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Tag: iPhone 5

  • Why Is Apple’s Share Price Dropping So Quickly?

    When the iPhone 5 launched, it looked like Apple was on top of the world. The company’s stock hit an all time high with an individual share price of $702. Fast forward to today and the company’s individual share price is now sitting at $485. What happened, and can Apple fix it?

    It’s easy to see why Apple’s stock was so successful in the months leading up the launch of the iPhone 5. The company was reporting record profits every quarter on massive sales of both of its iPhone and iPad product lines. The launch of the iPhone 5 was in itself a momentous occasion, but it all started to go downhill a little after that.

    Only a month after the iPhone 5 launched, Apple announced the iPad Mini. The mini-tablet was Apple’s attempt to directly compete with Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD. First impressions are often ugly, however, and investors tore into it. The company’s share price stumbled to about $613-$615.

    Since then, the iPad Mini has proven to be a smart move on Apple’s part. Early reports indicate that it’s doing incredibly well, and that it’s even more popular than the iPad. Why is Apple’s stock taking a beating then when everything seems to be going well? It’s because the iPad Mini is more popular than the iPad. Apple envisioned a world where consumers would buy both the iPad and the iPad Mini as a “sidearm” of sorts. Consumers are instead opting to only buy the iPad Mini. That cuts into the company’s profits as it makes less money per iPad Mini sold.

    Of course, the iPad Mini only explains one part of the problem. The other problem has only manifested itself recently, and caused a sharp drop in Apple’s stock. A report from Monday said that Apple’s component orders were being cut by half in response to weaker-than-expected demand for the iPhone 5. The news cut through the company’s share price and dropped the price to below $500 for the first time in over a year.

    It should be noted that $500 per share is an extraordinary accomplishment, and something that few companies can ever achieve, That being said, it’s rather worrisome to see a company’s stock drop by over $200 in less than six months. Analysts are still remaining optimistic, however, with Value Walk reporting that analysts at Nomura are maintaining a neutral rating for Apple with a target price of $530 per share. It’s below that price for now, but the idea is that Apple will be able to stabilize itself around that price in the coming months.

    So how can Apple retain its position as the most profitable company in tech? It’s not exactly an easy prospect as the company has made a name for itself with investors by reporting monster profits every quarter, but that might not help the company sell as much hardware anymore. Following the lead of the iPad Mini, there are now reports of a cheaper iPhone for emerging markets. Apple denies the reports, but there’s enough evidence to say with confidence that Apple is looking to shake up the iPhone brand in some way in 2013. If it is indeed a cheaper phone, investors might not be pleased as it will mean even less profits.

    As for everything else, Apple needs to focus on innovation instead of litigation. The company will argue that it’s only protecting the innovations it has introduced to market, but where were the new innovations in the iPhone 5? A slightly bigger screen and Passbook does not an innovative phone make. Android and hardware makers who leverage the OS are running circles around it.

    The iPad isn’t fairing much better as Apple introduced a fourth generation iPad in the same year as the third generation was released. The only difference between the two was a faster processor. The company that Steve Jobs built has become too comfortable in its place as the market leader, and is inviting competitors to usurp it.

    If Apple really wants to get back on top, it will have to start being a consumer technology company again. Engaging in petty corporate warfare with Google at the expense of its users isn’t going to win them any fans or investor support. For now, it should solely focus on its consumers instead of worrying about any outside threats or influences. Apple was at its best when Steve Jobs did whatever he wanted, and the company needs to recapture that defiant spirit.

  • Apple Cuts Orders For Various iPhone 5 Components [Report]

    iPhone 5 sales started out with a bang. Sales topped five million during its opening weekend, selling as many in three days as the iPhone 4S sold in an entire month. Since then, the device has been released in many more countries.

    Still, it appears that demand is not quite where Apple expected it to be. A new report from the Wall Street Journal indicates that the company has cut orders for various components, including (but not limited to) screens for the devices. The report cites people familiar with the situation. The reason is specified as “weaker-than-expected demand”. The WSJ’s Juro Osawa writes:

    Apple’s orders for iPhone 5 screens for the January-March quarter, for example, have dropped to roughly half of what the company had previously planned to order, the people said.

