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Tag: iPhone 5S

  • Tangerine, a Sundance Hit Shot with an iPhone 5s, Gets a Trailer

    The red-band trailer has dropped for one of Sundance’s most talked-about features.

    It’s called Tangerine, and it’s about two transgender women in Hollywood. It was also shot with an iPhone 5s.

    Of course, it wasn’t just an iPhone. The iPhone was the only device filming, but filmmakers needed a handful of extras. According to The Verge, those included an app called Filmic Pro, a set of anamorphic adapter lenses, and a steadicam.

    You’ve seen YouTube videos. You know why the steadicam was necessary.

    Without further ado, here’s the trailer:

    Here’s the film’s official description:

    It’s Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee (newcomer Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone, STARLET, “Generation Kill”) hasn’t been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra (newcomer Mya Taylor), embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumor. Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles, including an Armenian family dealing with their own repercussions of infidelity. Director Sean Baker’s prior films (STARLET, PRINCE OF BROADWAY) brought rich texture and intimate detail to worlds seldom seen on film. TANGERINE follows suit, bursting off the screen with energy and style. A decidedly modern Christmas tale told on the streets of L.A., TANGERINE defies expectation at every turn.

    The film generated a lot of buzz and has since received some pretty good reviews. Vulture calls it “the trans revenge movie you’ve been waiting for” and the New York Times called it a “perfectly cast, beautifully directed movie.”

    It’s due out on July 10.

    Image via Magnolia Pictures, YouTube

  • iPhone 6 Is Bigger, Better And Coming In September [Rumor]

    The iPhone 6, like every iPhone before it, is the most talked about piece of hardware in tech. Everybody wants to know – will it be bigger? When does it come out? Will Apple release a new OS to go along with the new hardware? While it’s impossible to answer these questions before it’s unveiled, rumors and leaks go a long way in letting us know what Apple has planned.

    One of the most persistent rumors regarding the iPhone 6 is actually a rumor that was started a while ago. To catch up with ever growing Android devices, it’s been rumored that Apple would release a larger iPhone. We heard that that iPhone 5S would feature a 5-inch screen, but those rumors never panned out. Now we’re hearing the same thing again about the iPhone 6. Will Apple finally release a larger iPhone, or is it sticking with the 4-inch screen found in the iPhone 5S?

    According to MacWorld UK, Apple is preparing two iPhone designs for 2014, and both are larger than the current iPhone 5S. The rumors suggest that Apple will release an iPhone with a 4.7-inch display while the other will feature a 5.5-inch display. Both would be an extreme upgrade in display size from past iPhones and would help Apple finally compete with larger Android devices. While Apple execs (and fans) will defend the current display size, the reality is quite different. Consumers like it when things are big and a larger iPhone would definitely sway some consumers away from Android.

    Those hoping for a simultaneous release of the two new iPhones are going to be disappointed. Recent rumors indicate that Apple will be launching the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 later this year while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 might slip into 2015. Why? Apparently, Apple is having some issues manufacturing the super thin battery for the 5.5-inch iPhone that’s being dubbed “iPhone Air” by the media. The larger iPhone will likely be marketed as a device that offers the best of both smartphones and tablets, and may get its own event in early 2015.

    As for the hardware, Apple will inevitably trot out the newest Ax chip to replace the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S. It might also finally introduce wireless charging with the iPhone 6, a feature that’s been quickly making its way into competing Android devices over the last few years. Apple has always been reluctant to add features unless it can perfect it and the company may have found some way to make the already convenient practice of wireless charging even better.

    So, when will you get a chance to get your hands on the iPhone 6? According to a report from apfelpage, the iPhone 6 is slated to launch on September 19 after a reveal on September 9. The rumored release date follows the release date of the past few previous iPhones so it’s not out of the question.

  • iOS 7.1.1 Found To Improve Battery Life

    iOS 7.1.1 was released earlier this week to cries of joy among the Apple faithful. It may have been an incremental update, but it was an incremental update with plenty of fixes that owners wanted. One of the less talked about fixes is perhaps the most important though – battery life.

