Apple's changes will impact the iPhone accessories business
Though Apple announced the iPhone 5 this morning to much fanfare, Phil Schiller defended the new smartphone against some criticism amid the media blitzkrieg.
Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing explained in an interview with AllThingsD why some expected technologies such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and wireless charging didn't make it in the final product.
Both technologies have many examples in the current market, and have been on the wishlist of Apple fans for quite some time.
NFC has seen its way onto many phones like the Google Nexus S and can be used to pay for groceries or share data in person.
Schiller said that Apple's program, Passbook, is a capable analog to NFC in the wireless commerce market. However, Passbook is mainly used to store loyalty cards, gift cards and can be used instead of boarding passes and football tickets.
Schiller said he has his doubts about NFC, and wonders if it's the solution to any of today's problems.
Passbook, he said, fulfills most of customers' current needs, saying it works without any existing merchant payment system.
Charging is still wired
Technophiles were also hoping the iPhone 5 would include some sort of wireless charging system like the Nokia Lumia 920, but Schiller dashed those hopes as well.
Schiller pointed out that wireless charging stations still need to be plugged into a wall and that the USB cord is still widely used and can be plugged into wall outlets with the packaged adapter, into computers or even on airplanes.
He said it just not worth it to add another component.
"Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated," Schiller said.
'Lightning' in a dock connector
Apple also took a little flak for changing the iPhone and iPod's docking jack, to the smaller "Lightning" connector.
The previous design was introduced in 2003, and an entire side industry uses the port to connect the phone to almost anything.
Schiller said the company had been waiting to pull the trigger on the new cord for a while, but now they couldn't make the mobile devices any smaller or thinner with the old cord. But Apple doesn't change their connectors willy-nilly.
"This is the new connector for many years to come," he said.
So it looks like we won't be seeing native wireless charging for a while now, and Apple is content to dip its toe in the pool of wireless commerce.
For now, they're just two more items to ask Santa for when iPhone 6 speculation begins.
If you're eyeing the iPhone 5 but worried about canceling your unlimited data plan with AT&T, you're in luck. AT&T will grandfather in existing data plans.
So you have an existing data plan, and you want to scoop up the next iPhone but you’re afraid that carriers will charge an exorbitant penalty fee that could empty your wallet — well AT&T users are in luck. In light of Apple’s iPhone 5 announcement today, the carrier says that existing data plans would be grandfathered into their iPhone 5 purchase.
“We offer customers the flexibility to keep the iPhone data plans they already have or choose any of our individual or new Mobile Share plans. We’re proud that more customers choose AT&T for iPhone than any other U.S. carrier and look forward to making iPhone 5 the newest addition to our lineup,” Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility, said.
One thing to note is that the iPhone 5 is a 4G LTE smartphone. Existing iPhones use 3G, or for those of you on AT&T and have updated to iOS 5.1, you would have been switched to what AT&T claims to be worthy of the 4G title. Debate over this label hasn’t deterred AT&T from branding its existing service as a 4G network.
“AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering 275 million people. Built on top of this widespread 4G network, blazing-fast 4G LTE is available in more than 60 markets today and planned in more than 100 by the end of this year,” the release added.
In reality, Apple would have needed to make some hardware changes, which we’re seeing on the iPhone 5, before AT&T iPhones could claim to be using a true 4G network.
Verizon, after heated backlash for the company’s decision not to grandfather in existing unlimited data plans for users that did not need to switch to a tiered data plan, overturned that decision. Verizon, like AT&T, will grandfather in unlimited plans when users switch to the iPhone, but will not offer to subsidize the cost of an iPhone 5. What that means it that you’re going to have to pay the full retail price of the phone if your two year contract isn’t up by the time the iPhone 5 is stocked on September 21.
AT&T customers can go onto AT&T’s page for the iPhone, and pre-order the iPhone 5 beginning on September 14. And as already announced, the new Apple smartphone will cost $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model, and $399.99 for the 64GB model, granted that you sign up for a two year data plan.
Lofty targets for Samsung's flagship mobile devices
Samsung Mobile boss JK Shin wants the company's flagship Galaxy S3 smartphone to reach 30 million sales in 2012 as it prepares to go head-to-head with the iPhone 5.
In a bullish claim told Korean news agency Yonshap that it can add another ten million devices in the final quarter of the year, despite solid competition from a new Apple device for the first time.
In the first four months of its existence, the S3 has only had to content with a dated iPhone 4S device. Many buyers have chosen the Samsung device rather than wait for the iPhone 5.
Doubling down on the Note 2
Shin also says he expects the new Galaxy Note 2, which goes on sale in mid-October, to rack up 20 million sales worldwide, over the course of its existence.
