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Apple's next cash cow could be your fingerprint
The mobile payments arena may not seem so big right now, but make no mistake: We're just seeing the beginning of a rapidly growing trend. Some estimates we've seen from market research firms put the future mobile payment market in the US alone at around $90 billion spent in 2017. Compared to that, the $12.8 billion spent in 2012 is just pocket change underneath the couch cushions. Apple's very much aware of the revenue potential in this category, and it's taking the possibility seriously. "Mobile payments in general is one [area] that we've been intrigued with, and that was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID." On today's quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that people love to buy content using Touch ID, the fingerprint reader featured on the iPhone 5s. "Mobile payments in general is one [area] that we've been intrigued with, and that was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID," Cook said. "We're not limiting ourselves just to that." This is the first direct confirmation that mobile payments were at least on the table in some form when Apple began developing Touch ID. This wasn't a promise from Cook that anything will happen in the near future, but it seems as though Apple would be leaving a lot of money on the table if it sat on the opportunity.
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.
Jackery Leaf for iPhone 5/5s: Slim, inexpensive and fast-charging battery case
In March of last year, I had the pleasure of testing the Jackery Giant, a 10,400 mAh external battery back that works well with both iPhone and iPad. Today the company has released its first rechargeable battery case for the iPhone 5 and 5s, the Jackery Leaf. The device is a bit different from some of the other battery cases we've reviewed, with a slim profile and two protective cases that snap onto the battery pack. Specifications Price: US$79.95 Dimensions: 5.4 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches (13.72 x 6.1 x 1.78 cm) Weight: 3.4 oz (96.39 grams) Capacity: 2,400 mAh Output: 5V at 1A Charging method: USB to micro-USB cable (included). iPhone is charged first, then the battery case. Case material: Soft-touch polycarbonate Included: extra protection case in orange, audio extension cable, USB to micro-USB cable Design Highlights The Jackery Leaf comes in two parts -- a slip-on case in black, white or orange, and the battery pack itself (in black or white). Orange appears to be the company color for Jackery; it also happens to be one of the team colors for the 2014 AFC champion Denver Broncos! Regardless of whether you choose the black or white Leaf, you end up with a second free case in orange. That will come in handy when the Broncos beat the Seahawks on February 2... The case slips onto your iPhone 5/5s, and then the case/phone assembly slides onto the battery pack and snaps in securely. The battery pack is Apple MFi (Made For iPhone)-approved, using the standard Lightning connector. On the back of the Leaf is a small power button to check battery level. Pushing the button lights up a thin strip LED that flashes red, blue or green depending on what kind of charge the battery has. Flashing red indicates less than 10 percent charged; solid red means the battery has 10 to 35 percent of its total charge; blue means the battery is in the 35 to 75 percent charged range; and green means it has 75 to 100 percent of its total capacity. Normally the iPhone will charge first, followed by the Leaf battery. If you prefer to have the Leaf battery charge first, pressing and holding the power button for two seconds will do that. Once the battery pack is charged and the iPhone is attached to it, pressing and holding the power button for that same two seconds starts charging the iPhone. Compared to the Mophie Juice Pack Plus, the Jackery Leaf has more capacity (2,400 vs. 2,100 mAh), weighs slightly more (3.4 vs. 3.14 ounces), is almost exactly as thick (0.7 vs. 0.69 inch) and is more compact (5.4 x 2.4 inches vs. 5.58 x 2.63 inches). It also costs $40 less than the Juice Pack Plus. Functionality Highlights I like the two-piece design of the Jackery Leaf. If I feel like charging the case separately from the iPhone, my iPhone is still protected in one of the two plastic cases. Like the Mophie battery cases, the Leaf also includes "channels" to allow sound to escape from the iPhone's two bottom speakers. Another plus is the charging/capacity LED. While the device is charging, the LED is constantly flashing and it's simple to know just how close it is to capacity by the color. In use, I found the color cues to be a much better indication of remaining charge than the one to four white LEDs on the back of the Mophie cases. I charged the battery without having the iPhone attached, and it went from fully discharged to a complete charge in about five hours -- that's a bit different from the company's press release, which says that "full charging takes only two and a half hours." The instruction leaflet that comes with the Leaf has the correct time, and notes that the iPhone will charge in about three hours. Although I did not test this, it appears that charging both the iPhone and Leaf would take about eight