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Tag: iPhone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    LG hit out with:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • iPhone 6 Owners Adapt to Larger, Bendier Devices

    It seems that iPhone fans always find a nit to pick with every new edition of the world’s most popular smartphone. Most years these gripes are minor, requiring no acknowledgement from Apple. Others are significant enough (like the iPhone 4’s antenna problems) to cause class action lawsuits and push Apple to give away free peripherals. This year’s big iPhone 6 problem is beginning to look like one of the latter.

    The trouble began early this week when some iPhone 6 owners began reporting that their new smartphones were beginning to bend. iPhones have never been the most durable high-end smartphones – but they’ve also never bent from normal smartphone usage.

    It appears that the issue is due to the larger size of the new iPhone models. Despite years of perfecting their carefully-machined case designs, materials science has only come so far. Aluminium is a relatively malleable metal and the larger size of the iPhone 6 Plus, combined with its thinner profile, is making that fact more apparent.

    With the bending issue now known, Apple could respond to the scandal in a couple of different ways. The company could go the iPhone 4 route and give away free cases to consumers, which could presumably prevent bending. Or, Apple could simply tell customers that the iPhone habits they’ve developed over the years (such as keeping the device in tight pants pockets) won’t work for the iPhone 6.

    Some Apple fans in the MacRumors forum thread where the bending issue was first raised are already defending the company, blaming iPhone 6 owners’ habits or bodies for the problem.

    In the future, Apple will have to carefully consider whether aluminium is the right metal to use for larger iPhones – or whether metal should be used at all. Samsung, Apple’s closest competitor, has been using tough plastics for its Galaxy smartphones for years. Apple itself used a polycarbonate plastic in its less-expensive iPhone 5C models, and industry analysts have already predicted that plastics are the future of the smartphone industry.

  • iOS 8.0.1 Is Messing Up iPhones, According To A Lot Of Angry People

    Update: Re/code shares this statement from Apple:

    “We are actively investigating these reports and will provide information as quickly as we can,” a spokesperson said. “In the meantime we have pulled back the iOS 8.0.1 update.”

    —

    If you have an iPhone, you may want to think twice about downloading its latest software update iOS 8.0.1. It appears to be causing problems for a lot of people.

    Here’s a small sampling of current reactions on Twitter:

    Business Insider says some people in its office updated their phones, and it turned them into “bricks”. TechCrunch is also reporting first-hand issues.

    Evidently, while the update fixes some bugs from the previous release, it disables Touch ID, and is impacting actual cell phone service for some. You’ll probably want to wait for the next update.

    This comes as Apple is facing backlash over its new phones bending in people’s pockets.

    According to the company, 46% of iOS users are on iOS 8.

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 6 Bending: Not A Cool New Feature

    The iPhone 6 is bending in pockets, say some customers.

    The iPhone 6 bending problem has become known as “Bendgate” for good reason.

    Many distraught customers who just shelled out their hard-earned money for the latest and greatest Apple gadget have found that the iPhone 6 models’ slimmer and larger design make it easy for the phones to bend while in a pocket.

    The iPhone bending trend isn’t a new one. Previous iPhone models, like the 5s, as well as those from other manufacturers, like the HTC One, have reported issues with bending, but none have become an epidemic like this problem has.

    As noted on imore.com,

    “If you apply enough force to an inch-thick solid steel rod, it will bend. Same goes for the quarter-inch-thick iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (which, I should note, have far less than a quarter of an inch of aluminum in any one spot). Aluminum is actually a fairly soft metal, ranking at 2.5-to-3 on the Mohs scale of hardness. That is to say, it’s about as tough as a U.S. penny (which is actually 97.5% zinc and just plated in copper).”

    So, if you just spent hundreds of dollars on your new toy and are now afraid of your iPhone 6 bending, there are some things that can be done to prevent this.

    For example, if you can’t keep your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus in your purse or man bag or whatever and must keep it in a pocket, go for the front pocket. Also, when it’s in your front pocket, try to keep it upright.

