iphone5
Latest
Lunatik unleashes four tough iPhone 5 cases
Lunatik burst onto the Apple accessory market in 2010 in one of the early successful uses of Kickstarter, coming out with a pair of iPod nano watch cases called the TikTok and LunaTik. Now the company is introducing a line of iPhone 5 cases that feature rugged designs to protect your investment. Lunatik designs are the brainchildren of Chicago-based designer Scott Wilson and his design firm Minimal. The company has more than just a handful of Kickstarter projects behind it; Minimal has been involved with design work for Microsoft, Nike and other big-name corporations. Lunatik provided TUAW with four of their latest iPhone 5 case designs. We'll take a close look at all four, then give you a chance to win one of the cases to keep your iPhone 5 safe and stylish. Flak Flak (US$34.95) looks like a fairly minimalist iPhone 5 case, but uses a deceptively simple dual-layer interlock construction method to protect your phone from impact with a tough outer impact shell and a shock absorbing inner core. That external impact shell is made of a glossy polycarbonate that comes in either white, black, red or pink, while the inner core uses soft TPU to cradle your iPhone 5 without scratching it. The Flak flexes just enough to make inserting the iPhone a piece of cake. The Flak has pass-through buttons for volume control and sleep/wake/on/off, while the mute button is left open for easy access. If I have one complaint about the design of the Flak, it's that the polycarbonate really attracts dust, fingerprints and smears easily. After a bit of handling to try it out, I had to wipe the Flak down before taking photos and still ended up with a lot of dust speckles... Seismik I started my professional career a few centuries ago as a civil engineer, so I understand the power of the truss to stiffen structures. In the Siesmik ($34.95), Lunatik is using a truss design to stiffen a flexible TPU material. The result is a case that can use the cells in the flexible truss to cushion drops, but it's stiff enough to not feel like the typical "gummy" TPU case. The Seismik comes in five different color schemes: all black, gray and cyan, gray and yellow, gray and clear, and gray and magenta. If you're looking for a case with a good grippy surface, the Seismik is it. This would be perfect for carrying a phone around in your hand on a hot, sweaty day; it's not going to slide out of your hand unless you deliberately drop it. Taktik Strike Now we're getting into the amazing cases. The Taktik Strike ($79.95) has been designed to provide protection against shocks and drops, and it is built like a tank -- literally. The Taktik Strike takes the truss design of the Siesmik and wraps it in thick polymer bezels held together with steel and aluminum hardware. It's not designed to protect your iPhone 5 from the weather -- we'll get to that case in a minute - but it will definitely keep it from being damaged from most falls except for one that takes it face-forward onto a metallic object. All of the buttons on the device are covered, and ports are given the plug-and-cover treatment. Anyone who is a fan of minimalist iPhone cases won't be thrilled with the Taktik Strike, as it is definitely chunky and built for rugged protection of your phone investment. The bezels come in black, gray, green, white and pink to match your personal preference. Taktik Extreme If you've made it this far, you'll notice a theme -- these cases are getting more and more protective as we go along. The Taktik Extreme ($124.95) is the ultimate in iPhone 5 protection. There's seriously no case like it around, as it takes the Taktik Strike's design even further with a cover over the iPhone's lower bezel and Home button and Corning Gorilla Glass over the entire screen. The plugs on the Taktik Extreme are water and dust resistant, providing weather protection. It's not advertised as being waterproof, but it should be able to handle being rained on or getting the occasional splash. That Gorilla Glass provides shatter protection for the screen in those rare cases where you drop the iPhone right onto a hard edge. All of this protection does come at a price, and I'm not talking about the $125 price tag. The Taktik Extreme weighs in at 4.1 ounces, significantly more than the lightweight (1.3 ounce) Seismik. Conclusion Lunatik has brought a nice combination of savvy design and rugged engineering to the crowded iPhone case market, and the products will go far in attracting fans. The two Taktik cases, Strike and Extreme, could be fierce competitors to the likes of OtterBox and LifeProof Giveaway It's your chance to win one of these four awesome cases from Lunatik. 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 March 6, 2013 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected. One will receive a Lunatik Flak valued at $34.95, one will receive a Lunatik Seismik valued at $34.95, one will receive a Lunatik Taktik Strike valued at $79.95, and one will receive a Lunatik Taktik Extreme valued at $124.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Mophie Juice Pack Air brings an extra 1,700 mAh to iPhone 5 for $100
iPhone 5 owners aren't exactly hurting for battery life, but what if you could double up the endurance and protect your handset at the same time? Mophie's just released the Juice Pack Air promising it'll do just that thanks to a 1,700 mAh backup battery embedded in the edge-to-edge case, only two weeks after launching the slender Juice Pack Helium with a 1,500mAh battery. On top of an extra 10 hours of 3G talk time and edge-to-edge protection, Mophie's touting lightning pass-through capability, enhanced sound thanks to its speaker redirection, an LED battery indicator and faster charge times thanks to a 1A charging upgrade. You'll be able to grab it in black now, with the red and white color options shipping by March 22nd. For more info, check the video and PR after the break.
