There are a number of reasons why people may not have upgraded yet: Their iPhone doesn’t have enough space, iPhone 4 owners can’t upgrade, and 4s owners may not want to because of reports—such as this one from Ars Technica—that the software makes the phone too slow. Or perhaps people just don’t know how to initiate the upgrade.

Here are two easy ways to bring an iPhone into the here-and-now with the latest software and little to no fuss.

1. Directly Through the Phone

Upgrading to iOS 8 directly through an iPhone is the easiest way. It takes between 15–30 minutes, depending on the iPhone model. Since the phone won’t be usable while updating, users should first make sure they aren’t expecting any important phone calls and that the phone is backed up for good measure. Then, follow these simple steps to initiate the installation:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select “General.”
3. Select “Software Update.”
4. Wait for the iPhone to load. Once it says that an upgrade is available, users will need to make sure they are on a Wi-Fi network to download the update.

If this fails, or if iOS 7 is installed and nothing appears in the Software Update page, then follow the steps for option 2 below.

If an error message appears saying there isn’t enough space on the iPhone, users can delete any large apps, media files, or other content stored on the device. There will need to be between 4–6 GB of space available. Users can also opt to just proceed with option 2 instead, in which they won’t need to delete any files.

2. Update via iTunes

iTunes is a slower way to directly upgrade an iPhone. It requires no processing power from the iPhone itself, but it does require that the user have a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed, and the computer must be connected to the Internet to download iOS 8. Follow these steps to download via iTunes:

1. Plug the iPhone into the computer.
2. Open iTunes (it may open automatically). Allow iTunes to initialize and see the iPhone; a menu will appear for the iPhone once this is complete.
3. Click on the iPhone button. At this point users may want to not only back up their iPhone, but also transfer all purchases to the computer. This will add all apps stored on the iPhone to the computer, which is helpful in case the installation fails. It may take some time, depending on the size of the phone and number of apps stored.
4. Select “Check for Updates.” iTunes will search and then say that an update is available to download. Follow the instructions and let iTunes do the work. Once it’s done, the iPhone will reset a few times and then voila, iOS 8 is installed!

Have you decided not to upgrade to iOS 8 yet? Why? Tell us in the comments below.

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Dual OS

MacRumors reports that the tablet will ship sometime next year, and one iteration may boast a dual operating system, similar to recent releases by Microsoft and Google. Microsoft just revealed the Windows 10 operating system, which is unified across all devices from full desktop computers to smartphones; Google has the world’s most-used mobile operating system with Android, and its Chrome OS is growing faster than the rest of the PC market, according to TechCrunch.

The other iPad 12.9 version is reportedly a standard model that’s more akin to the current iPad Air. The report claims it’s unclear whether or not Apple plans to sell both models.

Dual Uses

According to MacRumors, the dual-OS iPad 12.9 may sell as a two-in-one device. This typically means that it will be usable as both a tablet and a laptop, generally with a keyboard, though that much has not been confirmed.

The source continues to report that Apple’s desktop operating system, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, now incorporates a flat design and looks more like iOS than ever before, which is an indicator of the two operating systems becoming more similar. Presumably this is to help iPad 12.9 users understand how to use both operating systems. Yosemite is also written entirely in Swift, the same programming language as iOS 8, which Apple released earlier at this year’s WWDC to developers.

Apple’s next event on October 16 is expected to reveal the latest-generation iPad and newest line of Mac computers, at which time a lot of questions will be answered.

What do you think about the iPad 12.9? Would you buy a dual-operating-system device? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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The device, which was first announced in August, is a 4.7-inch smartphone very similar to the iPhone 6. It’s made of metal, unlike the standard plastic that the top-selling Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices are made from, making it more akin to the latest iPhone 6 models. This metal Samsung Galaxy Alpha sells for $199 with a two-year contract.

A Different Shade of Apple

Samsung designed the Galaxy Alpha with flat sides, which is actually a departure from the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus; the iPhone 5, 5s, and 5c, and the older iPhone 4 and 4s all had flat edges, while the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have rounded edges.

Like the Galaxy S5 and the iPhone 6, the Galaxy Alpha has a fingerprint reader for unlocking the phone. It comes with 32 GB of internal storage, a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor, and a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera. The Alpha is available in three colors, just like the iPhone: Dazzling White, Charcoal Black, and Frosted Gold. By comparison, Apple has begun using more muted colors with silver instead of white, and dark gray instead of black.

For Android owners interested in upgrading, Tech Times says that the Galaxy Alpha is a premium-grade smartphone, even though it’s a smaller handset compared to the flagship 5.1-inch Galaxy S5 and 5.7-inch Note 4 phablet. The Alpha will be one of the smallest Android smartphones to release this year.

What do you think of the all-metal Samsung Galaxy Alpha? Is it worth getting compared to the iPhone, or is it better to stick with a bigger smartphone like the Galaxy S5? Let us know in the comments section below.