hours -- in other words, an overnight charge cycle. Once the battery pack was charged, I took the iPhone and protective case and snapped it onto the battery. The case is quite nice and rigid, and there is no movement once the case is attached to the battery pack. My only complaint is that the flat black soft-touch material used for the battery pack seems to pick up fingerprints quite easily. Fortunately, they wipe off quickly. It should be noted that, as with the Mophie cases, you do not really need to use the audio extension cable. I've found that the existing headphone cable for the iPhone 5s plugs right into the headphone jack and is easily removed as well. Conclusion I'm fairly impressed with the Jackery Leaf, which provides more battery capacity than the Mophie Juice Pack Plus in a case that's slightly smaller and does the job for $40 less. It's Jackery's first foray into the world of battery cases, and by all indications it's done it right. Rating: 3-1/2 out of 4 stars possible
DannyP iPhone 5 wallets offer full functionality, great looks
Designer Daniel Piterak (aka DannyP) has created a line of US$129 iPhone wallets that really turn the traditional model -- "let's take an iPhone case and jam a wallet onto it" -- on its head. Instead, the DannyP wallets are designed as wallets first, with an iPhone case then worked into the design. Let's see how it works, and then you'll have a chance to win one of these beautiful -- and functional -- wallets courtesy of DannyP and TUAW. Design DannyP provides two different styles in two leather colors: black and cognac. As you'd imagine, the cognac is a rich, gold leather that has to be seen to be appreciated. The styles are slightly different as well -- there is a wallet and a pocketbook. The difference between those two styles is in how the iPhone 5/5s sits in its pocket on the side of the wallet (see below). Our review wallet was one of the pocketbooks in the cognac finish, and it's simply beautiful and classy. The wallet is not an afterthought as it is on so many wallet cases we've reviewed. Instead, it has capacity for plenty of folding cash, space for eight credit/ID cards, plus additional slots under the cards for even more cards or whatever else you'd like to take with you. The leather used for the card slots is a dark blue that matches the stitching on the wallet. Rather than a plastic or wood case holding your iPhone 5/5s, the DannyP wallets provide a roomy pocket. Sure, you have to remove your phone from the pocket if it rings or you want to use it, but with most current iPhone wallets, you have to move a cover out of the way to be able to answer the phone. The iPhone pocket is lined with velour to keep your baby scratch-free. Finally, the stitching and leather work on the DannyP products is done in a workshop in the Czech Republic, and it's obvious that he found a top-notch manufacturer. This is classy stuff! Functionality This is one of the most functional iPhone wallets I've ever used, and it is obvious that DannyP's decision to make this a wallet first and foremost was a smart one. In all of the other iPhone wallets I've tried, the wallet functionality seemed like an afterthought -- here, I would have no problems transferring the contents of my rather Costanza-like wallet to the DannyP wallet. How's the iPhone pocket? Perfectly designed. It's tight enough that your iPhone 5s isn't going to go skittering out on the floor as you move the wallet out of your pocket or purse, but slick enough that the phone slides out easily when you need to make a call or get counseling from Siri. Conclusion It's a bit expensive at $129, but as I'm fond of saying, "you get what you pay for." If you want a real, functional wallet that also just happens to have a pocket for your iPhone, the DannyP wallets or pocketbooks for iPhone are worth a close look. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway There's going to be one TUAW reader just drippin' with class after this giveaway of a DannyP Pocket Book Leather Wallet for iPhone 5/5s in that beautiful cognac finish. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 18, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a DannyP Pocket Book Leather Wallet for iPhone 5/5s valued at $129 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
WiTriCity hopes to entice wireless charging partners with iPhone 5/5s reference design
Even though Rezence is poised to become a wireless charging competitor to Qi, it isn't the only rival in town. WiTriCity has been in the cordless electricity biz since at least 2007 -- having partnered up with Toyota for charging its cars for example -- but hasn't really made a real consumer play for handheld devices just yet. That changes today, however, with the company's first reference design that pairs an iPhone 5/5s sleeve with a wireless charging pad. Like Rezence, WiTriCity uses magnetic resonance to charge compatible electronics, which means the pad can be installed underneath tables or other surfaces and the phone can still be refueled no matter where you place it. Of course, the sleeve is just a proof-of-concept and is not meant for sale, but WiTriCity hopes that this idea will prompt manufacturers to leap to its side. Whether or not this will compete against the likes of Powermats however, remains to be seen.