iPhone 5, 4S top selling smartphones worldwide
What with Forbes speculating that Apple leaked "iWatch" plans out of desperation and the recent counterintuitive drop in share price after the company's last stellar earnings report, one would think that Apple's on the verge of going out of business. Strategy Analytics has new data out countering that notion, showing that the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S are the top-selling smartphones worldwide. In the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple shipped 27.4 million iPhone 5 handsets and 17.4 million units of the iPhone 4S worldwide. The next most popular single model of smartphone? Samsung's Galaxy S3, with 15.4 million units sold in the fourth quarter. That's right -- the 2011 iPhone 4S alone sold two million units more than the the Galaxy S3, and had an 8 percent share of the smartphone market. Add sales of the iPhone 5, and Apple's two most recent models accounted for 21 percent of all smartphone sales worldwide. That doesn't even count the iPhone 4, which Apple is offering for free with new service contracts. It's expected that Samsung will fire back with the rumored Galaxy S4 in the next couple of months to try to counteract the Apple juggernaut. By that point, it's almost certain that we'll start hearing about the iPhone 5S or 6...
Strategy Analytics: Apple's iPhone 5 tops world smartphone sales for Q4 2012
According to Strategy Analytics, Apple's iPhone 5 was already the best-selling smartphone in the US, and the survey outfit says that it also outsold all other models elsewhere on the planet, too. Cupertino's new bauble sold an estimated 27.4 million units during the period to dethrone last quarter's champ, the Samsung Galaxy S III, which landed in around 15.4 million hands globally. To top it off, the iPhone 4S actually shipped an estimated 17.4 million units to bump Samsung's best-seller down to third place, giving Apple the two most popular handsets on the planet and over 20 percent of the global market. Of course, the Korean maker might be throwing down soon with a new contender, and we know how fast you can go from champ to chump in the smartphone game.
Review: Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5
During the time that I owned my iPhone 4 and 4S, those phones spent most of their lives in a Mophie Juice Pack Air. That battery pack got me through some of those scary situations where I had spent a couple of hours geocaching, making calls and sending texts, only to find that I was down to 5 percent of charge capacity and was nowhere near a power outlet. So when the iPhone 5 came out last fall, my first thought for a case was a Mophie product. It took a few months, but now the Mophie Juice Pack Helium (US$79.95) is available to protect and power the iPhone 5. Design Like the Juice Pack Air, the Helium is a wraparound case that cradles your iPhone. There's a Lightning connector in the bottom of the case that plugs into the appropriate port on the iPhone 5, and the case has openings in all of the right places for the various switches and the camera. The bottom half-inch or so of the case features two forward-facing speaker ports that facilitate listening to phone calls or music. The case is charged through an included USB to micro-USB cable; in most situations, Helium users will just use the iPhone 5 AC adapter and plug in this charging cable instead of the Apple-supplied cable. On the back of the case are the traditional white LEDs to indicate charge level when a small button is depressed. There's also a lock button on the back -- this can be set to standby (red indicator) or "On" (green indicator). Mophie recommends charging the Helium and iPhone, placing the Helium in standby mode, and then using the iPhone's battery until you need the Helium's extra capacity. One flip of the lock button to "On" gives you access to an extra 1500 mAh of capacity, which is about 80 percent of built-in capacity of the iPhone 5. %Gallery-179261% There are two case colors at launch -- dark metallic and silver metallic -- but if history is any indication then there may be other colors available at a later date. The casing is made of the same soft-feel material that other Mophie cases have used, which seems to hold up to the abuses of daily life rather well. The case comes with an audio jack pass-through