Category: Apple

Apple’s 4-inch iPhone to be Called iPhone 5se

If rumors about Apple’s flagship device weren’t enough, you have a whole bunch of them for its lesser sibling. We’ve heard a great deal about Apple’s upcoming 4-inch iPhone. But the one things the rumors and speculations just couldn’t settle on was the name. Today, it’s possible that the iPhone 5se is what the 4-inch device is going to be called.

The 5se as the name suggests will be an “enhanced” version of the iPhone 5s. From what we’ve come to know so far in terms of specs, the iPhone 5se will be powered by the A8 chipset with the M8 motion co-processor as was seen in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Furthermore, the miniature iPhone will sport an 8MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front, again similar to the iPhone 6. What the iPhone 5se borrows from the current iPhone 6s is the Live Photos feature that records a video of 1.5 seconds before the shutter is snapped and 1.5 seconds after, the result being a GIF-like video that makes it look like the photograph has come alive.

Live Photos is likely to be the only feature the 4-inch device will borrow from the iPhone 6s. It is unlikely to come with 3D Touch capabilities seeing how the mini version is supposed to be friendly on the pocket.

Apple is rumored to hold an event in March for the unveiling of the iPhone 6se. No word yet on the price but will likely be priced around the same as the iPhone 5s. We’ll know more as we approach the launch.

January 23, 2016
Apple Hires Virtual and Augmented Reality Expert

it looks like Apple is joining the bandwagon of companies that are focusing on virtual reality technology. This is suggested by the fact that the Cupertino giant recently hired a man by the name Doug Bowman, the Director of the Center for Human-Computer Interaction at Virginia Tech.

Bowman joins the list of recently hired virtual and augmented reality experts, following Apple’s acquisition of Faceshift, Metaio, and Emotient. Apple is trying to learn as much as it can about the world of virtual reality, seeing that its major competitors like Samsung and Microsoft have already made their mark in that realm.

It not clear in any way as to Apple’s plans regarding VR. Bowman’s experience with creating 3D interfaces could be deployed in AR car control systems, which could be incorporated in Apple’s autonomous car (which in itself is a mystery right now). The other speculation is towards a Samsung’s Gear VR-like headset only using iPhones instead. We’ll just have to wait and see what Apple has in mind on that front. One thing is clear, virtual reality is here to stay.

January 22, 2016
Google Paid Apple $1Billion in 2014 to Keep Search Engine on iOS

Its no secret that Google and Apple, two massive rivals, have an agreement in place which enables the search engine to be the default search provider on the iOS platform, but what is emerging right now are details of this deal born out of convenience, and the numbers involved here are staggering!

Google which makes 4 times more money from iOS users than it does from users of its own Android platform, holds the business from the Apple based devices very important to its core business, and as such it has gone to great extents to keep its search engine running on iOS devices worldwide.

According to details that have emerged in the midst of a high-profile Oracle vs Google battle in a San Fransico court, Google has paid Apple $1 billion in 2014 as part of its ongoing deal to be the default search provider on iOS devices. The deal allows Apple’s to get a percentage of the revenue that the Google search engine generates through Apple devices. The numbers quoted for the revenue shares stands at 34%.

This is not the first time rumors about how much Google pays Apple to be on the iPhone have surfaced on the Internet. For their part, the two companies have also never commented on it, and not to anyone’s surprise, Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple, and Google spokesman Aaron Stein both declined to comment on the information disclosed in the court of law.

January 22, 2016
Apple iOS 9.2.1- What’s New!

Apple has released the first public build of iOS for 2016 in the form of 9.2.1, and it was made available to all iPhone, iPad and iTouch users.

Before you get your hopes high, Apple in no way intends for this to be a blockbuster release. That title firmly will be bestowed upon iOS 9.3 when it finally hits devices across the globe. 9.3 a couple of days back was released to developers, and beta testers for feedback, and for those who missed the news of it, the particular releases promises to bring with itself a whole host of changes, and fancy tricks to makes users fall in love with their iOS devices all over again.

Coming back to the build that has been made available to the public, 9.2.1 does not bring with it any new features, but rather comes packed with promise of security updates, and bug fixes. The only specific thing mentioned in Apple’s release note for the iOS update is “a fix for an issue that could prevent the completion of app installation when using an MDM server.”

iOS 9.2.1 comes weighing in at a slender 40MB, and is up on Apple servers for download. Keeping in mind its low size, and promise of bug fixes, this update comes highly recommended.

