Apple

On iOS 7 launch day, Internet traffic spiked 112%

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

As part of its announcement of the nine million iPhone 5s/5c sales during the opening weekend, Apple also mentioned this morning that 200 million customers have upgraded to iOS 7 since its release last Wednesday. In fact, the mobile operating system has experienced such a rapid adoption that it may have been responsible for a spike of up to 112 percent in last Wednesday's Internet traffic.

Among traffic hotspots were the US and UK, which have the highest rate of iPhone usage. Just how much traffic are we talking about? Some 2.2 terabytes of data per second spread over 6.3 million downloads per hour, according to one estimate...

Apple extends in-store Personal Pickup to new iPhone 5s/5c

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple just said it sold nine million new iPhone 5s/5c units during the opening weekend and warned that many online orders will ship "in the coming weeks" as demand for the flagship iPhone 5s “has exceeded the initial supply”.

Supply constraints quickly became apparent as shipping estimates on the U.S. online Apple Store for all configurations in the US slipped from 7–10 days to October.

In an effort to help would-be shoppers save time, the company's online store now offers the popular in-store pickup option for the newly launched iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c handsets. Additionally, customers can check Personal Pickup iPhone availability on a per-store basis...

Opening weekend iPhone 5s/5c sales top 9M units, 200M people upgraded to iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2013

It may have taken longer than expected (rattling Wall Street investors in the process), but the official numbers are now in: Apple has managed to move a combined nine million new handsets during the opening weekend. Analysts were expecting thirteen million iPhone 5s/5c units during the first ten days of availability so clearly Wall Street has reasons to celebrate.

Indeed, investors have given the stock a much-needed boost as $AAPL inched toward $500 in pre-market trading. In addition, Apple said that 200 million people have upgraded their devices to iOS 7 since its public release last Wednesday, September 18. During its September 10 keynote, Tim Cook said Apple will ship its 700 millionth iOS device next month...

Apple posts video of iPhone event to YouTube

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple finally posted it's big iPhone event to its YouTube channel this weekend. The media event, which has been one of the company's most significant in recent memory, saw Tim Cook and co show off not one, but two new iPhones, and a redesigned iOS 7.

Of course, the event has been viewable online for a while now. But if streaming the keynote through Apple’s website isn’t your thing, you’ll be happy to hear that you can now watch the presentation from virtually any desktop or mobile device via YouTube…

Apple airs new iPhone 5c ad ‘Greetings’

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2013

Apple posted a new commercial to its YouTube channel earlier this evening. It's called 'Greetings,' and it depicts a number of people from various walks of life using the just-released iPhone 5c.

The ad is a major departure from Apple's marketing strategy in its first two 5c spots, which featured no dialogue, catchy music, and a focus on the plastic handset. This one is all about the users...

NYPD encouraging iPhone and iPad users to update to iOS 7

Cody Lee ∙ September 22, 2013

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

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

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

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

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

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

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

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

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

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

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...