iPhone 6
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You can now apply for your $25 iPhone 'batterygate' compensation
Current and former iPhone owners in the US can now stake their claim in Apple's 500 million batterygate settlement.
Apple will pay up to $500 million to settle lawsuit over throttled iPhones
Apple will pay up to $500 million to settle one of the US lawsuits that came out of the company throttling older iPhones, according to Reuters. Depending on how many people ultimately try to take part in the settlement, you could get about $25 per phone, with a minimum of $310 million earmarked for consumers.
Apple will fix some iPhone 6s 'no power' issues for free
Some iPhone 6s and 6s Plus devices may suddenly refuse to switch on due to component failure, and Apple has launched a repair program to fix them for free. While the tech giant didn't say what parts are prone to failure, it said the issue only affects devices manufactured between October 2018 and August 2019. That's after Apple discontinued the model in the US following the announcement of the iPhone XS and XR, but as Bloomberg noted, the company continued selling the 6s models in select markets like India.
iOS 13 isn't coming to the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPad Air
Bad news if you're still rocking an iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and hoped to install iOS 13 -- Apple won't support the latest version of the OS on those devices. Owners of the original iPad Air, iPad Mini2 and iPad Mini 3 will miss out on the swanky new iPadOS as well.
Apple says slower performance of older iPhones is intentional
You're not alone if you've noticed a slowdown in the performance of your older iPhone. The thing is, it may be more related to your battery than the phone itself. After a post on Reddit and a followup by benchmarking software Geekbench's founder, Apple told TechCrunch that it released a fix for premature shutdowns last year for iPhone 6, 6s and SE by smoothing out CPU demand when a battery is older, cold, or just low on juice. Apple also said that it recently extended this slowdown feature to iPhone 7 devices running iOS 11.2, and plans to "add support for other products in the future."
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.
Rubix's wireless battery sticks to your phone with magnets
When you're spending most part of the day out and about, chances are at some point you'll have to whip out your portable battery to juice up your smartphone. This usually means stacking your phone on top of a cable-wrapped power bank, and then clumsily holding everything together with one hand. Doesn't sound very 2015, does it? It's annoying enough for a startup called Rubix to come up with a solution: slap a magnetized Qi wireless charging case (aka On Case) on your phone, and then let it snap onto a magnetized wireless charging battery (aka On Charger). Look ma, no cable!
At some point in life, you'll want a marble iPhone case
Wood and leather are so yesterday. What you really want is some genuine marble on your precious gadgets. At least that's the pitch from Native Union, which recently announced its Clic Marble iPhone 6 case, available in matte black or glossy white -- the latter consisting of the nice Carrara white marble from Italy. Don't be fooled by its simple look, as the company took a year and a half to figure out how to carefully slice marble at just 0.8mm thick, and then reinforce it with fiberglass to keep it flexible and shatter-resistant. The case does add 2mm of bulk onto your device, and it does ask for $80 in the US or £70 in the UK, but these are the kinds of sacrifices that some are willing to make in return for that cold luxurious feel.
Mophie's 'Space' battery cases bring more storage to iPhone 6, iPad Mini
Last year Mophie, a company best known for its mobile battery offerings, stepped into slightly new territory by releasing a battery-toting iPhone case with external storage dubbed the "Space Pack." Now, as if on cue, Mophie is unveiling new entries in the Space Pack line for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Mini. And, not to be forgotten, there's also a new standalone battery pack called the "Spacestation." They all look very similar to Mophie's existing battery solutions, but they include anywhere from 32GB to 128 GB of flash storage, which could be useful for anyone stuck with a paltry 16GB iPhone or iPad Mini. But, as is typical for Mophie, that convenience won't come cheap. The iPhone Space Packs and the Spacestation start at $150 for 32GB of storage, and jump up to $200 for 64GB and $300 for 128GB. The iPad Mini pack, meanwhile, runs from $200 to $400.
RBS and NatWest add Touch ID login to their banking apps
If you manage your personal finances from a smartphone, you'll be familiar with the tiresome verification procedures that banks use to double-check your identity. To make everything a little simpler, RBS and NatWest are introducing Touch ID support to their iOS banking apps tomorrow. So rather than punching in a long-winded passcode, you'll just need a fingerprint to log in to your account. The feature is entirely optional though, so if you're worried that Touch ID isn't quite secure enough to protect your lifelong savings, it can easily be disabled on your iPhone 5S, 6 or 6 Plus. More importantly, the BBC reports that some in-app features will still require additional verification and, similar to contactless credit and debit cards, there will be an upper limit for new payments. So even if a crafty crook copies your fingerprint, most of the app should remain under lock and key.
Engadget giveaway: win an iPhone 6 and 5TB of cloud storage courtesy of MediaFire!
