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First reviews of iPhone 5s are in, and they're great
The first reviews of the new iPhone 5s are in, and for those of us who are drooling over the specs of this newest member of the iPhone family, those reviews are good news indeed. The foremost, and probably the review that will be quoted the most by the rest of the blogosphere, is from AllThingsD king 'o the hill Walt Mossberg. We'll jump straight to the closing line: "Overall, however, the new iPhone 5s is a delight. Its hardware and software make it the best smartphone on the market." Mossberg waxes poetic about the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s, saying that "In my scores of tests, with three fingers, the reader never failed me and none of the 20 or so people I asked to test it was able to unlock the phone." That statement alone should relieve those potential iPhone 5s buyers who were worried that Touch ID was just a gimmick. Mossberg goes on to say "It sounds like a gimmick, but it's a real advance, the biggest step ever in biometric authentication for everyday devices. After using Touch ID, I found it annoying to go back to typing in passcodes on my older iPhone." Mossberg's not the only reviewer who is ecstatic about the iPhone 5s. Jim Dalrymple from The Loop reported that "Speed increases are something we expect with new Apple products, but the iPhone 5s goes above and beyond expectations. In addition to the faster processor, the iPhone 5s is also the world's first 64-bit phone. These changes make the 5s up to twice as fast as the iPhone 5-that's a significant increase." Darrell Etherington at our sister site TechCrunch was also thrilled with the 5s, noting that the "camera is epic" and providing this input about Touch ID: "At first glance, it's easy to dismiss the fingerprint sensor as a whiz-bang feature designed to attract eyeballs and do little else. But this isn't that. The fingerprint sensor, unlike some other questionable recent smartphone tech like gesture control or eye-tracking, doesn't feel like a gimmick or tech demo; it feels like a mature feature that actually enhances the overall experience of using an iPhone in a noticeable way that you encounter very frequently." Tech Crunch has also posted a video review. New York Times tech writer David Pogue was equally thrilled with Touch ID: "The best part is that it actually works - every single time, in my tests. It's nothing like the balky, infuriating fingerprint-reader efforts of earlier cellphones. It's genuinely awesome; the haters can go jump off a pier." CNET's Scott Stein also weighed in on Touch ID, saying "The Touch ID-enabled home button feels invisible; it works with a tap, can recognize your finger from many angles, and feels like it has less of a fail rate than fingerprint sensors I've used on laptops. It's impressive tech. It worked on all my fingers, and even my toe (I was curious)." Myriam Joire of our other sister site Engadget, a true fan of the Nokia Lumia 1020, spent a lot of time talking about the iPhone 5s camera: "First, let's tackle the camera's low-light performance. The shots we took with the 5s were consistently better than what we took with the 5: they were sharper, with finer details, more natural colors and far less noise. As you might expect, our daylight shots were roughly on par, though there were a few times when the 5s won out by a slight margin, offering just a little more detail. All told, the 5s plays in the same league as all those other flagships with a bigger emphasis on imaging. Even so, our sample shots still showed more noise and less detail than the same images taken with the Nokia Lumia 1020. The 5s also does a good job of reproducing color, but it's not the best performer in this category, either. Make no mistake, though: the iPhone has been – and continues to be – great as a simple grab-and-go camera. It may not be a best-in-class performer, but the vast majority of iPhone users will still be happy." If you're looking for the definitive monster review of the iPhone 5s, I'd suggest going to Anandtech.com's review by none other than Anand Lal Shimpi, the editor-in-chief of the site. It's an epic review of the proportions usually written by John SIracusa or Federico Viticci, and it answers questions you didn't even think of. Enjoy the reviews, and be sure to come back to TUAW for our coverage of the release of iOS 7 and the two new iPhones.
iPhone 5s review
Forward-thinking. It's ironic that Apple's marketing slogan for the iPhone 5s invites us to look ahead to the future when, from the outside, the device looks like a carbon copy of last year's model, the iPhone 5. But just like any other odd-year iPhone -- the "S" version, if you will -- the 5s plays the Transformers card by offering more than meets the eye, with a few key improvements on the inside. Though it's easy to dismiss this handset as iterative, the 5s is the first smartphone with full 64-bit support and a capacitive fingerprint sensor, and it also ships with a fresh, revamped version of iOS. This might not matter to folks who were content with the status quo, but it matters a lot to Apple -- and to the company's future as well -- especially if the company wants to fend off an increasingly fierce pack of competitors. But is a "forward-thinking" phone worth the investment today?
