iPhone 6 Rumors (Updated)
Concept photos of Apple's next smartphone, presumably called the iPhone 6, have been everywhere. Recently, however, new photos were leaked claiming to be pictures of the actual iPhone 6.
Earlier this week, an anonymous Twitter user named mornray888 uploaded pictures of what he claims to be the iPhone 6 to his account. The pictures gained more publicity and possibly credibility when Sonny Dickson, an Australian writer, shared the same pictures.
According to Mac World, Dickson has a history of accurately leaking photos of Apple's upcoming iPhones. The website says he "published many genuine leaked images of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last year..."
Dickson uploaded the pictures to both his Twitter page and his personal website, but he still does not guarantee that everything about the photos is legitimate.
"As some rumors suggest, the screen will in fact be bigger," Dickson wrote. "The design will be like a cross between the current iPad Air and the iPod Touch. As shown in the pictures below, it will be definitely thinner than the current iPhone 5S. I'm not 100% sure this is the real back housing, but I'll be updating it as I get more information regarding it."
According to calculations performed by designer Federico Ciccarese, the iPhone in the pictures measure 4.7-inches diagonally and 2.3-inches wide, making it the same width as the iPhone 5s.
This week, it was reported that the iPhone 6 will have a "bezel-free" display. This would make the iPhone 6 slimmer and perhaps more capable of having the larger display screen that most rumors say are in the works. According to sources, Apple will release two different versions of the iPhone 6. Some say one model with have a 4.7-inch or 4.8-inch screen. The second model is rumored to be considered a "phablet," or a tablet and phone combination, because of its larger 5.5-inch screen.
New rumors also claim that Sony is working with Apple to enhance the iPhone's front camera sensor. MacRumors, however, says that Sony's enhanced front camera sensors will not likely appear in the iPhone 6, but rather in a subsequent phone.
Concept photos of Apple's next smartphone, presumably called the iPhone 6, have been everywhere. Recently, however, new photos were leaked claiming to be pictures of the actual iPhone 6.
Earlier this week, an anonymous Twitter user named mornray888 uploaded pictures of what he claims to be the iPhone 6 to his account. The pictures gained more publicity and possibly credibility when Sonny Dickson, an Australian writer, shared the same pictures.
According to Mac World, Dickson has a history of accurately leaking photos of Apple's upcoming iPhones. The website says he "published many genuine leaked images of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last year..."
Dickson uploaded the pictures to both his Twitter page and his personal website, but he still does not guarantee that everything about the photos is legitimate.
"As some rumors suggest, the screen will in fact be bigger," Dickson wrote. "The design will be like a cross between the current iPad Air and the iPod Touch. As shown in the pictures below, it will be definitely thinner than the current iPhone 5S. I'm not 100% sure this is the real back housing, but I'll be updating it as I get more information regarding it."
According to calculations performed by designer Federico Ciccarese, the iPhone in the pictures measure 4.7-inches diagonally and 2.3-inches wide, making it the same width as the iPhone 5s.
This week, it was reported that the iPhone 6 will have a "bezel-free" display. This would make the iPhone 6 slimmer and perhaps more capable of having the larger display screen that most rumors say are in the works. According to sources, Apple will release two different versions of the iPhone 6. Some say one model with have a 4.7-inch or 4.8-inch screen. The second model is rumored to be considered a "phablet," or a tablet and phone combination, because of its larger 5.5-inch screen.
New rumors also claim that Sony is working with Apple to enhance the iPhone's front camera sensor. MacRumors, however, says that Sony's enhanced front camera sensors will not likely appear in the iPhone 6, but rather in a subsequent phone.
How to Jailbreak iOS 7 on your iDevice
Are you a fan of Apple's mobile devices, but wish their software wasn't quite so locked down? Well, today's your lucky day, as iOS hackers "the evad3rs" just released a huge jailbreak for all iOS 7 devices. That includes the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad Air, iPad mini ... if it runs iOS 7, it's covered. Read on, for Gizmag's fool-proof, step-by-step instructions.
The first thing you'll want to do is to turn the passcode lock off on your iOS device. To do this, tap the gray Settings icon, go to General, then Passcode Lock. Make sure it's off. This also includes turning off Touch ID on the iPhone 5s (don't worry, you can turn it off after jailbreaking).
This is also a good time to back up your iPhone or iPad. Grab the device's cable, and connect it via USB to your Mac or PC. Open iTunes, and it should automatically back up and transfer any new purchases. If anything goes wrong (during the jailbreak or anytime after) you can restore a fresh install of iOS 7 in iTunes and then restore your apps and data from this backup.
Now you'll want to head on over to the jailbreak developers' site, and download the appropriate version for your Mac or PC. You'll be redirected to a third-party file sharing site, where you can download the jailbreak file.
After you go through the download process, you'll want to check your downloads folder and open the file. On Mac, it's a DMG that starts with "evasi0n7-mac-1.0.0" and on Windows it's a zip that starts with "evasi0n7-win-1.0.0." Click on it to open or unzip.
Now, with your device again connected via USB cable, open the enclosed file called "evasi0n 7" on your Mac or PC and let the process begin.
Now you should see a screen similar to the one above. Make sure it lists your correct device, and lists it as supported. Tap that "jailbreak" button and let the evasi0n tool work its magic.
It will go through several different stages, most of which don't require your attention.
At one point, though, you'll see the screen above, which prompts you to unlock your device and tap on the evasi0n 7 icon on your device ...
Go ahead and do that.
