Rumor: Apple's 'iPhone 7' to offer improved fast-charge support

One way Apple will aim to keep the "iPhone 7" competitive is the addition of new fast-charge technology, according to one rumor.




The device will use improved circuitry supporting "at least" 5-volt, 2-amp charging, said @the_malignant, a Twitter user specializing in phone leaks. Current iPhone chargers are rated at one amp.

Many Android devices now offer some form of fast-charging, allowing them to hit a practical battery reserve in minutes instead of hours. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, for example, can each go from 0 to 50 percent charge in about 30 minutes.

APPLE’S NEXT LAUNCH: INVITATIONS SENT OUT FOR MARCH 21 EVENT – HERE’S EVERYTHING WE KNOW

Apple have officially sent out the invites for their March 21 event at which they will announce a number of new products, including the iPhone SE.

The event will be held at Apple’s Cupertino campus in California at 10am local time – so the event will be occurring at 5am in AEDT time, on March 22.

The iPhone SE is the most prominent new device expected to be revealed – ‘SE’ standing for ‘Special Edition’. It will look a lot like last generation’s iPhone 5s, with a 4-inch screen and a similar design.

However, all indications are that it will have a lot of features available in the iPhone 6 and 6s, including a more powerful processor, voice-activated Siri, Live Photos, and Apple Pay, though Force Touch seems not to have made the cut.

4-inch iPhone 5se & iPad Air 3 planned to go on sale March 18th

Apple is currently on target to start selling its next iPhone and iPad models the same week that the new products are introduced in March. Apple is currently planning to introduce a new 4-inch iPhone dubbed the “iPhone 5se” and a new iPad Air at an event on Tuesday, March 15th, then put the products up for sale online and in retail stores as early as Friday, March 18th, according to sources. Apple is unlikely to offer pre-orders for the new devices, according to sources who cautioned that the plans could still change.

Launching the new iPhone and iPad models so soon after introduction and not offering pre-orders would be a new strategy for Apple. Apple typically releases new iPhone models one or two weeks following the introduction events and an online pre-order period. A similar strategy has been followed for many new iPad releases, but the iPad Pro hardware actually went on sale over two months following the device’s initial introduction. Manufacturing of the new 4-inch iPhone began ramping up in January, sources say.

Apple Stores show off iPhone 6s 3D Touch with fancy tables

Apple is doing a new trick at its flagship San Francisco and New York Stores to show off the benefits of 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. A video from Grate App (below) shows the phones rigged up to a table that's actually a very large display. When you press on the iPhone's swimming fish screen-saver, it creates ripples in the screen around the phone, which vary in size depending on how hard you press. (The table itself doesn't appear to be force-sensitive, but rather just takes 3D Touch input from the phones.) It's a clever way to tout a feature that's a bit hard to grok, but there's no word on whether you'll see it in any other stores.

iPhone 6 Bending and 10 Other Apple Product Glitches

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Apple's exciting, groundbreaking technologies have a history of glitchy beginnings.

Since the start of the second Steve Jobs era at Apple, the company has consistently been at the bleeding edge of consumer tech. The unfortunate downside of all this innovation is that when a device has a glitch, those problems make headlines around the world.

In the competitive world of consumer technology, where there are billion-dollar paydays for being the first to perfect a technology that captures the public's imagination, it's very much in companies' interest to keep their cards very close to their corporate chest. That means that in Apple's case, much of its testing appears to be conducted within the confines of its Cupertino headquarters (though there might be a good reason for that). This inevitably leads to issues to identified and fixed only after the devices hit consumers' hands.

For example, Apple's latest experience with this paradigm is #BendGate. Many early adopters of the new super-sized 6 Plus are finding that their phones are becoming warped. Note that the iPhone 6 Plus is not designed to be curved like LG's G Flex.

10 Gorgeous Apps for the Apple iPhone 6 Plus

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Here are 10 apps that show off just what the iPhone 6 Plus can really do.

The iPhone 6 Plus is a huge change for Apple, and it's a huge change for app developers. iPhone developers have never needed to write for a 1080p screen before, so many third-party apps on the 6 Plus, for now, are simply magnified: bigger, not better.

Beyond mere size, though, the 6 Plus invites a different way of looking at apps. It's not just an iPhone Plus—it's an iPad mini-mini. Turn it sideways, and there's enough room for multiple panes of information like you have on a landscape-format iPad. Apple has encouraged app developers to take advantage of this, but few have yet.

It's early days for the iPhone 6 Plus, of course. The phone has been on sale for less than a week. But we know how eager you are, so we downloaded a whole bunch of apps and found 10 that say they show off the power of the Plus. Have you found more Plus-friendly apps? Add them to the comments below.

Source

Apple explains how to fix its busted iOS 8 update, new one coming soon

Went ahead and downloaded the newest, freshest version of iOS for that new iPhone 6? Then immediately regret doing so? Apple's released a statement saying that users who have lost carrier service or Touch ID functionality should reinstall the initial version of iOS 8, until version 8.0.2 is ready to go. The company says this will take a few more days. We've got the full statement after the break.

