iOS Developer David Barnard: "Trying to Make the Boxed Software Model Work at 99¢ is a Fool’s Errand"

iOS developer David Barnard has written an interesting piece on App Store pricing, and whether freemium is the inevitable pricing model for iOS apps, or if there is another model that hasn't been considered yet.

The full piece is worth a read for anyone involved in app development or marketing, but an excerpt is below.

I’ve argued that Apple caused the race to the bottom in App Store pricing, but now I’m starting to think that Apple just accelerated the inevitable. The App Store is by no means a free market, but it is an efficient one. Early on I was able to charge $9.99 for my app Trip Cubby, but now most people use free or cheaper alternatives, even though I dropped the price all the way to $2.99. The odd thing about paying a fixed, one-time price for software is that people who find the most value are essentially subsidized by people who pay, but don’t end up liking/needing/using the app.

There’s also the matter of value over time. As shown in this brilliant chart — created by the founder of Pocket, and inspired by the CEO of Evernote — paying a one-time, fixed price for something really only makes sense for commodities that diminish in value:

Chart created by Nate Weiner
Barnard continues:

And that’s exactly what we’ve seen in the App Store. People have no problem paying 99¢ for a gimmick, and don’t mind risking 99¢ on an app whose value is unproven, but trying to make the boxed software model work at 99¢ a pop is a fool’s errand. Sure, gimmicks and mass market apps like Camera+ seem to prove the opposite, but they are the outliers. The vast majority of apps are financial flops even though they deliver tremendous value to their niche.

And all of this brings us back to Sparrow. Most Mac and iOS users are content with Apple’s free Mail apps, and of those who find Mail lacking, only a small percentage really care enough to spend money on an alternative. So, Sparrow was ultimately a very niche app. But as we saw in the days after Google acquired Sparrow, the niche it served found a lot of value in the app and were incredibly disappointed to see the app shelved. I’m still not sure how Sparrow could have empowered those who received more value to pay more for it, but developers who crack that nut are the ones who will still be making a living on apps in the years to come.

Barnard is the developer behind Launch Center Pro and other iOS apps.

Source : macrumors[dot]com

'MLB.com At Bat' Adds Support for Ford SYNC and Social Sharing Options

Continuing its trailblazing efforts to deliver a great baseball viewing experience to iOS device owners, MLB Advanced Media has added Ford SYNC integration and social sharing with Facebook, Twitter, and email to its MLB.com At Bat app.


Ford SYNC is a Siri-esque integrated voice control system built into some Ford automobiles. The At Bat integration allows users to get scores, schedules, and live audio broadcast feeds using their voice.

At Bat 12 can be purchased for the remainder of the 2012 season for $9.99 (via in-app purchase), delivering out-of-market baseball games and home-and-away radio broadcasts for every game, including the postseason.

MLB At Bat is a free universal download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [ Direct Link]

Source : macrumors[dot]com

Apple's iPhone 5 reportedly shows off thin frame ahead of announcement

There have been plenty of rumors and "leaks" regarding Apple's upcoming refresh to the iPhone brand. However, while many of it looks substantial and real enough, we're still waiting for Apple to officially announce something. At this point, we're still waiting for invitations to go out just for the date of the event. The phone at this point is just icing on the cake.

However, that's not stopping the rumor mill from running strong, of course. In this latest addition, we've got another shot of the alleged new iPhone's frame, showcasing for all to see just how thin it is compared to previously released versions of the device. As you can see from the image, when put next to the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4 (so the iPhone 4S, too, technically) the new device is remarkably thinner. And taller.

These new images come courtesy of Chinese-based site Sohu. But there's no additional information to go along with them. No further rumors supporting a launch date sometime in September. And nothing contradicting those rumors, either.

As it stands, it looks like we should expect to see invitations for the new iPhone event here shortly, perhaps in the next week or so, and the event right after that. If all goes accordingly, as it often does, we should see a new iPhone by the end of September. One of the most interesting aspects to the upcoming launch will be to see which carriers get to see the new iPhone at launch, here in the States.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Alleged iPhone 5 Images

These look pretty legit.

Turns out the Chinese manufacturer of the iPhone has released images of the newest iPhone side by side with previous models.

The model of the iPhone 5 that is shown in the images are very convincing. Brushed aluminum back, Apple's trademark sleek styling, a bezel reminiscent of the iPhone 4 and a sleek sexiness that screams Apple makes this iPhone 5 image look to be anything but a fake.

View slideshow: iPhone 5 Alleged Images

Whether or not these photos hold any truth will be discovered in less than two weeks. On September 12th, Apple plans on releasing the iPhone 5 and all of these rumors will be put to rest.

For now, just enjoy the images and keep on speculating. If the new iPhone looks like this, it's hard to imagine that there will be anyone who is disappointed.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Why You Might Want to Preorder Your iPhone 5 Early

All signs point to the fact that Sharp is one of the manufacturers of the next iPhone display. In fact, the phone might even use Sharp's new IGZO technology. But if Wall Street Journal's reports that Sharp has halted production of the displays due to problems are true, you might wanna be among the first to preorder the iPhone 5 (or next iPhone, or iPhone 6, or whatever), as supply could be short when it first releases.

It shouldn't hold up the release of the phone however, as WSJ points out there are two other manufacturers.

Sharp is one of the three suppliers of LCD panels for the next iPhone. The other two suppliers-Japan Display Inc. and South Korea's LG Display Co. -have already started shipping the screens to Apple, according to other people familiar with the situation.

Sharp did the same thing with the iPad earlier this year and it mostly worked out OK, but the iPhone tends to be a hotter item, so the likelihood of a shortage is greater. The other option is just to wait a few months to make sure all the manufacturing kinks are worked out of these devices altogether. [WSJ]

Source : gizmodo[dot]com

What’s In A Name? – Will The New iPhone Get An A6 SoC After All?

Less than two weeks to go now before all is revealed about the new iPhone’s specifications, and several potential features are still being hotly debated – notably dissonance over whether the new Apple phone will support Near Field Communications (NFC) for “digital wallet” capability or not. A fresh rumor this week is that the new Apple phone could be powered by a quad-core A6 SoC after all. That would certainly be interesting, as it would make the new iPhone more powerful than the current New iPad for presumably another half-year, assuming that the fourth generation iPad will be rolled out in March, 2013.

Of course, it looks like we’re going to see an iPad mini sometime in October, but I’m pretty confident in anticipating that it will share most internal specs. With the iPad 2, which quietly was switched last spring to a smaller, less power-hungry version of the dual-core A5 SoC manufactured using Samsung’s new 32-nanometer high-k metal gate, gate first, LP CMOS process technology, which allowed the A5′s physical size to be reduced by a very substantial 41 percent. On machines with standard resolution displays like the iPad 2 (and presumably the iPad mini) the A5 gives away little, if anything in performance to the New iPad’s older technology 45-nanometer A5X SoC, which has a quad-core graphics engine, but otherwise is similar to the full-sized A5 processor used in the first variant of the iPad 2, and thus would be poorly-suited for duty in the iPhone due to it’s relative bulk, power consumption, and the fact that the iPhone’s display doesn’t need the quad-core graphics support, even if it gets up sized to 4 inches, which seems probable.

