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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 reportedly launching a cheaper 8GB iPhone 5c on March 18th (updated)
Apple doesn't talk about how many iPhone 5c devices it sells, but the rumors are that it's not doing as well as its two siblings. According to leaked documents from O2 Germany, Cupertino is looking to boost its middle child by launching an 8GB version that'll retail for 60 euros less than the current 16GB model. What does this spell for the "bottom tier" iPhone 4S, which is currently offered to customers for free on two-year deals? We couldn't possibly speculate, but if this trimmed-down hardware is appearing in Germany, it's probably going to launch everywhere else in the world, too. Update: We could also see the return of the 4th-gen iPad, which was discontinued following the launch of the iPad Air. 9to5Mac reckons it might replace the iPad 2 as the entry-level tablet. Picture proof after the break.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for March 14, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some 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 player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for March 3, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some 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 player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Even Apple's iPhone 5c advertising is ugly
Earlier this week I highlighted a number of possible theories explaining why the iPhone 5c hasn't sold as briskly as Apple may have initially hoped. One such explanation is that the phone's colors just didn't jibe with consumers. While this point is obviously debatable and subject to personal preference, you'll have a harder time arguing that Apple's iPhone 5c advertising is anything but ugly. While I think Apple's iPhone 5c Greetings commercial was top notch, the same can't be said for some of the iPhone 5c billboards I've seen floating around Chicago, and in other cities too I would imagine. I just spotted this one yesterday on a Chicago 'L' platform. Does anyone honestly think this looks good? Black and yellow? Pink and yellow? Was Wiz Khalifa the artistic designer here? And here's another questionable shot spotted in London. And one more for the trifecta. You can check out some more questionable iPhone 5c color pairings over at the dailybillboardblog.
5 reasons why the iPhone 5c underwhelmed
During Apple's most recent earnings conference call, Tim Cook effectively conceded that consumer demand for the iPhone 5s and 5c did not align with Apple's internal projections. Specifically, more people were clamoring for the iPhone 5s than Apple anticipated while demand for the colorful and plastic iPhone 5c "turned out to be different than we thought." While it remains to be seen if Apple scraps the iPhone 5c altogether -- the Wall Street Journal claims that this will be the case -- it's worth taking a look at just what the iPhone 5c was and why it failed to live up to Apple's expectations. In stark contrast to the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 5c was comprised of plastic. Indeed, Jony Ive ridiculously called the device "unapologetically plastic" in one of the Apple produced videos that often accompany new product unveilings. Also differentiating the iPhone 5c was that it came in a variety of colors and was priced $100 cheaper than the flagship 5s. So just where in this equation did Apple mess up? 1. Was the iPhone 5c not cheap enough? Though the 'c' in 5c didn't stand for cheap, it's hard to talk around the fact that the iPhone 5c was, in fact, positioned as cheaper alternative to the iPhone 5s. When Apple announced the $99 pricetag for the iPhone 5c, analysts, as they tend to do, expressed disappointment as they were hoping for an even cheaper pricepoint. That said, some argue that the iPhone 5c would have sold much better if it was priced even cheaper. Of course, then Apple's margins would have taken a hit and analysts would be raising their eyebrows at that. All that said, should Apple have priced the 5c even lower than $99? 2. Did sales disappoint because the iPhone 5s was so damn compelling? Though the 5c garnered positive reviews from critics, it lacked the innovative Touch ID that was without question the flagship feature of the iPhone 5s. What's more, it also came with a lower quality camera, the inability to shoot slow-motion video, and a less capable processor. Taking all this into account, perhaps the iPhone 5c wasn't so much weak as the iPhone 5s was decidedly appealing. 3. How many Apple employees would choose the 5c over the 5s? Apple's business model is simple; it sells premium products at premium prices. People gravitate towards Apple because they traditionally offer a best-in-class user experience coupled with top-of-the-line hardware and industrial design. Nothing more, nothing less. The iPhone 5c deviated ever so slightly from this pattern. Sure, Apple employees might have no problem using the 5c as their primary device, but did they? Apple executives have stated on numerous occasions that the company focuses on products that they themselves want to use. That's why you won't ever see Apple release a product comparable to the Microsoft Kin, for instance. Having said that, I wonder what the ratio of iPhone 5s to iPhone 5c users is over at 1 Infinite Loop. 4. The iPhone 5c colors were ugly I'm sure a few people will disagree with me here, but I always thought the colors Apple chose for the 5c were horrible. In short order they were pastel, muted, and not really all that appealing. Lime green? Canary yellow? Really, Apple? While an admittedly small sample size, everyone I know with an iPhone 5c opted for either white or blue. Living in Chicago, I see iPhones all over the streets every day. I'm not sure that I've ever seen a yellow or green 5c model out in the wild. And when you factor in Apple's perforated iPhone 5c covers, the aesthetic quickly drops from mediocre to unsightly. I present to you Exhibit A: 5. Were Apple's expectations too high? Apple doesn't break out sales or inventory figures by product line, so weaker than expected demand for the 5c may merely reflect Apple's over confidence in the device. In other words, perhaps supply was too high. What would really be interesting to know is how sales of the iPhone 5c compare to other $99 iPhone models Apple has sold in years past. This is pure speculation, but perhaps the 5c was less appealing on a psychological level because it was never, at any point in time, a top device. In contrast, folks buying a used iPhone 5 know that their device, at one point in time, was the best available.
