The Good, the Not-So-Good, and the Fun Stuff of Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus.

Ah … the long awaited iPhone 6 Plus.
An iPad mini in a “dress” you say? Well, you might be right. I can tell you that I was eager to hold this new device in my hands.

I didn’t lust after this new phone because my business is digital, and I am the President of Media Genesis. And it wasn’t *just for your sake* dear readers (although I do suffer through a variety of devices to be able to report on them) it was also because my 5S took an unfortunate turn for the worse in a canoe turned submarine accident. Despite rice and a Ziploc baggy, my waterlogged 5S lays sadly on my desk, reminding me of the importance of waterproofing one’s device while canoeing on a 40-degree Michigan day.

I digress.

Back to our iPhone 6 Plus. So, it is indeed the plus size. My initial research suggested that I should download a paper template to see whether my “wardrobe” could use a makeover http://bit.ly/1sYJRJe.

Even worse, reports on “bendgate” made me worry that putting my new iPhone 6 Plus in my pocket, even the extra-large front pocket, was not a good idea. I worried: what if I sat sideways, and snap?! Here comes a curved screen!

The iPhone 6 Plus came in the obligatory white box (considerably thicker and bigger than the 5S) and within seconds I was playing around with it. Here’s my feedback after a couple of weeks.

The Good: The iPhone 6 Plus has a Much Better Case Arsenal than Prior Generations.

As big as it is, I was able to find a much better case. While my Otterbox Defender most likely protected my device from the most dangerous threats, (namely, my children and my ill attempts at occasional device juggling), it was bulky. What’s the point of having a device that is so fragile it needs “armor” and then loses it intrinsic qualities: its tall, lean, and thin look? Sure you could go without protection and I know those who do, but in this day and age we all know the dangers. Before you know it, there are the cracked screens and reluctant use of the case.

I settled on the Spigen Neo Hybrid Gunmetal case. Despite its early issues with buttons, the model sold now works great, looks great (so much so that people don’t think there is a case) and snaps on in seconds. With the case, the phone is not much bigger than without it, and it still looks good.

More Good: The iPhone 6 Plus has Impressive Screen Viewing, Camera Features, and Battery Power.

I would never consider using 5S phone to watch Netflix (when I can comfortably set up with my iPad and stand) but this device is actually good enough to watch great video. Oh, and it records amazing videos by the way. By that I mean that it blows anything else I have ever seen out of the water. The resolution quality is downright amazing. The camera’s ability to zoom and its relative stability is fantastic. I must also add that the iPhone 6 Plus’ battery life is a big step up, too.

The Not So Good: The iPhone 6 Plus can be a Challenge for Big Hands or Small Ones.

Well, we know there are downsides, right? One notable one for me is the inability to use a single hand to use the device effectively. If you look at the device, a large size hand (yes I know, I’m not the best hand model) cannot reach the top buttons when grasping the device. Ironic when you consider the hubbub about the iPhone 4 being so ergonomically adjusted to our so important extremities. Second, the location of the power and volume buttons means that when you rotate the device you may actually turn it off when trying to turn it up. That’s mildly annoying, but I’m getting used to this quirk. I imagine that smaller hands would have even a bigger issue with holding and using the phone, too.

You can double tap (without clicking) the home button on both the iPhone and 6+ to drop the top of the screen halfway down the display, ultimately making it easier to reach navigation elements and app icons your thumb may not be long enough to reach when using these phones one handed.

The Not So Good: Surprise! Random Browser Crashes.

The other aspect is the somewhat random browser crashes. Way more browser windows can be opened, but I’ve now experienced a number of random crashes where I will try a dozen times to open a page, which crashes the browser and closes the browser viewer. It doesn’t seem to be page specific. The device also exhibits some rotation dysfunction at times, but I can’t say that I haven’t experienced that on both Android and iDevices.

The Fun Stuff: The iPhone 6 Plus “Parallax Effect.”

The parallax effect continues with the iOS 8. It gives the home screen a very cool 3D effect; the optical illusion heightens the shape, colors, and contrast of the app icons on the wallpaper. It’s like the virtual screen becomes a physical screen, and the apps become concrete or physical. The parallax effects are digital tricks that make the iPhone 6 Plus cool.

All in all: the iPhone 6 Plus is definitely a big device yet manages to have a handsome style. Because of its size, it may change our expectations about phones in the future and some of our current technology. For example, for those of you who regularly use tablets, the iPhone 6 Plus may replace your need for one (my iPad is now under-utilized because of it). This is a trend we have covered on previous posts.

http://bit.ly/PDAandSmartPhones
(A link to “From Controversial to Universal: How PDAs influenced the Smartphone” Sept. 2014)

http://bit.ly/DeclineofTablets
(A link to “The Decline of Tablets” March 2014)

http://gizmodo.com/screen-size-is-not-phone-size-1652385674
(A Link to “Screen Size Is Not Phone Size” October 2014)

For those of you who aren’t swayed either way by my iPhone 6 Plus review, consider the NoPhone – the newest, technology-free alternative! The NoPhone is so new that hardly anyone has heard of it yet (except for you dear reader). Check it out: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nophone-usa/the-new-and-unimproved-nophone.

There we have it, sacrificing my digits for your hungry minds. See you on the interwebs.