Apple's iPad Air can better exploit the A7 chip than the iPhone 5S

Apple's A7 chip has trickled down to the latest iPad Air after being introduced in the iPhone 5S, and users will see more benefits of the 64-bit chip in tablets than in smartphones, analysts say.

The iPad Air will deliver two times the CPU and graphics performance than its predecessor, said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, during an event in San Francisco where the new tablet was announced.

The A7 chip opens the door "for even more robust and powerful apps" on the iPad Air, Apple wrote on its website. Applications and games will run much faster, Apple said.

The benefit of a 64-bit chip in the iPhone 5S has been intensely debated, but Apple will have to spend less time justifying a 64-bit processor in the iPad Air, analysts said. Some critics have called 64-bit technology marketing hype and overkill for a handset, but more relevant for devices like PCs, servers and, to a lesser extent, tablets.

The benefits of the 64-bit A7 chip will be visible as the iPad Air will be able to run more demanding applications than smartphones. But the results may not be immediate as applications need to be ready to take advantage of the 64-bit features.

"Tablet users can create more content and multitask more on their tablets than phones, and 64 bits helps a lot," said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, in an email.

The A7 is more justifiable in the 64-bit iPad Air from a value standpoint when compared to smartphones, and the screen size makes a big difference, said Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight 64.

"It's likely you'll be doing video editing on a tablet," Brookwood said. "People who want to do multiperson, interactive games will have a better experience because of the increased [screen] real estate on tablets."

Apple is taking the lead in bringing 64-bit applications to mobile devices. Brookwood, who attended the event, said the company's 64-bit applications like iPhoto and iMovie, which are both on Mac OS and iOS, were demonstrated at the event and were much faster.

The software for the iPad Air needs to be ready to take advantage of the 64-bit features, said Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates. Apple's iOS and developer tools are 64-bit ready, and applications are under development.

"The silicon is almost always out ahead of the software. It was true in PCs, it's true in servers, it's true here," Gold said.

The switch also helps developers, who can start the transition to 64-bit applications. Tablet app developers will likely move faster to 64-bit than iPhone developers, Gold said.

Source: Computer World

iPad 5 Release Date: Specs, Features, Price News Roundup Ahead of Apple Event October 2013

iPad 5 Silver Rear Shell

The next generation iPad 5 is rumored to be released in October at Apple's eagerly anticipated event, and over recent months rumors about the device's specs, features and price have been swirling.

Here is a round up of some of the most probably rumors concerning the upcoming next generation tablet.

Release Date

Apple is touted to be holding a special event on October 15, 2013 where the iPad 5 will be released. Invitations are expected to be released to the press this week, which should confirm as such.

Traditionally Apple always sends out press invitations a week prior to holding its special events and keynote events where major products are released.

Specs and Features

The iPad 5 is expected to undergo a major redesign – which would be the first for years. The new iPad is expected to be much lighter than previous models, and thinner – similar to that of the first generation iPad Mini.

The iPad 5 is expected to feature the A7 chip, which of course powers Apple's new iPhone 5S device. It is also expected to feature the new M7 chip, which is a motion co-processor that is inside the latest iPhone. The tablet obviously will come with a Retina display.

Rumors have also suggested that a wireless charging feature will be released with the new iPad 5. Apple filed a patent in September 2011 for such a feature and numerous sources over recent weeks have claimed that the iPad 5 will be the first to feature this.

Price

The iPad 5 is rumored to sell starting from $399 and will rise from there for the higher memory devices.

Colors

Although there has not been any confirmation from Apple – there never is in advance to their devices being released – many rumors have been sparked about the iPad 5 being released in different colors.

Apple's iPhone 5S featured a new gold colored version, and many believe that the iPad 5 will also feature a gold version due to the huge popularity of the new color choice. Whether that turns out to be true or not remains to be seen.

Source: Christian Post

Apple OS X 10.9 Mavericks hits Gold Master status

Apple has released the Gold Master of its latest OS X operating system, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, to developers ahead of its impending general availability.

Designed as an incremental upgrade from OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, OS X 10.9 promises some serious under-the-hood improvements including a redesigned kernel that is claimed to improve multi-tasking performance while simultaneously increasing battery life. This is boosted further by an 'App Nap' feature which puts backgrounded applications in a special low-power mode.

Additional new features include compressed memory, which will help to boost responsiveness when running multiple applications on Macs with only 4GB of RAM, security improvements, and a new Xcode release for developers.

The updated OS doesn't just change things in the background, either. OS X 10.9 is to include a new version of the Finder file manager, designed to make it easer to find and organise files. Support for multiple monitors, something OS X 10.8 struggles with with, is said to be greatly improved too.

Apple has yet to confirm a launch window for the software update, for which it is likely to charge a small fee, but the release of the Gold Master marks the end of the beta-testing period and a 'code freeze' that means the software is now complete and ready for launch. As a result, you can expect to see OS X 10.9 hitting retail within the following weeks.

Source: Expert Reviews

Apple iOS 7 Apparently Breaks Supervision Profiles For Schools

Lots of Schools use Apple;s iPad in their classrooms, and the iPads that are used in schools are setup with supervision profiles and also filters to restrict what content can be used on the devices.

Now it would appear that iOS 7 is causing an issue where it is removing the supervision profiles and filters from iPads that are used in some schools.

Some schools have had to take the iPads back from students, completely wipe the device and then do a fresh install of iOS 7 to fix the issue, other schools are are blocking devices from updating to iOS 7.

Apple has yet to acknowledge the issue, although we presume that a fix will come in a future release of Apple iOS 7.

Via: Geeky Gadgets

Apple TV Gets Live MLS Games And Disney Junior Kids Content Via New Channels

Apple continues to roll out its staged partner additions, with two new channels appearing on the streaming media player today. The Major League Soccer channel brings soccer (or “football,” depending on how European you are) and the Disney Junior channel adds a third outlet for that media giant’s content to invade your Apple TV.

The Disney Junior channel requires authentication via cable providers to ensure you have a subscription that allows access to its live programming and on-demand shows, which is the same et up that Disney Channel XD and Disney Channel on Apple TV use. That’s similar to how its HBO offering operates, and content providers in general seem keen on this kind of arrangement for bringing content to Apple’s streamer that used to be locked to cable company set-top boxes.

