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Tag: Apple iPhone

  • iPhone 6 Cases: Check Out The Coolest Must-Own Cases Around

    Worried about a bending iPhone?

    If you take the initiative to protect your new smartphone it won’t be a problem.

    Depending on your budget, a good case will probably run you an average of $30.

    Given how many hundreds of dollars the iPhone is worth, this is practically a bargain. It will certainly save you time and tears in terms of protecting your iPhone from harm!

    There are a variety of cases out there to choose from that will keep your phone safe and allow you to show off your unique style.

    If you’re having trouble deciding, here are some really cool cases to consider!

    Speck CandyShell Card Case

    This “ultra-durable” case comes in three colors and has space for you to store money and cards.

    Price: $45.00

    Instamatic Mint Green Camera

    This is one of those iPhone 6 cases that speaks to lovers of all things vintage. Available for both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus!

    Price: $16.00

    Monoprice Ultra-Thin Shatter-Proof Case

    If you want to protect your phone from harm without breaking the bank, look no further than this.

    It’s thin enough to make out the Apple logo, but strong enough to guard the back and sides of your iPhone against significant damage.

    Price: Around $6.00

    Sherlock’s Home Address

    This Sherlock-themed iPhone case is a silent nod that only other fans of the Sir Arthur Canon Doyle character will likely get.

    Price: $16.00

    Ted Baker iPhone Cases

    There are simply too many of these stylish cases to choose from. If you’re an aspiring fashionista, these cases belong on your “must have” list!

    A personal favorite would be the women’s fall/winter collection.

    Price: $40.00

    Icipio Performance Armband

    Whether you’re a runner or simply always on the run, this light-weight water-resistant armband will help keep you mobile.

    Price: $30.00


    More Issues Than Vogue

    This is one of those iPhone cases that one sends to the drama queen in their life as a Christmas or birthday present. It may be the ideal case for when you’re feeling a bit self-depreciating.

    Price: $9.00

    Any cool cases to recommend? Link them below!

    Images via afterimages, fancase, and PressedFlowerCases

  • iPhone 6 Plus “#Bendgate” Causes Rivals To Mock Apple

    The iPhone 6 Plus‘s reputation for bending in pockets is causing Apple’s PR a bit of a headache.

    In case you missed it, disgruntled customers complained that after placing their shiny new iPhones in their front pockets (no one sat directly on their iPhones, as some confused Apple fanboys claim to be the case…), they later took the product out and discovered significant bending.

    Word of this unique problem spread across the internet and eventually resulted in the #Bendgate Twitter hashtag.

    Apple wants us all to know that #Bendgate isn’t nearly as bad as it’s been made out to be.

    According to the company’s official response, only nine people actually bothered to complain about a bent iPhone 6 Plus.

    That news didn’t stop Apple’s rivals from taking advantage of #Bendgate to poke fun at the entire situation in a hilarious fashion.

    Samsung, who has been feeling the heat thanks to the popularity of Apple’s newest iPhone, tweeted “Curved. Not bent.” with the hashtag #GALAXYNoteEdge.

    Also getting in on the act was HTC, which bragged that their phones were meant to “withstand
    the most demanding environments”. Like pockets.

    LG hit out with:

    Probably one of the most ice cold responses came via competitor Asus, who even referred to Apple’s phone as “iBend”. Ouch!

    The hits kept coming for Apple, with some of the best tweets coming from companies that have nothing whatsoever to do with the smartphone market.

    Kit Kat shows us all that sometimes it’s better to break than to bend:

    While Apple will likely recover from #Bendgate, one has to ask themselves how a company that prides itself on innovation wouldn’t take something as significant as pockets into consideration.

    I mean not everyone can afford to walk around with their smartphone in hand. Especially since they’re regularly stolen.

    Maybe Apple will give us a flexible iPhone 7? Just something for the tech giants to consider.

    A phone worth hundreds of dollars shouldn’t be easily so compromised by a pair of skinny jeans.

  • iPhone 6 Plus Is NOT A Phone For Pockets Say Unhappy Customers

    This is probably one of the more bizarre complaints about the new iPhone 6 Plus (we’ll get to the old standbys in a minute), but according to some unhappy Apple customers the newest phone fails in a unique way.

    Allegedly the Plus phone bends if you put the device in your pocket.

    Before you get confused, it’s not a matter of less than savvy individuals stuffing a cellphone into their back pockets and then sitting on their brand new iPhones.

    Instead the problem is caused by placing the iPhone 6 Plus in one’s front pocket.