Consequently, my provisional guess has been, and remains, based on what we think we know, is that the new iPhone will get the same SoC as the iPads 2 and mini — the downsized A5. That said, I wouldn’t categorically rule out Apple surprising us with an A6-powered new iPhone, although the logistics and lack of scuttlebutt leaked from the upstream supply chain do make it seem improbable.

For one thing, Apple is pretty much stuck in the near-term with depending on its major competitor and litigation sparring partner Samsung as manufacturer for A-series SoCs, with iPhone 5 silicon expected to be sourced from Samsung’s Austin, Texas facility. Apple has been negotiating with the world’s largest custom chip maker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), for some time now, presumably in the interest of to diversifying its mobile processor supply chain somewhat, and reportedly signing a foundry agreement last September to use TSMC’s 28nm and 20nm processes to build future A-series SoCs.

However Appleinsider reported yesterday that that even though Apple is rumored to have offered upwards of $1 billion for a committment to dedicated A-Series SoC production from TSMC, the chipmaker turned them down, preferring to remain flexible in terms of clientele. An added complication is that TSMC’s 28nm and 20nm manufacturing technologies are reportedly considered a key part of the solution to the problem making quad-core SoCs work within the cramped confines of the iPhone’s enclosure, and Samsung doesn’t have 28nm fabrication capability yet.

Whatever silicon is actually inside the new iPhone will have at this stage been finalized months ago, so I’m taking the alleged leaked photo from the iPhone factory making the rounds and sparking rumor buzz, purportedly showing a SoC designated “A6″, with a big grain of salt.

However, other than a quad-core A6, another plausible possibility is that, since Apple controls the branding nomenclature for its A-series, in-house designed SoCs, it could have just renamed a slightly upgraded A5 dual-core chip “A6” for the new iPhone, and instead introduce a quad-core SoC as the A7 in the fourth-generation full-size iPad next spring.

By Charles Moore

Source : iphone5newsblog[dot]com

This May Not Be the iPhone 5, But It Sure Looks Like One

Often questionable NowhereElse.fr just posted images of what they claim it claims is a fully assembled iPhone 5 side-by-side with an iPhone 4. The alleged iPhone 5 leak from China is longer and thinner than the previous iPhone models and has the two-tone back panel. Is it real? Who knows. But based on all of the rumors we've heard, this looks about right! [NowhereElse.fr via BGR]

Source : gizmodo[dot]com

LG and AU Optronics Once Again Named as Display Suppliers for 'iPad Mini' Coming in October

Bloomberg reports that LG Display and AU Optronics will serve as suppliers for the 7.85-inch display destined for Apple's forthcoming "iPad mini". The publication specifically claims that the device will be released in October.

The orders will mark the first time AUO, a maker of panels for Apple’s MacBooks and Sony Corp. TVs, is supplying screens for Apple handheld devices.

Carolyn Wu, a spokeswoman for Apple, declined to comment. Sharp Corp. may make panels for the device in the future and will not be an initial supplier, three of the people said.

The report also cites TPK and Foxconn subsidiary Yeh Chang Technology as handling the lamination coating for the display.


Interestingly, claims of LG and AU Optronics serving as suppliers for the iPad mini display can be traced all the way back to October 2011, when Taiwan's United Daily News claimed that the two companies had been sending samples to Apple. The Wall Street Journal reiterated the claim in February of this year.

Source : macrumors[dot]com

Sources claim Sharp's production of iPhone screens delayed

Not even a full moon cycle has passed since Sharp's president, Takashi Okuda, trumpeted the fact that his firm was one of the chosen few selected to provide screens for the new iPhone. Now, according to Reuters the troubled company has slipped behind on production, with The Wall Street Journal going as far to say mass production hasn't started at all. The nearest thing to a reason given for the situation is "manufacturing difficulties." If you were worried this might delay the reveal of Apple's next flagship, the WSJ also reminds us that Sharp is still one of three suppliers, though it's unclear just how big a slice of the production-pie Okuda's brigade has been given. At the very least, those one the production line can likely enjoy some much appreciated over time.

Source : engadget[dot]com

Sharp's Production of New iPhone Displays Reportedly Behind Schedule

Reuters reports that Sharp's productions of screens for the new iPhone is behind schedule. Sharp Corporation is one of three suppliers of the new displays.

Production of Sharp Corp's screens for Apple Inc's latest iPhone is behind schedule as the Japanese display maker struggles with low production yields, a source close to the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Reuters offers no indication how severe the supply limitations are and if they will have an appreciable effect on the launch. As noted, Apple is also being supplied by Japan Display and LG Display Co for the new iPhone screens.

Apple is expected to announced the new iPhone on September 12th.

Source : macrumors[dot]com

iPhone 5 release date rumors: Will Apple buy back old phone ahead of iPhone 5?

With the iPhone release date coming in less than three weeks, rumors are swirling. One of the most interesting (if unbelievable) is that Apple will give customers money for their old iPhone 4 handsets when they buy a new iPhone 5, according to an August 30 report from Policymic.

So, how much is Apple planning to give for the old iPhone model? As much as $345. If you have a phone to trade in, it must be in good condition. The interesting thing is, you can actually go to the Apple recycling program website to figure out how much your old phone could be worth.

To receive the full amount of $345, you must be trading in a 64GB iPhone 4S in "great condition." If you have a phone like this, the $345 trade in bonus could go a long way toward helping buy a new iPhone 5, so that is exciting news for people who are looking to buy the next big thing for the best price possible.

If you buy the next generation smartphone from Apple, do you think you'll be trading in your old phone? If so, how much do you think it will be worth? Will this extra incentive have any effect on the model you choose for your new iPhone?

Source : examiner[dot]com

The new iPhone 5 lcd digitizer assembly front panel parts (video)

The new iPhone 5 front panel part

The next generation of iPhone , the new iPhone 5 front panel part which include lcd , touch screen digitizer ,front panel frame, and home button.
you can find the new iPhone 5 is longer and thinner.
this is the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5
Original post  http://sinocet.com/The-new-iPhone-5-front-panel-part

Source : iphoneappcreator101[dot]blogspot[dot]com

iPhone 5 release date: Apple will buy your iPhone 4S before new iPhone 5 arrives

The launch of the iPhone 5 is imminent. All reports point to September 12th as the date of the keynote announcement and the 21st of the same month as the release date in stores. A new contingency lends credibility to these rumors. Apple has expanded its recycling program and will purchase your iPhone 4S for a price that is hard to beat at $345.

When the Apple iPhone 4S was introduced, Apple started buying the iPhone 4 for a price of $200 for 16 GB version. This recent news that has included its newest smartphone in its recycling plan, could be a clue that the new generation of the device is coming in September.

Apple is now offering $345 for an iPhone 4S, according to The Next Web, although it has to be a 64 GB model in perfect condition. The catch: You will receive a gift certificate equal to the amount previously determined for use at the Apple online store only. It is expected that users who take advantage of this plan have in mind the imminent arrival of the iPhone 5, which would be much more affordable this way. Although, it should be mentioned again that the $345 is only offered for a 64 GB iPhone 4S. The other models will be assessed and will get a lesser price. If your iPhone is damaged, Apple will make the proper deductions and you will be given a smaller amount.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Getting Chippy: New iPhone 5 Photos Leak With Phantom “NFC” Chip

Another round of purported iPhone 5 photos have emerged, depicting the small component initially identified as NFC-related, but panned by others as false, due to the iPhone 5′s metal back. More fakes, or more glimpses?

