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The Lumia 950 vs. the competition: A battle of flagships
The smaller of the new Lumias is quite the powerhouse on paper, but how does it stack up against the latest iOS and Android devices? At first glance, Microsoft's newest flagship, the Lumia 950, seems plenty powerful with its 1.8GHz hexa-core Snapdragon 808, 3GB of RAM and 5.2-inch Quad HD AMOLED display. However, we've got the face-off after the break with a side-by-side comparison between the Lumia 950, iPhone 6s and Nexus 5x so you can decide for yourself which one best suits your needs.
AppleCare+ for iPhone 6s costs $30 more than iPhone 6 coverage
AppleCare+ covers your new iPhone in the event it breaks or is damaged, and for the iPhone 6, a year of service costs $100. AppleCare+ for the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, however, will set you back $130. Additionally, the charge for accidental damage is higher with Apple's latest models, up from $80 for iPhone 6 or earlier versions to $100 for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
The iPhone 6s vs. the iPhone 6: What's changed?
We've just wrapped up this year's big iPhone event, which means iPhone owners now get to ponder over whether or not to upgrade their handsets. It's easy enough when there are plenty of cosmetic changes and new features to really distinguish a new iPhone from your old one, but this time around we're looking at an iterative 'S' version where, aside from a new rose gold color, the improvements are not always obvious at first glance. Fortunately, we've got the specs for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lined up for your perusal right here. So you can decide whether it's got enough additional oomph for you to dig out your wallet now, or wait until next year's edition instead.
Apple introduces a carrier-free iPhone upgrade plan
Apple announced an alternative to paying your carrier for new iPhones at its press event today. Dubbed the iPhone Upgrade Program, the new system will allow customers to get a new phone every year while upgrading to the new flagship device annually. The 24-month installment plan starts at about $32 a month for the 16GB iPhone 6s. As the Apple website explains, "After 12 installments, you can get a new iPhone and start a new iPhone Upgrade Program. No more waiting for your carrier contract to end. Just trade in your current iPhone for a new one, and your new program begins." This is similar to installment plans offered by the major carriers, albeit for an unlocked device that also includes Apple Care. The program launches at 12:01 AM on September 12th alongside the 6s pre-orders.
Apple drops prices on the iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus
Sure, the brightest stars in Apple's smartphone universe may be the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, but what if you want a big-screen iPhone on a (relative) budget? Don't worry, you're covered: Apple has dropped the prices on its older iPhone models. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus now start at $99 and $199 on 2-year contracts ($23 and $27 per month on typical installment plans, or $549 and $649 outright), making them much more palatable. The iPhone 5s is sticking around, too, and you can pick it up for free on a contract, $19 per month on installments or $450 up front.
What to expect from Apple's 'Hey Siri' iPhone event
Gosh, is it September already? The impending leaf death and the moaning of young'uns going back to school are usually accompanied by shiny new Apple gewgaws to gawk at, and this year is no exception. We'll be schlepping cross-country to bring you all the news from Apple's "Hey Siri" event at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern on Wednesday, but before we grab our boarding passes and all our cameras, let's recap what we think the company's got in store for us.
Verizon makes it easier to bring (some) phones to its network
As a CDMA-based carrier (until LTE takes over), Verizon isn't nearly as friendly to the bring-your-own-phone trend as the likes of AT&T or T-Mobile. You can't usually swap SIM cards and expect your unlocked phone to work. Thankfully, the carrier recently made the process a whole lot easier... provided you have the right device, that is. It'll now activate compatible, unlocked versions of the iPhone 6 and Nexus 6. So long as you can find your device's ID and pick up a Verizon SIM, you can jump over to Big Red without having to ditch your existing hardware. You'll likely be stuck if you own another device, but that's more due to technology (few unlocked phones have full Verizon CDMA and LTE support at present) than anything else.
PSA: Apple will replace your iPhone 6 Plus' wonky camera
Did you buy an iPhone 6 Plus sometime between last September and this January? Do you notice that your shots taken with its back camera come out all blurry? Yeah, it's not just you. Turns out, a limited number of these phones shipped with a manufacturing defect. However, Apple is aware of the issue and has already begun issuing replacements for the iSight camera. If you think that you have one of these borked units, go to this website and type in your phone's serial number. If your unit is part of that bad batch, Apple will replace the camera (not the entire phone) at no charge. Also, if you're rocking one of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6's, don't worry; none of those units suffered from the defect. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
T-Mobile will swap your iPhone 6 for the next model at no extra cost
If you've ever had to upgrade an iPhone months after launch, you've likely felt some anxiety: you need a new device right now, but you know you'll feel buyer's remorse when the next model shows up in September. T-Mobile thinks it can set your mind at ease, however. It's launching a promo that lets you swap the iPhone 6 for its successor while locking in the $15 per month JUMP On Demand lease price -- so long as you buy the existing handset by September 7th, you just have to trade it in to upgrade. You'll also get first dibs on the next iPhone if you order it from the carrier within the first two days of availability, so you shouldn't be waiting for days simply because you ordered a few minutes too late.