cable, but it isn't necessary to use it if you have a standard pair of Apple earbuds. It appears that the pass-through cable is only needed if your cable end has a larger diameter than the port in the bottom of the Helium. One final note: while previous Juice Packs have just had a side-mounted micro-USB port for charging, the port is on the bottom of the Juice Pack Helium and has two rather sizable flat metal pieces near the port. I'm not sure why this design change has occurred, but it makes me speculate that Mophie is either going to come out with a charging dock for the Helium and other future battery packs, or perhaps work with accessory manufacturers on products that accommodate charging a Helium just by dropping it into a dock. Functionality As with its predecessors, the Helium is a cinch to install. You simply pull the case apart, slide the Lightning connector into the port on the iPhone 5, then slide the rest of the case down from the top of the phone until it mates up with the bottom. It only takes a few seconds to remove the case if you want to use something like an Olloclip for taking closeup or fisheye photos. Charge time is estimated at between two and three hours. The Helium is designed to charge both itself and the iPhone 5 simultaneously. The Helium, despite being advertised as 13 percent thinner than any other case produced by Mophie, still adds bulk and weight to the iPhone 5. With the Helium installed, the iPhone 5 / case combo weighs in at 6.4 ounces. A "naked" iPhone 5 weighs just 4 ounces. The thickness of the case is .59 inches (15 millimeters), while that unclothed iPhone 5 is only 7.6 millimeters thick. Basically, the Helium is going to almost double the thickness of your iPhone 5. It's a trade-off: you can either have a thin iPhone 5 or an iPhone 5 with a lot more battery capacity. You can't have both. Frankly, I'm one of those people who loves the peace of mind that comes with having a fully charged iPhone and Juice Pack every morning. I know for certain that regardless of what I do with my iPhone throughout the day, I'm going to have plenty of power left in case of an emergency. For me, the penalty of adding 60 percent more weight and doubling the thickness of my iPhone 5 is worth it. For others, having an slender iPhone 5 might be the big thing, in which case an external battery pack is going to be a more intelligent decision. Conclusion Mophie has once again hit the ball out of the park with the Juice Pack Helium. The company was a pioneer in battery cases for iPhones and has done six years of research and development in this field. That work shows in the clean lines of the Juice Pack Helium and the efficient manner in which it keeps your iPhone 5 protected and powered. Pros Well-constructed by a leader in the iPhone battery case market Juice Pack Helium is easy to install and remove Case offers good protection while providing up to 80% more battery capacity than a standalone iPhone 5 Dark metallic and silver metallic colors nicely compliment the design of the iPhone 5 Competitively priced with the other early entrants in the iPhone 5 battery case market Case is designed and tested to not interfere with phone reception Cons Adds weight and bulk to the iPhone 5, as do all battery cases Who is it for? iPhone 5 users who put their phones through a lot of work in a regular day and need protection and power in a well-built and reasonably-priced case
Review: PowerSkin PoP'n iPhone 5 battery pack
Earlier in the week I published some news about a new iPhone 5 battery pack from PowerSkin. Now the Pop'n iPhone 5 battery pack (US$79.99) has arrived for testing, so join me while I take a look at this decidedly different way of keeping your phone powered up. Design What makes the PowerSkin PoP'n different from other external battery packs? The suction cups. There are 24 small suction cups that are used to stick the PoP'n onto the back of your iPhone 5 or case. The rest of the PoP'n consists of a shiny case (black or white) enclosing the 2000 mAh battery, and a gray U-shaped connector at the bottom of the unit that terminates in a Lightning connector. A button on the back of the unit lights up a set of 4 blue LEDs to indicate the amount of power remaining and turns the pack on for charging. %Gallery-179048% The connector can be swapped out for one that will charge any iOS