January 21, 2016
Apple Files Application to Set Up Retail Stores in India

Amid growing concerns over the stagnating economies in the western markets, and slowing pace of its own sales in China, Cupertino-based tech giant, Apple Inc, is looking for new markets to expand its business to. On that list of unconquered lands for Apple, India finds itself at the top.

Apple which has seen a jump of 90% in sales in the country during the last fiscal year is zooming in increasingly on India as the new frontier for its products. To Apple’s credit the company has been quietly building infrastructure for such a move by boosting advertising, logistics network, and most importantly lowering prices for old phones to start making deeper inroads into the homes of millions of customers.

The next step in this process it seems will be Apple setting up shop in the country. The company plans to bring to Indian customers its very own Apple Stores in the coming months. These stores which are renowned world over for encapsulating Apple’s DNA in their ambience and design will soon start selling you the whole Apple experience.

According to reports, Apple Inc. has filed an application with the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) to open its own branded stores in India. “We have just received Apple’s proposal. We are examining it,” said DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant.

Apple already has over 460 branded stores worldwide, but there is no information as of now regarding how many such stores Apple wants to set up in India. The move comes on the heels of the government easing foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for single-brand retail in the country. According to new rules, the government has relaxed the mandatory local procurement stipulation for technology manufacturing companies and allowed single-brand retail permission holders to sell their products directly online.

Apple along with its own branded stores also plans to set up mini stores within stores in a bid to promote its brand. The first set of these could be seen opening at Chroma in the near future.

January 21, 2016
Apple Wins Lawsuit Against Samsung, 9 Samsung Devices Banned from Sale

Say hello to yet another courtroom drama between Samsung and Apple. As always, the bone of contention was patent infringement where Apple accused Samsung of having stolen features like word recommendations and unlock gestures.

Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern California District San Jose court agreed with Apple leading to banning of Samsung’s flagship devices from 2012. The list of devices now banned from sale in the US includes Samsung Admire, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch, Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Galaxy S III and Samsung Stratosphere.

The lawsuit had been stretched over a period of three years before the final verdict was passed. This means there has been three new generations of smartphones since the first violation of patents. Other than many sellers making some extra dough by selling these banned Samsung devices for a higher-than-normal price on eBay, one wonders what else this verdict could lead to. While Samsung may not feel too amused at this point, this is a blow it will definitely recover from without much effort.

Besides, it wouldn’t be too long before Samsung’s gets a chance to even out the two scores once the two companies find themselves pitted against each other again in another courtroom scenario. Hold your breath until then.

January 20, 2016
Apple iPhone 7 to be Li-Fi Ready?

After the removal of the 3.5mm jack, and the addition of a new ‘whole body’ speaker system for their new iPhone, Apple is looking to bring some more out of the box creativity to their next phone.

According to reports, Apple is looking at exploring Li-Fi feasibility in the next iteration of the iPhone. This was first reported by a user on Twitter when he spotted ‘Li-Fi Capability’ mentioned in the code of iOS 9.1. This could be an indication that Apple is already testing Li-Fi for its next handset.

Li-Fi is a technology capable of transmitting data via light. What makes Li-Fi so compelling is that it’s more effective than Wi-Fi and can transmit data more than 100 times faster than a standard Wi-Fi connection.The tech uses smart LED light bulbs that flash on and off very quickly, faster than a human eye would be able to see and sends binary information through this blinking.

It can’t be said for sure that Apple will include Li-Fi in its next phone, but if it does, it will herald a new beginning, one that will be full of light, and fast speed wireless data internet.

January 19, 2016
Apple’s iTunes Radio Will No Longer be a Free Service

Apple’s iTunes Radio will no longer be a free streaming service. The company will add the ad-supported streaming service to Apple Music beginning January 29. Apple Music is a paid music streaming service that began last year. After the date, Beats 1, which launched alongside Apple Music, will be the only free music streaming service offered by the Cupertino company.

