Apple

iOS 7.0.1 fixes iPhone 5s Touch ID issue

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2013

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..

iFixIt tears apart the iPhone 5c

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2013

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...

You can now order your iPhone 5s

Cody Lee ∙ September 20, 2013

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…

iOS 7 vulnerability allows anyone to bypass Lock screen

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

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...

Poll: what iPhone 5s color would you pick?

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 19, 2013

Apple's new iPhones go on sale tomorrow at 8am at Apple and carrier retail stores across the United States and ten major international markets - among them, for the first time on launch day, China. Early signs of severely constrained supply led analysts to project a blockbuster opening weekend.

With nearly a third of customers already on iOS 7, some folks have cunningly obtained a new iPhone by virtue of installing the free iOS 7 update. To all you power users out there who happen to be in the market for a new iPhone, your choice couldn't be simpler: the sleek, fast, 64-bit, fingerprint-reading, top-of-the-line iPhone 5s.

If you count yourself among this club, your First World Problem comes down to the choice of color. So, what finish would you pick if you were buying an iPhone 5s?

Chinese carriers beat even the most aggressive U.S. iPhone 5s/5c offers

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated June 3, 2017

Remember last week's Apple stock tailspin launched by the high price in China of the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s? Talk centered on no-contract versions of the new handsets costing more than $730 and how Apple should just keep dreaming about competing against inexpensive Android alternatives.

Forget all that, because China's No. 2 and No. 3 carriers are out with prices on subsidized iPhones and they are low. In fact, one market observer believes the deals could beat even the most aggressive American offers...

Despite being dual-core, the iPhone 5s A7 chip beats every phone to CPU punch

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 19, 2013

Apple hasn't fully documented the new 64-bit A7 chip that powers the iPhone 5s (they never do that) so we'll have to wait until the handset goes on sale this Friday so that Chipworks can put the chip under a microscope, but that hasn't stopped people in the know from speculating.

AnandTech knows hardware perhaps better than anyone else out there and its founder Anand Lal Shimpi posted a detailed iPHone 5s review which, among other things, put the A7 chip through its paces to conclude that Apple is still using a dual-core design for the CPU part...

iPhone 5s sales go live in Australia with 7-10 day shipping estimates

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Folks hoping to score an iPhone 5s anytime in the near future should probably opt to stand in line at their local retailer. The handset just became available for purchase in Apple's web store in Australia and other countries, and it's already showing 7-10 day shipping times.

The news comes after several months of reports claiming that the iPhone 5s would be in short supply at launch time, but it's starting to look like it could be this way for a while. Most models from Hong Kong and Singapore stores, for example, aren't shipping until October...

Poll: who’s upgraded to iOS 7?

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 19, 2013

We now know nearly one out of each three iOS users has upgraded to iOS 7 in the first sixteen hours of its availability. Have you? We're only asking you to tell us whether or not you upgraded by now, in order to get a better understanding of the iOS 7 adoption rates thus far.

This being a non-scientific YES/NO poll means readers who haven't upgraded yet but are planning to should of course vote with a 'no'...

Apple patent describes location-based speech recognition

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 19, 2013

Now that Apple is pushing a number of differing iPhones to a wider range of countries, it might be wise if Siri understood languages spoken outside of North America and Europe. To help fine-tune the regional differences in language, Apple has filed for a patent on integrating geolocation with speech recognition.

The filing, published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last Thursday, seeks to use location clues to enhance Siri, as well as speech to text services available with the newly-introduced iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c...

Apple now requires medical apps to provide sources of the information included

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 19, 2013

Would you follow a treatment plan outlined in a medical app? The increasing popularity of apps which diagnose and treat medical issues is causing Apple to enact stricter guidelines. Apple wants developers of medical apps which give consumers drug dosages to cite references. The new requirement is designed to reduce medical misdiagnosis, as well as potential plagiarism, according to a news site Wednesday...

App Store ‘Kids’ category launches

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 16, 2022

Following a storm of criticism by disgruntled parents and after being forced to refund tens of thousands of dollars in individual cases of kids inadverntendly ratcheting up their parents’ iTunes bill with in-app purchases (here's how to turn these off), Apple finally caved in.

Thursday morning, the company has unveiled a new 'Kids' category on the App Store. Designed to give parents a piece of mind, the new sections hosts a selection of carefully curated apps for children. Apps are sorted thematically in sub-sections such as 'Create & Play' and 'Shapes & Colors' and shortcuts to apps that are 'Best for Ages 5 & Under', 'Best for Ages 6-8' and 'Best for Ages 9-11'...