That would double the figure achieved by the original Galaxy Note 'phablet' which surpassed the expectations of most observers.
Samsung has set itself some big targets, but the company has specialised in surpassing expectations in the last couple of years.
The iPhone 5 has finally been announced. Pre-orders start September 14 and the phone hits the streets on September 21. We've got a guide to getting yours.
The September 12 announcement of the iPhone 5 was anything but shocking to the tech world, but that doesn’t mean we won’t all dash out to get one. That’s the crazy thing about Apple products: the information can leak days in advance, but the official announcement can put consumers in a trance until they wake up in line on launch day. There’s no stopping the horde of fruit phone frenzied zombies, so you may as well prepare yourself to join in.
Before you decide to jump head-first into the pool of iPhone 5 early adopters, make sure that you take a look at everything that’s out there. The market is full of worthy competitors, from the Galaxy S3 to the new Razrs, and even Apple’s own iPhone 4S. Who are we kidding, though? You want the iPhone 5. I mean, just look at the thing. If you’ve made up your mind and are already packing your tent to camp out at the Apple Store, make sure to arm yourself with this information.
Basics
The iPhone 5 will become available for pre-order online through the Apple Store on Friday, Sept. 14. The phone will officially be available on the following Friday, Sept. 21. Apple stores open at 8:00 a.m., so make sure you’ve got a fresh cup of coffee for the morning. The lowest price rung for the iPhone will be the 16GB model for $200, followed by the 32GB for $300, and the 64GB for $400.
Pre-Order Details
Sprint customers should sprint to Sprint’s iPhone page to do their own pre-order. While the site will remain filled with old model information until the 14th, the service provider will start their own pre-order offer at 12:01 a.m. AT&T users can also get themselves geared up to keep hitting the refresh button come Friday, because they have a pre-order option available as well. The information is likely to live right after midnight on AT&T’s iPhone page. No word has come from Verizon about a Friday frenzy, but it’d be a safe bet for customers to bookmark the iPhone landing page there.
What to Expect when Pre-Ordering
If you decide to be one of the brave few (million) that decide to stay up to snag an early purchase of the iPhone 5, there are a few things you should prepare for. First of all, slow loading. These sites are built to manage a fair amount of traffic, but any event like this is sure to cause the servers to take a beating. If you have to refresh a few times, don’t be too shocked. Once you do get through, you should make sure that you’ve received email confirmation of your order. This will come in handy when you decide to pick up your phone from the local carrier of choice.
What to Expect In-Store
Buying an Apple product on the day of launch historically calls for a camping session the night before. There might not be s’mores in store, but there are no bears either, and you’ll be getting the ultimate Swiss Army Knife when you wake up in the morning. Needless to say, though, you should arrive as early as you possibly can to secure your spot in line. If you’re not committed to the cause and you didn’t pre-order, don’t bother. Wait for the madness to die down after the first few weeks so you can easily slip in and out of the store without running the risk of being squished or body-surfed to the back of the line. But if you want an iPhone on launch day and don’t want to pre-order, be prepared to get in line and wait there… for many hours.
Not all iOS 6 features will be available in every country, so Apple has posted a list to help users find what features they can use at home.
As expected, major features like maps, directions, music, movies, and the app store are widely available in as many as 150 different countries.
However, more specific features like traffic data and business reviews on maps, only appear in North and South America, select European countries, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Meanwhile a feature like 3D buildings on maps is only available in the U.S.
Siri doesn't like to travel
Voice dictation is also limited to only 15 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Siri is under similar restrictions, with Twitter and Facebook integration only available in those same countries minus China.
Siri local search and restaurant search further remove Asia from the list of available regions, while Siri's ability to look up movie showtimes is only accessible from the U.S., Canada, and U.K.
On the other hand, notable new features for iOS 6, like the Passbook app and Facetime over 3G, appear to be widely available to all given their absence from the country-specific list.
While iOS 6 is designed for the newly announced iPhone 5, it will also be compatible with the iPhone 3GS and above, both the new iPad and iPad 2, as well as the fourth generation iPod touch when it launches on Sept. 19.
The iPhone 5 is here - so here's what you need to know
Now the iPhone 5 has been announced, here's everything you need to know about Apple's brand new handset - the successor to the popular iPhone 4S.
This thing has been long rumoured of course, and we've known for a while that we'd have a lot to talk about around this time in 2012 - Apple seems to have cemented September as its time to refresh the iPhone.
1. It's called the iPhone 5
The first thing is the name - it's called iPhone 5 rather than the "new iPhone" following on from the "new iPad" which was the official Apple name for the iPad 3. Today Apple announced it had shifted 400 million iOS devices in total including a whopping 84 million iPads.