    Over at ZDNet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says he has been keeping track of battery performance on the iPhone with every new iOS update. He notes that before iOS 7, his iPhone 5’s battery would drop to 74 percent after six hours of use. The rate at which the battery declined got faster after the introduction of iOS 7 and its updates. With iOS 7.1, he says the battery would drop to 48 percent after only six hours of use.

    So, what’s it like with iOS 7.1.1? It would appear that Apple has brought the device back up to its pre-iOS 7 battery use days. Kingsley-Hughes says that his iPhone 5 battery falls to about 76 percent charge after six hours of use. That’s a stellar improvement over the previous iteration of iOS 7 and one update that any iOS should be happy about.

    Alongside the improvements to battery life, iOS 7.1.1 brought updates to the following:

  • Further improvements to Touch ID fingerprint recognition
  • Fixes a bug that could impact keyboard responsiveness
  • Fixes an issue when using Bluetooth keyboards with VoiceOver enabled

    • There’s surely more than that, but that’s all Apple was willing to divulge in its announcement. New fixes, such as the aforementioned improved battery life, will have to be uncovered by developers and users over the coming days and weeks. The important thing is that iOS 7.1.1 fixes a lot of stuff and even makes iPhone users safer.

    iOS 7.1.1 is available on the iPhone 5S, iPhone, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini and the latest iPod Touch devices. Users should see significant battery improvements across all those devices, but it should be noted that one’s battery life is dependent upon a number of factors. If you have a lot of apps running in the background, you’re not going to see better battery life no matter what.

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 5S Available for Lowest Price Yet at Walmart

    If you’ve been waiting for prices to go down to purchase an iPhone 5S, the time is now, as Walmart has slashed their prices on the latest iPhone models. The iPhone 5S was selling for $145 at Walmart with a two-year plan, but you can now purchase the phone for $119. Walmart has reduced their price on the iPhone 5C as well. The new price cuts have many people wondering whether this is an indicator that we could see the iPhone 6 released sooner than anticipated.

    Walmart, who had the lowest iPhone 5S price around when the phone was first released in September 2013, announced the latest price cuts last week. Customers upgrading to the 16 GB iPhone 5S can save at least $26 compared to Walmart’s competitors when purchasing their device if they go through the mega retailer. Customers who are looking for an iPhone upgrade but are on a budget can purchase the iPhone 5C for $29 at Walmart, which is a price cut of $16 from the former price.

    So far Walmart hasn’t stated when the prices on the iPhone 5S and 5C will go up, or if they will go up at all. Customers can purchase the phone at the reduced rate by signing a two-year plan through Verizon or AT&T Mobility at Walmart. Just for comparison’s sake, if you were to purchase the iPhone 5S directly through AT&T, the purchase price would be $199 with a two-year agreement.

    Considering that the iPhone 5S was released less than one year ago, some people find it strange that there have been so many price cuts so far, which is prompting even more speculation that Apple may release another iPhone over the summer. Many consumers are hoping for a larger iPhone with the next release, as Apple has not remotely kept up with HTC, Samsung, and other companies as far as screen size is concerned.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • iPhone 6 May Launch In June, Will Sport Larger Display

    Since the iPhone 4S’ launch in 2011, every iPhone has come out in either October or September. It used to not be that way though. The original iPhone all the way up to the iPhone 4 launched in Summer. Now one analyst believes Apple will go back to that again with its next smartphone.

    Tencent is reporting that Chinese analyst Sun Chyang Xu has predicted Apple will start making the iPhone 6 in a trial capacity in February. The new iPhone will then enter mass production in May with a launch coming in June just in time for Apple’s annual WWDC conference.

    So, what can we expect from the iPhone 6? We don’t know much yet, but Chyang Xu thinks it will sport a larger screen. Apple finally upgraded the iPhone’s display size from 3.5-inches to 4-inches with the iPhone 5, and now it’s rumored that the iPhone 6 will sport a 4.7-inch display.

    Interestingly enough, Chyang Xu predicts that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will be the first of two iPhone models being released this year. For later in the year, he expects Apple to release an even larger iPhone with a 5.7-inch display. By doing so, Apple will finally enter the phablet market that’s beginning to attract more attention thanks to devices like the Galaxy Note III and HTC One Max.

