iphone5c
Latest
Senator confirms FBI paid $900,000 to unlock San Bernardino iPhone
In early 2016, Apple was embroiled in a battle with the FBI over privacy, specifically whether it could (or would) crack an iPhone 5C following the San Bernardino terrorist attack. Apple refused to specifically create a backdoor piece of software that would circumvent the security protections built into iOS, citing concerns for the privacy of the other millions of people out there using iPhones and iPads. Ultimately, it became a moot point: the FBI purchased software to crack the iPhone in question. The agency refused to say how much it spent, but now Senator Dianne Feinstein has revealed that it cost $900,000 to break into the shooter's phone.
FBI can't tell Apple how it unlocked the San Bernardino iPhone
The feds might never let Apple in on the secret of the technique they used to unlock the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c. According to Reuters, the hackers who discovered the flaw that led to the FBI's iPhone-cracking tool have the sole legal ownership of the method. Agents might not even know what the vulnerability is or how its resulting hardware works exactly. If you'll recall, a recent Washington Post report revealed that the feds got help from a group of hackers -- from outside the US, Reuters' sources said -- with a history of selling software vulnerabilities to the US government. They were paid a flat fee for the flaw they brought the FBI and the tool they developed.
Feds' iPhone-cracking tool takes advantage of a security flaw
The FBI didn't commission an Israeli firm to unlock the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c like previous reports said. According to The Washington Post, the agency cracked the iPhone's security system with help from a group of professional hackers who actively hunt for software vulnerabilities to sell, sometimes to the US government. The piece, which sheds light on the methods the FBI used, says the group presented the bureau with a previously unknown flaw in either the iPhone 5c or iOS 9. It was then used to create the tool the feds needed.
FBI leans on forensic software maker to crack terrorist iPhone
When the Department of Justice and FBI said they'd found another way to infiltrate San Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook's iPhone 5c without asking Apple to weaken its security, they raised a big question: just who was this "third party" they were talking about? We might have a good idea after today. Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth claims that the FBI is getting help from CelleBrite, an Israeli firm that specializes in phone-oriented forensic software, to extract data from Farook's phone. If the company manages to crack the contents of the device, it won't have any reason to pester Apple... about this particular iPhone, anyway.
Apple wants to know how the FBI will hack its phone
This afternoon the Department of Justice asked the courts to vacate tomorrow's hearing concerning the iPhone 5C in the custody of the FBI. The government had asked for Apple to help it circumvent the phone's security. But at the last minute, stated that it had found another party to help it get what it wants out the of phone. Apple would like to know who that is and what they plan to do with the phone.
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.
Apple drops iPhone 5s price to $99 and the 5c to 'free' on contract
We're at Apple's big iPhone 6 shindig, and as you might expect, Apple's new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch handsets have rendered its previous handsets a little more... moot. But hey, that means it's discount time! As with previous phone launches, Apple has lowered the starting price of the current 16GB iPhone 5s from $199 to $99 on contract, while the bottom-rung 8GB 5c runs a cool "zero." Both devices will also ship with iOS 8 starting September 17th. Check out our liveblog of Apple's iPhone event to get the latest news as it happens!
Walmart is now selling the iPhone 5C for less than a dollar
While Apple hasn't formally announced the iPhone 6 yet, there's few surer signs of an impending new model than a fire-sale to clear out existing stock. How's $0.97 sound for an iPhone 5c in that case? For the next 90 days then, Walmart has your ticket and is discounting the colorful 16GB handset by just over $28. Cupertino's same-size current flagship is dipping in price for the next three months too, but the end result doesn't sound anywhere near as dramatic. The iPhone 5s is now $20 less expensive, going from $99 to $79. All of these prices are with a two year contract through AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular and Verizon. If you'd rather hold out for something new and likely much more expensive, well, September 9th is only a few weeks away.
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.
Costco is now selling iPads and iPhones, with a patchy selection
Costco has a rough history with Apple products; the big-box chain sold Apple goods for a while, but pulled them in a huff after it was denied a chance to sell the original iPad. Time must have healed those wounds, then, since the retailer is now selling iPads and iPhones. There are some solid bargains, depending on what you're looking for. The iPhone 5s for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon is selling for $78 on contract, a full $120 lower than the regular sticker; you can also lop $100 off the price of Verizon-ready editions of the iPad Air (now $520) and iPad mini with Retina display ($420).
Lunecase harvests excess iPhone energy to light up LED notifications
iPhone cases are a dime a dozen, but the creators of Lunecase claim their masterpiece can do something special. While it looks just like any other case on the surface, Lunecase can apparently harness the electromagnetic energy the iPhone emits and use it to light up its LED call or message indicators. It's not even connected to the phone via wires or any other means -- if what its Kickstarter page says is true, it'll work as soon as you snap it on. Sound familiar? That's because Lunecase's creators, Ukrainian company Concepter, showed it off at CES 2014, albeit in a different form. The prototype presented during the event looked a lot different from the current offering, but at least it worked just as advertised. If this sounds more useful than a case that can track your blood pressure, you can get one for the iPhone 5, 5s and 5c from its Kickstarter page for a minimum pledge of $35. Just note that you'll have to make do without its icon-like indicators until it ships, which the company aims to do sometime in August.