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 available at Best Buy for $125 through January 4
Though the holiday shopping season is behind us, there are still great deals to be had on Apple products. On that note, one of the best Apple deals I've seen in a while comes courtesy of Best Buy, where you can pick up a 16 GB iPhone 5s for just US$125. That's a solid $75 in savings and is actually a better deal than some of the Black Friday deals we saw a few weeks back. If you check out Best Buy's website, you'll notice that the deal applies across all carriers and includes all color variations of the 5s. If you're looking for a bit more storage than 16 GB, there's no reason to fret, as the $75 in savings is also available for other models. Specifically, the 32 GB iPhone 5s can be picked up for $225, while the 64 GB model can be picked up for $325. With respect to the iPhone 5c, the 16 GB model is available for free with contract, representing $100 in savings. The 32 GB iPhone 5c, meanwhile, is available for just $79.99, representing a solid $120 in savings. If you're in the market for a new iPhone, you'll be hard-pressed to find better deals than these anywhere else. The Best Buy promotion runs through January 4.
Fitbit app lets you track activity with just your iPhone 5s, no Fitbit device required
Fitbit updated its iOS app today, bringing, perhaps most significantly, the ability to track "basic" activity on an iPhone 5s, without the company's proprietary wearable. Using Apple's motion-sensing M7 chip, the app'll track your steps, distance and the number of calories you've burned. You can also utilize features like food and weight tracking, fitness goals and add friends on the app by downloading it in the source link below and tapping on the "No Fitbit Yet? iPhone 5s tracks the basics" text. So you can start those New Year's resolutions now -- and, the company no doubt hopes, get in on the FitBit experience before picking up the wearable.
How the iPhone 5s measures up as a fitness tracker
For the past month, I've been conducting an experiment to see how the iPhone 5s with its M7 motion coprocessor functions as a fitness tracker. I've been in the enviable position of being able to compare the 5s to two of the latest-generation hardware fitness trackers -- a Jawbone Up24 and a Fitbit Force. For a month, I used the iPhone 5s along with these fitness trackers when I was exercising, going about my daily routine and sleeping. As a secondary test, I've also removed all the fitness trackers from my wrist to see how the iPhone would perform alone as my sole fitness tracker. Walking, Running and Other Exercises I have to admit that going into the experiment I expected the iPhone 5s to be sub-par when it came to motion tracking. How could this phone, which is designed to do so many things, be able to compete with a device dedicated to tracking your movement? I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how accurately the iPhone tracked my motion. Whether I was walking, running or hiking, the iPhone 5s in an arm band or in my pocket was on par with the Jawbone Up24 and the Fitbit Force. Step counts and calculated mileage on the iPhone 5s were surprisingly close to the fitness trackers. You can see how well the iPhone 5s performed in the tables below. These values are the averages taken from a month of logged exercise sessions. On average, I walk four to five days a week at a treadmill desk and run three to four days a week on a treadmill. When assessing these devices, I have to admit that I'm not a mileage junkie that needs my fitness tracker to be accurate down to a tenth of a mile. I was not upset if my trackers measured 2.8 miles when I actually ran 3.0 miles. I prefer ballpark figures so I can get a general overview of my activity level, I don't need my mileage to be exact. Across the board, all two trackers and the iPhone 5s were great for these ballpark figures, not so great it you wanted accurate measurements. If you want reliable and accurate measurements, especially when you are running outside, you should use a GPS solution like Runkeeper or manually enter in your activities into your fitness app of choice. Daily Routine Whether it's doing yard work, sweeping the floors or getting the laundry in the basement, you'd be surprised at how much activity you perform during your daily routine. Because the fitness trackers are always strapped to your wrist, they do an excellent job of capturing the motion that contributes to your activity level, but is not dedicated exercise. It's in this area that the iPhone 5s is lacking. Even though it will track this "around the house" motion, you have to remember to strap on your iPhone all the time. Though I remember to place my iPhone in an arm