    Of course, rumors of a large iPhone have around since April of last year. At that time, analyst Peter Misek said that a large iPhone would launch in June 2014. Coincidence? Probably, but it certainly lends more credence to both analysts’ predictions.

    With Apple increasingly being seen as behind the curve when compared to its rivals, it will have to shake things up with the iPhone 6. A fingerprint scanner was certainly an interesting addition to the iPhone 5S, but a larger display would finally put Apple’s flagship device on equal footing with its competitors. Granted, some of Apple’s biggest fans, and the management itself, feels that its current display size is just fine. It will be interesting to see if the larger market agrees this year if Apple decides to stay at 4-inches.

    [h/t: UnwiredView]
    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 5s Available for Pre-Order in China

    iPhone 5s Available for Pre-Order in China

    On the heels of Apple announcing on Sunday a partnership with China Mobile to sell the iPhone in that country, pre-orders for the iPhone 5s and 5c were made available on Christmas day in the Middle Kingdom.

    China Mobile commenced accepting pre-registration via its website, and through a customer service hotline on December 25. The iPhone will be available in China to subscribers on January 17.

    Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on the partnership, “Apple has enormous respect for China Mobile and we are excited to begin working together. China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world’s largest network.”

    Below is Apple’s 2013 Christmas ad:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImlmVqH_5HM

    No price point has been established for the iPhones, and China Mobile currently comprises over 763 million customers, roughly two-thirds of the entire country. The iPhone isn’t new to China; millions of users have adopted jailbroken devices for some time now, though most operate on slower networks. The China Mobile deal will allow users to access the fastest cellular networks, and likewise upgrade their devices.

    Various Twitter intrigue regarding the partnership:

    In related China news, on Saturday the unmanned Chang’e-3 spacecraft successfully landed on the moon. Chang’e-3 delivered “Yutu”, a.k.a “Jade Rabbit,” a solar-powered, six-wheeled robotic rover, equipped with multiple cameras and a number of spectrometers for sampling and analyzing the lunar landscape.

    Below is a clip of Chang’e-3 making a landing on the moon:

    Image via YouTube.

  • iPhone 5S Will Ship Sooner Than Thought

    Planning on buying an iPhone 5S for a Christmas gift or just wanting to get one for yourself? Now is the time because the shipping time on this hot holiday item has just been shortened. Just a few short months ago, Apple said that they had limited numbers of the iPhone 5S available and that the wait for shipment could be lengthy. Apple is now saying that they have plenty of the smartphones in stock and ready to ship out just in time for Christmas.

    Although many people argued that the features added to the iPhone 5S weren’t good enough to make it worth the cost or the wait, it did well during its first week on the market with 9 million iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C handsets sold.

    “This is our best iPhone launch yet… a new record for first weekend sales,” Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, said in a press release at the time. “The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible.”

    The sudden availability of the iPhone 5S means that shoppers are jumping at the chance to get them during the Christmas shopping season. Whether Apple was able to get a larger supply for this time of year or if they were simply able to get them shipped out faster has not been determined but as long as customers are getting their phones faster, they aren’t likely to question the process.

    Is the iPhone 5S the top item on your Christmas list or are you saving your upgrade for a newer iPhone that will likely be available in just a few short months?

    Image from Apple.

  • 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’s Gold iPhone 5s Ad Is Heavy on the…Gold

    If you were watching NFL football yesterday, you may have seen a brand new ad from Apple. The company unveiled its first ever ad for the new gold iPhone 5s during the broadcasts, called “Metal Mastered,” and it’s heavy on the gold.

    That song in the background? It’s “Ooh La La” by Goldfrapp. Clever.

    Before Sunday, Apple had put the majority of its ad focus on the cheaper, plastic iPhone 5c. Reports indicate that may be the right focus, as iPhone 5s sales have dwarfed iPhone 5c sales by a margin of 2 to 1.

    And though the gold iPhone was jokingly referred to as “The Kardashian Phone” internally, there’s no sign of a Kardashian anywhere in Apple’s new ad. Shame.

    Image via Apple, YouTube

  • iPhone 5S/5C Make Their Way To Boost Mobile On November 8

    The iPhone 5S and 5C launch has been the most successful iPhone launch yet for Apple with over 9 million units sold in the first weekend. You could attribute this success to the fact that the iPhone 5S launched in more countries and on more carriers than any other previous iPhone. Despite its far reaching launch, there are still some smaller carriers that don’t have Apple’s latest flagship device.

