The next-gen iPhone will retain 4.7 inch and 5.5 inch screen sizes with no flagship model being offered in 4 inch screen size. While the new bigger screen sizes have clearly been a grand success for Apple there is certainly still a large customer base who prefer 4 inch screen size for their smartphones. It is highly likely that the company will continue to sell iPhone 5S and 5C to fill such demands.

iPhone 6S could include Force Touch, Apple first introduced this new method of interacting with touch-screens with the Apple Watch. Force Touch could open new user interface possibilities on the iPhone such as better support for handwritten signatures.

The company is expected to offer iPhone 6S in rose gold colour to match the Apple Watch Edition. Currently the iPhone is available in space grey, white and gold.

Apple will stay committed to improve the camera in the new iPhone 6S with a new 12 MP sensor. It’s possible that iOS 9 could include some software enhancements specific to the new new sensor.

Just as with all previous “S” versions Apple will upgrade the processor in iPhone 6S. It is said to include new A9 processor with 2GB LPDDR4.

Other features likely to be included in iPhone 6S are: improved recognition rate of Touch ID, gesture control support and one microphone near the speaker to enhance voice quality.

Kuo predicts 80-90 million iPhone sales in 2015. Apple could be looking at a September timeframe for iPhone 6S launch date.

What do you think about the predicted features of iPhone 6S? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

The company unveiled its new mobile operating system during the world wide developers conference earlier this year. This release doesn’t just include a number of user facing features but also opens hundreds of new API’s for third-party developers.

With iOS 8 users will experience a completely new Messages app that borrows a number of features from Whatsapp, new Messages app now includes audio messages, instant photo messages (Snapchat?), mute conversation and more. Typing on the new iOS has also been enhanced as Apple introduces QuickType which intelligently recommends words as you type and overtime it learns and adapts to your writing style. QuickType in iOS 8 doesn’t just learn your writing style but also remembers how you communicate with different people.

Apple has heard the requests of its customers and finally introducing iCloud Drive, a central location to find all your documents from Mac, PC or iOS. Did this make you think of Dropbox? Access any of your file from any device connected to iCloud without having to worry about its version. However, it’s worth noting that it is advisable to not opt in for iCloud Drive when setting up your iOS 8 device until OS X Yosemite is available for download. Files stored in iCloud Drive will only work with iOS 8 devices and OS X Yosemite.

Handoff in iOS 8 allows you to continue working on your choice of device while picking up from where you left off, but this will also require OS X Yosemite.

Third-party apps greatly benefit from this update as Apple has finally allowed developer access to Touch ID, Camera API, PhotoKit, HealthKit,  HomeKit and CloudKit.

The update is now available for download over-thir-air for compatible devices.

Have you upgraded your devices already? What do you think about the new update? Let us know your experience in the comments below.

The holiday season has been dominated by Apple in the recent past and 2013 Christmas wasn’t any different. Apple’s gold iPhone 5s turned out to be the most popular smartphone during Christmas.

According to data published by uSwitch.com for December 2013 iPhone 5s won over Samsung Galaxy S4 for the third consecutive month. The data analysed was based on live searches, pre-orders and sales.

Samsung’s Galaxy S3 also saw some gains in popularity as it rose five places to become the third most popular phone in the UK during the holidays. Apple’s iPhone has been consistently popular with customers as it has topped the charts since March 2013 with iPhone 5 being the most popular phone for seven consecutive months which was later dethroned with the release of iPhone 5s.

In 2013 for the first time Apple released two new iPhone designs in the same year. iPhone 5c the colourful plastic version of iPhone 5c came in fifth in the popular smartphones list for December. Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com said:

The iPhone 5S deserved to be the Christmas number one. As well as giving gleeful members of the cult of Apple hours of fun with its Touch ID feature, which can read more than just fingerprints, it also made gold the new black,

Doku further added that the battle for the top spot wasn’t an easy one. Galaxy S3 rise to the third spot was a surprise with the lower pricing acting as a key factor. Pricing of smartphones certainly act as an important factor since the technology leaps between two generations of products is becoming narrower.

The tech advancement from iPhone 4s to iPhone 5 is not the same as from iPhone 5 to iPhone 5s. Apple is expected to release iPhone 6 in 2014 which could have a new design and even feature larger screen according to many rumours in the recent past.

The price of iPhone 5c could also see reduction later this year as the device has not been as well received with customers as the company would have hoped for.