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition
You don't need to cast bones or read entrails to know that smartphones arrive in predictable cycles. February, home of Mobile World Congress, is likely to see the launch of new handsets from heavy hitters like HTC, Samsung and LG. Those new flagships will rule the mobile hill until the fall, when Apple and Google are likely to wheel out next-gen devices of their own. Sony, meanwhile, recently launched its latest handset, the Z1 Compact, which reverses the "bigger is better" trend to great effect. There may have only been one top-tier phone launching in January, but the phone industry has hardly been hibernating this winter. Two years after Google bought Motorola for $12.5 billion, it sold the rejuvenated handset maker to Lenovo. AT&T, meanwhile, has rejigged its mobile share plans to shrink your monthly data bill; T-Mobile will now pay you to leave your carrier; and we're inching ever closer to a Sprint/T-Mobile merger, the FCC permitting. If you're already on the hunt for a new smartphone, or your deal's only for a few more months left and you like to be prepared, this is your guide to the best handsets on the market.
Apple rolls out iOS 7.0.5 to iPhone 5s and 5c in China, promises network fixes
Apple's usually pretty quick when it comes to fixing issues with its software, and today is no exception. The iPhone maker has begun delivering iOS 7.0.5 to 5s and 5c models that are available in China, an update that is expected to solve "network provisioning" for some affected handsets there. This comes shortly after Apple finally announced a deal to bring the iPhone to China Mobile, which put an end to a long, long period of negotiations and landed its shiny new devices on the carrier. As such, and even though the changelog doesn't single the network out, iOS 7.0.5 would appear to be tailored for China Mobile subscribers who recently bought an iPhone. Either way, for those of you outside of China, no need to be hunting for this particular version -- it's only for those who actually need it.
Apple releases iOS 7.0.5 for iPhone users in China
Apple has released iOS 7.0.5 specifically to address iPhone network issues in China. It's a minor update that's unique to that region, so don't go looking for it if you're elsewhere in the world. This update affects the iPhone 5s and 5c. If you're in China and are having networking issues, go and grab it.
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.
Daily Update for January 2, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some of 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 player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
iPhone 5s and 5c headed to Straight Talk Wireless and NET10 Wireless this month
If you've been hankering for a new iPhone 5s or 5c, but just can't bring yourself to sign on the dotted line of the big wireless carriers, you'll be pleased to know that Apple's newest handsets will be showing up at your local Walmart, sans contracts. Starting on December 13, pay-as-you-go customers can pick up the new smartphones on a variety of 30-day unlimited talk, text and data plans via Straight Talk Wireless and NET10 Wireless. Pricing for the phones will be as follows: iPhone 5s (16GB) in Space Gray, Silver or Gold -- US$649 iPhone 5c (16GB) in White, Blue, Green, Pink and Yellow -- $549 The iPhone 5c and 5s will be available on the following plans: $45 -- Straight Talk 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data. $60 -- Straight Talk 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data, and unlimited international calling. $50 -- NET10 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data, plus $40 for each additional line. $65 -- NET10 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data, and unlimited international calling.
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: fall 2013
As the leaves turn to gold and flutter from the trees, the Engadget team digs out their scarves and mittens to get ready for the mad rush of phone launches that take place ahead of the holiday season. We've seen big devices (both large and high-profile ones) enter the world over the last few months, including new heavyweights from Apple and Google. Then there's Samsung, Nokia and HTC, which are all following the philosophy that bigger is better. But it's not just on the hardware side that things are getting exciting. T-Mobile's eliminated roaming charges and Verizon is doubling its LTE speeds to a whopping 80 Mbps. AT&T is offering customers a $5 daily pass for internet and is making mobile share plans the standard rather than the exception. Of course, if you'd prefer unlimited data, Sprint is promising that its Spark LTE will beat the field -- but it's currently only available in NYC, LA, Chicago, Tampa and Miami. Whether you're looking for a smartphone right now, or if your contract is about to expire, this is your guide to the best ones on the market.