Finding enough space to house your worldly possessions in a place like New York City can be a bit pricey, but unlike a hulking vinyl collection, stashing digital files is more affordable than ever. MediaFire currently offers a free cloud storage option (15GB) and its Pro (1TB) and Business (up to 100TB) accounts are currently 50-percent off, making it a simple and affordable way to organize your digital self. Those files are readily accessible through the MediaFire website or its dedicated desktop and mobile apps. You get unlimited downloads as part of the service, too, so you can share files to your heart's content. The company wants to get two lucky Engadget readers started right away, so it's provided an iPhone 6 and a 5TB (for life!) MediaFire account for each of them. Plus, five additional winners will each get a Pro account with one full year of cloud storage. Just make your way to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning one of Apple's latest and some online acreage for all your digital stuff. Winners: congratulations to Rick T. of Portland OR. and Greg N. of Dickinson, ND.!
Pressur is a simple barometer app
The iPhone 6, 6 plus and the iPad Air 2 added a barometer sensor. Ostensibly it is supposed to help the device better track your steps for the health app by knowing when you've gone up and down stairs. But there is no reason it can't also be used for weather purposes. That's exactly what Pressur does. It reads the data from the sensor and displays it on your screen. The app is simple enough. The main screen shows you the current reading. And the Log shows you a list of the most recent readings. I haven't completely figured out how they are supposed to work. Sometimes I see a lot of recent readings and sometimes it acts like I've just run it for the first time and it only shows me the most recent one. So, often the Trends diagram only shows me one or two data points making for a very boring graph. The app offers an in-app purchase to remove ads and adds some additional options (and maybe the ability to track more than a few data points?). It also allows you to add a trend graph as a Today widget. Pressur is a free app with ads or $0.99 to remove ads as an in-app purchase. It requires the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or an iPad Air 2 and iOS 8 and up.
Have you heard? The iPhone 6 is REALLY LOUD
(Original photography from pickywallpapers.com, photoshopping by Mike Wehner) You can always tell when it's the day after a big Apple news day, because we end up writing and publishing stories like this... iClarified (via Cult of Mac) recently updated their sound level test for iPhones to add the iPhone 5c, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus. The results will come as no surprise to anyone who owns one of the two newest iPhones - the iPhone 6 is the loudest, at 105.4dBA while the iPhone 6 Plus comes in second at 105.0dBA. The iClarified team found that the iPhone 6 is 10.1dBA louder than the original 2G iPhone. Sound measurements are logarithmic, so that means that the iPhone 6 is about twice as loud than the first iPhone. So, how loud is that iPhone 6 when you have the speaker volume cranked to the max? That's almost as loud as a power mower three feet away, and louder than a snowmobile. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) guidelines say that you should be exposed to 100dBA sound levels for less than 15 minutes each day. The moral of the story? Don't crank that iPhone 6 or 6 Plus speaker up to the top level as it can adversely affect your hearing. For your edification, and to keep you from having to read even more articles about Apple's amazing Q1 2015, here's iClarified's video about capturing the sound level readings. Note that the location of the decibel meter varies depending on where the speaker is located on a particular model of iPhone.
Crazy good Loop Attachment Straitjacket case now available for iPhone 6
Chicago-based Loop Attachment is back on our radar again, now that the company has released its unique Straitjacket Case for iPhone 6 ($US34.95). While nothing has changed in this TUAW 3.5-star rated iPhone case in terms of design, materials, or just plain usefulness, it's now available in the larger iPhone 6 size in some eyecatching colors - blue/black, red/black, white/gray, white/mint, and black/gray. I'm not currently using the Straitjacket since I have an iPhone 6 Plus, but I can vouch for just how useful the case is in providing protection for your iPhone while also giving you a place to slide an ID and credit card or two. It has a great grippy feel and really adds a splash of color to your favorite iPhone. And now, one lucky TUAW reader's going to get a blue/black Straitjacket case for iPhone 6 in a giveaway! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 30, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Loop Attachment Straitjacket for iPhone 6 valued at $34.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Seidio OBEX Combo rugged case for iPhone 6: Review and giveaway
It's so nice to see the flood of new cases for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, especially in the special genre of rugged cases. While some manufacturers are still trying to figure out how they're going to keep the big iPhones dry and protected, Seidio has jumped out with the OBEX Combo for iPhone 6 (US$89.95, on sale for $64.95) and iPhone 6 Plus ($99.95, on sale for $74.95). Specifications Dimensions (iPhone 6): 6.02 x 0.49 x 3.16 inches (152.84 x 12.36 x 80.25 mm) Weight (iPhone 6): 1.9 ounces (53.87 grams) Dimensions (iPhone 6 Plus): 6.80 x 0.50 x 3.59 inches (172.77 x 12.61 x 91.07 mm) Weight (iPhone 6 Plus): 1.9 ounces (53.87 grams) Meets IP68 rating for dust- and water-proofness. Exceeds MIL-STD-810F drop protection standard Design As with most rugged cases, the OBEX Combo (the combo refers to a combination of colors) is built like a tank. That doesn't keep the design from being Touch ID