    There is no distinction given between standing or sitting as what causes this specific issue; it seems that simple the act of carrying the phone around in a front pocket will supposedly result in a bent product.

    This rumor led to an investigation by Lewis Hilsenteger over at Unbox Therapy.

    The results? Well, see for yourself:

    After applying quite a bit of pressure, the iPhone 6 Plus did bend significantly. As the host pointed out, the phone’s body is made of mainly aluminium. Hisenteger shared that aluminum happens to be “one of the more malleable metals” around.

    He also mentioned that in order to see a significant bend in your Plus phone, the “tightness of the pants” you choose to wear will likely represent a huge factor.

    So if you’re a fan of skinny jeans, this means you probably don’t want your iPhone anywhere near your pockets.

    There are other durability issues, such as whether or not the iPhone 6 and Plus are waterproof.

    The short answer is absolutely not, but apparently there’s a case for that.

    The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus also seemed to fail the drop test administered by PhoneBuff:

    Judging by the above, you probably want to hope like heck that you drop your phones on their back with minor scuffing as the only outcome.

    This isn’t good news for Apple, which has been dogged by Samsung and their customers happily pointing out that what’s “new” to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus customers is quite “old” to their brand.

    The question now is if durability and originality issues will drive Apple back to the drawing board for the iPhone 7?

  • Top Smartphones: Which Phone Rules The Roost?

    Top Smartphones: Which Phone Rules The Roost?

    With the holiday season well underway, perhaps you’re looking into buying a popular smartphone for a family member. Maybe your current phone hasn’t been so great and you’re hoping to find a new smartphone in your stocking this year. One stand out phone seems to have the most consumers buzzing this Christmas.

    The iPhone 5S is reported to be the top-selling phone for all four major U.S. wireless carriers. The running joke with Apple has long been that just when you’ve gotten good and comfortable with your new phone, another one is released. Regardless of the inevitability of an iPhone 6, many agree that this latest effort is an improvement over the former phone. One of the major features is the ability to use your fingerprint as a passcode for accessing your phone. Talk about high tech security.

    Apple’s success dethrones Samsung stateside, as the company’s Samsung Galaxy S4 was the most popular phone in late summer. But don’t count Samsung out just yet. The company’s product did outsell Apple’s last year. Though they may be edged out by Christmas, there’s a good chance that Samsung will take this as a challenge to improve on future phones.

    Nokia is still one of the most popular global options for low-end phones, though they are struggling a bit. Rumors of an android phone release make some wonder if they’ll end up with a Blackberry type situation: Too little, too late.

    As a consumer, it’s best to not only know which phones are popular, but which phones are best. There are certain top qualities a buyer should be looking for in a phone before they shell out their hard-earned money.

    It should be fast (the newest iPhone has an A7 chip), have a beautiful high definition screen (the Samsung Galaxy S4 has the best screen resolution), and give you the best bang for your buck. That last point is highly subjective. Only you or the person you’re shopping for will know whether it was money well spent after the holiday season is over.

    Image: Wikimedia Commons

  • Gold iPhone Really ‘Good as Gold’?

    Gold iPhone Really ‘Good as Gold’?

    Are you looking for a gold iPhone? You’d probably do better asking a leprechaun for a pot of gold, because Apple can’t seem to keep stores stocked with the gold iPhone 5s. While it was touch and go for a minute, due to the mixed tech analysts reviews, the gold iPhone has proven to be a highly profitable product for the Apple Corporation. The numbers definitely don’t lie.

    Two weeks ago, Apple released a statement entailing the company’s fourth quarter results. According to the smart-phone conglomerate, iPhone sales increased by approximately 26% following the highly anticipated release of the iPhone 5. The company managed to sell a record-setting 33.8 million iPhones. Of the 33.8 million sold, the gold iPhone surprisingly garnered an estimated 30% of the sales.

    Apple CFO, Peter Oppenheimer, also shared a brief, but detailed, review of the revenue garnered from the surging sales. “We generated $9.9 billion in cash flow from operations and returned an additional $7.8 billion in cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the September quarter, bringing cumulative payments under our capital return program to $36 billion,” said Oppenheimer.

    File:IPhone keyboard unblurred.jpg

    While the numbers are quite impressive, there’s still one plaguing problem – the shortage in units. The gold iPhone famine has actually been plaguing Apple since the phone’s release back in September. Gold iPhone sales rapidly picked up momentum, selling out in almost immediately in countries like China, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. As international sales surged, United States consumers joined the rapidly growing wait list.

