Following the announcement of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c today at its media event, Apple has made changes to its AppleCare+ service program for the iPhone, including raising service fees for accidental damage from $49 to $79, with the cost for the plan itself remaining at $99 to provide two years of coverage from the device purchase date.
Apple is also expanding availability of AppleCare+ beyond the United States, Canada, and Japan, with the program now also being offered in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Austria, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Addtionally, Apple is now offering AppleCare+ coverage for the existing iPod touch and iPod classic models, and will also be dropping service protection for its “Earpods” headphones from the program.
AppleCare+ originally launched in 2011 and covered accidental iPhone damage for the first time for all iPhone models. Late last month, a report surfaced that AppleCare+ would be expanding to Europe.
Just an hour and a half after the end of the event, Apple has already posted video of today's iPhone media event to its website. Apple has also added the "Apple Events" channel back to the Apple TV, where users can view the event video.
With the introduction of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c today, Apple has adjusted the various combinations of LTE band support for the upcoming hardware. Each of the new iPhones actually comes in four different models supporting different bands.
In the United States, a single model of each line supports both AT&T and Verizon, as well as T-Mobile, with support for Sprint coming in a separate model that is also compatible with KDDI and Softbank in Japan.
For UK customers, the expanded LTE band support also means that the new iPhone models will be compatible with Vodafone's new LTE network in addition to continuing support for EE's network. The new devices will also be compatible with Three's LTE network, which launches in December.
For the first time, China will be included in the first wave of launches for a new iPhone model, and the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are both offered in models that supported the TD-LTE standard used by China Mobile, the world's largest carrier. Apple and China Mobile have yet to announce a deal for the iPhone, though signs have pointed to a deal being in the works.
As noted by Unwired View, Apple's iPhone 5s may already have received regulatory certification for TD-LTE operation in China. According to reports, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued TD-LTE certification on four devices, but sources have indicated that a fifth approval, for the iPhone 5s, was kept secret by the agency.
During today’s iPhone media event, Apple announced new cases to go with both the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s, along with docks for both phones.
The form-fitting silicone iPhone 5c Case comes with cutout dots to show the color of the iPhone 5c beneath the case. It is available in black, white, blue, green, yellow, and Pink.
The colors match the iPhone polycarbonate shell of the iPhone 5c, and in a video shown during the presentation, it appears that Apple intends for different colored cases to be mixed with iPhone 5c shells to create unique, colorful looks. The iPhone 5c cases are priced at $29.
The case designed for the iPhone 5S is made from premium leather rather than silicone, and comes in a range of colors including brown, beige, black, yellow, blue, and (PRODUCT) RED.
According to Apple, the leather is shaped to cover the volume buttons, the on/off switch and protect the chamfered edges of the iPhone 5s. The inside of the case contains a soft microfiber, and the dye has been infused into the leather. The iPhone 5s cases are priced at $39.
Alongside the cases for the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s, Apple has also debuted a dock for each of the phones. The iPhone 5c dock and the iPhone 5s dock both look like standard docks that Apple has used in the past, with the exception of the Lightning adapter. Both docks are available for $29.
Finally, Apple has debuted a new 2-meter Lightning to USB cable, which is priced at $29. The docks and the Lightning cable will be available in Apple Retail Stores beginning on September 12, while the cases for the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s can be purchased beginning on September 20.
During today's iPhone event, Apple announced that customers would be able to pre-order the colorful iPhone 5c beginning on September 13, but there was no pre-order date given for the iPhone 5s.
Instead, Apple supplied only a September 20 release date for its flagship phone, which means the iPhone 5s will not be able to be pre-ordered ahead of time. Customers who wish to obtain an iPhone 5s on release day will need to visit an Apple Store or brick and mortar carrier store to purchase the phone.
Apple will, presumably, begin accepting online orders for the iPhone 5s on September 20, but waiting in line will almost certainly be necessary to get a phone in-hand on the release date.
Apple's iPhone 5s comes with a 64-bit A7 processor, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and new camera enhancements. It will ship with iOS 7 and can be purchased in three colors, including "space gray", white, and gold. The 16GB version of the iPhone 5s will cost $199 with a 2-year contract and $649 unlocked and contract free.