You want more salacious iPhone 5 photos? We’ve got ‘em! You’ll recall that just a few days ago we passed along some photos of purported iPhone 5 parts that were dubbed the “most comprehensive assembly” of the iPhone 5 that we’ve seen thus far. What was particularly interesting about these photos was the advent of a small chip to the right of the earpiece, which was assumed to be the long-rumored NFC chip. The next day, Jim Dalrymple and co. panned the photos as false, since the metal back of the iPhone 5 — which Dalrymple tacitly confirmed — couldn’t work with NFC. And the fact that the photos didn’t have any shot of the back seemed conspicuous at best.

Today, we have a new set up photos depicting the same little chip, and once again, no view of the back to see if it compared with the metal back of the early 9to5mac photos. Do these new photos answer any questions, or just raise more of them?

The photo at the top of the article comes from Nowhereelse.fr, and compares the top assembly of the purported iPhone 5 to that of the 4S. Notwithstanding the fact that this top assembly looks like the one we saw the other day, to me — a guy who admittedly doesn’t understand the guts of iPhone — it looks as if the added components around the supposed NFC chip, like the camera lens, is being blocked by that plate. Come to think of it, so too are the earpiece components. Why can’t we see what’s behind that?

And finally, why are the iPhone 5 and 4S photos so incongruous? With the iPhone 5, I see a lot of screws and components, making the 4S seem stripped down. To me, that’s fishy. Couldn’t the photographer dress up the 4S with comparable components of its own so that the assemblies are equally complete. Or is this an equal comparison? If so, Apple is doing things quite differently on the new phone, as it looks to be held together with a bunch of little screws.

Take a look at this side-by-side to see what I mean:

And as I mentioned in my last article about the whole NFC chip/metal back issue, it’s odd that we never see the back of the iPhone in these photos, either. Why not? The back of the iPhone 5 that 9to5mac showed us caused quite a discussion, what with its slightly color-mismatched metal section that connected with the top and bottom pieces. People debated whether they liked or disliked that look, but everyone agreed that it was metal we were looking at.

If we are to believe that these new photos are of the same iPhone 5 units, then show us the backside.

Somewhere out there, someone wants us to believe that this is the iPhone 5. In fact, there’s a whole lot of people in the tech media who want us to believe that the iPhone 5 has practically been in plain sight for months with all of these sightings. But with each passing set, there always appears to be something not quite right.

 
By Michael Nace
 

Source : iphone5newsblog[dot]com

iPhone 5 Release Date: More Sources Point To Launch On September 21

September 21st hosts many a unique holiday. It's International Peace Day, World Gratitude Day, and even Mini Golf Day. And if a mounting heap of news reports are correct, we can also add another holiday to the list: National Line Up At An Apple Store For The iPhone 5 Day.

TechCrunch (owned, like The Huffington Post, by AOL) is reporting that, according to a trusted source, Verizon retail employees are being denied vacation requests in the final week of September, due to the launch of the next-generation iPhone on September 21. This follows a similar report from mobile site BGR, who claimed that AT&T retail employees were being denied late-September holiday requests, also due to an impending iPhone release. (Quick, someone call a Sprint store!) And all of this comes after the generally reliable Apple blog iMore pegged the release date for the so-called "iPhone 5" on September 21, with Apple hosting an unveiling event on September 12.

Having covered the run-up to the launch of this new iPhone for the past several months, I'd have to say that there is now more evidence that the iPhone WILL be released on September 21st -- or on a date somewhere very close to that -- than evidence that it will not. And actually, the best proof we have that September 21st could be The Day comes not from any report that is specifically about the release date itself -- since those are all based on the circumstantial evidence surrounding retail store employee vacation schedules -- but rather, from the news of the date of the Apple event itself.

That's a bit complicated, so let's back up: iMore was first to report that "sources" had told them that one of those flashy Apple press conferences was scheduled for September 12. That was followed by other "sources" whispering the same thing to: Bloomberg, Reuters, the New York Times, The Verge, unofficial Apple mouthpiece Jim Dalrymple at The Loop, and the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital blog.

Now, not to get myself kicked out of the Magician's Alliance, but if you don't think that these secret "sources" were Apple PR leaking information to favored publications, then you better head to the nearest bathroom mirror because someone has written the word "gullible" on your forehead in Sharpie.

That September 12 is the event date, then, seems all but certain; and you only have to know a little bit of Apple history and practices to know that when Apple holds an event, it likes to make its products available immediately after it introduces them, so that consumers riding the wave of excitement about a new iGadget will impulsively plunk down money and buy one. Traditionally -- for the last iPad, and the last iPhone, and the iPad before that, and the iPhone before that -- this has meant that online pre-orders start immediately after the event, and that the iPhone/iPad/iThing is on retail shelves the following week, usually 9 to 10 days after the big event. Given that September 12 is a Wednesday, and that Apple probably won't launch a product on the weekend because of reduced news coverage, it's a safe bet that the release date is either September 20 or September 21. Because the iPad 3 new iPad and iPhone 4S both launched on a Friday, it's likely that Apple's next iPhone will hit shelves on September 21, a Friday.

Aside from this semi-logical deduction, there are also the reports from our dear, dear friends at TechCrunch, as well as BGR, iMore, and a handful of other sites. Taken together, a September 21 release date seems more than probable. So play a round of mini golf, be grateful for something, and then get in line at your local Apple store: September 21st is looking like New iPhone Day.

Loading Slideshow

• So, So Much News About The 'iPad Mini'