    Some hard cases could help prevent the iPhone 6 from bending, but those softer and more pliable cases won’t do a thing.

    What do you think? Should new iPhone 6 owners have seen this issue coming?

    Image Via YouTube

  • iPhone 6 And 6 Plus Sales Set New Record

    Apple revealed that it sold over 10 million new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models during the first three days of availability. This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but that’s a record breaking opening weekend for iPhones.

    Before the devices became available, Apple had already set a record with pre-orders.

    “Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn’t be happier,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin. While our team managed the manufacturing ramp better than ever before, we could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible.”

    The devices are currently available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK, and will be available in over 20 more countries on September 26.

    The company is telling potential customers to keep checking back at the Apple Store or online for updates on availability and estimated delivery dates. Or you could just spend a ridiculous amount of money and buy a new iPhone on eBay.

    Here’s a closer look at the new devices and iOS 8.

    Image via Apple

  • What Do iOS 8 And The New iPhones Mean For You?

    Well, Apple’s new operating system (iOS 8) and iPhones (6 and 6 Plus) are officially out. What does the OS update mean for you? Should you get one of the new phones? We’ll try to help you answer those questions throughout the course of this article.

    What do you think of the new devices? The new OS? Share your thoughts here.

    First things first. Here’s what iOS 8 looks like.

    Just kidding. If you don’t want to, you don’t even have to keep the new U2 album in your iTunes library. If you found it, and were less than thrilled, just know that was Apple and the band being “punk rock” and “disruptive”.

    Okay, let’s move along.

    iOS 8

    Apple calls the new version the biggest iOS release ever. It features major updates to apps like Messages and Photos, new content sharing capabilities, and new connections between apps and devices.

    “Quickly find and edit the photos you take,” Apple says of the release. “Add your voice right in a text message. Let your health and fitness apps communicate with each other, with your trainer, and even with your doctor. We’ve also provided developers with deeper access and more tools. You’ll have new keyboard options and even more ways to share your content. And you’ll be able to use iCloud and Touch ID in ways you never have before.”

    The new Photos app has new search features and smart albums that take care of your photo organization, makes your shots look better, and has new editing tools.

    Messages lets you tap to record and send voice or video message. You can also share your location easily.

    The iOS 8 interface gives you a new way to respond to notifications as well as shortcuts for those you talk to most. There are also new Mail management features.

    The virtual keyboard adds contextual word suggestions as you type, even recognizing who you’re typing to and whether you’re in Mail or Messages.

    There’s a Family Sharing feature that lets up to six people in your household share each other’s purchases from iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store. It lets families keep up with each other’s photos, calendars, and locations, as well.

    iCloud Drive lets you work on any file from any device, and the OS connects with Macs in a deeper way than was previously possible. You can start an email on one device, for example, and continue it on another. You can even answer phone calls from your iPhone on your Mac or iPad, and send SMS messages from any of these devices.

    Also included is an activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and other health and fitness apps that communicate with each other.

    For developers, the iOS 8 SDK has over 4,000 new APIs, and includes new sharing options, widgets, custom actions and document APIs.

    iOS 8 became available on Wednesday, and is available for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display.

    iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

    The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus became available on Friday, but even before that, the the reviews from the tech blogs were overwhelmingly positive.

    The iPhone 6 is a “thin, sexy phone with a killer camera,” says noted tech journalist David Pogue.

    The device is “the best smartphone you can buy,” according to Walt Mossberg at Re/code.

    “The iPhone 6 is a great upgrade for current iPhone owners, or for anyone, really. It manages to provide a much larger display in a phone that’s still small enough to handle easily,’ he writes.

    The sentiments are echoed throughout the…echo chamber. Most have just about the same amount of praise for the iPhone 6 Plus, but some do find it to be just too big.