OK, now I'm excited about the iPhone 5s slow-mo recording feature
When Apple showed off the slow-motion camera feature at the iPhone event last week, I thought it was a neat addition, but it didn't exactly blow me away. Maybe it was just the amount of information being thrown out in quick succession, or maybe it was the sample videos Apple used at the time, but whatever the reason, it took a pint-sized video from a fashion company to actually sell me on the idea. The video below was recorded by Burberry, a British luxury clothing and fragrance brand, during a recent fashion show in which they partnered with Apple to show off the capabilities of the iPhone 5s camera. As you can see, everything seems pretty standard until the smartphone's 120fps slow-motion recording feature is activated, giving the previously fast-moving flower petals an elegant fluttering effect. Now if only I had a good reason to carry flower petals around with me on a daily basis to capture something this fantastic. You can check out a whole gallery of iPhone 5s snapshots on Burberry's Instagram page.
AllThingsD: carriers indicate lower than usual iPhone 5s stock ahead of Friday's launch
If last week's announcement got you all worked up about a new Apple handset, you may have to wait a little while longer. AllThingsD reports that sources from multiple US carriers are showing "grotesquely" low inventory leading up to Friday's iPhone 5s launch. It's worth noting that stock numbers typically fall short of the demand (especially at the start), but it seems that this release may be even worse than years past. Of course, with a rainbow of other options hitting shelves on the same day, perhaps the high-end model isn't demanding the same amount of attention this time around.
Apple shares iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s availability
Apple sent out a press release today confirming the launch details for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Though much of the information was announced last week, this latest communication out of Cupertino lists the retailers that will be selling the iPhones when they launch this Friday, September 20. Besides the Apple Store and Apple's online storefront, customers can visit their local wireless carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. The iPhone will also be available at Best Buy, RadioShack, Target, Walmart stores and other Apple Authorized Resellers. If you are not sure whether a retailer will be selling the iPhone, you may want to call them in the next few days, so you can plan your Friday shopping trip. Show full PR text iPhone 5s & iPhone 5c Arrive on Friday, September 20 CUPERTINO, California-September 17, 2013-Apple® today announced that iPhone® 5s, the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world and iPhone 5c, the most colorful iPhone yet, will be available to customers on Friday, September 20 at 8:00 a.m. local time at Apple retail stores and at 12:01 a.m. PDT at the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com). iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK. iPhone 5s redefines the best smartphone experience in the world with amazing new features all packed into a remarkable thin and light design, including the Apple-designed A7 64-bit chip, all-new 8 megapixel iSight® camera with True Tone flash and introducing Touch ID™, an innovative way to simply and securely unlock your phone with just the touch of a finger. iPhone 5c features an all-new design, packed with features people know and love like the beautiful 4-inch Retina® display, blazing fast performance of the A6 chip, and the 8 megapixel iSight camera-all while delivering great battery life.¹ iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c both offer more LTE bands² than any other smartphone in the world and include all-new FaceTime® HD cameras. iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c feature iOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone, featuring a stunning new user interface, completely redesigned with an elegant color palette, distinct, functional layers and subtle motion that make it feel more alive. iOS 7 has hundreds of great new features, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop®, enhanced Photos, Safari®, Siri® and introduces iTunes Radio℠, a free Internet radio service based on the music you listen to on iTunes®.