2. iPhone 5 screen
The iPhone 5 has a bigger screen than earlier versions and looks pretty much like the leaked versions we saw - the rumour mill was exactly right. There's a fifth row of icons on the home screen, while the display is the expected four inch version, but the iPhone 5 screen is not wider than the iPhone 4S, it's just thinner.
Again it has a 326ppi Retina display but now with a resolution of 1,136 by 640 pixels and a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. Apps will have to be resized for the new device - old apps will appear letterboxed. Apple has managed to make the screen thinner as touch is now integrated into the screen layer itself.
3. iPhone 5 size, weight and colour
In terms of size, iPhone 5 is 7.6mm thick and weighs 112g. It's 20 per cent lighter and 18 per cent thinner and is made of aluminum and glass. As you'll see, it has very similar aesthetics to the iPhone 4 and 4S, albeit in a redesigned shell; the volume and mute buttons are the same, for example.
iPhone 5 has a two-tone back and comes in either "white and silver" or "black and slate". In its usual understated style, Apple says "iPhone 5 combines an anodised aluminium body with diamond cut chamfered edges and glass inlays for a truly incredible fit and finish".
4. iPhone 5 processor
The processor is a new Apple A6 as expected. It has twice the CPU speed and twice the graphics power - the chop is smaller and is more battery-friendly and is based on the new-ish dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU design. It's manufactured on a 32nm process, hence the smaller physical size. Performance is also frugal - Apple says it's better on battery life than the iPhone 4S.
5. iPhone 5 cameras
The camera is smaller, but still has an 8 megapixel sensor size. It's almost exactly the same as that in the iPhone 4S in terms of spec. Apple obviously wanted to make a big thing about the stuff it did to the camera to fit it inside the new chassis, but it isn't a massive step forward although the A6 includes a better image processor.
For the record it's a 3,264 x 2,448 BSi sensor with f2.4 aperture. Apple is also bigging up its low-light performance.
It can also shoot panoramas to produce a 28MP image. It can also take pictures while shooting a video, like many other high end handsets.
The front camera is now 720p rather than VGA for FaceTime calling. There are three microphones including a new beam-forming, directional microphone for higher quality sound.
iPhone 5 now includes support for cellular wideband audio for increased clarity and more natural sounding speech. Apple says that wideband audio will be supported by over 20 carriers worldwide at launch.
There are also new headphones, too! iPhone 5 and the new iPods now have EarPods (what a name!) with a more natural fit and better durability. Apple says there will be far better sound quality with these, too. And yes, the headphone jack is now on the bottom (we don't like this, but you might).
6. iPhone 5 is 4G
As expected, we've now got a 4G LTE iPhone, primarily for the US. However, it will work on EE's new 4G UK network. The 802.11n Wi-Fi also works on 5GHz now as well as 2.4GHz.
From EE: "Our Orange and T-Mobile customers will also be able to get hold of the iPhone 5 with the biggest and best network and the fastest possible 3G network speeds. Pricing and availability to be announced in due course." So no explicit 4G talk at the moment.
O2 and Three are the other networks to announce availability so far, but nothing from Vodafone as yet. Check out iPhone 5: when will you get it?
7. The iPhone 5 dock connector is Lightning
The new 8-signal dock connector is called Lightning, though Apple says that between iCloud, AirPlay and wireless sync, you won't really need it. You can plug it in either way, while it's 80 per cent smaller than the old dock connector. An adaptor will be available for the old 30 pin type. Will it be included with the phone? We doubt it.
8. The iPhone 5 has iOS 6
The new iPhone features iOS 6 - the next generation version of Apple's mobile operating system. It includes Passbook, Apple's new e-tickets app, plus FaceTime over 3G (depending on the network) and Apple's own mobile apps (including turn-by-turn navigation).
There's also native Facebook integration. The YouTube icon seems to be missing, while the Maps icon remains the same despite the change in mapping. There's also iCloud's Shared Photo Streams so you can now share pics with other friends and family.
iOS 6 will be available on 19 September for other iOS devices.
9: iPhone 5 memory and other specs
Once again - and surprisingly - the same memory sizes are available, so that's 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. You also get Bluetooth 4.0
10: iPhone 5 release date and pricing
The iPhone 5 release date is 21 September. iPhone 5 will be available in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the US on that date, with other territories to follow. New iPhone re-orders start 14 September. In the UK, the handset will be available from the Apple Online Store, Apple's retail stores, and through Everything Everywhere, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and select Apple Authorised Resellers.
In terms of iPhone 5 price, we have a starting figure of $199 in the US with a contract, but nothing contract-wise for the UK as yet. We do have a £529 outright price though.
iPhone 5 will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries on 28 September, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
By the way, the iPhone 4 and 4S will remain available, though the 3GS is now dead as a new product.