band when I run, I don't always remember to drop it in my pocket when I go downstairs to grab a load of laundry from the dryer. The same applies to housework or yard work -- when I am mopping the floors or raking the leaves, my iPhone is often at my desk sitting idly (and thinking that I am idle, too) while I work. Because I wasn't wearing my iPhone 24/7, my daily step counts on the 5s were significantly less than those recorded by the Jawbone or the Fitbit. These values are the average daily miles and step counts from a month of wearing a Fitbit Force and a Jawbone UP on my wrists 24/7 and using my iPhone 5s for exercise session and as usual when I was not running or walking. If you want to capture all the activity you do throughout the day, you either have to cough up the cash for a fitness tracker or find a way to attach your iPhone to your waist or your arm for most of your waking hours. Sleep Tracking One thing fitness trackers add to the mix is sleep monitoring. These little devices on your wrist track your movement while you sleep and give you an overview of the quality of your sleep. You can achieve the same level of tracking on the iPhone 5s using an app like MotionX 24/7. MotionX tracks your movement and records your snoring so you can listen to sleep sounds and possibly pick up on the signs of sleep apnea. Though the Jawbone and Fitbit data was easier to interpret, I preferred the MotionX for its recording feature and its sensitivity, which pick up the slightest disturbances to your sleep. I don't talk or snore in my sleep, but my two-year-old sneaks into our bed every night. MotionX picks up his arrival, allowing me some insight into his sleep patterns as well. The biggest drawback to using the iPhone 5s for sleep is that you have to use a separate app. MotionX does track your walking, but it's not nearly as polished as an app like Runkeeper. Unlike the Fitbit app or the Up app that serves as a repository for everything fitness-related, you may find yourself using multiple apps to accomplish the same thing on the iPhone 5s. [Many users swear by the $1.99 Sleep Cycle alarm clock app. –Ed.] Using the iPhone 5s alone Though the iPhone 5s holds its own as a fitness tracker from a step counting point of view, I find that it misses the mark in the motivation department. When you have a fitness tracker slapped on your wrist, you are constantly reminded of your need to move. Just a glance at the Fitbit Force, and I am tapping on the button to check my step count for the day. If I see that I am below my goal, then I will take the time to hop on the treadmill for a quick run. This experience does not carry over well to the iPhone 5s. When I look at my iPhone, I don't think "What's my step count?," I think "Gotta check my email." Even with excellent apps like Moves and Nike Move+, I still find that the fitness tracking gets lost among all the other things that I do on my phone. I respond to a few emails, check my calendar, send out a tweet, read a few posts on Facebook and then stick my phone back in my pocket. Step count, what's that? In the two weeks that I've used only my iPhone 5s as a tracker, I've noticed that my activity level has gone down and my overall interest in tracking my steps is waning. Though the iPhone can keep pace with the Up24 and Force, I'm going back to my Fitbit as I prefer the "no effort" tracking offered by a device that always stays on your wrist. I can't wait to put on the Fitbit Force and get back on the exercising bandwagon. Conclusion If you are like me and need some extra motivation or want to track all your activity, then grab a fitness tracker like the Fitbit Force (which we reviewed) or the UP24, or the many other entries in this up and coming category of wearable devices. You won't be disappointed by their all-in-one approach to tracking your activity, sleep and food. If you are disciplined enough to keep your iPhone with you or are already accustomed to tracking your exercise using your iPhone, then the iPhone 5s with its M7 motion coprocessor is a wonderful replacement for a fitness tracker. You stand to lose some of the non-exercise movement like housework, but when exercising, step counts and mileage are as accurate as a dedicated fitness tracker. Using the iPhone 5s is a no-brainer if you already use an app like Runkeeper. The latest version of Runkeeper allows you to track your activities via GPS and will pull in the M7 data when you are walking. Walk briskly enough while shopping in the mall and you will get some extra mileage in the app. The combination of GPS when you need it and the M7 when you don't is wonderful. It's also easy on the battery. Through all my testing of the M7, I never noticed any difference in battery consumption on the 5s.
