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Walmart dropping iPhone 5c to $29, 5s to $99 beginning tomorrow
If you've been holding out for reduced pricing on Apple's latest smartphones, you're in luck. Walmart is planning to make both models a bit more affordable beginning tomorrow, according to a spokesperson. The 16GB iPhone 5c will be available in stores for $29 with a two-year contract (down from $49), while the 16GB iPhone 5s is expected to retail for $99, a 50-dollar savings. The retailer ran a similar promotion earlier this year, but this week's move is permanent and should take effect beginning at 9 tomorrow morning (local time), available only in stores. We don't have specifics for the 32GB versions, but pricing will be reduced for both of those models as well.
iPhone 5c review
After weeks of leaks and speculation, the iPhone 5c is finally here. Apple's colorful new lower-cost handset slots below the iPhone 5s flagship and ships with iOS 7. This is the first time the company's launched two new iPhones simultaneously. The 5c replaces the iPhone 5 in the middle of the lineup, and the 8GB iPhone 4s is now available free on contract. Unlike years past, the iPhone 5 doesn't carry on as a second-tier device -- it's just gone. The 5c is built from steel-reinforced, colored-through, machined polycarbonate that's coated in a glossy finish. Apple's last plastic handset was the iPhone 3GS in 2009, but it only came in black and white. In contrast, the 5c arrives in a rainbow of pastel hues: white, pink, yellow, blue and green, along with a matching set of cases. Spec-wise, the 5c is basically an iPhone 5 with an improved front-facing camera and global LTE support. The 16GB model costs $99 with a two-year commitment ($549 unlocked) and the 32GB version is $199 on contract ($649 unsubsidized) -- as such it's more affordable than the departed iPhone 5. While Apple's clearly positioning the 5c as an aspirational product, we suspect it's also less expensive to manufacture than the iPhone 5, which means the company gets to enjoy some higher profit margins. It's obviously not the cheap iPhone some folks were expecting, and frankly, we're not surprised -- it's an Apple device, after all. So does the 5c live up to the hype? Is it an improvement over the iPhone 5? Should you pony up for the iPhone 5s instead? Let's find out.
A look at iPhone upgrade math
With two new iPhone models launching, Macworld has put up a handy guide detailing all of the options available for folks looking to upgrade to either the iPhone 5c or 5s. For a lot of folks, upgrading to a new device is no problem, assuming of course that they're at the end of their two-year phone contract. If you happen to be stuck in an existing phone contract, however, there's no reason to fret. There are still a few ways you can get the latest and greatest from Apple without breaking the bank. Without question, buying an unsubsidized (read: full-price) iPhone can set you back a few hundred, but if you already own an iPhone, or any other smartphone for that matter, you might want to consider selling it for cash. You'd be surprised as to how much some websites like Gazelle are willing to pay for old devices. A 32 GB iPhone 4S on Sprint, for example, could net you $155. Even a broken 32 GB iPhone 4s can get you $55. If you're tired of your current provider, Macworld reminds us that you can simply bite the bullet, pay an early termination fee and simply sign up for a new two-year contract with an entirely new carrier. Termination fees vary from carrier to carrier and are based on how many months remain on your current contract. That said, make sure to find out exactly how much your termination fee is before jumping ship. The Macworld piece has some more info detailing ways you might be able to make an iPhone 5c or 5s upgrade a reality, so check it out to make sure you're ready come next Friday.
Weekly Roundup: Galaxy Gear hands-on, iPhone 5S and 5C rumors, Microsoft / Nokia acquisition, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Roundup: iPhone 5S and 5C rumors, Distro Issue 106, LG Nexus 5 at the FCC, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
AllVid still seems like a dream, but new CableCARD rules go into effect soon
It's no surprise that a government entities' own deadlines are never met, but while the FCC's Broadband Plan originally expressed its intent to apply bandaids to CableCARD in the Fall of 2010, November 1st 2011 is the date most feeling the pain can circle on their calendar. That is the day all cable providers will be required to allow self installs, while December 1st is the day that the new useless IP interface must start working -- certainly to be made useless by unlicensable DRM, like 5C did to 1394. These new CableCARD rules are still great for TiVo, Moxi and InfiniTV customers, but the dream of AllVid seems destined to follow a similar fate with 2011 half way over and almost no progress towards the promise of a 2012 deployment made.
HANA adds Cablevision & 17 other new members, demos connectivity
We've been following the High Definition Audio Video Network Alliance for over a year now and at this year's CES the group is announcing it has added 18 new companies, most notably Cablevision joining as a board member. The promise of easily connected HD devices from companies like JVC, Mitsubishi and Samsung is enticing but the fact is that none of those companies announced plans for the technology in their new product lineups. CE Pro sat in on a reception last night and did see connectivity demonstrations on various devices, including a HANA-enabled Samsung HDTV. Progress takes time so for now check out a list of HANA's 17 other new members after the break and dream of a day when your HDTV, AV system, set-top box, DVR and PMPs can join hands as sisters and brothers throughout the house with no new wiring or extensive setup necessary.Read - Cablevision Joins High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) BoardRead - HANA Scores with Multiple Vendors Showing Interoperability over 1394
Windows Media Center: Cablecard support is great but what about 5C?
While we all sit patiently waiting for Windows Media Center CableCARD support I started to wonder. FireWire has been available on Cable boxes for almost 2 years but we still can't stream HD to our Xbox 360 since most of the channels are protected with 5C. This of course also prevents us from enjoying the content in HD on our HTPCs because of the lack of 5C support. Some people say that 5C will never be supported by PCs, but the original 5C presentation actually has a picture of a PC connected to the 1394 network. So all of this this lead me to the question: why hasn't Microsoft added 5C support to Windows Media Center Edition?Is it simply because CableCARD is a better solution, so why bother? Wouldn't it be cool if WMCE could participate in a HAVi or HANA network, turning other HANA TVs into Media Center connectors? Or support backing up to DVHS? Maybe they have tried but were turned down. Either way, I think it would be a great option, especially considering it wouldn't require a special capture card in the computer, just a 5C supported 1394 port.