The MLS app provides scores and highlights for everyone who enjoys American and Canadian teams playing the sport where you kick a ball towards (or away from) a giant net on a big green field, whatever you choose to call that. It also offers access to live streaming matches via MLS Live, but you’ll need an annual subscription (starting at $14.99, with direct purchase through Apple TV available) to unlock that feature. The nice thing is that it covers an entire season’s worth of games, and also works on the MLS iPhone and iPad apps.

Apple is pretty much always adding new content and channels to the Apple TV these days, and clearly wants to make it a destination device for top-tier providers. It’s competing in a market that includes Roku and various built-in smart TVs from almost every OEM at this point, which have access to channel libraries that can number in the hundreds or even thousands, so building partnerships is a good idea at this point.

The Apple TV is getting lots of love lately from Apple, via a recent software update and a new feature that lets you setup a new streaming box with a simple tap of your iPhone or iPad thanks to the magic of Bluetooth LE. Rumors have been swirling about refreshed hardware coming soon, too, so it’s possible that’s why the company is lavishing so much attention on software of late.

Via: The Tech Crunch

Siri for iPhone Definition

Siri - Siri is a voice-activated app that works with the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 to allow users to take action on their iPhone by speaking. Siri can understand not just basic commands, but also the colloquialisms that are common to human speech. Siri can both speak back to the user and take dictation--transcribing voice to text.

Siri was originally developed as a standalone iOS app by a company called Siri. Apple bought the company in April 2010 for an undisclosed amount of money (some have speculated that the purchase price could have been as high as US$200 million).

While Siri was iPhone 4S-only when it was introduced, iOS 6 in fall 2012 added support for the third-generation iPad.

Hardware Compatibility

• iPhone 5
• iPhone 4S
• Third-generation iPad (with iOS 6)
• iPad Mini
• 5th generation iPod touch

App Compatibility

Siri only works with the built-in apps made by Apple that come with the iPhone. Siri is not currently compatible with most third-party apps. Among the apps that Siri interacts with are:

• Address Book
• Calendar
• Clock
• FaceTime
• Find My Friends
• Mail
• Maps
• Messages
• Music
• Notes
• Phone
• Stocks
• Reminders
• Weather

The dictation feature, however, does work with third-party apps (Apple has, to date, mentioned Facebook and Instagram as compatible apps).

Siri also has some features that aren't app-specific, such as the ability to provide sports scores, stats, and other information and voice-activated launching of apps.

Third-Party Service Integration

Siri integrates with a number of third-party services to provide deeper information. These services include:

Wolfram Alpha to find deep data and process more complex requests

Yelp to find restaurants and provide feedback on them from Yelp users

OpenTable, via Yelp integration, to let users make restaurant reservations

RottenTomatoes, for movie reviews and locations

Facebook and Twitter for social media

Eyes Free Support

As of iOS 6, Siri supports Apple's "Eyes Free" features, which allow the iPhone to integrate with cars to let users interact with the phone without looking at its screen (and thus without taking their eyes off the road). In cars that support Eyes Free, Siri can be activated via a button on the steering wheel. The iPhone's screen doesn't light up, but instead Siri is the primary means of using the iPhone to get directions, read and send email and texts, choose music, and more.

Language Support

Siri works in the following languages:

• English (Australian, U.K., and U.S.) - iOS 5
• French (France) - iOS 5
• German - iOS 5
• Japanese - iOS 5
• English (Canada) - iOS 6
• French (Canada) - iOS 6
• Spanish (Mexico, Spain, U.S.) - iOS 6
• Italian (Italy, Switzerland) - iOS 6
• French (Switzerland) - iOS 6
• German (Switzerland) - iOS 6
• Korean - iOS 6
• Mandarin - iOS 6
• Cantonese - iOS 6

Example Uses

Some example uses of Siri include:

• Tell the iPhone 4S to set an alarm, find a kind of restaurant or add an appointment to your calendar
• Have Siri read text messages to the user and then take dictation for, and send, a response
• Create a reminder to perform an action based on your geographic location
• Dictate an email without touching the iPhone's keyboard.
• Search the web by speaking the search term
• Conversations with Siri

Source: The iPod About

Apple iPhone 5s performance review: CPU and GPU speed compared to top Android phones (benchmarks)

The Apple iPhone 5s is here and that means it’s time for some heavy duty benchmarking.

The iPhone has traditionally been the go to device for games as Apple steps up the graphics every time, and this year is no exception. Starting last year, however, Apple is also designing the CPU processor cores on its own and does not simply rely on ARM designs. Cupertino did a great job with the Apple A6 system chip in the iPhone 5 where it integrated its own Swift processor core. Now, in Apple A7, we have a brand new processor core called Cyclone that is among the best out there. Let's take a look at it all in detail.

1. CPU Explained: 64-bit and Cyclone core

1.1. Unmatched browsing speeds: Sunspider

1.2. The independent test: Mozilla Kraken

2. GPU explained

2.1. Top of the line: GFXBench - Fill test

2.2. Over 30 fps: GFXBench - T-Rex HD onscreen

2.3. Against Nexus 5: GFXBench - T-Rex HD offscreen

3. Conclusion

CPU

First, let’s look at CPU performance. Let’s note that the Apple A7 is most likely a dual-core chip, with two Cyclone cores clocked at up to 1.3GHz. The whole chip is likely made on a 28nm HKMG process by Samsung, a step up from the 32nm chip in the iPhone 5.

It is also the first ever to use an ARMv8 64-bit design and that’s an important step forward. You’ve heard about that before, but let’s explain why this is important. The transition to 64-bit processors first started on desktops around 2005 with a clear goal to allow for more RAM. 32-bit systems are limited to supporting only around 3GB of RAM, and 64-bit systems allow for 4GB and more. However in Apple’s case that’s hardly the reason. The iPhone 5 used 1GB of LPDDR2 RAM and the iPhone 5S remains at 1GB but LPDDR3 RAM. It will be no less than 2 years until Apple needs 4GB of RAM. There thus must be another reason for Apple to move to 64-bit than RAM and there indeed is. Adopting the ARMv8 64-bit design comes with backwards 32-bit compatibility, but Apple’s software tools already allow for apps to be 64-bit aware. In a few years when Apple completes the 64-bit transition, this means it will already have a huge number of compatible apps. Other tangible improvements from the move to ARMv8 and 64-bit are the bigger number of general purpose registers, FP/NEON registers, and new SIMD instructions. iOS 7 itself and all included apps have already made the move to 64-bit.

