Apple is rumored to be working on the next generation iPhone, currently being called the “iPhone 5S”. According to Jeffries analyst Peter Misek, Apple is now testing two prototypes of the next gen iPhone, and will start initial builds in March in order for a early release date in June or July. Since the iPhone 4S, Apple has been releasing iPhones in the Fall, alongside or close to the iPod refresh. Now, with rumors that the Cupertino company is creating a ‘cheaper’ iPhone for emerging markets, Apple is expected to move up the iPhone debut to the June/July timeframe in order to release the new device in the Fall.

Misek claims that the iPhone to be released in June will be only an incremental upgrade, likely internal changes such as a faster A6X chip, and better cameras and that an entirely new design with a larger 4.8” screen will be seen with the next generation iPhone 6. As noted, the cheaper iPhone will likely be a more concentrated device, such as the iPad mini, which isn’t built of cheaper materials, but rather of a smaller size.

As expected, Misek believes that with reports of a “iPhone 5S” on the horizon, sales of the current iPhone 5 would slow, although he also predicts that Apple will sell 44 million iPhones in the March quarter. He also pinpointed some reasons as to why a decrease in iPhone 5 part orders does not necessarily mean a decline in demand for the product.

– An assembly bottleneck that caused component inventories to rise in the holiday quarter.
– Planning for preliminary production of the next iPhone in March.
– Demand may be either in line or “slightly below optimistic expectations

It seems that Apple will likely keep its iPhone line consistent and in line with Misek’s claims. Since the iPhone 3G, the company has always followed with an ‘S’ version, with the letter signifying a new feature. In the iPhone 3GS, it was Speed; the iPhone 4S was Siri, and the 5S will likely signify a newer feature.

{Via AppleInsider}

The web has been abuzz lately with reports that Apple is looking to introduce a “cheaper” iPhone for emerging markets around the world. New details have now emerged about what materials the low cost iPhone will be using. According to Digitimes, Apple will be using plastic for the chassis low cost iPhone as opposed to the blend of both metal and plastic used in the previous generations. The report also notes that the iPhone’s chassis will be “mixed with plastic and metal, with the internal metal parts being able to be seen from outside through special design”.

It is unclear how Apple plans to do this and if they will use these materials in a different way, other than the designs they have already implemented. However, the report goes on to mention that the plastic and metal materials are already being tested and will likely be released in the second half of 2013. It is possible that if Apple were to release the cheaper iPhone in the Fall, it would be able to move up release of the rumored ‘iPhone 5S’ to June.

Apple’s SVP of WorldWide Marketing, Phil Schiller commented on a report from WSJ about the possibility of a ‘cheaper’ iPhone and dismissed the claims. Both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, and other sites that have reiterated the claims made in the reports suggest that Apple is likely to price the cheaper iPhone around $99-$149. It is unclear what Apple would call the cheaper iPhone, as the refresh rumored for June is simply being called the ‘iPhone 5S’.

{Via MacRumors}

T-Mobile USA already has over 1.9 million iPhones on its HSPA+ network, despite not officially offering the smartphone. The company, however, is planning to officially bring the iPhone to its network later this year, and is looking to make major changes on how other carriers have offered it in the past. According to Reuters, the Bellevue, Washington based carrier plans to remove smartphone subsidies, and officially offer the iPhone in 3-4 months.

They’re all, I would call them, in three to four months as opposed to six to nine months, [T-Mobile USA CEO John] Legere told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The company will charge customers pay full price for the iPhone and will lower prices on voice and data plans every month. As a result, customers will be able to save money on the iPhone over several months, instead of paying the subsidized cost upfront. This in turn, also benefits T-Mobile as the company makes back the initial cost of the iPhones from Apple, and then offers customers cheaper plans, which may cause them to stick with the carrier longer.

According to The Wall Street Journal, other carriers such as AT&T and Verizon may also be looking to remove subsidies for their smartphones if T-Mobile’s plan works well. However, both AT&T and Verizon CEO’s have noted that the plan may not work well because customers are accustomed to paying subsidized prices for smartphones and may look at the change as an increase in price.

T-Mobile believes that removing subsidies will work for the iPhone, with the company also making moves to improve its network. T-Mobile USA is reportedly in talks to acquire regional carrier MetroPCS later this year, and is also negotiating deals with Dish Network and Leap Wireless.

{Via MacRumors}

According to Digitimes, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is planning to launch a cheaper iPhone for emerging markets around the world, such as China. China is a major growth opportunity for AAPL, as noted by CEO Tim Cook in the past. The low-cost iPhone is expected to include a larger display and a new design.

Apple will roll out a low-cost version of the iPhone for China and other emerging markets in the second half of 2013, according to supply-chain sources.

Some sources claimed that they have seen the sample of the low-cost iPhone, which will come with a larger display, meeting the prevailing trend for the adoption of 5-inch displays for high-end models. They added that the low-priced iPhone will also have a brand new exterior design.

It has been rumored for quite some time that Apple is looking to introduce a smaller iPhone, or perhaps different sizes for different markets. However, it is unlikely that Apple will make the iPhone any bigger than the current 4 inch design.

