iPhone 6 features iOS 7, may not see 5S model

Although the iPhone 5 isn’t that old the rumour is Apple’s next iOS smartphone might be the iPhone 5S but as with all Apple gear that is simply speculation as no one really knows what the next iPhone will be called until the company unveils it. However despite rumours flying around that the new iPhone will be known as the iPhone 5S, another rumour points to Apple skipping straight to the iPhone 6.

As you know, Apple has historically added an ‘S’ to their devices between major generations, such as the iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4S, so one would logically think the next device to follow the iPhone 5 would be the iPhone 5S, but that might not be the case this time round.

It appears that developers are seeing new Apple hardware with an iPhone6.1 identifier with the device running Apple’s next generation operating system iOS 7. According to a report by The Next Web, the developer logs they have seen show that the apps are being tested with an IP address that originates from Apple’s Cupertino HQ in California, which suggests that the company’s software engineers and apps team are currently testing the iPhone 6 with iOS 7 aboard.

The iPhone 5 carriers the identifier iPhone5.1or iPhone5.2 depending on the LTE version and 4G bands on which it operates, so one can assume that the iPhone6.1 identifier refers to theiPhone 6 and as such it would appear that Apple might be considering delivering the iPhone 6 rather than an iPhone 5S in the middle of this year.

Unfortunately though we are not privy to any iOS 7 or iPhone 6 hardware features at this time because the developer logs didn’t reveal any so until Apple delivers the details on the next iPhone and iOS 7 it will all be speculation.

Recently the company moved their hardware release to late summer or early fall as with the iPhone 5, along with pushing their announcement in early summer to accommodate developers who attend WWDC in June.

This is not the first time a new iPhone has been shown in developer logs ahead of an official announcement of course, because the same thing happened with iOS 6 last year with references to the OS showing a month before the unveiling at WWDC.

So there you have it, it would appear that Apple is testing the iPhone 6 running iOS 7, which points to the next iPhone not being called the iPhone 5S, but as usual nothing is set in concrete when it comes to Apple devices.

Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 6 and Key Differences

While Apple fans continue to drool over the new iPhone 5, Android enthusiasts are still enjoying the many features of the phone that is the iPhone’s major rival and that is the popular and very much-loved Samsung’s Galaxy S3. Looking at things a little closer we know that both have very different operating systems, but nevertheless in some ways both handsets have some attributes in common. We will not go too deep into this as we would not want to send you off to sleep, so here is a little take on both devices, please do have a read and let us know if you prefer the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S3.

iPhone 5
Since it was launched in September, the iPhone 5 has proved to be massively popular. The phone is lighter than previous iPhones at 112g and has a four-inch screen. It comes in white as well as black, both of which have a two-tone effect on the backplate. The iPhone 5 has a more advanced form of antenna, meaning it should be nearly impossible to lose a signal. It generally increases the power of GPS lock-on and also improves the call connection.

The headphone jack is now located on the bottom of the phone and a new Lightning port has been added, plus the phone is thinner and more compact than its predecessors. The iPhone functions over 2G, 3G and 4G networks and has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB capability. The primary camera is 8MP and the secondary 1.2MP, and the phone can record video and images simultaneously.

Samsung Galaxy S3
Much admired since its release in May, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has been the top selling smartphone until now, with 10 million handsets sold in less than two months. This is also a thinner and reasonably lightweight phone at 131g, however the casing has a somewhat plastic feel. Samsung Galaxy S3 has a larger screen than the iPhone at 4.8 inches. It comes in either grey or black and supports SD cards; users can output HD content to a television set via an HDMI cable.

Samsung Galaxy S3 functions over 2G, 3G and 4G networks and has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC and USB capability. The primary camera is 8MP and the secondary 1.9MP, and the phone can record video and images simultaneously.

Key differences
The iPhone 5 is lighter and slimmer than the Samsung Gallery S3, however, it has a smaller display area, although the resolution is higher quality at 326 ppi compared to Samsung’s 306 ppi. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is not as comfortable in the hand as the iPhone 5, although it has particularly good battery life with up to 16 hours talk time compared with the iPhone 5, which offers up to 8 hours talk time.

One important difference between Samsung phones and iPhones generally is that people who have bought earlier iPhone versions, such as an iPhone 4 or 4S, can use iPhone 4 unlock to search for better network deals, to save mobile roaming rates when abroad, or simply to insert a different sim card in their handset.

Fit for purpose
Both phones have natural language commands and dictation, active noise cancellation with a dedicated microphone, TV-out capacity, voice memo/dial/commands and a good selection of apps. Samsung Galaxy S3 may be particularly suitable for work use as it features Dropbox (50 GB storage), Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF), Calendar plus Google Search, Maps and Gmail. The Apple iPhone 5 may be a better bet for social networking as it has Twitterand Facebook integration and good storage capabilities via the iCloud cloud service. The iPhone 5 Maps feature, however, has failed to impress and Apple have promised a complete overhaul of the map software.

We use the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 and we love botboth of them and cannot sit here and choose one over the other, can you?

T-Mobile iPhone release to attract USA customers

I’m sure everyone knows that over in the good old US of A T-mobile USA doesn’t currently offer the iPhone, but that is soon to change as the carrier has struck a deal with Apple to finally bring their iOS smartphone to their customers. T-Mobile did say late last year that the iPhone would be coming to their network, but the word is it will arriver sooner than later.

According to a report by Reuters, Deutsche Telekom chief exec John Legere has stated that T-Mobile USA will be offering the iPhone in roughly three to four months time to coincide with the carrier’s plan to eliminate handset subsidies.

