The iPhone 5S And iPhone 5C – What We Think We Know About Apple’s New Hardware

So here we are, only a week away from Apple’s iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C announcement. Apple has already sent event invites for its September 10th iPhone event, a date that the internet as a whole seems to have designated ‘new iPhone day.’

For the first time ever though, this particular iPhone announcement goes beyond simply launching a new flagship iPhone – this time, we’re going to get two handsets. Assuming all the rumors are accurate, of course.

The iPhone 5S is set to be Apple’s new top of the line smartphone, but arguably the most interesting news will be the iPhone 5C. The company’s first purpose-built budget iPhone, the iPhone 5C aims to take a chunk out of the market that is currently filled with a million and one different Android phones. Can Apple disrupt it?

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C side by side. image credit: Tinhte [Google Translate]

Let’s have a recap of what will be announced, iPhone related, on the 10th of September. Assuming it’s not all in our heads, of course.

Apple’s iPhone 5S

Faster processor:

Replacing the current iPhone 5, the 5S is what we’ve come to expect from an ‘S’ designated release at this point. Expect new internals that amount to a speed bump with A7 chip that should see iOS 7 zip along nicely. Transitions should be more fluid, and as someone who’s been using iOS 7 on his main device since beta 1, that’s no bad thing.

Home button with fingerprint sensor:

More interestingly, rumors of a fingerprint sensor being built right into the Home button may have had some foundation after all. Being able to unlock a device without having to enter a PIN code but also having some security at the same time is something that will appeal to many, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for that. The talk on the street is that the sensor is also going to play an important role in some sort of mobile payment system that Apple may or may not also be working on. We’re less convinced about that, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Camera:

Fans of iPhone photography will also note that the iPhone 5S is set to launch with a dual-LED flash arrangement similar to that found on other high end smartphones, too. The phone is also expected to sport 12-megapixel sensor with better low-light performance.

Design + new color options:

When it comes to looks, the 5S will largely resemble the iPhone 5 you may have in your pocket right now. The main exception is the possibility of a new champagne/gold color that has shown up in plenty of photos. Love it or hate it, the idea of Apple offering a third color option is one that has our interest piqued.

The champagne/gold iPhone 5S. image credit: SonnyDickson

Additionally, if more rumors are to be believed, a new addition to the mix will be ‘graphite’ color option for iPhone 5S.

Storage:

Fans of apps, games and media will also be pleased to hear that the iPhone 5S is expected to offer storage options all the way up to 128GB, also.

Availability:

Based on prior years’ release date, the iPhone 5S is expected to launch in U.S. and some other countries on Friday, September 20th.

Price:

Same as the current iPhone 5.

Apple’s iPhone 5C

To us, the iPhone 5C is possibly the most interesting of the two iPhones expected to be announced by Tim Cook and co. on September 10th. The fabled ‘budget iPhone,’ the 5C – c for ‘color, presumably’ – will replace the currently shipping iPhone 5. Usually, when Apple announces a new iPhone the older version becomes the new budget alternative, but not this year.

Internals:

Coming in a plastic shell, the iPhone 5C’s innards are going to be a mix of iPhone 5 and 4S, with more taken from 5 than 4S, so expect performance to be on a par with that device. That’s no bad thing, because the iPhone 5 handles everything you can throw at it and with minimal fuss. For a budget device, the iPhone 5C with a 8-megapixel camera is set to be quite the powerhouse.

Outer design:

It’s that plastic shell that will get everyone’s attention, though. Available in a range of colors, the iPhone 5C will resemble an iPod in that it will come in a bright, shiny chassis that is sure to stand out from the crowd. If you’re walking around with a bright blue iPhone 5C, people will notice!

Image of claimed budget iPhone 5C packaging.

Color options:

White, yellow, blue/cyan, red and green.

iPhone 5C – color options. image credit: SonnyDickson (Twitter)

Availability:

Same as iPhone 5S.

Price:

Rumors so far are putting the price of iPhone 5C to be between $300 to $400 for the unlocked version.