    Apple is said to have let parts manufacturers know about the changes in December.

    Last week, Walmart announced that the iPhone 5 is now available with unlimited service and no contract, thanks to a deal with Straight Talk Wireless. That means that over 2,000 stores (as well as Walmart’s site) offer this deal for $650 and an additional $45 a month for a no contract plan. This includes unlimited talk, text and data. that’s sure to interest a few people.

    Last week, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said that the carrier would be getting the iPhone within the next three or four months. That will, without a doubt, increase demand significantly.

  • Phil Schiller Says That Rumored Cheap iPhone Isn’t Happening

    Earlier this week, a rumor emerged saying that Apple was planning on introducing a cheaper iPhone into emerging markets. How cheap? Another rumor speculated that it could be as cheap as $99. The phone would obviously be intended for emerging markets where cheap smartphones are much more popular, but would Apple really go against years of creating expensive, luxury devices? Apple’s Phil Schiller gives a resounding no.

    During an interview with Chinese newspaper Shanghai Evening News, Schiller said that Apple has no plans in regards to a cheaper iPhone. He admits that “cheap smartphones are more popular” in China than the once popular “non-smartphones,” but says that “will never be the future of Apple’s products.” He goes on to say that the company’s position in China is quite comfy because they own 75 percent of the profit despite only owning 20 percent of the smartphone market.

    So, what’s up with all the rumors of a cheap iPhone then? Not only is Digitimes reporting on the device, but Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal both received reports from those close to Apple who confirmed the device as being real. Could they all be wrong? Of course they could, but these kinds of rumors have a way of at least being partially true.

    Regardless, Apple needs to focus on these emerging markets. They may own 75 percent of the profit in China, but I would wager those are only hardware sales. Software sales count in the long run, and Apple needs to capture more of the market share to tap into this lucrative revenue stream. It doesn’t necessarily have to be $99, but how can Apple hope to penetrate emerging markets, like Brazil, when its flagship product costs the equivalent of $1,145.

    [h/t: The Next Web]

  • iPhone 5 with Unlimited Service and No Contract Now Available via Walmart & Straight Talk Wireless

    Starting January 11th, you’ll be able to buy a new iPhone at Walmart with no contract, thanks to a deal with Straight Talk Wireless.

    In 2,000+ stores and online, Straight Talk and Walmart are offering the iPhone 5 for $649 plus a $45 a month no-contract plan. That plan includes unlimited talk, text and data.

    “We believe customers shouldn’t have to choose between saving money and having the latest technology,” said Seong Ohm, senior vice president of Entertainment for Walmart U.S. “Now customers can have the coveted iPhone with unlimited talk, text and data without a contract for $70 a month thanks to our exclusive Straight Talk plan and industry first financing offer.”

    Here’s how it works:

    Customers can purchase one of two plans – a $45 a month plan that includes unlimited calling, text, and data and a $60 a month plan that includes unlimited talk, text, and data plus unlimited international calling. Of course, both of these plans are part of Straight Talk’s no-contract service.

    Of course, customers will have to buy the phones outright – no contract deal. Walmart is offering the iPhone 5 (16GB) for $649 or the iPhone 4 (8GB) for $449.

    Walmrt is also offering an interest-free fixed monthly payment plan of $25 a month with a Walmart credit card.

    “We are thrilled to be bringing the remarkable iPhone 5 to customers looking for one of the most advanced smartphones with one of the most affordable No Contract plans ever,” said F.J. Pollak, CEO and President, TracFone Wireless. “The advanced iPhone 5 with our unlimited $45 monthly plan and Walmart’s $25 special financing offer is a marriage made in heaven – making it the most affordable premium smartphone offer in America. With this exclusive offer the last reason for not purchasing the No Contract Straight Talk plan is gone.”

  • CES 2013: T-Mobile Is Getting The iPhone In Next Three To Four Months

    Smartphone users absolutely hate limited data plans, but the big carriers don’t seem to be changing their minds on the matter. T-Mobile saw that as an opportunity and started offering unlimited data plans to its customers. Now it just needs the iPhone and its future as a major wireless carrier may just be assured.