    John Gruber, who is perhaps the most well-known blogger of all things Apple, says, “If you simply want a bigger iPhone, get the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. That’s what it feels like: a bigger iPhone. If you want something bigger than an iPhone, get the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. It feels more like a new device — a hybrid device class that is bigger than an iPhone but smaller than an iPad Mini — than it feels like a bigger iPhone.”

    He adds, “If you don’t want a bigger iPhone — and in recent weeks I’ve heard from numerous readers who still pine for the 3.5-inch display iPhones — you might be disappointed by this year’s iPhone lineup, and should consider sticking with the iPhone 5-class models.”

    Read Gruber’s take for probably the most comprehensive review of the devices out there so far.

    But all of that was from the media. What do average people think about the devices? Well, here’s a real-time feed of the iPhone conversation on Twitter, so see for yourself:


    In light of recent celebrity photo leaks, the security of Apple devices has come into question, which is probably why Tim Cook wrote a letter for the company’s website addressing security and privacy concerns. Here are a couple of excerpts from that:

    Security and privacy are fundamental to the design of all our hardware, software, and services, including iCloud and new services like Apple Pay. And we continue to make improvements. Two-step verification, which we encourage all our customers to use, in addition to protecting your Apple ID account information, now also protects all of the data you store and keep up to date with iCloud.

    We believe in telling you up front exactly what’s going to happen to your personal information and asking for your permission before you share it with us. And if you change your mind later, we make it easy to stop sharing with us. Every Apple product is designed around those principles. When we do ask to use your data, it’s to provide you with a better user experience.

    …

    Our business model is very straightforward: We sell great products. We don’t build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don’t “monetize” the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don’t read your email or your messages to get information to market to you. Our software and services are designed to make our devices better. Plain and simple.

    One very small part of our business does serve advertisers, and that’s iAd. We built an advertising network because some app developers depend on that business model, and we want to support them as well as a free iTunes Radio service. iAd sticks to the same privacy policy that applies to every other Apple product. It doesn’t get data from Health and HomeKit, Maps, Siri, iMessage, your call history, or any iCloud service like Contacts or Mail, and you can always just opt out altogether.

    Cook also makes it a point to note that Apple has never worked with a government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of its products or services, and has never allowed access to services (and “never will”).

    The NFC feature of the new iPhone models only support Apple Pay, which is the company’s new payment mechanism for users to pay for good and services in the physical world (as well as online). Still, the company already has 220,000 retail locations on board for that.

    In case you’re wondering how the phones stack up against their Android counterparts, here’s a comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S5.

    Oh, and don’t forget, if you get an iPhone, you’ll be able to use that Apple Watch when it comes out.

    Do you plan on getting a new iPhone? If so, which one? Using iOS 8? What do you think so far? Let us know in the comments.

    Images via Apple

  • iPhone 6 Release Day Arrives, and You Better Hope You Pre-Ordered the 6 Plus

    It’s iPhone 6 release day, and as is the case with many Apple product launches, people are lining up at stores around the world to get their hands on the new devices.

    Of course, if you pre-ordered your new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus you can just sit back and wait for it to arrive in the mail. It all depends on when you placed you order, however, when it comes to when you’ll get your iPhone 6 Plus.

    Apple still has plenty of stock of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, but the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus is another story. Last Friday, when both phones became available for pre-order, customers bought out the iPhone 6 Plus stock rather quickly. Within hours, shipping times on the iPhone 6 Plus – both from Apple itself and the various carriers – had been pushed back to three to four weeks. In some cases, carriers said they wouldn’t be able to ship the iPhone 6 Plus until mid-to-late October.

    Apple soon announced that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus had set a new record for pre-orders, with over four million in the first 24 hours.

    So, long story short, if you pre-ordered an iPhone 6 you’re in good shape to receive it on time. If you pre-ordered an iPhone 6 Plus, it all depends on if you ordered it when stock was still available.

    Not everyone pre-ordered, however, and customers have lined up around the world to purchase the new phones.

    If you’re looking for the iPhone 6 Plus, you’ll be unlikely to find it in retail stores today.

