Apple Devices, Photo & Video Editing Class 9.10.2026

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 Apple Devices, Photo & Video Editing Class



Apple Product Updates (Announced Yesterday)

  • Comparing Apple products: Visit apple.com, hover over a product category (e.g., iPhone, AirPods, Watch), and use the "Compare" option in the dropdown menu; most categories support comparison except Apple Vision Pro (only one model)
  • New AirPods: Announced with new features (heart rate sensing during workouts, hearing test) aimed at attracting buyers before they upgrade to AirPod Pro
    • Priced lower to appeal to cost-conscious buyers who don't want to spend ~$250 on AirPod Pros
    • Some users use AirPods as hearing aids via Transparency Mode (amplifies voices, reduces ambient noise), though battery life (3–5 hours) is a limiting factor compared to dedicated hearing aids
    • Siri integration coming: hold down AirPods to talk to Siri without taking out your phone
    • Upcoming AirPod Pros: Will include a camera to sense the environment, enabling AI interaction through audio — Apple's alternative to smart glasses
  • Apple Watch updates:
    • Current model checks heart rate every 5 minutes
    • New model will check every 5 seconds
    • May also include O2 and ECG readings (unconfirmed)
    • Apple Watch Ultra (~$800): Designed as a sports/activity tracker to compete with Garmin and similar brands
  • New Siri (iOS 27): True AI integration — no longer just AI-assisted Siri, but a fully AI-powered assistant; availability depends on device compatibility
  • iMac: No official announcement; rumored release at end of year
  • The announcement focused on handheld/mobile devices only — no computer updates announced

Photo Editing (Apple Photos & Windows Photos)

  • Open a photo in the Photos app and click Edit to access editing tools
  • Key tools available on both Apple and Windows:
    • Brightness/exposure sliders for manual adjustments
    • Auto button: applies automatic best-guess improvements
    • Magic Wand: one-click enhancement based on AI assumptions
    • Revert to Original: undoes all changes at any time, even after saving
  • Recommended: Make a duplicate of the original before editing (right-click → Duplicate, or Ctrl+click → Duplicate) if you want to preserve both versions
  • Erasing people/objects: Select an area to remove a person or object; the app removes them but leaves a gap rather than filling it in
  • Cropping: Drag corners to tighten the frame; useful when you couldn't get close enough to a subject
  • Live Photos (iPhone): Captures ~3 seconds before and after the shot; use the film strip at the bottom to find the best frame, then tap Make Key Photo to set it as the permanent image
  • Windows Photos: Same concepts, slightly different interface; use "Save as Copy" to keep both original and edited version

Photo Storage Services

  • iCloud: Default Apple backup; storage fills up and costs increase over time
  • Google Photos: Available as an app and via browser; supports editing (enhance, crop, remove people); caution — if installed on iPhone, it may back up photos to both iCloud and Google, causing duplicate storage charges
  • Amazon Photos: Similar to Google Photos; automatically uploads your library if enabled; included with Amazon Prime (unlimited photo storage); no need to maintain both Amazon and iCloud backups
  • Flickr: One of the few services still offering unlimited storage at a flat price; original photographer-focused platform; good for storing and sharing large photo libraries
  • Key takeaway: You don't need multiple photo backup services — pick one and avoid paying for duplicates

Video Editing (Apple Photos)

  • Open a video in Photos, click Edit, and use the timeline/film strip at the bottom to scrub through footage
  • Trimming: Drag the handles on either end of the timeline to keep only the portion you want; click Done, then choose to replace the original or save as a new clip
  • Limitation — removing a middle section: Apple Photos cannot extract a middle portion and splice the remaining clips back together directly
    • Workaround: Trim and save the first good section as one clip, then trim and save the second good section as another clip, then combine the two
  • Even after saving edits, the original video data is retained and can be restored by dragging the timeline handles back out
  • Video editing on iPhone will be covered next week

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