Soon after that, the tool's process will end. Congrats: your device is now jailbroken.
The next step is to look for the new Cydia icon on your device's home screen. If you aren't familiar, Cydia is basically a jailbreak app store, where you'll find your new apps and tweaks.
When you first open Cydia, the screen will go black while it prepares the file system.
Once that completes, go ahead and open Cydia again. This time you'll be asked what kind of user you are. If you're reading this tutorial, chances are, you'll want to choose "User."
There you have it. You're now completely jailbroken, with Cydia locked, loaded, and ready to go.
It will take a while for most apps to be compatible with iOS 7. But if you need some suggestions while you're waiting, you can hit up our list of the best jailbreak apps in Cydia.
Are you a fan of Apple's mobile devices, but wish their software wasn't quite so locked down? Well, today's your lucky day, as iOS hackers "the evad3rs" just released a huge jailbreak for all iOS 7 devices. That includes the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad Air, iPad mini ... if it runs iOS 7, it's covered. Read on, for Gizmag's fool-proof, step-by-step instructions.
The first thing you'll want to do is to turn the passcode lock off on your iOS device. To do this, tap the gray Settings icon, go to General, then Passcode Lock. Make sure it's off. This also includes turning off Touch ID on the iPhone 5s (don't worry, you can turn it off after jailbreaking).
This is also a good time to back up your iPhone or iPad. Grab the device's cable, and connect it via USB to your Mac or PC. Open iTunes, and it should automatically back up and transfer any new purchases. If anything goes wrong (during the jailbreak or anytime after) you can restore a fresh install of iOS 7 in iTunes and then restore your apps and data from this backup.
Now you'll want to head on over to the jailbreak developers' site, and download the appropriate version for your Mac or PC. You'll be redirected to a third-party file sharing site, where you can download the jailbreak file.
After you go through the download process, you'll want to check your downloads folder and open the file. On Mac, it's a DMG that starts with "evasi0n7-mac-1.0.0" and on Windows it's a zip that starts with "evasi0n7-win-1.0.0." Click on it to open or unzip.
Now, with your device again connected via USB cable, open the enclosed file called "evasi0n 7" on your Mac or PC and let the process begin.
Now you should see a screen similar to the one above. Make sure it lists your correct device, and lists it as supported. Tap that "jailbreak" button and let the evasi0n tool work its magic.
It will go through several different stages, most of which don't require your attention.
At one point, though, you'll see the screen above, which prompts you to unlock your device and tap on the evasi0n 7 icon on your device ...
Go ahead and do that.
Soon after that, the tool's process will end. Congrats: your device is now jailbroken.
The next step is to look for the new Cydia icon on your device's home screen. If you aren't familiar, Cydia is basically a jailbreak app store, where you'll find your new apps and tweaks.
When you first open Cydia, the screen will go black while it prepares the file system.
Once that completes, go ahead and open Cydia again. This time you'll be asked what kind of user you are. If you're reading this tutorial, chances are, you'll want to choose "User."
There you have it. You're now completely jailbroken, with Cydia locked, loaded, and ready to go.
It will take a while for most apps to be compatible with iOS 7. But if you need some suggestions while you're waiting, you can hit up our list of the best jailbreak apps in Cydia.
Seven iOS 7 Battery Tips
Number 1: what you already know
To begin, here are a few battery saving tips that should work on nearly any iPhone or iPad. Most of these are available in Settings. Each one of these tricks should be familar to anyone who has ever tried to get more life out of a single battery charge.
Available in 5-series iPhones running iOS 7, AirDrop's a handy way to share files with others, but it can suck battery life when you leave AirDrop in "discoverable" mode. Fortunately it's easy to enable and disable this featue in Control Center. To access this just swipe up from your home screen to enter Control Center, tap AirDrop and select Off, until the next time you need to use it.
Number 3: Control your apps
While it is ever so useful that your apps can run in the background, you probably don't need all your apps remaining active and using up background power.
You can control which apps are doing this by enteringSettings>General>Background App Refresh.
You can then deselect all those apps you don't want updating in the background until you need them to do so: for example disable App Refresh for Maps until you are actually using Maps on a journey somewhere.
Number 4: No, really control your apps
Another iOS 7 feature lets apps update automatically whenever an update is released. If you need to tweak power from your iPhone you can disable this feature quite simply.
Settings>iTunes & App Store and turn off the Updates and Apps settings. Alternatively, scroll down the page and switch off the Use Cellular Data setting: now your apps will only update when you have a WiFi connection.
Number 5: Reduce Motion
It's probably fair to say the parallax motion in the user interface has its share of critics. You may not get motion sickness when you see it, but if you're attempting to squeeze a little additional battery life from your iPhone you should switch this feature off.
Doing so is pretty simple, just visit Settings>General>Accessibility>Reduce Motionand set this setting to On. Doing so prevents the motion in the user interface, including the parallax effect.
Number 6: Static wallpaper
iOS 7 lets you use animated wallpapers. These are nice and pretty when you have enough battery in there, but switching to a static wallpaper will slightly reduce battery drain. You'll achieve this following these steps: Settings>Wallpaper & Brightness > Wallpaper > choose a static wallpaper for your phone.
Number 7: Lose Location
There are times when location services are useful. There's also times when they aren't. You have a host of apps clamoring to use your location data, but you probably don't need them all to do this, and some will only do so in order to serve up ads or other digital debris.
You can control Location Services when you aren't using them:Settings>Privacy>Location Services. This gives you the choice of disabling Location Services on a per-app basis, or of switching this feature off altogether.
