In a not-so-surprising move, Apple has released iOS 7 GM to developers this afternoon. The release follows Apple's big iPhone event this morning, where it went over major features from the software and unveiled two new handsets.
The GM, or Golden Master, release should be the final one before the update is rolled out to the public next week. And it's available now to all registered app developers through Apple's dev center—no sign of over-the-air just yet...
This is it. Apple finally unveiled the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c without much surprise to anyone who's been following the rumors for a while. We've already posted about the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c pricing and availability but we thought it'd be worth having a post dedicated to these devices' prices off-contract.
So far, looking at Apple's website, only T-Mobile will be offering unlocked and contract-free iPhones from day one, starting September 20th. If history is any indication of the future, chances are other carriers such as AT&T will later offer the devices without a contact, and unlocked for use on other carriers.
But let's have a look at the prices of contract-free iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c...
Usually, Apple's S-upgrades are big on camera improvements and the just-released iPhone 5s doesn't disappoint in this regard. Although past S-upgrades increased pixel count on the back camera sensor - the iPhone 4S, for instance, introduced an eight-megapixel iSight camera, up from five megapixels on the iPhone 4 - the iPhone 5s's back shooter remains stuck at eight megapixels.
But photography isn't just about megapixels so Apple worked to improve low-light performance and the overal quality of your snaps, as well as enable new features like the super-slow motion video capture at 120 frames per second (stemming from the two-times faster 64-bit A7 chip).
Cody has already laid out some of the crucial new camera capabilities and now Apple has posted a video which takes us through some of the technologies that make the iPhone 5s the best iPhone camera yet...
Just like clockwork, Apple has now updated its website with new material related to today's announcements. The flagship iPhone 5s has received a substantial upgrade and with much of the attention surrounding its fingerprint scanning feature, the company has made a little video explaining how they integrated the sensitive fingerprint reader into the Home button while giving us an overview of how Touch ID works. I've included it for your viewing pleaser right after the break, have a look right now...
It looks like Ming-Chi Kuo was right. The KGI Securities analyst predicted, as did a few others, that Apple would be discontinuing the iPhone 5 alongside the launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c today. And they did.
It seems that the iPhone 5c, which starts at $99 on contract, has completely replaced the 5, and Apple will cease selling it after this month. Oddly enough, however the company is keeping the iPhone 4s around...
Apple's more affordable iPhone 5c is official now. Having already provided a quick laundry list of iPhone 5c features, we're now left with the two crucial questions: when exactly is the iPhone 5c scheduled to go on sale and how much will it set you back? Don't worry, iDB has you covered. The full launch details, pre-orders, pricing and availability information is right after the break...
Now that you know all about the new iPhone 5s, the next two questions are: "when can I get it?" and "how much is it going to cost me?"Â As far as price goes, Apple has stuck with its usual scheme: the 5s will start at $199 for the 16GB model with a two-year carrier contract. And availability will depend on where you live.
It appears that Apple will not be putting this handset up for pre-order like it has in year's past, but it will be available in-stores on September 20. Note that this initial launch group now includes China, which is pretty significant considering that it doesn't typically get new Apple products until several months after launch.
A last-minute leak from our friends over at Nowhereelse.fr suggested that Apple would refer to the rumored iPhone 5s fingerprint sensor as Touch ID. The rumors were true: Apple first revealed the top-end iPhone 5s which has a much-improved camera and runs two times faster A7 chip that's 64-bit (the first for a phone) and a new motion chip called M7.
The executives saved the best part for the end of the presentation: the built-in fingerprint scanning feature which draws from Apple's 2012 acquisition of the Israeli biometric sensor experts AuthenTec. Jump past the fold for the full reveal..
As expected, the new iPhone 5s features a significantly upgraded rear-facing iSight camera. It has a new five-element Apple-designed lens with an F2.2 aperture and a 15% larger active sensor area. The pixels are larger too:—1.5 microns.
The camera software has also been largely improved. The Camera app now sets white balance, exposure, and creates a "dynamic local tone map" with "autofocus matrix metering" for 15 zones—all automatically. More details after the fold...
Along with Apple's just announced A7 chip, comes a companion chip called the M7 that serves as a "Motion coprocessor." The purpose of this chip is to constantly measure motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass built into the iPhone 5s.
This promises to open up a new playing field for health and fitness apps, in that they can actively track whether or not you're stationary, walking, driving, and more.
In revealing the new top-line iPhone 5s smartphone, Apple spent some air time talking about the all-new A7 chip. Contrary to previous reports and the somewhat mixed rumors, the new chip is 64-bit. This is huge. It's the first time Apple's made a jump to the modern 64-bit mobile architecture.
Apple says it's the first such piece of silicon in a smartphone ("I don't think the other guys are even talking about this," Schiller said) and notes iOS 7 has been specifically designed with 64-bit computing in mind. They are calling it a "huge leap forward in mobile computing performance" as the A7 enables "desktop-class architecture" on a mobile device...
Well the big moment has finally arrived. After months of rumors, reports and speculation, Apple has just taken the wraps off of its new flagship smartphone: the iPhone 5s.
It's a familiar-looking handset with a bevy of upgrades—including a new 64-bit A7 processor, and a handful of new features. And yes, it looks like there's a new gold colorway...