"We have a workaround for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who lost cellular service and Touch ID functionality today after updating to iOS 8.0.1. Affected users can reinstall iOS 8 through iTunes, for more information visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6487. We apologize for the great inconvenience experienced by users, and are working around the clock to prepare iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it as soon as it is ready in the next few days."

WSJ: Apple considering two iPhones with larger screen sizes and metal casings

Maybe you've heard the rumor: Apple's considering larger screens for its next iPhones. Because, yeah, the mobile market's been trending that direction for a while now, so it'd make sense. That doesn't mean it's necessarily true, but with theWall Street Journal weighing in on it today, the notion is gaining a bit more credibility. This is all, of course, attributed to "people familiar with the situation" that peg Apple's next two phones as having target screen sizes larger than 4.5-inches and 5-inches, respectively. What makes this rumor even juicier is the possibility that Apple might abandon the polycarbonate casing of the iPhone 5c in favor of the tried-and-true metallic approach of its latest generation.

iPhone 6 rumor rollup for the week ending Jan. 18

El Cheapo rising, home button fingerthingy, OMG specs

Network World - The iOSphere was feasting this week on Notes to Investors, those alchemical documents that transmute the lead ofiPhone 6 rumors into the gold of authoritative fact.

How else could we know the many details of iPhone cheapo that emerged in such plenitude, including multiple release dates, and sizes, not to mention the suffering of "billions" who yearn for it and yet must wait.

Also this week, fingering the home button, how iPhone 6 stacks up against another nonexistent smartphone, the specter of 2014, consumer longings, and whoa of un-wow.

You read it here second.

__________

"I have a hunch there will never be an iPhone 6, because Apple will be forced to move into a significantly different form factor to keep people interested and compete with the movement toward bigger phablet-like thingies and emerging wearable electronics."

— Eric Mack, "writer and radio producer," CNET's Crave gadget blog, boldly announcing -- without a hint of anything that even pretends to be a fact -- not only the end of the iPhone as we know it, but the end of the smartphone also

Apple iPhone 4S pre-orders exceed one million in first 24 hours

Last year's iPhone 4 launch brought more than 600,000 pre-orders within the first 24 hours. This year, that number nearly doubled, topping one million within one day of the device's pre-order availability through AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Those that haven't pre-ordered the iPhone 4S can line up at Apple stores beginning at 8 a.m. on October 14th, or you can try your luck at pre-ordering now, though you may need to wait an extra week or two to get your hands on Apple's new iOS smartphone. Jump past the break for Apple's PR.

iPhone 4S vs. the smartphone elite: Galaxy S II, Bionic and Titan

Now that we know how the iPhone 4S stacks up against the iPhone 4, let's take a look at how Apple's latest smartphone compares to its mightiest competitors on the other major platforms -- Android and Windows Phone. In Google's camp we chose the superlative Samsung Galaxy S II models (focusing on the announced US variants) along with the Motorola Droid Bionic for its qHD and LTE chops. We then picked the upcoming HTC Titan to bat for Microsoft's team. RIM's not included here since it's still stuck in the junior leagues. We left out the intriguing Nokia N9 because it's a niche player. Check out the fancy table after the break -- the results are pretty clear cut!

Is this Apple's cheaper iPhone 4?

See that? That just might be the cheaper iPhone that Apple's rumored to formally unveil on Tuesday.Gizmodo Brazil managed to get a hold of a purported iPhone 4s from within a Brazilian Foxconn factory, and while the hardware itself looks just about identical to the iPhone 4 that exists today, there's a new SKU that's leading to understandable speculation. The N90A model number that popped up has certainly emerged before, but where things really get interesting is the "reprovado" ("disqualified") labeling. Is this batch an early set of prototypes that didn't quite pass QA? Will the eventual iPhone 4s even look anything like the iPhone 4 that's on shelves today? You can bet we'll be on hand in Cupertinoto find out, and there's no time like the present to clear out your Tuesday morning / afternoon / evening schedule (depending on time zone, of course) to find out with us.

iPhone 5 / 4S placeholders pop up at Cincinnati Bell, questionable specs in tow

It looks like the iPhone speculation train is gaining steam on the way to its final destination, and this time it's flying by Cincinnati Bell's pre-paid service, i-Wireless. A helpful tipster sent in the above screenshot of an iPhone 5 placeholder, accompanied by a $639.99 price tag and a handful of specs: 32GB, 4-inch screen and 4G data speeds. Our friends over at TUAW have also procured a screenshot (after the break) from the same site, displaying a $99.99 16GB iPhone 4S, sporting a 5MP camera, 3.5-inch screen and an A5 processor. Of course, there's also a chance these are just placeholders, but we're hoping Tuesday's announcement will bear dual fruits, nonetheless.

