Apple

Chronic claims the iPhone 5 has NFC chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

A well-known iOS developer with a strong track record of Apple reporting took to Twitter this morning to argue that prototypes of Apple's next iPhone do contain a Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor inside. This shouldn't be deciphered as the definite proof of an NFC-enabled iPhone 5 as Apple and other handset makers often test several device prototypes before settling on one model.

Furthermore, even if the iPhone 5 has NFC, this should not be confused with an NFC-driven mobile payment system. We also know from Apple's marketing boss Phil Schiller's interview with the Wall Street Journal (Apple's unofficial mouthpiece) that digital wallet mobile-payment services are “all fighting over their piece of the pie", adding that "we aren’t doing that"...

Undercover Chinese journalist infiltrates iPhone 5 production line

Cody Lee ∙ September 12, 2012

Talk about timing. Just hours ahead of Apple's highly-anticpated iPhone event, a story has surfaced of a Chinese journalist who recently went undercover as a worker in one of Foxconn's factories.

The reporter, who works for the Shanghai Evening Post, got a job at the manufacturer's Tai Yuan plant in China's Shanxi province, and spent 10 days working on one of its iPhone 5 production lines...

Last minute details surface on new dock connector and headphones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Good news for all of you folks hoping to soak up some last minute rumors before tomorrow's event. We've come across some new details regarding Apple's expected announcements.

First off, among the many changes Apple is figured to introduce in the new iPhone, is a new, smaller 9-pin dock connector. And apparently, that connector has a name: Lightning...

Everything we know about the iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

It's that time of year again: Apple is about to unveil a next-generation iPhone. A sixth revision to the world's most beloved phone that just turned five is up for an announcement tomorrow at a media event in San Francisco. The last iPhone with Steve Jobs's seal of approval arrives at an interesting time for Apple.

Earlier in the year, rival Samsung crushed both Apple and the embattled Finnish giant Nokia to become the world's largest cell phone and smartphone maker by volume. The South Korea-based conglomerate's flagship Galaxy S III handset has even managed to overtake the iPhone to become America's best-selling smartphone in August.

With such massive pent up demand for the iPhone 5, a misstep of any kind would cost Apple dearly: the company owes nearly 70 percent of its fortunes to the iPhone. The iPhone biz is now worth more than all of Microsoft. And because the iconic smartphone is that huge, it poses a major litigation risk.

The iPhone 5 also marks a major test for Cupertino as customers will once again vote with their wallet and get to prove whether or not the iPhone has run its course...

Co-creator of Siri Adam Cheyer reportedly leaving Apple

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

As we all know, Siri, Apple's now popular voice assistant, started out as a third-party iOS app. The story goes that Steve Jobs personally called up Siri co-founder Dag Kittlaus one day and made an offer to buy his work and team. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Shortly after the iPhone 4S launched, Kittlaus left Apple for personal reasons, but a majority of his team stayed on. Today, however, it's being reported that Adam Cheyer, another co-founder and member of the Siri team, has also recently decided to leave the company...

FireCore releases aTV Flash (black) 2.0 for jailbroken Apple TVs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Back in August, we reported that FireCore was working on a major update for its aTV Flash (black) application. The software enables jailbroken Apple TVs to perform a wide range of additional tasks.

Well, today, FireCore released that update in the form of aTV Flash (black) 2.0. It features a new library view, which makes browsing through your content easier than ever before, and much more...

New iPod touch to feature 1136×640 display and new A5 chip

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple is widely expected to unveil new iPods alongside its new smartphone tomorrow. But while we think we know almost everything about the new iPhone, the new iPods remain a bit of a mystery.

Until today, that is. According to some new information, the new line of iPod touches are likely going to feature a 4-inch display with a resolution of 1136 x 640, and a more powerful A5 processor...

iPhone 5 preorders to start on September 14th?

Cody Lee ∙ September 11, 2012

As we all know, Apple is set to unveil its new iPhone tomorrow. Thanks to insider reports, we've known that since July. But those early reports also predicted that iPhone 5 preorders would start tomorrow as well.

And that doesn't seem to be the case, at least, according to new information. The word is that Apple is now in the process of beefing up its staff in preparation for September 14th preorders, which is this Friday...

Check out this blow-away concept of next-gen iPod touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

With just one day left until Apple's massive iPhone 5 introduction tomorrow, it's a mockups day today. This morning already saw us post a few nice dummies and mockups, from the iPhone 5 dummy with high-quality closeups of the handset's controversial two-tone design to a concept video showing off its possible features to this nicely done mockup of a mini iPad in hand.

With some people expecting new colorful iPods at tomorrow's event, designer Guilherme Schasiepen went about rendering half a dozen stunning mockups of what a fifth-generation iPod touch might look like. The renderings and more food for thought follow right below...

Nicely done mini iPad dummy in hand

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2012

As an avid reader of this blog, you must have read all there is about purported iPad mini cases, the device's rumored shrunken down shell and other leaked parts. You've also seen mockups depicting its skinner side bezels and thin design and marveled at the nicely done interactive three-dimensional model.

All of the above, of course, is based on what the rumor-mill thinks it knows so far about Apple's purportedly inexpensive, smaller iPad. It was only a matter of time before someone envisioned what an iPad mini held in your hand would look like, right as we're approaching its rumored October launch...

Crisp shots of the two-tone iPhone 5 design surface

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

The most visible design change concerning the next iPhone, which is due for the official announcement tomorrow, is its metallic backplate with two glass stripes at the top and bottom for cellular and WiFi antenna. It's perhaps the most controversial feature of the next iPhone. Matter of fact, our own little poll tells us you guys are pretty torn over the two-tone thing.

Making matter even more interesting is a last-minute leak by the increasingly reliable Rene Ritchie, who obtained a pair of high-quality photos of the iPhone 5 dummy depicting the two-tone thing in detail greater than ever before. In addition, the photos show a nice closeup of the handset's bottom with its smaller dock connector and relocated headphone jack...

Vodafone too has Nano SIMs in stock ahead of tomorrow’s iPhone 5 launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2012

Right on time, Vodafone in Germany appears to be stockpiling the new 40 percent smaller Nano SIM cards, a German publication reveals. The carrier is one of Apple's major iPhone distributors throughout Europe and in the United States, where UK's multinational mobile network operator has a joint venture with the US telco Verizon Communications, called Verizon Wireless (Vodafone has a 45 percent ownership of the joint venture). Apple's next iPhone is expected to file as the first phone to feature the recently ratified Nano SIM standard which allows for the creation of thinner and smaller mobile devices...