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Gazelle survey shows two-thirds of respondents considering an upgrade to a new iPhone
With the impending release of the new iPhone(s) just around the corner, iOS users are facing that yearly conundrum of whether to upgrade or keep the model they're already working with. This question is especially important to Gazelle, the internet tech buy-back company that offers hard cash in exchange for your used devices. So Gazelle ran a consumer survey to see what consumers thought about upgrading to the latest model or models, whatever they end up being called. The results of the survey are interesting. Of the 881 respondents Gazelle spoke with, 66 percent stated they don't think technology improves enough year to year to justify buying the new iPhone annually. However, 85 percent of respondents reported that they were likely or very likely to buy the new iPhone when it is released. Considering the incredible popularity the iPhone 4S still enjoys, this data isn't shocking. For many users, the jump to the iPhone 5 from the 4S simply wasn't enough to warrant the extra expense of upgrading. This fall's upcoming release is different, if only because of the looming debut of iOS 7 and its new features. If 66 percent of respondents think technology doesn't move fast enough to warrant a yearly upgrade, the wave of upgrades that are coming with iOS 7 is sure to be the outlier update they've been expecting. There are a few other factors Gazelle noticed during their survey. Almost half of the people they surveyed stated that when their iPhone breaks, the first thing they do is try and get it repaired. Couple that information with 64.8 percent of the users surveyed saying they got their last device through trading in an older model, and it paints a trend of users who hold onto their phone for as long as they can -- or at least until their two-year carrier upgrade window opens up. Another factor is pricing; 85.2 percent of respondents said they were likely to buy the long-rumored low-cost version of the iPhone if it becomes available. Apple is widely expected to make an announcement about new iPhones on September 10.
Apple releases iOS 7 beta 6 to developers
Apple is moving quickly on iOS, releasing the beta 6 version of iOS 7 today to developers. This latest update should bring some minor improvements and bug fixes to Apple's mobile OS. It is yet another quick turnaround between versions as Apple just released beta 5 less than 10 days ago. Developers can download beta 6 over the air via Settings > General > Software Update on devices running the current iOS 7 beta. Developers also can download iOS 7 manually from Apple's developer website.
Apple iOS 7 beta 6 now available as OTA update
And just like that, iOS 7 beta 5 is no longer the freshest version of Apple's upcoming mobile OS. Today, the Cupertino firm unleashed beta 6 to the world, which is available as an OTA update to current beta testers. It's safe to assume that this release contains a bevy of bug fixes in the buildup to the final release, but we'll surely circle back if any juicy tidbits come to light. Naturally, if you have access to the latest beta, feel free to drop your impressions in the comments below.
Reality Absorption Field: From Passé to Pastels
If tradition and reported rumors prevail, September will likely mark the debut of iOS 7, which Apple characterizes as the biggest revision to its mobile operating system since the its debut. It includes a host of features that range from the nice-to-have (such as iTunes Radio and updates to Notification Center) to features that could make for huge changes in how consumers navigate and use their iPhones and iPads (Control Center, AirDrop and better photo management). There have also been some key gesture changes. For example, on the app launchpad, Control Center is activated with a swipe from the bottom and the search page has been replaced with a swipe down. And that would all be fine, but what would an Apple product be without something at least a bit polarizing. In this case, it's the aesthetics of iOS 7, with a host of parody Web sites giving the "Jonny Ive" software design makeover to all manner of logos and other artwork. iOS 7 may also introduce some icon inconsistencies between Apple's mobile devices and the Mac; an example is the proposed icon for Safari. But current iOS users will hardly be lost in iOS 7; the icon grid remains intact with no top-level bubbling of app functionality to answer Android widgets or Windows Live Tiles. The new aesthetic of iOS 7 has a few main characteristics. Simplification and minimal ornamentation. At the introduction of iOS 7, several jokes were made at the expense of current and former releases of Apple operating systems and apps, including the green felt casino game motif of Game Center and the remnant torn paper in OS X's Calendar. Instead, iOS 7 will err on the side of abstract representations. One of the best examples of this kind of change is iOS' Photos app. Today, it features a detailed depiction of a flower. But that's slated to be replaced by eight overlapping color ovals. New typography with a focus on taller fonts with a thinner weight that take advantage of Apple's high-density displays. A new color palette that leans heavily on pastels. Extended use of translucence. To the extent there is a real risk, however, it is not that consumers will reject the look of iOS 7 so much as that Apple risks losing some differentiation on the look of the OS. This is particularly true when compared with Android, which has also embraced taller, thinner fonts albeit mostly in Google's own apps (on Android and iOS). Windows Phone has also done this to an extent although mostly in the navigation of its "panoramic" navigation at the top of its apps. Skeumorphism brought a bit of levity to the Apple OS experience. Regardless of whether one loved it or hated it, though, it was -- in part due to their competitive reactions -- a contrast from the flatter designs of other phone interfaces. The new look of iOS 7 is but one of its new features. It may not ease the daily routine -- or even the eyestrain -- of its users, but ultimately it is something of a red herring once the initial visual shock subsides. Most users will probably not think twice about it a few days after acclimating to it. For those whose feelings for green felt were heartfelt, a trip to your friendly Internet poker site may be able to help relive the glory days. Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research, a research and advisory firm focusing on consumer technology adoption. He shares commentary at Techspressive and on Twitter at @rossrubin.