Whether you’re looking to splash the cash on a new monster iPhone or would rather be a little more frugal and upgrade to an iPhone 5C from, say, an iPhone 4S, Apple should have you covered. The iPhone 5S might not have all the bells and whistles of a brand new, redesigned iPhone, but the 5C should certainly be enough to get people into Apple Stores regardless.

Update x1 (3/9/2013): This post has been updated after Apple’s September 10th iPhone eventinvites were sent out on September 3rd.

Android 4.4 KitKat Is The Next Version Of Google’s Mobile OS

The naming convention for major Android operating system releases doesn’t take a genius to figure out. With each new big release getting a name based on popular sweets, and those names following the alphabet series, the next release after Jelly Bean was believed to be called Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Now, after an announcement by Google itself, it’s clear that isn’t quite accurate.

Announced via a photo posted to Twitter by Android SVP Sundar Pichai, the next release of Android will be version 4.4 and not 5.0, and rather than being called Key Lime Pie it’s actually going to go by the name of KitKat. That’s right, the four-fingered chocolate treat is now part of the growing Android family of sugary goodness.

Google has already erected a new statue outside the Google offices in celebration of the announcement, and it has to be said it looks pretty darn awesome – if a little scary! If that thing’s eyes glow red, we’re outta here!

If the naming of a new version of Android isn’t interesting enough, the fact that Google has used a name that is used by a company should be. We’re told that KitKat is getting in on the action too, with special edition KitKats being sold with the chance of picking up free Google Play credit or even a free Nexus 7 if you happen to buy the right one. We never seem to win anything like that, but we’re happy to eat as many KitKats as it takes to win on this occasion! There’s no word whether the special edition KitKats will be shaped like Google’s new robot, but if they are then the awesome meter just went up to 11. Maybe even 12!

There are no details beyond the name and version number right now, but expect things to get bigger, shinier and faster than before with some additional bells and whistles thrown in depending on how iOS 7 goes over with the public when it is released later this month.

There is also no timeframe for when KitKat will be available, so don’t start hammering that update button just yet.

If you want more information regarding the release – which is scarce by the way – then head on over to: Android.com/KitKat

Apple’s September 10th iPhone 5S And iPhone 5C Event Is Now Official

Reports coming in from reputable sources in the past week or so all-but confirmed September 10th as the announcement date of the budget iPhone 5C and flagship iPhone 5S, but now, any notion of that doubt can be swept aside with Apple having just pushed out the invitations to the event for that very date. Both devices are expected to be showcased by Cook, Schiller and the rest of the usual suspects, and with exactly a week to go, we’re very much looking forward to the official unveiling.

Breaking away from its tradition once again, Apple has chosen its own campus in Cupertino, California for the keynote, which will almost certainly see the release of two smartphones in one hit. The fruit company has never released two iPhones at the very same time, but while some consumers will have some considerations to make before arriving at a decision, it’s fair to say that the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S are two very different animals.

From what we’ve seen of the iPhone 5C – which, by the way, is a lot - the device’s shell will be comprised mainly of glossy polycarbonate, with the form factor slightly thicker than the iPhone 5 as a result. Although we’ve heard precious little with regards to specs, we very much expect Apple to re-use parts found in older models of its iconic smartphone brand, and since it will be running the iOS 7 operating system, we foresee a more-than-adequate set of interior components.

Speaking of iOS 7; it is expected that the event will also play host to the announcement of iOS 7 GM – or Gold Master candidate – which is a near final and polished build that will be pushed out to consumers a couple of weeks later.

The iPhone 5S, as one might expect, is set to be the star of the show, and with a purported 12(13?)-megapixel camera, dual-LED flash, bumped up processor allied to more RAM and a fingerprint sensor, among other reported treats, the device looks to have all of the ingredients for another inevitable strain of Apple Fever.

The iPhone 5S is also expected to offer two new color options, champagne/gold and graphite color configurations, and with some even suggesting that Apple could offer a 128GB storage option, these are certainly exciting times if you just so happen to be an iPhone fan.

All will be revealed and clarified on September 10th, and we’ll have complete coverage of every announcement on the day, so stay tuned!