The 1.3GHz clock speed might look low in comparison to top shelf Android devices, but keeping it relatively low allows for optimal power efficiency. The Cyclone core itself seems to be an evolution of the Swift core. In it, Apple has doubled L1 cache from 32KB/32KB (two separate caches for instruction and data) to 64KB/64KB. Level 1 cache is a static and very fast memory where often accessed data is stored, and it’s key to improving the overall and multitasking performance of a chip. L2 cache remains 1MB, but comes with faster access latency.

Now, on to the tests

The first test we run is the Sunspider Javascript Benchmark that measures javascript performance. The iPhone 5s achieves around 75% better js performance than the iPhone 5, and easily tops the list beating even Cortex A15 competitors.

Mozilla Kraken is an even more stressful javascript benchmark. Sunspider’s popularity has forced companies to optimize their devices, and thus skew the picture, but there seems to be none of that in Kraken. Again, the iPhone 5s tops the charts with extremely fast js processing. The performance gain is more than double that of the iPhone 5.

GPU

The iPhone has traditionally pushed the envelope for graphics and gaming including the best of Imagination Technologies’ graphical chips. This time, Apple has outdone itself and it has indeed included the newest PowerVR Series 6 chip with support for OpenGL ES 3.0. The particular chip is the PowerVR G6430 that makes the switch from a vector to a fully scalar architecture. It is a four-cluster chip that is advertized to deliver 2x the performance of the iPhone 5. In reality, the iPhone 5S probably delivers much more graphical oomph. Double the performance should be reached at around 200MHz, and Apple has likely clocked the G6430 much higher.

Looking at the pure GFlops measurements, we see that Apple’s iPhone 5s is easily the most powerful platform currently available. The graphical performance of the iPhone 5s actually matched the iPad 4 at 76.8GFlops, and starts to approach console grade level. In comparison, gaming platforms like the Sony Playstation 3 score around 230GFlops. The currently available top shelf Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One score around 50GFlops.

On to the benchmarks, we start with Basemark X 1.0. This test runs game simulations running on-screen and at 1080p off-screen. The test is very complex and that explains the low results, yet the iPhone 5s approached very closely the coveted 30fps.

GFXBench, formerly known as GL Benchmark, is one of the most GPU-intensive tests out there and it gives a detailed breakdown of a video card’s performance. Fill rates are the first thing we measure and you’d see that Apple managed to double the performance in the 5s compared to the iPhone 5. The 5s emerges as a clear leader, beating all existing devices.

Next comes the extremely heavy game simulation test in GFXBench - T-Rex HD. The iPhone 5s is the first device to actually break the 30fps barrier here and deliver smooth framerates at 35fps on-screen. The G6430 chip scores a 2.5x performance gain over the PowerVR SGX 543MP3 GPU in the iPhone 5.

The offscreen test shows how the G6430 compares with other platforms independent of a particular device. The G6430 still scores in the tops, but the Adreno 330 in a Snapdragon 800 configuration is close or bests it. The new Adreno 330 is expected to arrive in the Nexus 5 and we’re already seeing how the new Google handset will match or even beat the iPhone 5 in that department. The Nexus 5 GFXBench results have surfaced pre-maturely, and are not verified by us yet.

Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 5s brings is one of the biggest under-the-hood upgrades to ever happen to the iPhone line. Apple’s A7 chip comes with a new Cyclone core that is very well optimized in terms of power consumption and still manages to deliver great performance. It’s a dual-core unit, but we don’t yet seem to have enough optimized software to consider this a downside compared to other quad-core chips. Moreover, the A7 is the first 64-bit chip and that brings tangible advantages and opens up the opportunity for developers to build 64-bit aware apps much faster. Another plus for the great Apple ecosystem.

In terms of graphics, the Apple iPhone 5s is the new phone to beat. It comes with the new 6-series Imagination Technoligies’ GPU that delivers more than double the graphical punch of the iPhone 5 and comes with OpenGL ES 3.0 support. It is the first phone to deliver smooth over 30fps framerates on the most stressful graphical tests.

Overall, the A7 is an impressive chip. The average user will notice its incredible speed in loading webpages and how it resolves amazing detail in games. It’s future-proof. Now, if only Apple could listen and bring us all this in a similarly well designed package with a bit larger display...

Via: PhoneArena

Apple’s iPhone 5s And 5c Launch Draws Big Crowds, Including Biggest Ever Line At NYC Flagship Store

Apple’s iPhone 5s and 5c are now on sale at retail and online stores around much of the world, and the general impression from consumers is one of high anticipation. In North America, lines are being reported at Apple retail locations everywhere, including what analyst and Apple watcher Gene Munster (via Mashable) calls Apple’s longest ever lineup for an iPhone device.

The line at Apple’s 5th Avenue NYC flagship store was 1,417 people long at 8 a.m. ET, according to Munster, which is 83 percent longer than the iPhone 5 line at the same time. Munster’s been keeping tallies on iPhone queue length since 2008 with the iPhone 3G, and that line was 549 people long. The next-longest after the iPhone 5s/5c was the iPhone 4, which attracted 1,300 to the flagship New York location.

Of course, Apple didn’t allow pre-orders for the iPhone 4, which is bound to drive more people to retail since they weren’t able to order early and just wait for the FedEx person to drop off their new devices. One good theory about why Apple didn’t offer pre-orders for iPhone 5s is because of supply constraints, owing to the technical challenge of building the new A7 64-bit system-on-a-chip, and the sophisticated new fingerprint scanner built into the 5s Home button.

