iPhone 5 release imminent as iPhone 4 stocks down?

Apple’s mooted iPhone 5 could be hear sooner than many expected as new reports claim Apple has lowered second quarter orders of the current iPhone 4 in preparation of its replacements arrival.

Technology blog Digitimes has claimed that “according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers” Apple has lowered its quarterly order of iPhone 4s by more than 2 million units as the Cupertino tech giant lines up the iPhone 5, tipped to be officially called the iPhone 4S, for a June 6th unveiling at the opening of its Worldwide Developers Conference.

With stock levels of the iPhone 4 set to drop in the near future Digitimes, not content with seemingly outing Apple’s iPhone timeline plans, boldly claimed its sources had revealed the iPhone 5 will begin production in August ahead of a September launch whilst “the rear camera will be upgraded to a 8-megapixel resolution model.”

Smartphone retailer Phones4u earlier this week told T3.com that “the iPhone 5 has been delayed until November following an issue with the handset’s software.” They later reiterated: “Apple had a software issue with the handset so they are still waiting to fix that up so it will be November when it is coming out.”

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Apple iPhone 5 video

 

Source:- http://www.t3.com/news/iphone-5-release-imminent-as-iphone-4-stocks-down

iTunes Radio released to devs in latest iTunes 11.1 beta 1 software

It seemed like we were waiting for years for Apple to finally launch what we’d previously dubbed ‘iRadio’. When the company’s execs announced it on stage at WWDC last month, I think we all collectively and simultaneously applauded and sighed with relief, especially when we discovered that the company had opted for the less cringe-inducing moniker ‘iTunes Radio’.

Apple’s Spotify challenger has – thus far – been hidden away with no one able to gain access to it. However, from today, developers in the States can use it. If you have a developer account, head on over to the dev center and download the latest iTunes beta. Version 11.1 beta 1 features iTunes Radio and will allow any American users to stream music for free. It’s ad-supported unless you have an iTunes Match account active, then there are no ads at all.

Sadly, for anyone outside the States, it’s not available. And, if you don’t have a dev account, you can’t get it either. But if you can, you should check it out and let us know what you think. Will it make Spotify redundant?

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Air Arabia increases booking options with new iPhone application

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today became the first UAE-based airline to launch a mobile application for Apple devices.

The Air Arabia iOS App, which can be downloaded free from the App Store, allows passengers to easily purchase tickets, review and amend bookings and select seats using their iPhone. It also offers connectivity to the airline’s website and call centres, as well as access to an abundance of useful travel information. Simply visit http://www.appstore.com/Airarabia to download the app.

“A key attraction of Air Arabia has always been our simple and hassle-free bookings,” said Adel Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia Group. “The airline places great importance on leveraging new technologies to enhance the overall experience of flying with Air Arabia. Our new application for iPhone will now make it even easier for our passengers to interact with us, while keeping Air Arabia at the forefront of deploying smartphone technology in the Middle East aviation sector.”

The newly launched iOS app allows customers to book tickets, manage their bookings and add services conveniently through their iPhones. Air Arabia has always put digital communications channels at the heart of its business model, with new functionality continually added to its online and mobile platforms. The airline’s iOS App follows the recent launch of its mobile website, which allows passengers to access the features of from any smartphone, anywhere in the world.

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iPhone 5 Could Work Wonders.

I was a little bit underwhelmed when Apple announced iOS 6. It lacked the ‘wow’ factor that we saw in iOS 5 with the introduction of Siri, Notification center and iMessage. I love iOS, but it really could do with a bigger update than just a new Maps application and Facebook integration, because the operating system is nearing its sixth birthday, and people are getting a bit tired of it.

Fortunately however, help is on hand, and it comes in the form of a great concept for how multitasking could benefit from the iPhone 5?s four inch display. The idea is that instead of seeing just the app icon in the multitasking menu, you’ll see a live feed of the app in a thumbnail, with the icon off the application embedded into it. This would be an awesome improvement to iOS, as it would enable the user to check the status of their open apps at a glance, minimizing the need to switch back and forth from apps constantly.

