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Subtexts in Apple's Sept. 10 iPhone event
While following along with Apple's press event, I couldn't help but read between the lines. As Tim Cook and the gang revealed the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, I picked up on a few things they weren't saying. Some aimed at customers, some at competitors and others at adjacent industry leaders. iTunes Festival The iTunes Festival is an ongoing success for Apple, now in its seventh year. Cook noted that Apple has streamed live concerts to viewers in over 100 countries. The subtext: just like a television network. In fact, many people watched the shows in HD on their televisions, via Apple TV. The audience gasped when Cook revealed that over 20 million people applied for tickets. The subtext: We know how to promote top musical artists very successfully. iOS 7 Now this is a post-Jobs product. Craig Federighi was loose and comfortable while presenting iOS 7 today, delivering stats and jokes with equal ease. The subtext: Apple full-on believes in this update. It's clear how enthused its executives are. This company knows where its going without the benefit of its late, visionary co-founder. iPhone 5c Previously, Apple has discounted the outgoing iPhone model. The 5c adds a bold new case to the mix for a whole new look. The subtext: get used to this. Now we have two model lines to update every two years. Price-conscious customers get something new, too, instead of the "obsolete" model at a discount. iPhone 5s New colors, and it looks similar to the 5 and 4S. The subtext: This basic body design is here for the foreseeable future. Not including new colors and a larger screen size, this general design has been in place since the iPhone 4 was introduced three years go. Consider the iMac. Once Apple hit on the "display on a pedestal" design with the iMac G5, it's refined it, refined it, refined it. Even the current-generation iMac is a clear descendent of that 2004 model. Finally, the message delivered by the iPhone 5s camera is clear: Apple is becoming a serious imaging company. They spent a lot of time on that camera. You don't need a point-and-shoot camera anymore. There's no need to find a cable or a memory card reader. This is your camera. Today I saw a company that's confident and talented. Especially after reading between the lines.
Apple iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c FCC documents appear, reveal little (update: battery sizes)
Right on time, as Apple's launch event finishes the FCC publishes test documents for its latest hardware. After pawing through the stack we didn't spot any surprises for the iPhone 5c or iPhone 5s -- with their wide LTE compatibility and Bluetooth 4.0 LE covered there's little missing other than 802.11ac WiFi -- or internal photos exposing the new 64-bit A7 chip. Still, there are external pics (a few are included after the break) showing some of the frequency and exposure testing endured by each phone, and enough band information for those interested to stay busy until they actually go on sale. Update: AnandTech has done a bit more digging and found some battery specs in the FCC documents, suggesting the equivalent of a 1,570 mAh battery in the iPhone 5s (which is slightly higher than the original iPhone 5's 1,440 mAh and is likely necessary to power all those extra transistors in the A7 chip), and a 1,507 mAh battery in the iPhone 5c.
Competitors react (humorously) to Apple's new iPhones
It wasn't just Apple working hard to wow consumers this morning; Just about every big-name smartphone maker was feverishly coming up with snarky ways to jab at Cupertino's latest handhelds. Here are a few select giggle-worthy cracks from the companies wishing they had their own iPhone. If you notice the absence of one of Apple's most outspoken and critical rivals, Samsung, it's because the company has remained mute on today's events. Warning: You can almost smell the fear in these tweets. 8 megapixels is still just 8 megapixels. See what you can do with 41: http://t.co/4ks5d7FreB #timetoswitch to #WindowsPhone - Windows Phone (@windowsphone) September 10, 2013 Screen sizes, speed, and stunning snapshots. Those are our 5 S's. See why it's #timetoswitch to #WindowsPhone - Windows Phone (@windowsphone) September 10, 2013 Remember that one time you were stoked to give your fingerprints? Us either. #LazyPhone - Motorola Mobility (@Motorola) September 10, 2013 Thanks, #Apple ;) pic.twitter.com/x4w3r8Ghcy - Nokia UK (@nokia_uk) September 10, 2013 "Real gangsters don't use gold phones." pic.twitter.com/yurtFf3TML - Nokia UK (@nokia_uk) September 10, 2013 Make the #TimeToChange: http://t.co/b1oU2c2noZ pic.twitter.com/vND7ppza9d - HTC (@htc) September 10, 2013
Apple's September 10th event roundup: iPhone 5s, 5c and iOS 7
Expected Apple to officially kill the the 30-pin connector today? Not so fast -- the company left the 4s clinging to life as a freebie. The big reveals today, however, were the all new iPhone 5s and lower-cost (and brighter-hued) 5c. You won't be able to get your hands on the latest iDevices until September 20th, so catch up on all of the news from today's event in our roundup after the break. Check out our liveblog of Apple's event to get the latest news as it happens! Check out all the coverage at our iPhone 2013 event hub!