    At CES, T-Mobile CEO John Legere told Reuters that his company will begin selling the iPhone to its customers within the next three to four months. The move will allow T-Mobile to properly compete with the big guys who offer a wide range of iPhone options, but tether them to expensive data plans and contracts. T-Mobile is going to change that.

    During the same time frame, Legere says that T-Mobile will also be doing away with phone subsidies. He sees the one-two combination of iPhone availability and phone subsidy removal as an opportunity to grow the company’s market share by five percent. While the removal of phone subsidies will drive the price of phones up, it will allow T-Mobile to offer cheaper service, including its unlimited 4G data plans.

    Of course, T-Mobile customers won’t have to wait until the carrier gets the iPhone to start using Apple’s wonder device. The carrier lets owners of unlocked iPhones switch over to its network quite easily.

    It’s unclear if T-Mobile’s strategy of going against the predominant carrier model will be successful, but it will at least be interesting. If it is successful, it may convince other carriers to bring unlimited data plans. It just might be worth paying full price for our phones if we get cheaper data plans out of it.

  • Watch An iPhone 5 Get Dropped From 100,000 Feet [Video]

    If you’re the kind person who likes to watch phone drop test videos, you’ve probably seen a few for the iPhone 5 by now. But have you seen one in which the device was dropped from 100,000 feet?

    G-Form has posted this video promoting its latest iPhone case. They drive to the desert, and send the device up with a balloon.

    The phone appears to work after the drop.

    [via phonesreview.co.uk]

  • $1 Million Apple Heist Takes Place On New Years In Paris

    A $1 million Apple heist seems like a terrible plot out of the next Ocean’s 11 imitator, but such a theft actually did occur over the New Years holiday. In fact, the heist shared a number of similarities with Hollywood blockbusters due to how well the crime was organized and executed.

    CNN reports that four armed robbers made their way into an Apple store in Paris on New Years. They were able to get in through a service entrance and threatened employees to let them into the back storeroom. From there, the robbers were able to get away with $1.3 million worth of iPads, iPhones and MacBooks.

    So, how did they get away with it? It turns out that robbing a store on New Years is apparently easier than it looks thanks to the majority of police attention being given to the crowds outside on the streets. The police note that the thieves also knew exactly what they were doing by going after devices in the storeroom while leaving the display devices on the show floor.

    This isn’t the first time that an Apple store has been hit with major thefts since the launch of the super popular iPhone 5. In Japan, thieves hit three major stores in Osaka and made away with over 100 iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5 also continues to be a popular target among those who rob people on the street, but Apple thankfully provides a free service to catch them. Unfortunately, the unactivated iPhones in Paris can not be recovered so easily.

  • IPHONE Launches In Brazil As An Android Device

    The iPhone 5 just recently launched in Brazil last week as Apple’s flagship device made its way into 50 more countries around the world. At the same time, a local Brazilian electronics manufacturer is going to compete with the iPhone 5 by selling the IPHONE.

    IGB Electronics SA announced this morning that the company will begin selling the IPHONE in Brazil as an entry level Android device. The first device to be sold under the IPHONE name is called the Gradiente Neo One. It runs on Android 2.3, and features dual-sim capabilities, 3G, Wi-Fi and bluetooth.

    So, how is IGB able to sell a product called the IPHONE in Brazil while Apple currently sells the iPhone? The company had applied for the IPHONE name in 2000, and finally secured the rights in 2008 from a patent regulator. The company hasn’t used the name until now because its previous focus was getting through a restructuring period and getting back to selling products. Now it can focus on selling the IPHONE to consumers who may just want an iPhone.

    Selling the phone to the less knowledgable should be pretty easy as well. The IPHONE will be sold at a ridiculously low price of 600 reais, or $286 USD. The iPhone 5 sells at 2,400 reais, or $1145 USD.