  Just as this week's political news cycle surrounded Paul Ryan and how he fits in with Mitt Romney, so too has this week's tech cycle revolved around a smaller, thinner, more mysterious version of a well-known public entity: We are talking, of course, about the iPad Mini, the long-rumored miniaturized version of the 10-inch iPad that is said to have a 7.0-inch screen and a low, low price tag (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/paul-ryan-worth-millions-_n_1774346.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012" target="_hplink">uh, not Ryan-esque</a>) to compete with the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire. Ayn Rand fetishizers aside (and at the risk of straining an already tenuous metaphor), there were three notable reports concerning the iPad Mini to bubble up this week. The first comes from Canada's number one Apple blog iMore, which you may remember as the well-sourced news outlet who first predicted the iPad 3's release date as well as the widely-accepted September Apple event date for the iPhone 5. This time, iMore is <a href="http://www.imore.com/ipad-mini-smaller-bezel-incredibly-thin-and-light" target="_hplink">hearing some fresh whispers</a> about the form and release date of the iPad Mini (which it still claims will be announced on September 12, along with the new iPhone). iMore hears that the iPad Mini will have the same thickness as the (super-thin) iPod Touch; that it will be much lighter than the current iPad; and that it will cost between $200 and $250. <a href="http://www.imore.com/ipad-mini-smaller-bezel-incredibly-thin-and-light" target="_hplink">More on that at iMore</a>. 9to5Mac, meanwhile, <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2012/08/14/ipad-mini-will-look-like-a-large-ipod-touch-with-smaller-side-bezels-gallery/" target="_hplink">not only has a mock-up</a> (drink!) of what it thinks are the dimensions of the iPad Mini (at left); it also has some information of its own, too. The iPad Mini, it says, will look a lot like a bigger iPod Touch, rather than a smaller iPad. (Maybe instead of the iPad Mini, they could call it the iPod Maxi? iMaxiPad? Tim Cook, are you listening?). It puts the price at somewhere between $200 and $300, for a launch in November/December. <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2012/08/14/ipad-mini-will-look-like-a-large-ipod-touch-with-smaller-side-bezels-gallery/" target="_hplink">More at 9to5Mac</a>, including what this thing might look like next to the Nexus 7. Finally, John Gruber of Daring Fireball (who is close like Glenn with Apple PR folks) <a href="http://daringfireball.net/2012/08/ipad_mini_even_througher" target="_hplink">weighs in with his own predictions</a>, especially as it concerns pixel density, aspect ratio, bezel size, the precise millimeter measure of each dimension, etc. If this is how you like to spend your time, <a href="http://daringfireball.net/2012/08/ipad_mini_even_througher" target="_hplink">you can read that here</a>; Gruber does predict that an iPad Mini will be quite thin and quite light and that it will more closely resemble an iPad than an iPod Touch, which seems to be the hot debate nowadays (in certain circles). What all of this indicates, when taken together with the reports from Bloomberg and Reuters, is that an iPad Mini (or iPad Air, or iPad Nano, or whatever) is looking more likely than ever to arrive in stores by the end of 2012. We had previously catalogued the ways in which Apple PR was likely leaking details about the next iPhone; the past month's iPadito rumors are probably coming from the same place. Apple is priming for an iPad Mini launch: Expect it by Christmas, if not sooner. And now, I know you've been doing that little dance you do when you really have to pee but the bathroom is occupied: Hold it in no more, hear is your weekly dose of iPhone 5 rumors...

• LTE iPhone 5 Coming Soon, Preorders on September 12?

  Two biggies this week on the iPhone 5 front: First, iMore (hello again, long time no see!) <a href="http://www.imore.com/iphone-5-pe-orders-planned-september-12-second-release-wave-first-week-october" target="_hplink">wagers that the next iPhone</a> will go on sale for preorder on September 12 (the day of that launch event) with an in-store availability on September 21. That's essentially a reiteration of its past reporting: iMore, like almost every other news outlet with close ties to Apple, is expecting a Tim Cook-led event to occur on September 12 or thereabouts, with an international roll-out the following week. End of story. Second, and another bit of reiteration, to be honest, <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2012/08/133_117435.html" target="_hplink">the Korea Times is reporting that</a> the next iPhone will indeed pack 4G LTE, to which the entire world says "DUH!" The latest iPad, of course, is 4G LTE-capable, and if the next iPhone is not then there is going to be an inquiry: Apple has lagged behind Android and Windows Phones in adding the faster network to its smartphone, a gap that it should eliminate with the iPhone 5. There were some other minor nibbles on the line, too: We're <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/08/13/apples_new_mini_dock_connector_to_feature_9_pin_orientation_independent_design___sources.html" target="_hplink">still hearing that</a> the dock connector on the next iPhone is going to be greatly reduced in size, rendering decades of Apple accessories useless; we're still seeing a ton of internal parts leak out from the factories, all of which <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/13/this-diagram-makes-sense-of-all-the-leaked-iphone-5-parts/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Venturebeat+%28VentureBeat%29" target="_hplink">have been collected and diagrammed here for you</a>. Boy Genius Report, meanwhile, <a href="http://www.bgr.com/2012/08/13/iphone-5-release-date-att/" target="_hplink">hears that AT&T retail employees</a> who request the final week of September off are being denied vacation, as that carrier prepares for the megalithic mega-launch of the iPhone 5. We're under a month away, presumably, folks. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/iphone-sell-iphone-5_n_1772902.html" target="_hplink">Start preparing your old device for a trade-in</a>, because all evidence indicates that a new model is being mass-produced for a September debut.

• Apple Television Already In Production?

  We close this week with another mountain of news about a long-rumored Apple product: The Apple Television. First, Apple analyst Peter Misek of the firm Jeffries & Co. (DISCLOSURE: My dad's name is Jeffrey) <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2012/08/17/analyst-believes-apple-television-set-already-in-full-production-launch-timeframe-unclear/" target="_hplink">put out a note to investors</a> in which he says that he "believes" that the Apple television is already in production in Asia for a launch that could occur as soon as this winter to as late as the beginning of 2013. There's not much substance in the note about what the Apple television would actually do or what would set it apart, besides a fancy logo and the Apple pedigree, but let's step back for a moment: Could Apple really release a new iPhone, a smaller iPad, AND a brand new TV within six months of one another? Would that be -- and I don't mean to be sacrilege here -- too much Apple in too little time? Perhaps, which is a snafu that Misek notes in his, uh, note. But, <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2012/08/17/analyst-believes-apple-television-set-already-in-full-production-launch-timeframe-unclear/" target="_hplink">he writes</a>, because of increased competition in the phone and tablet space (damn you, Nexus 7 and Microsoft Surface!), the sooner Apple can expand into new territory like televisions, the better. So, you could be watching this year's Orange Bowl on an Apple-made television. Unless, says the <em>Wall Street Journal</em>...

• Could The First Step Toward An Apple Television Be A Souped-Up, "Grease Lightning"-Style Apple TV Box?

  That's what <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444233104577591713616924328.html" target="_hplink">a pair</a> <a href="http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444375104577593693481339210.html" target="_hplink">of fresh reports</a> from the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> suggests, at least. The <em>Journal</em> -- which has an excellent relationship with Apple brass -- hears that Apple is in talks with cable companies to let them build a kind of souped-up cable box, one that would replace the box you currently rent from your cable company. You would still be paying for cable, but Apple would be making the set-top box: Apple's vision includes social sharing features (like you might find on Boxee), a Cloud DVR feature that would allow you to start a show from the beginning even if you turned it on a few minutes late, and a redesigned, icon-centric interface similar to the home screen of your iPad. Should Apple convince a Time Warner or a Comcast to let it make cable boxes, it could be a first glimpse at what the so-called 'iTV' television set might offer; that television, which <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/briancaulfield/2011/10/21/steve-jobs-on-tv-i-finally-cracked-it/" target="_hplink">the late Steve Jobs confirmed Apple was indeed working on</a>, will supposedly revolutionize the television viewing and discovery experience (though <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/itv-ipod-why-apples-tv-wont-be-nearly-as-disruptive-as-you-hope/261270/" target="_hplink">not everyone is convinced</a>). A cable box built by Apple might hint at that TV's functionality: First we'll get the interface on the set-top box, and then we'll get the hardware, the flat-screen television. Good things come to those who wait, you know. That's all for <strong>This Week In Apple Rumors</strong>. Make sure to check back next week, where we'll discuss whether viewing <em>The Newsroom</em> on an Apple television would make it any better. And if you can't wait until next week, you can always get up-to-the-minute Apple rumors by <a href="http://twitter.com/gilbertjasono" target="_hplink">following me on Twitter right here</a>.