What iOS 7 means for enterprise developers
Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 7, is nearing release, and over at VentureBeat, Solstice Mobile CEO J Schwan offered up a guest post positing that iOS 7 is "the most noteworthy iOS upgrade since the iPhone first hit the market in 2007." Schwan is taking the view that "organizations that do not take advantage of iOS 7's new enterprise features will end up serving an outdated app experience to a market of future-hungry end users." Schwan points out that there are significant benefits to quick adoption of iOS 7 for enterprise developers. Enterprise Single Sign-on will both increase security in the enterprise, as well as make it much easier for users to access corporate data assets. AirDrop Sharing for Apps is seen as a way to use real-time document and content sharing for more efficient use of sales, presentation and collaboration tools. Apple's take on Low Energy Bluetooth, known as iBeacon, will enable things like indoor navigation (helping to navigate large buildings or campuses), device presence awareness (what devices / people are in the area right now) and the ability to have location trigger workflow tracking. Schwan sees the "scan to acquire Passbook passes" capability of iOS 7 as a huge potential boon to the company and mobile marketing as well. Apple has over 575 million iTunes customers on file, most of whom link credit cards to those accounts. Should the company be able to integrate mobile payment into Passbook and connect to those credit cards, the sky is the limit for iOS-based mobile commerce. In his post, Schwan also notes that the UI changes in iOS 7 really put content over aesthetics. That gives developers an opportunity, especially in the enterprise, to really make it possible for users to focus on critical tasks instead of navigation. As Schwan concludes, "Enterprises that put the work in now to prepare for the September release of iOS 7 will be ahead of the game."
iCloud.com beta gets iOS 7-like redesign
Apple has redesigned the iCloud.com beta website to match the look and feel of iOS 7. Now, when users navigate to beta.icloud.com they are greeted with new icons for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders and Find My iPhone, plus a new animated, blurred background. All the web apps listed have also received a redesign inspired by iOS 7, which may give some hint to what OS X would look like if Apple decided to port iOS 7's design influence to the desktop. iOS 7 and the new OS X, which so far has not been previewed with any new design UI changes, are expected to ship this fall. It is likely that the design changes being seen in the beta iCloud.com site will be rolled out to the normal site around the same time.
It's the little things: The tiny changes that may make you fall in love with iOS 7
When Apple launches iOS 7 later this year it will be the biggest overhaul the mobile operating system has ever received. But with change comes fear, and there's already a divide forming between those who can't let go of the iOS they know and love and those who welcome the revamp with open arms. There are a number of relatively small tweaks and additions that have really sold me on iOS 7, and they may do the same for you. These aren't big things that you're likely to see on an iPhone commercial -- like automatic app updating or a smarter Siri, for example -- but they may indeed be just as important. Massive folders I can't tell you how excited I was when folders were first introduced to iOS, and though the feature did take care of the issue of having pages and pages of apps, I was soon left with several pages full of folders instead. Instead of allowing folders to just hold however many apps could fit on the drop-down screen like they do now, folders have pages that can be swiped through, allowing you to put all of your games in a single folder, all of your business apps in another, and so on. Smart contrast features Without the shaded black bars of iOS 6 and earlier to host the clock on the lock screen and the info section on the top of the home screen, picking a single color for these rather important bits of text would have made them hard to read against certain wallpapers. iOS 7 gets around this by monitoring the brightness of your background and adjusting the color of the font accordingly. Depending on your wallpaper the font will switch between black and white, and there's also a slight shading that will be applied to the areas around the text depending on what the system determines will be the easiest to read. It's a remarkably intelligent feature that could have very easily been completely overlooked. Safari's slick tabs To be fair, there isn't necessarily anything wrong with the way Safari handles tabs in iOS 6. It's functional, if a bit ugly, but it gets the job done. But when I first saw iOS 7's tab browsing feature I may have audibly uttered "oooh." Not only is it now possible to see many more tabs on a single screen, flipping through them is buttery smooth in a very CoverFlow-esque way. You can snap to the window you want and kill unneeded tabs much faster, all with the added bonus of it being just plain pretty to look at. Multitasking previews Yet another new feature that ups both form and function, the multitasking feature has been overhauled to offer a preview of the current state of the app, rather than just a list of icons that leave you to guess what exactly you might have been in the middle of. The preview windows look great and are large enough that you'll instantly know exactly where you were in just about any app, be it a game, messaging client, etc. I have a feeling this is going to be one of the features that we'll look back on next year and wonder how we got by without it. Newsstand finally falls in line Newsstand has been a problem for a long time. No, I'm not talking about the app itself -- from all accounts it's matured since its introduction and it's a reliable way to catch up on magazines and other editorials -- I'm referring to its ability to ruin an otherwise well-organized app collection. Ever since it was introduced, Newsstand has refused to be placed in folders or deleted, regardless of whether or not you have ever used it. Because of this, it's often one of the first things people remove when jailbreaking their devices, and if someone told me they voided the warranty on their device for the sole purpose of removing the offending app, I would have a hard time holding it against them. But now, along with the death of the app's skeumorphic design, comes the ability to grab Newsstand by the scruff of the neck and shove it into whatever folder you see fit. I hope you'll join me in saying: Finally.
