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Tag: iPhone

  • iPhone 5 Ads Prove Effective Compared To Celebrity Siri Ads

    According to research from Ace Metrix, Apple’s new ads for the iPhone 5 account for two of the top three ads among mobile phones of the year to date.

    The top ad, based on the firm’s “Ace Score” metric, was Samsung’s The Best Of A Phone And Tablet, but numbers two and three were “Pictures Made Bigger” and “Shaped to Fit the Ears” respectively. Those are both iPhone 5 ads. Here’s Ace Metrix’s list of the most effective mobile phone ads of 2012 to date:

    iPhone 5 Ads Are Effective

    The Ace Score is described as the measure of the ad’s creative effectiveness, based on viewer-reaction to national TV ads. Ace Metrix obtains this by randomly selecting respondents, which it says are representative of the U.S. TV viewing audience, and the results are presented on a scale of 1-950. Attributes that go into the scoring include: relevance, persuasion, watchability, information, attention, etc.

    “While they are still neck and neck with Samsung from ad effectiveness perspective in the mobile phone category, Apple’s performance in promoting the iPhone 5 was an improvement vs. many of the recent celebrity efforts for Siri,” noted Ace Metrix CEO Peter Daboll. “However, the iPhone ‘launch’ ads almost always perform well – part of the ‘i-phoria’ that accompanies these new product introductions.”

    According to the firm, Apple’s new ads have performed particularly well among wealthy young women. The panoramic camera ad in particular, the firm says, appealed heavily to moms.

  • The Next iPhone May Be Made By Robots

    The Next iPhone May Be Made By Robots

    Human workers are awful. All they do is write scathing undercover reports on working conditions and instigate riots at the factory. What’s a company like Foxconn to do?

    A report from the 21st Century Business Herald says that Foxconn may be ramping up its process of replacing human workers with robots. The company reportedly had 10,000 robots last year and is hoping to have 300,000 robots working in its factories this year. All of this is leading to the company’s ultimate plan to have 1 million robots working by 2014.

    The process of replacing human workers with robots is reportedly taking longer than expected though. The company hasn’t yet reached the 300,000 mark this year, and the report says that they’ve only been able to reach one-tenth of that amount so far. The robots that have been introduced to the assembly line are being used for simple processes in iPhone and iPad production. More complicated jobs still require the dexterity of human hands.

    The switch to robot labor has come at a time when Foxconn has been forced to start paying its workers more. Due to FLA audits and riots, Foxconn has agreed to raise the wages of its human workers. With robot workers, Foxconn would not only save money on wages, as the company could save even more money on not having to pay for food, housing or other amenities.

    It’s tough to say if Foxconn will be able to replace 1 million workers with robots in two years. It’s unlikely, but it could have a devastating effect on the economy if it comes to pass. Foxconn already employs a little over a million workers in mainland China. Many people are actually moving away from the country to the cities to work at these factories. Replacing them could increase the number of poor and homeless in China’s urban centers.

    Besides, Foxconn is missing the major point here. What if the robots start a riot? Tear gas and nightsticks won’t work on them. They might even enlist their noodle slicing brethren to start stabbing everything in sight.

    [h/t: The Next Web]

  • If You Miss Google Maps On iOS, Bing Thinks You Should Use Bing Maps

    Google Maps and its disappearance from iOS have been in the news a lot over the past week or so, and lots of other companies are stepping up pointing to their own maps offerings. Microsoft is the latest, and is now going around reminding people that they can use Bing Maps from the Bing app on iOS 6.

    “With all the recent chatter about mobile apps, particularly mapping in iOS 6, a lot of people are wondering which apps given them both the essential tools they need and a great experience,” a spokesperson for Bing tells WebProNews. “Well, Bing has them covered and now is a great time to download the Bing App for iPhone.”

    “The Bing App, which is free and iOS 6 compatible, helps people easily find what they need – whether it’s using voice activated search to find maps and driving directions or Bing Vision to scan and find that great bottle of wine that was shared with friends,” he adds. “Just wanted to offer a reminder that a great mapping and search option exists for iPhone users, and they don’t have to wait for it.”

