iPhone 5c Announced: Features, Release Date, Price

The iPhone 5c, Apple’s first attempt in providing colorful range, has just been officially announced, and after months of rumor and speculation, we finally have all of the official details. Read on for everything you need to know about the new iPhone 5c.

Features

Processor:

The budget model runs on the same dual-core A6 processor seen within the iPhone 5, which means daily tasks on the iOS 7 operating system should be a relative breeze. It was heavily rumored that Apple would continue using its in-house iPhone 5 SoC for the iPhone 5c, and following the announcement, we now know this to be the case.

As far as storage goes, the iPhone 5c arrives in two storage options: 16GB and 32GB. Those who were wondering whether the 5c will be available in 64GB configuration will be disappointed.

Design and color options:

As per the leaks and speculation, the iPhone 5c is comprised a polycarbonate finish to the rear, and arrives in a plethora of different colors, including green, yellow, blue, white and pink. This won’t have the same premium feel as flagship iPhone models we’ve seen, but given how many high-end smartphones, like the Nokia Lumia 920, have sported a shiny plastic finish in the past, it should still feel like a well-built Apple product to the touch.

The Home button remains at the bottom in the center, providing the same functionality it always has, while the volume rockers sit on the left-hand side. In essence, the iPhone 5c is very similar to the iPhone 5, but takes away one or two perks in order to remain as inexpensive as possible.

Wireless

Like the iPhone 5 before it, the iPhone 5c is fully supportive of 4G LTE with support for even more bands around the globe, and with many cellular providers now driving forward their efforts towards 4G, this can only be a good thing. Ideal for streaming movies and downloading music, 4G LTE ensures ultra-fast data speeds when not connected to a hotspot, and with the iPhone 5 having been the first handset to offer support, the iPhone 5S follows on in a similar vein.

Wi-Fi, meanwhile, supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, which, in layman’s terms, means you shouldn’t experience much by way of interruption when using your Wi-Fi at home.

Rest is all standard, such as Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, cellular triangulation etc.

Camera

The main camera, like the processor, is borrowed from the iPhone 5, with that same 8-megapixel offering to which we’ve already become accustomed. When it did arrive late last year, it boasted better low-light performance than those of its predecessors, with an F/2.4 lens, so those with a tendency to get snap-happy on the likes of Instagram and Flickr should be more than impressed by this revelation.

The front-facing camera, meanwhile, shoots in 720p HD, and while it’s by no means comparable to the rear shooter, should still do a solid job with FaceTime HD or taking those selfies.

In the camera department, it’s set in stone that the iPhone 5c is surely a winner and will not disappoint the average user.

Battery

The battery and has been improved when compared to the iPhone 5, and should keep things ticking over through general use. With some competing devices offering over 3,000mAh, it doesn’t seem like an astonishing battery life, but with most iPhone 5 users satisfied by the longevity of their device through day-to-day usage, the iPhone 5c should once again be able to sustain a full day on a full charge.

The iPhone 5c offers 10 hours of talk time on 3G, with up to 250 hours of standby time. When it comes to Web browsing, the iPhone 5c is a champ. It offers 8 hours of 3G Web browsing, 10 hours on 4G LTE and up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi.

iPhone 5c offers 10 hours of video playback and 40 hours of audio playback.

Lightning Port

Naturally, the iPhone 5c features the Lightning dock connector, after the phasing out of the larger 30-pin connector late last year. We’d love to have seen Apple go for something a little less proprietary, but hey, that’s Apple!

Accessories

Out of the box, you get your dock connector, wall charger, EarPods headset and the usual literature, including quick-start information and, of course, your Apple stickers.

But that’s not all, Apple is also introducing new silicon cases for the iPhone 5c, and from the image (above), you can see, gives your device a really cool look. For $29, it’s a good buy and comes in a variety of color options!

New official lightning dock for iPhone 5c is also available from Apple Stores worldwide.

Price

The 16GB iPhone 5c will cost $99, and the 32GB model will cost $199 on a two-year contract. The price for the unlocked model is as follows: 16GB for $549 and $649 for 32GB.

Release Date

iPhone 5c pre-order will go live starting September 13th, and will be available in stores on September 20th.

Apple iPhone 5s Announced: Features, Release Date, Price [Everything You Need To Know]

Ah, finally.. finally, the iPhone 5s, Apple’s latest and greatest flagship smartphone has been revealed to the world. And we’ve got all the details under one roof!

