Year: 2012

Black iPhone 5 susceptible to ugly scratches?

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 21, 2012

"Is that a scratch on your iPhone", a friend of mine asked, much to my horror and surprise. I'd only had this iPhone 3GS for a couple hours and already pesky scratches were beginning to show on its shiny plastic back. The glass back on my iPhone 4/4S has proved far less prone to wear and tear, perhaps partially due to past experiences which taught me to handle my pricey devices with utmost care.

You'd be pressed to think there was no difference in how black & slate and white & silver iPhone 5 models withstood wear and tear stemming from daily use. That said, you're in for a surprise as some folks apparently have discovered that both the anodized aluminum back and the chamfered edges of the black iPhone 5 are conspicuously more prone to wear versus its white counterpart...

Best Buy can’t keep up with iPhone 5 preorders, report says

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

So, you pre-ordered your iPhone 5 the minute it was announced. Turns out, you may have better luck landing an iPhone by standing in line. The latest victim of the iPhone's own success: electronics giant Best Buy. The company now says it may not have enough of the highly-sought handsets to meet demand, emailing some unlucky souls that they'll need to wait up to mid-October.

"Based on current inventory allocation, we understand we will not have enough iPhone 5 devices to fulfill all pre-orders this weekend," according to a Best Buy internal memo obtained by 9to5Mac.

iPhone 5 user guide

Cody Lee ∙ September 21, 2012

After months and months of rumors, and waiting, the iPhone 5 is finally here. The handset, which Apple unveiled last week, is now on sale here in the US and around the world.

While the new iPhone might share some design elements with its predecessors, there's no question that it's a completely different beast. So if you just purchased the phone, or want to learn more about it, we recommend checking out the official iPhone 5 user guide...

iPhone 5 boot test vs iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2012

We know the iPhone 5 is about two times faster than its predecessor, but how does it stack up toe the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S in a side-by-side-by-side bootup speed test?

Point and laugh at me as I struggle to turn all three devices on at the same time, and be surprised with how fast the iPhone 4S still is. The iPhone 4 is much slower, but the 4S is still no slouch, don't you agree?

The iPhone 5 goes on sale, are you ready for it?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

As expected, Apple's sixth-generation iPhone is today on sale in the United States and eight international markets (Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore). The handset comes in 16/32/64GB flavors, priced at $199/$299/$399 with a two-year contract with your wireless operator.

In addition to AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, regional U.S. telcos C Spire and Alaska’s GCI and Appalachian Wireless announced plans to carry the iPhone 5, in addition to prepaid carrier Cricket Wireless.

As was the case with past launches, contract-free versions are expected to be available at a later stage in the U.S., unlike some international markets where carriers either choose or are mandated by law to provide contract-free alongside subsidized units. Here are some nice launch day photos...

iPhone 5 LTE Speedtest

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2012

Is LTE really all it's cracked up to be on the iPhone 5? Take a look at our speed test, as we test Verizon's LTE, and compare it to Verizon's own 3G offering. I think the results speak for themselves, don't you?

iPhone 5 white & black unboxing

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2012

Just a few minutes ago, I got my hands on two 32GB iPhone 5's — one black, and one white. Join me, as I unbox both on video.

Which one do you think looks better? Did you get yours yet?

How you can help make the new Maps app better

Cody Lee ∙ September 21, 2012

As you've probably noticed, Apple has been taking a lot of criticism over the new Maps application in iOS 6. Google Maps has been replaced in the software, in favor of Apple's own in-house mapping solution. And for most people it's just not up to snuff.

The company commented on the criticism yesterday, telling AllThingsD that because it's a cloud-based solution, Maps will get better as more people use it. But if you aren't buying that, or just want to speed the process along, here's what to do...

iFixit gives the iPhone 5 the teardown treatment

Cody Lee ∙ September 20, 2012

Though we've still got a good 8 hours or so before the iPhone 5 officially goes on sale here in the US, due to the time difference, the handset has already launched in Australia.

And wouldn't you know it, the i-teardown experts over at iFixit were on hand to pick one up and have already started ripping it apart. More on their findings inside the fold...

And the winner of our iPhone 5 giveaway is…

Sébastien Page ∙ September 20, 2012

Let me tell you that picking a winner for our awesome iPhone 5 giveaway wasn't easy. But we did it. Over 5,000 of you retweeted our giveaway, 2,500 liked the post on Facebook, and 4,000 left a comment. Talk about being overwhelmed!

I just spent the last few hours of my life browsing through the entries to pick a winner, so without further ado, let's find out who the lucky person is...

Apple updates iCloud for Windows to version 2.0

Oliver Haslam ∙ September 20, 2012

A fan of Apple's iCloud but happen to be tied to Microsoft's Windows? No problem, because Apple has just updated its iCloud for Windows app to version 2.0, just in time for the iPhone 5.

With iCloud offering syncing capabilities across iOS devices as well as Macs, Windows users need not be left in the cold thanks to Apple's software which seeks to bring the iCloud features to those not sporting a Mac.

The release, bringing iCloud for Windows up to version 2.0, brings iOS 6 compatibility to the game just in time for the next generation iPhone to be unleashed upon the masses...

Nokia infographic tells why its Lumia 920 is better than the iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer may have hurt Nokia's feelings at a presser yesterday by calling HTC's flagship phones, the 8X and 8S, truly Windows Phone hero products. Returning the favor, Nokia likened the new HTC devices to a "tactical re-branding".

Better yet, the ailing Finish cell phone maker thinks that the recently unveiled Lumia 920, its inaugural Windows Phone 8 device, is a far better proposition compared to the industry's golden benchmark by which all smartphones are measured, Apple's iPhone.

To prove its point, Nokia chose to play the specs game and published an interesting graphics on Facebook comparing the Lumia 920 to the iPhone 5...