The Iconfactory talks "flat" icons
The Iconfactory is a design company that helps create interface designs and icons for various apps. With the impending release of iOS 7 and the flat redesign that's coming with it, the company has published a blog post detailing what the shift to flat icons means for designers. At first glance the idea of creating flat icons for iOS seems like it should be easier to accomplish. Iconfactory doesn't agree. In their view, creating flat icons requires distilling an image down to its most basic parts, while still retaining the recognizable details that users associate with the apps they use. In a new blog post, the design firm breaks this idea down further: If you assume that Apple's flat style makes it easier and faster to create a great app icon, think different. Those tiny illustrations have a tall order to fill. At a basic level app icons are a tool for getting us to pay attention, but we also want them to be beautiful images that make us say, "Wow, I want that." Just because flat looks simple doesn't mean it is. It's not about the style. Fundamentally it's about problem solving; crafting a small, unique image that creates connection with an app at a glance and makes us engage on a visceral level. To further help illustrate what it takes to transition an app icon into the flattened gems you can expect to see in the fall, the company has published a post showcasing the process they took redesigning xScope's Mirror app. For a look at the various stages of design the app's icon went through, including the final product, head over to their blog here. It's an interesting read for those of us who enjoy good design, but weren't blessed with the artistic chops to do it ourselves.
AllThingsD: Apple's next iPhone event slated for September 10th
September 10th, folks -- that's when Apple will unveil its next iPhone according to AllThingsD. We've received no official word yet, but recent leaks (and past form) suggest a refreshed iPhone 5 (possibly with a larger screen?) and possibly a low-cost model clad in plastic. It's a safe bet that the release version of iOS 7 will also make an appearance at the event, which is shaping up to be an iPhone- and iOS-focused affair, according to ATD. Feeling a sense of déjà vu? As always, we'll keep you informed when more concrete info makes its way to us.
Designer gives OS X the iOS 7 treatment
iOS 7 will give iPhones and iPads a rather drastic makeover when it launches publicly later this year. While we already know that the next version of OS X, Mavericks, doesn't offer the same visual refresh, that didn't stop designer Stu Crew from doing Apple's work for it. The new OS X concept, which Crew has named "Ivericks," employs the same simplistic, modern design principles as iOS 7 to create a rather appealing product. Gone are the beveled windows and faux 3D buttons and in their place are narrow lines and a minimalist aesthetic that seems very much like it could have come straight from Cupertino. My own personal favorite touch is the completely revamped calculator, which takes obvious cues from the calculator app in iOS 7, and still looks gorgeous. Take a look at the full set of concept renders on Crew's blog. [via TheNextWeb]
Polar polls show high user acceptance of iOS 7 UI and icons
iOS 7 is now in its fifth beta incarnation and going through intense scrutiny by developers as the release date for the new mobile OS nears. Several iOS 7 beta testers have apparently decided to break NDA and conduct polls to judge the public's opinion on both the user interface and specific app icons when compared to the iOS 6 versions. Polar user LukeW went through the various iOS interface elements such as switches, the date picker, status bar, navigation bar, etc. and asked the public to vote on whether they preferred the iOS 6 or iOS 7 version. In every case, the iOS 7 versions were the winner. While I won't go through every result, here are some vote results for important iOS 7 UI elements: Date Picker -- iOS 7: 1,365 votes, iOS 6: 404 votes Status Bar -- iOS 7: 1,199 votes, iOS 6: 543 votes Share Sheet -- iOS 7: 1,022 votes, iOS 6: 261 votes Lock Screen -- iOS 7: 1,054 votes, iOS 6: 254 votes Notification -- iOS 7: 1,087 votes, iOS 6: 200 votes Of course, there were certain commenters who hated all of the iOS 7 elements in this decidedly unscientific poll (we're looking at you, autumn...). Not to be outdone, Polar user Giantsquid looked at side-by-side comparisons of app icons. The results weren't as grossly tilted towards iOS 7 as they were in the UI elements poll: Contacts icon -- iOS 7: 19,702 votes, iOS 6: 8,979 votes Siri icon -- iOS 7: 6,914 votes, iOS 6: 8,243 votes Passbook icon -- iOS 7: 16,096 votes, iOS 6: 14,233 votes Maps icon -- iOS 7: 10,904 votes, iOS 6: 4,195 votes Safari icon -- iOS 7: 10,597 votes, iOS 6: 17,593 votes The results of both of these polls are subject to scrutiny; the votes represent only a tiny sample of the millions of iOS users around the world. But it's interesting to see how people are reacting to the look and feel of iOS 7 -- mostly in a positive light. [via 9to5Mac]
Apple opens iOS 7 beta 5 to developers, public release creeps ever closer
It seems like Apple just rolled out its iOS 7 beta 4 -- and its bevy of bug fixes -- to developers, but Cupertino is already seeding the next build. The iOS 7 beta 5 is available as an OTA download via Software Update, and we imagine it will bring even more performance tweaks this time around. Registered devs can hit up the source link to learn more, while the rest of us will have to be content with knowing the mobile OS must be getting pretty close to a public release.