Don't be surprised if your Maps app or similar doesn't work when you have disabled this feature: if you need to use Maps, just follow the same command path to enable Location Services once again.
Armed with these suggestions you should be able to squeeze a little more battery life from your iOS 7 iPhone while you make your way to the next recharge point. And, of course, if it's going to be a while till you get to recharge the device, why not get a Mophie?
Number 1: what you already know
To begin, here are a few battery saving tips that should work on nearly any iPhone or iPad. Most of these are available in Settings. Each one of these tricks should be familar to anyone who has ever tried to get more life out of a single battery charge.
- Switch your phone off when you're asleep.
- Switch off Bluetooth if you're not using it.
- Switch off WiFi if you're not using a wireless network.
- Switch off location services and automated Mail checks
- If you don't need to use data services or call features on your iPhone for a while, switch it to AirPlane mode. You can do this using Control Center in iOS 7, and/or in Settings>Airplane Mode>Off/On, otherwise.
- Reduce display brightness (Settings>Brightness/Wallpapers & Brightness. Disable Auto-brightness and manually reduce the brightness of your screen).
- Disable 4G/3G: doing so reduces battery drain as your cellular radio seeks a signal. Settings>Cellular and switch off the Enable LTE or 4G button does the trick.
- Disable vibrations on your iPhone in Settings>Sounds.
- Notification Center is another feature you can control. Settings>Notification Center lets you switch off notifications for those apps you don't need to know about, or altogether if you just need a few more minutes of battery life.
Available in 5-series iPhones running iOS 7, AirDrop's a handy way to share files with others, but it can suck battery life when you leave AirDrop in "discoverable" mode. Fortunately it's easy to enable and disable this featue in Control Center. To access this just swipe up from your home screen to enter Control Center, tap AirDrop and select Off, until the next time you need to use it.
Number 3: Control your apps
While it is ever so useful that your apps can run in the background, you probably don't need all your apps remaining active and using up background power.
You can control which apps are doing this by enteringSettings>General>Background App Refresh.
You can then deselect all those apps you don't want updating in the background until you need them to do so: for example disable App Refresh for Maps until you are actually using Maps on a journey somewhere.
Number 4: No, really control your apps
Another iOS 7 feature lets apps update automatically whenever an update is released. If you need to tweak power from your iPhone you can disable this feature quite simply.
Settings>iTunes & App Store and turn off the Updates and Apps settings. Alternatively, scroll down the page and switch off the Use Cellular Data setting: now your apps will only update when you have a WiFi connection.
Number 5: Reduce Motion
It's probably fair to say the parallax motion in the user interface has its share of critics. You may not get motion sickness when you see it, but if you're attempting to squeeze a little additional battery life from your iPhone you should switch this feature off.
Doing so is pretty simple, just visit Settings>General>Accessibility>Reduce Motionand set this setting to On. Doing so prevents the motion in the user interface, including the parallax effect.
Number 6: Static wallpaper
iOS 7 lets you use animated wallpapers. These are nice and pretty when you have enough battery in there, but switching to a static wallpaper will slightly reduce battery drain. You'll achieve this following these steps: Settings>Wallpaper & Brightness > Wallpaper > choose a static wallpaper for your phone.
Number 7: Lose Location
There are times when location services are useful. There's also times when they aren't. You have a host of apps clamoring to use your location data, but you probably don't need them all to do this, and some will only do so in order to serve up ads or other digital debris.
You can control Location Services when you aren't using them:Settings>Privacy>Location Services. This gives you the choice of disabling Location Services on a per-app basis, or of switching this feature off altogether.
Don't be surprised if your Maps app or similar doesn't work when you have disabled this feature: if you need to use Maps, just follow the same command path to enable Location Services once again.
Armed with these suggestions you should be able to squeeze a little more battery life from your iOS 7 iPhone while you make your way to the next recharge point. And, of course, if it's going to be a while till you get to recharge the device, why not get a Mophie?
iPhone 6 Rumors
The iPhone 6 rumors are finally starting to heat up again as a new report revealed that Apple will use curved displays on the next-gen model.
Next year's iPhones will come with displays that are 4.7 and 5.5-inches, according to Bloomberg. The publication also claims that Apple is working on enhanced touch sensors that incorporate pressure sensitivity that will be used for the device as well.
"Two models planned for release in the second half of next year will feature larger displays with glass that curves downward at the edges, said Bloomberg's source. "Sensors that can distinguish heavy or light touches on the screen may be incorporated into subsequent models."
The 5.5-inch iPhone is said to be a Galaxy Note 3 competitor while the 4.7-inch model will be Apple's answer to the high-demand in the market for larger screens.
Both of these handsets are still in the development stages and they will probably be released sometime during the third quarter of next year.
Apple will be following in the footsteps of Samsung on two accounts, according to this news as Samsung was one of the first companies to release a smartphone-tablet hybrid and a device with a curved display with the Galaxy Round.
An iPhone with a larger screen has been spoken about in previous rumors that began surfacing in the middle of this year. The iPhone 5S was originally expected to be unveiled with a larger counterpart that featured even better next-gen specs. However, that never came to fruition as Apple only released the iPhone 5C low-cost version this year.
The pressure on Apple for it to launch an iPhone with a larger screen has grown significantly and this is the next logical step for the company.
The iPhone 6 rumors are finally starting to heat up again as a new report revealed that Apple will use curved displays on the next-gen model.