    “We are told that stores have been receiving shipments all throughout the day, and out of all the new iPhone 6 models received, typically only about 2-3% are iPhone 6 Plus units, and in only one color,” reports BGR . “Sources also said there are no 16GB iPhone 6 Plus devices to be found.”

    In other words, you have a better chance of spotting a unicorn dressed as Steve Jobs than finding an iPhone 6 Plus at Best Buy today.

    Image via Apple

  • Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. iPhone 6 – Which is Better?

    Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. iPhone 6 – Which is Better?

    This year’s new iPhone models will hit stores tomorrow. Pre-orders of the devices have already broken Apple’s previous records, meaning sales are likely to set new records as well. The only question remaining is, given the relatively incremental improvements seen in this year’s model, is the iPhone still the best smartphone on the market?

    Looking at those pre-order figures, it’s clear that Apple fans have already made their decision. However, millions of consumers are now carrying around devices manufactured by Apple’s closest competitor, Samsung. With this context, the Wall Street Journal‘s new review of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus directly compares the devices to Samsung’s Galaxy S5.

    The Journal begins its review by addressing the most obvious change the iPhone 6’s have brought Apple fans – larger screen sizes. Though Steve Jobs may have once criticized the usability of larger smartphones, it’s clear now that consumers do want larger displays.

    The iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch 1334 x 750 resolution display that, while smaller than the Galaxy S5’s 5.1-inch display, places the device firmly into a size category comparable to high-end smartphones from the likes of Samsung, Sony, and LG. The iPhone 6 Plus tops the Galaxy S5 with a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution screen, though it doesn’t quite hit the Galaxy Note 4’s massive 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution display.

    The Journal‘s review also claims that the new iPhones have better cameras than the Galaxy S5, despite providing only 8MP images compared to the Galaxy’s 16MP camera. Once again it appears that by focusing on quality lenses and sensors Apple’s smartphones remain some of the best picture-taking devices on the market.

    One area that the new iPhones don’t quite match the competition is battery life. The Journal‘s tests showed that the iPhone 6’s battery can only power the phone at full brightness as long as the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 6 Plus suffers from the same issue, with its battery lasting only 15 percent longer than the iPhone 6. The Galaxy S5’s battery beat both devices in Journal tests, lasting as much as 50 percent as long as the iPhone 6’s battery.

    In a turnabout that could only happen in the fast-moving tech world, Apple seems to have taken cues from Samsung (such as the power button being moved to the side) in designing the iPhone 6. Apple fans will still argue the iPhone 6 is the best smartphone in the world, but one thing is now clear: smartphone designs are becoming homogenized and the iPhone is beginning to look more like Apple’s past than its future.

  • iPhone 6, 6 Plus Reviews Overwhelmingly Positive

    Apple’s new iPhones – the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus – are getting rave reviews from the tech media, as expected. The tech media loves its iPhones, and these are after all the “biggest advancement in the history of the iPhone,” as Tim Cook put it.

    Everyone and their mothers are voicing their opinions on the devices now, and they don’t even become available until Friday. You might want to hold out until the common folk get a chance to use them for a while before you sink your hundreds into them, but so far all indications are that these are great iDevices.

    The iPhone 6 is a “thin, sexy phone with a killer camera,” says noted tech journalist David Pogue.

    The device is “the best smartphone you can buy,” according to Walt Mossberg at Re/code.

    “The iPhone 6 is a great upgrade for current iPhone owners, or for anyone, really. It manages to provide a much larger display in a phone that’s still small enough to handle easily,’ he writes.

    The sentiments are echoed throughout the…echo chamber. Most have just about the same amount of praise for the iPhone 6 Plus, but some do find it to be just too big.

    John Gruber, who is perhaps the most well-known blogger of all things Apple, says, “If you simply want a bigger iPhone, get the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. That’s what it feels like: a bigger iPhone. If you want something bigger than an iPhone, get the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. It feels more like a new device — a hybrid device class that is bigger than an iPhone but smaller than an iPad Mini — than it feels like a bigger iPhone.”