³ Every customer who buys an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store℠ and more, so they'll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store. In the US, the new iPhones will be available through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, select Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Pricing & Availability iPhone 5s comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model.⁴ iPhone 5c comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $99 (US) for the 16GB model and $199 (US) for the 32GB model.⁴ iPhone 5s cases will be available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED) for a suggested retail price of $39 (US) through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Authorized Apple Resellers. iPhone 5c cases will be available in blue, green, pink, yellow, black and white for a suggested retail price of $29 (US) through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Authorized Apple Resellers. ¹ Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary. ² LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details. ³ iTunes Radio will be available with the launch of iOS 7 in the US. ⁴ For qualified customers. Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
Apple asks developers to submit 64-Bit apps for iPhone 5s
Apple has posted a note on its Developer website asking developers to begin submitting apps optimized for the iPhone 5s' 64-bit A7 processor. From the note, titled "Submitting 64-bit apps": You can submit 64-bit apps for iOS 7 today that take advantage of the power of iPhone 5s. Xcode can build your app with both 32-bit and 64-bit binaries included so it works across all devices running iOS 7. If you wish to continue to support iOS 6 then you will need to build for 32-bit only. Next month we will be making changes that will allow you to create a single app binary that supports 32-bit on iOS 6, as well as 32-bit and 64-bit on iOS 7. As Apple states, developers who wish to support any iOS below version 7 must keep their apps 32-bit. However, the company will allow developers to release one build, supporting 32-bit chips on iOS 6 and 64-bit chips on iOS 7, starting in October. The 64-bit chip in the iPhone 5s is the first 64-bit chip in a mobile device and Apple says it is twice as fast as the 32-bit A6 chip found in the iPhone 5 -- and a whopping 40 times faster than the chip found in the original iPhone.
Pre-orders of iPhone 5s begin in China, selling out
While Apple is not offering pre-orders of the iPhone 5s in the United States or other western countries, that's not the case in China and Hong Kong, where the device has practically sold out already. As noted by MacRumors, Apple likely decided to offer pre-orders of the iPhone 5s in China to thwart scalpers, who frequently line up to buy huge numbers of iPhones which they then sell for a profit. The site also notes that while there is still an available supply of most iPhone 5c's, all but the 16 GB "Space Gray" iPhone 5s has sold out. The iPhone 5s will be available in the US and other countries on September 20 at 12:01AM local time if you are ordering from Apple.com, or at 8AM local time if you are buying it at an Apple retail store.
O2 announces iPhone 5s pricing plans and they aren't cheap
O2 has officially announced its price plans for the iPhone 5s -- and they aren't pretty. As noted by Cnet, O2 now breaks up its tariffs for all phones sold under the "Refresh" plan, as the iPhone 5s will be. The tariffs are split between the cost of the phone and the airtime plans you purchase with the phone. To get 1 GB of 3G data, unlimited texts and messages will cost you £17 GBP. But that's just for the data plan. If you want a free 16 GB iPhone 5s with that, it will cost you £42 per month. The price goes up to £47 per month if you want 1 GB of 4G data. Customers can get the plan price down by paying £320 upfront for a 16 GB iPhone 5s. In that case, the monthly plan price drops to £32. But considering you can buy an unlocked 16 GB iPhone 5s from Apple for £549, it might just be better to do that and then buy one of the pretty reasonable Three data plans, all of which offer unlimited data. For example, the unlimited data plan I have from Three costs me £21 a month. O2, like other carriers, is not offering pre-orders on the iPhone 5s. It will go on sale on O2's website at 12:01 AM on September 20.