How does Apple's new iPhone hold up against Motorola's edge-to-edge RAZR Maxx HD? Check the specs here to find out.
While Apple is getting the spotlight today for its new iPhone 5, the spiffy new handset will soon have to stand up against the competition. And one of the potential heavy-hitters out there is the (Google-owned) Motorola RAZR Maxx HD. Sporting an edge-to-edge, 4.7-inch display, and massive battery life, the RAZR Maxx HD is looking to be one of the silent heros in the Android camp. So, how does the shiny new iPhone 5 stack up against one of Motorola’s flagship handsets? Take a look at the spec breakdown below to find out.
LG is extremely confident in the Optimus G's camera
LG has made some big boasts by way of a new video for the Optimus G, claiming the powerful smartphone is packing the "world's best camera."
The LG Optimus G will feature a 13-megapixel "ultra slim camera" in some regions, while others will only get an 8-megapixel snapper.
The video doesn't specify which regions will get the better camera, though LG will likely reveal that info soon, as the LG Optimus G is reportedly launching in September in Korea and worldwide by the end of the year.
Either way, the LG Optimus G's camera will sport some impressive tech.
Optimus G camera specs
According to the video, the LG Optimus G's camera includes "High Accuracy PKG technology from LG Innotek," which according to LG's website grants it small size and better accuracy, among other advantages.
LG Innotek's director of optical solution business Hyeong-cheol Moon calls the Optimus G's camera "the world's best ultra compact and ultra slim camera" and claims that the 13-megapixel shutter is the highest-pixel camera on any smartphone.
Apparently no one told him about the Nokia 808 Pureview, with its 41-megapixel camera, or the just-announced Nokia Lumia 920 with its similar Pureview tech (though, granted, a mere 8 megapixels).
Moon also cites the image sensor's small pixel size, the thin, large-diameter lens, and the display's True HD IPS+ tech, which he says minimizes noise and enhances color-matching between the lens and the display.
The LG Optimus G is a beast
That said, 12 megapixels really is as high as a smartphone needs to get, and the rest of the Optimus G's specs sheet is even more impressive.
While our friends across the Atlantic have been basking in the full shine of fast LTE wireless network connectivity, here in Europe the adoption rate has been... well, let's just say, less than stellar.
But fast or not, LTE adoption in Europe is happening. It's the 4G we've all been waiting and now that the mobile hardware has matured enough, Apple is finally confident enough to hop on the LTE bandwagon. But are the carriers ready?
Here are the LTE carriers, which would support the iPhone 5:
USA
AT&T
Sprint - CDMA iPhone
Verizon - CDMA iPhone
Canada
Bell (including Virgin)
Rogers (including Fido)
Telus (including Koodo)
Japan
KDDI - CDMA iPhone
Softbank
Germany
Deutsche Telekom
UK
EE a.k.a. Everything Everywhere (Orange & T-Mobile)
Australia
Optus (including Virgin)
Telstra
South Korea
SK Telecom
KT
Hong Kong
SmarTone
Singapore
M1
SingTel
Going through the fine print we also found that unlocked iPhone 5 models may support LTE networks outside the country of purchase when using a valid SIM from a supported carrier, though certain limitations apply. LTE roaming may not be available in-between all carriers and band support does not necessarily guarantee support on all LTE networks running on the same bands.
The list of carriers offering LTE is certainly not long and the coverage in Europe is rather flimsy. Let's hope that a popular device such as the iPhone would be able to change the odds into the customer's favor.
After an afternoon of big reveals, including the iPhone 5, new iPod Nano and Touch models, as well as the next version of iTunes, you would have thought Apple to be content.
Fortunately, Apple is hardly one to rest on their laurels, and instead of merely waiting until next week's iOS 6 launch, has released a new update to iTunes today.
The iTunes 10.7 update will shore up compatibility with the new iPods, as well as prepping the service to work with iOS 6.
Coming in at a meager 165MB, the update doesn't add much else in the way of important upgrades.
Final version of iOS 6 released for devs
Additionally, Apple has released the final retail version of iOS 6 for developers.
Though many devs have had their hands on the beta version of iOS 6 for a while now, the iOS 6 GM (or Golden Master) is indicative of the final build the rest of the iPhone-adoring public will see on Sept. 19.
Xcode 4.5 GM has also been released ahead of the final build, which should make it much easier for developers to create apps for iOS 6.
iOS 6 will work across a litany of Apple's devices, including the iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and 4th gen iPod Touch, as well as all of today's officially announced products.