    Boost Mobile announced today that its customers will no longer have to look upon their Verizon or T-Mobile subscriber neighbors in envy as it will start carrying the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on November 8. As is the case with all other devices on Boost Mobile, the iPhone 5S and 5C will enjoy unlimited talk, text and data for $55 a month.

    Unfortunately, Boost Mobile has not revealed the prices for either the iPhone 5S or 5C yet, but it’s not going to be cheap. The carrier doesn’t subsidize its phone prices so you’re probably going to be stuck paying the full price of the phone upfront. For the iPhone 5S, that will be $649 for the 16GB model. As for the iPhone 5C, you’ll be paying a not so affordable $549 for the 16GB model. If either of those options are a bit too pricey for you, you can opt to buy the more affordable iPhone 4S at $450.

    In more iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C news, Apple announced earlier this month that its latest mobile devices will be making their way to more countries on October 25 and November 1. On October 25, the device will land in a number of countries in Eastern Europe as well as South Korea. On November 1, it will make its way to more countries in South America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

    [Image: Boost Mobile]

  • The iPhone 5DS Is Gonna Blow Your Mind

    Apple parody videos are everywhere these days – I mean, Apple’s promotional videos are just so damn parody…able? Yeah, that’s it. Everything is always sooo revolutionary and the backgrounds are always sooo white. The products are sooo amazing.

    Meet the newest in the line, the iPhone 5DS. it stand for iPhone Double Screen, and it’s exactly what you imagine.

    “We know that this is some groundbreaking crazy ass shit, so that’s why we here at Apple developed it for you.”

    Strangely enough, the part where two people are playing games simultaneously? Genius. Get on it, Jony Ive.

    Image, Video via Udetto, YouTube

  • iPhone 5s & 5c Coming to Dozens of Countries October 25th

    By the first of November, Apple’s two new iPhones will be available in over 60 countries.

    The company has just announced the arrival dates of the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s for a few dozen countries across four continents.

    Here’s the list of countries that are getting the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on Friday, October 25th:

    Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand.

    And here are the countries that are getting them on November 1st:

    Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE.

    The iPhone 5s comes in gold, silver and space gray and costs $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model, and $399 for the 64GB model. The cheaper iPhone 5c comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white and runs $99 for the 16GB model and $199 for the 32GB model (there is no 64GB iPhone 5c). Of course, these prices are only applicable with contracts.

    Apple reported strong sales for the debut weekend of the two devices – over 9 million units, which Apple CEO Tim Cook called the “best iPhone launch ever.”

    In other Apple news, Apple will reportedly show off their new iPad and iPad Mini at an event scheduled for October 22nd.

    Image via Apple

  • Pinnacle Achieved: You Can Unlock the New iPhone with Your Peen

    Last year, when Apple unveiled the iPhone 5, reviews of the device reached their logical conclusion as some guy had sex with one. Not really, but he pretended to – and it was funnyish.

    Now, in a life-affirming twist of reality mimicking (admittedly immature) art, we have confirmation that you can in fact unlock your new iPhone 5S with your wiener.

    Apple’s new iPhone 5S comes with Touch ID, technology built into the home button that doubles as a fingerprint identity sensor. It reads your fingerprint multiple times, constructing a detailed scan of your print so that you can use it as a security bypass. Apple says that it should replace the pesky task of having to punch in the four-digit passcode every time you unlock your phone. It can also be used as an access point for approving purchases on iTunes and such.

    It’s so futuristic that it pretty much begged for someone to rub their junk all over it.

    Enter Digital Trends writer Andrew Couts, who did the leg-work and proved that Apple’s new Touch ID responds quite favorably to another body part. He ran a test of a couple of other parts like his knuckle and his elbow without much success. The damn thing just couldn’t get a clear enough read. Finally, he unzipped his pants and…

    Lastly, I went with the most secure body part I could think of – and all I will say is that I had to take off my pants. Unlike the knuckle and elbow, however, registering my nether region was a breeze. (It was quite chilly, in fact.) And not only did I successfully register this private part with relative ease, I was also able to use it to unlock the device. I think you can understand why there isn’t a video of this one.