    The company also put out a blog post to the same effect, though they didn’t talk about maps too much in it, other than to mention that you can “get walking, transit, and driving directions with current traffic conditions and maps,” and to show a picture of Bing Maps on an iPhone.

    Bing Maps on iPhone

    It’s worth noting that iOS users can still access Google Maps from the web via their mobile devices. There’s just not an app currently available (though it sounds like that will change within the next couple months or so).

    In other Google Maps news, the company introduced some pretty breathtaking under water “Street View” imagery today.

  • iPhone 5 Lightning Cable Knockoffs Won’t Work

    iPhone 5 users who were hoping to get cheap third-party replacement or supplementary Lightning cables might be disappointed to learn that those cables aren’t likely to work.

    An employee from Double Helix Cables has told Apple Insider that the new Lightning cables have what appear to be authentication chips inside of them. During a teardown, the chip was found inside the connector, between the V+ contact and the power pin.

    What this means is that cables without an authentication chip are not going to work with the iPhone 5. Apple Insider points out that this “feature” might also be a factor in the higher cost of the Lightning connectors compared to the old iPhone connectors. A new Lightning cable from Apple costs $19 and takes 2 to 3 weeks to ship.

    The discovery isn’t surprising, as Apple has been known to include things such as tiny, non-standard screws in its products to prevent customers from taking them apart. The company wants to control every aspect of a user’s iPhone experience, including the cables that are inserted into it. No doubt third-party accessory manufacturers will eventually figure out how to create a Lightning knock-off, but it might be a while before customers will see less expensive iPhone 5 connectors on the market.

    In related iPhone 5 connector news, it was revealed last week that the Lightning to 30-pin adapter that Apple is selling for $29 will not support the iPod Out format, meaning some stereos and car systems will not be able to work properly with the iPhone 5.

    (BGR)

  • This iPhone 5 Screen Protector Deflects Bullets

    It was proven last week that the iPhone 5 can’t survive a shot from a .50 cal rifle. The phone was completely and utterly destroyed. What about a shot from a Colt 45? With the right equipment, it apparently survives.

    iPhone 5 screen protector company ClearPlex wanted to put their new product to the ultimate test. They bought two iPhone 5s and shot both of them with a Colt 45. One of the devices didn’t have a screen protector, while the other did. The results are pretty surprising.

    As expected, the phone without the screen protector has its screen completely destroyed. It’s impressive enough that the bullet apparently doesn’t go through the phone, but the damage is still irreparable. Another phone has the ClearPlex screen protector applied, and the bullet is just deflected without any damage being made to the screen.

    It sounds unbelievable, but the team created a making of video to prove that their screen protector is the real deal.

    I’m still not entirely sold, but it’s still pretty impressive regardless. Before you know it, people will start using their iPhones as make-shift bulletproof pocket protectors.

  • As Apple Maps Flounders, MapQuest App Gets Updates

    Though the new Apple Maps app has caused a bit of frustration and laughter, but the software is still usable for everyday purposes. I suspect most of the complaints lobbed at Apple over Maps is part of the shock of going from the feature-rich (and developed and maintained by 7,100 people) Google Maps experience to a newer, buggier Apple experience. That simply doesn’t happen often, and it’s widely suggested that Apple should have left its new Maps app off iOS 6 until it was truly ready.

    It’s too late to go back though, and iPhone users will have to somehow deal with distorted satellite images, poor location search, and misplaced buildings. Apple is on a hiring spree, hiring even former Google Maps engineers to work on their new software. Google, meanwhile, hopes to get a stand-alone app store version of Google Maps out before Christmas, though progress is slow. One other fallback option for iPhone users that may not be immediately considered is AOL’s MapQuest app for iOS.

    MapQuest today announced an update to their iPhone app that includes a few new features. Perhaps it senses that its app is about to get a lot more use and it wants to impress, or perhaps this is just part of its regular update cycle. Either, way, MapQuest now features “drop a pin” and favorites. “Drop a pin” will allow users to mark any location on the map and receive directions to it, without having to know the name of the location. The favorites feature allows users to bookmark places the travel to often (or are planning on traveling to) for easier access.