Nike+ Move for iPhone 5s is a gateway to activity apps, won't replace a FuelBand
While Apple was explaining the iPhone 5s' new M7 motion coprocessor, it mentioned a Nike+ Move tracking app that left us wondering about the FuelBand's fate -- is it redundant? In a word, no. Nike tells us that Move is simply an "introductory experience" that generates a Nike Fuel score based on day-to-day movements. Those serious about activity tracking will want to continue using a FuelBand or the Nike+ Running app, the company says. While that news may prove disappointing for some fitness gurus, we wouldn't be too worried at this stage -- there are likely to be at least a few apps that combine M7 support with advanced features.
Daily Update for September 10, 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 fingerprint reader authentication isn't open to developers for time being
So, you know fancy new fingerprint reading home button Apple showed off for the iPhone 5s at today's event? The company demonstrated functionality for unlocking and buying stuff through iTunes. Cool, but what about third-party apps? We can imagine all sorts of neat uses not limited to buying stuff. For the time being, however, the authentication functionality is off-limits. Apple exec Phil Schiller told All Things D that the hardware won't be opened to developers initially. As to whether that functionality will be arriving in the future, Apple's not ready to say just yet.
Apple's iPhone 5s and 5c event video is now available for your viewing pleasure
If you're looking to relive all that went down in Cupertino earlier today, the full-length event video is now online for you to do just that. From a stable of new iPhones to a shiny new mobile OS, Apple packed in the announcements and a viewing sessions affords you the chance to rehash the event in its entirety. Just check the source link below -- and make sure you've got Quicktime installed, of course.
Apple's back in the dock business and now making cases
Looking at the iPhone accessory page today after the Apple Store came back online, two things were immediately noticeable. First, Apple has a pair 'o docks available for the new 5c and 5s -- both sell for US$29, and the only difference appears to be the shape of the port that you drop your phone into. Apple is also getting into the case business -- as you'll remember, the company made a bumper for the iPhone 4 / 4S, but has never made a full case for an iPhone; it's always left that up to third-party manufacturers. For the colorful iPhone 5c, there's a "hole-y" case for $29 that you can mix or match with your phone. For the iPhone 5s, the company also came out with a line of $39 color cases, some of which are a little... odd. We're also hearing from a number of case manufacturers who will have cases for the new devices coming out this week. Keep tuned to TUAW for all the highlights.
Unlocked prices for iPhone 5c start at $549, iPhone 5s at $649
Neither the iPhone 5c nor the iPhone 5s is available for pre-order yet, but you can check out the order pages prior to the pre-orders going live. Among the options are unlocked and contract-free phones geared toward T-Mobile users, but they can be used with any GSM-supported carrier. For the iPhone 5s, a 16 GB unlocked phone is $649, 32 GB is $749 and 64 GB is $840. For the iPhone 5c, a 16 GB unlocked phone is $549 and 32 GB phone is $649. The unlocked iPhones will not work on Sprint or Verizon Wireless.
Apple lists model numbers, carriers for new iPhones
Apple has posted a web page showing the various worldwide model numbers and LTE carriers for the new iPhone 5c and 5s. The list shows something fascinating for the the four major mobile carriers in the US -- now AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will all use the same devices thanks to the new radio chips used. The model A1532 iPhone 5c and A1533 iPhone 5s will run on those carriers as well as Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada. Sprint users will have a completely different set of model numbers: A1456 for the iPhone 5c and A1453 for the iPhone 5s. Those same SKUs will also work in Japan on the KDDI and Softbank cellular networks.