    He adds, “If you don’t want a bigger iPhone — and in recent weeks I’ve heard from numerous readers who still pine for the 3.5-inch display iPhones — you might be disappointed by this year’s iPhone lineup, and should consider sticking with the iPhone 5-class models.”

    iOS 8 will hit the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s today, so if you have (or want) any of those, you’re about to get a new phone anyway, for all intents and purposes. Here’s what’s different about the OS.

    Read Gruber’s take for probably the most comprehensive review of the devices out there so far.

    Image via Apple

  • New iPhones to Drive Record Smartphone Shipments

    New iPhones to Drive Record Smartphone Shipments

    The incredible smartphone market growth seen over the past seven years has begun to slow, but sales of the devices are still increasing. Major tech manufacturers are still relying on the segment for a significant portion of their device sales, though smartphone prices are dropping and the quality of high-end devices is improving at a slower rate.

    Market research firm Juniper Research this week released new estimates for smartphone shipments in 2014. It predicts that unit shipments will reach nearly 1.2 billion by the end of the year, a 19 percent increase over the estimated 985 million smartphones shipped in 2013.

    Samsung and Apple are expected to continue leading the high-end smartphone market around the world. Juniper predicts that these two companies will account for around 45% of smartphone shipments in 2014. The firm also believes that the new iPhone 6 Plus will put pressure on Samsung and other manufacturers that had taken advantage of a market for larger smartphones free of Apple products.

    Apple last week announced this year’s new iPhone – or iPhones to be exact. The iPhone 6 will have a 4.7-inch 1334 x 750 resolution display and the iPhone 6 Plus will have a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display.

    Other than the new screen sizes, the new iPhones offer only a few significant upgrades from the iPhone 5. Both versions of the iPhone 6 will feature Apple’s new 64-bit A8 processor, said by the company to be 25 percent faster than the A7.

    Juniper also predicts that the smartphone market trends seen over the past two years will continue.

    Chinese manufactureers are expected to see continued success selling low-priced smartphones in emerging markets such as China and India. Google’s new Android One initiative could also help these smaller manufacturers pack better hardware and software into their smartphones.

    The largest growth markets for the smartphone industry will be seen in these emerging markets, which Juniper refers to as “vital” for the continued success of smartphones. Sales of smartphones priced at $150 and under are expected to rise, pushing the average sale price of smartphones down to just $274 by the year 2019.

  • iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Top 4 Million Pre-Orders On First Day

    Apple announced that it saw a record first day of iPhone pre-orders for the 6 and 6 Plus, getting four million of them in the first twenty-four hours.

    The company actually told Re/code on Friday that it saw a record number of pre-orders on the first day (they went on sale at 3:01 AM Eastern), but they didn’t give the actual number until now.

    The devices quickly sold out, and Apple updated the shipping times to 3-4 weeks.

    CEO TIm Cook said, “iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are better in every way, and we are thrilled customers love them as much as we do. Pre-orders for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for Apple, and we can’t wait to get our best iPhones yet into the hands of customers starting this Friday.”

    Both devices, Apple says, will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 19th. They’ll hit the following countries on Friday, September 26th: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

    The Apple Watch, which was announced alongside the new iPhone models, won’t be available until the Spring. Here are some of the things people are saying about that device.

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 6 Preorders Set a New Apple Record

    Early this morning, Apple diehards looking to score a sweet iPhone 6 Plus preorder found, much to their chagrin, that the 5.5-inch model of the new iPhone was sold out. Already!

    Of course, Apple routinely sells out of their new devices on preorder day. Despite site crashes and glitches, anxious upgraders were still able to place a staggering amount of orders. How many? A lot, says Apple. In fact, a record number.

    “Response to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has been incredible with a record number of preorders overnight,” Apple said in a statement to Re/code.