    Let’s see them* try to hack this one, fellas.

    Thankfully, Couts decided to forgo the video demonstration. In lieu of that, here’s some guy unlocking his new iPhone 5S with his nipple.

    Please read this in the creepiest voice you can imagine: Your move, ladies.

    *Hackers. People who hack things. Those hacker dudes.

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 5S Manufacturing Costs Estimated at $199

    After the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C last week, Apple (predictably) sold record numbers of the smartphones over the weekend. This is despite rumors of low manufacturing yields due to difficulties surrounding the new fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S. Now, with the smartphone finally in the hand of consumers, analysts can estimate just what kind of markup the $649 iPhone 5S has.

    Market research firm today announced the results of its recent tear-down of the 5S. The firm estimates that the materials inside the 16GB version of the smartphone run Apple around $191 each. Add in $8 for manufacturing and the total estimated cost for creating one iPhone 5S rises to around $199.

    “The iPhone 5s features a 64-bit apps processor, low-power Double Data Rate 3 (LPDDR3) DRAM, and a novel fingerprint sensor – features that have never before been seen in a smartphone,” said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of cost benchmarking services at IHS. “In addition, it is very interesting to see that Apple continues to collaborate closely with suppliers to develop unique radio frequency (RF) solutions that give Apple a competitive edge.”

    The $199 estimate is slightly higher than IHS’ estimate last year of $197 to build the iPhone 5. The increased costs can mostly be attributed to upgrades in the hardware of the iPhone 5S, including the fingerprint sensor and the device’s new 64-bit processor, while some savings were made by using the same touchscreen panels seen in last year’s iPhone 5S. IHS estimates that each new A7 processor costs Apple around $19.

    “The move to the 64-bit apps processor is largely driven by the need for greater computational power to ensure that the smartphone’s fingerprint sensor works quickly and seamlessly,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. “This design change will likely set the stage for 64-bit processors to be used in upcoming Apple products, including new models of the iPad, the Apple TV and even MacBook Air PCs.”

  • Of Course Somebody Already Shot The iPhone 5S

    Apple launched the iPhone 5S on Friday, and it went on to have the best weekend yet for an iPhone launch. Now that’s all well and good, but we can’t properly have an iPhone launch without somebody doing something terrible to it. That’s where RatedRR comes in.

    Over the weekend, RatedRR bought a golden iPhone 5S and decided to do what he does best – shoot it. The weapon of choice this time around is a 50 cal sniper rifle. As you can already guess, the iPhone 5S doesn’t stand a chance. Still, it’s fun to watch something that costs so much be so easily destroyed.

    As an added bonus, here’s a first-person take on the above iPhone 5S execution taken through Google Glass:

    [Image: RatedRR]

  • Apple Sold 9 Million iPhone 5S/5C Models Over The Weekend

    On Friday, Apple launched the iPhone 5S and 5C. The former is an upgrade over last year’s iPhone 5, and the latter is just an iPhone 5 in a new plastic casing. Launching two new iPhones at once has never happened before, but it seems to have worked out well for the Cupertino-based company.

    Apple announced this morning that it sold 9 million iPhone 5S/5C models over the weekend. It didn’t bother to break down sales between the two, but it’s assumed that the iPhone 5S did better than the 5C. This assumption is made on Apple stating that iPhone 5S demand is outstripping supply.

    “This is our best iPhone launch yet―more than nine million new iPhones sold―a new record for first weekend sales,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “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 you may have noticed, the new iPhone launch was preceded by the launch of iOS 7. The new mobile OS is available to everything from the iPhone 4 and up, and is already spreading faster than a wildfire on a windy day. Apple says that iOS 7 is now on 200 million iOS devices which makes it fastest software upgrade in history.

    It should be noted that the market reacted negatively to the iPhone 5S/5C reveal. There was a feeling that the iPhone 5C was just too expensive, and that perhaps Apple could never recapture the magic it had under Steve Jobs. That skepticism is all in the past today, however, as Apple’s share price shot up by 27 points this morning.

