Your questions answered after Apple’s iPhone X launch event

Apple held its launch event earlier this week and revealed the new iPhone X, the iPhone 8, Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple TV 4K – and we’ve had a lot of questions from our readers about the new devices.

The magnificent Steve Jobs Theatre at the company’s new Apple Park campus was the venue for the event and that was where we were introduced to the redesigned iPhone X and the iPhone 8 which is slight update from the iPhone 7.

Also unveiled was the Apple TV 4K and the Apple Watch Series 3.

But after the event there were a lot of questions being asked by our readers and on social media.

Here’s what they were asking?

IS THE NEW FACE ID ON THE iPHONE X SECURE?
Yes it is. Apple says it is more secure than a fingerprint and can pick your face from a million other faces and uses 30,000 points of recognition to confirm your identity.

Apple did some extreme testing of the TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID including employing Hollywood special effects artists to create lifelike masks – and they still couldn’t unlock the phone.

TECH GUIDE’S HAND-ON LOOK AT THE iPHONE X

WILL FACE ID WORK IF I’M WEARING SUNGLASSES OR A HAT OR IF I’M IN A DARK ROOM?

Apple said Face ID can still recognise you with sunglasses, a hat, a scarf and even when you change your hair.

It should work through your sunglasses because it uses infrared light to still see your eyes and recognise your features.

And that IR light will also work in the dark so your face will be recognised in the dark.

BUT DIDN’T THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO DEMONSTRATE FACE ID FAIL ONSTAGE?

Yes it did. Apple’s senior vice president Craig Federighi tried to unlock the iPhone X with his face but it asked for a passcode.

But Apple actually released an explanation saying several people had handled the device before the stage demo and each time Face ID tried to authenticate their faces. And because they weren’t Federighi – it stayed locked and asked for a passcode.

https://youtu.be/m7xmCCTVS7Q

So, despite looking like a fail, Face ID worked exactly as it was designed to do.

WITH A LARGER SCREEN AND A GLASS BACK WILL THE IPHONE X BE FRAGILE?

Apple says it is using the most durable glass ever created for the iPhone X.

It also has surgical grade stainless steel and is also water and dust resistant. But we’d still invest in a case.

WHAT DO I CALL THE NEW iPHONE – IS IT THE iPHONE “EX” or iPHONE 10?

The iPhone X is pronounced the iPhone Ten with X being the Roman numeral for 10. We kept calling it the iPhone X but Apple referred to it at the launch event as the iPhone 10 because it’s the 10^th anniversary of the iPhone. It’s the same way the Mac OS X was always called OS 10.

HAS APPLE PRICED THE IPHONE X TOO HIGH?

Many people are shocked at the price of the iPhone X ($1579 64GB and $1,829 256GB). It’s the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever produced.

We suspect most people will buy the iPhone X on a plan and pay it off over two or three years.

But we predict, despite the high price, there will still be plenty of demand for the iPhone X. It will probably be sold out within the first days of going on sale on November 3.

WHAT’S WITH THE “NOTCH” AT THE TOP OF THE iPHONE X SCREEN?

That notch is where the front infrared TrueDepth camera (for Face ID), Flood Illuminator, Dot Projector (also for Face ID) and the speaker are located.

The time and signal strength are on either side of the notch but in certain apps a black bar levels out the top of the screen.

WILL THE WIRELESS CHARGING ON THE iPHONE X AND iPHONE 8 WORK THROUGH A CASE?

Yes it will. Most cases are rarely thicker than 3.5mm and will still work when placed on a charging pad.

Apple has adopted the Qi wireless charging standard that’s already being used by other phone manufacturers including Samsung and LG.

WILL THE CASES FOR THE iPHONE 7 AND iPHONE 7 PLUS FIT THE NEW iPHONE 8 AND 8 PLUS?

Yes it will. The majority of case manufacturers and Apple itself said the cases for the iPhone 7 will still fil the new iPhone 8.

SO HOW DOES THE APPLE WATCH SERIES 3 COPY YOUR iPHONE’S NUMBER?

The e-SIM onboard is one hundredth the size of a regular physical SIM card. The electronic SIM can be activated over the air to the wearable device – in this case the Apple Watch Series 3.

Telstra and Optus will enable this service at launch on September 22 with Vodafone to follow later this year.

We expect this service will add about $10 a month to your mobile plan.

ARE ALL THE STUDIOS ONBOARD TO OFFER 4K MOVIES FOR APPLE TV 4K?

All of the major studios will be offering 4K movies to iTunes except for Disney, at this stage. And the participating studios will be charging the same price for their 4K movies as their HD movies.

And if a customer has purchased a HD movie and the 4K version becomes available, the movie will be upgraded for 4K for free.