Images and video have been coming in on social media channels from around the world showing long lines at various Apple retail locations, including the following shot from TUAW depicting an army of Apple employees preparing for the deluge:

Canadian queues also appear to be much longer than last time around, indicating there’s a strong appetite for the iPhone 5s in that market, too:

Just under an hour and a half remains before the store doors open in San Francisco, but there’s plenty of anticipation there, too:

All reports also seem to be echoing a common refrain of the new gold iPhone finish being the rarest and hardest to get your hands on, which is likely to do with a combination of that model being in relatively short supply to begin with, and it being attractive to buyers because it’s so different and unique from previous iPhone color options.

Apple hasn’t yet reported any numbers regarding its early iPhone pre-order amounts, but it’s almost guaranteed they’ll offer up some kind of figure of cumulative iPhone 5s/5c pre-orders after this initial launch weekend.

Via: Tech Crunch

Apple Touch ID fingerprint tech 'broken', hackers say

Touch ID fingerprint recognition system provides a "very high level of security"

Hackers claim to have broken Apple's iPhone 5S Touch ID fingerprint recognition system just a day after the phone was launched.

Germany's Chaos Computer Club claims it "successfully bypassed the biometric security of Apple's Touch ID using easy everyday means".

By photographing a fingerprint left on a glass surface and creating a fake finger they were able to unlock the phone, the hackers claim.

But Apple maintains Touch ID is secure.

On its website the iPhone maker says there is a one in 50,000 chance of two separate fingerprints being alike and the technology provides "a very high level of security".

Karsten Nohl, chief scientist at SRLabs, a German hacking think tank, told the BBC: "It would have been incredible if Apple had managed to do something the rest of the biometrics industry has failed to achieve after decades of trying, so I'm not surprised it was hacked after just one day.

"Claiming this system offers a high level of security is just ridiculous," he added.

Convenience

Apple does not suggest that Touch ID is a total replacement for traditional passcode security, simply a more convenient way of unlocking the phone.

The Chaos Computer Club believes fingerprint biometrics "should be avoided"

"Touch ID is designed to minimise the input of your passcode; but your passcode will be needed for additional security validation," Apple says.

But it does not address the ability of hackers lifting individual prints and creating fake fingers, as the Chaos Computer Club claims to have done.

Mr Nohl says a five-digit password would be more secure than a fingerprint and believes Apple should have focused on convenience rather than security in its marketing of the Touch ID feature.

On Friday, an influential US senator called for Apple to answer "substantial privacy questions" arising from the technology.

Apple did not respond to the BBC's request for a comment.

Read more....

Apple tops PC satisfaction ratings for tenth straight year

Apple has now remained atop the American Customer Satisfaction Index of personal computers for 10 years straight. After consistently ranking behind Hewlett-Packard throughout the 1990s and then subsequently failing to outpace Dell, Apple finally scored the highest rating in ACSI’s personal computer category in 2004 and has never dropped below its competition since.

Some of the factors that ACSI uses when ranking the companies include the perceived quality and value of the computers, customer loyalty and the number of complaints registered. 9to5Mac points out that although the ACSI’s report is called titled “Personal Computers,” ACSI also includes tablets when deciding a score, which means iPads are included as well as Macs.

Via: BGR

Apple's big bet on iOS 7 gaming to play out this fall

There's a good reason why a significant portion of Apple's iPhone announcement last week was dedicated to showing off the flagship iOS game series Infinity Blade. That's because with iOS 7 -- rolling out to the public Wednesday -- and the new A7 chip's 64-bit architecture, Apple is signaling to the world that it's dead set on remaining the preeminent mobile-gaming ecosystem.

iOS has long been the leader in that space thanks to its robust platform and the ease with which developers of all sizes -- from single-app makers to triple-A studios with sprawling mobile suites -- can monetize games. Game apps have heavily populated the most downloaded and highest grossing charts since the advent of the App Store and have launched entire studios to stardom, from Rovio with Angry Birds to King with Candy Crush.

Maintaining this edge means delivering not only full-blown Bluetooth controller support -- initially announced at this year's WWDC as part of Apple's MFi (made for iOS) accessory certification -- but urging developers to round out new hardware with top-notch apps that take advantage of the A7. Both strategies are well under way, and Apple is in a strong position to keep the mobile-gaming crown as it brings them to fruition this fall.

Apple has long had its sights set on making handheld gaming devices less appealing, a battle mobile apps have been winning. Apple's success against traditional gaming has always hinged on whether or not it can convince iPhone owners that devices like the PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and Nvidia Shield cannot keep up with the pace of iOS game development and its impending hardware offerings.

Or, at the very least, that those devices are not worth the money. After all, why cast out large chunks of change on a Nintendo or Sony-owned gaming ecosystem, Apple logic goes, when one exists on your smartphone that's steadily catching up to the gaming juggernauts?

While 64-bit smartphone chips will be flooding the market come next year -- as well as updated and cheaper portable gaming devices -- Apple is gunning to be there first, with developers at its side and a line of impressive controllers to boot. If it succeeds, it will be a battle already won.

Optimizing for the A7 has already begun

When iOS 7 goes public, game developers will have already optimized apps waiting for download. It makes sense too when you note that iOS adoption is typically quick and widespread. (One month after iOS 6's release last September, more than 60 percent of users had installed the update.)

"The updated versions of Dungeon Hunter 4 and Playmobil Pirates have cleared Apple approval and are up on the iTunes store," said Thomas Price, a representative for mobile game developer Gameloft. The studio also has a dozen more apps waiting for Apple approval, all optimized for the jump to 64-bit with the iPhone 5S and the more minute software tweaks present in the updated Game Center app.

More are on the way from a number of high-profile developers. At Electronic Arts, developers are taking advantage of the OpenGS ES 3.0 interface, a cross-platform API -- currently supported only by the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, updated Nexus 7, and Sony Xperia Z -- widely used for smartphone graphics rendering.

With the iPhone 5S, Apple joins that batch with the added benefit of being the only one of those smartphones to push a 64-bit processor.

"OpenGL ES 3.0 delivers stunning visual experiences, which will be immediately apparent on EA's graphically rich 3D titles such as Real Racing 3 and Madden NFL 25, as well as FIFA 14 by EA SPORTS and Heroes of Dragon Age, which will launch this fall," said Bernard Kim, SVP of Mobile Publishing at EA.

Developer Kabam, makers of the popular Facebook-integrated Kingdoms of Camelot series, is also prepping a number of updates for iOS 7.

