Review: Touch ID fingerprint sensor

Far and away, the most compelling upgrade worthy feature on the new iPhone 5s is the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It was a feature that was rumored for many months, and today the general public can finally see what all of the fuss is about.

I've been putting the Touch ID sensor, which rests inside of the iPhone 5s' redesigned Home button, through its paces all morning. I've come away extremely impressed — not only with its ease of setup, but with its uncompromising accuracy.

After using it for a while, it's readily apparent that this is not something that Apple hastily put into the iPhone 5s. This isn't your father's fingerprint sensor. Touch ID is a feature that Apple has meticulously meshed into the iPhone to make one transparent and cohesive experience. And it just works.

iOS 7.0.1 fixes iPhone 5s Touch ID issue

As new iPhones launch today, Apple has flipped the switch on an iOS 7 0.1 update to fix a minor issue with the iPhone 5s's Touch ID fingerprint sensor while delivering "bug fixes and improvements". The maintenance firmware update is exclusive to the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c and users will be prompted to install it upon booting up their brand spanking new device. The software isn't available for iPhones other than the new ones. I've included additional tidbits after the jump..

First look: iPhone 5s

I was so angry when I woke up this morning, because I woke up late, and I just knew that meant I wasn't going to get an iPhone 5s. Much to my surprise, my local Verizon store had plenty in stock, albeit, none were gold.

I was able to walk in, say I wanted an unlocked iPhone 5s, and walked out in less than 15 minutes. It was an overall uneventful experience, despite my tardiness.

I decided to go ahead and go with the 32GB Space Gray iPhone 5s. While initially I kind of dismissed this color option, it's not half bad when you see it in person. In fact, I think it's safe to say that this is the best looking iPhone ever, outside of maybe the Gold model if that's your thing.

iFixIt tears apart the iPhone 5c

Just a few hours ahead of the iPhone 5s/5c launch in the United States and an additional ten major international markets, the repair wizards over at iFixIt gave the flagship iPhone 5s its usual teardown treatment. But wait, these guys are really quick - they've also posted their ritual teardown of another new iPhone, the gorgeous plastic iPhone 5c. I've included the most interesting tidbits and a nice video right after the break...

Gestrument LE review: make beautiful music without being a musician

In the current age of technology, a person doesn’t have to be a musician to play music. From fake guitars that play chords when you tap the screen to deeply technological wave table synthesizers, the iPhone has made it possible for anyone to write, record, and perform songs like a pro.

Gestrument LE is a music app that lets you create interesting and beautiful songs just by dragging your finger across the screen of your iPhone. We go hands on as we review the app...

MAXHASH helps you find the best of the internet

In a world where every big event is followed by a hashtag and every news story is retweeted around the world, finding exactly what you are looking for can be an arduous task on the Internet.

MAXHASH is a social networking filter that aggregates every tag from every social site around the web in one visually appealing stream…

You can now order your iPhone 5s

Ok folks, the time has arrived. Those in one of the 9 initial launch countries can now order your iPhone 5s handset. Just as promised, the Cupertino company began accepting online orders for its new flagship smartphone right around midnight this morning.

It appears that some users are still seeing Apple’s ‘We’ll be back’ poster on Apple.com, but the Apple Store app is up and running. Remember that carriers are also accepting online orders, so it’s worth checking out their websites if you have trouble getting in…

Apple takes US store offline ahead of iPhone 5s launch

Apple has taken its US web store down as it prepares to begin selling the iPhone 5s. The handset will be available for online order starting at 12:01 am Pacific Standard Time tomorrow morning, and in stores at 8 am.

AT&T also seems to have taken a majority of its site down, and replaced it with a countdown splash page. Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile sites seem to be working fine though, and they will all be selling the 5s online...

iFixit gives the iPhone 5s the teardown treatment

Though we’ve still got a good 10 hours or so before the iPhone 5s officially goes on sale here in the US, the handset has already landed in Australia and other countries. And from what we're hearing , stock is extremely limited.

But wouldn't you know it, the folks over at iFixit managed to snag one, and have already started their teardown ritual. And you know what that means: hi-res photos of the new A7 chip, Touch ID sensor and more coming up...

iOS 7 vulnerability allows anyone to bypass Lock screen

The highly-anticipated iOS 7 update just started hitting iPhones and iPads yesterday, and already a major vulnerability has been discovered. Just like iOS 6.1 before it, the exploit involves a sequence of touches that allows a user to bypass a device's Lock screen.

The bug isn't easy to reproduce, but I was able to replicate it on my iPhone 4s. And despite having a passcode, it gave me access to a number of apps that contain personal data like photos, email, text messages, and both my Facebook and Twitter accounts...

Logitech teases first iOS 7-compatible game controller

In addition to its new design, and new features, iOS 7 includes a number of new tools for developers to take advantage of. And one that we're really excited about is support for third party game controllers.

Games in iOS 7 will be able to tie into Apple's Game Controller framework, allowing for the universal use of authorized 'MFi' devices. And today, Logitech and others began teasing their first MFi gamepads...