Following today's media event, Apple has seeded the golden master (GM) version of iOS 7 to developers. This represents the final build that will be released to the public on September 18 for installation on existing devices. iOS 7 will also be included on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, which launch in the first round of markets on September 20.
The GM version of iOS 7 arrives as build 11A465, and Apple has also released a GM build of Xcode 5 to support iOS 7.
Apple's iPhone 5s is equipped with both an A7 processor and a new "M7" chip that is otherwise known as a "motion coprocessor." It is designed to work alongside the A7 processor, capturing motion data from the phone's compass, accelerometer, and gyroscope to power a new generation of health and fitness apps.
Every iPhone 5s includes the new M7 motion coprocessor that gathers data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to offload work from the A7 for improved power efficiency. Developers can also access new CoreMotion APIs that take advantage of M7, so they can create even better fitness and activity apps that go well beyond what other mobile devices offer. The M7 motion coprocessor continuously measures your motion data, even when the device is asleep, and saves battery life for pedometer or other fitness apps that use the accelerometer all day.
Alongside the M7 chip, Apple has also introduced new CoreMotion APIs that can take advantage of the M7 coprocessor to create improved fitness and activity apps that are unavailable on similar devices. The M7 coprocessor is able to measure and track all movement data, even when the phone is asleep, and because it's a secondary processor, it saves battery life while allowing pedometer-style apps to run in the background.
Nike has introduced the first new app that will take advantage of the technology. Nike+ Move is able to determine when a user is walking, driving, or stationary, and it works with the Nike Fuel movement ratings, integrating them into Game Center.
The iPhone 5s, which includes the M7 chip, will be available for purchase beginning on September 20. The phone will be priced at $199 for the 16GB version, with a 2-year contract.
At today’s special iPhone media event, Epic Games announced and demoed Infinity Blade 3, the final entry in its highly successful Infinity Blade trilogy. The game is running on the new OpenGL ES 3.0 standard, which is supported in the new 64-bit A7 chip features in the iPhone 5s.
Infinity Blade 3 was rumored to be in the works as of last month, with the previous two entries in the series earning various awards and accolades throughout the past few years. Infinity Blade 2 went free in celebration of the App Store’s fifth anniversary in July.
At its media event today, Apple introduced the new iPhone 5s. In line with expectations, the iPhone 5s will be the same size and design and the current iPhone 5 but will feature improved specifications and will be available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.
Internally, the iPhone 5s will feature a 64-bit A7 processor that will be up to twice as fast at CPU tasks. Another significant new feature is a "Touch ID" capacitive fingerprint sensor built into the home button that's capable of scanning sub-epidermal skin layers. Touch ID can be used to unlock an iPhone and authorize iTunes purchases.
Built into the home button, Touch ID uses a laser cut sapphire crystal, together with the capacitive touch sensor, to take a high-resolution image of your fingerprint and intelligently analyze it to provide accurate readings from any angle. Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life. All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5s; it’s never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store®, App Store or iBooks Store.
iOS developers will not get access to the users' fingerprint as a means of authentication, according to AllThingsD, which spoke to Apple SVP Phil Schiller. He declined to comment on whether that sort of access may come in the future.
The rear camera in the iPhone 5s has a new 5-element lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a sensor that is 15% larger than the current iPhone 5, as well as a dual-LED "True Tone" flash that will adapt to the existing lighting to provide better colors and more accurate skin tones. Other new camera features include Burst Mode, capable of capturing 10 pictures per second and automatically selecting the best shot, and Slo-Mo 720p video capture at 120 frames per second.
The iPhone 5s will cost $199, $299, and $399 for the 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models respectively with a 2-year contract. Non-contract, unlocked devices will be available at launch for $649/$749/$849.
The iPhone 5s and the lower-cost iPhone 5c that was also announced today will be available in stores in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK starting on September 20.
Apple today announced the new lower-priced iPhone 5c, replacing the iPhone 5 in Apple's phone lineup. The new device is available in five different colors -- green, yellow, blue, white, and pink -- in a polycarbonate design. The phone uses the same A6 processor and rear-facing camera as the iPhone 5. Apple posted a new product video, featuring Jony Ive, for the 5c.
"iPhone 5c is everything iPhone 5 was and more, in an all-new design packed with great features," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPhone 5c is designed with a beautiful polycarbonate enclosure that looks and feels so solid in your hand."