'iPhone 5s' third most-searched-for term on Google in 2013
Google has released its annual Year-End Zeitgeist results on the top 10 search terms that dominated the search engine this year. Announcing the results on its official blog, Google said: In our annual Year-End Zeitgeist ("spirit of the times"), we reflect on the people, places, and moments that captured the world's attention throughout the year. This year marks our most global Zeitgeist to date-with 1,000+ top 10 lists across categories like Trending People, Most-Searched Events and Top Trending Searches from 72 countries. The iPhone 5s was the most-searched-for piece of technology terminology, coming in at No. 3 on the list. Two other pieces of tech made the top 10, including the Samsung Galaxy S 4 at No. 8 and the PlayStation 4 at No. 9. Nelson Mandela garnered the No. 1 spot. Google has also put together a video of the biggest moments from 2013 based on their Year-End Zeitgeist results, which you can check out below. Also below: the full top 10 list from Google's Year-End Zeitgeist. 1. Nelson Mandela 2. Paul Walker 3. iPhone 5s 4. Cory Monteith 5. Harlem Shake 6. Boston Marathon 7. Royal Baby 8. Samsung Galaxy s4 9. PlayStation 4 10. North Korea
iPhone 5s is the top selling smartphone at every US carrier
A new research note from Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley reveals that the iPhone 5s is the top-selling smartphone across all carriers in the US. Not to be outdone, the iPhone 5c, despite what you may have read to the contrary, is also selling quite briskly. The colorful offshoot of the iPhone 5 currently ranks third on the list of most popular smartphone models across US carriers. AppleInsider reports: Before the iPhone 5s and 5c's release, Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Sony, and Motorola all had handsets enjoying top-three sales at at least one of America's big four carriers. Apple's September announcement pushed all but Samsung out of the picture and relegated the South Korean conglomerate's Galaxy S4 to the runner-up position across the board. Particularly impressive is that the iPhone 5s, according to Canaccord Genuity's research, has been the top-selling smartphone at every US-based carrier going all the way back to September. This is notable insofar as it shows that sales of the iPhone 5s have remained robust even in the face of supply shortages, which have now been all but eliminated. Earlier this week, we reported that iPhone 5s availability across all carriers/colors/capacities checked in at close to 100 percent at most Apple retail stores.
Despite initial supply woes, iPhone 5s still represents Apple's most ambitious iPhone rollout to date
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, all variations of the iPhone 5s finally seem to be in plentiful supply across Apple retail stores throughout the country. If you check out Apple's online store, you'll see that all color/capacity/carrier combinations for the 5s are ready to ship within 24 hours (T-Mobile being the exception with a one- to three-day shipping period). Supply issues are always a concern when Apple releases a new flagship product, but the prolonged supply issues that plagued the iPhone 5s release really took things to an entirely new level. While some rumors laid blame on manufacturing kinks associated with the iPhone 5s fingerprint sensor, it's worth pointing out that the iPhone 5s rollout remains Apple's most ambitious iPhone rollout to date. As of November 1, the iPhone 5s was already available in 62 countries. Looking ahead, Apple has indicated that it plans to have the iPhone available in 100 countries by the end of 2013. By way of comparison, the iPhone 3G was available in approximately 70 countries six months after it first hit store shelves, while the iPhone 4s was available in 90 countries three months after it first launched. Note that the iPhone 5 was available in about 97 countries by the end of December 2012, but that rollout wasn't pushed out to as many countries as quickly as the iPhone 5s was. To wit, the iPhone 5, by early December, was available in 47 countries. The iPhone 5s launch is even more impressive when we consider that more people are buying iPhones than ever, and in more countries and much sooner than ever before. When you toss in an assortment of colors, capacities and, in some instances, carriers, it's easy to see why Apple initially struggled to keep pace with demand. All in all, Apple's hyper-ambitious iPhone 5s rollout underscores how much larger and more efficient its manufacturing operation has become. Especially when we consider that, historically speaking, each new iPhone model has sold more units than all preceding models combined.