Features

Processor:

The iPhone 5s packs Apple’s all-new A7 processor, which is of the 64-bit variety, the first for any smartphone in the world, which naturally delivers a stronger performance compared with that of its predecessor. This enables iOS 7′s animations to run smoothly and without any kind of lag. Of course, the A6 has been relatively strong for the iPhone 5 during the course of the last year, but with A7 pushing the boundaries just that little bit further, the iPhone 5s will surely be among the smoothest devices on the market.

So yes, in case you’re wondering, the iPhone 5s is the first ever smartphone which has a 64-bit processor. Apple goes as far as saying that ‘the other guys aren’t even talking about this’yet.

iPhone 5s also features M7 coprocessor which is designed to make the device more efficient. It helps in offloading work from the main A7 chip which results in faster performance and increased battery life. The new M7 chip also knows when you are walking, running or driving.

Touch ID + Home button:

Every new iPhone needs a feature to talk about, and the iPhone 5s has precisely that with a fingerprint sensor, which Apple is officially calling ‘Touch ID’, apart from the apt description of Home button. Enabling a device to be unlocked without typing in a PIN or password – a cumbersome rigmarole at the best of times – it brings enhanced security while also being rather cool.

But wait, there’s more, Touch ID can read multiple fingers, which means it’s not limited to your thumb, for example. Touch ID is deeply integrated into iOS 7, according to Apple, which means that you can set it up to make iTunes purchases as well. In Layman’s terms; your fingers are now your password. Win.

The traditional Home button is still there, but serves its purpose as a fingerprint sensor as well. The traditional square logo on the Home button is now a thing of the past.

Naturally, Apple has made quite a bit of fuss about the new feature, but hey, regardless of whether you see much benefit from it or not, it’s a gimmick to get it selling.

Camera:

The iPhone 5s features dual-LED flash, which not only improves low-lighting shots, but also offers more natural lighting compared with the traditional, deer-in-the-headlights look.

The rear-facing snapper is an 8-megapixel, F2.2 wide aperture lens affair, and features 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second, and up to 120 frames per second at 720p, which is a massive leap on the iPhone 5. But that’s not just it, the image sensor is now 15 percent more larger, which allows more detail to be captured in low light.

Still wondering about the 120fps part? Apple is introducing Slo-Mo with the new iPhone 5s, which lets you slow down parts of your video for that oh-so dramatic video shot.

To top things off, the iPhone 5s’ camera now takes photos in burst mode, too. If you’re into taking action shots, then the new burst mode will assure you never miss a scene.

Camera also features Auto image stabilization.

The front-facing camera, meanwhile, is a 1.2 megapixel offering, but seeing as it’s only for FaceTime and such, its purpose doesn’t stretch beyond showing vaguely viewable image.

Design:

The iPhone 5s is very much in the same vein as the iPhone 4S in that it looks almost identical to the iPhone 5. Aside from the rather distinctive Touch ID sensor, the iPhone 5s looks very similar to its older brother.

Having said that, there is one key difference; the iPhone 5s comes in a gold color configuration as well, a decision which is likely to split the crowd as much as it already has. But while we perhaps all have opinions on whether a gold iPhone is a good idea or not, the fact remains that it’s another option, which can never be a bad thing.

Color Options:

Gold, Silver, and Space Gray

Storage:

The iPhone 5s will offer 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage configurations. In a world in which we’ve become heavily reliant upon apps, it’s good to see Apple preparing power users appropriately, and while some older models would have found 64GB of storage simply crippling, the A7 processor of the iPhone 5s should keep everything ticking over nicely.

Wireless:

The iPhone 5s offers all the usual wireless connectivity as you’d expect. Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n (and no ac, which is a big bummer), 4G LTE with support for even more bands around the globe.

Battery:

Apple has a bigger battery, which offers 10 hours of 3G talk time, 8 hours of 3G Web browsing, 10 hours of Web browsing on LTE, 10 hours of Web browsing on Wi-Fi. The iPhone 5s offers 250 hours of standby time, with 10 hours of continuous video playback, and 40 hours of music.

Software:

No surprises here, the iPhone 5s will run iOS 7 out of the box, but some features are exclusive to the iPhone 5s, such as burst mode and Slo-Mo.

Accessories:

Apple has also announced the official leather case for the iPhone 5s. So, if you’re in the market and looking for a decent leather case, then the official accessory is your best bet from this point onwards.

Also announced is the official lightning dock for iPhone 5s, which is also compatible with iPhone 5.