    So there you go – a record number of preorders. Unsurprisingly, Apple didn’t take the time to elaborate and tell us specifically how many iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 Plus…es were ordered overnight. Both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus went on sale at 3:01 am EST.

    Apple has already updated its shipping times on the iPhone 6 Plus, for all color models and storage sizes, to 3-4 weeks. It’s even worse when you look at some of the carrier sites. For instance, AT&T is showing a 35 to 42-day wait time on shipping, while Verizon’s wait times are similar, currently shipping the 16GB iPhone 6 Plus on October 14th and the bigger models on October 21st.

    All models of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 are still shipping on time – slated for next Friday, September 19th.

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 6 Plus Is Already Sold Out, Apple Ups Shipping Times

    If you’re planning on preordering a new iPhone 6 Plus, you’ll likely be disappointed by this news.

    The iPhone 6 Plus, Apple’s 5.5-inch model of its new iPhone, is apparently sold out. Apple has already updated its shipping times on the phone, for all color models and storage sizes, to 3-4 weeks.

    The phone is originally slated to ship next Friday, September 19th – so it’s clear that iPhone 6 Plus preorders have hit their ceiling.

    The situation is even more dire when you attempt to preorder from some of the carrier sites. For instance, AT&T is showing a 35 to 42-day wait time on shipping, while Verizon’s wait times are similar, currently shipping the 16GB iPhone 6 Plus on October 14th and the bigger models on October 21st.

    As of the writing of this article, shipping on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is still on track for next Friday.

    Of course, there’s always the option of standing in line for next Friday’s 8 am launch in Apple retail stores.

    Image via Apple

  • New iPhone Preorders Now Live on Apple.com, Carrier Sites

    New iPhone Preorders Now Live on Apple.com, Carrier Sites

    UPDATE: Looks like the iPhone 6 Plus, the 5.5-inch model, is already sold out.

    As promised, you can now preorder the new iPhone 6 or its larger cousin the iPhone 6 Plus from Apple, various carriers, or other retailers.

    You can start your iPhone preorder directly from Apple right here. You have the option to choose free shipping or in-store pickup. Both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will ship next Friday, September 19th. The new phones will also be available to purchase in Apple retail stores at 8 am that day – but you might face a line in some high-traffic areas. That’s why you’re preordering in the first place, right?

    Of course, you can also preorder the new iPhones from your specific carriers – AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

    The price of the new iPhone 6, with a two-year contract, is $199 for the 16GB, $299 for 64GB, and $399 for the 128GB – all across the carrier board. For the iPhone 6 Plus it’s $299 for the 16GB, $399 for 64GB, and $499 for the 128GB.

    Of course, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all offer other ways to get your hands on the new iPhones. AT&T Next customers can get the phones for $0 and a monthly fee (starting at $27.09). The Verizon Edge program offers similar structures, and Sprint offers two non-contract deals. T-Mobile offers plans as well, the cheapest being the 16GB iPhone 6 for $0 down and $27.08 per month for two years.

    You can also preorder the new iPhones from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

    Both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sport Retina HD displays with ion-strengthened glass. The iPhone 6 boasts a 4.7-inch screen at 1334×750. It’s 6.8mm thick. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen at 1920×1080. It is 7.1mm thick.

    Both sport the Apple A8 chip, which is 64-bit with twi billion transistors on a 20-nanometer process. The new chip is 13% smaller than the previous chip, the A7. The CPU is up to 25% faster. According to Apple, it’s 50% faster on graphics. You can check out more specs here.

  • iOS 8 Release Date Announced At Apple Event

    Apple held its big iPhone unveiling event on Tuesday, showing off the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, not to mention Apple Pay and the Apple Watch.

    The new iPhones will run iOS 8, which the company first announced back in June. Today, the company announced the official release date for the operating system: September 17th.

    On this date, the company will push the free software update to users of the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display.

    The new iPhone models will become available on September 19th. Pre-orders start this Friday. The Apple Watch, which requires the user to have an iPhone, will be available next year.