The iPhone 6 Plus won't fit Fallout 4's Pip-Boy (and I'm sad)
Thanks a lot, Bethesda. After the outfit's first E3 media briefing, I pre-ordered the Pip-Boy Edition of Fallout 4 because of course I want to put a real-life version of the game's stat-tracker and menu system on my forearm. All good, right? Well, I'm also in the market for a new phone and was eyeing an iPhone 6 Plus because it has a better camera and battery life compared to its smaller sibling, the iPhone 6. That's where the problems arise: Bethesda recently announced that the real-world Pip-Boy comes with foam inserts that fit the iPhone 4 and 4s, 5 and 5s and the 6 in addition to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5. The company also promises a customizable foam insert that'll accommodate "most other popular" handsets.
Dark Sky uses your iPhone's sensors to improve weather forecasts
Your iPhone gives you weather forecasts right from the get-go, but it's now ready to shape those forecasts as well. Dark Sky has given its iOS app a big overhaul that, if you like, uses the barometer on your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus to contribute pressure readings. The hope is that these will dramatically improve short-term forecasts in the future -- you'll know that it's about to rain because iPhones nearby gave you a heads-up. There have been apps that crowdsourced pressure data before, but rarely with the intent to directly improve forecasts -- and not on the scale of Dark Sky, one of iOS' best-known weather tools.
The best iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus battery cases
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article below at TheWirecutter.com. We've spent more than 140 hours testing 21 different battery cases (18 for the iPhone 6 and three for the iPhone 6 Plus), and we think the best battery case for most people is Anker's Ultra Slim Extended Battery Case. It provides an above-average 117 percent of a full charge to the iPhone 6one full charge plus another 17 percentand at only $40, it's by far the least expensive. The result is the highest ratio of charge percent per dollar and the lowest cost per full iPhone recharge out of all the models we looked at. It's also the lightest and thinnest battery case we tested.
iPhones can be Google VR viewers, too
As we walked out of today's Google I/O keynote, we -- and all other keynote attendees -- were handed the second-generation version of Cardboard, Google's low-tech effort at a VR headset. As was announced at the keynote itself, the new Cardboard is designed to fit phones that are 6-inches or larger, which makes sense given the size of Google's own Nexus 6. It's also now much easier to set up; in just three easy steps. Another improvement is that it no longer has the magnetic ring trigger of the original, which apparently didn't work with all phones. Now it has a simple top button that when pressed, activates a lever coated in capacitive tape -- think of it as a cardboard finger touching the phone's screen. This, of course, makes the Cardboard viewer compatible with a lot more phones -- including, yes, the iPhone.
popSLATE gives your iPhone a second (not so useful) screen
Like most smartphone users, I unlock my screen incessantly so I usually run out of battery when I most need it. But popSLATE promises to be the rehab for my swipe-screen addiction. It's a smartphone case with an in-built E Ink screen that can personalize the back of an iPhone 6. I could use it to flaunt my favorite pictures or if I run out of battery, at say, an airport, I'd be able to flip my phone over to scan my boarding pass. It seemed like the perfect solution for my excessive phone usage. So I turned the back of my phone into a second, always-on screen for about a week.
The best iPhone 6 case (so far)
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article below at TheWirecutter.com. After surveying almost 1,000 Wirecutter readers and testing close to 100 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases over a period of about 50 hours (so far), our current pick for the best all-around case is the NGP from Incipio. The NGP line has protected several generations of iPhones (and many other devices) and has a reputation for providing solid protection and a good fit at a great price. It's slim enough not to detract from the iPhone 6's svelte dimensions while still offering comprehensive protection for the handset's body, including its buttons. Openings along the bottom allow for compatibility with a wide range of accessories.
EE's WiFi calling service now works on iPhones after iOS update
Remember the other day when we said EE's seamless WiFi calling feature was launching on April 10th? Well, there's been a slight change of plan, as the service is available right now on compatible iPhones (the 5s, 5c, 6 and 6 Plus). WiFi calling was originally supposed to launch alongside the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge in a couple of days, and we had no concrete details of when Apple devices might be joining the fray. That's changed today with the release of iOS 8.3, however, which adds support for EE's WiFi calling feature, among other things.