"Kabam will release new game content for its most popular titles, including The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, Fast & Furious 6: The Game, and Dragons of Atlantis: Heirs of the Dragon," said a company representative, though no timeline or specifics on the updates were made available. More notably however is Kabam's plan to utilize iOS 7's unique parallax effect -- a pseudo-3D motion most recognizable in Apple's new wallpapers -- in its upcoming Heroes of Camelot title.

Leading the charge is Infinity Blade 3, which hits the App Store in tandem with iOS 7. Users won't be able to access the graphical capabilities baked into the game that optimize for the A7 chip until they get their hands on an iPhone 5S (sales start September 20). Still, the graphical marketing push from both developer Epic Games and Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller last Tuesday shows that the iPhone maker wants the best and most aggressive mobile gaming advancements to take center stage on iOS.

iPhone controller on horizon, but questions remain 

While new titles and app updates will be rolling out en masse following iOS 7's release, don't expect official controller announcements until right before the holiday season. Most models are in development right now, with expected unveilings estimated for late October and early November.

PowerA, makers of the Moga line of portable and console-style Android controllers, has iPhone controller announcements in the pipeline, though company representatives won't say exactly when we'll see our first iOS 7-optimized handheld or what it will look like.

It's unclear whether the company's current portable offering -- an Xbox-style controller with a flip-out holster to fasten in your smartphone -- will simply be ported over to iOS, or if we'll see an entirely new Moga design. PowerA also offers a pro model in which the device mirrors the smartphone screen to a television through proprietary software. That's an unlikely option with Apple given that a mirroring function conflict directly with the Apple TV's AirPlay.

It's also worth noting that the idea of controller support, despite piquing the interest of hardware makers and game developers alike, is a bit of a turnaround for Apple, who built its smartphone reputation with the launch of the original iPhone on a touchscreen that forgoes the need for physical buttons. But the company sees the value in competing with handhelds not just in experience with low-cost, easy-access apps, but in functionality. An A7 chip means near-console level performance capacity, making an add-on controller a no-brainer, especially if its of third-party make and Apple can test the waters by casually urging developers to add support.

Perhaps the most anticipated iOS controller is in the works at Logitech. The company made headlines in June when leaked images of early handset prototypes hit the Web and the hardware manufacturer confirmed its plans. Early concepts show a diverging design from PowerA wherein the iPhone is fitted inside a controller, turning the device into something akin to a PlayStation Vita.

"We'll support Apple's new MFi game controller framework, and plan to deliver a compelling gaming experience to iOS gamers this fall," said a Logitech representative, though the company declined to elaborate further, as has been the case with many hardware manufacturers since WWDC.

But while the iPhone announcement and A7 unveiling have done little to tip the controller manufacturers into spilling more secrets -- let alone try and speed up the delivery of the hardware -- Apple is still sitting pretty at the forefront of the mobile gaming industry thanks to the marketing bump of the A7's capabilities. It will only further its lead in the coming months with more and more iOS 7-optimized apps and the influx of new 5C and 5S devices running its latest software.

Integral to Apple's lead is the developer-held mindset that iOS marks the cutting edge playground for the newest advancements in mobile gaming. It lets them optimize for the small subset of users who can enjoy the latest and greatest graphics and functionality while the widest audience -- those with the current iPhone 5 and 4S -- gain last year's touted advancements in trickle-down fashion. The "rinse and repeat" annual iPhone strategy will continue to drive the iOS ecosystem's role on this front.

"Important to gamers and game developers like Kabam, which has had four games among the top 25 grossing apps on the Apple App Store, the new interface provides a better game-playing experience," Kabam's CEO Kevin Chou said on September 10 as Apple unveiled the iPhone 5S. "And the new controller puts Apple at the forefront of bridging the ever-shrinking gap between consoles and iOS devices."

Kabam may be bias toward Apple's success, given its tied to the success of its own apps, but the point is still valid: The gap is shrinking, and iOS is up front by a wide margin.

Source: The Cnet News

Ducati Challenge Confirmed For iPhone 5C

A new version of a popular racing game is on the way for iPhone owners. However, it’s not just a new version, it’s an iPhone 5C version of Ducati Challenge.

Digital Tales made it known that Ducati Challenge’s latest update will make it compatible for the not-yet-released iPhone 5C. The biggest change was adjusting the game’s view-screen to better support the iPhone 5′s larger screen. They also cleaned up the code and managed to shrink the game down from 522mb to 192mb. So less is more in this case.

The game is primed and ready for Apple’s new iPhone 5C, so the real question is if you’re ready to experience Ducati Challenge on the new iPhone 5C? If you can’t wait and already have an iPhone 5 you can pick up a digital copy of the game right now for free from the iTunes app store.

Source: The iPhone Informer

iPhone 5S specs, price, release date & news

Apple has finally revealed the iPhone 5S, its long-awaited successor to the iPhone 5, alongside the colourful plastic iPhone 5c at an official launch event in San Francisco.

want to know the difference between the new phones? Read our iPhone 5s vs iPhone 5c comparison

It's about time Apple fans had a new object of desire, as the Android competition has been getting much stronger with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and Sony Xperia Z piling on the pressure. Read on to see how Apple has answered the critics.

iPhone 5S design

As expected, the new handset will be available in a choice of "space grey", "silver" or "gold" colours, retaining the same glass and aluminium body from the iPhone 5 except with some aluminium edging that gives it that little extra bit of bling.

The 4in display remains unchanged and Apple has stuck with a "Retina-class" 1,136x640 resolution panel. This is unsurprising, seeing as it's already impossible to spot the individual pixels from an average viewing distance, but will still come as a disappointment for anyone hoping to watch Full HD video (or even 720p content) natively on their morning commute.

The power button is still at the top, next to a 3.5mm audio jack. The volume buttons and mute switch are still on the side and the Lightning connector is still found at the bottom - all in all a very similar looking handset to the iPhone 5.

The only new physical addition to the iPhone 5S is the TouchID ring built into the home button. This silver ring acts as a fingerprint reader for enhanced security. It can read in any orientation and scans below the epidermal skin layers. To avoid scratches, the home button is now made from sapphire crystal.

