Poll

Poll: has Apple Watch software update made your favorite apps more responsive?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Last week saw the release of Apple's first software update for the Apple Watch.

Among other changes, the flurry of enhancements in Watch OS 1.0.1 include performance improvements related to both Apple's stock apps and third-party applications you download from the App Store.

Unlike stock apps that run directly on the device, third-party ones run as WatchKit extensions on your iPhone and are then streamed off the phone to your wrist. That's why opening Twitter, Instagram, CalcBot, or any other third-party app for that matter, takes a frustratingly long time to load vs. native apps.

In that regard, Watch OS 1.0.1 should have changed things for the better, but has it? If you own an Apple Watch, and have updated to Watch OS 1.0.1, do your favorite apps now load faster than before?

Poll: will you be pre-ordering Apple Watch?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

With less than six hours until Apple Watch pre-orders open, we're curious if you'll be reserving one for yourself. Our January poll asked if you planned on getting the device and nearly half of the respondents said 'yes'. But that was more than three months ago, at a time when details about the gizmo were still scarce.

Since then, Apple's held a second media conference and released more details in the form of videos and various other tidbits. And now that you've read the reviews and watched hands-on videos of the wearable device in action, some of you may have changed your mind while others may still be on the fence about putting a Watch for your wrist. With that in mind, is your wrist ready for the Watch and will you be pre-ordering it come Friday 12:01am PT?

Poll: which Apple Watch Sport band color are you?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

We recently asked you about your preferred Apple Watch case and now we want to learn which Apple-provided band Apple Watch Sport buyers will be picking up for their device.

We're asking you to restrict your votes to the preferred band color for your Apple Watch Sport because that device has emerged as the de facto top choice for the vast majority of consumers.

The Apple Watch Sport has an entry-level asking price of $349 for the smaller 38mm edition, or an extra $50 for its 42mm counterpart.

Poll: should USB-C replace Lightning on iPhones?

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2015

Apple's new 12-inch MacBook has left watchers scratching their head over its one-port design.

By replacing Thunderbolt I/O, standard USB, MagSafe and SD card ports with a single, much slimmer USB-C port (also known as USB Type-C), the company was able to create “the future of notebook.”

At the same time, the new notebook does inconvenience users, at least over the short term, by requiring various adapters to connect the machine to their existing accessories. Thankfully, there're signs that the industry is going all in on USB-C.

Google's recently refreshed Pixel notebook has two USB-C ports, for example. In addition, upcoming accessories, like Nomad's versatile Apple Watch charging dock incorporate USB-C as the new charging standard.

It may be a safe bet to wager that USB-C will eventually take the gadget industry by storm, but this begs the question of Lightning I/O on iPhones, iPods and iPads. Is what we're seeing here Apple's next iPhone connector, do you think, or should the company stick with Lightning I/O for the next ten years?

Poll: which new MacBook finish would you opt for?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

If someone told me Apple would release a notebook in faux gold, I'd call them crazy and out of touch with reality, but that's exactly what the company has done with the new 12-inch MacBook adopting the same Space Gray, Silver and Gold color scheme popularized by iOS devices.

Say you were in the market for that machine, which finish would you go with: the unassuming Silver, the subdued Space Gray or “a stunning gold,” as Phil Schiller, Apple's marketing honcho, put it unveiling the machine at the “Spring Forward“?

Poll: which Apple Watch are you?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Now that Apple has divulged fresh details concerning its first wrist-worn device, watchful bloggers (sorry about the pun) are now chewing on Watch news.

Disregarding for a moment the dizzying array of bands at one's disposal, the Apple Watch lineup is comprised of three different cases, provided in two sizes each. This makes choosing one which will fit your lifestyle not as straightforward as buying a new iPhone.

Now that the most crucial piece of information has been publicized — the full Watch pricing lineup — we're eager to learn which model you, our loyal readers, might opt for.

Poll: do you use Reduce Motion feature in iOS?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Soon after Apple thoroughly revamped its mobile operating system back in September 2013, power users started to complain about iOS's sleek visual effects standing in the way of usability. The main point of contention for many people seemed to be whether or not iOS ignores user input while the animation is running, resulting in the seemingly slower navigation.