Legere wouldn’t elaborate on the details of their agreement with Apple, but whilst at CES 2013 in Las Vegas did say that their iOS smartphone and subsidy elimination is coming in 3 to 4 months rather than 6 to 9 months time.

T-Mobile USA’s plan to get rid of handset subsidies this year is to offer customers better flexibility along with lower service prices, whilst the carrier hopes to attract customers from rivals Verizon and AT&T by combining removing subsidies and offering the iPhone that will be a first for the US wireless industry.

Legere also stated that he could possibly up the carrier’s market share by five percent or more from larger rivals that still rely on subsidising handsets giving the customer a discount for committing to a two-year agreement, and remarked that if the old industry infrastructure ignores what the carrier is doing that is a potential.

T-Mobile is currently trying to gain regulatory approval for their merger with MetroPCS, the exec has said that it might not stop there, and he might explore a partnership with Dish Network Corp or possibly with Leap Wireless International Inc.

Analysts have previously said that Leap and MetroPCS networks would go well together, whilst they have also remarked that they see T-Mobile USA or Sprint Nextel Corp as the most likely to partner Dish.

As for Leap, Legere has said that the smaller rival is one of those things that makes sense for them to look at, and although he isn’t in any talks with Dish at the moment, when he was asked if he would consider a partnership with Dish, he said yes.

So there you have it, if you are waiting for the iPhone to arrive on T-Mobile USA you still have a few more months to wait, but what do our US readers think about T-Mobile USA ditching subsidies, a good or bad idea?

New 4G LTE iPhone 5 with iOS 6 from Apple

Apple today introduced the new iPhone 5, along with updated iOS 6 operating system software.  The display has been enlarged to a 4 inch screen, and of course it's the amazing Retina Display so everything on your new iPhone will look even better.  

While the new iPhone 5 display is bigger, the device itself has been made taller, instead of wider - meaning it will still be easy to select icons onscreen, and start apps and games with just one hand.

iPhone 5 now supports LTE for blazing fast downloads of up to 100 Mbps, as well as an improvement in Wi-Fi connectivity with dual-band wireless N for up to 150 Mbps so that everything; including YouTube videos, Hulu, Farmville on Facebook and of course, This tech website will help you "get your download on" even quicker.

It's thin and light, and such a sight

Just when you thought they couldn't shave any more weight off the new iPhone, Apple announces the new iPhone 5 is 20 % lighter, making it far easier to hold in your hand for those marathon phone conversations with your favorite Aunt, and 18 % thinner at a svelte 7.6 millimeters.  With the iPhone 5 - at just 112 grams - thin really is in.

No mobile phone is as beautiful as the iPhone, and the new iPhone 5 blows away all the others with a stunning new design that would make Steve Jobs proud.  Apple has done it again.

The new A6 chip

Apple didn't stop at just the display, and faster downloads - they also added a new quad-core processer: the A6, making the entire phone up to double the speed of the iPhone 4S (which was no slouch by the way) with  improved graphics to make for snappier games and apps, while also providing long battery life for the iPhone 5:

• 8 hours browsing the web on LTE - you can now browse MacToTheFuture all day long
• 8 hours of  talk time chatting with your friends about Kim Kardashian
• 10 hours video playback time - you can now watch even more funny cat videos on YouTube

Bigger iPhone, at a great price

So how much will this new puppy set you back? well, it depends on the size.  Starting at $199 for the 16 GB iPhone 5, $299 for the 32 GB, and $399 for the massive 64 GB allowing you to store more movies, apps, games and even Call of Duty gameplay videos from YouTube.


Will you order the iPhone 5?

Image Credit: Apple

iPhone 5 And iOS 6 User Guide Now Available To Download Via Apple

Whenever we get a new electronic device – particularly one as exciting as the iPhone 5 – our better judgment tells us always to at least heed some of the instructions, but rarely – in fact, hardly ever – does anybody look through any of the literature accompanying their purchase. Although we’ll happily part with hundreds (or even thousands) of our hard-earned dollars in exchange for the gizmo, will we take an hour or two to read about important features, tips, and safe usage methods? No way! After all, we all know how to use an iPhone, right?

Such is the ignorance of many so-called techies (myself most certainly included), that many of us miss some of the intuitive little features and quirks of an OS or device for months and months. In fact, I’d be willing to stake big that many iOS 5 users happily trotted along without knowing about the tap + hold for song description, or swipe to delete individual songs within the Music app, and so on.

Apple may be, in part, responsible for the lack of reading carried out by users, for when one purchases a new iPhone, inside the box there’s only a simple pamphlet entitled ‘Fingertips,’ which offers a short run-through of the very basic features to get you up and running. In order to learn about your device inside out, though, you have to go digging, and often, the user guide is available to view online for those interested.

That same tactic has been deployed here, and if you want to gather a more in-depth insight toward your iPhone 5 and / or iOS 6, then you’ll be pleased to know Apple has published the user guide over on its official site, and you can view it right here.

I would advise most – even those having used iOS and iPhone since it was known as iPhone OS and the year 2007 – to check out the full-on guide. Even if you feel like you’re a seasoned veteran at using the iPhone, you owe it to yourself – after an expensive purchase to ensure you get the very most out of it.

You never know, you might come across one or two new features you otherwise would have missed!

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iPhone 6 Rumor Roundup

Wait. Are you still talking about the iPhone 5? How embarrassing for you! With a new iPhone 4S or 5 or both on the way tomorrow, it's time to start the iPhone 6 rumor mill churning. Here's what we know.