Did you buy iPhone 5s this holiday season? Which gadgets made it to your shopping bag this year? Let us know in the comments section below.

{via The Telegraph}

Refining existing products and continually experimenting with new materials has been an integral part of Apple’s new product development strategy. Securing long term deals for components that are used in iOS devices has become fairly common. From touch screens, flash storage to even bulk booking of courier services, Apple’s strategy has been to invest in long term healthy supply of components.

Apple uses Sapphire to protect the iPhone camera lens and now the iPhone 5s also uses it as a protective cover for Touch ID sensor. According to a new report published by AllThingsD, Apple is building a factory in Arizona to boost the manufacturing of sapphire. GT Advanced Technologies earlier this week announced that they have secured a multi-year deal with Apple to manufacture sapphire in the Arizona facility.

As a part of the deal between the two companies GT will supply and manage sapphire production and in return Apple will prepay approximately $570 million. The new facility will result in more than 2000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction according to Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet. It was also revealed that the facility will run on 100 percent renewable energy from day one.

GT is expected to research and develop larger capacity furnaces to increase the production of sapphire and as a result reduce cost of the component. Apple’s increased interest in sapphire is certainly an indication of it becoming an integral part of future devices from the company.

Many are speculating that sapphire could possibly replace Corning Gorilla Glass, which has been used in more than 1.5 billion devices worldwide. This is based on the fact that sapphire is used in the high end watches. However, corning has come forward and published articles on why they don’t view sapphire as a threat.

Although sapphire is a leading product for the cover of watches and camera lenses, many of its features are not well suited for use in the consumer electronics industry.

According to tests performed by Corning, sapphire fails to provide the same durability when used at the same thinness as Gorilla Glass. However, the company agrees with the fact that sapphire is is harder to scratch.

It’s possible that Apple may use sapphire in the rumoured iWatch. Since watches are more prone to scratches the use of sapphire could make the product more resistant to scratches.

Apple is expected to introduce the new smart watch dubbed as “iWatch” in 2014. The watch is rumoured to provide a ‘connected’ experience. It will also feature sensors to track health related data. Samsung has already launched its own smart watch called Samsung Gear but the reviews haven’t been favourable. It will be interesting to see if Apple’s idea of a smart watch excites customers and if it manages to become a ubiquitous part of our lives.

Apple’s iPad media event has just gone live. The company will be providing a live video coverage of the new iPad keynote event. The event is being held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will take the stage to announce new product launches and updates for this year before we enter the holiday season. The email invite sent out to the media suggests that the company will “cover” many product announcements.

Rumors and reports published in the past provide enough evidence to expect new iPad 5 (fifth gen) and second gen iPad mini. We could also get new Haswell MacBook Pro models, final release of Mac OS X Mavericks, new iLife and iWork software updates and more.

iPad 5 is widely expected to feature a thinner and lighter design inspired by the advancements made with iPad mini. Hardware specifications are expected to include new 64-bit A7 chip, improved camera and possibly new Touch ID sensor.

There have been many conflicts reports about a second gen iPad mini with retina display. It is unclear if Apple will introduce the new smaller iPad with a high resolution display.

During WWDC Apple showcased a sneak peek at the new Mac Pro. Apple could use today’s event to announce shipping date for the high end Mac for the professionals.

This year Apple is offering a live video feed of the iPad launch event. Live video stream of the event is available on Apple’s website. In order to view live video streaming of the October iPad event you’d require Safari 4 or later on OS X v10.6 or later, Safari on iOS 4.2 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 5.0.2 or later.

Apple has released its first TV ad for the iPhone 5s dubbed “Metal Mastered”. This comes just a few days after the company released print ads on the back of many top magazines. The new iPhone 5s ad shows gold taking liquid shape and flowing over the body of iPhone 5s as it turns it gold. It then shows a finger unlocking the device using Touch ID.

This year Apple launched two new iPhones, a plastic version and the flagship model. The company chose to promote the iPhone 5c first and even features in on the homepage as the page loads the first time. Many reports suggest that the company was facing low production yield for the iPhone 5s therefore it could be a thoughtful strategy to promote the model that is available in bulk. Since the iPhone 5c is comparatively easier to manufacture and with internals same as previous gen iPhone the availability wasn’t an issue.