Release Date

The iPhone 5s will be available to buy in stores on Friday, September 20th. And will be available in the following countries: US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan and Singapore. This is the first time the iPhone will be available in China at launch, which is a big plus. Apple is not taking online pre-orders for iPhone 5s this year.

Price

Contract free price of iPhone 5s: 16GB for $649, 32GB for $749 and 64GB for $849.
On contract price of iPhone 5s: 16GB for $199, 32GB for $299 

iWork, iPhoto And iMovie For iOS Now Free For All New Devices

There had been one or two rumors floating about that Apple’s iWork Suite, along with iLife, would be going free. Leaks of app information pages seemed to corroborate this notion, and today, Apple has announced that iWork, iPhoto and iMovie will be free of charge.

iWork is the Cupertino’s productivity suite, encompassing Numbers – the spreadsheet app, Keynote – the presentation app, and Pages, which is Apple’s own answer to Microsoft Word. With Apple having recently announced a move to integrate these apps into iCloud sans Google Drive, the company is now looking to drive up adoption rates, and what better way to do so than to give the app versions away for free?

Although the apps only cost a few dollars to begin with, everybody likes a freebie, and those five apps are exactly that to anybody purchasing a new device.

Tim Cook today gave a brief demonstration at the keynote event, but while the apps don’t actually show the new iOS 7 design theme, we’d fully expect the final versions to ship with that new aesthetic language coded by Sir Jony Ive. As polarizing as the redesign has been of iOS 7, Apple is sticking to its guns, so fairly soon, every app will have ditched the skeuomorphism.

So, for all of you productive folks out there, this is a definite win, and will bestow upon you the powerful tools to get your work and documents completed on the fly. iPhoto and iMovie are ideal for tweaking images and videos, and given how many of us now use our smartphones as our main shooter, it’s good to see that they’ve now gone free.

Cook has stipulated that the apps are free to those purchasing a new device, but we’d hazard that this is merely a way of coaxing consumers into picking one up. Needless to say, the days of having to pony up money for these iconic apps are numbered.

iOS 7 GM Download Links To Go Live Today, Public Release Date Set For Sept 18th

It’s official now, iOS 7 GM download links will go live today on the Dev Center, as confirmed by Apple at their media event. First announced back at this year’s WWDC in June, iOS 7 is now ready for public consumption having reached GM stage, and will publicly become available to compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices from September 18th.

Apple has made plenty of changes to its iconic mobile software this time around, with the noticeable being the revamped user interface. Skeuomorphism will soon become a distant memory thanks to Jony Ive’s grand redesign, which sees flat shapes and clean lines throughout.

After several betas, the software is ready for prime time, and since iOS 6 was shrouded in controversy thanks to the dire state of the Maps app — something that forced CEO Tim Cook into a public apology — Apple will be hoping the latest and greatest version releases without so much as a hitch.

As well as the aesthetic overhaul, iOS 7 brings a plethora of new and exciting features. Among them is the Control Center, allowing users to readily toggle core functionality like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without having to consult the settings app.

Folders, which first came into play alongside iOS 4, have also been extended, allowing users to add many more than the rather stingy maximum of twelve apps. The days of needing several folders to hold a large collection of games are now over, and with generally smoother animations, those with compatible devices have plenty to look forward to.

For more, check out our detailed post on all the new iOS 7 features which we did back when it was first announced at WWDC.

iOS 7 will only work for specific iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. As of September 18th, those looking to update their software will need to be in ownership of an iPhone 4 or newer, iPad 2 or newer, or the fifth-generation, latest model of the iPod touch. So if you’re rocking an iPhone 3GS or older, iPod touch fourth-gen or older, or the original iPad, you’ll need to upgrade your hardware to enjoy some of the aforementioned iOS 7 benefits. Check out the iOS 7 compatibility chart for iPhones, iPads and iPod touches.

We’ll keep you informed on the release of iOS 7 GM whenever it goes live today on the Dev Center

Update x1: iOS 7 GM is live! Download iOS 7 GM For iPhone, iPad and iPod touch!

Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM Released To TechNet and MSDN

Alongside today’s release of Windows 8.1 RTM to TechNet and MSDN, the Redmond company has also dropped Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM to those subbed to one of the big two development networks.

Like Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM wasn’t going to be released to either MSDN or TechNet until October 18th, the due date for the public release. However, due to a lot of pressure from developers, Microsoft has changed its mind, instead allowing users to get at the RTM before it gets its general, end-user release.