Apple begins aggressive trade-in program in India to boost iPhone 5c sales
In an effort to boost sales of the iPhone 5c in India, Apple is reportedly implementing an aggressive trade-in scheme whereby users can trade in their old iPhone 4 and receive discounted prices on the iPhone 5c. Specifically, users who trade in an iPhone 4 are eligible for a US$207 discount on both the 16 and 32 GB models of the iPhone 5c. The Times of India reports: Under this offer, buyers will be able to get their hands on the 16 and 32GB iPhone 5C models at Rs 28,900 and Rs 40,500 respectively, while iPhone 4S will be available for Rs 18,500. The official price of the iPhone 5C's 16 and 32GB variants is Rs 41,900 and Rs 53,500, whereas iPhone 4S costs Rs 31,500. For reference, 125 Rupees is equivalent to approximately 2 US dollars. That being the case, a discounted 16 GB iPhone 5c, with an eligible trade-in, will be available for $461.80. Apple's trade-in offer is not just limited to older-generation iPhones. Consumers can also receive discounts from trading in select smartphones from other manufacturers like Nokia, BlackBerry, Sony, HTC and Samsung. The Times of India article notes that when Apple initiated a similar buyback program in India a few months ago, iPhone sales tripled.
US Cellular starts selling the iPhone 5s and 5c
Since the official release of the iPhone 5s and 5c this past September, the phones have been slowly rolling out across the US beyond the major carriers. As we've reported previously, today marks the release of the 5s and 5c for US Cellular customers. Chicago-based US Cellular is the fifth-largest carrier in the US, larger than some carriers that are already selling iPhone plans. However, its contract-based customers may see less price shock up front when upgrading than those people who are buying pre-paid phones through Boost Mobile (which also started selling the iPhone 5s and 5c today) or other carriers. The 5s at US Cellular starts at US$199.99 for the 16 GB model, while the 16 GB 5c starts at $99.99.
iPhone 5s and 5c sales reportedly off to strong start in India
When Apple introduced the iPhone 5s and 5c during its September media event, the company touted that both devices would be available in more than 100 countries by December. Since then, Apple has slowly but surely rolled out both iPhone models to an ever-growing number of countries. On October 25, Apple's new iPhones launched in 35 new countries. This past Friday saw both new iPhone models hit stores in an additional 16 countries, including India. Apple has been trying to improve sales in India for some time now, and so far it seems as if Apple's new iPhone lineup is proving to be quite the hit in the country. After launching in India this past Friday, The Economic Times this Sunday indicated that both devices have been selling extremely well: Apple has completely sold out its premium iPhone 5s in India in less than 24 hours of its retail launch, while the iPhone 5c model has become the fastest-moving model in stores and is expected to be sold-out during the weekend, the country's top multibrand cellphone retail chains said. This is the first time a new iPhone model got sold out in India in such a short span of its launch, with fresh stock of iPhone 5s available again from Wednesday. Sales of the lowerpriced colourful iPhone 5c, however, picked up pace only from Saturday with consumers buying the model since 5s was sold out, mirroring a global trend. While this is ostensibly great news, it's hard to really appreciate the significance without first being aware of what iPhone 5s and 5c supply levels were like on Friday. It's no secret, after all, that iPhone 5s supply remains rather lean even a few weeks out from launch. Nonetheless, struggling to meet demand is undoubtedly a "problem" that most other companies would love to grapple with. Further, with the iPhone currently ranked sixth in terms of smartphone sales in India, word that the iPhone 5s and 5c are off to great starts must be welcome news to the higher-ups at Apple.
Apple: The iPhone 5c is our 'mid-tier' model
Just in case Apple's pricing scheme didn't make things crystal clear, CEO Tim Cook set record straight during today's earnings call: The iPhone 4s is the company's entry level model. The 5c, which was rumored to be tailored for emerging markets and more price-sensitive consumers, is officially Apple's mid-tier model. In response to a question about iPhone pricing strategy, Cook was adamant that the 5c was never intended as an entry-level model. The 4s, he said, is the entry-level model, and is a "fantastic product," with access to the entire iOS ecosystem.
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c go on sale in another 35 countries around the world
Apple online stores in various locales around the world have begun going down in preparation for the second phase of the iPhone 5s and 5c global rollout, notes MacRumors. Just as with countries in North America and Europe in September, lines have also begun forming at Apple resellers in the 35 additional countries. Countries with the new iPhones launching today, October 25 (local time) include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand. Apple will continue to global rollout of the iPhone 5s and 5c next week with another rollout on November 1 in Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. By the end of the year, the new iPhones are expected to be on sale in 100 countries.
Daily Update for October 23, 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
You can now turn your iPhone 5c into an adorable Pokémon
We already knew that Siri has turned millions of iPhones into real-life Pokédexes, but now it seems that the iPhone 5c can actually become a Pokémon, too. A Pokémon fan named George Michael Brower has created a set of iPhone 5c backgrounds and sticker templates that give the colorful smartphones an undeniably adorable look. The five different iPhone 5c colors correspond almost magically to a handful of Pokémon characters -- Slowpoke, Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Squirtle and Seel, to be more specific. You can download the screen backgrounds and high-resolution sticker patterns for free via Brower's website. If you have an iPhone 5c and some adhesive printer paper on hand, you know what to do... [via Kotaku]