  • Foxconn Riot Ends With Injuries and Arrests

    Workers at Foxconn’s Tiayuan plant in Northern China rioted Sunday evening, injuring 40 people and resulting in several arrests.

    The riot was made up of about 2,000 people and took place outside of the workers’ dormitories. The cause of the riot is not certain, though The Next Web reports that Baidu posts claim the violence started when security guards began hitting a worker.

    It is also unclear how much damage was done to the facility. The Next Web states that the Tiayuan facility is the same one infiltrated by an undercover journalist earlier this month to document the working conditions. That reporter worked on assembling parts for the iPhone 5 during his time there, meaning these riots could conceivably delay the shipment of more iPhone 5s.

    This isn’t the first time Foxconn has seen a riot at one of its city-sized plants. In June of this year workers at Foxconn’s Chengdu plant rioted after workers accosted security guards in the worker dorms.

    Foxconn is a Chinese manufacturer that is well-known for manufacturing Apple’s iPhones and iPhone parts. The company in the past has been criticized for its working conditions and for the multiple suicides committed by its workers. Foxconn has recently committed to cutting workers’ long hours and improving safety in their facilities.

    Below is a video taken during the event, though the hectic nature of the footage and poor lighting make it nearly impossible to see what is happening. The second video appears to have been taken after the riot, and shows a bit of the aftermath, including the large police presence.

  • iPhone 5 Sells As Many in 3 Days as the iPhone 4S Did in One Month

    Today was finally it. iPhone 5 day. Customers who had been waiting in lines outside of Apple stores were finally able to enter and receive their new most-prized possession. But, wait – isn’t that deja vu we’re all feeling? Hasn’t this all happened before? Indeed, it has, but if you think the hype for the iPhone 5 compares to that of the iPhone 4S, think again.

    Apple today told the Wall Street Journal that the iPhone 5 has far surpassed any previous models in terms of pre-orders. The initial shipment of the devices was sold out in one hour, and it was revealed later that Apple sold 2 million pre-orders during that first day.

    Digital marketing research firm comScore compared the numbers compared the numbers revealed in the WSJ article to the numbers they have for iPhone 4S sales from October 2011. It turns out that during its first three days of availability, the number of iPhone 5 online U.S. pre-orders were nearly as high as the number of iPhone 4S’ sold in its first month.

    This isn’t particularly surprising, given that analysts last month predicted Apple could eventually sell as many as 250 million iPhone 5s. It’s just a reminder of the powerful branding Apple has in the smartphone market, and how that power is continuing to grow, despite increased competition.

  • iPhone 5 Best Buy Pre-Orders Not Being Fulfilled

    Best Buy today sent out emails to some customers who pre-ordered the iPhone 5 from their stores, informing them that they might not actually be receiving the device for quite some time.

    9 to 5 Mac also obtained a copy of a Best Buy internal memo that states: “Based on current inventor allocation, we understand we will not have enough iPhone 5 devices to fulfill all pre-orders this weekend.” It goes on to say that Best Buy is dedicated to getting the iPhone’s into customers’ hands “no later than 28 days from launch.”

    The email sent to customers took a decidedly more personal tone than the memo, calling the customer by name and using empathetic language. A screenshot of an email provided by a 9 to 5 Mac reader read:

    I know that you’re excited to get your new iPhone 5 and you can be sure we are as excited to sell it to you. Unfortunately, as of the night before the official launch, Best Buy has not received enough of the specific model phone you ordered, and we will not have it available on launch day. You can be certain that we are working very hard to get you, as quickly as possible, the exact iPhone 5 model you pre-ordered. It could take as long as 28 days to find the iPhone you want. However, there is no doubt that the fact you pre-ordered a phone from Best Buy means you will be able to buy it before any consumer trying to find one on their own.

    Trust us, we will be able to get you the phone you want – maybe not as fast as you might want, but likely as fast as anyone else at this point.

    I really appreciate your patience and willingness to shop Best Buy. We look forward to getting you the phone you ordered with us.