    [Image: Apple]

  • iPhone 5s Touch ID Fingerprint Technology Apparently Hacked In Just A Day [Video]

    Well, that didn’t take long. The iPhone 5s was released on Friday with its Touch ID fingerprint-scanning security technology, and it looks as though it may have already been hacked. In fact, it had already been done by Saturday, when the Chaos Computer Club (based in Germany) claimed to have done so, providing a video as evidence.

    “A fingerprint of the phone user, photographed from a glass surface, was enough to create a fake finger that could unlock an iPhone 5s secured with TouchID,” writes Frank from the Chaos Computer Club in a blog post. “This demonstrates – again – that fingerprint biometrics is unsuitable as access control method and should be avoided.”

    The blog goes on…

    “In reality, Apple’s sensor has just a higher resolution compared to the sensors so far. So we only needed to ramp up the resolution of our fake”, said the hacker with the nickname Starbug, who performed the critical experiments that led to the successful circumvention of the fingerprint locking. “As we have said now for more than years, fingerprints should not be used to secure anything. You leave them everywhere, and it is far too easy to make fake fingers out of lifted prints.”

    Here’s Apple explaining how great the feature is:

    At least the severed finger approach is apparently bogus.

    It will be interesting to see if others go on to duplicate the process the Chaos Computer Club has demonstrated or display other ways of achieving the same goal. Last week, a site called IsTouchIDHackedYet.com was formed for rewards to be given to the first to hack it. Here’s the message that the site says at the moment:

    Maybe! The The Chaos Computer Club in Germany may have done it! Awaiting video showing them lifting a print (like from a beer mug) and using it to unlock the phone. If so, they’ll win…

    It seems like there’s always something with these major iPhone releases. Remember antennagate? Then last year it was Apple Maps, which Tim Cook actually apologized for in a letter. Granted, that was more software-based, but it came with the iPhone 5 launch.

    We’ll have to keep an eye on the TouchID situation, and how big of an issue this turns out to be. Perhaps we’ll be seeing another apology.

    Meanwhile, the feature is already drawing scrutiny from lawmakers.

    The feature is optional, so if you bought a 5s, you can take comfort in the fact that you don’t have to use it.

  • iPhone 5S Fingerprint Scanner Already Drawing Scrutiny From Lawmakers

    The iPhone 5S just launched today, and fans are already happily scanning their fingerprints into the devices’s new Touch ID system. Apple (and science) claims it’s perfectly secure, but lawmakers aren’t so sure.

    The Hill reports that Sen. Al Franken has sent Apple a letter regarding the fingerprint scanner technology in the iPhone 5S. As you would expect, he’s concerned that the the introduction of one’s fingerprint as a security gate could lead to privacy violations and even identity theft.

    Too many people don’t protect their smartphones with a password or PIN. I anticipate that Apple’s fingerprint reader will in fact make iPhone 5S owners more likely to secure their smartphones. But there are reasons to think that an individual’s fingerprint is not “one of the best passwords in the world,” as an Apple promotional video suggests.

    Passwords are secret and dynamic; fingerprints are public and permanent. If you don’t tell anyone your password, no one will know what it is. If someone hacks your password, you can change it—as many times as you want. You can’t change your fingerprints. You have only ten of them. And you leave them on everything you touch; they are definitely not a secret. What’s more, a password doesn’t uniquely identify its owner—a fingerprint does. Let me put it this way: if hackers get a hold of your thumbprint, they could use it to identify and impersonate you for the rest of your life.

    Franken is aware that the Touch ID system stores fingerprints locally in an encrypted format, and that it doesn’t allow third party apps to access said fingerprints. Still, he feels that Apple hasn’t done a good enough job yet at explaining exactly how it protects a person’s fingerprints from being compromised. He also worries that Apple pushing into biometrics will encourage other mobile device makers to embrace it, and those companies may not have the same commitment to privacy and security that Apple does.

    At the end of the letter, Franken presents a list of 12 questions that he hopes Apple will answer. Some of the questions are pretty basic – like whether or not it’s possible to extract fingerprint data from an iPhone 5S – while others dive into the nitty gritty of privacy law – like whether or not Apple views fingerprint data as a personal identifier as defined by the Stored Communications Act.