Want to learn more about Touch ID? Read our breakdown here

The rear camera sensor is around 15% larger than the outgoing model, and uses 1.5 micron pixels for improved low-light shooting. The f/2.2 aperture is larger too, and is paired with a twin-LED flash for even more light when shooting in dark conditions. Apple calls it "True Tone", with one cool white flash and a second warmer amber LED that automatically adjusts depending on lighting conditions for the best picture. Image stabilisation and best shot selection are both automatic. There's also a burst shot mode and 120fps slow motion video recording at 720p, along with the new filters found in iOS7.

iPhone 5S performance

Inside, Apple has upgraded the A6 processor found in the iPhone 5 to an A7 CPU. It's a 64-bit chip, to take advantage of the 64-bit version of iOS 7 it will run. It should be up to 40x faster in terms of CPU performance and 56x faster for GPU tasks than the original iPhone, and can run OpenGL 3.0 games like the 2013 Nexus 7.

It is paired with an M7 Motion Coprocessor, which handles accelerometer, compass and gyroscope duties. It can tell whether you're walking, driving or stationary, and app developers will be able to tap into it in combination with GPS. Despite the presence of two processors, it should still manage 10 hours of 3G or 4G browsing, or up to 250 hours of standby on a single charge.

It also supports global LTE bands, apparently more than any other smartphone in the world, so will have no trouble working on 4G networks in every country it launches in - including here in the UK, where you'll have a choice of EE, Vodafone and O2.

iOS 7

The iPhone 5S will launch with iOS 7, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system. It's a major visual departure for the software, with a pastel colour scheme, flattened icons and no more skeuomorphic elements (the way the notes app looked like real lined paper).

Multitasking has been improved so apps update through push notifications, not just when you switch back to them from other apps. Notification Sync will please owners of multiple iOS devices, as swiping a message away from an iPhone 5S will also dismiss it from an iPad.

The redesigned Notification Center now lets you scroll through messages, emails, tweets and other notifications in a long list. Tabs separate updates into Today, All and Missed, so you don't need to worry about things falling through the cracks.

The major addition is Control Center , which puts common settings and toggles such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Flight mode and brightness in one location. A swipe from the bottom of the screen brings up the menu, which also includes a flashlight, music playback controls, a camera shortcut and a calculator. All five iWork apps will be free to download too.

Finally, AirDrop shares whatever you're currently doing to any nearby iOS 7 device using Wi-Fi. Tapping the AirDrop icon shows who is in the vicinity, and selecting them automatically shares.

Price and availability

The iPhone 5S will go up for pre-oder on the 13th of September, alongside iOS7 for existing iPhone, iPad and iPod models. It will go on sale a week later on the 20th of September. Prices start from $199 on a two-year contract in the US for a 16GB model. The 32GB version will cost $299 and the 64GB will set you back $399. In the UK, SIM-free prices start at £549 for the 16GB, £629 for the 32GB nmad £709 for the 64GB model.

We'll be taking a closer look at the new phone a little closer to launch, so be sure to check back later in the week.

Source: Expert Views

iPhone 5S: 1 in 3 will upgrade to new model

In a poll of 1,000 UK adults conducted by online survey company Usurv immediately after the iPhone launch event last night, 31 per cent of existing iPhone users said they wanted the new Apple iPhone 5S.

This compares to 44 per cent of UK iPhone users who were willing to upgrade to the iPhone 5 directly after its launch last year.

The new iPhone 5S

Of all the smartphone users surveyed, (including those who do not currently have an iPhone), 11 per cent said they wanted to upgrade to the new iPhone 5S without needing any further information about the product. Last year’s survey found 20 per cent were ready to switch to the iPhone 5 model immediately after launch.

Users of the iPhone’s main competitor, the Samsung Galaxy, are mostly staying loyal, with only 6 per cent saying they want to switch to the iPhone 5S. However, 13 per cent of Blackberry users are ready to switch to the iPhone 5S – more than for any other competing brand.

"While 31 per cent of iPhone users wanting to have the new iPhone 5S can hardly be called a failure, the desire for the phone does seem muted, with fewer people immediately excited by the device than for last year’s model," said Guy Potter, director and market researcher at Usurv.

"Of the new features, only the fingerprint reader seems to have caught people’s attention. The brand is under pressure to deliver excitement and innovation at every launch and this time the initial mood indicates that in that sense it has failed."

The research found that Apple may be on track with the other new phone announced yesterday – the less pricey iPhone 5C ‘budget’ model available for £469, SIM-free.

Usurv found that high prices for previous Apple devices have been an obstacle for many UK phone-buyers, with 42 per cent revealing they had wanted an iPhone in the past but were put off because it was too expensive.

Source: The Telegraph

Fingerprint sensor off limits to developers says Apple's Schiller

Now that the long-rumored fingerprint scanner is a reality on the Apple iPhone 5S, developers are going to have fun writing for the feature, right? Uh, guess again. Apple's Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, says that third party code jockeys will not be getting access to the new Touch ID sensor. The technology will be used to unlock your iPhone 5S and to authenticate purchases made from iTunes.

The scanner, which is part of the home button, uses a sensor that is just 170 microns and scans sub-epidermal skin layers with a 500ppi resolution sensor. Unlike the fingerprint scanner on the Motorola ATRIX 4G, which turned out to be a huge failure, users don't need to swipe their fingers along a pad on the iPhone 5S. Instead, they merely touch the home button just like they've done for years.

And while Apple might decide in the future to open up the technology to developers, right now it is off limits to them. Apple CEO Tim Cook was talking about other uses for the fingerprint sensor when he said, "You can probably imagine a lot of [other] uses." Whether we can or can't doesn't matter since for right now, the Touch ID sensor code is closed to the public.

Reference: Phone Arena

Here's how Apple announced the iPhone throughout the years

Believe it or not, more than five years ago, Steve Jobs went on stage to announce the first iPhone. It was a unique moment. Jobs spoke about three devices: a "widescreen iPod with touch controls"; a "revolutionary mobile phone"; and a "breakthrough Internet communicator," all of which turned out to be combined in a single unit, the iPhone.

The iPhone has evolved a lot over the years. The iPhone 3G got 3G speeds and GPS.

The iPhone 3GS added a huge boost in speed, so much that it’s still relevant and you can play most games on the App Store on it. It also got multitasking which many craved for.