    It should be pretty easy to tell the difference between the IGB’s IPHONE and Apple’s iPhone though. That being said, Apple is fiercely protective of its trademarks and will most likely file a lawsuit against IGB by the end of the week. For its part, IGB knows a lawsuit is likely coming and says that it will “adopt all measures” to preserve its right to the IPHONE name.

    If it does end up going to court, it will be interesting to see what the Brazilian courts say. Is IPHONE different enough from iPhone? Is IGB’s trademark application legitimate? In any case, it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out.

    [h/t: Macworld Brazil]

  • iPhone 5 Release Date Is Here For These Countries

    Earlier this month, Apple announced that the iPhone 5 would be released in over 50 countries in December. It’s already been released in South Korea, and today 33 other countries are getting the popular device (sure to be even more popular now that it has access to a Google Maps app).

    In a recent survey, the majority of people that indicated they will be looking to buy a smartphone in the next three months said they plan on getting an iPhone 5.

    Here’s a list of the countries that get the iPhone 5 today:

    1. Albania
    2. Antigua and Barbuda
    3. Armenia
    4. Bahamas
    5. Bahrain
    6. Bolivia
    7. Brazil
    8. Chile
    9. China
    10. Costa Rica
    11. Cyprus
    12. Ecuador
    13. Grenada
    14. Indonesia
    15. Israel
    16. Jamaica
    17. Jordan
    18. Kuwait
    19. Macedonia
    20. Malaysia
    21. Moldova
    22. Montenegro
    23. Panama
    24. Paraguay
    25. Philippines
    26. Qatar
    27. Russia
    28. Saudi Arabia
    29. South Africa
    30. Taiwan
    31. Turkey
    32. United Arab Emirates
    33. Venezuela.

    In a week, the device will be released in Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.Vincent & the Grenadines, Tunisia, Uganda and Vietnam.

  • Survey: Over 50% of Current Smartphone Shoppers Will Choose the iPhone 5

    Well, this bodes well for Apple. A recent survey suggests that the majority of people looking to buy a smartphone in the next three months (read Christmas and beyond) plan on buying the iPhone 5. Plenty of respondents gave plans to buy some sort of phone operating on the Android platform, but the iPhone 5 is the clear star of people’s most-desired lists.

    The survey comes from Piper Jaffray (via AppleInsider), who says that 53.3% of those surveyed said they plan on purchasing Apple’s most recent smartphone. That number was 47.7% right before the device was unveiled and 54.9% right after.

    The survey was conducted on December 12th and involved 800 participants.

    “We believe this is a positive that demonstrates the majority of U.S. consumers want an iPhone 5 even following the launch craze, and despite the Maps issues that have been widely noted,” noted Gene Munster.

    Of course, Apple Maps as a deterrent of buying the device may be a thing of the past. As you probably know, Google just launched Google Maps for iOS – their first maps app since Apple cut them out of iOS 6. The app is receiving rave reviews and is already the top free app in the App Store.

    Buying an Android-powered smartphone accounted for 35.3% of people’s plans for the next three months. 6.5% said that plan on buying a Windows Phone and 4.9% said BlackBerry.

    Piper Jaffray also concluded that demand for the iPhone 5 is somewhere between 30% and 40% more than demand for the iPhone 4S.

  • Woman Tased After Trying to Buy Too Many iPhones

    If you are doing your xmas shopping in Nashua, Hew Hampshire this year, you should know that their Apple Store is probably not going to sell you more than two iPhones, no matter how hard you plead. In fact, they’ll probably just call the cops and you’ll wind up getting tased.

    At least that’s what happened to Xiaojie Li. After being escorted out of an Apple Store in in the second-largest city in the state, police used force to subdue her after they claim she resisted arrest.

    According to WCVB, this whole incident centered around Li’s desire to purchase multiple iPhones for her family back in China. When we say “multiple,” we mean a lot. Li was reportedly carrying $16,000 in cash at the time of her arrest.

    It all started when Li purchased two iPhones last Friday, which happens to be the store maximum. She apparently confronted the store manager with video she had taken that supposedly showed other customers being allowed to purchase more than two iPhones. She was asked to leave the store.