Check out how the specs of Apple's hot new iPhone 5 compare to its toughest Android rival, Samsung's Galaxy S3.
The iPhone 5 is finally here. And if you’ve been paying attention to the rumors over the past few months, then you pretty much already know all the phone has to offer. The rumors were spot on. The question now is: How does the iPhone 5 stack up against its biggest rival, Samsung’s Galaxy S3? Check out our spec showdown below for the complete breakdown.
The iPhone 5 is here. But is it worth the money to upgrade from the iPhone 4S? Check out the specs and decide for yourself.
A new year, a new iPhone. Apple announced today the latest version of it’s best-selling handset, the iPhone 5. As expected, the device features a number of updates, most notably a larger, 4-inch display, a better camera, and an updated processor. So, is it worth throwing down a few hard-earned Benjamins to upgrade from the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 5? Check out our spec comparison chart below to find out.
Apple showed off a new design for its iPod Nano and iPod Touch at the September 12 event in San Francisco.
After revealing the long-awaited iPhone 5 (confirming all the rumors) and its new version of iTunes, Apple brought a new line of iPods into the limelight. Presented to a packed room by Greg Joswiak, the crowd was treated to a newly designed iPod nano and iPod touch.
The 7th-generation iPod Nano is 50 percent thinner than its predecessor. It has a multi-touch, 2.5-inch display capable of widescreen video and will come in seven colors: silver, black, purple, green, blue, yellow, and pink. There’s a built-in FM tuner with a live pause feature. Fitness seems to be a big part of the Nano with a built-in pedometer and native support for Nike+. The new Lightning connector has been extended to the iPod line up as well, guaranteeing a few more sales of the new adaptor. Bluetooth support is included, handy for wireless headphones or speakers. And even with all that, Apple still promises 30 hours of music playback on battery.
The new iPod Touch has slimmed down as well. It’s thinner than ever, measuring just 6.1mm and weighing in at 88 grams. It’s loaded with the same widescreen, updated 4-inch Retina display of the iPhone 5. The older A5 processor is packed in, offering performance up to seven times better than past generations. As for battery, we’re looking at 8 hours of video or 40 hours of music. The camera’s been upgraded to a 5-megapixel iSight, able to shoot 1080p video and take advantage of the new Panorama feature. AirPlay mirroring was shown off as well, definitely a welcome addition.
The new Touch also underwent a few aesthetic changes. It can now be purchased in five different colors: silver, black, blue, yellow, and pink. There’s also a hidden button on the rear of the phone that allows for a matching wrist loop to be attached. It looks a lot like the wrist straps on a Wii remote, only plastic instead of nylon.
Both the new Nano and Touch have an additional Project RED version with a portion of the profits going to fight AIDS in Africa. The 16GB iPod nano is $150 and the new Touch will be $300 for 32GB and $400 for 64GB. Availability is set for sometime in October.
Apple also debuted a set of redesigned headphones, calling them “EarPods.” We covered them previously and the new design is exactly what was shown in these leaked photos. The EarPods have been reshaped to funnel music into the ear, rather than splash it all over like the current headphones on offer by Apple. They’re available as a standalone accessory starting today, but will thankfully be bundled with the new iPod Touch, iPod Nano, and iPhone 5.
Though Apple's iPhone 5 and iOS 6 will be getting most of the attention from today's press conference, they weren't the only stars of the show.
Apple also introduced a major revamp to their iTunes service, set to arrive in late October for Mac and PC clients.
The latest updates to what Apple called "the world's most popular media player" will incorporate plenty of cosmetic and interface changes, as well as a few new tricks to make the existing package even more impressive.
iCloud improvements
With more than 200 million people using iTunes on the Cloud, it should come as no surprise that Apple will be including better iCloud integration when the update arrives.
No matter where you bought your music, movies, or books on iTunes, iCloud will seamlessly incorporate that purchase into all of your libraries.
More importantly, you will now be able to continue watching or listening to movies and music exactly where you left off, and you'll be able to resume playing your media on any device with iTunes.
Cosmetic changes
Once the October update arrives, iTunes will be ditching the sidebars in favor of a full-window interface.
The new grid-style view for your library will allow you to see everything you have in a specific category, be it movies, music, TV shows, or books.
Clicking on an album will let expand the screen to show you a track listing, all the while keeping the rest of your library in plain sight for continued exploration.
There's also an all new MiniPlayer, which will give users the ability to listen to and search for new songs without having to open their entire library.
Additionally, iTunes will add Up Next, which will offer improved insight into what songs are coming up in the playlist, and will allow you to change your queue without much fuss.
iTunes on iOS
The Mac and PC versions of iTunes aren't the only ones getting a bit of polish.