Another part of the concept is improved music controls when using multitasking. Rather than just displaying the title of the song that is playing, the phone shows all the song information, with the rewind, fast-forward and pause/play buttons that are already included in the multitask menu. Not only that though, album artwork is also shown alongside a volume slider, meaning that you would no longer have to scroll from side to side in the menu to change volume, which can sometimes be very annoying.

The coolest idea is the option to change settings from within the multitasking menu. This will be a familiar feature to anyone who has ever used a jailbroken iDevice running ‘SBSettings’ or any similar tweak. Essentially, it means that you have the option to change certain settings without fiddling about in the Settings application.

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I really do hope we see something similar to this in the future, whether it be from Apple or if it’s just a tweak exclusive to jailbreakers. Either way, I want it, because multitasking can be a very temperamental feature, at least for me, so an update to it would be very well received.

iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S: 7 Things Buyers Need to Know

While smartphone shoppers have been inundated with iPhone 5S rumors, many shoppers are likely still looking at two of Apple’s current iPhones including the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S. Both devices remain solid choices though there are some things that potential buyers need to know about the battle between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S before settling on one.

In October of 2011, Apple delivered its iPhone 4S, a model that kept the same design as the previous iPhone, the iPhone 4, but delivered several enhancements including Siri.

The device, while old, remains a stalwart in Apple’s iPhone lineup, and has become particularly attractive after Apple’s price drop which saw the device move from $199.99 to $99.99 after the arrival of the iPhone 5 last September.

Apple’s iPhone 5 replaced the iPhone 4S as the company’s flagship smartphone while bringing a larger 4-inch display, a new design that incorporated aluminum, and 4G LTE data speeds. The iPhone 5 remains Apple’s current generation smartphone and to this day, it remains one of the best smartphone options on the market, across all carriers.

The Apple rumor mill has been hard at work suggesting that a new iPhone is on the way. The device is thought to be another ‘S’ iPhone model, the iPhone 5S to be exact. Rumors suggest that the company will be using it to replace the iPhone 5 though that doesn’t mean that the iPhone 5, or the iPhone 4S, will go away.

In fact, both devices should remain extremely attractive to buyers once the 2013 iPhone arrives on shelves. Of course, with a new iPhone in the mix and a new piece of software in iOS 7 on the way, there are some things that consumers must consider before deciding on the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S as their next smartphone.

Here, we take a look at seven of the most important things buyers need to know before picking one of them up.

iPhone 5S Release is Coming

The first thing that potential iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S buyers need to know is that a brand new iPhone is coming to shelves in the near future. The device, said to be the iPhone 5S, is expected to feature the same design as the iPhone 5 but contain a number of upgrades including an improved processor and a better camera.

It’s also thought to have a fingerprint reader on board and should come with unique software that sets it apart from the iPhone 5. That unique software is, as of yet, unknown, though there is suspicion that it could have something to do with the fingerprint reader and or the camera with slow-motion and 120 fps video being mentioned as possibilities.

With the iPhone 5S rumored for a late September release, prospective iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S buyers would be wise to wait a few weeks, just to see what Apple has up its sleeve. If not for the improved hardware and software, but for the price cuts on both the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S.

iPhone 5 Price Drop

Buyers dead set on the iPhone 5 would be smart to wait a few weeks for the arrival of the iPhone 5S.

For one, the iPhone 5S is said to keep the same design, display size, LTE data speeds that the iPhone 5 has though it should come with improved performance and unique features. For those that don’t need that extra oomph, there is another reason to wait for the iPhone 5S, an iPhone 5 price drop through Apple.

Apple typically drops the price of its older generation by $100 on-contract when the new iPhone arrives. That should translate into a $99 price tag for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 will remain a solid option, even with the arrival of the iPhone 5S, and it will be even more attractive with a price tag that is $100 less than the iPhone 5S’.