Next year's iPhones will come with displays that are 4.7 and 5.5-inches, according to Bloomberg. The publication also claims that Apple is working on enhanced touch sensors that incorporate pressure sensitivity that will be used for the device as well.
"Two models planned for release in the second half of next year will feature larger displays with glass that curves downward at the edges, said Bloomberg's source. "Sensors that can distinguish heavy or light touches on the screen may be incorporated into subsequent models."
The 5.5-inch iPhone is said to be a Galaxy Note 3 competitor while the 4.7-inch model will be Apple's answer to the high-demand in the market for larger screens.
Both of these handsets are still in the development stages and they will probably be released sometime during the third quarter of next year.
Apple will be following in the footsteps of Samsung on two accounts, according to this news as Samsung was one of the first companies to release a smartphone-tablet hybrid and a device with a curved display with the Galaxy Round.
An iPhone with a larger screen has been spoken about in previous rumors that began surfacing in the middle of this year. The iPhone 5S was originally expected to be unveiled with a larger counterpart that featured even better next-gen specs. However, that never came to fruition as Apple only released the iPhone 5C low-cost version this year.
The pressure on Apple for it to launch an iPhone with a larger screen has grown significantly and this is the next logical step for the company.
iPhone 5s vs iPhone 5c: Which is for You?
iPhone 5s:
We use the term loosely, but the iPhone is no longer a "one size fits all" smartphone. Today's Apple event marked the introduction of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, and beyond price, the two devices are separated by several unique features. Considering your own desires for gaming, photography, security, style -- and yes, your budget -- it's likely that one phone is a better fit for your needs. So join us after the break as we explore the finer points of Apple's latest smartphones.
Apple's 64-bit A7 processor takes center stage in the iPhone 5s, which promises twice the computing and graphics performance as compared to the iPhone 5c. Naturally, the new chip positions the iPhone 5s as a better fit for gamers. (which supports OpenGL ES 3.0), but it also offers unique advantages photographers. Thanks to the A7 chip, you can shoot slow-motion 720p video at 120 fps, and as for stills, you'll find a burst-shooting mode that captures up to 10 images per second. Digital image stabilization is also in the mix this time around, which is important for low-light photography.
Speaking of low-light situations, the iPhone 5s captures more light in two ways. First, it features a new lens setup with a wider f/2.2 aperture (as compared to f/2.4 in the iPhone 5c), along with an imaging sensor that's 15 percent larger. And for times when ambient light alone won't cut it, the iPhone 5s includes a new dual-LED flash dubbed True Tone that promises better color balance and more natural skin tones.
Regardless of your age or occupation, you probably have private data that you'd prefer keep to yourself. Yes, a security code on the lock screen is a relatively effective method, but the iPhone 5s offers a more convenient -- and potentially more secure -- alternative that relies on fingerprint-scanning. The setup is known as Touch ID, which integrates a fingerprint reader into the phone's home button. In addition to serving as a lock screen unlock method, the new Touch ID system can eliminate the hassle of typing in your password every time you purchase apps, music and books.
Apple's new M7 motion-sensing processor probably wasn't on your list of must-haves within a new smartphone, but it opens an intriguing new way of measuring your physical activity. If you've ever wanted to keep tabs on your exercise but considered fitness bracelets too much of a hassle, the iPhone 5s might eliminate the need for wearable accessories. We still need to see how many app developers actually leverage the chip, but as an encouraging sign, Nike is already in the ring with its new Nike+ Move app. Beyond that, the M7 coprocessor also introduces new conveniences in everyday use. For example, during navigation, the iPhone 5s will automatically adjust directions when you stop driving and proceed on foot to your destination.
Needless to say, the iPhone 5s is the more refined and professional-looking of the two smartphones, which features an aluminum enclosure that's available in three finishes: gold, silver and space gray. When compared to the iPhone 5c -- which offers 16GB or 32GB of internal storage -- the iPhone 5s is the only one of the pair to feature a 64GB option. Beyond storage, the iPhone 5s is well-suited for globe trotters, thanks to its support for a dizzying array of up to 13 different LTE bands, along with quadband GSM / EDGE and pentaband UMTS / HSPA+ support.
Pricing: $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), $399 (64GB) on-contract; $649 (16GB) $749 (32GB), $849 (64GB) unlocked
The bottom line: The iPhone 5s packs many niceties, but few necessities. Still, if it's within your budget, it's easily the more capable of the two smartphones.
iPhone 5c:
Think of the iPhone 5c as a fresh, less expensive take on the original iPhone 5. It features many of the same internals as before, and as the biggest differentiator, it's available in five colors -- green, blue, white, red and yellow -- that complement the vibrant user interface in iOS 7. Naturally, the new enclosures might be more expressive of your personal style, and given the phone's steel-reinforced, polycarbonate construction, it could be a more suitable choice if you're prone to accidents.
Simply put, the iPhone 5 was a world-class smartphone, and the iPhone 5c carries on the tradition with the same excellent processor, camera and display. It also offers subtle improvements, such as a new FaceTime camera that's said to perform better in low-light situations, and in some cases -- such as with the Sprint model -- support for a wide array of LTE bands. That said, if you commonly play music through your phone's built-in speaker, be sure to compare the iPhone 5c to the iPhone 5s in the store before you make a purchasing decision. Needless to say, the smaller speaker grille on the iPhone 5c suggests that you might find a noticeable difference in audio quality between the two phones.