Coming along with the Sept. 19 iOS 6 release is a new version of iTunes for all iOS devices.
Since 60% of all iTunes downloads come from mobile devices, it certainly makes sense for Apple to continue their redesign across all their brands.
iTunes will incorporate a carousel view, and the new library view will be utilized across music, movie, and book stores.
You'll also be able to continue browsing the store while previewing a new song, and will allow you to share your media selections on Facebook and Twitter.
With a new wave of iPods also on the way, this iTunes update couldn't be coming at a better time.
While the iPhone 5 was the big announcement, Apple's ever-present music store got a sizable redesign as well. Both iOS and application versions of iTunes have new looks coming soon.
While the big news to come from the Apple press conference was the highly anticipated iPhone 5, Apple also snuck in an update to its iTunes music store. After hyping up just how great the product already is, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddie Cue, told the crowd at the Cupertino headquarters that the “number one music store in the world” was going to get better — or at least different.
After realizing that two thirds of all iTunes purchases have come from iOS devices, Apple started with a redesign of the mobile app, according to executives. The new look is more streamlined and consistent throughout the store, from music to books and videos. The screenshots show a banner of featured content at the top of the store, followed by rows of new and popular items below it. The store is promising to yield better search results and improved performance. You’ll also be able to preview products while browsing, a handy feature for anyone that actually likes to try — or listen — before buying. The App Store also got a new layout that prominently features Facebook integration. You will be able to “like” and share your favorite apps through the Store. The iTunes iOS app will be available September 19 along with iOS 6.
While the iTunes app got a nice revamping, the desktop application also got its share of changes. The new iTunes comes with an edge-to-edge design will make the browsing and viewing experience more immersive, as options from your library and the store sprawl across the length of the screen. Clicking on an album cover will cause the album to expand in line, revealing the tracks of the selection. It’s very much a design cue from iOS. A new feature called “In the Store” will show top songs and albums from an artist, allowing you to finish off your discography of your favorite musicians.
Browsing the new iTunes library by artist will allow for some artist-to-listener sharing. For instance, when you look at Coldplay’s library, you can also see pictures that the band is sharing with their followers. It feels like a feature borrowed from the ill-conceived Ping music network.
If you’re playing music from a playlist or a full album, the music player will have a drop-down menu called “Up Next” that will show songs that are next in the queue. The pop-out mini player also got a redesign. It’s smaller, sleeker, and has the same handy drop-down feature. The mini player displays a small clip of the album art with the name of the song and artist currently playing. The same area becomes the control panel for when you want to change songs. You can also pull up the search bar, which now provides a live preview of your search term, including album covers.
Movies received an overhaul similar to the music department within iTunes, with the edge-to-edge view of all your video collections. Because iTunes has full iCloud integration, films you were watching on your iOS device can now be continued on your desktop or other computers running iTunes with the iCloud. The iTunes 11 download will be available late October.
The new iPhone 5 has been launched, but that's only half the story - you want to know when and where you can get your iPaws all over the handset.
Well, the iPhone 5 launch date has been set for 21 September, and pre-ordering begins on the 14th of the same month.
We've spoken to all the networks to find out which will be stocking the new iPhone, and if it will feature any fancy new features we may not have seen:
Everything Everywhere, Orange and T-Mobile
"[Everything Everywhere] will launch an exclusive 4G LTE version of the new iPhone when the EE customer brand launches in the coming weeks, giving customers five times faster network speeds than on 3G.
"Our Orange and T-Mobile customers will also be able to get hold of the iPhone 5 with the biggest and best network and the fastest possible 3G network speeds."
Vodafone
Vodafone has been boringly coporate in its response, telling us that:
"We welcome the arrival of the iPhone 5 and Vodafone UK plans to offer the new device to our customers. Availability of the device will be announced in due course."
BORING.
O2
O2 was nice and eloquent on its feelings on the iPhone 5, with the CEO even getting involved:
"O2 will launch Apple's iPhone 5 in all its stores and online from 21 September 2012, with further announcements about pricing and pre-order details coming soon.
iPhone 5 will be available to everyone from 21 September 2012, whether they're already an O2 customer ready for an upgrade or looking to join O2. It will be available on O2's new On & On Pay Monthly tariffs as well as Pay & Go Go Go, O2's reinvention of Pay & Go. For more information and to register for updates, visit http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone.
"We're celebrating the fifth year of working with Apple in style," said Ronan Dunne, Chief Executive of O2 in the UK. "We're looking forward to bringing the new iPhone 5 to everyone very soon, whether they're already on O2 or not."