    So, did Apple promise Best Buy more iPhone 5s than they delivered, or has Best Buy been selling pre-orders to customers without knowing whether they would be able to fulfill them? Well, consider that this isn’t the first time iPhones at Best Buy haven’t been available on launch day. According to Consumer Reports, the company pulled the same move last year, and some customers ended up having to wait weeks for their iPhone 4S.

  • iPhone 5 Unboxing: Behold The White 32 GB Model [Video]

    Haven’t gotten your hands on an iPhone 5 yet, but anxiously awaiting the moment when you can? At least people are uploading videos of the unboxing to YouTube so you can watch them.

    Here’s one from GottaBeMobile, showing off the white 32GB model:

    Now want to see an iPhone 5 dropped on the ground repeatedly? Here you go.

    And don’t forget to check out this one that somebody glued to the ground.

    More iPhone 5 fun here.

  • iOS 6 Is Now Available For Download

    iOS 6 Is Now Available For Download

    iOS users can now download the long-awaited iOS 6, which adds over 200 new features to Apple’s operating system.

    The big ones Apple has been pushing include new Maps, Siri improvements, Facebook integration, shared photos streams, Passbook, FaceTime over cell networks as well as WiFi, new calling features, a redesigned mail offering, Safari improvements and more accessibility features. Here’s the big feature rundown. Here’s Apple’s “What’s New” page.

    As of today, you don’t need an iPhone 5 to get a brand new iPhone experience. While the iOS comes in time for the September 21 iPhone 5 shipping date, it is also available for the following devices: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch (4th and 5th generation), iPad 2 and The New iPad.

    You can learn a lot more about iOS 6 by perusing our various articles on it here.

    Let us know what you think of the OS in the comments.

  • Watch This iPhone 5 Unboxing Video

    Watch This iPhone 5 Unboxing Video

    In case you haven’t seen what it looks like to take an iPhone 5 out of its box yet, but this is something you’re looking forward to, you’re in for a treat here (courtesy of T3):

    If that music doesn’t get you in the mood, perhaps this video will.

    The device is unsurprisingly getting rave reviews. Here’s a round-up of what’s being said.

    More iPhone 5 coverage here.

  • iCloud Helps Kentucky Woman Get Her Stolen iPhone Back

    Chalk up another success for Apple’s iCloud. A Louisville woman was able to help police track down a man who allegedly stole her iPhone thanks to Apple’s service.

    A 56-year-old man named Granville A. Cobble was reportedly arrested, and charged with theft by unlawful taking. According to Louisville’s Courier Journal, the woman tracked the phone to a repair store in the city. The newspaper reports:

    Police said Cobble tried to sell the phone there, but the store refused to buy the phone because Cobble didn’t know the password to unlock the phone. The store owner told police Cobble was a “regular customer of the store,” according to the report.

    The store was able to provide police with a photo of Cobble, leading to his identification, according to the report.

    WDRB reports that, according to an arrest warrant, the phone was stolen when someone broke into the woman’s car while it was parked at the E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

    Apple’s operating system, iOS, is getting its much anticipated iOS 6 update today, and along with that comes some new iCloud features.

  • iPhone 5 Won’t Be Getting An Official Dock From Apple

    iPhone owners sure love their docks. That’s the impression I get at least whenever I walk into a Radio Shack. Speaker and clock docks are all over the place with every manufacturer hoping to cash in on the iPhone craze. Apple themselves made a few docks during the iPhone 4 and 4S days, but that may no longer be the case.

    An inquisitive Apple fan shot an email to Apple’s Philip Schiller about the chances of a new dock from Apple. He was disappointed that Apple didn’t show off a new dock during their iPhone 5 presentation last week and was hoping for some good news. Unfortunately, Schiller had anything but good news.

    His response, according to a leak from 9to5Mac, said:

    We do not plan on making a dock for the iPhone 5. Most people who use docks use them with speaker or clock systems.

    The logic behind Apple’s decision is sound, but it still stings nonetheless. The new Lightning connector from Apple is making every old accessory obsolete. Third-party manufacturers are going to most likely fill in the void with their own Lightning connector docks, but Apple is not going to be involved in that market.