Troubleshooting Apple's fingerprint reader
Owners of Apple's iPhone 5s either seem to love its Touch ID fingerprint reader or hate it with a passion. For some people (like myself), it works the vast majority of the time, while other people have told me they've given up on using Touch ID to unlock their devices. Over at Macworld, blogger Serenity Caldwell has written up a nice guide on how to troubleshoot issues with Touch ID and keep your frustrations to a minimum. To start with, Caldwell suggests that you use a set of good fingerprint scans or if you're having issues, to re-scan your prints. First, adjust your grip on the phone to match what you may do in reality. Many people lay the phone down while doing the scan, and then don't vary the angle at which they are making the initial scans. When they try using Touch ID in real-life conditions, holding the iPhone 5s at an angle, they get bad results. Caldwell then goes on to point out that you should store more than just one fingerprint in the device. You can save up to five -- I've actually scanned both thumbs and both index fingers, and rarely have an issue with Touch ID. Scanning multiple fingers also helps out in cases where you may have a cut on your normal "scanning finger" that may impede with good results. Finally, Caldwell points out that your finger must touch the metal ring surrounding the Touch ID sensor, as it helps the scanner recognize your print. So what should you do when Touch ID isn't working correctly for you? Think about the conditions under which you're using it. If your hands are really cold, Touch ID won't see your finger as being warm and conductive, and won't register a print. Likewise, be sure to dry your fingers well before using Touch ID. Water can interfere with scanning, and even having soaked your hands in water for a while will result in a different-looking fingerprint pattern. Touch ID won't work the first time you try after a restart of your device, if you fail a thumb scan more than five times, if you haven't used it to unlock your phone in more than 48 hours or when you try to change the Touch ID settings. All these are features built into Touch ID to keep thieves from easily hacking your device. Last but not least, Caldwell recommends that you make sure the Touch ID sensor is clean. Just use a clean cloth to rub it clean, and you should be fine.
Daily Update for December 9, 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
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.
Olloclip's Macro 3-in-1 Lens is a powerful little stocking-stuffer
TUAW's staff is made up of a lot of fans of the accessory lens products from Olloclip. They're designed to work perfectly with various models of the iPhone, and are nicely designed and well built. Now the company has announced the Macro 3-in-1 Lens kit (US$69.99 SRP) for the iPhone 5/5s, made specifically for taking those really close-up shots of everything in the world around us. Things start off with a 7x macro lens, bump up to a 14x lens and then go into the realm of the microscope with a 21x lens. Since it's often difficult, if not downright impossible, to get properly focused on your subject when using macro lenses, Olloclip includes a pair of translucent focusing cups that make it much easier to hold the lenses the correct distance away. As usual, Olloclip machines the lens casings out of aluminum and uses ground-glass, multi-element lenses. A small bag for the lenses is included, as are lens caps to keep everything dust- and smudge-free. On one side of the Macro 3-in-1 Lens is the 7x macro, while the other side has the fixed 21x macro. To bump the magnification of the 7x side to 14x, you simply screw on the 14x lens and its included focusing cup if desired. Rather than talking about how this lens works, I decided to put it to the test taking photos of two objects -- an Icelandic 1000 Kroner note and a euro coin: In each case, the images are taken first at 7x, then at 14x and finally at 21x. As you can see, the amount of detail that the lenses can pick up at the higher magnifications is nothing short of remarkable. The images are razor-sharp at the center, but do have a tendency to lose focus at the periphery of the photos. Conclusion Dedicated iPhone photographers will find a lot to like in Olloclip's Macro 3-in-1 Lens. It's extremely well constructed, includes the novel focusing cups to aid in focusing on subjects and, all in all, works beautifully as a set of three macro lenses. Pros Reasonable price point, considering the quality of the lenses Translucent focusing cups are useful in holding the lens at optimum focus point Includes lens caps for protection Cons Focus is a little off on the periphery of images Who is it for? Anyone who uses the iPhone 5 or 5s as their primary camera and wants to have the ability to take macro shots with the device
Fine, you can have a physical keyboard on your iPhone
Remember back when all the iPhone naysayers cried "Fail!" because the device lacked a physical keyboard? They were wrong, but the Typo Keyboard Case is a glimpse at what those sad souls apparently wanted. Adding a full qwerty keyboard to the bottom of the phone, the Typo connects via Bluetooth, features backlit keys and can be recharged within one hour. The device is currently available for pre-order, so we haven't gotten a chance to go hands-on with one, but from a design perspective, the Typo seems like a mixed bag. If you're curious about where the Home Button went -- which was my first concern upon seeing the keyboard placement -- it has been relocated to the bottom-right of the keyboard itself, which means no more Touch ID functionality. Bummer. Still, if you've been searching for physical keys on your iPhone for the past five years, US$99 will make that dream come true, starting in January 2014.