New iPhones means new accessories: see the options right here
Welcome to the drama, the dilemmas, the sheer disbelief involved in picking accessories to go with your new iPhone. (Yes, an official 30-pin to Lightning adapter really costs that much). We can't promise to make the choices easy, but we can at least give you a glimpse of some of the bumpers and functional extras that Apple has revealed today, and link you up to the relevant pages on Apple's store (see the Source links below). Starting with the iPhone 5c, it's "unapologetically" plastic to start with, of course, but you can give it extra protection with an additional, colorful mesh-style plastic case. This costs $29 and comes in the same five colors as the phone itself, so you can either match the phone or mix it up with a secondary color. There's also a black option if you want to tone things down a bit. One more thing: the iPhone 5c gets it's own Lightning dock, which comes in plain white and costs $29. Next up: the iPhone 5s, which comes in very different color options -- silver, grey or gold -- and therefore gets a different set of bumper colors. These cost $49 $39 (correction: $49 is solely for the special (RED) charity case, regular cases are $39), they're made of leather on the outside and protective microfiber on the inside, and come in softer colors that are a bit tricky to describe (not least because this writer is red-green color blind): some kinda yellow, some kinda peach, some kinda... or just look at the image after the break. Lastly, Apple's website lists a $29 iPhone 5s dock too, which is cross-compatible with the regular iPhone 5.
iPhone 5s vs. iPhone 5: what's changed?
The iPhone 5s has finally been unveiled. Following an intense buildup of pre-announcement hype and leaks, Apple describes its latest flagship iOS device as the "most forwarding-thinking iPhone yet." Wondering how the specs compare to the regular 'ol 5, though? We're glad you asked because we've laid it all out just past the break. Check out our liveblog of Apple's event to get the latest news as it happens! Check out all the coverage at our iPhone 2013 event hub!
NTT DoCoMo gets new iPhones on September 20
NTT DoCoMo, the largest mobile carrier in Japan, will be carrying the iPhone 5s and 5c starting on September 20. The company had been an iPhone holdout, as it likes to load phones with a variety of "home-built" apps. Apparently the company has finally decided to knuckle under to Apple's pressure. Kaoru Kato, president and CEO of NTT DoCoMo, was quoted as saying, "We're thrilled to offer the incredible new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to our customers. We know our customers will enjoy the amazing experience of iPhone on DoCoMo's high-quality network." Apple's press release for this news notes that "Beginning on Friday, September 13, customers can pre-order iPhone 5c at DoCoMo dealers and the first 30,000 DoCoMo Premier Club Premier Stage customers can pre-order from DoCoMo website."
Apple iPhone 5s hands-on (update: video)
To Apple faithful, iPhone day is as much a holiday as Thanksgiving (and much more so than, say, Columbus Day), and it typically only comes once a year. This time, however, was a little different, since we received even more presents than usual -- both the iPhone 5s and the 5c. We headed to the demo tables after this morning's announcement and had a chance to get our hands on both smartphones. First, we'll begin with the 5s, which is the new flagship iPhone that will start at $199 for a 16GB model (32 and 64GB versions will be $299 and $399, respectively) on September 20th. As you may have already heard, the 5s is rather similar in overall hardware to the iPhone 5, though there are a few changes in key places. As you can see in the above image, it's available in three colors: space grey (which has black highlights on top and bottom), white and -- as rumored so many times -- gold.
iPhone 5c and 5s coming to 9 countries, including the US and China on September 20th
Apple's new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s are now in the wild, and here's how you'll be able to grab one. Both will arrive on September 20th in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK, with iPhone 5c pre-orders starting September 13th. That marks the first time China will get the iPhone at launch, and NTT DoCoMo will get it in Japan for the first time. By December, Apple said the phones will be available in over 100 countries. Stateside, a basic 16GB iPhone 5s model will run $199 for the 16GB version, $299 for 32GB and $399 for 64GB on a two year contract. The iPhone 5c will cost $99 for the 16GB model and $199 for the 32GB model. You'll also be able to grab them at those prices from AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, while an unlocked, contract free iPhone 5c will be available through T-Mobile for $549 (16GB) and $649 (32GB). T-Mobile will also have the unlocked iPhone 5s for $649, $749 and $849, for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB respectively. Though the iPhone 5 will be discontinued, the iPhone 4s will stay on the roster and be free on a two-year contract. The new models will start shipping out on September 20th (there's no pre-order for the iPhone 5s), but if you decide you want one in your hand on that very day, you can also hit Apple stores, of course -- if you're feeling lucky. Check out all the coverage at our iPhone 'Special Event' 2013 event hub!
iPhone 5s features enhanced motion tracking thanks to CoreMotion API
Apple has revealed a new feature for the iPhone 5s that will dramatically impact the way we use the phone as an exercise tool. The 5s introduces a new part called M7 which works alongside the phone's new 64-bit A7 processer. M7 is a motion co-processor that continually measures your personal motion data, with accelerometer, gyroscope and compass support. The M7 co-processor works with the new CoreMotion API, which identifies user movements and optimizes their experience based on contextual awareness. Nike is already in the process of creating a new app to showcase these features called Nike+ Move that uses the M7 chip and your phone's GPS to keep track of your activities.