Also on HuffPost:

Source : huffingtonpost[dot]com

iPhone 5 release date: Samsung to sue Apple after iPhone 5 announcement

The rumored iPhone 5 release date announcement is less than two weeks away, and Apple fans can hardly wait to find out what the technology giant has in store for the 6th generation model of the well-loved smartphone. Rumors and news about the new iPhone 5 surfaces daily, but Apple has yet to confirm the upcoming gadget. However new information suggests the rivalry between Apple and Samsung will become more tense as the Galaxy S III manufacturer reportedly has plans to file a lawsuit against the iPhone maker once they announce the iPhone 5 release date.

An article at Cult of Mac says "Samsung is understandably mad," about the "legal beat down" which was handed out by the courts last week, "and probably a little embarrassed and majorly vindictive." The article goes on to say the Apple rival has "declared that if Apple even thinks about releasing an iPhone 5 with LTE they will sue them immediately."

Will further lawsuits between these two smartphone makers help, or hurt Apple? True iPhone fans will line up outside Apple retail stores in the hot sun so they can snag their very own iOS 6 smartphone. However all the bickering could cause some wavering consumers to switch over to the Galaxy S3, or another Android handset.

The Apple vs. Samsung battle will continue for some time, as will arguments between iPhone and Android fans, but the iPhone 5 release date is coming, and if rumors are correct it will arrive very soon.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Apple currently offering up to $345 for iPhone 4S trade-ins

It's trade-in time, for those who want to trade up from earlier iPhones to the upcoming iPhone 5, and not only is Gazelle trying to get your business, none other than the iPhone maker itself is, too.

Apple has what it calls the "Reuse and Recycle Program." Right now, a pristine 16GB iPhone 4S will net you $285 at Apple's site.

It's not the highest amount by any means. For example, Gazelle will give you $297 for an AT&T version of the same model (note that Apple doesn't differentiate by carrier, but most third-party sites do). What's interesting is that we would have expected Gazelle's offer price to have gone down since our earlier story about a week and a half ago, but it has not.

Notably, Gazelle will allow you to lock-in the offer and keep your current device, until after the iPhone 5 launches in retail.

Another reseller, eBay's Instant Sale program, will give you slightly more for the same 16GB AT&T iPhone 4S, or $300.

Apple's current high offer for a device is $345, for a 64GB iPhone 4S.

As with all of these services, the device will be examined when Apple receives it, to determine the true value. You will receive the value in the form of an Apple gift card, which will prevent you from spending it on something either than the iPhone 5 - so if you have trouble with that sort of thing, it could be a plus making up for the slightly lower offer.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Windows Phone 8 likely launching Oct. 29 — will it be too late?

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 OS will launch on Oct. 29, just a few days after Windows 8 launches, according to a new report from ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley. But with a launch more than a month after the iPhone 5, is Microsoft seriously hurting Windows Phone 8′s potential reach?

Just yesterday, Samsung showed off its first Windows Phone 8 device, the slick-looking ATIV S. Nokia is expected to show off its first WP8 devices next week at a big event in New York City. By showing off these devices now, the companies hope to stoke excitement for their upcoming releases in October.

But if the iPhone 5 does really debut on Sept. 12 and hit stores on Sept. 21, as all rumors indicate,, that will give Apple more than a month of time to get consumers hooked on its next powerhouse. One analyst has predicted that Apple could sell 50 million iPhone 5 units in the U.S. during its first few months of availability, a steep increase above its record 37 million iPhones sold in its launch quarter.

We expect Windows Phone 8 devices will be quite competitive with the iPhone 5. Samsung’s ATIV S will offer a 4.8-inch screen, 1.5-GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 2300 MAh battery. Nokia’s next flagship phone will likely carry similar specs and could even offer a crazy powerful camera in line with its PureView phone.

Stay tuned for more in the next few weeks. Things in the mobile scene are about to get crazy.

Photo credit: Microsoft

Source : venturebeat[dot]com

Goophone I5 manages to KIRF the 2012 iPhone weeks in advance

Here's something you still don't see every day: a KIRF that's unveiled before the device it's supposed to copy. Although the 2012 iPhone may not show for weeks, the Android-based Goophone I5 is already doing a remarkable job of aping Apple's rumored style, including that two-tone look that we've all seen before. Just don't get notions that it's the bargain of the century. Where most rumors point to a bigger screen for the real thing, the I5 is making do with a 3.5-inch screen similar to that for Goophone's iPhone 4S imitator, the Y5. Performance isn't likely to jolt the engineers in Cupertino out of their seats, either. Mum's the word on whether or not the I5 will beat its inspiration to the store shelf, but we'd wager that it will cost a lot less.

Source : engadget[dot]com

Apple buying iPhone 4Ses ahead of expected iPhone 5 launch

As if we needed any more proof that we are mere weeks from seeing a new iPhone, Apple appears to be making room for the new device by taking the old one off consumers' hands.

Depending on the iPhone's condition, Apple will pay up to $345 for the year-old device. Owners can use Apple's Recycling Program to determine how much their device is worth by inputting its model, color, and condition. The big-money goes to the 64GB iPhone 4S in excellent condition, black or white, apparently.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57503070-37/apple-buying-iphone-4ses-ahead-of-expected-iphone-5-launch/

Source : googlefacebookiphone[dot]blogspot[dot]com

iPhone 5 release date rumor: Samsung to fight Apple ban ahead of new iPhone 5

In a new iPhone 5 release date rumor, details have emerged on the continuing Samsung vs. Apple situation. It appears now that the Samsung company will do whatever they can to fight Apple's ban on their products in the United States. The news comes ahead of Apple's rumored plans to reveal the iPhone 5 release date in mid September.

According to PC World's report, Samsung said on Tuesday they will "take all necessary measures" in order to keep selling their products within the U.S. Just a day before, Apple went to the U.S. District Court for Northern California and filed a request to ban eight of the company's smartphones that are currently sold. Samsung will be able to file a motion to stop any injunction that is ordered, or appeal such an injunction.

This past Friday, a court ruled Samsung had infringed on Apple's patents with 28 products. The court awarded $1.05 billion in damages to Apple via Samsung. Among the current Samsung phones that are part of the ban request are multiple "Galaxy" products including the S 4G, S2 AT&T, S2 Skyrocket, S2 T-Mobile, S2 Epic 4G and the Galaxy Prevail. The Samsung Galaxy S III is not part of the ban.

However, Apple may decide to push their injunction to ban just about any product from Samsung. Meanwhile, Samsung is looking to appeal the jury judgement from this past Friday, and according to their latest statement, won't be backing down from Apple's legal actions. The news certainly keeps Apple in the spotlight as the company is said to be preparing its new iPhone 5 for a release date of September 21st, after a press announcement on September 12th.

For more iPhone and tech news or rumors, click "Like" on the Smartphones & Tech Facebook page!

Source : examiner[dot]com

iPhone 5 add-ons "Count on it"

The controversy surrounding iPhone 5 add-ons started the moment we heard about a change in the power port, and considering this is the first time such a change has taken place, it’s certainly no small thing. The popularity of Apple’s phone means that there are an army of accessories on the market, and some homes have multiple gadgets that need to dock and connect to their new iPhone 5 when it launches, so it’s understandable that some users will be a little concerned.