    For a rundown of what iOS 8 brings to the table, check out our previous coverage from Apple’s developer event earlier this summer. Apple Pay will roll out in October.

    On a related note, check out how Denny’s burned Apple over a failed livestream of the day’s event.

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 6 And iPhone 6 Plus Features

    The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus were debuted by Apple today to a very excited fan base.

    The new iPhones are bigger, as was rumored, now with the option of a 4.7 or 5.5 inch screen.

    These larger screens pack impressive resolutions of 1334 x 750 and 1920 x 1080 respectively.

    But size is not the only thing that the new iPhones can boast about.

    CEO Tim Cook lauded the devices as “the biggest advancement in the history of iPhone” and he doesn’t seem to have been yanking chains.

    The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus now have lots of new features that make it stand out in a sea of smartphones. Some of the new features are beyond impressive.

    For example, the 5.5 inch display on the new iPhone 6 Plus now has the capability to support split-pane views when held in landscape position.

    Both models have a new eight megapixel camera with new technology to help capture the best shot possible. The iPhone 6 has software-based image stabilizing and the iPhone 6 Plus takes it a step further with optical image stabilization.

    The stabilization, along with the new gyroscope and the M8 processor, will allow higher quality pictures to be taken in low-light situations.

    Also a great new feature on the new iPhones is the implementation of Near Field Technology which will be tied to a new service called Apple Pay. So now, if you have a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, you can pay with your phone and leave your cards at home!

    That’s pretty cool, but admittedly a little scary, for those of us that are paranoid about information security.

    However, according to Apple’s senior vice president of internet services and software, the transactions will take place between users and the place where they’re making payments and Apple won’t collect the data about actual purchases.

    Another fun feature are the new graphics that are 20 percent faster.

    Tons of cool new features for the new iPhones! The new iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus come in gold, silver or space gray, just like its predecessor. iPhone 6 is priced at $199 for 16 GB, $299 for 32 GB and $399 for 64 GB with a two-year contract.

    The iPhone 6 Plus begins a little higher at $299, $399 and $499 at the same storage options and with the two-year contract.

    It’s a great day for Apple lovers!

  • Denny’s Mocks Apple’s Livestream Incompetence

    As you probably know, Apple held a big press event today to unveil the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, and the Apple Watch (as well as Apple Pay and a new U2 album).

    The company made a huge deal about the event, complete with a big countdown to the livestream of the event (which of course could only be viewed using Apple products). Then, as countless people tried to tune in for the big unveil, the stream simply didn’t work. People were presented with a screen that looked like this:

    In what might be the best real-time brand marketing since Oreo’s Super Bowl blackout play, Denny’s tweeted this:

    Bravo.

    Meanwhile people are seriously annoyed with Apple’s lackluster performance.


    Image via Twitter

  • iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Hit Stores Sept 19, Preorder This Friday

    iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Hit Stores Sept 19, Preorder This Friday

    Today was Apple’s big iPhone 6 announcement day, and for the most part it’s gone according to what many rumors predicted.

    Apple did in fact unveil two new iPhones today – a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Both sport the new Apple A8 processors, improved display capabilities, new cameras, and more. For more on the specs, check out our wrap-up.

    Apple has announced that both of these new iPhones will be available in the US on September 19th – and will be available for preorder this Friday, September 12th.

    By the end of this year, Apple says the new iPhone 6 models will hit 115 countries.

    Now, for pricing.

    With a new two-year contract, the iPhone 6 begins at $199 for the 16GB version. The bigger versions, the 64GB and 128GB will run your $299 and $399, respectively.

    For the iPhone 6 Plus, add $100 to each size – $299, $399, and $499 for the 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB versions, respectively.

    “These are not only the best phones in the world, they really are a great value in the world,” said Apple’s Phil Schiller.

    With the unveiling of the new iPhones, Apple’s previous phone models have seen a price reduction. You can snag a new iPhone 5s for $99 and a new iPhone 5c for free (with the ever-present two-year contract).