    It’s been nearly two months since the phone’s release, and consumers are still scrambling to acquire “almost rare” gold-anodized aluminum-and-glass smart-phone. According to JobsNHire.com, the best bet is for consumers to purchase the phone online, as stores are selling out as soon as the stores even acquire any iPhone models. While there will still be a 2-3 week shipping delay for online orders, at least there will be the satisfaction in knowing that at least it is coming. Apple retail locations can’t offer that guarantee.

    http://youtu.be/xYsSiaBZmRk
    Image(s) via Wikimedia Commons | Apple iPhone   Twitter | iSmash London

  • Apple Sales Spike, iPhone Opening Weekend Sales Top 9M

    After months of skepticism and critical analysis, the iPhone 5 delivers. Many questioned whether the iPhone 5 and iOS 7 would render the same laudable consumer response as releases of previous versions had. Today, the numbers spoke volumes and a verdict was reached – Apple is still a force to be reckoned with. Like Air Jordans on release day at Foot Locker, avid Apple customers fought long lines that wrapped around corners in an effort to walk out with the item in high demand.

    Today, Apple stated in a brief press release that iPhone sales had surged to a staggering 9 million sold in just three days. Since Friday’s release across the United States, the ever-popular smart-phone has been placed on back-order online, and many mobile and electronic outlet stores report that they are totally wiped out. The rare gold version is even harder to find.

    Then, if the iPhone sales weren’t impressive enough, the iOS 7 release also broke the barriers of criticism. Since it’s official release on Sept. 18, the multinational company has announced that approximately 100 million customers have downloaded the iOS 7 operating system as an upgrade or purchased a device with seventh generation Apple mobile operating system. The numbers are astounding.

    Apple has yet to release the detailed reports that disclose the financial breakdown of sales for both iPhone 5 models. However, all that matters is that the release went unprecedented, serving as the iPhone’s best debut yet, topping last year’s opening weekend sales by approximately 4 million.

    With even more customers awaiting the release of more stock, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, made a point of assuring customers that, as usual, the electronic monument would deliver. “The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.”

    As a result of the over and exceeding sales, Apple’s stock inflated by approximately 5% at the close of the business day.
    Image via Apple

  • Samsung Takes on the iPhone 5 in New Ad

    Samsung Takes on the iPhone 5 in New Ad

    Samsung had been riding high all summer. After HTC stumbled on the U.S. release of their One X smartphone, Samsung’s Galaxy S III became the new must-have Android smartphone. Just last week the company announced that over 20 million of the devices have been sold. But then came the iPhone 5 announcement last week, and it seems the entire world has forgotten there are smartphones that aren’t iPhones.

    While Apple’s brand will certainly sell millions of iPhones in the coming weeks, Samsung still thinks the Galaxy S III is a winner. To emphasize this, the company took out full-page ads in publications across the U.S. this weekend. The ad, seen below, directly compares the features of the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III. The message at the top, “It doesn’t take a genius,” is a double entendre that refers to both Apple Genius’ and how clear Samsung believes it is that the Galaxy S III beats the iPhone 5 on features.

    There are, of course, a few things that Samsung neglected to include on their comparison. Most notably, there is no mention of the Apple A6 processor that will run the iPhone 5. It was one of the few features that Apple managed to keep secret until launch day, and it will almost certainly out-class the 1.5Ghz dual-core processor in the Galaxy S III. Also, while Samsung manages to pack all of its software onto the list (including silly features such as “shake to update”), only Apple’s Siri manages to make the list of iPhone 5 features. Passbook is conspicuously absent.

    Samsung's

  • T-Mobile Trying to Lure Unlocked iPhone Users

    Poor T-Mobile stil isn’t getting the iPhone. This is most likely due to T-Mobile’s data network, which will not be compatible with the iPhone 5’s 4G LTE. While AT&T and Verizon celebrate the bonanza that is sure to be the iPhone 5, T-Mobile will be stuck selling less-popular Android and Windows Phones.

    Still, T-Mobile has a plan. The company is launching a campaign to lure iPhone users to its network by doing a little math for them. T-Mobile pointed out on its Issues & Insights Blog today that buying an unlocked iPhone 5 and bringing it to T-Mobile’s network will actually save money in the long run, compared to AT&T’s new shared plans. With T-Mobile’s new truly unlimited data plan, it really does seem to be a good deal – if customers can afford the upfront cost of an iPhone, that is.

    Starting on September 12 (the same day as the big iPhone 5 announcement), T-Mobile stores will have unlocked iPhone demo units for their sales people to demonstrate to customers how to set up their own iPhones on T-Mobile. In addition, T-Mobile announced it was developing iOS versions of software such as T-Mobile myAccount, T-Mobile Visual Voicemail, and T-Mobile TV. Select markets will also gain access to test incentive offers for iPhone owners.