Whether you feel the more expensive iPhone 5s is worth the additional cost is a very personal decision that's dictated by your needs and budget. Yes, Apple's new premiere smartphone promises faster performance and better imaging quality, but if you're just a casual gamer or photographer, the iPhone 5c is certainly a suitable choice.
Pricing: $99 (16GB), $199 (32GB) on-contract; $549 (16GB), $649 (32GB) unlocked
The bottom line: The iPhone 5c brings the excellent features of the iPhone 5 to a lower price point, along with a number of vibrant enclosures.
iPhone 5s:
We use the term loosely, but the iPhone is no longer a "one size fits all" smartphone. Today's Apple event marked the introduction of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, and beyond price, the two devices are separated by several unique features. Considering your own desires for gaming, photography, security, style -- and yes, your budget -- it's likely that one phone is a better fit for your needs. So join us after the break as we explore the finer points of Apple's latest smartphones.
Apple's 64-bit A7 processor takes center stage in the iPhone 5s, which promises twice the computing and graphics performance as compared to the iPhone 5c. Naturally, the new chip positions the iPhone 5s as a better fit for gamers. (which supports OpenGL ES 3.0), but it also offers unique advantages photographers. Thanks to the A7 chip, you can shoot slow-motion 720p video at 120 fps, and as for stills, you'll find a burst-shooting mode that captures up to 10 images per second. Digital image stabilization is also in the mix this time around, which is important for low-light photography.
Speaking of low-light situations, the iPhone 5s captures more light in two ways. First, it features a new lens setup with a wider f/2.2 aperture (as compared to f/2.4 in the iPhone 5c), along with an imaging sensor that's 15 percent larger. And for times when ambient light alone won't cut it, the iPhone 5s includes a new dual-LED flash dubbed True Tone that promises better color balance and more natural skin tones.
Regardless of your age or occupation, you probably have private data that you'd prefer keep to yourself. Yes, a security code on the lock screen is a relatively effective method, but the iPhone 5s offers a more convenient -- and potentially more secure -- alternative that relies on fingerprint-scanning. The setup is known as Touch ID, which integrates a fingerprint reader into the phone's home button. In addition to serving as a lock screen unlock method, the new Touch ID system can eliminate the hassle of typing in your password every time you purchase apps, music and books.
Apple's new M7 motion-sensing processor probably wasn't on your list of must-haves within a new smartphone, but it opens an intriguing new way of measuring your physical activity. If you've ever wanted to keep tabs on your exercise but considered fitness bracelets too much of a hassle, the iPhone 5s might eliminate the need for wearable accessories. We still need to see how many app developers actually leverage the chip, but as an encouraging sign, Nike is already in the ring with its new Nike+ Move app. Beyond that, the M7 coprocessor also introduces new conveniences in everyday use. For example, during navigation, the iPhone 5s will automatically adjust directions when you stop driving and proceed on foot to your destination.
Needless to say, the iPhone 5s is the more refined and professional-looking of the two smartphones, which features an aluminum enclosure that's available in three finishes: gold, silver and space gray. When compared to the iPhone 5c -- which offers 16GB or 32GB of internal storage -- the iPhone 5s is the only one of the pair to feature a 64GB option. Beyond storage, the iPhone 5s is well-suited for globe trotters, thanks to its support for a dizzying array of up to 13 different LTE bands, along with quadband GSM / EDGE and pentaband UMTS / HSPA+ support.
Pricing: $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), $399 (64GB) on-contract; $649 (16GB) $749 (32GB), $849 (64GB) unlocked
The bottom line: The iPhone 5s packs many niceties, but few necessities. Still, if it's within your budget, it's easily the more capable of the two smartphones.
iPhone 5c:
Think of the iPhone 5c as a fresh, less expensive take on the original iPhone 5. It features many of the same internals as before, and as the biggest differentiator, it's available in five colors -- green, blue, white, red and yellow -- that complement the vibrant user interface in iOS 7. Naturally, the new enclosures might be more expressive of your personal style, and given the phone's steel-reinforced, polycarbonate construction, it could be a more suitable choice if you're prone to accidents.
Simply put, the iPhone 5 was a world-class smartphone, and the iPhone 5c carries on the tradition with the same excellent processor, camera and display. It also offers subtle improvements, such as a new FaceTime camera that's said to perform better in low-light situations, and in some cases -- such as with the Sprint model -- support for a wide array of LTE bands. That said, if you commonly play music through your phone's built-in speaker, be sure to compare the iPhone 5c to the iPhone 5s in the store before you make a purchasing decision. Needless to say, the smaller speaker grille on the iPhone 5c suggests that you might find a noticeable difference in audio quality between the two phones.
Whether you feel the more expensive iPhone 5s is worth the additional cost is a very personal decision that's dictated by your needs and budget. Yes, Apple's new premiere smartphone promises faster performance and better imaging quality, but if you're just a casual gamer or photographer, the iPhone 5c is certainly a suitable choice.
Pricing: $99 (16GB), $199 (32GB) on-contract; $549 (16GB), $649 (32GB) unlocked
The bottom line: The iPhone 5c brings the excellent features of the iPhone 5 to a lower price point, along with a number of vibrant enclosures.
iPad Air vs iPad 4: Which is for You?
Apple's iPad Air is here, complete with a new moniker, a new design and 64-bit processor, the same A7 chip that debuted in the iPhone 5s.
Apple is clearly hoping that this refreshed design, along with the promise of more processing power, will help entice both new customers and existing iPad users to upgrade. We take a look at whether the iPad Air is worth upgrading from the iPad 4, or whether you should save that £399.