Portenzo Alano SLIM and HardBack wallet cases for iPhone 5c/5s
I've got to admit that I've been really happy with the current trend of combining iPhone cases and wallets. They're both items that you carry around in your pockets, so why not take the functionality of an iPhone case -- protecting your iPhone -- and combine it with carrying around credit cards, IDs, and cash? Of the many wallet cases I've reviewed over the last couple of years, two of the nicest are the Alano SLIM (US$44.95 to $64.95, plus add-ons) and HardBack ($34.95, plus add-ons) from Portenzo. Let's take a look at these stylish cases, and then readers have a chance to win one from TUAW and Portenzo. The design of the Alano SLIM starts with a slim leather "booklet" that surrounds the iPhone. The cover is held closed in transit with a Moleskine-like elastic band, perfect for making sure that it's not going to flop open and expose your iPhone screen to scratches. The leather covers come in eleven different finishes, ranging from a faux antique American passport to a rich dark chocolate leather. The HardBack uses fabric on the outside instead of leather, but is just as nice -- some of the designs sport bright colors or patterns, while others are less flashy. One add-on feature of the HardBack case is the Intellistand, a way of folding the case origami-style to stand it up in landscape mode. Your iPhone isn't surrounded by plastic or wood, meaning that you have unfettered access to all ports and buttons at all times. So how does the phone stay in the Portenzo case? Simple -- there's a nanosuction GripPad (replaceable) on one side. Just align your iPhone and slap it onto the super-sticky material, and it is held in place. Need to remove your phone? No problem -- just give it a good tug and it comes off, leaving no residue. The Alano SLIM's wallet has two main pockets into which you can slide a couple of IDs, credit cards, and maybe even some cash. On the other hand, the HardBack wallet uses a "expandable folder" type of construction that can hold much more -- although you really don't want to overload it. Now, about those add-ons that are noted with the pricing. Portenzo uses a "build your own" model for these case/wallets, so the base price of the Alano SLIM cases does not include the wallet bits (that's an additional $20). The HardBack has two possible add-ons; the $20 wallet parts and the $4.95 Intellistand. That means that a decked-out Alano SLIM can cost as much as $84.90, while a fully-loaded HardBack checks in at $54.85. How do they look? Well, we received a "US Passport" model Alano Slim with all the trimmings and a Dark Blue HardBack with the Intellistand and wallet. Take a look at the images (I just placed the iPhone 5 on top of the GripPad instead of removing it) and you can see the amount of love put into the construction of the cases. Conclusion Portenzo's Alano SLIM and HardBack cases are well-built and beautiful, although somewhat pricy -- especially for the Alano SLIM. Pros Unique designs, especially for the Alano SLIM line Quality construction Easy to remove and re-install the iPhone HardBack's Intellistand works well to hold the iPhone in a landscape orientation HardBack's wallet expands to hold a lot of cards and cash Cons Alano SLIM is quite pricy once the wallet feature is added on Who is it for? The person who wants to ditch the wallet and do it in style Now it's your turn to have a chance to win one of these two cases. Note that the review cases are compatible with the iPhone 5 and 5c; the model for the iPhone 5s might need a slightly larger camera cutout on the back to house the True Tone flash. 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 September 20, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected. One will receive a Portenzo Alano SLIM wallet case valued at $84.90, while the other gets a Portenzo HardBack wallet case valued at $54.85 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Why a disembodied finger can't be used to unlock the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s
When a lot of folks think of fingerprint-scanning technology, they often assume there's a single way to do it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are actually more than a half-dozen different technologies -- and combinations thereof -- that various devices employ to read prints, with varying levels of reliability, and yes, some of them would indeed work with a finger you chopped off of a dear friend, but the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5s isn't one of them. Based on what Apple has revealed regarding Touch ID and what the company's own patents have suggested, the sensor in the iPhone 5s utilizes two methods to sense and identify your fingerprint: Capacitive -- A capacitive sensor is activated by the slight electrical charge running through your skin. We all have a small amount of electrical current running through our bodies, and capacitive technology utilizes that to sense touch. This is also the same technology used in the iPhone's touchscreen to detect input. Radio frequency -- RF waves do not respond to the dead layer of skin on the outside of your finger -- the part that might be chapped or too dry to be read with much accuracy -- and instead reads only the living tissue underneath. This produces an extremely precise image of your print, and ensures that a severed finger is completely useless. This means that the Touch ID sensor should be remarkably accurate for living creatures, but it also means that only a finger attached to a beating heart will be able to unlock it. So, should someone run up to you, hack off your finger, grab your iPhone and attempt to unlock it, there's virtually no chance it's going to work. Once the tissue is dead -- which, in the case of someone chopping your finger off without your consent, should happen within a matter of minutes -- two things will happen. First, the finger will lose all electrical charge and will fail to even activate the sensor, and secondly, if by some chance the sensor could be artificially activated, the RF reader that is searching for a print will find no living tissue and fail, leaving the device locked. It's important to note that in order to utilize Touch ID you must also set up a passcode, which acts as a back-up method to unlock your device. If someone really wanted to break into your device, chances are they'd be able to obtain your passcode more easily than actually slicing off a finger. However, if by some miracle the person snatching your finger had a compatible human host waiting for your finger to be transplanted onto their body -- and if they managed to complete the procedure before the tissue died -- you might have cause for concern. Oh wait, that's utterly insane, so no, you have nothing to worry about.