The iPhone 4 received a gorgeous redesign and a camera that put it on top of Flickr’s list of most popular cameras.

The iPhone 4S seemed like a more incremental update, adding in an even better, this time 8-megapixel camera and Siri, Apple’s take on intelligent voice assistance.

All of those were announced at events packed with people and tons of excitement, and what better time to look back at all the iPhone keynotes than now, hours before the iPhone 5 arrives?

Source: Phonearena

Record Apple iPhone Sales But Profit Slumps

Apple has seen a spike in iPhone sales but a 16% decline in iPad sales during the last reporting quarter.

The US technology firm sold 14.6 million iPads during the quarter, compared with 17 million in the same period last year.

It sold 3.8 million Macs, down from four million between April and June last year.

However it sold 31.2 million iPhones in the last financial quarter, up 20% and a record for the three-month period to June.

That figure beats the 26 million handsets sold in the same period last year but is down on the 37.4 million devices sold between January and March this year.

The third quarter results beat analysts' expectations and shares surged in after-market trading.

Overall, the company's quarterly sales totalled $35.3bn (£23bn). The figure was $300m (£195m) up on the same period last year and $200m (£130m) above analysts' expectations.

Net profit was reported at $6.9bn (£4.49bn), down almost 22% from $8.8bn (£5.73bn) last year.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said: "We are especially proud of our record June quarter iPhone sales of over 31 million and the strong growth in revenue from iTunes, Software and Services.

"We are really excited about the upcoming releases of iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks operating systems, and we are laser-focused and working hard on some amazing new products that we will introduce in the fall and across 2014."

In 2012 Apple was the most valuable listed firm globally, with a share price that peaked above $700 (£455) last September.

However, its stock has since dropped and sat below $419 (£272) on Tuesday's close, as concerns continue of Apple regaining its creative mojo.

The California-based company faces strong competition from Samsung, which is growing on the back of the popularity of its Galaxy S4 handset.

Samsung also makes many of its own components.

In April the South Korean manufacturer posted a 41% leap in earnings in the first quarter of this year - in the same week Apple reported its first annual slide in a decade.

Samsung made a net profit of 7.15tn Korean won (£4.2bn) for the period, up from 5.05tn won (£2.9bn) a year ago, attributed largely to a surge in sales of smartphones.

Read more here....

iPhone 5S And 5C Release: Apple Launches iPhone Trade-In Program At Retail Locations Across The Country

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has rolled out its rumored iPhone trade-in program, enabling a consumer to receive a credit that would go toward buying either the new iPhone 5S or the new iPhone 5C, which are expected to be officially announced at a special media event on Sept. 10.

“[I]Phones hold great value. So, Apple Retail Stores are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling,” Apple representative Amy Bessette said in a statement. “In addition to helping support the environment, customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone.”

As previously reported, the trade-in program, dubbed the iPhone Reuse and Recycling Program, is part of company CEO Timothy D. Cook’s effort to improve iPhone sales at physical retail locations.

“I see channels doing it, and I like the environmental aspect of it, and so that part of it really is encouraging to me,” Cook said during Apple’s June earnings call. “The reason that is so attractive around an iPhone is that the residual value of an iPhone stays so high. That makes the trade-in programs a win-win from many points of view.”

According to Auto World News, Apple will accept only devices that work properly and are not water-damaged under the trade-in program. As the Wall Street Journal noted, employees at Apple retail locations will input information about iPhones being offered as trade-ins into a computerized system before telling consumers how much they’ll be getting. If a given iPhone a consumer wants costs less than the trade-in credit, he or she will receive a gift card with the remaining balance.

9to5Mac.com reported that a new iPhone must be purchased during the trade-in process.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech company is offering as much as $280 for an iPhone 5, the Wall Street Journal reported. And Auto World News said consumers can get $200 for an iPhone 4S and $140 for an iPhone 4.

Meanwhile, TechCrunch reported that this trade-in program exclusively applies to the iPhone, as opposed to any other Apple device.

Apple is expected to announce on Sept. 10 the release dates for the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, with the rumored release dates being Sept. 20.

Read more...

Apple iPhone 6 Release Date Nears: 5 Features And Specs To Expect Based On Rumors

In only nine days, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will introduce two new iPhone models at a special media event on Sept. 10, including the high-end iPhone 5S and the company's long-rumored budget iPhone, which has been given many names including iPhone 6, iPhone Light, and iPhone 5C (based on a single leaked photo of its plastic packaging). We believe Apple will simply call it "the new iPhone" (much like the iPad line, after last year's third-generation iPad release) and distinguish this year's high-end offering with the extra "5S" moniker, but for clarity's sake, we'll call the budget iPhone "iPhone 6" for now.

Most attention will deservedly fall on the iPhone 5S, which will feature the newest technologies from Apple, but many still want to know what will make the budget iPhone distinctive. We've been following the rumors for more than a year now, and we have a great picture of what users can expect from Apple's lower-end smartphone when it is released this month.

But before we discuss some of the features of the iPhone 6, here's a little background: Most analysts believe the concept of the iPhone 6 is to offer a cheaper iPhone for people in lower income brackets and emerging markets (including China and India -- two largely untapped markets for Apple) who can't readily afford the newest high-end iPhone. Apple is particularly interested in China, as proven by multiple recent visits by Apple CEO Tim Cook to the headquarters of China Mobile Ltd. (NYSE:CHL), the largest telecommunications carrier in the world with 703 million subscribers. Many believe Apple has chosen to produce and release the cheaper iPhone 6 so it can strike a deal with China Mobile, and join the company's vast TD-LTE network.

Now, without further ado, here are five features of the iPhone 6 you should expect to see at Apple's Sept. 10 unveiling.