Sprint promo gives you an iPhone, an iPad and service for $100 a month
Are you the sort who has to have the latest phone and tablet? Sprint might have a deal for you. It's extending its aggressive For Life deals with a promotion that gives you an iPhone 6, an LTE iPad mini 3 and service for both at $100 a month, or about $17 less than what you'd pay to get them separately. While you only get 2GB of data on the iPad, that could be enough for family vacations or regular trips to a WiFi-less coffee shop. The big caveat (besides the conspicuous lack of an Android equivalent) is that the offer ends on April 9th. If you're all-in on Apple gear, you'll want to act quickly -- Sprint's determination to win new customers with cut-rate pricing isn't going to last forever. Photo by Will Lipman.
UNU ships an iPhone 6 case that can double your battery life
Battery cases for the new larger iPhones have been slow in coming, but UNU is now selling a beefy case for the iPhone 6, the DX-6, with great battery life and at a competitive price of US$79.00. The case claims to double your battery life, offering more than 300 hours of standby time, more than 60 hours of music playback, and 18 hours of talk time. Of course those numbers are far greater than an iPhone 6 running on its internal batteries. Mophie has also announced a similar case with a $99.00 price point and a slightly less powerful battery, but it hasn't hit the street quite yet, and UNU hopes to grab a significant share of the market for these battery cases. Specifications Dimensions: 6 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches Weight: 3.36 ounces High grade Li-polymer rechargeable battery Minimum rated talk time: 15 hours Battery: Li-Polymer 3.7V/3000 mAh Design The UNU case is sturdy, with fully covered corners, a raised lip for screen protection, and a solid frame that should protect your iPhone. The phone easily sips in and out of the case. The bottom shell has the Apple Lightning connector, but the case itself charges from an included Micro USB cable. Using the UNU battery case Everything worked as expected. The case was partially charged when unpacked, so an hour or so later I was ready to go. A green LED on the back lets you know the case is fully charged. As your day progresses, you use the iPhone internal battery, and when the battery is nearly depleted you press a button on the back of the DX-6 for 2 seconds. That engages the case battery, and you are all set with the case charging your iPhone 6 quickly back up to 100 percent. It's no different than plugging it into a wall outlet, except you are not tethered. Headphones are often a problem with these cases because the iPhone headphone jack is recessed with the case over the top. UNU provides an extender, but it's something else to carry and hopefully not lose. All other iPhone controls are easily accessible through cut-outs. This is a 4th-generation case for UNU; they've been at it for five years, and they obviously know how to make a good battery case. I do think buying a case like this for an iPhone 6 involves a series of tradeoffs. The iPhone is going to get even bigger (thicker and longer) and it's going get heavier. For use around town where users have plenty of charging opportunities, or in a car with an auto power adapter, the size and weight may outweigh the usefulness. On the other hand, for people who travel and don't have handy sources of AC power this case is a godsend. You can do your regular sync duties with the included cord that also charges the batteries of both your iPhone and the battery case. LED indicators tell you about the status of the battery charge. The case is shipping now in black; white and red are coming very shortly. The UNU DX-6 is available at the usual online outlets like Amazon for a bit less money than the list price. The DX-6 is well built, has a powerful battery, and offers solid protection for your iPhone 6 at a reasonable price.
Dear BlackBerry, Ryan Seacrest isn't done with the QWERTY keyboard
Maybe you remember the bizarre collision of worlds at last year's CES when Ryan Seacrest touched down in Las Vegas to introduce the Typo, a physical QWERTY keyboard case for the iPhone 5/5s. If you do, then you may also recall the controversy and legal tussling over the original Typo's striking resemblance to BlackBerry's Q10 keyboard. One court ordered a sales injunction and another Typo revision later, Seacrest and his partner Laurence Hallier are back at CES to debut another physical keyboard accessory, this time it's the Typo2 for the iPad Air and iPad mini lines. The pair carved out some time during the madness of CES to speak to me about Typo's bumpy start, the impact of customer feedback on product design and the boldfaced names that swear by their QWERTY case.
Mophie introduces new battery cases for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
It was only a matter of time before Mophie made one of its popular battery cases for the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Today, at CES 2015, that time has come. Long known for its line of battery "juice packs" for Apple handsets, Mophie has announced not one, not two, but three different battery cases for the latest iPhones. The Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 6 packs in more than 100 percent of additional battery; the Juice Pack Plus promises more than 120 percent, but is slightly thicker; and last but not least is the phablet-sized Juice Pack for the iPhone 6 Plus, which Mophie tells us is the thinnest battery case it's ever made. It does, however, only offer 60 percent of extra battery power.