Three
Three took to Facebook to make its announcement - as you might expect it's got a lovely fresh tone:
"Heard the rumours about a brand new iPhone? They're only bloomin' true! We're excited to confirm that the new iPhone 5 will be available for pre-order on Three from Friday 14th September. Register here for updates http://bit.ly/QQw0it"
Virgin Mobile
The Branson-powered network doesn't always have the best track record at bringing its customers the new iPhone, so we'll wait with bated breath to see if it will buck that trend in 2012.
Phones4U / The Carphone Warehouse
The nation's biggest phone retailers will almost certainly have a range of iPhone 5 plans, so stick around to hear what they might be.
With the iPhone 5, Apple shows off a capable, improved - yet 25 percent smaller - camera.
Without a doubt, one of the iPhone 4S’s most lauded features has been its double duty as point-and-shoot camera. It quickly rose to the top of Flickr’s most popular cameras and has become a major threat to digital pocket cam manufacturers. So it’s only fitting that Apple carry on the tradition with the iPhone 5.
How does the latest iteration improve on its predecessor? Allow us to quickly break it down for you, starting with what’s exactly the same.
Been there, done that
The iPhone 5 has an 8 megapixel sensor – same as the iPhone 4S
The new camera will capture images at a 3264 x 2448 resolution – same as the iPhone 4S
Backside illuminated sensor – same as the iPhone 4S
Five-element lens with F2.4 aperture – same as the iPhone 4S
Like the 4S, the 5 will shoot video using the rear-facing camera at 1080p…
New territory
…But the front-facing camera will also now be able to shoot video (for Facetime purposes) at 720p.
There’s a new dynamic low light mode.
Better processing power thanks to the A6 chip, which should translate to improved noise reduction, image stabilization, face detection, faster shooting (40 percent faster), and, as mentioned above, better low light shooting capabilities. You can also now take pictures while shooting video.
The sapphire crystal lens: Apple says the material is renowned for being “hard and crystal clear.” It’s an attention-getting phrase, for sure, but for the record this really just means better protection for the lens. It’s a really resistant material, so you shouldn’t have to worry about damaging your iPhone 5’s camera very easily.
There’s a built-in panoramic stitch capability — which can shoot images up to 28 megapixels in size) — with an auto-stabilizer for those with shaky hands.
As expected, shareable Photo Streams are also now available (this is an iCloud and iOS 6 feature).
Obviously, the iPhone 5 is smaller and thinner than the last iteration, which is generally bad news for shooting capabilities. The iPhone 5’s camera is smaller, 25 percent smaller in fact, and there’s plenty here that’s similar to what we currently have in the 4S… but Apple’s still doing what it can to remain on top of the smartphone-as-pocket-cam game.
At its much anticipated press event in San Francisco, Apple has revealed the iPhone 5.
Apple has announced the iPhone 5 during its highly anticipated press conference at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Apple’s Phil Schiller took the wraps off the next generation smartphone to huge applause from those gathered in the auditorium, so here’s everything we know so far about the brand-new Apple iPhone 5.
Schiller described the new device as “a jewel,” and the “most beautiful product we’ve ever made.” As expected, it has a 4-inch touchscreen with a 1136 x 640 pixel Retina-quality resolution, while the design is identical to those we’ve seen leaked over the past months.
Billed as the “world’s most advanced display,” Apple has removed a layer from the screen and incorporated the touch sensors into the display itself.
The body is made from glass and aluminum, and weighs just 112 grams. It’s also 18-percent thinner than the iPhone 4 and 4S.
Inside hides a new A6 processor, which is 22-percent smaller and twice as fast as the A5 in the 4S, as well as providing twice the graphics performance too.
The iPhone 5 also supports LTE bands, using a single chip for voice and data, and a single chip for the radio too. Like Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD, the iPhone 5 has been equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, plus 802.11a/b/g/n.
The Apple event is ongoing, and we’ll update this article with more information as it’s announced.
The Apple event is underway and the star of the show will be the new iPhone, though we expect to see a couple of new iPods as well. Here's the place where we'll be uploading the new info as soon as it becomes available, so make sure to keep an eye on this space.
Apple doesn't do live streaming, unfortunately, so we can't just embed a live video stream from the event as we usually do. Those Cupertino guy sure like being mysterious, don't they?
We've all seen the many leaked photos of various components, even whole prototypes, heard about what features the iPhone 5 will or won't have, now we're just waiting for Tim Cook to take the stage and put an end to the guesswork.
And Tim Cook is on stage!
He took some time to give us the statistics on Mac and Mountain Lion - there have been 7 million updates to Mountain Lion, Mac market share is up 27% in July.
iPads are on the rise too - 17 million were sold this quarter, bringing the total to 84 million.