Apple iPhone 5 accessory makers are banking on rumors – We cannot confirm or deny if accessory makers are working with Apple and have inside information about the final design, although considering the amount of iPhone 5 add-ons being created already in preparation, we highly doubt they are all privileged to this information. Apple is extremely secretive about their upcoming products and in our opinion some of these accessory manufactures are taking a big gamble on the final iPhone 5 design.
Today we heard from this source that Scosche had designed some accessories for the new iPhone 5 dock connector, although the said images were later taken down and the website stated that Scosche requested this, which in itself speaks a thousand words. It is worth pointing out that some retailers would welcome a smaller port on the iPhone 5 with open arms, which is thanks to all the extra accessory sales it would likely bring. There are other accessory brands getting ready for the next iPhone but also being careful at the same time, and one of these is iSkin.
Your accessories will work with the new iPhone 5 port – Apple will make sure they deliver a solution for users, and this would’ve been part of the iPhone 5 design process, which is pretty obvious considering the millions that have been spent on accessories for iPhones. People have too much to lose when it comes to gadgets in their homes, cars, office, and other places that need to connect to their phone.

One solution will be an adapter that fits onto the bottom of your iPhone 5, and this would at least be available to order on the Apple Store, although we know that most people would want one free inside the iPhone 5 box, or at the very least see an extremely discounted adapter available right away. You can see a concept photo above that shows roughly how this could be done.
Are you happy to finally see the bottom port change on the upcoming iPhone 5, and are you confident that Apple will make sure you can still use your existing accessories with the new iPhone? One feature that might not make it to the new hardware is NFC, which we heard would be the case many months ago, although new leaked photos claimed NFC (technology for mobile payments and other services) would be on the new iPhone 5 but later were discredited.

Original post  http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/08/29/iphone-5-add-ons-bank-on-rumors/

Source : iphoneappcreator101[dot]blogspot[dot]com

iOS 6, iPhone 5 To Feature Most Wireless Mobile Computing Experience Yet

In a bid to eventually make the iPhone 5 and other iOS devices completely wire-free, iOS 6 is set to usher in even more wireless and wifi-free functionality.

Although it doesn’t always get talked about in one article, a lot has been rumored about the iPhone 5 with respect to its move towards wireless connectivity. Building on the adoption of OTA updates, we’ve also heard about possible wireless charging, an upgrade of the dock connector (which could have wireless consequences for the transfer of data), 4G LTE FaceTime, and more. If you were to put all of these concepts together, you could imagine an iPhone 5 with absolutely no ports. Heck, if Apple did away with the physical home button and made all of the navigation on-screen, one could even imagine a completely smooth, seamless design (as some have speculated on for a future iPhone release as well).

Today, we’re hearing a bit more concrete evidence that, much like the rumor that FaceTime will no longer be limited to wi-fi on the iPhone 5 (a massive advancement, as far as I’m concerned), AirPlay might get a similar makeover.

According to the Telegraph:

Sources familiar with the iPhone-maker’s plans said that Apple wants to improve the AirPlay wireless music streaming technology, which currently requires Airplay speakers and a WiFi network. The new version will require just speakers or a hifi and an iDevice; the iPhone, iPod or iPad would form its own network to allow a direct connection and music playback.

Ironically, this is the second bit of news that would appear to wow mobile users and make consumer electronics accessories producers weep, as the all-but-assured dock connector revamp was enough to send the accessories market spinning. Now, the appearance of “AirPlay Direct” as it is being dubbed, will turn the hifi market on its head as well. Of course, it remains to be seen how far along “AirPlay Direct” really is.

The article adds that: “Sources said that Apple has not signed off any specific products yet and that the ‘Airplay Direct’ is a working title rather than a definite name.” That’s a cryptic comment, and it sounds as if the functionality isn’t quite ready to get out the door yet — especially considering we’re all expecting the iPhone 5 to debut in September.

Still, there is no doubt that wireless connectivity is on Apple’s mind — it’s just a question of how much of this newfangled wireless stuff we’ll see in 2012. With all of the recent, conflicting rumors about NFC, and the already-confirmed passbook, there’s the possibility that the iPhone 5 will usher in some real lifestyle-changing wireless stuff. At the same time, all of these wireless innovation seem to have big, possibly negative unintended consequences. In the case of NFC, it’s the need to get a wide swath of the retail sector to onboard onto new NFC technologies. With changes like the dock connector and AirPlay Direct, whole sectors are affected. While it’s easy to think that Apple doesn’t ultimately care, these sectors certainly lobby Cupertino, andy their feedback helps steer Apple’s R&D department.

Is the world ready for the fully wireless, totally paper-or-plasticless mobile lifestyle, with the iPhone 5 at the center of it all?

By Michael Nace

 

Source : iphone5newsblog[dot]com

Apple iPhone 5 coming amid Samsung sell-offs

Apple's victory in its landmark legal battle may have created a wave of uncertainty for owners of Samsung smartphones -- many are dumping them.
A nine person jury on Friday found Samsung guilty of infringement in the patent case over designs and software of Apple's iPads and iPhones. Apple could seek a a permanent ban on as many as 28 of the Samsung devices that the jury found had infringed on its intellectual property.
Since the verdict, resale site Gazelle.com has seen an over 50% uptick in sales of Samsung phones from customers, a move that comes ahead of Apple's widely rumored iPhone 5 launch, expected in mid-September. It is also widely expected that Apple will unveil an iPad mini about the same time.
"The spike in Samsung (sellers) was right around the court verdict," says Anthony Scarsella, chief gadget officer at Gazelle.com.
Apple on Monday singled out eight phones it would like banned. The company has asked the court for injunctions on Samsung's Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 (AT&T), Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy S2 (T-Mobile), Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail. Apple earlier was granted an injunction banning Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.
The Galaxy S II Epic that's in Apple's legal cross hairs saw a 10% drop in prices on the mobile device resale site, says Scarsella.
"I think consumers in general could be shying away from purchasing these devices going forward. Some people are panicking," he says.
Concerns run that Samsung smartphones may get inferior software updates and a degraded touch experience. The jury verdict against Samsung found that some touch functions of its software, powered by Google's Android operating system, infringed on Apple's patents.
If Samsung does not win an appeal of the verdict at the federal circuit court in Washington, D.C., it will have to remove or work around the legal claims on Apple's innovations.

Original post http://www.freep.com/article/20120829/NEWS09/120829031/Apple-iPhone-5-coming-amid-Samsung-sell-offs?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

Source : iphoneappcreator101[dot]blogspot[dot]com

Apple offers up to $345 to recycle your iPhone 4S

Apple’s Reuse and Recycling service is well-known among Apple device owners, and it’s a good way to recoup some cash before your next upgrade. If you’re an iPhone 4S owner you’ll be glad to hear that Apple has now added the 4S as a recyle option, netting you as much as $345 in return.

The amount of cash you get depends on the model you want to recycle and the condition of the phone. The maximum you can get is $345 for a 64GB iPhone 4S in very good condition with a battery that fully charges and power cord included. If you’ve got one of the more common 16GB phones, you can still expect $285 if it’s in great condition.

With the iPhone 4S having been available to purchase for over 10 months now, it seems about the right time to start offering to recycle the handsets. Of course, you could read more into this and see it as Apple preparing for the launch of the iPhone 5 by giving you a way to get rid of the 4S you intend to replace.

By offering a recycle program Apple is doing its bit for the environment when those millions of old handsets are no longer needed. If your phone is in great condition it’s possible it will find a home with someone else when sold as a reconditioned unit. By doing this, Apple is also cleverly ensuring further sales, as the compensation is given in the form of an Apple Gift Card.