    Image via Apple

  • iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Revealed At Apple Event

    At its big press event today, Apple unveiled the long-anticipated iPhone 6 as well as a bigger iPhone – the iPhone 6 Plus. CEO Tim Cook called the news the “biggest advancement in the history of the iPhone”. I feel like he’s said that before.

    They have Retina HD displays with “ion-strengthened” glass. Display sizes are 4.7″ and 5.5″. Pixels come in at 1334 x 750 and 1920 x 1080. The 6 Plus has a whopping 185% more pixels than the iPhone 5S.

    The iPhone 6 has a thickness of 6.8mm. The 6 Plus has a thickness of 7.1mm. For comparison the 5S was 7.6mm.

    The power button is on the side now.

    Apps can be customized for different screen sizes, and the device makes use of a new gesture called reachability. It has a new Apple A8 chip, which is64-bit. It has 2 billion transistors on a 20-nanometer process. The chip is 13% smaller than the A7. The CPU is up to 25% faster. According to the company, it’s 50% faster on graphics.

    They showed off some games, which displayed some impressive graphics.

    Apple says the iPhone 6 battery life can get 24 hours of 3G talk time, and that the 6 can get 14 hours. LTE is also greatly improved as is Wi-Fi, which they says is 3x faster.

    There’s an 8MP iSight camera, True Tone flash, 1.5micron pixels, and f/2.2 aperture. Panoramic shots can be up to 43 megapixels.

    The 6 has digital image stabilization, while the Plus has optical image stabilization. Video can be recorded at 1080p at 30 or 60fps. Slow motion video can be captured at 120 fps or 240 fps. “Cinematic” video stabilization is also included.

    It has improved face detection and is apparently better for selfies.

    Pricing starts at $199 for the iPhone 6 at16GB . It’s $299 at 64GB and $399 for 128GB. The Plus is $299 for 16GB, $399 for 64, and $499 for 128GB. These are with a two-year contract.

    The 5S is now $99 for 8GB, and the 5C is now free.

    The new devices ship on September 19th in the U.S. Pre-orders are available on the 12th.

    Here’s what everybody is saying about the new iPhones:


    Apple unveiled iOS 8 at its developer conference in June. More on that here. According to the company there are 1.3 million apps available.

    Images via Apple

  • Here’s How to Watch Apple’s iPhone 6 Event

    Here’s How to Watch Apple’s iPhone 6 Event

    The tech world turns to Cupertino today, as Apple is holding yet another September press event expected to showcase new hardware.

    The event is scheduled to kick off at 1 pm EST (10 am PST) and Apple has chosen to put a stream online.

    That’s the good news. The baddish news is that you can’t stream the event on Chrome or Firefox.

    Instead, you’ll have to use Safari. Live streaming of today’s big event requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later, or Safari on iOS 6.0 or later.

    You can also stream the event using the second or third generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.

    Here’s where you should head.

    What can you expect? Well, new iPhones for one. Apple is expected to unveil multiple sizes of the new iPhone 6, possibly in 4.7 and 5.5 inches. There’s also a lot of speculation surrounding Apple’s much-discussed wearable device (you may have heard it called the ‘iWatch’).

    All will be revealed in a few hours, so you don’t have to sit there and speculate.

    Ah, who am I kidding – it’s an Apple launch. Speculate away!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Apple To Livestream September 9th Event

    Last month, we learned that Apple would be hosting an event on September 9th, when they’re expected to unveil its new iPhone model(s) and an “iWatch”.

    Apple announced today that it will be providing live video of the event at apple.com/live. There’s a countdown in case you didn’t realize how excited you are. There’s even a link to add the event to your calendar (as if you’d forget).

    Also, Apple notes, “Live streaming video requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later; Safari on iOS 6.0 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 5.0.2 or later.”

    The event will be held at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, as opposed to the Moscone West, where the company usually does its product launches.

    Image via Apple