    The most important question of them all, however, may be the 10th. He asks whether or not Apple could be forced to hand over fingerprint data if it’s deemed necessary to an investigation:

    Under American intelligence law, the Federal Bureau of Investigation can seek an order requiring the production of “any tangible thing (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items)” if they are deemed relevant to certain foreign intelligence investigations. See 50 U.S.C. § 1861. Does Apple consider fingerprint data to be “tangible things” as defined in the USA PATRIOT Act?

    As you can imagine, some people already think that Touch ID is just a ploy set up by the NSA to get more people to hand over their fingerprint data. While I don’t think that’s the case, there’s a legitimate privacy concern here. Did Apple really make the right decision when implementing a fingerprint scanner into the iPhone 5S? Will it lead to a new wave of identity theft cases as hackers steal iPhones and extract fingerprints from the devices?

    At this point in time, it’s hard to say. Franken is right to be concerned, however, and I’m sure many are waiting to see what Apple has to say in response to his letter.

    [Image: Al Franken/Facebook]

  • How Different Is The iPhone 5C From the iPhone 5?

    Today is the day – the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are launching in stores around the world. People are no doubt picking up the iPhone 5S in droves, but what about its cheaper counterpart – the iPhone 5C? Is there any reason to upgrade to the 5C from the iPhone 5?

    In a new teardown video from cellhelmet, he takes apart both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C to see just how different they are. In short, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C are nearly identical spec wise. The difference comes from how the two devices are built which is sure to please those who like to take apart and rebuild mobile devices.

    So, what does this mean to the average consumer? Not much. If you already own an iPhone 5, you won’t see any performance improvement from the iPhone 5C. The only reason to buy the iPhone 5C is if you like its colorful plastic casing. For everybody else, the iPhone 5S is your best option when looking for a noticeable upgrade in performance.

    [h/t: Gizmodo]
    [Image: Michael Kane/YouTube]

  • iOS 7 Download Problems Run Rampant

    Apple released the iOS 7 update on Wednesday, and some users have had a lot of issues when trying to update their devices. Not only are many users having trouble downloading the iOS 7 update, they are having difficulty activating the download as well. While any Apple update is going to have glitches, some users are reportedly spending hours and hours trying to update their devices.

    If Apple is trying to get their iPhone users to smash their old devices in a fit of anger so they’ll buy the iPhone 5S that is released today, then well played, Apple, well played. If their goal isn’t the destruction of older devices, however, then the company is off to a rough start with the operating system that is supposed to compete with the Android.

    While slow download times is one huge problem being mentioned with the iOS 7 update, many users are reporting getting download errors.

    (image)

    So far there is no word from Apple on all of the iOS 7 download problems, but an update that is (at least mostly) bug-free should be released eventually. Hopefully an update won’t take months, as was the case with the iOS 6 bugs. Just a side note–the writer of this article has an iPhone 5 and updated her phone to the iOS 7 yesterday with no problems. The download and update took all of 15 minutes. From the looks of some humorous Twitter posts, however, such an easy download and installation wasn’t the norm.

    Do you plan to update to iOS 7? Discuss your experience below.

    After users eventually update their devices to iOS 7, the new operating system does have some pretty cool updates. In addition to flatter, more simplistic icons, the camera settings are improved, a Control Center was added and multitasking is made easier.

    Main image via YouTube; Error image via Sun

  • It’s iPhone 5s And 5c Release Day

    The day is here. Eager consumers can now get their iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c. At least some of them can. Word is that supplies of the gold model are limited, so if that’s the one you want, you can try your luck. Either way, the release date is upon us.

    Here’s what people are saying about the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in real time:



    “iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand,” said Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller, upon announcing the device. “iPhone 5s sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people, like Touch ID, a simple and secure way to unlock your phone with just a touch of your finger.”

    “iPhone 5c is everything iPhone 5 was and more, in an all-new design packed with great features,” said Schiller. “iPhone 5c is designed with a beautiful polycarbonate enclosure that looks and feels so solid in your hand.”

    The 5s comes in gold, silver, or “space gray”. It’s available in the US for $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model. The 5c comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $99 for the 16GB model and $199 for the 32GB model.

    iPhone 5s cases are available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and red for $39. 5c cases are available in blue, green, pink, yellow, black and white for $29.

    You can read more about the devices here.

    Image: Apple