Analysts believe that iPhone 5s outsells iPhone 5c in all major countries. The second round of marketing efforts seem to pass the spotlight to iPhone 5s, the flagship model. The new phone features faster 64-bit A7 processor, improved camera and fingerprint sensor.

The new advertisement plays the song “Ooh La La” by Goldfrapp in the background. This years choice of songs isn’t unique for Apple as it has been used for products such as Motorola KRZR, cometic products etc.

Shipping date estimates for the iPhone 5s have improved since last week as the company finally catches up with pent-up demand. We can expect more advertisements from Apple as the company prepares for yet another blockbuster holiday season.

Check out the new ad below. What do you think about this new advertisement from Apple? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Today Apple issued a press release announcing two new phases of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launch. It was revealed that the company will launch the new iPhones in 35 new countries on October 25 and in additional 16 countries on November 1 which will include India.

During the iPhone keynote event Apple CEO, Tim Cook, announced that the company will bring its new iPhone lineup to all major markets by the end of 2013. In the next two months the Cupertino, Calif., based company will add a total of 51 countries that will sell the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.

iPhone 5s and 5c will be available on Friday, October 25 in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand. iPhone 5s and 5c will also be available on Friday, November 1 in Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE.

In recent years India has started to emerge as a focus area for Apple. New product launches now typically become available within two months of official launch in the U.S. Sales of iPhone in India since the introduction of iPhone 5 have increased significantly and the company has been making efforts to partner with new distribution partners.

Apple distribution partner Redington in India has partnered with local banks to provide 0% interest EMI payments to buy any product offered at the retail stores. Various schemes such as reduction on price on exchange of any smartphone has also helped to fuel sales.

iPhone 5s is worlds first smartphone to feature 64-bit A7 chip. The new iPhone has improved camera sensor and dual-tone flash that helps capturing better photos in low light conditions. Apple also introduced Touch ID, a fingerprint sensor that allows users to effortlessly unlock their devices.

Many expected iPhone 5c to be low cost iPhone to taget the price sensitive Indian market, however as it turned out iPhone 5c features a new plastic design with the same internals as the iPhone 5. The new colorful iPhone is expected to retail at the same price as iPhone 4s in India. While iPhone 5s will replace the pricing of iPhone 5.

iPhone 5s is expected to be available in limited supply and the gold iPhone could possibly see huge demand. If you are looking to buy the new iPhone on November 1 be sure to book your phone in advance at the nearest retail store or visit the store early.

iPhone 5s Touch ID fingerprint sensor has been bypassed by a German hacker, who claims the process was fairly easy. When Apple announced the new iPhone 5s with fingerprint scanning technology the security and reliability of the new feature was questioned by many.

Earlier this month we published an analysis of the new biometric sensor by a security technologist who said, “… someone with a good enough copy of your fingerprint and some rudimentary materials engineering capability — or maybe just a good enough printer — can authenticate his way into your iPhone”. His analysis has now been proved to be accurate as the hacker whose nickname is ‘Starbug’ described the entire process as “trivial”.

The tools used to bypass the Touch ID  fingerprint sensor included scanning fingerprint from the front screen, high-res laser printer and printed circuit board etching kit. It took the hacker 30 hours for his first attempt but he claims that with proper setup the bypass can be accomplished within 30 minutes. The video shows the detailed process and even though the hacker claims the process is easy it does require skill, knowledge and experience to perform the hack.

iPhone 5s allows up-to 5 failed attempted and then locks the device with the fallback passcode. So, if someone manages to steal your iPhone, they would have only five trails to attempt a successful unlock. Also, it’s worth noting that Apple has included mandatory passcode unlock if the iPhone reboots or hasn’t been unlocked for 48 hours.

It is a well known fact that even the passcode can be bypassed using advanced software tools however, with the new activation lock thieves would possibly not be interested in stealing your phone. With activation lock the iPhone requires your Apple ID and password to turn off Find My iPhone, erase the device or reactivate and use the device.

Touch ID in the new iPhone 5s is an attempt by Apple to encourage more users to secure their device by setting a passcode yet not having to face the trouble to enter it again by again. You just place your finger over the home button and within 1-2 seconds the device unlocks.

Even though Apple’s Touch ID has been bypassed for the average user this shouldn’t be of much concern. Performing the hack to unlock the device would could still render the device useless without the Apple ID and password. The personal data can also be remote wiped anytime using Find My iPhone service.