China Unicom new iPhone reservations pass 100K
The impending launch of the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s marks the first time that the iPhone will go on sale in China the same day it launches in the US. That being the case, Bloomberg is reporting that pre-orders for Apple's upcoming iPhones on China Unicom have surpassed 100,000 units. China Unicom, the nation's second-largest wireless carrier, said online reservations for Apple Inc.'s new iPhone 5C and 5S have passed 100,000 units since the devices were unveiled last week. China Unicom, which announced the volume of registrations on its official account with Sina Corp.'s Weibo microblog, hasn't disclosed pricing plans for the handsets which are due to go on sale Sept. 20. That's all well and good, but the larger story as it pertains to China is whether or not Apple will soon strike a deal with China Mobile, the world's largest carrier with over 700 million subscribers. Just a few days ago, we reported that Apple recently received a regulatory license to carry the iPhone on China Mobile's network, but no official world of an agreement has been made yet. Meanwhile, pre-orders for Apple's new iPhones in the US are currently limited to the iPhone 5c.
Weekly Roundup: Apple iPhone 5s and 5c hands-on, LG G2 review, Moto X's Texas factory, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Roundup: Distro Issue 107, iPhone 5c pre-orders, Gold-colored HTC One, 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.
X-Doria's iPhone 5c/5s cases: First look and giveaway
As you can probably imagine, iPhone case manufacturers have been jumping all over tech bloggers since before the iPhone 5c and 5s were even announced. One of the first to actually ship us hardware was X-Doria, with four new cases designed for the new phones. Take a look at what X-Doria has to offer, and then enter for a chance to win one of the cases for your new iPhone 5c. Defense 720° The $34.99 Defense 720° provides a hard injected protective shield to completely cover the screen while still giving your fingertips full control of the screen. There's a translucent plastic back to show off the colors of your favorite iPhone while still offering protection, and a rubber-like patterned edge as a defense against drops. The screen shield includes a hole that will be perfect for using Touch ID on the 5s to unlock the device. For the iPhone 5 and 5s, the Defense 720° comes in blue, purple and black. If you have an iPhone 5c, there are bright red, blue and yellow cases in addition to gray. Rapt For only $24.99, the Rapt is made of two different materials in two different colors. Polycarbonate and thermoplastic urethane keep your iPhone 5/5c/5s protected from drops while looking good at the same time. There are three flavors of the Rapt; black/grey, dark blue/light blue, and pink/fuschia. It's available for both the iPhone 5/5s and the 5c. Scene For good, inexpensive protection of your iPhone 5c without covering up the Apple logo or bright colors, the $24.99 Scene is perfect. It has rigid clear polycarbonate all around that is protected from drops around the sides with a rubbery material. It's available in red, grey,blue and yellow, but only works with the iPhone 5c. Scene Plus The iPhone 5c and 5/5s both get the $29.99 Scene Plus, which has a patterned translucent back. It uses the same hard polycarbonate / rubber exterior and side design as several of the other X-Doria entries, and the patterns are quite eye-opening. For the iPhone 5 and 5s, the designs are Black Prism, Pink Bubbles, and Blurry Dots Blue. The iPhone 5c gets Bubbles, Tribal HB, and Stripes. Giveaway Now it's your turn to grab one of these new cases for your sleek and colorful iPhone 5c. 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 September 17 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected. One receives an X-Doria Scene valued at $24.99, one receives an X-Doria Scene Plus valued at $29.99, one gets an X-Doria Rapt valued at $24.99, and one takes home an X-Doria Defense 720° valued at $34.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Daily Update for September 13, 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
Editor's Letter: The secret is out
In each issue of Distro, Executive Editor Marc Perton publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. This week's Distro includes our first hands-on looks at Apple's new iPhones, the 5c and 5s. And you should read them -- and check out our hands-on videos. But I'm not going to be spoiling anything by saying that we didn't find anything about the new phones very surprising. After months of speculation, leaks and rumors, Apple's iPhone event this Tuesday was something of a letdown. From the "champagne" iPhone 5s, to the phone's fingerprint reader, to the "budget" 5c series, virtually everything that was announced on Tuesday was public knowledge -- or at least well-circulated on the rumor mill -- well in advance. Unlike earlier Apple announcements, there was no "one more thing" lurking under the covers. The launch of the iPhone 5c and 5s was a by-the-numbers Apple event that could have been assembled from an Apple launch kit. Tight guest list and carefully orchestrated media buzz? Check. Black-shirted CEO? Check. Brief performance by an aging pop star? Check. Excitement and surprises? Sorry, not this time.
