It is that time of year again– apple picking season. No, this is not a reference to the autumnal fruit; rather, it is the time to drool over the latest Apple products and software.  Each year company CEO, Tim Cook, entices us with something fresh, exciting, and most importantly, something that no other company has done before.

   On September 10, Apple announced its IOS 7 software, iTunes Radio, and for the first time ever, two different iPhones.  The iPhone 5c is simply the colored version of the iPhone 5.  It comes in the candy-like shades of pink, green, blue, and white with black plastic detailing.  The iPhone 5s, on the other hand, can be purchased in metallic gold and white, silver and white, or black and grey.  This phone’s shiny new look can only be matched by its cutting edge features of a fingerprint scanner (that can be substituted as a pass-code lock), and high speed A7 processor.  Should you upgrade your phone to one of these fancy new models?  The iPhone 5s will start at $199 while the 5c will be offered for just $99, and both will be available to order Friday, September, 20.

   In addition to the new smart phones, the popular company announced its most recent software, IOS 7 which was released on Wednesday, September 18.  Apple has put heavy emphasis on how simple the updated program will be, while technologically advanced, convenient, and fully functional.  The software will now include Airdrop for IOS, which is a fast way to share files with your contacts or others who are nearby that have also activated the feature.  Smarter multitasking will allow one to switch between apps effortlessly, and Control Center will give you the ability to access most of your device’s settings without ever closing your current app.  All of these features are available to the owners of the iPhone 4s, 5/5c, 5s, fourth generation iPod,  iPad 2, and iPad with retina display or any more recent models of these devices.

   For music lovers, Apple’s last release was something completely new, an online radio station.  It is no secret that internet radio stations such as Spotify or Pandora are strong competition for iTunes as they are both personalized and free.  What makes the free iTunes Radio different from any other online radio station?  It will offer new music to the public before anyone else, as well as adapt your stations according to your iTunes playlists and purchases.

   It seems as though the geniuses at Apple have done it again, but some might say that the new products do not surpass other sought-after devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 or Nokia Lumia 1020.  Devoted Apple lover, junior Ellie Grace, doesn’t agree.  “I feel like they [Apple products] have the simplicity that you can’t find in any other company’s device,” says Grace.   On the subject of the IOS 7 update, she is most excited about the parallax function on the home screen, which she says will give the apps depth.

   Another iPhone owner, sophomore, AJ Rodriguez says, “A lot of people are talking about it [IOS 7] and it sounds pretty cool.” Rodriguez purchases his Apple products from the Sprint store, and plans on upgrading to the long awaited iPhone 5s sometime in the future.   While Potomac Falls students were anxious to try the new software, many have complaints about the length it takes to download, that amount of space it takes up, and the compatibility of the software with many commonly used applications.

   Whether you are an Apple fan or not, it is hard not to argue that these products feature some pretty impressive technology.   The fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5s sounds like something straight out of a James Bond film, and it is thrilling to know that iTunes radio will give us access to the latest music from our favorite artists before anybody else. Will you be taking a bite out of this apple?