    For now, your best best is to buy the Lightning to 30-pin adapter. Sure, it costs $30, but Apple wants to make sure that all of your accessories work with the iPhone 5. You might even have to buy two or three adapters. You already spent at least $199 on the iPhone 5. What’s another $30 to $90 going to do? Besides, you’re encouraging an era of expensive proprietary connectors at the expense of accepted standards. That’s a good thing, right?

  • New iPhone Record Set As iPhone 5 Pre-Orders Top 2 Million In A Day

    Apple announced that pre-orders of the highly anticipated iPhone 5 topped 2 million in just 24 hours, more than doubling the previous record for iPhone pre-orders. Before the iPhone 5 was unveiled, the last model – the iPhone 4S – held the record at just one million.

    A lot of people were expecting Apple to unveil the iPhone 5 last year, but were instead given the iPhone 4S. Despite its new features (like the popular Siri), some simply wanted to hold off on purchasing a new iPhone until the iPhone 5 was released. It would be interesting to know the breakdown of how many of those ordering the iPhone 5 did not buy a 4S and those that did.

    “iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 5 is the best iPhone yet, the most beautiful product we’ve ever made, and we hope customers love it as much as we do.”

    There’s actually been a fair amount of talk about disappointment from the device, but clearly that’s not slowing down sales. As we head into the holiday season, Apple is bound to have quite a quarter.

    Apple stock is already benefiting greatly from the iPhone 5.

  • This Artist’s iPhone Oil Paintings Utilize Face Grease

    For smartphones users, keeping the touchscreen clean and free of fingerprints, debris, grease, and smears of inexplicable origin is one of the hardest battles. As a glasses-wearer with an iPhone, I always feel like I’m looking at everything on my screen through a hazy dual-film. It’s kind of gross, when you really think about it.

    Gross or not, all of that grime that accumulates on your touchscreen is the basis for some of the most unusual art I’ve seen in quite some time.

    (image)

    New York-based artist JK Keller is currently the world’s premier iPhone oil painter. No, he doesn’t paint pictures of iPhones with oil-based paint. He doesn’t dip the iPhone in paint and use it as a brush. In his case, the “oil” he uses as a medium is human in its origin.

    The self-described “self-obsesser” uses his oily face as his palette, and he mixes his pigment by rubbing an iphone across it. As you would imagine this produces a nice sheen of grease, produced from his very own pores, on the screen. The next step in creating one of his iPhone oil paintings is to use his fingers to spread the face grease into patterns that will ultimately look cool when light hits them.

    “It’s a play on expectations of what that phrase [oil paintings] means in the traditional sense…You’re a little grossed out, but also think it looks pretty cool to watch the anisotropic light reflections shift as you move the phone around,” he told Mashable.

    “Well, if they introduce special anti-grease glass I’m screwed,” said Keller in a tweet. Lucky for him, that wasn’t one of the new features announced during last week’s big iPhone 5 event.

    Check out some of his “paintings” below:

    (image)

    (image)

  • iPhone 5 Sells Out In One Hour, For Every Carrier

    No matter how disappointed some critics may have been about the iterative (rather than revolutionary) design of the iPhone 5, the device is clearly fated to be one of, if not the, best-selling consumer electronics device in history.

    Preorders for Apple’s new smartphone started at 12:01 PDT (3:01 EDT) this morning. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple sold out of its initial U.S. shipments of the device within one hour. This is true for every U.S. carrier that is selling the iPhone: AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint have pushed back their shipping dates for the device to two weeks, according to the Apple website. The AT&T website still claims that preordered devices will arrive on September 21st, though, making it unclear as to whether the carrier still has iPhones to sell or whether its website update has been delayed.

    Customers can still preorder the phone, of course, but the shipping times for the device have been pushed back a week. If customers have not been able to preorder their iPhone 5 within that first hour, it appears their only option for getting an iPhone 5 on its September 21 launch day is to wait in one of those long iPhone launch day lines in front of an Apple store.

    The sellout of the initial shipment of the iPhone 5 is not surprising, but the speed with which it sold out makes it clear that Apple is, inconceivably, becoming even more popular in the eyes of consumers. Weeks before the announcement of the iPhone 5, an industry analyst predicted that 10 million iPhone 5s could be sold during its first week on sale.