device with a 30-pin Dock Connector or Android devices with micro-USB A or B connectors. That's a nice feature for those who may have more than one smartphone in the family that needs charging. Functionality My first test was to see if those suction cups would stick onto the leather surface of my Twelve South SurfacePad for iPhone 5, and unfortunately they didn't. However, that luxurious thin case is easy to take off and reinstall, so within seconds I had the PoP'n securely glommed onto the back of my phone. I pushed the button on the back, and the phone responded by letting me know it was receiving a charge. To recharge the unit after you've used it, there's a traditional USB to micro-USB cable. You'll need to plug that cable into a USB port on your Mac or PC, or into another AC to USB adapter. Those 24 little suction cups do a great job of holding onto your iPhone, but the PoP'n can be easily removed when you're done charging the phone. So, how does this compare to the recently-released mophie juice pack helium (also $79.95)? I don't know, since I haven't had a chance to test one. But the PoP'n delivers 500 mAh more capacity than the juice pack helium and doesn't have to be installed on your iPhone all the time. I also received word from an early owner of the juice pack that it requires a pass-through audio jack cable (included) to connect to a headset; with the PoP'n, the speakers and audio jack are easily accessible. Conclusion For iPhone 5 owners who find themselves running out of power towards the end of the day, the PowerSkin PoP'n offers a great way to recharge your phone. Once you're done charging, you can slide the PoP'n off of the phone and be back to your sleek and sexy iPhone 5. Pros Provides 500 mAh more capacity than mophie's juice pack helium Can also charge other devices with optional connectors Unique suction cup design grabs onto bare iPhones and hard cases Made For iPhone certified by Apple Cons Won't stick onto fabric or leather materials Glossy finish picks up fingerprints Who is it for? iPhone 5 owners looking for an external battery pack that doesn't require the phone to be placed into a case Giveaway We're sure that somebody out there would just love to have this PowerSkin PoP'n battery pack. 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 February 19, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a PowerSkin PoP'n battery pack for iPhone 5 worth US$79.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Sonos app gets universal favorites, Android widget and iPhone 5 tweaks
Ask a Sonos listener about flaws in the Controller app and you'll often hear about three sticking points: favorites buried in separate sections, the absence of an official Android widget and an iOS version that still isn't optimized for the iPhone 5. As of Tuesday, the company is cleaning house by curing all three hiccups at once. A new software update puts a source-independent Sonos Favorites section at the top of the menu system; Android users now have a playback widget to quickly skip tracks, and the iPhone app finally takes advantage of those 176 extra lines on the screen. All the official Controller releases should see their fixes appear at relevant app stores soon, if not by the time you read this.
Quirky's Crossover: finally, a truly unique iPhone 5 case
As you're probably aware, TUAW does a lot of reviews of iPhone cases. To be honest with you, most of the cases don't really catch my attention anymore. But this morning I got an email from crowdsource design firm Quirky about the Crossover (US$34.99), and it's so completely different that I had to write it up. Rather than the typical "stick the iPhone 5 into the case" approach, designer Richard Moreen had the idea of using a couple of big stretchy silicone bands that cross over (hence the name) the back of the iPhone. Want to turn the Crossover into a wallet case? Stuff your ID and some credit cards under the bands and you're done. The cool thing is that you can customize your case by selecting the color (there are 12 in all) for each band when ordering. For example, Colorado Rockies fans like me could select Wisteria Purple and Charcoal Gray for a nice tribute to our favorite baseball team... According to Quirky spokesperson Jaime Yandolino, today's the official release for Crossover, so you can order your custom "case" today.