Design
Given its slimmed-down chassis and weight reduction, it's pretty much a given that the iPad Air trumps the iPad 4 in terms of design.
The iPad Air measures in at just 7.5mm thick, hence its name, and weighs 478g, making it the thinnest and lightest full-sized tablet on the market today. We've been using the iPad Air for over a week now, and have been shocked at how different it feels compared with Apple's previous generation tablets. It's comfortable to hold over long periods of time, sits nicely in a bag without weighing down your shoulder, and perhaps most importantly, won't leave any nasty bruises if you drop it on your face while reading in bed
In comparison, Apple's fourth-generation iPad measures in at 9.4mm thick, and weighs in at 662g. While by no means awkward to hold, compared with the iPad Air the iPad 4 feels overly weighty, and it caused our wrists to hurt after long periods of use.
Size aside, both of the iPads look great, although we think the iPad Air beats the iPad 4 again when it comes to design. Both feature a high-end aluminum casing, but the iPad Air sports a bezel that's 43 percent thinner than that on the fourth-generation iPad, again taking away some of the tablet's bulk.
Winner: iPad Air
Screen
Both the iPad Air and iPad 4 feature a 9.7in 2048x1536 264ppi LED-backlit LCD display, so it's impossible to pick a winner here.
This is by no means a bad thing, and while some may complain about the fact that Apple hasn't upgraded the display on the iPad Air, it had no reason to. The display still remains largely unchallenged in the tablet market, and each tablet offers crisp text, vibrant colours and excellent viewing angles. Our only real gripe is outdoor visibility, with both the iPad 4 and iPad Air struggling under direct sunlight.
Winner: Draw
Operating system
The iPad Air comes running iOS 7 out of the box, while the iPad 4 arrived on shelves running iOS 6. Of course, however, Apple's fourth-generation iPad can be, and in our case has been, updated to the latest version of the operating system.
First-off, iOS 7 runs much better on the iPad Air than its predecessor, which is perhaps to be expected. We noticed no major issues when using iOS 7 on our iPad 4, but apps opened quicker and games performed smoother on the iPad Air.
iOS 7 has divided opinions. Compared with iOS 6, it delivers a redesigned user interface, complete with less texture and more vibrant colours. It also introduces new features including a quick settings menu accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, a redesigned camera interface, a new-look email and a completely revamped lock screen.
But it has been criticised for its smaller fonts, white backgrounds and missing features such as universal search.
Getting one up on the iPad 4, Apple will offer new iPad Air buyers its iWork Suite – consisting of Pages, Number and Keynote – for free, a saving of around £20.
Winner: iPad Air
Performance
The iPad 4 has a Apple's dual-core A6 processor, whereas the iPad Air features Apple's new 64-bit A7 chip, along with its M7 coprocessor. Unsurprisingly, the iPad Air is the much smoother of the two tablets, although those using an iPad 4 will have little to complain about as it's still noticeably nippier than most other tablets on the market.
While performance is noticeably smoother on the iPad Air, especially for gaming, we didn't find much use for the tablet's A7 processor, as there are barely any apps in the iTunes Store optimised for the 64-bit architecture at the moment.
The iPad Air also includes Apple's M7 coprocessor, designed to gather data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to offload work from the A7 chip for improved power efficiency. We didn't think this added much of an improvement to the Air compared with Apple's iPad 4, and found that when we switched from driving to walking, it took a while for the tablet to detect this.
Winner: iPad Air
Cameras
The iPad Air and iPad 4 both feature an identical camera setup: a 5MP autofocus camera without flash on the rear, and a 1.2MP front-facing FaceTime HD camera on the front.
As we pointed out in our full review, we saw no improvement on the iPad Air in terms of cameras. While the rear-facing camera is capable of shooting detailed, colourful images in decent lighting, it lacks in dimly lit situations, with images showing up noisy and dull.
We had an identical experience using the matching cameras on the iPad 4, so we're declaring this round a draw.
Winner: Draw
Battery and storage
The iPad Air, given its slimmed down casing, features a smaller battery than the iPad 4, with a 32.4Wh effort compared to the fourth-generation's 42.5Wh battery.
However, that's not to say it didn't match up in the battery life department. Despite Apple promising the same 10 hours of juice, we found that the iPad Air outperformed the iPad 4. Watching video and gaming nearly constantly on the tablet, the battery drained after 13 hours, while our iPad 4 lasted just over 10 hours when carrying out the same tasks. However it's worth noting this battery test was carried out on an iPad 4 running iOS 6; an upgrade to iOS 7 on the older generation iPad could well see the battery last less than 10 hours.
In terms of storage, both iPads are evenly matched, coming in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models.
Winner: iPad Air
It perhaps will come as little surprise that the iPad Air has won in a head-to-head review over its predecessor, the iPad 4, but is it worth the upgrade?
We think so. While there's not that much in the way of new specs beyond the upgrade to Apple's 64-bit A7 chip and the firm's iOS 7 operating system, the iPad Air is so much more comfortable to use due to its slim profile and low weight.
Overall winner: iPad Air
Apple's iPad Air is here, complete with a new moniker, a new design and 64-bit processor, the same A7 chip that debuted in the iPhone 5s.
Apple is clearly hoping that this refreshed design, along with the promise of more processing power, will help entice both new customers and existing iPad users to upgrade. We take a look at whether the iPad Air is worth upgrading from the iPad 4, or whether you should save that £399.
Design
Given its slimmed-down chassis and weight reduction, it's pretty much a given that the iPad Air trumps the iPad 4 in terms of design.
