iPhone 5

Sprint expands LTE into four more US cities

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Sprint has added four more US cities to its 4G LTE network. Baltimore, Gainsville, Ga., Manhattan/Junction City, Kan., and Sedalia, Mo. were added to the high-speed network the carrier launched on July 15. Baltimore residents gain not only LTE, but an upgrade to 3G, Sprint announced.

"As consumers all over the country are becoming more dependent on their smartphones, network quality is becoming more important," according to a statement. Sprint's LTE network began by introducing LTE in 15 cities. The carrier hopes to complete its LTE build-out by the end of 2013.

Latest iPhone 5 hint: Apple paying to recycle your 4S

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Most are confident we'll see the iPhone 5 in mid or late-September. Because Apple isn't a blabbermouth about such things, its fans are left reading tea leaves looking for hints to divine Cupertino's exact intentions. The latest signal comes from the mothership itself. Apple will pay up to $345 for your old iPhone 4S.

The Apple Store is making the offer as part of its support for recycling old technology. Your gently-used 64GB white iPhone 4S could net you a $345 Apple Store gift card, while a 16GB black 4S will recycle $285 into your pocket. Apparently, Apple is hoping you'll use your windfall to buy the new iPhone 5.

Purported accessories for next-gen iPhone leaked

Cody Lee ∙ August 29, 2012

We're just weeks away from Apple's next-gen iPhone event, and the leaked parts just keep on coming. This time it's a wall charger, USB cable and a case — all of which appear to be made for the handset and its rumored smaller dock connector.

For the first time since its inception, Apple is widely expected to change the dock connector on its iPhone this fall. Instead of the usual 30-pin setup, it's said to be utilizing a smaller, 8-pin connector that we'll also see in future iOS products...

Apple to reportedly unveil new ‘AirPlay Direct’ feature next month

Cody Lee ∙ August 29, 2012

Citing sources familiar with Apple's plans, a new report is out today claiming that the Cupertino company is looking to launch a new version of its popular AirPlay feature next month, called AirPlay Direct.

What's the difference? Well, as it stands, the current version of AirPlay requires an active Wi-Fi network. But AirPlay Direct, however, allows for a direct connection to a device, without the need for Wi-Fi...

New report rules out NFC for next-gen iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ August 28, 2012

Bad news today for folks who were hoping that near field communications technology, or NFC, would make it into the new iPhone. It looks like the tech is a no-go for Apple's next smartphone.

Theories for the tech picked up steam yesterday when a square chip inside a leaked iPhone 5 part was identified as an NFC sensor. But according to a new report, it's not happening this year...

AT&T denies rumors of employee vacation blackout

Cody Lee ∙ August 27, 2012

Over the weekend, it was reported that AT&T employees were seeing a blackout on vacation dates in late September, likely due to the new iPhone launch. Apple is widely expected to roll out the handset on September 21.

The information seemed spot-on, considering the timeframe matched up with both Verizon blackout dates and previous reports. But it looks like, for whatever reason, AT&T is denying the employee blackout rumors...

Claimed iPhone 5 parts reveal possible NFC chip

Cody Lee ∙ August 27, 2012

Surprise, surprise, another purported iPhone 5 component was leaked over the weekend. Late last night, an assembled front panel with Home button and FaceTime camera surfaced on the web.

But unlike the claimed parts we've been seeing as of late, this one might actually give us some worth-while insight. It houses an unknown square sensor, which some folks believe to be an NFC chip...

Wall Street: Injunction or not, Apple wins fight against Samsung

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Whether or not Apple is granted an injunction preventing Samsung sales in the U.S. doesn't concern Wall Street. Following the iPhone maker's patent-infringement win against the South Korean company, the real question is whether this causes consumers to pause.

"The key question is whether operators/customers will be willing to buy infringing Samsung handsets/tablets if there is risk they may have to stop selling them in the future," writes Wells Fargo analyst Maynard Um. Indeed, Um sees the only risk now facing Apple is whether they'll have enough iPhone 5 handsets to meet "unprecedented demand."

Making the case for an NFC-enabled iPhone 5

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Over the years, we have become accustomed to Apple's, mostly Steve's, "one more thing..." announcements following major keynote presentations. For those of you unfamiliar with the "one more thing" additions, they often come as a closing cherry on top of an already excellently run presentation. However, even though these additions are just thrown on at the end, they have been major product changes or even whole products themselves. Even Wikipedia celebrates this tactic, calling the Apple presentation's "Stevenotes."

While we have not enjoyed any Steve-inspired "one more thing..." announcements since his passing, Apple still enjoys keeping their newest and most ground breaking features an absolute secret. The upcoming September 12th keynote, which is yet to be officially announced, is now rumored to be solely about the iPhone 5 and potential iPod updates. So that leaves me guessing, what is next? The final killer announcement at the upcoming iPhone event will certainly be excellent, as many news sources have speculated the iPhone 5 announcement will be one of the largest in mobile history. After scouring through news and even analyzing patent images, we may be looking at Near Field Communication as the final knock-out punch...

AT&T vacation blackout further confirms September iPhone launch

Cody Lee ∙ August 26, 2012

Apple has yet to make any kind of official announcement regarding when the next iPhone will be unveiled and become available, but we're almost positive we know the dates. Apple is expected to debut the handset on September 12, and launch it in stores on September 21.

There's already a mountain of evidence in favor of this timeline, such as reports from multiple credible sources and news outlets, and blacked out vacation dates for Verizon employees. But in case you needed any more proof, AT&T employees have just thrown their hats into the ring...

Infographic: iPhone 5 rumor roundup

Cody Lee ∙ August 26, 2012

Apple's iPhone event is now less than three weeks away, and the rumor mill is in full swing. It seems like every day we hear new rumors regarding what the handset will look like and do.

And while the constant speculation can be exasperating, it does help paint a picture of what we can expect. Keep reading to see what the tech world thinks we'll see in the new iPhone...

Confirmed? iPad mini event to be held in October

Sébastien Page ∙ August 25, 2012

Up until a couple days ago, it was the general assumption that the iPad mini would be unveiled at the same time as the new iPhone, likely on September 12. To be honest, I never thought that would be the case (see conclusion of my Nexus 7 review), but I never really cared to explain why. On Thursday, John Gruber took it to his blog to explain why it didn't make sense for Apple to hold one event to unveil both the iPhone 5 and the iPad mini.

And he makes lots of sense. Why would Apple unveil two major products at the same time and risk diluting the publicity around both of them. As Gruber himself puts it, "Why share the spotlight? Why have another Apple product battling with the iPhone for the top spots in news coverage?"

Turns out he was right, as a semi official confirmation coming minutes later from legendary Jim Dalrymple brought credibility to the claim. Today, AllThingsD confirmed the story with their own sources and though there has been no official word from Apple on the matter, it does seem like the iPad mini will be unveiled in October...