Apple releases iOS 7 beta 5 and new Apple TV beta to developers
Apple released iOS 7 beta 5 today to developers, hopefully bringing some new features and bug fixes to the next version of Apple's mobile OS. This is a quick turnaround between versions as Apple just released beta 4 a little over a week ago. You can download the latest version over-the-air via Settings > General > Software Update on devices running the current iOS 7 beta. Besides iOS 7 beta 5, Apple also released a new beta version of Apple TV 5.4 to developers. Developers can download iOS 7 or the Apple TV software manually from Apple's developer website.
Daily Update for August 5, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Over half of surveyed developers will require iOS 7 for their apps
Twitterrific developer Craig Hockenberry has posted the results of an interesting survey he performed over on his blog. Hockenberry was deep into the development cycle of getting his apps ready for iOS 7 when he wondered if many other developers out there are doing what he's doing -- that is, dropping support for any version of iOS below iOS 7. So Hockenberry ran an informal survey and discovered some interesting things. Out of 575 responses: 95 percent of developers said they are working on updating their apps for iOS 7. 52 percent of developers said they will drop support for any iOS below iOS 7 in the next major version of their app. The first finding isn't surprising, as developers are keen to be on Apple's latest iOS. However, the second finding is a bit shocking, but that's a reflection of the work developers need to undertake to make sure their apps run fluidly and look good on iOS 7. What this means for users is that most apps are going to have an iOS 7 look and feel so they will get a continued uniformity on their iOS devices. However, those users with older devices that don't support iOS 7 may find that it's time to upgrade or else some of their favorite apps may leave them behind.
The Daily Roundup for 08.01.2013
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 says iOS 7 will patch exploit that lets rogue chargers install malware
Recently, Georgia Tech researchers discovered an unusual way to attack iOS: a third-party charger with a hidden computer can install malware when an iOS device is plugged in and unlocked. That won't be an issue for much longer, however, as Apple has confirmed that iOS 7 beta 4 and future releases contain a fix. While the company hasn't said what that solution is, Georgia Tech's Billy Lau says that the new OS can tell when it's plugged into a computer instead of a charger -- there shouldn't be any rude surprises. The dependence on an iOS 7-based fix could leave many users vulnerable until the fall, although the hardware-specific nature of the exploit means it's unlikely to be a major concern.
The Daily Roundup for 07.29.2013
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.
iOS 7 beta 4 hits with boatloads of bug fixes, as it inches towards release
Three weeks after the last beta release, and just a few days after Apple's developer center finished receiving a massive security overhaul, iOS 7 beta 4 is now available to download. The update to Cupertino's upcoming iOS release -- the biggest since the debut of the original SDK -- is heading out over the airwaves now, with a list of fixes and improvements far too long for us to reprint here. Of course, if you're a registered developer, you can hit up the source link to check out the entire tome of changes for yourself. If you haven't gotten an alert on your handset just yet, be patient. And, please, let us know in the comments if you dig up any interesting tidbits while poking around. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple releases beta 4 version of iOS 7 to developers
Apple released iOS 7 beta 4 today to developers, hopefully bringing some new features and bug fixes to the next version of Apple's mobile OS. Apple was on a two week release schedule with beta 2 and beta 3, but this fourth version is arriving at the three-week mark. This version is arriving a few days after the developer portal was reopened following a malicious hack on the site. The latest version is available over-the-air via Settings > General > Software Update on devices running the current iOS 7 beta. Developers can also download it manually from Apple's developer website.
