iPhone News

Apple nows offers a single iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c version for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

As we continue to uncover interesting tidbits following Apple's introduction of the flagship iPhone 5s and the plastic iPhone 5c this morning, a little-appreciated fact has now come to light. Both new iPhones are offered in four different hardware varieties each versus three different cellular versions of the iPhone 5.

The consolidated 5s/5c models offer more LTE bands than before, but the coolest thing is that in the United States a single version now supports AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Additionally, a different version of the handsets will provide compatibility with Sprint and Japan's KDDI and Softbank carriers.

Previously, there used to be two different US flavors of the iPhone 5, one for the AT&T and T-Mobile and the other for Verizon and Sprint networks...

Intertubes respond to Apple’s imminent keynote with parody videos

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

As we count the remaining minutes until Apple's iPhone 5S/5C keynote (85 minutes left and counting), the blogosphere has spent the last 48 hours putting together some downright amusing parody videos (not mentioning a few in really bad taste).

While hardly meant to downplay Apple's inevitable domination in headlines today, we're not complaining - such parodies have long become part of the Apple keynote folklore. Now, some watchers may be expecting a revolution.

Realistically - this morning is about two phones, both based on the existing iPhone 5 design: a mid-range model redesigned around a much cheaper and sturdier plastic enclosure and an S-upgrade with a faster chip, better camera and Touch ID sensor.

Check out the videos after the break and hit us in comments...

Ubisoft announces Assassin’s Creed: Pirates

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

French developer Ubisoft, one of the most prolific games makers out there, today announced a brand new game to accompany the upcoming Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag for consoles. They are calling it Assassin's Creed: Pirates and it's basically a standalone naval combat title scheduled to launch this Fall on smartphones and tablets.

Pirates will feature the characters from the upcoming Black Flag console game, including Blackbeard and Benjamin Hornigold. I've included a teaser trailer and additional tidbits right after the break...

iPod Godfather says Apple built Google Glass style eyewear prototypes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Tony Fadell, the brains behind the popular Nest thermostat, used to work at Apple where he'd helped engineer the iPod music player, earning him a nickname of the iPod Godfather. He also led the development of the first eighteen iterations of the original iPhone. In a recent interview, the famous engineer revealed that Apple in the past had experimented with the idea of a virtual reality headset and has actually built a few prototypes of a Google Glass-style device.

"The craziest thing we talked about was something like Google glass," says former Senior VP of iPod division...

Apple refrains from iPhone price hike in India following unprecedented rupee drop

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2013

Even though India is home to 1.24 billion people and is part of the emerging BRIC markets, high import taxes and a number of other factors have contributed to often too high prices of consumer electronics products such as smartphones. The off-contract iPhone 4S which costs $450 in the United States, for example, used to be desperately out of the reach for most of that nation’s consumers.

Realizing its mistake, Apple has tweaked its pricing tactics in the country and started offering installment plans and other benefits. According to a new report, the iPhone maker also decided to eat into its high iPhone margin in order to preserve the current iPhone pricing in India whereas Samsung has chosen to raise prices due to Indian rupee’s unprecedented plunge...

Fingerprint sensor called ‘Touch ID’ in alleged iPhone 5S user guide

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

You have to love last-minute leaks. Shortly after The Wall Street Journal published a report confirming that the iPhone 5S would indeed sport a built-in fingerprint sensor, another bit of evidence surfaced in favor of the feature.

What you see above is an illustration of what is believed to be an iPhone 5S, running iOS 7 and sporting a silver ring around its Home button. The photo is believed to have been taken from within the handset's user guide...

Wall Street Journal confirms new iPhone has fingerprint sensor

Cody Lee ∙ September 10, 2013

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the rumors are true, Apple is going to introduce a new iPhone tomorrow morning with a fingerprint sensor built into the Home button.

In a last minute scoop, the news outlet says it has confirmed with "people familiar with the matter" that the much talked about feature will indeed be present in at least one of Apple's new handsets...

iDB is ready for Apple’s iPhone event tomorrow, are you?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, tomorrow is a huge day for Apple. The company is expected to unveil not one, but two new smartphones: an iPhone 5S, which will replace the current flagship iPhone 5 handset, and an all-new low-cost 'iPhone 5C' model.

We're assuming there won’t be a live stream of tomorrow’s presser (although you never know), and a clip of the event won’t likely be available until hours after it’s over. But never fear, iDB will be here all day providing you with coverage and commentary…

Let’s Talk Jailbreak 27: The calm before the storm

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 9, 2013

Tomorrow is a huge day, so for that reason, we thought it would be appropriate to post this episode of Let's Talk Jailbreak a day early. Inside, Sebastien and Jeff talk about the anticipation surrounding tomorrow's iPhone event in which the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C should be revealed to the public. The duo also talks about this past week's tweaks, which include TapTapFolder, the Samsung Galaxy inspired WaveOff, and Sentry's new quick reply tweak called Anemo. Of course, that's not all. Listen to episode 27 for all of the jailbreak goodness, which includes our thoughts about the iOS 6.1.4 jailbreak for the iPhone 5.

Make sure to stay away from these fake unlock and jailbreak sites

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Perhaps one of the biggest problems in the jailbreak community today, apart from piracy, is the growing amount of scammers. These are sites or services that promise to provide users with jailbreak and unlock solutions, in return for money or other malicious intent.

And what's worse is, often times these services are very misleading, claiming to do things such as "jailbreak iOS 6.1.4" or "downgrade from iOS 6 to iOS 5"—which we all know aren't possible yet. So we're highlighting some of these sites in order to warn users to avoid them...

Apple said to double ad and marketing teams

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 9, 2013

A new report Monday by AdAge asserts Apple is doubling headcount across its internal marketing and advertising teams, ostensibly in a bid to tighten the message and produce even more marketing and advertising in-house. Saying the timing of the hiring spree is telling would be an understatement.

Apple's Fall was recently called "blockbuster" and we have every reason to believe 2014 will be a landmark year as the firm readies the rumored iWatch, iTV, iPhablet, 13-inch iPad Pro and other gizmos unbeknown to us yet.

With that in mind, Apple is going to need some of the world's top creatives to get its message across, retain the narrative and talk its non-gullible customers into purchasing new-category products...

Apple dresses up Cupertino campus ahead of tomorrow’s iPhone keynote

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 9, 2013

Ahead of tomorrow's iPhone keynote, which starts at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern, colorful banners have now gone up the facade of Apple's Town Hall auditorium building in Cupertino, California. Watchful folks could point out that Apple typically holds its high-profile product unveilings at major venues like San Francisco's Moscone West or Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

This time around, they've opted for a more intimate (and more controllable) setting at its own campus. The last time Town Hall was used was for the iPhone 4S introduction in October 2011. As yo can see yourself, the media event livery pictures the same colorful dots we first saw on Apple's event invitation.

I've included more shots right after the break...