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How to Set It Up

Currently every new iPhone 6 does not have VoLTE enabled by default. Verizon Wireless customers must first visit their Verizon account on the company website and locate “Advanced Calling 1.0” to activate the LTE service. iPhone users can then activate the technology on their phones by going to Settings, then Cellular, and then Enable LTE to select Voice & Data.

For the iPhone 5s and older, the feature is not available, while most modern Android phones on Verizon do support VoLTE. The iPhone 6 for AT&T and T-Mobile support VoLTE and the function is enabled on the phone by default, but the respective carriers have not enabled the function on their networks yet.

Why the VoLTE Hype?

VoLTE is a new technology that enables smartphone owners to make clearer, crisper-sounding calls over the faster LTE cellular network. Calls over the CDMA-based carrier currently go over significantly older wireless networks. By comparison, GSM-based carriers AT&T and T-Mobile support calls over 3G and 4G.

VoLTE for iPhone 6 also enables callers to simultaneously use data while on a call. This means, for instance, the iPhone 6 now supports making a call and checking e-mail simultaneously on Verizon. Previously, this functionality has been available on other carriers, and it doesn’t exist specifically for Verizon.

While new Verizon iPhone 6 owners set up VoLTE for their new iPhone 6, 6 Plus, or compatible Android smartphones, the service does require an LTE connection while standard calls do not. If there is no LTE network available, the iPhone 6 will default to the older cellular network.

Are you excited about VoLTE for iPhone 6, or have you been using it on another device all along? Do you notice a difference?

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Each device placed at the top of SquareTrade’s Breakability Score category. The iPhone 6 specifically scored much tougher than past models, while the larger 6 Plus edition came in at a breakability risk score one point higher due to its larger size and additional weight.

iPhone 6 Breakability Results

SquareTrade gave the iPhone 6 a risk score of four out of 10, saying that the device is of medium-risk and that it is indeed one of the toughest smartphones in slippery hands. It earned high marks in size — SquareTrade considers larger devices more breakable — screen durability, “grip-ability,” water resistance, and it even performed well in a drop test, in which the phone is dropped from four feet above the ground.

iPhone 6 Plus Breakability Results

The iPhone 6 Plus also scored well, receiving only a slightly higher medium-risk score of five out of 10. However, the device didn’t perform as well in tests involving its larger size. It scratched more easily in the drop test, and CNET reports that “After six drops from 4 feet high, SquareTrade reports that . . . the iPhone 6 Plus saw its front and back panels separate and the sound stopped working shortly thereafter.” The 6 Plus also scored poorly in grip-ability.

Interestingly, Apple has not stated that the iPhone 6 models are waterproof or water resistant, yet in a dunk test both models worked perfectly other than a few initial minutes without audio after being submerged for ten seconds.

By comparison, the iPhone 5s scored a breakability risk score of six overall, and the Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung’s current flagship Android smartphone, scored a 6.5. As a result, the 6 Plus is now the top-scoring smartphone with a screen larger than five inches, according to SquareTrade.

Have you managed to pick up a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus yet? Is it as tough as the reports say? Have you run your own iPhone 6 and 6 Plus durability tests? Let us know in the comments below.

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“We’re very focused on making sure it’s a great experience for customers, but we see it as a complement, not a replacement,” AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions Group CEO Ralph de la Vega said. The Wi-Fi calling feature will be offered in addition to the 3G and LTE voice-over services.

How Does It Work?

Wi-Fi calling allows users to make calls from their cell phones while connected to a personal or business wireless network, instead of calling through the typical carrier 3G, 4G, or LTE network. Though it does still count toward a user’s phone plan minutes, calling over Wi-Fi is typically more stable since it relies on a short-range, high-powered network. That’s why a home or work Wi-Fi network is just fine for streaming HD movies, but sometimes even high-speed LTE isn’t. Coverage also plays an important role: More Wi-Fi routers have a very small area of coverage, but calling works well almost anywhere within that range.

Carriers Vary

Wi-Fi calling could be a major boost for carriers and users, too. It’s unclear whether the service will support sending SMS messages over personal Wi-Fi networks in addition to calls, and whether Wi-Fi communication will cause a noticeable impact on home and business networks’ performance.

Are you excited AT&T is going to offer Wi-Fi calling on the new iPhone 6?

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Outside of this information provided yesterday, very little is known about the newer processor.

A8 Rumors and Capabilities

Hardware specialist Ryan Smith at AnandTech took a deep dive into the circulating rumors and available information regarding the latest iPhone chip, and he confirms Apple’s performance claims considering the available hardware, both for the CPU and the graphics processor. By confirming that the graphics processor can only be one of several models, Smith stipulates that the recently leaked Geekbench scores on Mac Rumors are in fact accurate, which matches Apple’s performance claims almost perfectly and also provides additional information about the iPhone 6, such as 1 GB of available RAM.

Smith goes into further detail about the graphics processor, which Apple claims is 84 times faster than the original iPhone (or 1.5 times faster than the iPhone 5s).

However, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will share the same processor, even though the larger phone has over two times the number of pixels to process. There is no word yet on how the size of the larger phone will impact performance, if at all.

Do you think the A8 processor is enough to power the iPhone 6 Plus?

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Standard

The “standard” Apple Watch is the traditional model and comes in two colors: stainless steel and stainless black steel. Instead of using glass to protect the Retina display, this model has sapphire crystal, which is both stronger and more scratch resistant. Both sizes come in nine models, which are purely differentiated by the wristband, and is expected to start at $349. However, Business Insider points out that quality bands are pricey and Apple has not discussed how much they will cost or whether the Apple Watch will come with the first for free.

Sport

The Apple Watch Sport is slightly different; it looks much more like the iPhone, with anodized aluminum for that non-reflective sheen and the same Ion-X glass. As a model meant for fast-paced use, the Ion-X is a lighter alternative to sapphire crystal. It comes with a fluoroelastomer wristband, which Apple claims is more flexible and smooth than rubber, in five different colors.

Edition

Finally, there’s the Apple Watch Edition, which is identical to the standard Watch except that the stainless steel is replaced by 18-karat gold. This is no joke. The Watch Edition can either have yellow or rose gold, which the company claims is twice as hard as standard gold, meaning these models will probably be expensive. There are six different wristband options.

In total, there are six Apple Watch colors—stainless steel, stainless black steel, silver aluminum, space gray aluminum, yellow gold, and rose gold—available in two sizes, 42 mm and 38 mm. And a total of 20 different wristbands to choose from. Which model do you want? Tell us in the comments below.

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1. Updates to the iPad Line

With three iPad models, it comes as a bit of a surprise that there are not just one, but two new iPhones and still no new tablet, especially with the holiday season fast approaching. The technology company already moved the iPad refresh cycle from March or April to the holidays with the iPad 4 two years ago. No word on the tablets—the current-generation iPad Air, iPad mini Retina, and older iPad 2 and iPad mini—could spell anything from a small, incremental update in advance of the holiday season to a much larger release next year.

Of course, with the iPhone 6 launching in just two weeks and the Apple Watch expected early next year, the next few months are already going to be very busy for the company.

2. Apple TV Software Update

Along with releasing the final Gold Master (GM) version of iOS 8 to developers, Apple has also seeded the GM for the latest software update on the Apple TV. It’s unclear what these new Apple updates will bring, but the company completely glossed over the home theater hardware and software, not saying a word or mentioning anything on the website.

3. Anything New in iOS 8

Sure, the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch reveal was almost exclusively about the hardware and not the software, and the company already shared plenty about iOS 8 during the Apple Developer Conference earlier this summer. But aside from a few notes regarding landscape mode for the iPhone 6 Plus and any software that’s centered around hardware components (like the Apple Pay system), nothing new about the updated operating system was mentioned. There will be hundreds of new features and functions, many of which have already been announced and even more that haven’t . . . and not a word was said.

4. An Update on Mac

New Macs, which are currently expected to be released late this holiday and possibly even early next year, received no mention whatsoever, further bolstering rumors that new computers won’t ship without the latest processors from Intel. As for rumors surrounding a 12-inch MacBook Air and the removal of the 13-inch MacBook Pro? Not a peep.

Were there any other new Apple updates that were not talked about that deserve to be mentioned? Let us know in the comments below.

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Retina HD

These newer phones don’t have a standard Retina display, they have what Apple calls Retina HD. The iPhone 6 has a 1335 by 750 pixel resolution screen, which is just over today’s HD standard of 1280 by 720 pixels. The iPhone 6 Plus has a full 1080p (1920 by 1080 pixel) display, and unlike the standard 326 ppi, the Plus has a much more dense 401 ppi.

In other words, HD videos will now play back on the iPhone at their proper resolution on the iPhone 6 Plus. With the smaller model, the video will scale down just a tad but will still look very crisp and clear.

Both iPhone 6 displays share the same brightness rating as previous models, but what’s incredible is the contrast ratio. Contrast ratio defines how significantly lights, darks and different colors are differentiated by the screen. The higher the number, the better the picture quality. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have 1400:1 and 1300:1 contrast ratios, respectively, and they produce excellent picture quality. For comparison, the previous iPhone 5s had a contrast ratio of 800:1.

Sans Sapphire

Ever broken an iPhone screen? It’s a relatively common occurrence, but it’s unclear whether that problem will be fixed. These new devices will not be built with the rumored sapphire glass, the same material used for the iPhone 5s’s home button and camera lens. That may be a good thing, however; MacRumors reports that recent tests show sapphire may be more brittle than glass, meaning if it’s bent further, it can break much sooner than glass would. Instead, these new iPhones have ion-infused glass, which is supposed to be stronger and more scratch-resistant than the previous third-generation Gorilla Glass, but Apple revealed few details about it during today’s presentation.

These iPhone 6 displays have the best screens Apple fans have ever seen. What do you think? Are you interested in seeing how the new iPhones are at streaming video and viewing images?

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