The new phone includes some upgraded parts as well, including an improved front-facing FaceTime camera and support for more LTE bands.
The phone is made of what Apple calls a hard-coated polycarbonate, using a steel-reinforced interior that also serves as the antenna. The company also introduced a line of $29 cases that snap onto the back of iPhone 5c and come in pink, yellow, blue, green, white and black.
The iPhone 5c is available for preorder this Friday, September 13 for $99 in 16GB and 32GB for $199 with a two-year contract. It will go on sale Friday, September 20.
During today's iPhone media event, Apple announced that its iWork app suite, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote will be provided for free to customers who purchase a new iOS device. iLife apps iPhoto and iMovie are also included for free, though it appears Garageband will not be bundled into the deal.
According to Apple, the software will be available for free with the purchase of a new iPad, iPhone, or fifth-generation iPod touch.
"We think that iWork is a really key advantage for our customers' productivity, and iPhoto and iMovie are great for creativity," said Tim Cook. "Almost all of our customers want these apps."
Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are normally a $9.99 download from the App Store, while iMovie and iPhoto are priced at $4.99.
At today's iPhone media event, Apple executives announced that iOS 7 will be released to the public on Wednesday September 18, two days before the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c are released.
Apple SVP Craig Federighi once again highlighted iOS 7's major redesign and the numerous new features it includes. He touched on Control Center, a revamped Notification Center, AirDrop, iTunes Radio, and new multitasking capabilities.
"iOS 7 is completely redesigned with an entirely new user interface and over 200 new features, so it's like getting a brand new device, but one that will still be instantly familiar to our users," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "Next month we'll be shipping our 700 millionth iOS device, and we're excited about what our hundreds of thousands of iOS developers are doing to bring great new features to their apps."
Apple also announced that iOS 7 will support the new 64-bit technologies introduced with the iPhone 5s, with all built-in apps re-engineered for 64-bit and iOS 7 will support both 32-bit and 64-bit apps.
The OS has been built to complement both the iPhone 5c's colors and the new internal capabilities of the iPhone 5s, including its Touch ID fingerprint sensor and camera features like automatic image stabilization, Burst Mode, and Slo-Mo 120 fps video.
iOS 7 will be available on September 18 for the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini, and the fifth-generation iPod touch.
Apple's highly anticipated September media event is being held today in Town Hall auditorium at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California. The event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time, and Apple is expected to unveil new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models while also providing a final overview of iOS 7 before the redesigned operating system launches to the public.
Unlike the past several Apple media events and keynotes, it does not appear that the company will be offering a live video stream of today's event. Prior to other recent events, an "Apple Events" channel has appeared on the Apple TV and the company has promoted the live streams on its home page, but none of those indicators have appeared so far.
In addition, we will be updating this article with summary coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the event unfolds. Separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event.
A pair of photos posted to Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo and shared by HDBlog.it [Google Translate] show what is alleged to be packaging for an official Apple case marketed for the iPhone 5S but which would also fit the iPhone 5. Text on a paper insert within the packaging indicates that the case is at least partially constructed of aniline-dyed leather, similar to Apple's Smart Covers for the iPad and iPad mini.
This case is made from natural aniline leather. Its appearance will change as you use it. [...]
Compatible with iPhone 5 and 5s.
As the report notes, the informational text included on the paper insert is similar to that seen on other Apple accessories, and the "iPhone 5S Case" name printed on the plastic packaging matches the styling seen on an alleged leaked box for the device itself.
One questionable aspect of the paper insert is the use of a lowercase "s" in "iPhone 5s", as Apple has traditionally used a capital "S" when printing the names of its "S-model" iPhones in plain text. The packaging itself also appears to be rather large considering Apple's usual standard of minimal packaging for its products.
Apple is expected to unveil both the iPhone 5S and a lower-cost iPhone 5C at a media event beginning in just a few hours.
Popular gaming news website IGN has launched an update to iOS app, including features such as customizable feeds that sync with different pages for gaming platforms, the ability to track gaming titles with automatic updates and notifications, and AirPlay compatibility with the website’s videos. The app also includes watch and read later capabilities for content, along with automatic calendar sync for users to add video game and movie release dates in Apple's iOS Calendar app.