Olloclip shows off upcoming case at Macworld/iWorld 2013
Olloclip's self-named clip-on lens (US$69.99) for iPhone was one of the early success stories of Kickstarter, and now the Huntington Beach, Calif., company is expanding into other related products for advanced iPhoneography. I spoke with Olloclip CEO Patrick O'Neill at Macworld/iWorld 2013 about the company's existing lineup and future plans, and found that they're thriving. During most of the show, there was a line of people buying the Olloclip lens kits for the iPhone 4/4S or iPhone 5. They're certainly popular with the TUAW team, most of whom snapped up Olloclips for their iPhones and were using the wide-angle and fisheye lenses during the conference and expo. One of the most fascinating things at Olloclip's Macworld booth was a product that's not out yet -- a polycarbonate case that works perfectly with the Olloclip lenses and provides more than just protection. There's a rotating cover (image above) to protect the camera on your iPhone that also adds a nice "shutter button" to make snapping photos with the volume up button a piece of cake. In addition, there's a removable clip-on piece (image below) that offers a tripod mount on one side and a "cold shoe" for mounting other accessories on the other end. We don't know the name of the upcoming case or the price, nor do we have an expected delivery date. But if you're one of those people who incessantly uses an Olloclip to snap macro or fisheye images, the case will give you a way to keep your phone scratch-free and replace the need for a Glif or other tool to attach it to a tripod.
Mophie's Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5 now available for pre-order
Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for that iPhone 5-toting sweetheart of yours? The long-awaited Mophie battery case for iPhone 5 is now available for pre-order, and if you're really lucky you might have one by February 14. The Mophie Juice Pack Helium will cost $79.95, the same as the Juice Pack Air. Everyone on the TUAW staff could have used one of these last week at Macworld/iWorld 2013, since it adds a 1,500 mAh battery to the iPhone 5 yet is 13 percent thinner than previous Juice Packs. As with previous models, Mophie's design features forward-ported acoustics so you can easily hear music from your speakers, a standby switch and an LED power indicator. The Juice Pack Helium comes in two colors -- a nice, dark metallic and a light metallic silver. There's no word on whether the company will eventually offer the eye-catching red metallic case that is the star of the Juice Pack Air family. That extra 1,500 mAh of battery capacity will give your iPhone 5 another six hours of voice and data on a 3G or LTE network, an additional seven hours of internet on a WiFi network, up to seven more hours of video playback, and up to 30 more hours of music playback. As soon as the Juice Pack Helium (lighter than Air, get it?) arrives, we'll run it through a full review. In the meantime, here's a nice promotion video for you to replay incessantly.
Mophie ships Juice Pack Helium, gives iPhone 5 a 6-hour shot in the arm
Although Mophie isn't the first to have an iPhone 5 battery case, there's no doubt that some have been waiting for the company's take -- and it might justify the patience. The just-launched Juice Pack Helium slides a 1,500mAh secondary battery on to the back of Apple's flagship in a protective frame that's 13 percent thinner than earlier Mophie cases, but still promises a hefty amount of extra runtime. Mophie estimates another six hours of cellular calling and data (seven on WiFi), or about enough to push through an all-nighter or a long airport layover. Color-coordinating black and silver versions of the Helium are shipping from the 14th onwards for about $80. That's lot for something so model-specific, but it's possibly the sleekest way to extend an iPhone 5's charge. [Thanks, Nik]
Three UK bringing low cost 4G to your iPhone
Three has announced that low-cost 4G networks in the UK will soon be a reality. The 4G LTE standard has been slow to roll out in the UK compared to other countries. Currently iPhone 5 owners in the UK (and owners of compatible WiFi+Cellular iPads and iPad minis) have just one option: the carrier EE. EE is the company that was born from the merger of Orange and T-Mobile. While it started off with a great selling point -- the only 4G carrier in the UK -- customers quickly felt cheated over EE's high monthly tariffs for 4G connections and the relatively low data caps. Many feared this would set a precedent when other UK carriers roll out 4G services later this year. Today Three announced that when the carrier rolls out its 4G network later this year, all customers with 4G devices will be able to take advantage of the latest speeds at no additional charge. From its press release: Any customer with an Ultrafast ready device can already enjoy great speeds on Three's Ultrafast network without paying a premium or needing to swap SIM cards or price plans. LTE will be available as standard with all customers' price plans when the roll-out begins later this year. "Our customers choose Three because they love the internet and know they can get great speeds and great value on our award-winning network," said Three UK chief executive Dave Dyson. "As we add the next wave of technology to our Ultrafast network, we've listened to our customers and thought long and hard about the right way to do it. We don't want to limit Ultrafast services to a select few based on a premium price and we've decided our customers will get this service as standard." There's still no firm word on when Three will actually roll out its 4G network, but I've been told not to expect it before June. Still, with its decision to provide 4G to its customers at no increased price, it's not a stretch to assume that owners of 4G-capable handsets will wait to make the jump to Three instead of paying the inflated prices that EE currently charges. It's important to note that despite offering 4G at the same price of its 3G plans, Three did not say whether it will cap data rates. Hopefully it won't, because it would definitely ruin the goodwill its announcement has instilled in current -- and future -- customers.