Daily Update for November 26, 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
iPhone 5s showing 90% availability in US retail stores
With an abundance of glowing reviews, the biggest mark against the iPhone 5s has simply been that the device, for some time now, has been incredibly hard to find. Not too long ago, for example, I remember walking into Apple's flagship retail store in Chicago where I was told that the only iPhone 5s they had in stock was a 64 GB AT&T model in Space Gray. With the busy holiday shopping season now in full swing, it finally appears that supply of the iPhone 5s is catching up with demand. The news comes courtesy of a survey from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, which found that 90 percent of the color/capacity/carrier combinations of iPhone 5s models are available in Apple retail stores. By way of comparison, a similar survey carried out by Munster just two weeks ago yielded a 31 percent availability figure. MacRumors got its hands on the full report, which reads in part: Total available iPhone 5s SKUs (excluding unlocked) have increased to 90% from 31% two weeks ago, and 10% at the beginning of October. Separately, we note that the lightest stocked store we checked had 67% of available SKUs. We view the improvement in supply as an encouraging sign that Apple has begun to catch up to demand. We continue to believe that Apple will reach supply-demand equilibrium by early December.
Fixya provides report on top five issues for four popular smartphones including iPhone 5s
Friday's probably going to be a huge day for smartphone sales, so Q&A website Fixya.com decided to give holiday shoppers a helping hand by pointing out the major issues with some of the most popular smartphones on the market: the iPhone 5s, the Samsung Galaxy S 4, the Moto X and the HTC One. Seeing that we're a bunch of Apple fanbois and fangrrls here, we'll talk about the failings of the other phones first before pointing out the issues with the iPhone 5s. To begin with, Samsung's Galaxy S 4 has problems with overheating -- primarily due to the fact that it is made from plastic that doesn't dissipate heat all that well. The Galaxy S 4 is also known for "severe battery drain over the course of a given day" and a darker-than-usual display. According to gripes from Fixya's readers, the Moto X suffers from a lack of local storage. It has the least on-board storage of all competing smartphones, and like the iPhone, has no way to increase storage with a memory card. Like the Galaxy S 4, the Moto X's display has issues. In this case, it has "text pixelation and saturation (overly bright colors)," partially due to the 720p display's fairly low resolution. Camera quality is also listed as a turnoff, with Fixya saying that "the Moto X is likely not going to be a popular phone with consumers who are heavy camera and photography users." For the HTC One, battery life is awful -- according to Fixya, that's due to the "big screen and fast processor." It also takes a long time to recharge, with users reporting that it takes as long as five hours to charge up. HTC One users also report a "subtle hiss in the background while making phone calls and ... when listening to music." The phone also has problems shooting images in the middle of the day (they're too saturated), but does quite well in low-light conditions. So what do people report as their main gripes with the iPhone 5s? Battery life still haunts users, particularly when using location services regularly. Fixya offers a disclaimer on the next "issue," fingerprint passwords through Touch ID. Apparently a number of users were concerned that their fingerprints were being shared with the NSA, but as Fixya points out, "Apple stores the fingerprint password on an A7 chip on the actual phone device and does not upload that data to iCloud or share it with any other apps." The final issue for some iPhone 5s users appears to be display size, with some people feeling that the 4-inch display is small in comparison with other phones on the market. Choose wisely when making your selection of a smartphone as a gift for yourself or others. We know what we'd pick, but you may have reasons to wander off of the Apple orchard for a phone. Don't say that TUAW and Fixya didn't warn you...