Buyers should also expect retailers to host some significant deals on the iPhone 5 as they look to entice buyers uninterested in Apple’s new 2013 iPhone model.

iPhone 4S Price Drop

Those who might be leaning toward the iPhone 4S would be wise to do the same. Apple typically keeps an arsenal of three iPhone models on tap and we should see the iPhone 4S move from its current $99 price point down to the low price of free, a price point currently occupied by the iPhone 4.

That means that buyers will simply need to sign up for a new two-year contract to get the old, but still capable iPhone 4S. Of course, it won’t come with the bells and whistles of either the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5S, but it still has a Retina Display, good camera, solid battery life and a design that is durable, especially when inside a case.

iOS 7 Coming to Both, Sort of

Prospective iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S buyers should know that the new iOS 7 is coming to both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S, meaning, both devices will get Apple’s new operating system. However, the iOS updates will not be created equal.

While the iPhone 5 will be the beneficiary of all of the currently known iOS 7 features including AirDrop and Filters in Camera, the iPhone 4S will not be receiving the full update.

iPhone 4S owners unfortunately won’t get iOS 7′s AirDrop or the ability to view photo filters within the Camera application. That means that users won’t be able to get a preview of a filter before the photo is taken. All the rest of iOS 7, at this point, seems like it will be intact.

Obviously, those may not be deal breakers for some shoppers but it’s an indication that the iPhone 4S will continually see less iOS features than the newer iPhone 5.

Longevity

Speaking on that, the iPhone 5 will, guaranteed, have more longevity than the iPhone 4S. Apple typically keeps its iPhones updated with new software for three years and since the iPhone 4S came out in 2011, iOS 7 will be its second major iOS update. That likely means that next year’s iOS 8 will be its last update.

The iPhone 5 on the other hand should have a longer lifespan thanks to it coming out in 2012. It should see iOS 7, iOS 8 and one more version of iOS, likely dubbed iOS 9.

This is something to consider, especially for those that are looking to sign up with a new contract may want to think about the fact that the iPhone 4S is nearing the end of its life.

Accessories

The iPhone 5 not only brought LTE, a larger screen and a new design to the table, but it also brought the new Lightning dock connection standard. The iPhone 4S on the other hand uses the old 30-pin dock standard.

This is important because it means that the iPhone 5 is future-proof when it comes to accessories, meaning, it will more than likely work with most, if not all Apple iPhone accessories for years to come.

The iPhone 4S owners unfortunately may not see newer accessories become available, thanks to the older standard, and will instead have to rely on the support of aging docks.

There still should be a nice collection of 30-pin accessories on the market but there is always the chance that a new, impressive accessory may not be compatible with the iPhone 4S.

LTE

Finally, buyers must know that the iPhone 4S doesn’t support 4G LTE. Instead, the device relies on HSDPA and HSPA+ speeds along with 3G. For many users this won’t be a big deal, well, that is until they try 4G LTE with the iPhone 5.

Carriers like AT&T and Verizon offer LTE in hundreds of markets and it has quickly become the standard for just about every new smartphone. And for good reason. LTE can be described as having a Wi-Fi connection on-the-go. It’s much faster than anything the iPhone 4S can pull down and while it can be a battery hog, Apple has made sure that the iPhone 5 has good battery life.

It’s a trade-off that consumers need to take a look at as LTE is the future of mobile service and the iPhone 4S unfortunately will never officially have access to those speeds.

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iPhone sales ‘stalling’: survey

“Apple’s iPhone franchise appears to be stalling as first-quarter shipments of 37.4 million fell below expectations,” the report said.

“With the next iPhone model not expected until the second half of the year, there is a real possibility that the full-year 2013 sales volume of the iPhone may be essentially flat at around 150 million units, compared to 134 million units in 2012.”

IHS analyst Wayne Lam said the volume of new flagship smartphones from top manufacturers this year “has been astounding,” citing the new BlackBerry Z10, HTC One, and updated Samsung Galaxy S4.