1. Plastic (and less scratchy) form factor. The iPhone 6 is expected to release with many of the same features of the iPhone 5, but the key difference will probably be the form factor. Reportedly, the anodized aluminum body of the iPhone 5 will be replaced by a cheaper, albeit sturdier and more scratch-proof, polycarbonate shell. In January, iLounge editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz said the iPhone 6 will release as a "cross between the iPhone 5, the fifth-generation iPod touch and -- wait for it -- the iPod classic." With a 4-inch screen like the iPhone 5, a tapered bottom like the latest iPod touch and a rectangular shape like the iPod classic, the budget iPhone 6 is expected to be made substantially of plastic but will feature a hybrid plastic and metal chassis. The right side of the iPhone 6 will likely feature a flat, centered SIM card tray like the iPhone 5, with the locations of the camera, microphone and rear flash located about where they are on the latest-generation iPod touch.

2. Same iPhone 5 specs, same iPhone 5 performance. We believe Apple will release the iPhone 6 with most of the same specs as the iPhone 5, including a 4-inch Retina display at 326 ppi, an A6 chip, a FaceTime HD camera and an 8-megapixel rear side camera; the 8-megapixel camera has already shown up in allegedly leaked photos of the iPhone 6 components.

3. Five candy colors. The major difference between last year's iPhone 5 release and this year's budget iPhone 6 -- besides the new polycarbonate enclosure -- will likely be its availability in five colors (red, green, yellow, blue and white), as opposed to the two silver and slate color options from the iPhone 5. Alleged photos have depicted the iPhone 6 with a black front face on all models regardless of rear shell color, which seems likely, but don't be surprised if Apple includes white or color front-face options when it is released next month.

4. Pre-loaded with iOS 7. Phone hardware tends to get more attention than its software, but the operating system running on the iPhone 6 is just as vital to the iPhone experience as the phone itself. This year, Apple has completely revamped the style, icons, textures and features of the iOS ecosystem to provide a familiar but entirely new experience altogether. The release of iOS 7 will provide a big cosmetic and feature-ridden upgrade with plenty of new tools and features, and could quite possibly be Apple's most successful iOS release to date. Most notable among the new iOS 7 features: The helpful Control Center that contains quick access to important settings; the built-in parallax that shifts the background image in response to one’s movements; a new way to multitask apps; the AirDrop feature for sharing photos or documents with other iPhone users in the area; and much more. For more on iOS 7, check out our visual guide on iOS 7 to learn more about the new design, some surprise features we discovered in the very first iOS 7 beta release, plus our collection of 80-plus screenshots of iOS 7.

5. It'll be cheap. Obviously, the selling point of this particular iPhone release won't be its form factor, or its specs, but rather its price (plus its availability in five colors, which will help the iPhone 6 stand out). Many originally predicted Apple would release the iPhone 6 at the same price as the iPhone 4, which is currently being sold for $0 with a two-year contract in the U.S., or for about 3,000 yuan (roughly equivalent to $490) in China. This week, these iPhone 6 price rumors seemed to be confirmed by a prominent poster on China's social network Sina Weibo, "C Technology," who also claimed the iPhone 6 will release at the same price as the iPhone 4. KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo, who has an excellent track record with forecasting Apple's product pipeline, also predicted (via MacRumors) the iPhone 6 would release at a price between $450 and $550 off-contract, which would line up with the newest set of rumors.

If these price rumors are indeed accurate, Apple will likely be changing its price strategy across all iPhone lines. With the new iPhone 5S price said to be $199 with a two-year contract, last year's iPhone 5 may drop its price to $99 on-contract, and the iPhone 4S from 2011 may sell for the equivalent of the plastic iPhone 6 at $0 on-contract. Some rumors predicted that Apple would eliminate the iPhone 5 from its iPhone lineup with the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S, but given how we believe the iPhone 6 won't release with all of the same specs as the iPhone 5, we believe last year's iPhone model still will "deserve to exist" and won't be discontinued just yet. This may be the first year, however, that Apple removes the popular iPhone 4 from its U.S. lineup.

Apple iPhone 6 Coming: When Is The Release Date?

We originally predicted that Apple would reintroduce iOS 7 on Sept. 10 and release the operating system a week and a day later on Sept. 18. Since Apple tends to release its newest iPhone two days after the release date of its newest iOS, we predicted Apple would release at least one of its two new iPhones on Sept. 20.

Kuo recently said (via MacRumors) that Apple would release its iPhone 5S after the budget iPhone 6 in September due to supply constraints, but we believe Apple will be able to launch both new iPhones on the same release date -- Sept. 20. Apple has reportedly restricted vacation time for employees between Sept. 15 and 28, while T-Mobile has implemented vacation blackouts between Sept. 20 and 22, according to TmoNews. All rumors seem to point to a single Sept. 20 release date for both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S.

Via..............

Apple iPhone C will be scratch-resistant

The iPhone C, a budget version of the Apple smartphone, will be made of scratch-resistant materials, according to reports.

And the iPhone 5S, expected to be unveiled next month, will come with a dual LED flash to improve photo quality, according to the same article on the Chinese fan site Apple Daily.

A video on the website showed a reporter putting what is claimed to be the case of the low-cost iPhone C – which is expected to be Apple’s next move in an attempt to break into emerging markets - inside a bag of keys and coins before shaking it.

He then tries to scratch the casing directly with a key but is unable to.

Photos of brightly-coloured cases similar to those featured in the video have already been leaked online, leading some to suggest that the ‘C’ in the anticipated iPhone C stands for ‘colour’.

The higher-end iPhone 5S will be slightly thicker than the current iPhone 5, the Chinese report also claimed.

Rumours emerged earlier this week that the iPhone 5S would be available in a ‘champagne’ gold colour.

Until now, Apple has only offered the iPhone in black and white, (or 'slate' and 'silver' for the iPhone 5). However, a report in TechCrunch claimed that Apple plans to add a gold colour option for the forthcoming smartphone, citing multiple sources.

A gold iPhone would likely do well in the Chinese and Indian Markets, where the colour is very popular. Once considered gaudy, gold is now reportedly one of the most popular after-market colour adjustments for current iPhones.

The device is unlikely to be "a totally blinged-out gold," according to TechCrunch's MG Siegler, but a more subtle "champagne" colour - similar to the previously released gold iPod Mini.

The iPhone 5S is also expected to come with a form of fingerprint scanner, a rumour which has been circulating online since a developer found plans for biometric scanning in a folder in the iOS7 beta, the operating system any new handsets will carry.

Reports earlier in the month suggested the iPhone C and iPhone 5S would be launched at the same event on September 10.

Via......