Apple wants to 'talk iPhone' on October 4th

Well, it's about freaking time! Apple has finally begun sending out invites for its upcoming press conference, and the company's being none too subtle with the hints, offering up some familiar app icons in the artwork and the tagline "Let's talk iPhone." As to whether it'll be an iPhone 5, 4S or some other new formation, we'll all have to wait until the event to find out

Report: Apple to hold media event on October 4th, Tim Cook to unveil iPhone 5

We have yet to receive official word on this, but All Things Digital is reporting today that Apple's next big media event will be held on October 4th, where freshly minted CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil the iPhone 5. Sources close to the situation say Cook will be the main presenter at the event, with execs Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and Eddy Cue playing supporting roles. This would mark the first time that Cook has actually led an Apple event, adding an extra wrinkle of significance to an already highly anticipated occasion. The site's sources went on to say that the next-gen iPhone will be available for purchase "within a few weeks" of the announcement, though All Things Digital acknowledges that the exact date of its unveiling is still subject to change. As always, we'll be sure to keep you posted as soon as we hear more.

Lion Ultimatum brings desktop-like functionality and file manager to jailbroken iOS (video)

Sure, OS X Lion borrowed many of its design cues from Apple's iOS platform, but now users of jailbroken iPhone and iPod Touch devices may bring much of the desktop Mac's functionality onto their handset with Lion Ultimatum. In essence, this beta project is a theme for Dreamboard (which is required software), but it's rather far-reaching, with a functional file manager and Finder menus, a scrollable dock and draggable windows, along with Stacks, Launchpad, Mission Control and Dashboard. There's also a customizable lock screen that provides access to the dialer, email and messages. Even the keyboard can be modified to resemble the design of MacBook Pro or the traditional Apple Keyboard, thanks to integration with ColorKeyboard. If you're thirsty for more, hop the break for an extended video preview, or just follow the source for the full install instructions.

ComScore calls Android top dog, Apple pulls further ahead of RIM

According to ComScore, out of the 82.2 million people in the US with a smartphone (up ten percent fromlast quarter), Android came in first as the biggest platform yet again, capturing a whopping 41.8 percent of the market like a boss. In a not-so-close second, Apple was able to snag 27 percent, followed by RIM in the third place spot with 21.7 percent -- down 4 percentage points from last quarter. Pulling up the rear is Microsoft with 5.7 percent, and lastly Symbian with a grim 1.9 percent -- both down when compared to the previous three months. As far as US hardware manufacturers goes, Samsung is still on top with 25.5 percent of the market, while LG got 20.9 percent and finally Motorola with 14.1 percent, down 1.5 percentage points from before. Apple was able to snag some standing in the OEM space with a 9.5 percent share, while BlackBerry-maker RIM only captured 7.6 percent. As the battle wages on, looks like Androids, iPhones, and BlackBerrys (oh my) are still on top -- at least for this quarter. Check out the PR after the break for the full scorecard.

Apple to release cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 within weeks?

As the world waits for Apple to release the iPhone 5, Reuters is reporting that Cupertino may be refreshing the iPhone 4, as well. According to two anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter," an unnamed Korean manufacturer has already begun producing parts for a cheaper, 8GB version of the smartphone, slated to launch within the next few weeks. As for that next-gen handset, the insiders went on to say that the iPhone 4S / iPhone 5 will will feature a more spacious touchscreen, better antenna and eight megapixel shooter, and that Apple is indeed aiming for a late September launch, after having already asked manufacturers Hon Hai and Pegatron to prep their facilities for the production of 45 million units, altogether. Details, as usual, are still scarce at this point, but we'll let you know as soon as we get more information.

Next-gen iPhone to be a globe-trotter with both CDMA and GSM radios inside

The iPhone 5 (4s) will most probably feature a dual-mode CDMA and GSM version in order to cater to both AT&T and Verizon networks and hence be a truly global device. This was discovered by TechCrunch via an iOS developer’s insider information.

According to this person, an app has been registered from a single dual-mode iPhone device in testing, supposedly the next iPhone, running on iOS 5 and using two separate mobile network codes and mobile country codes. The MNC/MCC codes were used for AT&T and Verizon at the same time.

Now this could just be a device in testing and there’s no certainty as to whether Apple will be able to release the device in time for its still-unconfirmed September 7th release.

September is booked for some interesting releases it seems – HTC is holding a WP7 event, Samsung will unpack something new and last but not least, the Apple’s gotta come up with the next iPhone. We can’t wait.

Facebook introduces separate

It's not clear if its recently acquired group messaging firm, Beluga, had anything to do with it or not, but Facebook has branched out further into the increasingly crowded messaging space today with the announcement of a separate Facebook Messenger app. Available for iPhone and Android, the app lets you send messages directly to individual friends or groups, which they'll of course receive instantly (a la BBM, Huddle for Google+, and Apple's forthcoming iMessage). You're also able to share your location if you choose, and attach photos to your messages, but the app is otherwise streamlined and barebones -- which Facebook says is just the point. You can grab it from the App Store or Android Market now via the links below.

Update: As pointed out by Mark Levin in comments, it turns out the Beluga team did indeed have a hand in the development of the app.