“The possible slowing growth of the iPhone and the rapid pace of competitive smartphone releases speak to the ferocious nature of the handset business, especially now as the market continues to pivot from a market dominated by lower-end handsets known as feature phones to one that is increasingly smartphone-centric,” Lam said.

IHS said smartphones are likely to make up more than half of the 1.5 billion handsets sold in 2013. It said that by the end of 2013, the number of mobile subscribers worldwide is projected to reach seven billion, an increase of 6.5 percent from the end of 2012.

Recent surveys have shown Google’s Android operating system is used on around three-fourths of new smartphones. Apple’s iOS accounts for around one-fifth of the worldwide market.

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WhatsApp For The IPhone Now Charges 65p A Year

If you use WhatsApp on your iPhone, you will now have to pay 65p a year to get to use the messaging app.

On its website, WhatsApp said, “Today we released a new version of WhatsApp for iPhone. This is our first update this year and it brings a few major changes we’re excited to tell you about.

“First, we are updating our business model for new iPhone users going forward. As you know, we used to charge iPhone users a $.99 one time payment, while Android and other platforms had free service for the first year and paid $0.99 a year after that. From now on, we’ve simplified our business model so that all users on all platforms will enjoy their first year of WhatsApp service for free, and only pay $.99 per year after that. We feel that this model will allow us to become the communications service of the 21st century, and provide you the best way to stay in touch with your friends and family with no ads getting in the way. The good news for all current iPhone users is that WhatsApp will be free of charge for the rest of your life.

“Second, we’ve added an option to backup your message history to iCloud. We spent the last six months working to make iCloud backup as simple and user friendly as possible. On your iPhone, go into ‘WhatsApp Settings > Chat Settings > Chat Backup’ if you want to back up your conversation history. When you reinstall the app, you will be prompted to restore from iCloud during the initialization process.

“Third, since we’re engineers at heart, we’ve introduced developer hooks into WhatsApp. We’ve had many other iOS developers ask us for API hooks to make interfacing with WhatsApp easy.”

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Apple to probe iPhone 5 ‘electrocution’

Apple is to “fully investigate” reports that a 23-year-old Chinese woman was killed by an electric shock from her iPhone 5.

Ma Ailun, a flight attendant with China Southern Airlines, was reportedly electrocuted and killed in her home in Xinjiang last Thursday when she answered a call while the phone was being charged, according to the government website china.org.cn.

Ma, who was engaged to be married on August 8, fell to the floor when she picked up the call, Ma’s sister said on her microblog account. She claimed Ma had bought the iPhone in December at an official Apple store and was using the original charger when the incident took place.

A spokeswoman for Apple said the company was “deeply saddened” to learn of the “tragic incident” and offered their condolences to the family. “We will fully investigate and co-operate with authorities in this matter,” the statement said.

The South China Morning Post reported that online microblogging site Weibo was flooded with posts urging users not to make calls while charging their phones, while experts in Hong Kong warned against using any electrical device while it is being charged.

Johnny Sin Kin-on, a professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said: “There is a risk using an electrical device while its installed battery is being charged, be it a shaver or a phone.”

Dr Peter Chiu Ping-kuen, head of the department of electronic and information engineering at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin), agreed, but added: “We do not know the circumstances of the incident and it is not suitable to jump to any conclusions at this stage.”

A separate media report quoted a senior physics teacher at a Nanjing high school as saying that people will feel an electric shock at about 36 volts, but that mobile phones have a low output of only 3 to 5 volts.

“However, if the charger or the circuit has a problem, such as a broken wire, it can lead to a shock of 220 volts,” the teacher said.

Police are investigating the case but have not confirmed whether a mobile phone was involved.

In 2010, a man in northeast China was killed by an electric shock when making a phone call with a handset that was being recharged with an unauthorised charger, according to the China Consumers Association.