    A few days later, Li returned to pick up more iPhones that she has ordered online. When she refused to leave the store, authorities were notified.

    Li and her daughter are blaming the whole thing on a language barrier, as Li only speaks Chinese and says she couldn’t understand anything the Apple Store employees or the police were talking about. She’s been charged with two misdemeanors as a result of the incident.

    iPhone limits? Tasings? Possible excessive user of force by local police? It’s shaping up to be a banner holiday season already, folks.

  • YouTube iOS App Gets iPad And iPhone 5 Friendly

    YouTube has launched an update for its iOS app, which is designed for the iPad, and has some updates for the iPhone 5 and iPod Touch.

    “Just in time for the holidays, now you can download or update the YouTube app with a look designed for the iPad and iPhone 5, enhanced AirPlay support, videos that start faster and play more smoothly, and improved accessibility with VoiceOver,” Google software engineer Horia Ciurdar says. “Enjoy Tastemade on iPad in full screen glory, or hours of flipping through Ryan Higa videos on your iPhone 5 or iPod touch.”

    YouTube for iPad

    Google launched its YouTube app for iPhone and iPod Touch in September. YouTube is now available on 400 million devices. People are watching over 25% of YouTube on mobile devices – over a billion views a day, Google says.

    The iOS update is rolling out globally today.

  • Elections, iPhone 5, and Kim Kardashian Top 2012 Yahoo Searches

    As the month of December rolls along, you can expect more and more of these types of lists to pop up. It’s that time of the year for the year-in-review wrap-ups, and today it’s Yahoo that’s giving us some insight on top searches in 2012.

    The top three Yahoo searches in 2012 come from three different realms: politics, tech, and pop culture. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Yahoo users were most interested in the Elections, the iPhone 5, and Kim Kardashian (in that order). Yahoo says that in the 12 years that they’ve been doing the year-in-search list, this is only the third time that a “news” event has claimed the number one search volume slot. The other two were recent events, Michael Jackson’s death in 2009 and the BP oil spill in 2010.

    Here’s the complete top ten list of 2012 Yahoo searches:

    1. Elections
    2. iPhone 5
    3. Kim Kardashian
    4. Kate Upton
    5. Kate Middleton
    6. Whitney Houston
    7. Olympics
    8. Political Polls
    9. Lindsay Lohan
    10. Jennifer Lopez

    Bing recently unveiled their 2012 search stats and there’s quite a bit of similarity among the two lists. Over on Bing, Kim Kardashian was the most-searched person of the year, beating out Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. In the news stories category, the iPhone 5 took the crown beating out the 2012 Elections and the 2012 Olympics.

    When you just look at gadget searches, it’s Apple all the way. In that category the iPhone 5 finished ahead of “iPad 3” and the “iPad mini.” The rest of the top ten gadget searches were the Samsung Galaxy S3, Kindle Fire, iPhone 4, Nook, iPod Touch, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Samsung Galaxy Note.

  • iPhone 5 Coming To 50 More Countries This Month (South Korea Release Date: 12/07)

    Apple announced today that the iPhone 5 will be released in South Korea on Friday, December 7, and that it will be released in 50 other countries this month.

    Last week, Apple revealed that the device would be available in China on Friday, December 14 (the new iPads will launch in the country this Friday).

    In addition to China, Apple announced today that the following countries will get the iPhone 5 on December 14: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. iPhone 5 will also be available on Friday, December 21 in Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.Vincent & the Grenadines, Tunisia, Uganda and Vietnam.

    The device is currently available in 47 other countries.

    Last week, Apple began selling unlocked versions of the iPhone 5 (GSM) in the U.S.

  • Apple Is Now Selling the iPhone 5 Unlocked (GSM)

    Apple is now selling an unlocked version of the iPhone 5, so those who don’t want to commit to a carrier contract can still get the popular device (in the U.S.). Of course, that comes at a significant price.

    For one, it’s just GSM, so your network options are very limited.

    “The unlocked iPhone only works on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S.,” Apple says in the Apple Store. “When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5 from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.”