Apple launched iTunes Radio in 2013 in the United States and Australia. The streaming service lets you create custom stations based on genres or specific songs, much like Pandora and other internet radio services. The service is ad-supported and does not allow on-demand access to music.

Apple sent out emails to customers regarding its new change and also confirmed the same to BuzzFeed. iTunes Radio has already been a part of Apple Music since the latter’s inception, but users were still able to access iTunes Radio streams for free. After the 29th, Beats 1, Apple’s curated live 24/7 radio station, will be the only free music streaming option available.

The news follows and confirms Apple’s decision to discontinue its iAD App Network, the company’s mobile ads product.

January 16, 2016
Samsung to be Apple’s Primary OLED Display Supplier

Rumors of Apple finally shifting to OLED displays for its iPhones aren’t going away. It looks like Samsung is set to be the primary OLED supplier for the new iPhones as the Korean giant gets ready to invest up to $7.27 billion depending on order levels.

Now, while the shift to OLED panels is imminent, the move will only happen in 2018, which means that the upcoming iPhone 7 will continue to sport LCD displays. Currently, the Apple Watch is the only device by the Cupertino giant that sports an OLED display.

Earlier, it was rumored that both Samsung and LG will be the suppliers for the OLED panels, but it looks like Apple’s love-hate relationship with Samsung trumps all. Though this doesn’t completely rule out LG as a supplier.

No official statement has been released by either companies yet, but insiders have claimed that the contract has been signed. Furthermore, it is rumored that Samsung is planning to invest up to $7.47 billion in its display business. This would go towards equipment, plant improvements and staff to increase production loads.

The investment will be broken down to into an initial $2.49 billion to $3.32 billion this year, so that the company can begin production of 30 000 to 45 000 OLED sheets per month. Another set of recent rumors also suggest that Apple has a secret lab in Taiwan where where former Qualcomm and AUO employees are working on developing micro-LED screen tech for thinner, lighter, and brighter displays for the iPhone, though we’ll know how much of the latter is true once the next set of iPhones come out.

January 15, 2016
iPhone 6s Plus Tops AnTuTu’s Smartphone Performance Chart for 2015

The iPhones may not have specifications as highly marked as its counterparts from other companies but when it comes to performance, looks like nothing matches up to Apple’s user interface. Proving this right is AnTuTu’s list of smartphones from 2015 rated in terms of their performance.Talking strictly in terms of raw processors, iPhone 6s Plus has won hands down, beating competition from devices by Samsung and Huawei. The test ranks these smartphones in terms of their average benchmark scores.

iPhone 6s Plus has acquired the top spot on the chart by a big margin, with no contender in sight capable of dethroning it. For more specs, details and a hands on of the device, click here. Surprisingly enough, iPhone 6, which was launched in 2014 also made it to the top 10 based solely on its performance.

With companies working around the clock on improving their tech with every passing day, let’s see if they manage to dethrone Apple from its top position in 2016. What do you think of Apple devices, are they truly as worthy as this list makes them sound? Let us know in the comments below.

January 14, 2016
New iPhone 7 Concepts Emerge Online

Here’s a little visual treat for all Apple fan-boys and girls. New iPhone 7 concepts have emerged online, and who are we kidding? Speculating about one of the most significant events of the tech world just became so much funner. Yes, Apple is going to come out with another fancy device, all set to burn a major whole in our pockets. But that’s not going to stop us from talking about these new concepts.

Arthur Reis is the artist of the concepts and he borrows from the designs of both the old and the new Apple devices to give us a glimpse of these new babies. The front of the renders reminds us a lot of iPhone 6/6s while the back is definitely reminiscent of iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Speculations do suggest that Apple may go back to one of its older devices for inspiration with the iPhone 7 but nothing seems confirmed at this point. While rumours about a waterproof iPhone which may be sans a headphone jack are all over the place, Apple has dropped not even the slightest of hints of what the device could possibly lbe like. We’ll have to wait patiently for the September event of the company, because that’s when we expect the iPhone 7 to arrive. Until then, there are only rumours and speculations to go on with.

January 14, 2016
Apple Watch 2 Trial Production to Begin This Month

Apple’s second run at striking gold is expected to start sooner than expected. If leaks coming out of China are anything to go by, Apple has decided to start trial productions of the Apple Watch 2 before this month’s end.

