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Apple offering in-store iPhone 5 display replacements for $149
MacRumors is reporting that Apple this week began repairing iPhone 5 screens in its retail stores for US$149. The move is significant not only because Apple retail stores are prevalent and easy to find, but also because the price point isn't outrageous. In fact, you might even say that it's a bargain. A few weeks ago we reported on the rising cost of iPhone 5 screen repairs, with Apple sometimes charging as much as $229 to repair a broken iPhone 5 screen. Some third-party companies have even been known to charge more than that. Driving the atypically high repair costs is the fact that the iPhone 5 utilizes more expensive display components than previous iPhone models. Changes to Apple's repair policies first surfaced last month, where a town hall session revealed that Apple would begin in-house repairs of displays in June in an effort to save approximately $1 billion per year. MacRumors heard from a tipster this morning that the new repair policy had been implemented and the changes have since been confirmed in a forum post from iPhone repair site Quick iFix. The repairs are available for cracked displays as well as screens that experience multitouch issues. Interestingly enough, MacRumors also relays that Apple's in-house iPhone repair options are poised to expand come July when the company will begin fixing other iPhone-related problems, including sleep / wake button issues and camera issues.
Australia's Woolworths drops RIM for iPhones
Australian supermarket chain Woolworths is dropping the BlackBerry handsets used by employees in many of its more than 800 locations in favor of iPhones. The company is in the process of gathering the staff's remaining 550 BlackBerrys, which will then be replaced by iPhone 5s. Australian wireless provider Optus inked the deal with Woolworths. The change is part of a larger shift in the company to rely on Apple's hardware for its mobile needs. After Woolworths distributed nearly 900 iPads to store managers during a recent conference in Sydney, productivity reportedly went up considerably. So, when the company determined its collection of aging BlackBerrys warranted replacement, leaning on Apple once again was likely a no-brainer. Of course, while the news is a plus for Apple, things aren't looking nearly so bright for RIM. Once the go-to for business communication technology, the company's BlackBerry line has been steadily losing ground to iOS and Android for several years. [Via: MacDailyNews]
WSJ: Next iPhone to have even thinner screen
Apple's next smartphone iteration will reportedly pack new screen technology that shaves a small amount from the screen thickness. According to the Wall Street Journal's sources, the new in-cell technology integrates the touch sensor into the screen, shedding around half a millimeter and due to the reduced space between screen and user, could well improve image quality. Although a mere 0.5 mm reduction may not mean much for the phone's frame, it could help offset any weight added by a larger screen. The Wall Street Journal also reports that the still-LCD screens will be made by joint venture Japan Display, LG Display and Sharp. Manufacturers are apparently battling to maintain high-yield rates on the new screen technology, which until now has been limited to bigger displays. Hit up the source for the full report.