The iPad Air measures in at just 7.5mm thick, hence its name, and weighs 478g, making it the thinnest and lightest full-sized tablet on the market today. We've been using the iPad Air for over a week now, and have been shocked at how different it feels compared with Apple's previous generation tablets. It's comfortable to hold over long periods of time, sits nicely in a bag without weighing down your shoulder, and perhaps most importantly, won't leave any nasty bruises if you drop it on your face while reading in bed
In comparison, Apple's fourth-generation iPad measures in at 9.4mm thick, and weighs in at 662g. While by no means awkward to hold, compared with the iPad Air the iPad 4 feels overly weighty, and it caused our wrists to hurt after long periods of use.
Size aside, both of the iPads look great, although we think the iPad Air beats the iPad 4 again when it comes to design. Both feature a high-end aluminum casing, but the iPad Air sports a bezel that's 43 percent thinner than that on the fourth-generation iPad, again taking away some of the tablet's bulk.
Winner: iPad Air
Screen
Both the iPad Air and iPad 4 feature a 9.7in 2048x1536 264ppi LED-backlit LCD display, so it's impossible to pick a winner here.
This is by no means a bad thing, and while some may complain about the fact that Apple hasn't upgraded the display on the iPad Air, it had no reason to. The display still remains largely unchallenged in the tablet market, and each tablet offers crisp text, vibrant colours and excellent viewing angles. Our only real gripe is outdoor visibility, with both the iPad 4 and iPad Air struggling under direct sunlight.
Winner: Draw
Operating system
The iPad Air comes running iOS 7 out of the box, while the iPad 4 arrived on shelves running iOS 6. Of course, however, Apple's fourth-generation iPad can be, and in our case has been, updated to the latest version of the operating system.
First-off, iOS 7 runs much better on the iPad Air than its predecessor, which is perhaps to be expected. We noticed no major issues when using iOS 7 on our iPad 4, but apps opened quicker and games performed smoother on the iPad Air.
iOS 7 has divided opinions. Compared with iOS 6, it delivers a redesigned user interface, complete with less texture and more vibrant colours. It also introduces new features including a quick settings menu accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, a redesigned camera interface, a new-look email and a completely revamped lock screen.
But it has been criticised for its smaller fonts, white backgrounds and missing features such as universal search.
Getting one up on the iPad 4, Apple will offer new iPad Air buyers its iWork Suite – consisting of Pages, Number and Keynote – for free, a saving of around £20.
Winner: iPad Air
Performance
The iPad 4 has a Apple's dual-core A6 processor, whereas the iPad Air features Apple's new 64-bit A7 chip, along with its M7 coprocessor. Unsurprisingly, the iPad Air is the much smoother of the two tablets, although those using an iPad 4 will have little to complain about as it's still noticeably nippier than most other tablets on the market.
While performance is noticeably smoother on the iPad Air, especially for gaming, we didn't find much use for the tablet's A7 processor, as there are barely any apps in the iTunes Store optimised for the 64-bit architecture at the moment.
The iPad Air also includes Apple's M7 coprocessor, designed to gather data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to offload work from the A7 chip for improved power efficiency. We didn't think this added much of an improvement to the Air compared with Apple's iPad 4, and found that when we switched from driving to walking, it took a while for the tablet to detect this.
Winner: iPad Air
Cameras
The iPad Air and iPad 4 both feature an identical camera setup: a 5MP autofocus camera without flash on the rear, and a 1.2MP front-facing FaceTime HD camera on the front.
As we pointed out in our full review, we saw no improvement on the iPad Air in terms of cameras. While the rear-facing camera is capable of shooting detailed, colourful images in decent lighting, it lacks in dimly lit situations, with images showing up noisy and dull.
We had an identical experience using the matching cameras on the iPad 4, so we're declaring this round a draw.
Winner: Draw
Battery and storage
The iPad Air, given its slimmed down casing, features a smaller battery than the iPad 4, with a 32.4Wh effort compared to the fourth-generation's 42.5Wh battery.
However, that's not to say it didn't match up in the battery life department. Despite Apple promising the same 10 hours of juice, we found that the iPad Air outperformed the iPad 4. Watching video and gaming nearly constantly on the tablet, the battery drained after 13 hours, while our iPad 4 lasted just over 10 hours when carrying out the same tasks. However it's worth noting this battery test was carried out on an iPad 4 running iOS 6; an upgrade to iOS 7 on the older generation iPad could well see the battery last less than 10 hours.
In terms of storage, both iPads are evenly matched, coming in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models.
Winner: iPad Air
It perhaps will come as little surprise that the iPad Air has won in a head-to-head review over its predecessor, the iPad 4, but is it worth the upgrade?
We think so. While there's not that much in the way of new specs beyond the upgrade to Apple's 64-bit A7 chip and the firm's iOS 7 operating system, the iPad Air is so much more comfortable to use due to its slim profile and low weight.
Overall winner: iPad Air
How to Print from your iDevice
Method 1 of 3: Using AirPrint
1.1 Have an AirPrint-supported printer. If you have an iPhone 3GS or later, you can print using AirPrint with the right kind of printer. Major printer brands like Brother, Canon, Dell, HP, Lexmark, and Samsung have made AirPrint compatible printers in recent years.
1.2 Configure the printer to use AirPrint. Some models automatically work with AirPrint, but others have to be configured first. Determine whether you need to change settings on your printer to enable it to use AirPrint. Make sure the printer is on the same wireless network as your iPhone.