A smaller iPhone would make the iPhone similar to the iPod, giving users the option to choose everything including size, design, coverage plans, etc. It is unclear exactly how Apple plans to create a smaller iPhone or when it plans it plans to launch, but it is expected later this year.

{Via MacRumors}

Apple introduced the iPad 2 early last year, and with it, the Smart Cover. The Smart Cover was an accessory for the iPad that covered the screen, could be converted into a stand and automatically woke the iPad from sleep mode when opened. During the Apple’s 2012 WWDC conference, the Smart Cover was silently updated and added to the Apple Online Store.

The Smart Case is an updated version of Apple’s Smart Cover, and adds a polyurethane hardshell on the back for protection. It is available in the same six colors of the original Smart Covers (Light Gray, Dark Gray, Blue, Green, Pink, and a special (PRODUCT) RED edition. The Smart Case can be engraved for free when purchased.

The Smart Case adds a nice sense of style, and adds protection to what was otherwise the reason for a lot of broken iPad screens. The Smart Case is currently on sale in the Apple Online Store for $49.00, roughly $20-$30 cheaper than the Smart Cover and is eligible for gift wrapping and engraving.

So it’s been about four days now and I’ve been using my iPhone 4S and iPad 2 with invisibleSHIELD wrapped ever since. The application to the iPad was a little trickier than the iPhone due to the larger real estate and the curvature of the back of the iPad. However, while it took a little extra time to apply the end result was the same, a clear, firm, almost invisible protective covering for both my devices.

Over the next few days the invisibleSHIELD has taken even better hold to both devices and on the iPhone especially both the front and back cover are now like a second skin providing an even better grip and feel to the ‘nude, iPhone.

My iPhone has been through all the usually handling that it usually gets, in and out of pockets, in and out of cup holders, a range of stands and even through the playful hands of my young daughters and the invisibleSHEILD is showing no sign of wear and tear.

Despite my previous experiences with screen protectors the installation of the invisibleSHEILD and the protection that its given to my iDevices I would without hesitation recommend the invisibleSHIELD for your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or any of the hundreds of devices that they build protectors for. There may be cheaper alternatives out there but with invisibleSHIELD you are getting a lifetime of quality.

Read part 1 of the review here.

What we like:

• Screen protection
• Good grip

What to know:

• Application can be tricky

Apple has been rumored to be in talks with China Telecom to bring iPhone to the third largest telecom operator in China. AllThingsD today highlighted a new reported originally posted by Sohu.com and noted by Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White. The report mentions that the carrier has reached “preliminary agreement” with Apple to sell iPhone 5 around October.

According to Sohu.com, China Telecom will offer two types of iPhone that include the iPhone 5 and a ‘simplified iPhone 4,’ says White. “Essentially, this potential ‘simplified iPhone 4′ would be a more economical version of iPhone to target a broader customer base in developing countries such as China, allowing for an expanded market opportunity.

This isn’t the first time we are hearing reports about Apple supporting a cheaper iPhone. The rumor mill and many analysts in the past have speculated that an iPhone nano has been in the works. However, no concrete evidence has been revealed as yet to support this rumor.

Introducing a cheaper or simplified version of the iPhone for the Asian markets to meet lower price points could open new revenue opportunities for the company. Analyst Brian White believes that “if Apple offers a more economical, ‘simplified iPhone 4,’ the opportunity with China Telecom could be much larger.”

The Asian market has played a very important role in Apple’s phenomenal sales figures for the second quarter. Even though it seems quite unlikely for the Cupertino, California-based company to offer a simplified version of the iPhone; a low cost smartphone could indeed help the company capture more market share.

Despite recent reports that suggest Apple is working on a smaller version of its iPhone, “people briefed on Apple’s plans” have told the New York Times that although the company is looking into offering a cheaper model of the device, it will not be smaller than the current size. One source said that the company is hard at work on the next-generation Apple smartphone and that it will be similar in size to the iPhone 4, and another confirmed there wouldn’t be a smaller device, because:

A smaller device would not necessarily be much cheaper to manufacture and because it would be more difficult to operate.

One source, who is direct contact with Apple, also added that the company doesn’t want developers to have to rewrite their applications. This is something we pointed out in an earlier article regarding the smaller device – due to its smaller screen, and probable slower processor, current App Store apps and games would not be compatible.

The Times article cites a senior Apple executive who said making multiple iPhone models would not make sense for the company. During the private meeting the executive also confirmed that the company would continue to sell previous-generation devices at a discounted price.

It is believed that Apple is developing a less expensive iPhone in an attempt to compete with popular low-cost Android devices. Piper Jaffray, an analyst of Gene Munster. Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, believes a cheaper iPhone available without a contract is critical to Apple’s growth overseas:

If they are going to be a player in the global market they have to have a prepaid option.

One of the Times‘ sources also spilled some beans on the work Apple is doing to improve its MobileMe service, which many subscribers have been unsatisfied with for a while. It seems we could see a free, “more versatile” version of the service that would allow users to wirelessly sync data, including media, across all of their Apple devices. This ties in with rumors that the cheaper iPhone will not feature any physical storage, and that all of its data will be pulled from ‘the cloud.’

{via AppleInsider}