The all-new iPhone 5s will go on sale on September 20th in ten countries and for the first time China will be one of them. This year Apple did not take any pre-orders for the iPhone 5S however, in China and Hong Kong the company started accepting reservations for iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s on September 17th.

Shortly after the iPhone 5s reservations went live, the stock for most models were sold out. It was reported that gold color was one of the quick sell outs. The reason behind Apple not taking pre-orders this year is because of limited supplies. We previously reported that Apple was facing issues with the fingerprint sensor and even though the smartphone will launch on schedule the supplies will be limited.

Stock selling out in China is a clear indication that the availability of the new iPhone 5s will be constrained worldwide. Customers in the U.S can either order the iPhone 5s online on September 20th or visit an Apple Store to buy it. However, due to limited stock it might be difficult to buy it on launch day.

Apple’s new iPhone 5s features Touch ID fingerprint technology, enhanced camera and 64bit A7 chip. The design is same as the iPhone 5 with minor changes to the overall look. iPhone 5s also features dual-tone LED flash for natural looking photos even in low light conditions.

iPhone 5s is available in 16GB, 32GB and 64 GB memory variations in white, gold and space gray colors. Are you excited about getting an iPhone 5s? Will you visiting the Apple Store or ordering it online? Let us know in the comments below.

The iPhone 5S event didn’t pack any surprises this time. Everything Apple announced had already been leaked through various leaks published online. Even the name of the fingerprint scanner was leaked just minutes before Apple event went live.

So, what is the all-new iPhone 5S all about you ask? Apple hasn’t changed its strategy since the original iPhone. It continues to introduce an all-new design every two-years so it wasn’t a surprise that iPhone 5S design remained the same as its predecessor. However, there are three notable differences: Metal ring, Camera and Performance.

The home button in iPhone 5S has a metal ring around it. This ring has been put in place to support the new Touch ID (fingerprint) scanner. Now unlocking your iPhone will be as easy as placing your finger or thumb on the home button and gaining access to your device. During the keynote presentation Phil Schiller mentioned that half of the iPhone users do not set pass codes. As smartphones increasingly carry more and more sensitive data securing the access to our device is of huge importance.

Apple believes that by introducing Touch ID customers will appreciate how easily they can protect their device with seamless integration of a fingerprint scanner under the home button. You can even use your Touch ID to authenticate iTunes, App Store and iBooks purchases. It’s worth noting that Apple is not allowing developers to take advantage of this new feature and is keeping it closed atleast for now.

There has been a lot of talk about customers privacy and how companies handles all the sensitive data. Apple clearly mentioned that Touch ID data is not stored on iCloud and is never shared with Apple. It is locally encrypted on the all new A7 chip.

The iPhone 5S takes another huge leap in terms of its CPU and graphics performance if we go by the numbers Apple provides. The company claims that iPhone 5S is twice as fast CPU and graphics performance when compared with iPhone 5. Mobile technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Just 6 years after the introduction of the original iPhone, the new iPhone 5S promises to provide 40 times faster CPU and 56 times faster graphics performance.

A7 chip is a 64 bit which is the first ever on any smartphone. But, the chip is not the only “firsts” for Apple’s smartphone. The camera system has been overhauled and now the new iPhone features dual-led flash which the company calls True Tone flash. Where traditionally companies place two white LED’s Apple has integrated white and amber color LED flashlight. The company claims that the dual-tone flash enables the iPhone to take more natural photographs in which the skin tones appear true to life.

Apple has also introduced new slow-mo mode where you can record video in 120fps to capture that perfect action in a video and create a dramatic effect. There’s an all-new burst mode as well, now the iPhone can take unto 10 shots in 1 second and even selects the best shot for you and deleting the rest is as easy as tapping one button.

iPhone 5S will be available in three metal finishes. Last years slate has been discontinued and now theres gold, silver and space gray finish available. Battery performance hasn’t seen any significant gains except for a better standby time.

iOS 7 and all Apple apps have been optimised to take advantage of the new 64bit A7 chip. Apple has also introduced new M7 coprocessor that collects data from motion sensors like gyroscope and accelerometer and feed the info to A7 without causing much battery drain.

Overall iPhone 5S features the beautiful design of the iPhone 5, is twice as fast, has enhanced camera system and now it will recognise your fingerprint. iPhone 5S is certainly “forward thinking” in every sense.