
4. Real-Time Collaboration
Also part of iOS 10, iWork applications (keynote, etc.) will now allow multiple users to edit one file simultaneously (similarly to how google docs works). Presentations and documents can now be shared and edited, in real time, on all apple devices, so everyone can work together to prepare for that last-minute deadline.
5. Improved Capabilities of Applications
An improved processor will allow applications to approach 90% of the capabilities of the full software – so applications like Adobe Lightroom can be used onsite for editing photos at nearly their full potential.
6. Double the Memory Capacity
Phones are now available in sizes up to 256 GB, so downloading drawings sets or portfolios will no longer take your phone out of commission, and you can take and store a huge number of photos without worrying about having to delete any of your favorites.
BONUS: High-Gloss Jet Black Finish
We all are aware of architects’ love of black. Thanks to a new jet black glossy finish, the iPhone will serve as a perfect complement to any architect’s outfit.
Prices for the iPhone 7 will start at $649.