Did anyone notice the iPhone 5C color patterns in the invite image? I see what you did there, Apple!

The Next Lumia Smartphone Will Be Microsoft Branded, Not Nokia

Nokia, the one-time king of the smartphone world, has finally come to a point where the Finnish giant is taking the back seat and leaving the smartphone world for good. That’s correct – no more smartphones will ever carry the brand name ‘Nokia’ ever again, even if the manufacturer was once viewed as the symbol for quality and reliability.

The decision comes as a part of the $7.1 billion acquisition of Nokia by Microsoft, which has surprisingly decided to venture into the smartphone hardware manufacturing as well. Judging by Microsoft’s past experience with Xbox and Surface tablets, we don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t, but the news still took the world by storm when it broke across the blogosphere.

As per the terms of the deal between Microsoft and Nokia, the Asha and Lumia trademarks will now belong to Microsoft, and hence, any phones made for the Windows Phone platform and the Symbian Belle platform will carry Microsoft as the maker instead of Nokia. The Nokia sign, however, will remain a property of the Finnish company, under part of a 10-year licensing agreement. This means that feature phones manufactured by Nokia will still carry its name, but as far as the smartphone race goes, this spells the end of the line for the company.

In all fairness, this was a really quiet exit for the innovation giant that actually helped start the smartphone trend in the world. No one can argue that Symbians were the first ever phones that brought to the general consumer market the concept of a phone that’s more than just a communication device, and they continued to build on that success until the iPhone came in 2007 and pretty much blew away the competition. While Symbian Belle may be outdated and redundant by today’s iOS and Android standards, the fact that it was a part of the smartphone legacy, still holds true, and we feel Nokia deserved more as its final wave.

The acquisition of the Finnish company by Microsoft raises many questions, especially with respect to Stephen Elop’s future with the Redmond giant. While he’ll now be heading the devices division, and overseeing, at least for the time being, these wonderful technological marvels that Lumias have been so far, some see him as a potential successor to Ballmer’s position as CEO of Microsoft who has already announced his retirement from Microsoft. The question is, would this acquisition of Nokia by Microsoft really help push Windows Phone platform to a level where it could compete against the current smartphone kings? Or would this decision turn out to be something similar to Google’s acquisition of Motorola? Only time will tell.

(Source: Nokia)

BBM For Android Gets A Hands-On Video Demo

It’s no secret that things could be better over at BlackBerry. New men in charge at the top and dwindling sales and market share have been the story of the last few years for one of Canada’s most famous exports. And things don’t show any great sign of settling down just yet.

In what is a nod to the fact that BlackBerry’s hardware may not be as marketable as its software and services, the company is already well on the way to making BBM to both the iOS and Android platforms, removing what was arguably the biggest reason to get a BlackBerry handset instead of, say, an iPhone 5 or a Galaxy S4. Removing unique selling points may not seem like the best idea, but sometimes needs must, and at the moment BBM is one of the few things that BlackBerry can be proud of.

Both the iOS and Android versions of BBM are tipped for an October-time release to the public, but apart from that there has been little news or leaks claiming to purport to offer an insight into what is around the corner for BBM. That hasn’t stopped video appearing online that seemed to show BBM running on Android. We say that it seemed to, because the video has since been made private, which means nobody can actually watch it. Still, it’s the thought that counts!

BBM on the iPhone and Android devices is a big leap for BlackBerry, and with WhatsApp and Apple’s own iMessage already very well established it’s going to be an interesting time to see whether BBM can compete, especially now that the maker’s handsets are much less in vogue than they used to be.

We know we’re less than thrilled at the idea of having yet another messaging account, but we know some are tied to the BBM world. How good the experience will be remains to be seen, but if you’ve been waiting for your BBM fix on non-BlackBerry devices, then it may be just a few short weeks until you’re golden.

UPDATE x1: Looks like the video is back up!

(source: BlackBerryOS)

Microsoft Just Bought Nokia’s Devices And Services Business For $7.1 Billion

We’ve heard countless rumors in the past leading up to this day, suggesting that Microsoft might make the big move and acquire Nokia, along with its device and services division. And now, Microsoft has officially confirmed that the acquisition will indeed take place in an open letter from current Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop, the current CEO of Nokia.