BlackBerry Z10 vs. the competition: fight!
BlackBerry has finally, officially unveiled its maiden BB10 flagship, all-touch device, the Z10, and you can read all about RIM BlackBerry's new handset in our review. But, if you're looking to see how it and BB10 stack up against the competition running Android, iOS and Windows Phone, you've come to the right place. Check out our chart below for all the specs you can handle.
Why you can't have an iPhone 5 jailbreak yet
TechCrunch has put together a really great post covering the current iOS jailbreak scene, along with a bit of history behind the quest to find exploits in Apple's devices. For iPhone 5 owners, the piece contains some news that should be very welcome indeed: a working untethered jailbreak for the device exists, even if its creators aren't quite ready to release it to the public. The jailbreak team has evidently uncovered a significant bug that can be used to enable the jailbreak, but is holding off on showing its hand until it can find another to take its place after Apple squashes it. Apparently, the team is willing to "burn" the current bug and release the jailbreak if a replacement isn't found, but not quite yet. As for a timeframe, the group hopes to have something ready before this year's hardware revision hits. Beyond the upcoming exploit, TechCrunch's piece looks at the current state of the iOS jailbreak scene, even asking if there's really as much demand for jailbreaks on Apple's devices anymore. According to the article, the number of people running Cydia remains pretty massive, so we doubt the demand for jailbreaking new devices is ever going to subside entirely -- plus, hackers are always going to be looking for a new challenge.
iLid is an iPhone case and a wallet that works
After having about all the cases I could take at CES, I stumbled upon the iLid booth with a weary eye. I vaguely remembered a Kickstarter campaign a while back, and the case -- which is also a wallet -- was for the 4- and 4S-sized iPhone. It seemed like a cute idea, but these things are often better in theory than in practice. However, at CES I got a sample of the iPhone 5 version and since then I've been trying it out. It's great, especially if you like to keep a small wallet or have less stuff in your pockets. iLid is a plastic case which puts a small chamber on the back of the iPhone. This chamber snaps tight, sealing a couple of cards, a small (flat) key and possibly a couple of bills inside. I typically carry just an ID and my bank card, so the possibility of a couple of bucks floating around isn't that big a deal to me. There's a clip on the inside lid to secure bills, but I put my bank card there. My ID clips neatly into the other side. Yes, the iLid makes your iPhone thicker. I found that wasn't a big deal. I do love the thinness of the iPhone 5, but having all my stuff in one place is worth the bulk. The iLid plastic is very durable, and it has resisted scuffing and scratches. It's also very light, so "bulk" in this case is more about added size, which I'm not minding either as the iPhone feels a bit more like the phones I grew up with -- bulkier things that were pretty comfortable to hold in one hand. If you want a wallet and a case, the iLid is pretty great. It's also less than US$40, which is a good deal for a case to begin with. I feel like the iPhone 5, with its sleek profile and greater length, makes the iLid case really worth it.
Sterne Agee analyst: iPhone 5 demand 'remains robust'
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal report that Apple had cut iPhone 5 parts orders due to weak demand for the phone may have been incorrect. Shaw Wu, an Apple analyst with Sterne Agee known for his insightful questions during Apple earnings calls, said in a note to investors today that suppliers still show demand that "remains robust." Wu and several other Wall Street analysts believe that the rumored component order cuts have nothing to do with customer demand. Their take is that yields on the components have improved as suppliers gain experience, and Apple needs to place fewer orders to end up with the parts required to build the iPhones. He also stated that Apple shifting production between suppliers may have contributed to the appearance of cuts. The other analysts include Mark Moskowitz of J.P. Morgan, who said that the reports of lessened demand are "just noise," and Wells Fargo's Maynard Um, who was quoted as saying that any cuts are "not news." Sterne Agee is still bullish on Apple, with a "buy" recommendation on the stock and a price target of US$840. For Wu's part, he's forecasting sales of 47.5 million iPhones for the December quarter, above the market consensus of 46 to 47 million.