Having listened to the complaints on the Windows blogs, Microsoft’s Steven Guggenheimer noted of the software maker’s decision to go back on the initial plan:

We heard from you that our decision to not initially release Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM bits was a big challenge for our developer partners. . . As we refine our delivery schedules for a more rapid release cadence, we are working on the best way to support early releases to the various audiences within our ecosystem.

The RTM was only announced in late August, and it was thought that Microsoft did not want to release to developers early. To be honest, while I can see why the developers have complained, Microsoft has to try its level best to keep the balance and streamline the release as much as possible.

TechNet and MSDN subscribers can download RTM versions of Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2 Storage Server and Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation.

Getting these RTMs out early enables devs to test apps and ensure ecosystem stability, so while the impromptu release may present Guggenheimer and Microsoft with a bit of a headache right now, it should be beneficial in the long term.

The general release date for all of these products will be October 18th, just as with Windows 8.1, and we’ll keep you updated on any changes or noteworthy revelations between now and then, so stay tuned to our coverage here at Redmond Pie!

Humor: Here’s Who Will Buy The Gold iPhone 5S [VIDEO]

The iPhone 5S is expected to pack a plethora of interesting features, but in a real change from tradition, it looks as though Apple has decided to introduce a gold, or champagne color configuration. Naturally, not everybody has been impressed by this decision, and the stereotypes thrown up by prospective owners of a gold smartphone are almost perfectly encompassed by a new mock ad, released after the iPhone 5S announcement parody. The short clip involves, for lack of a more apt phrase, a douchebag, who proceeds to strut around town wielding his shiny new gold iPhone. Check it out after the break!

It remains to be seen what the reception will be to the gold iPhone 5S, but even before its release or even announcement, plenty of folks are tripping over each other to slate it.

Although personally, I probably wouldn’t want to go out and buy any smartphone in gold, I know that many folks would, and so I think additional choice, provided the black and white models remain alongside and are not replaced, can only really be a good thing from a consumer point of view.

There are many good parody videos made, particularly around the time of announcements, and this is arguably the best we’ve seen so far regarding the forthcoming Apple iPhone unveiling.

The gold iPhone 5S should arrive alongside a polycarbonate, low-cost iPhone 5C, both of which are due to be announced tomorrow. Rumor has also suggested that MacBooks, or specifically the Pro with Retina display model, could also be in line for an Intel Haswell upgrade, but regardless, we shall be reporting on all of the important details here at Redmond Pie as and when they happen, so stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, check out the video below for a couple of cheap laughs at the expense of thegold/champagne iPhone 5S owner. Do you think this is the kind of buyer Apple is looking to target with the new color configuration? Or, even, is the gold model a more desirable choice than the rather bland current offerings available with the iPhone 5?

Do share your thoughts via the usual mediums below, it’s always a treat to hear from you guys!

Thanks, Andy for sending this in!

Windows 8.1 RTM Download Now Officially Available From MSDN And TechNet

MSDN and TechNet users can now officially download Windows 8.1 RTM bits. It’s fair to say that, as far as new Windows releases go, Windows 8 wasn’t the most well-received. With plenty of criticism from users bemused as to the extent of the changes, Microsoft has somewhat gone back to the drawing board, keeping some of the new implementations while also offering a little more familiarity to proceedings.

The dramatic return of the traditional Start button is perhaps the most talked-about feature of the lot, and although it’s something relatively small in the grand scheme of Microsoft’s operating system, many users felt as though the proverbial rug had been pulled from beneath them when the long-time feature was rather unceremoniously removed.

We heard not so long ago that Windows 8.1 had officially gotten RTM, but now, it’s actually been released to those tethered to the big two developer networks. Initially, the Redmond insisted TechNet and MSDN subscribers would not be seeing the release prior to the official October 18th launch – a decision that caused a major outcry.

Caving in to pressure, and not for the first time, Microsoft has back-tracked to keep the developers happy. To be fair, that initial plan to hold the RTM back until later would probably be to the detriment of the OS in general – a point repeated continually by upset developers.

On top of releasing the RTM, Microsoft has also said that changes will still be made to Windows 8.1 at this stage, and although the time constraints mean there won’t be anything too severe happening, the late push to apply the finishing touches was attributable to the initial decision to skip the early release to MSDN and TechNet.

The official Windows 8.1 release date for general public is set for October 18th, boasting a bunch of new and exciting features. It will be a completely free upgrade for those already rocking a Windows 8-enabled machine or device, and is the second installment in a continued switch to the annual release cycle.