A journalist goes undercover to help assemble new iPhone
As we wait for Apple to take the wraps off the iPhone 5, one Chinese journalist has come forward with his story about going undercover at Foxconn to assemble Cupertino's latest handset.
According to Cnet, the Shanghai Evening Post has published a detailed peek inside Foxconn's Tai Yuan factory, where an undercover reporter spent 10 days putting together on iPhone 5 back plates on the night shift.
Prior to being put on the assembly line, the journalist spent seven days being put through an "intensive" orientation before being put to work on the midnight to 6 a.m. night shift.
"Here to earn money"
The reporter's job entailed marking the iPhone 5 backplate with an oil-based paint pen in four different spots - as fast as humanly possible.
"By my own calculations, I have to mark five iPhone plates every minute, at least," an English translation posted to MIC Gadget notes. "For every 10 hours, I have to accomplish 3,000 iPhone 5 back plates."
The journalist's shift was devoid of even a single break, and the Foxconn supervisor reportedly pushed his team to work longer and harder.
"The supervisor shout out loud in front of us: 'Who wants to rest early at 5 a.m.!? We are all here to earn money! Let's work harder!'," the report reveals.
"I was thinking who on earth wants to work two extra hours overtime for only mere 27 yuan (USD$4)!?"
Judging from the conditions noted by the unnamed journalist, it seems Foxconn may still have some work ahead of it following the Fair Labor Association investigations earlier this year.
16:52 – So what can we expect from this press conference? Well let us entertain you with a few options… The iPhone 5 is going to be the headline product, and we're now 99.9% sure that's the name, after a little Apple error earlier today.
But that's not all, we could also see a new iPod touch, new iPod nano and a new version of the famous iTunes software make an appearance on stage.
16:45 – Our man on the ground at the Apple event is Patrick Goss, who'll be looking forward to getting hands on with all the latest hardware (ahem, iPhone 5), as well as beaming back nuggets of golden information direct to this very page.
16:40 - Howdy folks! TechRadar will be reporting live from the special Apple event (kicking off at 10am PST / 6pm GMT) in San Francisco today, bringing you all the latest news as it breaks.
We'll be regularly updating this article with all the major announcements, so make sure you keep hitting refresh (that's F5 on your keyboard!).
Crafty Apple fans have found links on Apple.com search that appear to confirm the iPhone 5, iTunes 11, 4G LTE, and new iPods.
Apple’s big fall press conference is less than two hours away (10am PST), but that doesn’t mean the Internet is prepared to wait. Small “confirmations” of existing rumors are popping up all over the Web. Do not take this information as fact just yet, but it’s looking highly likely that the new iPhone will indeed be called the iPhone 5, it will have 4G LTE connectivity, a new iPod Touch is coming, a new iPod Nano is coming, and iTunes 11 may also be announced.
Most of this information comes from 9to5Mac, which has done some rather sleuthy searching on Apple.com’s website. We’ve verified that if you search for “iPhone-5″ on Apple’s site, a link to what appears to be a forthcoming press release appears in the search results. However, when you attempt to click on any of the articles, they return a 404 error, which could mean that they just aren’t live yet or that they aren’t real articles to begin with — it’s possible that they were placeholders for an iPhone that never came to be. However, it’s more likely that this phone will be called iPhone 5. The press invitations Apple sent out for this event had a giant “5″ in them — a pretty strong hint that Apple isn’t planning to get crafty with its naming scheme.
Similar searches on Apple.com seem to prove other rumors:
New iPods are coming as well, according to searches, which makes sense as Apple announced iPod updates with the iPhone 4S. Earlier this morning, we posted a new rumor that the iPod Touch will get a FaceTime camera, GPS, and new colors. It’s likely that the other iPods will be updated as well.
iTunes 11 may be shown. Supposedly, it’s a pretty big overhaul of iTunes. Perhaps Apple is finally going to use Lala?
As well as leaking the name of its upcoming handset, the iPhone 5, Apple has also managed to let slip new iPod devices.
A quick search on the Apple website shows up a URL which states "Apple Introduces New iPod touch, iPod nano", and although not linked to a page of content yet, we'd expect it to go live later today.
That means we could well be in for at least three new pieces of hardware at the Apple press conference, and it leaves us wondering, what else could the Cupertino firm have up its sleeve?
Well, another search on the Apple site may have given us yet another nugget of information, with a new version of iTunes possibly on its way as well. The screen grab above shows a URL ending with "Apple-Unveils-New-iTunes" - so go figure.
Closed for business
To top it all off, and to really signal we're in the lead up to a big announcement, the Apple Store has been taken offline, presumably to allow for all the lovely new products, and their eye-watering price tags, to be added.
TechRadar will be reporting live from the press conference, bringing you all the latest news on products and software as it's announced.