compatible, which is a plus. The case can be submerged in water up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) deep indefinitely, or up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) for 30 minutes. Rubber plugs keep the ports sealed against water and dust. The iPhone's touchscreen is a little bit less sensitive due to a second screen protector that's provided, but it worked well after I got used to pressing just a bit harder on the screen. The case comes with a holster clip for belt mounting, just what you'd want when driving heavy machinery around a construction site or walking around a factory. The case comes in four color combos, hence the name - black and gray, white and gray, ping and gray, and yellow and gray. Functionality As with most of these rugged cases, the case needs to be properly installed in order to maintain waterproofness. You'll want to watch the company's installation video for details: Still, the OBEX Combo was much easier to install than some competing cases I've reviewed. I liked the fact that the belt clip swivels and that the holster locks onto the case. I don't know how many times I've had phones that have just "jumped out of" holsters, so this is a nice design feature. I didn't try dunking the phone in the case, but it seems extremely solid and the rubber stoppers for the headphone and Lightning ports feel very secure. The case also features raised edges that should help protect the screen, and the screen protector itself has a 4H hardness rating. If there's one negative about the OBEX Combo, it's that it did seem a bit "slick" to me. The TPSIV (Thermoplastic Silicone Vulcanizate) rubber strip around the sides of the case is ridged on the corners, but not on the sides where it would provide a more secure grip. Conclusion Seidio has created a rather slim, but very protective case in the OBEX Combo. While it's not inexpensive, the level of protection afforded by this case can keep your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus from a variety of damage if you spend a lot of time outside or in hazardous conditions. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Have an iPhone 6? Want some real protection for that phone? We're giving away a Seidio OBEX Combo in the black/gray color combination. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 26, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Seidio OBEX Combo for iPhone 6 valued at $89.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
This iPhone 6 case survived a drop from space
Could your iPhone 6 case survive a 101,000 foot drop from near-space, experiencing 70 MPH winds and temperatures as low as -79 degrees F? If you have Urban Armor Gear's iPhone 6 case, the answer is apparently yes. The company tested its latest case with a science experiment, creating a special rig to send iOS to the fringes of space. The flight rig contained two GoPro cameras, 1 GPS locator and a backup phone with GPS and active tracking installed. The flight lasted over 3 hours and covered 12 miles across the ground. The iPhone 6 was wrapped in our composite iPhone 6 case with no screen protector installed. The iPhone was on upon takeoff but froze and shut down as the temperature dropped. When the iPhone 6 and flight rig were found, the iPhone was powered on and tested for full functionality. You can watch the video below. The phone's descent was slowed via parachute, but as you can see in the video it was hardly a soft landing. Enjoy!
designed by many AL13 v3 case for iPhone 6/6 Plus ... and a few more cases for you
Design house designed by many has been around for a few years, with some fascinating products for Apple customers. Early on, the company was one of the first to come up with a protective aluminum bumper for the iPhone, and the AL13 bumper is now in its third iteration. In this review, I'll not only look at the AL13 v3 for iPhone 6 Plus, but several other designed by many cases and protective films. AL13 v3 Aerospace Aluminum iPhone Bumper (US$84.99 for iPhone 6 Plus, $79.99 for iPhone 6) The AL13 seen at the top of this post is wonderful minimalist protection for your iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. It comes in five different finishes: silver, black, champagne, space gray, and green, and is incredibly light - it adds only 0.6 ounces (17 grams) to the weight of the iPhone 6 Plus. Unlike some competing designs, no tools are required to install or remove the AL13. The company has created a two-piece design that features two protruding plastic pieces that lock into corresponding holes on the bottom part. Installation is a very quick snap, while removal takes a little bit of force. The interior of the machines aluminum bumper is lined with polycarbonate so that your iPhone is cushioned and the bumper won't scratch the iPhone's metal. There's a bit of a lip on both the front and back of the bumper to protect your iPhone's screen and back from flat drops onto the ground. That extra bit of height also accommodates designed by many's MPACT GLASS screen protector, which is included with the case. I found the AL13 v3 to be a gorgeous accessory to the iPhone 6 Plus, with the silver aluminum finish perfectly accenting the silver finish of my phone. The power button, mute switch, and volume rocker all use pass-through switches on the case, and their are ample openings on the bottom of the case for the headphone jack, microphone, Lightning connector port, and speaker. To top it off, the AL13 comes in a beautiful aluminum box, so it's a perfect gift for that iPhone 6 or 6 Plus owner you know. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible ThreeD Case for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus ($29.99 for iPhone 6 Plus, $24.99 for iPhone 6) The next case from designed by many is the ThreeD Case, which is a bit different from your ordinary run-of-the-mill polycarbonate case. First, it has a very unique 3D triangular pattern on the back side. While that looks good, it also provides an extra grip for those who fumble phones. Moving the case from side to side you can see the extra depth that is added by the pattern, which changes depending on how the light is hitting it. It's quite attractive, and the case comes in white, black, champagne, and space gray finishes to accent your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Other than the stunning design, the ThreeD Case is somewhat similar to a lot of less expensive polycarbonate cases on the market. However, designed by many did use an "uber premium polycarbonate composite" for this case that is recyclable and RoHS-compliant, and they include an MPACT GLASS tempered glass screen protector. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible BEZEL Case for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus ($29.99 for iPhone 6 Plus, $24.99 for iPhone 6) The term "case" is really a misnomer for the BEZEL Case, as it's technically a bumper with no back. Think of the AL13, except without the aluminum on the outside, and you have the BEZEL Case. As with the other cases, designed by many includes one of the excellent MPACT GLASS tempered glass screen protectors with the BEZEL Case to provide extra protection for your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus display. The case comes in black, white, silver, champagne, and space gray, and features pass through buttons for the volume rocker and power switch. There's an opening in the side of the bumper for the mute switch, and the entire bottom of the case is open for unimpeded access. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible SLIM Case for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus ($24.99 for iPhone 6 Plus, $19.99 for iPhone 6) Finally, we come to the least expensive member of the designed by many case/bumper family, the polycarbonate SLIM Case. It's a rather generic polycarb sleeve with no special design features, really. It does come with the MPACT GLASS screen protector, and can be purchased in clear translucent, smoke translucent, black, silver, champagne, space gray and white. While you can get similar cases for quite a bit less from a number of vendors, they probably don't include a tempered glass screen protector. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Thanks to our good friends at designed by many, we're giving away one each of the AL13 v3 (silver), ThreeD Case (champagne), BEZEL Case (white), and SLIM Case (black) cases or bumpers reviewed here. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 23, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected in a random drawing. One will receive a AL13 v3 aluminum bumper for iPhone 6 Plus valued at $84.99, one will receive a ThreeD Case for iPhone 6 valued at $24.99, one will receive a BEZEL Case for iPhone 6 valued at $24.99, and one will receive a SLIM Case for iPhone 6 valued at $19.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Mophie announces Juice Pack battery case for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
Mophie is finally bringing its Juice Pack battery cases to iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users. Today the company launched pre-orders for the latest editions of the popular cases with prices starting at US$99.95. That price is good for either the Juice Pack Air for the iPhone 6 or the Juice Pack for the iPhone 6. iPhone 6 users can also splurge on the $119.95 Juice Pack Plus, which offers 20 percent more battery life than the Juice Pack Air, along with a shock absorbing shell. Of the three cases, the Juice Pack for iPhone 6 Plus offers the least amount of extra charge, promising an extra 14.5 hours of talk time. Given that the iPhone 6 Plus' battery already provides 24 hours of talk time, that's roughly only 60 percent more battery life. Still, the iPhone 6 Plus has a considerably more powerful battery than the iPhone 6, so another 14.5 hours may be all the extra juice you need. Take a look at their offerings for yourself right here on Mophie's website. No hard release date has been announced, but hopefully pre-orders will be shipping soon.
Apple is now selling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus SIM-free in the US
Fancy a new iPhone, but don't want to be locked in with a specific carrier? Good news: Apple today started selling SIM-free versions of its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Prior to this, you had to choose a two-year contract or buy one of them unlocked with T-Mobile. Thankfully, that's no longer a problem. The SIM-free versions start at $649 for the 16GB iPhone 6, climbing up to $949 for the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus. Apple has taken a tad longer than usual to offer the unlocked versions, both online and in-store. Of course, you'll still need to sidle up with a carrier, but at least now you'll have more control over the contract you choose.
iPhone 6 Plus spends Christmas in the snow and survives
Living in an area where several feet of snow is a regular occurrence for several months every year means the constant fear of dropping your precious smartphone into a pile of the powdery white stuff. I remember waking up one morning to find that I had dropped my iPhone 4 on my short walk to my car the previous day and was amazed that after a night buried in the snow and ice it still powered up. This iPhone 6 test suggests that Apple's latest smartphone would also come away unscathed. To see just how well the iPhone 6 Plus deals with the winter chill, YouTuber TechRax buried the phone in a mound of snow for a solid 24 hours starting on Christmas Eve. Upon its rescue from the frigid elements the device was still perfectly functional, though the camera makes it hard to see the action on the screen itself. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus aren't officially rated as being waterproof or even water resistant, though many have noted that it performs remarkably well in terms of keeping moisture out.