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Apple’s “budget” iPhone is about screen control, not cash

The “cheap” iPhone isn’t actually about being cheap at all: it’s about retiring the 3.5-inch screen. Apple has a long-running love of standardization, and with good reason. The company built the iPad mini around a display size, aspect, and most importantly resolution that allowed the greatest parity – and the fewest developer headaches – with the existing, full-sized iPad, after all. It’s not just in the name of control-freak tyranny, either: the iPad mini came out the gate with a full catalog of compatible apps, which is more than the Nexus 7 could claim.

Soon, Apple will announce a new iPhone, and the range of phones it has on sale will shift again. All signs point to it being the “iPhone 5S“, though no matter the name, we’re expecting the current iPhone 5 to slip down a tier and become the mid-range option. That would, if Apple was true to previous form, leave the iPhone 4S to take up the iPhone 4′s position as the “entry-level” handset, free-with-agreement.

Thing is, the iPhone 4S has a 3.5-inch screen – a leftover of the old design – while the iPhone 5 and 5S are going to use the newer 4-inch Retina. The 4S is also not the cheapest to make, and there’s a good reason Apple switched from the precarious glass casing of that generation to the sturdier metal of the iPhone 5.

Is there a better reason to ditch the iPhone 4S altogether, and introduce a new design completely: one which can cherry-pick the key elements of the iPhone 5 but wrap them up in a chassis that’s cheaper to make and thus cheaper to sell? Full specifications of the “low cost” iPhone are still yet to leak, but a 4-inch display is a safe assumption, meaning developers will be able to focus their efforts on a single, current resolution of 1136 x 640.

Price is important, of course. Apple figured that out back when it opted to keep the older iPhone around to create an instant tiered range, though not in the same way that Samsung or others might, by constantly developing multiple slightly differentiated models. Cheaper variations are also a mainstay of the iPod line-up: see, for instance, the cheaper iPod touch, which drops the camera and other elements to meet a price target.

It’s even more essential when you consider the next big battleground in smartphones: the so-called developing markets. Countries like China are the target for most of the big names in mobile – Samsung wants a piece of the pie, Nokia is counting on them to buoy up Windows Phone, and ZTE and Huawei are already staking their claim with budget Android phones – and the requirement for something affordable means keeping costs to a minimum is essential.

It’s a precarious line to walk. Apple has to deliver enough to make the new, affordable iPhone competitive with rivals, but also not so good as to eclipse any reason for users to upgrade to its more expensive versions. Still, the iPad mini has “cannibalized” full-sized iPad sales, but Apple is still sitting pretty in financial terms, and the entry-level iPhone is arguably more of a gateway drug for the premium models than the two tablets, which are relatively different propositions given their screen sizes.

Apple’s strategy involves more than just making the cheapest phone possible. If the new, “cheap” iPhone plays just as nicely with the App Store (which remains a key differentiator for the brand) as its more expensive siblings; if it’s as appealing to budget buyers in established markets as the iPhone 4 has been in this past generation, then it serves two purposes. Ticks the box for taking on developing markets as well as offering something different and – thanks to those candy colored shells we’re expecting – eye-catching for more saturated markets.

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WhatsApp rolls out new iPhone app

Cape Town – Instant messaging platform WhatsApp has announced a new model for iPhone users with the latest version of its software.

The company said that the popular platform will be free to download, but an annual subscription of $0.99 will come into effect.

“From now on, we’ve simplified our business model so that all users on all platforms will enjoy their first year of WhatsApp service for free, and only pay $.99 per year after that,” the company said.

The new WhatsApp platform also allows message backup to the internet cloud so that users will not lose messages should they re-install the application.

The instant messaging space has seen a spike in growth as users typically pay for data consumption rather than for individual messages.

The race to provide accessibility has seen companies racing to provide cross-platform applications and recently, BlackBerry announced that its BBM service would become available on iOS and Android mobile devices.

In SA, Mxit continues to show high user numbers, even though it’s rooted in feature phones. As smartphones become more popular, the platform has re-invested itself to boost user engagement.

WeChat from Tencent has also seen healthy growth in China, and the platform recently launched in SA across multiple platforms.

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