Apple

NYPD encouraging iPhone and iPad users to update to iOS 7

The above image was posted to Twitter yesterday by World Bank's Jim Rosenberg, with the caption: the New York Police Department has a message for you iPhone and iPad folks.

Apparently, the NYPD has been handing out fliers at subway exits and in front of Apple Stores, encouraging people to upgrade to iOS 7 for its new ‘Activation Lock’ security feature...

iPhone 5s shipping times fall to October

Shortly after the iPhone 5s became available for online order here in the US Friday morning, initial inventory for the gold colorway sold out. Within an hour of launch, shipping times for handset configurations including the new color option began slipping to October.

And the rest of the models caught up with it this weekend. Less than 72 hours after launch, it appears that Apple has sold out of all of its initial iPhone 5s supplies, with shipping estimates for all configurations in the US slipping from 7–10 days to the vague date of 'October.'

Apple pulls ATV 6.0 update following user complaints

I was met with disappointment yesterday, when I turned on my Apple TV to download and install the new 6.0 update. The set-top box, which is still running ATV software version 5.3, told me that my firmware was already up-to-date.

And apparently, I'm not the only one experiencing this issue. I guess in addition to support for iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, and iTunes music purchases, the software also included several bugs. Because Apple just pulled it...

Apple no longer signing iOS 6.1.3/4

Bad news this evening for anyone hoping to downgrade from iOS 7 to a lower firmware. It appears that Apple is no longer signing iOS 6.1.3 and 6.1.4 for a majority of its devices, effectively terminating their ability to downgrade.

This is significant for a few reasons. For one, folks who upgraded to iOS 7 and don't like the redesigned UI are now essentially stuck with it for the foreseeable future. And more importantly, word is a 6.1.3/4 jailbreak is coming...

New in iOS 7: Motion Activity

Apple's iOS 7 software includes a new privacy section nested inside the Settings application. It exists to explicitly cater to next-gen fitness apps specifically designed with Apple's new M7 chip in mind. As you know, the M7 motion coprocessor is iPhone 5s-exclusive (actually a rebranded NXP LPC18A1 chip - that's the power of marketing to you)...

U.S. Senator Al Franken challenges Apple on Touch ID privacy implications

What are the privacy implications of the iPhone 5s fingerprint sensor? U.S. Senator Al Franken wants Apple CEO Tim Cook to answer that question and more. In a published letter to Cook, Franken writes that "important questions remain about how this technology works." In addition, the senator wants the Apple chief to explain how the Touch ID sensor may be used in the future.

In response, Apple published online a document explaining that fingerprints obtained by the new iPhone 5s are walled-off from the iOS software and application developers...

Loyalty: almost all iPhone 5s buyers apparently own an iPhone

Remember the days when Apple or Android hoped to snag a customer from the rival camp? You can file that dream alongside winning the Super Ball lottery, because nearly all of the people lined up Friday to buy one of Apple's new iPhones already owns an iPhone.

According to one Apple observer, 90 percent of people lined up in New York, San Francisco and Minneapolis are upgrading from an older iPhone. The finding reflects both the loyalty of Apple users as well as a U.S. smartphone market where few consumers switch from one handset brand to another.

The 90 percent upgrade figure tops that of the iPhone 5, when 83 percent of those purchasing the handset in 2012 said they already owned an iPhone...

Internal Apple doc reveals non-serviceable iPhone 5s/5c issues

So you stood in the line, maybe even battered the storm, and you've finally gotten your hands on a brand spanking new iPhone 5s (let me guess, they didn't have a gold variant?) or one of the colorful new iPhone 5c models? As much as you're going to protect your investment by handling your device with care and thinking twice before letting others play with it, accidents unfortunately happen.

And while Apple will cover factory faults and issues that may arise with your new handsets, many other issues won't be covered by Apple's standard one-year warranty. A leaked Apple document highlights some of the issues that might incur a charge and ones that aren't serviceable at all...

Apple TV 6.0 is out: iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, iTunes music purchases, more

Following today's launch of the new iPhone 5s/5c and Wednesday's public release of iOS 7, Apple on Friday issued a major new software update to its "hobby project," the $99 Apple TV streaming set-top box. The company's been testing a companion Apple TV update since announcing iOS 7 at June's WWDC.

We previously caught glimpses of some of the new features such as AirPlay enhancements, automatic device configuration over Bluetooth, custom subtitles and Conference Room Mode for presenters. All of these goodies - and then some - are now readily available to Apple TV owners.

Go past the fold for the full details on iCloud Photos and Videos, iTunes Music Store purchases, Podcasts, AirPlay from iCloud and other Apple TV enhancements...

iPhone 5s chips: Samsung-made A7, NXP-made M7, Bosch accelerometer, Sony CMOS

After conducting its ritual teardown analysis of the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, both of which went on sale earlier today in the United States, China and an additional nine major global markets, the repair experts over at iFixIt teamed up with Chipworks for a high-tech analysis of the iPhone 5s's innards.

Putting the Apple-designed 64-bit A7 chip under a microscope, deep scans reveal the new iPhone engine is still being made by Samsung...

Sprint launches $65 a month One Up upgrade plan

As rumored, the U.S. wireless carrier Sprint on Friday launched its $65 a month upgrade program, just in time for the double iPhone 5s/5c launch. By the way, the new iPhones have gotten off to a great start as Apple cites "incredible demand" for the handsets. Akin to similar offerings from rival telcos AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, Sprint customers can now get a brand new smartphone every 12 months with no downpayment for a limited time, by signing up for the $65 a month One Up plan for unlimited voice, text and data. Jump past the fold for the full reveal...

The launch: “incredible” demand, Tim Cook & Co. at Palo Alto store, line vids the world over

If it is Friday, you must be standing in line for the new iPhones. As the iPhone 5c officially hits stores and the iPhone 5s opens for both pre-sales and retail customers, Apple describes the rush to own the new smartphones as "incredible." From a Silicon Valley appearance by CEO Tim Cook to Hong Kong's own gold rush, talk of a down-and-out Apple is forgotten amid the lines and excited iPhone fanatics.

Acknowledging to AllThingsD that some models of iPhone 5s are "sold out or in limited supply," Apple reportedly is asking its suppliers to increase production by a third.

Gold is in - particularly when it comes to Apple's just-released iPhone 5s...