1.3 Open an iPhone application that supports AirPrint. Most apps from Apple fit this category, including Mail, Safari, and iPhoto. You can also print emails, documents, and pictures from your phone.
1.4 Open the item you want to print and select "share," then "print." When you select share, you'll see a drop down menu that gives you options to text the item, email it, and so it. You will also see an option to "print"; select it.
1.5 Select the printer. When you press "print," a screen listing available printers will open. Select the printer you know to be AirPrint compatible. Enter the number of pages to print, the number of copies you want, and change any other settings you'd like to change before printing.
1.6 Tap "print." When you're ready, press the print button and watch your document, email or picture start printing.
Method 2 of 3: Printing Through Applications
2.1 Visit the iTunes app store to find printing apps. You'll find a selection of apps you can use to print items from your iPhone.
Method 3 of 3: Using Alternative Printing Methods
3.1 Print using MS Outlook. You can set up a new mailbox in Outlook that is used specifically for documents you want to print. Set it up by following these instructions:
Method 1 of 3: Using AirPrint
1.1 Have an AirPrint-supported printer. If you have an iPhone 3GS or later, you can print using AirPrint with the right kind of printer. Major printer brands like Brother, Canon, Dell, HP, Lexmark, and Samsung have made AirPrint compatible printers in recent years.
- Check the instruction manual that came with your printer or call the company that made it if you aren't sure whether your printer is AirPrint compatible.
- If you don't own an AirPrint compatible printer, you can still use AirPrint by finding a network that has an AirPrint-supported printer at your workplace or in another facility.
1.2 Configure the printer to use AirPrint. Some models automatically work with AirPrint, but others have to be configured first. Determine whether you need to change settings on your printer to enable it to use AirPrint. Make sure the printer is on the same wireless network as your iPhone.
1.3 Open an iPhone application that supports AirPrint. Most apps from Apple fit this category, including Mail, Safari, and iPhoto. You can also print emails, documents, and pictures from your phone.
1.4 Open the item you want to print and select "share," then "print." When you select share, you'll see a drop down menu that gives you options to text the item, email it, and so it. You will also see an option to "print"; select it.
- If you want to print an email, touch the arrow on the bottom of the screen that points left (as you would to reply). If you're looking at a webpage, find the icon with a right arrow partially inside a box. When more options show up, touch Print.
1.5 Select the printer. When you press "print," a screen listing available printers will open. Select the printer you know to be AirPrint compatible. Enter the number of pages to print, the number of copies you want, and change any other settings you'd like to change before printing.
1.6 Tap "print." When you're ready, press the print button and watch your document, email or picture start printing.
Method 2 of 3: Printing Through Applications
2.1 Visit the iTunes app store to find printing apps. You'll find a selection of apps you can use to print items from your iPhone.
- To use HP ePrint, a free printing app, you'll need a networked HP printer or any supported HP printer with an internet connection. This app also supports cloud-based printing to HP ePrint-enabled printers, whether at home or at public printing facilities.
- The app Print from IRM will print to any printer, including all AirPrint printers. Print also prints multiple file types and is featured by Apple as compatible with iOS 5 & iOS 6.
- PrintCentral, from EuroSmartz, will print to all printers—not just AirPrint printers—and will print over 3G networks when Wi-Fi is not available.
- Breezy for iPhone has moderate reviews, but it's easy to use, and you don't have to be connected to your home wireless network to print. You can also fax and print documents to printers near you.
Method 3 of 3: Using Alternative Printing Methods
3.1 Print using MS Outlook. You can set up a new mailbox in Outlook that is used specifically for documents you want to print. Set it up by following these instructions:
- Select Rules & Alerts from the Tools menu. Copy the rule, "Clear categories on mail." When Outlook asks for the destination folder, choose Inbox or select your specific email account. Click OK.
- Double click "Copy of Clear Categories on mail" to edit it. Check "With specific words in the subject" and uncheck "From people or distribution list" in the Rules Wizard.
- Set up the the subject line. Click on the blue "Specific Words" and add "Print Me" or "To Printer" or any other phrase to the rules subject line search list.
- In the next window check "Print it". Click next.
- Specify a name for this rule.
- Check "Turn on this rule" and click finish.
- Test it. Send yourself or forward an email from your iPhone with the phrase you chose in the subject and it'll print automatically when Outlook checks for mail. If it doesn't check often enough, go to "Options", tab "Mail Setup", button "Send/Receive" and change the default check period.
- Download the Automatic Print Email Software on your computer.
- Create a separate free Internet POP-accessible email account, like Gmail or Yahoo!. This will be the email address to which you will forward all the emails you want to print.
- Set up the automatic print email program to check and print both the email message and attachment automatically, or whichever you prefer.
- Click on "Your email account" in the top-left corner and then on the "New Account" link.
- A wizard will pop up to help you set up your account. Start by entering what you'd like to name the email account, and selecting whether this is a POP3, IMAP4, or other type of account. Type in the server address for incoming mail. Then enter in your username and password for logging into your email account.
- Choose the printer that you'd like every email and attachment to print from. Click on the blue "Settings" link if you want to modify the print settings, as you won't get to do so for each print job. If you scroll down, you can also opt to have the program delete the email after printing it.
- When you get an email on your iPhone, just forward it to this new email account to send it to the printer.
- If you don't want to set up automatic printing, you can still print documents from your iPhone on an as-needed basis if you have a wireless printer connected through the Internet.
- The email methods work for more than just the iPhone. Any PDA-type phone that can send email can use them.