Don’t rely on others to build the perfect IGN homepage for you—your fully-customized news feed is here. Love comics and PlayStation, but rage at the sight of a True Blood episode review? A few taps, and you’re off to a peaceful co-existence with the new IGN app, including iOS calendar reminders about the release dates of games & movies that you follow.
IGN is a universal app that can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
According to a photo posted on Twitter (via ifoAppleStore), Apple seems to be building a retail store in the center of Shanghai’s new IAPM mall. The store, which appears to be two stories high as it undergoes construction, is blocked off by a gray barricade that sports the Apple logo and the URL which directs Apple’s China retail website. The mall in which the store is located opened two weeks ago, and is connected to high-rise apartments and business offices, both of which have yet to open.
Visitors to the new upscale iAPM shopping mall in Shanghai (China) have noticed a surprise future tenant—a two-level Apple retail store. The six-level mall held a soft opening two weeks ago, but several tenants are still outfitting their stores, including Apple. Construction is underway behind an unusual gray-painted barricade that is 60-feet wide, with a white Apple logo and Web address. The mall is connected to high-rise residence and office towers, and features operating hours as late as 11 p.m. The project also includes an IMAX theater, high-end grocery store, entertainment venues and restaurants. The store is about one mile west of the existing Hong Kong Plaza store, with two other stores further east in city center. The timeline for the store’s grand opening isn’t known, but it will eventually be the fourth location for the city.
Apple has several retail stores in Shanghai, starting with one in the Pudong district in 2010, another on Shanghai’s famous Nanjing Road in 2011, and a retail store located in the Hong Kong Plaza.
The construction of the store comes as Apple is scheduled to hold a media event in Bejing tomorrow following an official media event at its headquarters, where the company is expected to announce the next-generation iPhone 5S and the low-cost iPhone 5C, the latter of which may deliver a huge boost in China. China Mobile, the world’s biggest carrier, is said to be scheduled to receive shipments of the iPhone 5C, although details on a launch announcement for the carrier remain unclear.
The much-rumored fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S may be referred to as "Touch ID", according to an alleged new photo of an iPhone 5S user guide uncovered by Nowhereelse.fr [Google Translate].
The photo features what looks to be an iPhone 5S running iOS 7 and also shows off the rumored silver ring around the home button.
However, the photo also appears to showcase a slight departure for naming conventions for iPhone buttons in user guides, referring to "Volume Buttons" and "Sleep/Wake button" instead of the usual "Volume Up/Down" and "On/Off Sleep/Wake". Although the naming conventions in this photo do appear in the user guides for some iPod and iPad models.
Late last night the Wall Street Journalconfirmed that the new iPhone, which is set to be unveiled early Tuesday at a press event at Apple's Cupertino, CA headquarters, will feature a fingerprint sensor.
In recent weeks and months the support for an iPhone with a fingerprint sensor has gathered steam, with questionable photos of iPhone 5S packaging, leaked parts and iOS 7 beta code hinting that the new hardware feature is forthcoming.
The new iPhone will be unveiled today at 10:00 AM Pacific Time at Apple's Cupertino headquarters. MacRumors will have live coverage of the event.
Update: Several other pages from the guide have been posted by C Technology, but they primarily show safety and warranty information and do not reveal any other details on the device.
Apple will include a fingerprint scanner on the high-end iPhone that the company will introduce at a media event tomorrow, widely thought to be called the iPhone 5S, according toThe Wall Street Journal.
Placing a finger on a computer or smartphone has long been proposed as a way to avoid the need for passwords to authenticate users of computers and other devices. People familiar with the matter said last week that Apple will include a fingerprint scanner on the more expensive of two iPhones it is expected to unveil Tuesday at an event at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters.
The paper notes that the fingerprint scanners used in older electronics devices have been inaccurate, but newer devices can take several scans with the finger held in one place, allowing for better reliability.
The WSJ notes that reliability and ease of use are key and will be essential for widespread public adoption. The iPhone 5S will, by far, be the most high-profile consumer electronics device with a fingerprint scanner. Apple purchased fingerprint sensor company AuthenTec in July 2012 for $356 million.
The new iPhone will be unveiled tomorrow at 10:00 AM Pacific Time at Apple's Cupertino headquarters. MacRumors will have live coverage of the event.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.