    There is also a significant dollar price hike. The 16GB version is $649, the 32GB is $749, and the 64GB is $849. Each is available to ship in one week.

    Unlocked iPhone 5

    In other iPhone 5 news, Apple has set a release date for the device in China (as well as a release date for the iPad Mini and 4th-generation iPad). The Wi-Fi versions of the new iPads will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and the iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, December 14.

    The company released the new 21.5-inch iMac in the U.S. today.

  • iPhone 5, iPad Mini, 4th-Gen iPad Get Release Dates For China

    Apple announced Chinese release dates for the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini, and the 4th-generation iPad today. The Wi-Fi versions of the new iPads will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and the iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, December 14.

    Apple’s latest iPad models are already available in 42 countries, and the iPhone 5 is currently available in 47.

    The iPad Mini with Wi-Fi comes in black & slate or white & silver, and costs $329 (US) for the 16GB model, $429 (US) for the 32GB model and $529 (US) for the 64GB model. The 4th-generation iPad with Wi-Fi models come in black or white, and cost $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model.

    Apple will sell the new iPads in China through its Apple ONline Store and via select Apple Authorized Resellers. They will also be sold by reservation at the company’s retail stores. Reservation requests will be accepted between 9AM and 5PM on a daily basis, starting December 6, for pick up the following day. The iPad 2 will also be available for $399 (US).

    The iPhone 5 comes in black & slate or white & silver, and costs $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. The same buying options as the iPads apply. The iPhone 4S now costs $99 (US), and the iPhone 4 is free with a two-year contract.

    In the U.S., Apple is now selling unlocked GSM iPhone 5 models, according to reports.

  • It Was an iPhone 5-Kardashian-Gangnam Style Kind of Year, According to Bing

    Brace yourselves: the year-end lists are coming. As 2012 comes to close, it’s vital that we all take a step back and review all of the inane crap we seek out on search engines. First up, it’s Bing with a nice comprehensive 2012 search overview.

    Congratulations, Kim Kardashian. You’re the most-searched person of the year.

    According to Bing, she beat out Justin Bieber, who held the title for 2011. The Biebs holds strong this year, coming in at #2. The rest of the top ten is as follows, in order: Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Aniston, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift. You may notice a few glaring omissions from that lists – notably Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, who happened to be running for the nation’s highest office this year. In our celeb-crazed culture, the President and his challenger only managed to break the top 50, coming in at 46th and 43rd, respectively.

    As far as the most-searched news stories of the year, the iPhone 5 takes it down. The rest of the top ten looks like this: 2012 Elections, 2012 Olympics, Hurricane Sandy, Honey Boo Boo, Gangnam Style Dance, KONY 2012, Academy Awards, Kindle Fire HD, and Facebook IPO.

    And when you look at social networks and apps, Facebook was the most popular search followed closely by Twitter. MySpace, which is soon launching a big redesign, came in third. Three of the top five app searches involved streaming music (Pandora, I Heart Radio, and Spotify).

    When it comes to culture, there are no big surprises. PSY’s “Gangnam Style” was the most-searched song of 2012, followed by Carly Rae Jespen’s “Call Me Maybe” and Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend.” The Avengers was the most-searched movie, followed by The Dark Knight Rises and Titanic.

    Bing has a pretty substantial breakdown across many categories, including fashion, holiday icons, celeb couples, and more. You can check out their full report here.

  • Apple Debuts Two New iPhone 5 Ads Before Black Friday

    Apple has just dropped two new iPhone 5 ads in time for the holiday shopping season. The first, “Turkey,” touts the iPhone’s Photo Stream feature – the ability to share sets of photos with a select group of friends and family.

    The second ad is called “Orchestra” and showcases the iPhone 5’s noise cancellation abilities. You can check them out below:

    It looks like Apple is gearing up for the holiday season – which usually means a blitz in electronics shopping. This always includes Apple, who is once again having an online and in-store Black Friday sale this year. The iPhone 5, along with the iPad mini and the new new iPad are at the center of Apple’s new product lineup this season – as long as they can meet demand, of course.