The manufacturing of this much awaited second generation smartwatch will be handled by Quanta, the same company which manufactured the Apple Watch last year, but the Cupertino based company is looking at new partners for handling the manufacturing of Apple Watch 2.

Not much is known about the specs of the Apple Watch 2, but rumours suggest the second generation watch could come equipped with a Face Time Camera, different display, and an improved processor. Addition health related features are also being rumoured for the Apple Watch 2.

The product is expected to launch alongside the 4-inch iPhone 5e that has been doing rounds on the Internet sometime in March. Watch this space for latest updates.

January 14, 2016
iPhone 7 To Include Improved Speaker System

Today’s dose of iPhone leaks and rumours brings to us news which will be music to curious ears. After angering audiophiles world over with its alleged decision to do away with the headphone jack, the Cupertino based company is now is looking to atone for its sins by planning to equip the next iPhone with a new and improved speaker system.

Latest set of patents doing rounds on the internet reveal Apple is looking at ways to boost the audio for the iPhone 7. As suggested by the patents, the next iteration of the iPhone could have significantly improved sound output.

Apple is to create a new sound system for the iPhone 7 which will use the entire phone as an audio chamber. The idea is to use the phone’s interiors to improve the amount of air that can pass through the speaker system, thus resulting in better volume output as well as audio quality. This new system adopted by Apple would also see the phone keeping up with the rumoured sleeker form of the phone.

The patent reads,

“As portable electronic devices get smaller and thinner, there are increased difficulties in providing the same or greater functionality in a smaller area.The one or more speakers of the system can produce audio sound that can be directed to one or more audio output openings.”

The interpretation of this patent information also hints at a better system for audio input which would essentially mean an upgrade to the phone’s microphone too! Nice try Apple, but the loss of the 3.5mm jack still hurts.

January 13, 2016
Report: Apple Watch Constitutes 50% Smartwatch Shipments in 2015

According to latest data by Juniper Research, the Apple Watch constitutes for 50% of smartwatch shipment in 2015. The Watch, which was globally released in April 2015, has overtaken Samsung’s Tizen powered Gear S2 which was launched in November last year.

Gear S2

Android Wear-powered smartwatches constitute only a total 10% of total smartwatch shipment from last year. However, the research also added that keeping Apple aside, the market is dominated by cheaper, products like those by Martian and Razer.

Apple Watch

Things look good for Apple, which is important for the company which is all set to hold an official event in March. We expect to see the second-gen version of the Apple Watch there. Even though Gear S2 and Moto 260 Second Gen seemed like they could offer some strong competition to the Apple Watch, Apple has managed to maintain its dominance in the realm of wearable tech.

January 13, 2016
iPhone 7 Rumored to Sport OLED Displays

There’s no denying that when it comes to design and looks, Apple does incredibly well to draw the publics gaze. But if there is an area that is still left wanting, it’s to do with the display. Apple has rarely made any dramatic changes to its iPhones, both in design and hardware. But the little that the company does do tends to leave out the display that is still using LCD screens with 750 x 1334 pixel resolution, while other have moved on to bigger and brighter things.

Back in November, fresh rumors surrounding the upcoming iPhone 7 suggested the Apple may be changing quite a few things this time around, one of which is the display. The iPhone 7 is rumoured sport an OLED display thereby giving up on LCD display that it has relied on so far. Apple followers will know that the Apple Watch is the only Apple device to sport an OLED display currently. In 2013, Tim Cook has expressed his distaste for the OLED displays calling them “awful” when it came to colour saturation.

iPhone 6

Furthermore, Samsung and LG are pegged as the two companies that will be providing the bulk of the OLED panels to Apple. Another new report also suggests that Apple is ready to invest in this particular screen technology by working with AU Optronics. According to Focus Taiwan, Apple wants to transform AUO into an AMOLED screen supplier for the iPhone.

if the rumors do turn out to be true, this could be quite a catch for AUO who has currently been supplying OLED displays for Huawei and other Chinese handset makers.

But that’s not all. Another set of rumors also suggest that Apple has a secret lab in Taiwan where where former Qualcomm and AUO employees are working on developing micro-LED screen tech for thinner, lighter, and brighter displays for the iPhone. We’ll just leave you here for now to let all of that sink in.

January 13, 2016