Cellphone deals of the week: 3.28.14
We're smack-dab in the middle of the new phone-announcement season. While you'll have to shell out quite a bit for the latest hardware, some previous models -- including recent releases -- are getting price cuts. Head on past the break to peruse the handful we've selected, catering to iOS, Android and Windows Phone sensibilities along the way. If there are other hand-held devices that you're after that we haven't included here -- join us and add them to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut in the future, you'll get an email alert!
Daily Roundup: 8GB iPhone 5c rumor, Microsoft OneNote goes free, 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.
Apple reports record iPhone and iPad sales with fiscal Q1 2014 results
Apple's earnings are in, and as expected the company got a nice boost in sales over the holidays. We're talking 51 million iPhones sold -- an all-time quarterly record -- up from 47.8 million during the same quarter last year. It's unclear just how the iPhone sales break down between the iPhone 5c and 5s models, as Apple didn't offer those numbers. iPad sales reached a record quarterly high as well, at 26 million up from 22.9 million during the same year-ago quarter. Profit, meanwhile, comes in at $13.1 billion, showing no change year-over-year. Mac sales are also up; with a jump to 4.8 million from 4.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Also record-setting was Cupertino's reported quarterly revenue of $57.6 billion. Apple's board of directors has also announced that shareholders will receive a $3.05 cash dividend per share early next month. If Apple took a huge hit anywhere, though, it's with iPods. Year-over-year sales are down a whopping 52 percent, with revenue down 55 percent. Those figures suggest that the more expensive iPod models took the hardest hit. That ugly stat aside, there are plenty of positive numbers this time around. As always, we'll be listening in on Apple's earnings conference call, so stay tuned.
The best cellphone deals of the week: 12.29.13
With Engadget's new tools, you can track price drops on thousands of devices every day, and once a week we feature some of the best deals right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. The holiday shopping rush may be winding down, but there's still some great deals for the taking. Best Buy is currently offering stellar pricing on both the iPhone 5c and the HTC One -- so long as you're willing to opt for a two-year contract. Be sure to visit our product database to monitor prices on these gadgets and more as they move around. Join us and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list; every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
iPhone 5s and 5c to reach China Mobile on January 17th, 2014
Finally. Following a false start a couple of weeks ago (and some protracted discussions), Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 5s and 5c will reach China Mobile on January 17th, 2014 as part of a multi-year deal. As hinted earlier, both smartphones will support the carrier's TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA networks. Pricing isn't available just yet, but customers can pre-register starting on December 25th. The partnership is Apple's largest to date, at least in terms of sheer numbers -- even if only a small fraction of China Mobile's 700 million-plus customers buy iPhones, they're bound to significantly improve Cupertino's bottom line.
Olloclip runs its 3-in-1 lens through the color machine for the iPhone 5c
Folks who bought an iPhone 5c because they honest to goodness love color probably won't settle for drab accessories. So, in order to suit these users' festive tastes, Olloclip jazzed up its popular 3-in-1 lens with hues to match Apple's lower-cost handsets. Similar to previous releases, this 3-in-1 comes with the brand's macro, fisheye and wide-angle lenses to take close-ups, 180-degree shots and pictures with twice the field of view, respectively. Unlike the iPhone 5/5s version, though, the iPhone 5c lens costs $10 less at $59.99 and comes in neon green, yellow, red, blue and, finally, white -- for the less adventurous. The accessory won't ship out until early January, but it's now available for pre-order from the company's website.
iPhone 5s and 5c come to Straight Talk and Net10 on December 13th
Cost-conscious iPhone 5s or 5c buyers will soon have a pair of fresh choices for prepaid service. Tracfone has announced that both Straight Talk and Net10 will sell Apple's latest smartphones through Walmart on December 13th. As with unlocked devices, you'll be paying at least $549 for an iPhone 5c or $649 for its 5s counterpart; the real savings come from the plans, which start at $45 per month for unlimited calls, (throttled) data and text. You'll still want to visit carriers like T-Mobile or Virgin for the cheapest possible rates, but the new Tracfone options may be ideal for iPhone fans who want full service without a full price.
Apple reportedly strikes deal to launch iPhone on China Mobile later this month (update: or not)
That was quick -- just hours after China Mobile granted its first 4G licenses, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has reached a deal to launch the iPhone on the giant carrier. China Mobile would stock hardware later in December, likely starting with the recently approved iPhone 5s and 5c variants for the country. Neither side has confirmed the deal just yet. If real, though, it could help Apple recover some lost smartphone market share in the region. With over 700 million subscribers, China Mobile has a large volume of potential customers. Update: Ruh roh. China Mobile told Reuters that it is actually "still negotiating with Apple." But hey, it's just a matter of time, right?
A better, yet more cumbersome iOS 7 gamepad: hands-on with the MOGA Ace Power
Two sticks, four face buttons, a pair of shoulder paddles and a d-pad: the formula for a modern gamepad and the layout of MOGA's Ace Power controller. It's a pretty standard assortment of inputs, but this controller happens to be the first fully featured peripheral to support Apple's new iOS 7 gamepad protocols. Naturally, we couldn't wait to put the pad through its paces. The MOGA Ace may have the normal assortment of buttons and triggers, but it has one trick most gamepads can't emulate: it telescopes. Taken out of the box, the Ace is hardly longer than an iPhone 5s, but pulling on either end stretches the peripheral to fit your iDevice. The Gamepad's left side retains enough tension to hold a device in place on its own, but our iPod had trouble identifying the controller unless we made a point of pushing the controller's edges inward to secure the connection. Once we had a compatible iOS 7 device locked in place, however, the Ace worked like a dream.