    Unfortunately, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE service is not fully implemented yet. iPhone owners who go to the carrier will have to weigh how likely their city is to get LTE service soon. T-Mobile’s iPhone-compatible 4G HSPA+ service is already live in some cities across the U.S., though its speeds might not match those of 4G LTE.

  • One in Five Android Owners Want an iPhone

    One in Five Android Owners Want an iPhone

    A survey conducted by the website TechBargains shows that 71% of iPhone 3GS owners, 74% of iPhone 4 owners, and 64% of iPhone 4S owners plan to buy an iPhone 5. In addition, 38% of Blackberry owners, 22% of Android phone owners, and 32% of people who don’t yet own a smartphone plan to switch to an iPhone.

    “When it comes to smartphones, Apple’s iPhone remains the leader,” said Yung Trang, president and editor-in-chief of TechBargains. “What is interesting to note is the survey indicated that one in five Android owners and almost 40% of Blackberry owners plan to ditch their current platform for the iPhone. This could be construed as a commentary on consumer dissatisfaction with Android and Blackberry products or simply a message that the iPhone’s user experience remains unparalleled.”

    Indeed, the survey itself seems to indicate the latter. 29% of survey respondents said that “no phone compares to the iPhone,” and 28% said they would purchase an iPhone 5 because they “like to purchase the newest products.” Only 14% specified they they would purchase an iPhone because they want to switch from an Android smartphone.

    These numbers corroborate the newest ComScore numbers, which show that both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms continue to gain market share at the expense of RIM’s Blackberry OS. And although Samsung sells one-quarter of the mobile phones sold in the U.S., most of those are lower-priced smartphones and feature phones.

    It seems that what many Android users really want is an iPhone. And although they don’t seems to harbor any ill will toward Android, it’s clear that they consider iOS the superior platform.

  • iPhone 4S Loses the Top-Selling Smartphone Position

    Just in time for the impending announcement of the iPhone 5, news has come that the iPhone 4S has been surpassed as the most-bought smartphone.

    Boy Genius Report cites Michael Walkley, an analyst for Canaccord Genuity, as showing that the iPhone 4S is no longer the top smartphone. Walkley’s channel checks show, as seen in the chart above, that the iPhone 4S has been surpassed in sales at two of the three major U.S. wireless carriers that sell the phone. This is to Samsung’s benefit, as the phone that appears to have taken the top sales spot is that company’s flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III.

    Of course, part of the reason for the slowing sales of the iPhone 4S is the nearing release of the iPhone 5. Customers are undoubtedly putting off their smartphone purchase until the end of September, and the iPhone 5 will easily top this chart in the next quarter. In fact, Apple is expected to sell an unbelievable 250 million iPhone 5 devices.

    One thing that could hamper the success of the iPhone 5 is the threat by Samsung to use its LTE patents to try and obtain an injunction against selling the iPhone 5 in the U.S. Apple has drawn blood with its recent victory in the Apple vs. Samsung patent trial in the U.S., and Samsung will no doubt be using all the tools at its disposal to retain its position as Apple’s number-one competitor in the smartphone market.

    (Chart courtesy Canaccord Genuity via BGR)

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: LCD Panel Manufacturing Delays

    Though the mandatory daily iPhone 5 rumor has already produced some nice pics of a fully-assembled iPhone 5 sitting next to an iPhone 4, there is also some less-exciting news surrounding Apple’s new smartphone.

    The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sharp is having trouble manufacturing the LCD panels for the iPhone 5, and hasn’t begun mass producing them. The WSJ quotes a “person with knowledge of the situation” as saying Sharp had plans to ship the panels by the end of August, but was delayed by “manufacturing difficulties.”

    Apple manufacturer Foxconn earlier this year invested billions in Sharp, which was struggling to stay afloat. Rumors stated that Sharp would be manufacturing the LCD displays for the upcoming Apple HDTV. Foxconn will be hoping that these manufacturing issues are resolved quickly, and that Sharp doesn’t face similar difficulties in the future, further delaying the Apple HDTV.

    Luckily, Apple hasn’t put all its eggs into one basket. Japan Display and LG Display also manufacture the LCD panels for the iPhone 5. So, while the Sharp delays might mean a slight supply crunch on launch day, it is unlikely at this point that Apple will delay the impending launch of its flagship device on September 21. It is expected that Apple will sell an unbelievable 250 million iPhone 5 devices.

