ADVISORY: iOS 11 and iPhone X and 8
The new mega-smartphone beast with the OLED glass front and all the latest AR technology (Apple iPhone X) is perhaps not in the most impactful upgrade for videographers.
There are some new attractive frame rates on flagship model that allow you to record at 4K resolution.
– 1080p HD at 240 fps (For 8X slow motion video capture)
– 4K at 24 fps (A standard Cinematic frame rate)
– 4K at 60 fps f(For 2x low motion capture and smooth looking digital video)
Also there are new codecs like h.265 (Apple Calls this HEVC) that allow for your monster video files to be less monstrous with regards to your storage capacity.
But, you still have the loss of functionality with the missing headphone and mic port as well as other compatibility issues in the near term.
Let’s look at that OS upgrade that will be coming soon.
THE iOS 11 UPGRADE
Smart Film School students will want to research all iOS features as well as potential app failures thoroughly before considering the upgrade.
Remember that Apple will be prompting you upgrade your OS immediately. You are under no obligation to install the latest iOS.
At this moment, there is very little we actually know about how upgrade will work with our must-have video production apps.
But what we do know is that there is a clear and present danger. I prefer to treat app updates and iOS upgrades as a virus, until proven otherwise. And I also prefer to allow well-staffed broadcasters like the BBC to make the first experiments with what may be a toxic upgrade at first.
Marc Settle (a journalism trainer at the BBC in London) writes, “iOS 11 will only really come into its own once developers have updated their apps to take advantage of the new possibilities.”
Indeed, one of the biggest temptations with iOS upgrades is that you are tempted to think only about gaining new features for free whilst forget completely about potential losses in your current functionality.
Settle continues, “It’s likely that a number of your apps will no longer work as they simply won’t open after upgrading the OS. All you will see is an on-screen message that the developer of this app needs to update it to work on iOS 11.”
That is pretty frightening prospect if you rely on certain apps to be able to do your job.
All upgrades present real risks for reporters who rely on their phones every day to capture, edit and share video stories.
–> Read Marc’s full appraisal of the new iOS 11 features.
Before upgrading I demand to see strong evidence that the new flagship model of iPhone and iOS 11 will dramatically upgrade your video projects.
Here is a video you can use as the control for your testing.
This mini-doc was filmed recently in Berlin.
4K resolution @ 24 fps with iPhone 6S+, iOS 10.3.2, Filmic Pro camera app, Siriu Carbon-fiber tripod, Osmo mobile, Røde NTG1, Blimp, boom pole, and Newsmaker radio mic kit.
Also the MoondogLabs Anamorphic lens adapter and Helium Core rig were used for the live performance scene.
All that cinema gear fits into one waterproof bike bag.
TAKEAWAYS
At this moment my recommendation is conservative: There is no compelling reason to jump to iPhone (7, X or 8) or iOS 11.
Just. Not. Yet.
The 6S+ model captures gorgeous 4K video and works with the proven #MOJO mics and gimbals.
It is probably now even less expensive to purchase today than when it launched.
It can take several months to see the bugs worked out in the new iOS. And even longer until the experts in the community have verified that the developers of the most-useful video production apps are shipping updated, bug-free versions.
Robb’s ‘Go-To’ apps for mobile journalism and smartphone filmmaking.
My iPhone 6S+ will remain at iOS 10.3.2 until all have been proven to work on iOS 11 without any loss in functionality.
This conservative approach to upgrades is not unusual among creative professionals.
For example, professional musicians and recording studios typically prefer to use older versions of recording hardware and software because they have been proven to be reliable and stable.
JOURNALISTS DON’T LIKE SURPRISES
When Apple released the iPhone 7 without a headphone port it tempted many professional broadcasters to upgrade . . . and then live to regret the choice.
The loss of that jack meant that they couldn’t use a low cost gimbal and a microphone any more.
I can’t for the life of me understand why the IT departments of two of the top new broadcasters in the world just ordered hundreds of iPhone 7s for their reporters.
That is the completely wrong move at this moment. The product development cycles for mobile hardware manufacturers are several years long.
If you don’t want to lose any important recording functionality – stick with the iPhone 6S+.
The iPhone 6S+ mounted to an Osmo Mobile
You can’t make this configuration with any of the newer iPhones. That is a serious setback for the time being for reporters who purchased the 7 models and realized that the missing headphone jack meant no mic plus gimbal functionality.
See more gear options here.
This same gimbal rig can also be used to make a low-cost LIVE video studio.
An iPhone 6+ is main camera. You can livestream at 1080p HD video with the iPhone 6 models, use the headphone jack for a microphone and keep constant power supplied with the lightning connector.
Here is more information on that solution.
If you don’t have money for a gimbal,
then this mini-tripod configuration will do the job just fine.
While you can use this rig with the newer iPhones there are limited solutions to being able to monitor the audio with headphones while using the lightning connector for the mic in.
The lack of a headphone jack means a loss of function and versatility for a field reporter.
HARDWARE WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH UP
I can’t be more specific at this moment, but I can assure you that there are a few new digital mic input solutions with headphone monitoring that are coming to the market.
We’ll be testing these models and updating Smart Film School students once more is known about how they work for live streaming and longer video recordings. And how they work with iOS 11 and our pro apps.
There are more than 10,000 students registered in Smart Film School courses.
I advise clients about workflows, training and technology packages for video storytelling and sometimes waiting for the latest phone models and software updates is the best advice.
It always takes extra time for manufacturers and app developers to deliver tested solutions that best serve professional journalists.
Because these folks need reliable solutions that their reporters can depend upon, it is my habit to advise them to proceed cautiously with OS upgrades and new models of phones until robust working solutions have been vetted under demanding field conditions.
Let me know what is working for you!
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