This week on gdgt: Sony's RX100 II, HP's Slatebook X2 and keeping your iPhone 5
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
iPhone 5c available for pre-order now; iPhone 5s ordering and sales details announced
It's Friday the 13th, and that can mean only one thing... it's time to pre-order your iPhone 5c! The pre-order button is working on the Apple iPhone 5c page, meaning that you can pick your color, your carrier and all of the other details in preparation for delivery to your door next Friday, September 20. MacRumors is reporting that iPhone 5c ship dates have already slipped to one to two weeks for customers in Hong Kong, with other countries showing delivery on September 20. However, if you have the hots for a bright yellow 5c, you'll have to wait a bit. It appears that at least one model -- the 16 GB Yellow (GSM) Unlocked iPhone 5c -- is showing a delay until September 25 for delivery. Holding out for an iPhone 5s? You'll have to wait until 12:01 AM PDT / 3:01 AM EDT on September 20 to put in your order. Apple Stores will reportedly open at 8 AM local time on September 20 for those of you who wish to get your hands on that sleek gold iPhone first thing in the morning. While that means that we won't have to wait in line all day in front of an Apple Store to buy a 5s, it also sadly means that we'll be in lines all night... [via BGR]
Conan O'Brien talks with designer of Apple's gold iPhone 5s
In a hilarious take on the slick ads Apple often shows at its keynote events, the folks over at Conan go deep behind the scenes to figure out how Apple came up with the idea for a gold iPhone. As it turns out, we have a stylish fellow named Raffi Jaharian from Miami Beach to thank for all things golden. Check out the video below, it's pretty funny.
Comparing the iPhone 5s fingerprint scanner and older technologies
Since Apple unveiled the new Touch ID fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5s a few days ago, the internet has been awash in, frankly, horrible reporting about its ability and consequences. One thing repeated over and over again is that fingerprint readers are buggy, prone to breaking after 500 scans and difficult to use because you have to place your finger on it just right. And all that is true... for fingerprint readers back in 2003. That's when I first used a fingerprint reader that was built into a Windows laptop. It was horrible. Half the time, the fingerprint reader wouldn't recognize my finger. Some times it would, but only after I swiped it slowly and carefully -- something that took much longer than quickly typing in a password. But the thing is that since 2003, fingerprint readers have advanced. Heck, they've advanced since 2011. And the one built into the iPhone 5s is the most advanced consumer fingerprint scanner on the market. So if you have any assumptions that the fingerprint reader on the iPhone 5s is like any fingerprint reader you've used in the past, I urge you to check out this awesome piece by Mary Branscombe at CITEworld where she explains in detail why the iPhone's fingerprint sensor is better than the ones on older laptops. The whole article is worth a read, but here's the central gist of it that everyone needs to understand: With the new sensors you don't have to move your finger, just press it against the reader. And like the sensor in the iPhone 5S, the sensors that will be in laptops and keyboards and other phones can detect the ridge and valley pattern of your fingerprint not from the layer of dead skin on the outside of your finger (which a fake finger can easily replicate), but from the living layer of skin under the surface of your finger, using an RF signal. That only works on a live finger; not one that's been severed from your body. This will protect you from thieves trying to chop off your finger when they mug you for your phone (assuming they're tech-literate thieves, of course), as well as from people with fake fingers using the fingerprint they lifted from your phone screen. [via Daring Fireball]