  • Keep Your iPhone 5 Warm For The Holidays With A 3D Printed Sweater Case

    We’re halfway through November, and it’s only going to get colder from here on out. It’s time to bust out the itchy sweaters from holiday seasons past. This year, with the help of 3D printers, you can make your iPhone its very own itchy sweater out of plastic.

    Shapeways, makers of fine 3D printed products, recently held a contest that asked designers to create a unique design for an iPhone 5 case via 3D printing. The winner, ArtizanWork, created a “sweater” case for the iPhone 5 that really does look like a sweater. It’s even emulates the flexible stitching that handmade sweaters sport.

    For their efforts, the designers at ArtizanWork received a $500 prize. The prize may be nice, but the real reward lies in increased visibility. ArtizanWork sells these sweater cases at $75 a piece. They’ll easily make more than $500 this holiday season as more people are made aware of their really unique designs.

    You can pick up your own iPhone 5 knitted sweater case today. The design hasn’t been made publicly available for obvious reasons, but I’m sure 3D printer enthusiasts will knock out something similar very shortly that others can make themselves.

    [h/t: Make]

  • Bastion Out Now For iPhone, iPod

    Bastion Out Now For iPhone, iPod

    Bastion is one of those indie titles that, like Braid and Limbo, gained popularity on the merits of its interesting art style, intriguing story, and solid, simple gameplay. In addition to these qualities, Bastion’s aurally-pleasing narration also set it apart and made it unique.

    Today, Supergiant Games, the developers of Bastion, announced that the game is now available for the iPhone. Bastion had previously been available for the iPad, and the newest update makes the game compatible with all of Apple’s newest mobile devices. The game now works on iPads from generation 2 on, the new iPad Mini, the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5, and the newest iPod device. In addition, the game has been optimized to take advantage of the iPhone 5’s retina display.

    The game studio explained on its blog the reasoning behind putting what was originally a PC and console title onto smaller devices:

    Then, a couple of months ago on September 12, Apple unveiled the iPhone 5. Now, we’d previously stated in our FAQ for the iPad version that we chose to focus exclusively on iPad both for technical reasons and because we “felt the game experience would not translate well to the iPhone’s smaller screen.” Well, the iPhone 5 added quite a bit of screen real estate, so we decided to take another look. And sure enough, we found that Bastion looked great and ran beautifully on the new device. Of course we still needed to update all the menu screens and re-tune the controls to fit the smaller form factor, not to mention implement iCloud support, so all that took a little while. But it’s finally ready!

    Bastion costs $5 on any of the available Apple platforms. That isn’t as inexpensive as the game potentially was as a part of the Humble Indie Bundle V, but is still a good price for a game that has won nearly universal acclaim.

  • iPhone 5S Trial Production to Begin in December [RUMOR]

    A new report states that Apple will begin a trial production run of the sucessor to the iPhone 5 in December. The report, published in China’s Commercial Times, says that 50,000 to 100,000 units of the “iPhone 5S” will be manufactured.

    The report also claims that the new iPhone, a new iPad version, and the long-rumored Apple HDTV (iTV) will all be released in the first half of 2013. This claim seems extraordinary, especially since the shipping window for new orders of the current iPhone 5 slipped back again this week.

    Going by the Commercial Times’ report, Apple is producing the trial run to prepare its manufacturing processes for the inevitably huge demand it expects for the device. Apple is shifting away from using some Samsung components in its devices, and is having to put together a team of disparate manufacturers to make up for it. Apple hasn’t been able to find an alternate supplier for Samsung’s processors, however, and Samsung this week announced a 20% price increase on the components.

    If the rumors of an iPhone 5S in the first half on next year are true, it could mean that Apple really is shifting its traditional yearly product refreshes to a new six-month refresh schedule. The demand for the current iPhone shows that a six-month release schedule certainly is possible for Apple, but customers may have a hard time choking up hundreds of dollars twice a year. Especially if the newer devices are only marginal improvements over the old ones. The release of the newest version of the iPad came just six months after the release of the previous version, a fact which upset many Apple customers.

    (via BGR)