It was back in February of 2011 when Nokia and Microsoft joined forces and announced their partnership to bring Windows Phone devices to the masses. The news came as a surprise to many since Android and iOS were the most dominating platform at that time. A move to hop onto the Windows Phone bandwagon, and not Android, startled many.

The news of the partnership came at a time when Symbian, which was Nokia’s primary smartphone OS at that time, was seeing a dramatic decline in usage. Meego also took an arrow to the knee and the whole division was scrapped for good. Fast forward today, Nokia is the biggest supplier of Windows Phone 7.x / 8 devices worldwide, all thanks to its new direction and appeal.

The open letter by Ballmer, who by the way announced recently that he will be stepping down from CEO position within 12 months, and Elop states that today is a big day and is “a huge leap forward on our journey of creating a family of devices and services that delight people and empower businesses of all sizes.” This clearly means that Microsoft and Nokia are indeed willing to take their partnership further, and is not just a mere acquisition, and Nokia shouldn’t be written off from the smartphone thriving world, just yet, despite its faltering sales.

The letter also states that the acquisition will take the Windows ecosystem even further; offering its users more choices, further speeding up the process of innovation and offer better devices to the end user. A big emphasis on the word Windows here: could we be seeing a Windows RT / 8 tablet from Nokia as well?

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has jumped the gun and purchased a big name company. Back in October of 2011, exactly two years ago, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Skype for a whopping $8.5 billion, which aided in bringing VoIP and video calling services to Windows Phone and other devices.

Considering the performance of Nokia in general, when compared to the likes of Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS ecosystem, the just-announced acquisition is only a good thing for Nokia at this point. With Nokia facing severe losses in their quarterly results one after the other, Microsoft should be considered a savior at this point.

Microsoft will be paying $4.99 billion for the devices and services division of Nokia, and a further $2.18 billion for all the patents Nokia owns.

Since the news is now confirmed; who wants to see a Surface phone from the Redmond and Finnish giants? I do!

(Source: Nokia)

Acer Liquid S2: The First Smartphone With 4K Video Camera

Although Sony’s unannounced Honami smartphone is rumored to offer 4K recording, prominent computer manufacturer Acer has come through and confirmed a handset offering the capture of ultra-HD video. Named the Liquid S2, the device is set to be fully unveiled at this year’s IFA trade show in Berlin, but with 4K video recording and a Snapdragon 800 processor from Qualcomm, we’re already pretty excited about it.

Often, it takes one or a series of devices to push a new technology from its early stages into the mainstream, and with both next-gen consoles offering varying levels of support for 4K, it’s only natural that mobile devices should follow suit.

As well as the Sony Honami, Samsung is, as you’d expect, also looking to corner this area of the market with its own rumored Galaxy Note 3, but both will be attempting to compete with the impressive hardware specs of the Liquid S2.

Alongside the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, the device will also pack 2GB of RAM and 16GB of on-board memory. Those purchasing the Liquid S2 will also be treated to a sizable 6-inch IPS display (yes, it’s the full 1080p resolution), and with a 3300mAh battery, it should remain alive and kicking for a full productive day.

Unfortunately, there’ll not be the latest and greatest Android 4.3, but with Jelly Bean 4.2.2 out of the box, you’ll still get a fairly recent, very competent Android experience.

On the camera side of things, there’s a 2-megapixel front-facing snapper, which is ideal when taking those selfies for Instagram. Additionally, the front camera can handle 1080p video, and while it’s not much when compared with the 4K capabilities of its counterpart, it’s still in-keeping with the front cameras of other such devices.

The Liquid S2 is the latest in an increasingly long line of phablet devices offering extremely large displays and hefty specs to match. It will go head-to-head with the likes of the Galaxy Note 3, which will also be unveiled fully in the coming days.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on all the upcoming announcements, while also keeping you up-to-date on the big revelations at this year’s IFA show, so stay tuned to our coverage here atRedmond Pie!

(source: Engadget)