The only iPhone owners this doesn’t help are those who opted for a two-year contract in order to get the iPhone 4S in the first place. Even so, more than a few may be willing to pay to upgrade to an iPhone 5 next month and get some of that cash back through Apple’s service.

More at Apple, via TechCrunch

Source : geek[dot]com

iPhone 5 release date: Rumors say new iPhone 5 leaked by T-Mobile

New information says the iPhone 5 release date has been leaked by T-Mobile. The wireless provider is reportedly gearing up for the upcoming new iPhone 5 launch -- even though they will not be offering the gadget -- and in doing so may have accidentally leaked plans for the new Apple smartphone debut.

An article at PC Mag says T-Mobile "seems to be prepping its employees to 'sell against the iPhone,' starting on Sept. 21 – the same date rumored as the release date for the so-called iPhone 5." Obviously this information is no surprise since the iPhone 5 release date has been rumored for September 21st for a while now. However, if the information is legit, then T-Mobile has confirmed the launch date ahead of Apple.

The article also mentions a "mobile game to help employees practice their sales skills," in acquiring new customers who want the iPhone 5. All this information has apparently come from a leaked memo which was supposedly internal T-Mobile information. So it's a leaked iPhone 5 release date, from a leaked memo, which is confirming what everyone has known for the last month -- The iPhone 5 release date is expected to be announced around September 12th, and be available by September 21st.

Will it happen? iPhone fanatics will simply have to wait and see.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Is This Our First Look at Accessories for the iPhone 5’s New Dock Connector? (Updated)

Well this could be something. iLounge is reporting that it's got images of accessories made for the iPhone 5's new dock connector. And at first glance, they seem to confirm a lot of what we've been hearing about it.

The images look like they're from Scosche, a third party accessories maker. They abide by the 9-pin design that has been floating around for a few weeks now, and a picture of the bottom of a new case seems to give away a dock connector that's significantly smaller than the current one, or even a 19-pin connector.

This isn't the first time we've seen similar connector parts, with eight standard pins and one along the side. And the most compelling piece of evidence is probably still the reference to "9pin" in iOS 6 code, found by 9to5mac.

Still, these could easily be mockups made to spec based on leaked images. Sort of like what happened last year, with all the "iPhone 5" cases that showed up months in advance. Heck, China's already bootlegging the whole phone. But there have been enough component leaks over the past several months that at this point, we definitely wouldn't be surprised if these are legit. [iLounge]

Update: We were asked by Scosche to remove the images, which are "renderings of potential, unannounced products and are the sole property of Scosche Inc.". We have complied.

Source : gizmodo[dot]com

Chinese Firm Makes Knockoff 'iPhone 5' From Mockups

A Chinese firm has already created a knockoff of what is supposedly the next iPhone. As reported by the French site NowhereElse.fr [ Google Translate], an Android phone called the Goophone i5 was designed to look like the leaked images of the next iPhone.

Though the new iPhone is expected to be taller vertically, the Goophone sports a 940x640 3.5" screen, a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera. Unsurprisingly, no pricing or availability information on the Goophone is available.

Source : macrumors[dot]com

iPhone 5 Release Date: iPhone and iPad Mini Compete with Samsung, Android, and Kindle

iPhone 5 Release Date iPhone and iPad Mini Compete with Samsung Android and Kindle

If anything can cause more swirling rumors than Snooki's baby, it's a new bit of Apple technology about to hit the market. Speculations abound concerning the iPhone 5 and an iPad Mini, reportedly to be released over the next two months. 
According to the Wall Street Journal, the iPhone 5 could be a tiny marvel that is half a millimeter thinner than its predecessor. Consumers are always pleased by an easier-to-carrry phone, but this advance has larger implications for Apple's competition with other companies. By using a new technology called "in-cell," manufacturers can incorporate touch-screen sensors into the LCD. Before this, a separate touch screen layer always had to be added, resulting in a slightly bulkier product. Reports say that this streamlined process will increase screen quality, and ultimately make the product more cost-efficient because it contains only one screen, manufactured by only one factory. It is also reported to have a 4 inch screen, competing with Samsung's 4.8 inch model. On the downside for consumers, the new device is rumored to feature a 19-pin docking port, instead of the familiar 30-pin port. Splurged on a new dock or speaker just last month? Sorry folks. Apple might decide to include an adapter, but in the battle against the Droid, even tiny inconveniences like a new docking port could sway consumers' minds. 
While leaked information about the iPhone abounds, even several weeks before its supposed unveiling, the iPad Mini rumors are much less certain. The widely popular iPad has sold 84 million products since 2010. The ultimate diverse gadget, the iPad can do a little bit of everything, from gaming to complex business functions. So, what could be gained simply by making it smaller? According to some, an iPad Mini could be a shrewd business move designed to squeeze others out of the e-Reader market before the Christmas season. If Apple can make an under 8-inch model sell for under $199, it can effectively drain the life from the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 tablets. This would be a blow to competition that even Apple's recent legal conquest could not top. 
Apple has always displayed a coherent plan for its products. Its top-down innovation style focuses on creating an elegant, efficient product, and then aggressively pursuing its perfection. Combined with some of the best marketing strategies of the last fifty years, this has produced impressive results for the company.  Everyone knows that Apple makes little one-buttoned rectangles, and that it does that really well. With the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini geared for release, Apple has combined its elegant design with a competitive strategy that could prove the deciding blow in its struggle to maintain its status as tech-trend industry standard. 

Picture Credit: Nickolay Lamb, InventHelp

Original post  http://www.policymic.com/articles/13542/iphone-5-release-date-iphone-and-ipad-mini-compete-with-samsung-android-and-kindle

Source : iphoneappcreator101[dot]blogspot[dot]com

iPhone 5 release date: Microsoft has the last laugh in the Apple-Samsung war

The recent patent litigation in the U.S. is considered a highlight of the exchange of blows between Apple and Samsung. The two companies are fighting in court in many countries for supremacy of the smartphone market. It is expected that Apple will repeat their recent success in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and internationally. Industry insiders speculate that other manufacturers of Android smartphones will hastily revise the design of their devices in order to not be the next on the chopping block. We will most likely see the number of iPhone-like smartphones dramatically decrease soon.

Meanwhile, Google is indirectly in danger. Former Apple boss Steve Jobs, was after Google Android and was very angry and promised to wage a "nuclear war" against the operating system.

"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong." said the late Steve Jobs.

Microsoft has the last laugh

Microsoft, meanwhile, has the last laugh in this patent dispute. The world's largest software company has the Windows Phone on the market, which so far has had only limited success. But Windows Phone can not be confused with the iPhone, and its user interface is also protected by legal agreements with Apple. These agreements strongly protect them against patent lawsuits. In addition, the software got many good grades from product reviewers and is in some areas, just as innovative as iOS.

The rumored iPhone 5 release date in September, seems to have prompted other tech companies to present something the same month. It is no accident that the expectantly most successful new technology product of Apple, is accompanied by other events. Samsung and Sony have already announced that they will release new products or enhanced versions of existing ones to the market in September.