iPhone 5s fingerprint sensor called Touch ID, recognizes your thumb on the Home button: here's how it works and what it does (video)
Apple's brand-new iPhone 5s isn't dramatically different from last year's model, but it has at least one major addition: a "Touch ID" sensor. Us human beings are calling it a fingerprint sensor, and it's built into the phone's main Home button below the screen. Apple's Phil Schiller says, "It reads your fingerprint at an entirely new level" -- it's 170 microns in thickness with 500 ppi resolution. According to Cupertino, it "scans sub-epidermal skin layers," and can read 360 degrees. As expected, the sensor is actually part of the Home button, making it less of a button and more of a...well, sensor. Using Touch ID, users can authorize purchases in iTunes, the App Store, or in iBooks by simply using their thumbprint (starting in iOS 7, of course). Pretty neat / scary! As rumored, the sensor uses a laser cut sapphire crystal cover; it retains a tactile input for those wary of the sensor wearing down after lengthy use. The sapphire crystal, acting as a lens, takes a highly detailed image of your fingerprint, which Apple says is "never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud." According to Apple's official PR on the new phone, Touch ID's fingerprint info is "encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip" (the A7 chip is the new processor at the heart of the 5s). Apple hasn't made clear whether Touch ID allows for multiple users on a single iPhone or not, nor has the company said whether you could turn off fingerprint authentication (though we have to presume the answer is yes given previous authentication standards on the iPhone). The fingerprint ID technology was long rumored as heading to 2013's iPhone following Apple's acquisition of Authentec last summer. A render of the iPhone 5s outed the new functionality's name just this week. We'll have more on Touch ID in our upcoming hands-on live from Cupertino, and you can find all our Apple event coverage from today right here. Update: Here's Apple's take on its Touch ID sensor -- video right after the break. Check out all the coverage at our iPhone 'Special Event' 2013 event hub!
Apple details new iPhone camera: slow-motion video, burst shooting, 15 percent larger active sensor area
Now that Apple's announced the new iPhone 5s, it's taking some time to detail the camera, which, as you'd expect, has been upgraded for 2013. The new module includes a five-element, Apple-designed lens with f/2.2 aperture and -- this is important -- a 15 percent larger active sensor area to help cut down on noise. Also, as rumored, Apple is adding high-speed, 120fps video recording so you can make slow-motion videos (in 720p only, it looks like). One rumor that wasn't true: the one about optical image stabilization. Yes, Apple says there's image stabilization here, but it appears to be just the digital kind. Hope we haven't disappointed you too much. Additionally, the camera allows for burst shooting at up to 10 frames per second -- just make sure you're holding down the shutter button. Wrapping up, other features include autofocus matrix metering, with the ability to let the camera automatically pick the sharpest shot. There's also automatic exposure adjustment in panorama mode and a new flash called True Tone. Marketing speak aside, the flash is comprised of 1,000 unique variations in flash tone to reduce clashing color temperatures. Curiously, despite going into good detail about the camera, Apple didn't mention the resolution of the camera -- normally a headline spec -- so we're wondering if it's still capped at eight megapixels. (We're going to go with yes.) If we hear anything else, we'll update this post, but for now, enjoy our liveblog, and get ready for us to revisit these camera tweaks in our eventual review. Update: Now that Apple's posted the complete spec list for the iPhone 5s, we've been able to confirm this is indeed an 8-megapixel camera.
iOS 7 will be 64-bit, just like the iPhone 5s' new A7 chip
In addition to announcing its new 64-bit A7 chip, which will power the flagship iPhone 5s, Apple also revealed that iOS 7 itself will be 64-bit. This means a native 64-bit kernel, along with 64-bit libraries and drivers. Accordingly, all of the native apps that come baked into iOS have been retooled to serve up faster performance (don't worry, iOS 7 will still run 32-bit apps from third-party developers). For devs who do want to make the switch, Apple is promising a "seamless" transition, though details are light at the moment. In the meantime, between the A7 chip and this software tune-up, Apple is promising the CPU performance will be 40 times what we saw in the original iPhone. Then again, comparing the new iPhones to the one that came out in 2007 isn't a very helpful comparison -- you might just have to wait for our initial hands-on and, later, a full review. Check out all the coverage at our iPhone 'Special Event' 2013 event hub!