  • Here’s Apple’s EarPods Promo Video

    Here’s Apple’s EarPods Promo Video

    Apple revealed the iPhone 5 yesterday, but they also debuted a handful of other products: among them, the new “EarPods,” which come with the device.

    “Just like fingerprints, ears are unique parts of the body,” says Apple. “Which means earbud headphones fit differently on everyone. So rather than use the speaker as the starting point for new headphones, Apple designers and engineers started with the ear. They tested over a hundred prototype designs on hundreds of people. All with the goal of creating earbuds that rest comfortably inside — and stay inside — a variety of ear types, while also producing quality sound. The result is a breakthrough for earbud headphones: Apple EarPods. They’re unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard.”

    Apple has now uploaded the EarPods promo video to YouTube, so check it out:

    “Apple EarPods are just the beginning of the improved audio experience on iPhone 5,” Apple claims. “It’s designed with three microphones: one on the front, one on the back, and one on the bottom. The front and back mics work together to achieve beamforming — a technique that helps iPhone focus on sound from the desired location for clearer audio. New noise-canceling technology reduces background noise. So when you hold iPhone up to your ear in a loud room, you hear what matters most: the voice on the other end.”

    More iPhone 5 coverage here. More from the Apple Event here.

  • Want An iPhone 5, But Don’t Like Contracts? Cricket’s Got Your Back

    Apple revealed the iPhone 5 yesterday alongside the carriers that would be providing consumers with the new phone. It was revealed that the usual suspects – AT&T, Verizon and Sprint – would be offering the 16GB base model for $199 with a two year contract. The announcement failed to mention if there would be a contract free model available to those who don’t like signing their life away for two years.

    Cricket, noting the decided lack of pre-paid iPhone 5 goodness at Apple’s event, sprung into action today with their announcement. The company announced that the iPhone 5 will be available in select Cricket markets on September 28.

    No word on price just yet, but Cricket’s current price for the iPhone 4S reflect a pre-iPhone 5 world at $499 for the 16GB model. It’s assumed that Cricket will discount the iPhone 4S down to $400 and start selling the iPhone 5 for $499. It’s a bit pricey, but their iPhone plan is only $55 a month for unlimited talk, text and data.

    For comparison’s sake, AT&T’s individual unlimited plan is $69 a month. That doesn’t include the cost of data, but you are getting 4G LTE with AT&T or Verizon. Cricket is only able to offer 3G speeds at this point in time. T-Mobile is also courting iPhone users with unlimited 4G data plans, but it requires that the user buy an unlocked iPhone which starts at $649.

    For the best upfront deal, a contract is still the best way to go. A pre-paid iPhone 5, however, would you save you a lot of money in the long run. It really depends on how badly you want 4G LTE speeds.

  • Here’s Apple’s Official iPhone 5 Intro Video

    Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 yesterday. There’s a link to the full presentation here, but Apple has now uploaded the actual promotional iPhone 5 introduction video to YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

    Here you go:

    If you go to the YouTube video page, you can even start a Google+ hangout and watch it with your buddies.

    More iPhone 5 coverage here.

  • iPhone 3GS Is Officially A Thing Of The Past (Unless You Already Own One)

    Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 on Wednesday, and also revealed lower pricing on previous models. The iPhone 4S dropped to $99 with a two-year contract. The iPhone 4 is now free with a contract. So where does that leave the iPhone 3GS?

    Well, it leaves it in the past. Apple was expected to discontinue the device, but AllThingsD is reporting that Apple has now confirmed this to be the case.

    The 3GS launched in 2009, and has been the free option since the launch of the 4S. That alone has continued to make it an attractive offer for those who want iPhones, but who don’t want to fork out the money for the newer models. The honor of filling that void goes to the 4S now.

    If you already have a 3GS, and weren’t planning on upgrading, don’t fret, because iOS 6, Apple’s new operating system version, is still coming to the device, though the phone does not have the capabilities to utilize all of the features (of which there are over 200 new ones).

    The iPhone 5 releases on September 21 here in the U.S. and a handful of other countries, before rolling out to more countries a week later.

    More on the iPhone 5 here.