Source : examiner[dot]com

Conflicting: Jim Dalrymple, Others Poo-Poo NFC For iPhone 5

Jim Dalyrmple and others have thumbed down the latest parts leak of the iPhone 5 featuring what purports to be an NFC, citing the metal-backed parts as incongruous with NFC technology. If the latest parts are a fake, should we believe any of the iPhone 5 fodder we’ve seen thus far?

Apple prognosticator extraordinaire Jim Dalrymple today seconded the opinion of Brian Klug on The Loop that the latest photos of an iPhone 5 parts leak featuring an NFC chips are unlikely to be true. Dalyrmple was quoted as saying:

“Yep”

You’ll probably need a bit of context, won’t you? His iconic “yep” was in response to Klug’s statement that:

“Given the primarily metal backside of the new iPhone, it’s highly unlikely that NFC is in the cards for this generation. In fact, given the very little space at top and bottom dedicated to those glass RF windows, you can almost entirely rule it out.”

Given that Mr. Dalrymple’s yeps carry so much gravitas, we have to not only walk back the purported NFC parts dump from yesterday, but also reconsider all of these iPhone 5 sightings. If, after all, yesterdays parts are bogus, and they constitute the “Most Comprehensive Assembly” of the iPhone 5 we’ve seen thus far, then how can we trust any of this iPhone 5 junk, starting with the 9to5Mac leaks?

And an even stranger question is this: if Dalrymple is so sure that this latest sighting is a fake but that the metal-backed iPhone 5 shots were real, then what exactly does he know, and when did know it?

(Again — I just love typing that.)

Let’s go back for a moment to the Slashgear piece from yesterday. Something that I did not focus in my blog article was this:

“The photos of the apparently assembled front panel of the new smartphone, discovered on a Photobucket account . . . [and] the account from which they have been sourced is not without a track record. It was used to reveal that the new iPad would be slightly thicker than the iPad 2, for instance, and has been the source of white colored new iPhone component photos as well.”

This is significant, because, to my knowledge, those photos of the New iPad were the first of their kind to show an actual glimpse of an as-yet-unreleased Apple product that didn’t turn out to be completely bogus. This is to say that this photo leak would seem to have a pedigree. And one would assume that Jim Dalyrmple is well aware of this.

But in his affirmation of Klug’s deduction, what he is essentially saying is, “you’re right — the iPhone 5 won’t have NFC because it has a metal back. I know this for a fact.” In other words, all of the leaked photos of the iPhone 5 we’ve seen with metal backs thus far are the real deal, but this recent one is not.

For my part, however, I don’t see how the recently leaked parts are any less credible than anything we’ve seen prior. To me, they are of similar ilk — still not a complete picture of the iPhone 5 and amply abstract enough to raise doubts. But for Jim Dalrymple to strike down the NFC leaks but affirm previous leaks of the metal backed iPhone 5 seems inconsistent. If the leaks from yesterday could be fake, so could the lot of them.

Did Jim Dalrymple think this one out?

I’m inclined to believe all or none of these iPhone 5 parks leaks. Either the parts are out in the open or they’re not. Either these parts are being fabricated or they’re not. I don’t personally think it’s the case that some are real and some are fabricated. While it’s true that recent NFC leak doesn’t feature a metal back, it would appear to fit together with the dimensions of the other parts we’ve seen thus far.

The only possibility I see for making sense of Jim Dalrymple’s “yep” is that he simply knows for a fact that the iPhone 5 will have a metal back, whether the metal-backed phone we’ve seen is real or fake.

What does Jim Dalrymple know, and when did he know it?

 
By Michael Nace
 


 

Source : iphone5newsblog[dot]com

Apple is in a rush to get that flagship Palo Alto store done

Apple sure seems like it is in a bit of a rush to get its new prototype store finished. A passerby noticed the construction tonight, just as cranes were lowering a big sheet of window glass into place.

Evening construction isn’t surprising in a busy place like University Avenue in Palo Alto, Calif. But it makes you wonder if Apple is serious about finishing the store in time for expected product announcement on Sept. 12 and product launch on Sept. 21. Apple is expected to introduce its iPhone 5 and possibly the iPad Mini. The way the crane is carrying the glass, it almost looks like it is a glass ceiling or floor, not a window.

As our executive editor Dylan Tweney reported, Apple is turning the Palo Alto, Calif., store into a “new prototype” for selling the company’s goods. The 16,600-square-feet store will have two stories, as well as a huge amount of internet bandwidth. The Seele architectural firm appeared to be supervising the construction, based on a van parked in front.

[Image credit: provided to VentureBeat by someone who wants to remain anonymous]

Source : venturebeat[dot]com

T-Mobile Employees Told to “Sell Against the iPhone”

In a leaked internal memo published originally by unofficial T-Mobile news blog TmoNews, employees of the iPhone-less carrier are told in no uncertain terms that beginning September 21st, they will commence training to sell "against the iPhone."

With wording that explicit, it would be hard to misinterpret the information T-Mobile is trying to convey in this note to its staff. Sell. Against. The iPhone. Nothing points out a company's weak spot quite like the gimlet eye of iPhone envy :( [TmoNews via Engadget]

Source : gizmodo[dot]com

T-Mobile memo asks staff to sell 'against the iPhone' on September 21st

T-Mobile has been virtually screaming for an iPhone deal, but a memo leaked to TmoNews suggests Apple isn't prepared to listen just yet. The note tells carrier staff they'll get training material to learn "selling against the iPhone" from September 21st onwards. Why does that date sound familiar? Although we don't know if T-Mobile has an inside track on Apple's plans or is just making assumptions based on rumors, that's not the language we would associate with a carrier that has a new agreement to sell the iPhone -- not unless it's using a loose definition of the word "against," at least. As a consolation, T-Mobile is reportedly supplying updated micro-SIM kits on August 29th to emphasize its improving support for unlocked iPhones on refarmed 3G spectrum. Nothing's official until Apple struts on stage, of course; you may nonetheless want to research alternatives if getting a cheaper contract phone on Magenta trumps having Cupertino's latest and greatest.

Source : engadget[dot]com

Leaked images purport to show iPhone 5 front assembly with new NFC chip

The iPhone 5 launch event is only a couple of weeks away, if the rumored Sept. 12 date holds, but the leaks continue. New images believed to be of the front assembly for the iPhone 5 seem to show something expected in the new handset, but not seen before in prior iPhones: an NFC chip.

The NFC, or near-field communication chip, appears in an image that appears in a Photobucket account, no less. While seeming to be a strange place for leaked images, the account previously served as the "launch point" for some of the first shots of the next-generation iPhone's purported front assembly.

The images were first noted on Sunday by Chinese website Apple.pro.

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Located near the top of the image and surrounded by a red box is a component that has appeared previously in an Apple device. Considering that most believe that NFC is a component in the new iPhone, that's what most people believe the part to be, an NFC chip.

Such a chip could be used for mobile wallet payment services, and considering the Passbook app that Apple has already revealed as part of iOS 6, it would seem to be a mandatory part of a new iPhone.

Rumors say that the iPhone 5 will be introduced on Sept. 12, with the retail launch on Sept. 21, and iOS 6 reaching older handsets sometime in-between, though likely in the week of Sept. 21.

The iPad mini is then expected to have its own launch event, once the iPhone 5 dust settles, sometime in October.

Source : examiner[dot]com