WSJ: Apple cuts iPhone 5 parts order due to weak demand
A report out late Sunday night by the Wall Street Journal may have investors worried today. The paper says that Apple has cut component orders for the iPhone 5 in half due to weak demand, citing "people familiar with the situation." The WSJ says that orders for the iPhone 5's screen for the January-March quarter were reduced by 50 percent of the original order Apple had placed with suppliers. The paper says that the iPhone screen orders were not the only components cut either. Component suppliers were reportedly made aware of the cuts last month. Do the component cuts, if true, mean iPhone 5 demand is weak? It's possible. But it could also hint at another number of things. Apple usually reduces component orders when they are getting ready to ramp up for a new product. There have been rumors that Apple will move to a six-month release schedule for its iOS devices to keep up with competition. The lower component orders could signal that an "iPhone 5S" can be expected sooner rather than later. Also, component cuts could mean Apple has only reduced orders from specific companies and has replaced them with new vendors to better hedge against manufacturing delays. Whatever the case, this news may just have investors -- and the stock -- depressed until Apple officially responds to it during its next financial conference call on January 23rd.
Zoom iQ5 professional stereo microphone hands-on
Earlier at CES, we got our hands on the Rode iXY 30-pin stereo microphone iPhone add-on that left our Lightning users a bit sad. Cheer up! The folks over at Zoom got us over to their booth to take a peek at the company's new iQ5 professional stereo microphone. The iQ5 is a different beast than its aforementioned competition in that it works in conjunction with native iOS applications. What this means is that you can use it while recording video on your iOS device. The microphone itself rotates for this specific purpose, allowing for both horizontal and vertical audio recording in raw, 90- and 120-degree field positions. The recording resolution is capped at a respectable 16-bit/44.1kHz -- though slightly less than we were hoping. We didn't get a chance to actually hear an audio sample from the iQ5, but we're pretty confident it'll sound better than the standard mic equipped on any of the supported devices. The Zoom iQ5 lacks a bit in customization department as well as build quality -- we're generally not fans of the cheap plastic construction, which is unlike most other Zoom products. The spec sheet certainly leaves us wanting, but it's a start in the right direction for current-gen iOS devices. The iQ5 will set you back $100 and will start shipping Q2 of this year -- until then check out the gallery to hold you over.
Romo gen 3 gains Lightning connector, we go hands-on (video)
Remember Romo, the adorable iPhone-faced track-equipped robot? We met up with Romotive in Vegas at CES 2013 to play with the 3rd generation model that was recently launched on Kickstarter. The company also gave us an exclusive first look at a 3rd generation prototype with Lightning connector. We sat down with CEO Keller Rinaudo to discuss the new robot and catch up on what the team's achieved over the past year. As a refresher, we first encountered Romo when we covered it for our Insert Coin feature in October 2011. Back then, the robot used rudimentary analog electronics and plugged into the iPhone's headphone jack. After a successful initial Kickstarter campaign, Romotive moved from Seattle to Las Vegas where we caught up with the team on our stage during CES 2012. The 2nd generation model was available both pre-assembled and it kit form with support for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It was upgraded to digital electronics but still used the audio interface to control its tracks and featured hacker-friendly auxiliary ports. Hit the break for more.
Tim Cook meets with China Mobile
Sina Technology sat down with Tim Cook while he was in China and talked about Apple's growing presence in the Asian country. Not surprisingly, Cook fielded a question about China Mobile, the world's largest wireless carrier and the only major Chinese carrier to not sell the iPhone. Cook confirmed he met with China Mobile in the last few days, but was not at liberty to discuss what was said between the two companies. With more than 700 million subscribers and a network that covers more than 97 percent of the Chinese population, China Mobile is the holy grail for handset manufacturers. Unfortunately, the 3G technology it uses is not compatible with older models of the iPhone. If China Mobile does get the iPhone 5, it will likely run on China Mobile's growing 4G LTE network. [Via AppleInsider]