Another common complaint was that those dizzying slam-cuts affected people with motion sickness. Addressing both complaints, Apple's made it possible to disable motion by flipping the Reduce Motion switch to ON in Settings > Accessibility > Reduce Motion.

Today's poll seeks to determine whether you navigate your iOS devices with full UI animations, as enabled by default, or with reduced motion effects in order to make the operating system seem more responsive.

Poll: thinness vs. better iPhone battery

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Handset vendors stubbornly insist on making their gadgets thinner at a time when consumers have largely been craving for better battery life.

Apple, like no other company, is a poster child for the industry's obsession with thinness. Whenever a new iPhone comes out, its slim profile gets prominently featured and communicated in ads.

This point was especially brought home for me in a recent Wall Street Journal article which argues that “survey after survey reveals there is one thing consumers wish manufacturers would change about their gadgets” and it's better battery life.

Our poll today deals with this issue as we seek to learn whether you, our loyal readers, would rather have a millimeter or two thicker device with a stronger battery or as thins a phone as possible with a good enough battery.

Poll: how much should Apple Watch Edition cost?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Aside from the starting price of $349 for the Sport model, the Cupertino firm has yet to reveal pricing of its higher-end Watch and Edition models.

There are two schools of thought here. One says that Apple Watch Edition should sell for $10,000 a pop or more, not just due to its casing being made form 18-karat gold but because Apple will pitch it as a piece of fashionable jewelry rather than a technology product.

The opposite argument says the Edition model should sell for far less as it's not an actual mechanical precision watch from Swiss watchmakers, so it would be crazy to price it as one.

Which camp do you belong to and how much should the Apple Watch Edition realistically cost, do you think? Cast your vote after the jump and meet us in comments.

Poll: where do you get your music from?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

The future of digital music is anything but certain, even less so given that fewer and fewer people nowadays choose to buy MP3s and physical CDs amid the proliferation of streaming services spearheaded by Spotify, the popular music-streaming service hailing from Sweden.

Of course, Spotify is but one in the sea of local and global music sources vying for your attention.

On top of Spotify and the likes of Pandora and Rdio are incumbents such as Apple, Amazon and Google that offer both à la carte song downloads and all-you-can-eat subscriptions. We're interested to learn about our readership's favorite music sources and are kindly inviting you to jump past the fold and cast your vote.

Poll: your next computer — iPad Pro or Retina Air?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

If the rumors pan out, we could see both an iPad Pro and a Retina upgrade to the MacBook Air some time in the following months, possibly as soon as April.

Both are thought to include an ultra high-resolution screen measuring about twelve inches diagonally, run quietly thanks to fanless design and the latest power-savvy chips and redefine portability with an even lighter and thinner appearance. True, you'd be hard-pressed to call a twelve-inch tablet ultra portable.

But given Apple's obsession with thinness and lightness, I suspect a larger iPad could be easier to carry around than you'd think. And assuming that rumored creative stylus accessory is indeed in the works, Apple would be wise to create a vastly improved iOS version with true multitasking, side-by-side apps and other productivity features.

With a proper OS, powerful chips, a screen to die for and an optional accessory, the iPad Pro could be the ultimate productivity tablet you've been waiting for.

On the other hand, the twelve-inch Air is said to be almost as light and thin as the iPad. It's poised to blur the line between the notebook and the tablet even further. Therefore, why bother struggling with an oversized tablet if the new Air will be just as light and thin, while offering a built-in keyboard and OS X?

What kind of apps do you want to see on iDB?

Sébastien Page ∙ January 28, 2015

We review tons of apps here on iDB, covering the vast majority of categories available in the App Store. But are these apps interesting to you? For instance, I don't care much about gaming, and I'm much more interested in learning about new productivity apps. You, on the other hand, might have no interest in productivity apps but would like to see more News-related apps covered on iDB.

To make sure we publish reviews you actually care about, we thought that asking you directly what you want to see on iDB would be the best way to go at it, which is why we have created this simple poll.