    Some Apple fans might not be able to get their hands on the iPhone 5 as soon as they would like, but that’s sure to create a burgeoning second-hand market for the smartphone on eBay. Oh, well. At least customers in China can already get a cheap knockoff of the smartphone.

  • iPhone 5 Rumor: Leaked iPhone 4 Comparison Pics

    Another day, another iPhone 5 rumor. Though, as the launch of Apple’s new smartphone and its inevitable success draws near, the rumors are beginning to look more like leaks. Take, for example, the pictures leaked yesterday showing the larger display and new circuit board of the iPhone 5. The French website nowhereelse.fr leaked those pics, which show the new iPhone as clearly having an all-new aspect ratio from the iPhone 4.

    Today, the same website has published new photos of a completely assembled iPhone 5 right beside an iPhone 4 for comparison. An iPhone 3G is even thrown in to show how Apple’s smartphones have evolved over the past few years:

    IPhone 5 comparison pic

    iPhone 5 comparison pic 2

    As you can see, the iPhone 5 does indeed sport a lengthened design, though many of its other design features resemble the iPhone 4. In the pictures below, it can also be seen just how much thinner the iPhone 5 is than the iPhone 4. All of the buttons, including the ever-present iPhone home button, are seen as being in the exact places they were on the iPhone 4.

    So, while the iPhone 5 might not look as revolutionary as the iPhone 4 did at its launch, it does represent a steady iteration on Apple’s designs and will be a slick addition to the iPhone family.

    (Pics courtesy nowhereelse.fr)

  • Galaxy S III Gets More Colorful With 4 New Colors

    One of the reasons the white iPhones were so highly sought after isn’t that white smartphones are necessarily more aesthetically pleasing. It’s that they were simply different. Although Apple’s monolithic designs are great for ensuring the quality of their products, even Apple users want a little something to set themselves apart. It’s no surprise then that Apple’s largest competitor is beginning to set itself apart by offering its flagship smartphone in a wide variety of colors.

    This week Samsung announced that the Galaxy S III will soon come in four new colors: “amber brown”, “garnet red”, “sapphire black”, and “titanium grey.” The only current colors widely available are “marble white” and “pebble blue.” The new colors will have the same brushed metal-like “Hyperglaze” finish as the current ones.

    Samsung is obviously sticking with the “inspired by nature” marketing that the company unveiled at the announcement of the Galaxy S III. Consumers shouldn’t be expecting a neon pink version of the smartphone any time soon, though an “emerald green” or “amethyst purple” phone wouldn’t stray too far from the formula.

    “Every inch of the Samsung Galaxy S III has been created to reflect the natural elements that inspired its ergonomic design, from the softly shaped curvature to the minimized bezel,” said Minhyouk Lee, lead designer of the Galaxy S III. “By expanding the color range of the Galaxy S III we are continuing to evolve the “Minimal Organic” design theme of the handset. The color options we have added evoke the phone’s emotional and natural aspects in a very simple but effective way.”

    Mock-ups of the new colors provided by Samsung can be seen below. The red case has already been announced for the U.S. as an exclusive for AT&T, presumably to make up for that carrier getting the Galaxy S III weeks after other U.S. carriers. Samsung specifically stated that the availability of these new colors will vary by country and wireless carrier.

    Red Galaxy S III

    Black Galaxy S III

    Grey Galaxy S III

  • Google Updates Its Google+ App – But Only For iPhone

    Google today released an update for its Google+ app – but only for the iPhone. The update includes a new stream and a new, more visually appealing, interface.

    Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President for Engineering at Google, announced the update over on the Official Google blog. There he explained that Google is aiming to make its apps look and perform better on smartphones that have higher resolutions and more sensors. He also went over the update in more detail, stating that crisper fonts, larger profile pics, a “friendlier” homescreen, new overlays, new gradients, and other visual elements are the focus of the update. Also, the Google+ stream has gotten performance tweaks and “fun” upgrades. Conversations now fall into view as users move through the stream and items that have been +1’d now float atop the stream. From Gundotra’s post:

    The end result—we hope—is an app that brings you closer to the people you care about, and the stuff you’re into; an app with sense and soul.

    Gundotra did not specify when an update for the Android version would roll out, only saying that it will be coming “in a few weeks.” He did hint, though, that the Android version of Google+ would get some features left out of the iPhone version, saying it would have “a few extra surprises.”

    What surprises do you think might be in store for the Android version? What could be worth Google delaying the update until after the iPhone version has been released? Leave a comment below and let me know.