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Apple A7 processor

The iPhone 5S is set to be revealed in two weeks, and being an S-type update, this typically means that Apple has spent time optimizing and maximizing under-the-hood performance of the iPhone that preceded it, in this case, the iPhone 5. The rumor mill says that the next iPhone will sport an A7 processor that is 64-bit and 31% faster than the A6 found in the iPhone 5. What would 64-bit processing do for the iPhone? Well, iOS 7 is intense on things like transparency and other graphical elements, and an optimized 64-bit processor could make those as smooth as butter. That's the benefit of Apple making its own mobile processors:

One of the biggest—if not the biggest—advantages Apple has in not being reliant on merchant silicon (they don’t buy standard application processors designed by others) is that they can customize the A7/A8 etc to exactly fit their own apps / services frameworks, without making generic design compromises.

To see this best, contrast Qualcomm, whose processors will fit in hundreds or thousands of different Android models to Apple, whose A7 will go in to the iPhone, iPad and possibly the iPod and iTV.  Because Qualcomm must support so many potential vendor configurations, they are forced to design by the 80/20 rule. Meanwhile, Apple can strip out absolutely everything it doesn’t want on-chip, and add specific things it does, such as DSP or graphics capabilities which iOS is designed to use.

- Steve Cheney

Of course, just because Apple is testing these processors, that doesn't mean that they'll see the light of day in the iPhone 5S. Other rumblings say that the next iPhone will also contain a fingerprint sensor, motion tracking sensor, a camera that supports a 120 FPS slow-motion mode, a gold color option, and possible even a 128GB option as well.

Gallery: What can we expect from Apple’s iPhone 5S A7 processor?


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Gold iPhone 5S color comparison

Apple will be releasing the iPhone 5S in black and slate, white and silver, and a new color: white and gold. Pictured above, you can see the coloring of the anodization, being a muted champagne gold color without the white glass plates installed. It's one way to create an external change in the S line of iPhone releases, which is generally all about under-the-hood changes and improvements, while the externals remain the same as the year before. We pretty much know that Apple will be announcing the new iPhone 5S on September 10, with the device launching 10 days later.

What do you think? You interested in the new gold color, or are you sticking with the more traditional variants? Me? I'm going with Anostyle again.

Read More | Weekly Ascii

Gallery: Here’s what the gold iPhone 5S will look like


iOS 7 beta 6 download

Apple has just released iOS 7 beta 6, which can be found in the Developer Portal right now. iOS 7 beta 6 build 11A4449d works with supported iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, and is available as an over-the-air update to users already running a previous iOS 7 beta on their devices. If you're already running iOS 7, you can update over-the-air by going into Settings > General > Software Update. Or you can go and grab the necessary download at http://developer.apple.com. Apple originally showed off iOS 7, and released its first beta, at WWDC 2013. The full released will come in the fall.

If you are a paid members of Apple's iOS developer program, here are the links for iOS 7 beta 5 downloads:

iOS 7 beta 6 seems to specifically address an issues with iTunes in the Cloud where some purchases may download or play unexpected items, without much else changing.

Click to continue reading Apple releases iOS 7 beta 6 build 11A4449d to developers

Gallery: Apple releases iOS 7 beta 6 build 11A4449d to developers


OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 5 13a538g

Yesterday Apple released OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 5, build 13A538g, just 8 days after the release of Developer Preview 4. Developers who are already running Mavericks can get the 1.08GB update through the Mac App Store, while those who are looking to install it for the first time will need to log in to the Apple Developer Portal. This build doesn't seem to bring too many obvious changes, other than the expected performance improvements and bug fixes, with the exception of the inclusion of the new iBooks Mac app. iBooks lets you read the books you've purchased from the iBookstore on your Mac, just as you can on your iOS devices. As for the rest of the world, OS X Mavericks is set to launch this fall, bringing features like iBooks, Maps, Finder Tags, enhanced multi-monitor support, tabbed Finder, and more to Apple's desktop operating system.

Gallery: OS X 10.9 Mavericks Developer Preview 5 now available, includes iBooks app


iOS 7 beta 5 11A4449a download

Apple has just released iOS 7 beta 5, which can be found in the Developer Portal right now. iOS 7 beta 5 build 11A4449a works with supported iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, and is available as an over-the-air update to users already running a previous iOS 7 beta on their devices. If you're already running iOS 7, you can update over-the-air by going into Settings > General > Software Update. Or you can go and grab the necessary download at http://developer.apple.com. Apple originally showed off iOS 7, and released its first beta, at WWDC 2013. The full released will come in the fall.

If you are a paid members of Apple's iOS developer program, here are the links for iOS 7 beta 5 downloads:

We've got a list of changes we've found so far in iOS 7 beta 5, which you can find after the break.

Click to continue reading Apple releases iOS 7 beta 5 build 11A4449a to developers, list of changes and improvements

Gallery: Apple releases iOS 7 beta 5 build 11A4449a to developers, list of changes and improvements


iOS 7 beta 4 11A4435d download

Apple has just released iOS 7 beta 4, which can be found in the Developer Portal right now. iOS 7 beta 4 build 11A4435d works with supported iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, and is available as an over-the-air update to users already running a previous iOS 7 beta on their devices. If you're already running iOS 7, you can update over-the-air by going into Settings > General > Software Update. Or you can go and grab the necessary download at http://developer.apple.com. Apple originally showed off iOS 7, and released its first beta, at WWDC 2013. The full released will come in the fall.

We've got a list of changes we've found so far in iOS 7 beta 4, which you can find after the break.

Click to continue reading Apple releases iOS 7 beta 4 build 11A4435d to developers, list of changes and improvements

Gallery: Apple releases iOS 7 beta 4 build 11A4435d to developers, list of changes and improvements


Apple Dev Portal Status Page

In light of last week's security breach by a security analyst, Apple has proactively introduced an online status page, much like the iCloud status page, but for the Developer Center. This status page allows registered Apple developers to track the progress as systems become available while Apple overhauls their backend services with added security. As you can observe there's still a lot of green missing. Here's a road map statement of their approach in bringing their services back online.

We plan to roll out our updated systems, starting with Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles, Apple Developer Forums, Bug Reporter, pre-release developer libraries, and videos first. Next, we will restore software downloads, so that the latest betas of iOS 7, Xcode 5, and OS X Mavericks will once again be available to program members. We'll then bring the remaining systems online. To keep you up to date on our progress, we've created a status page to display the availability of our systems. - Apple

Read More | MacRumors

Gallery: Apple sets up Developer Center system status page


iTunes 1 Billion Podcast Subscribers

Apple is celebrating the fact that it has surpassed 1 billion podcast subscriptions in iTunes, quite an impressive milestone. Apple added podcasts to iTunes back in 2005, which has offered everyone the ability to market alternative radio and video shows for users. iTunes now has about 250,000 different podcasts in over 100 different languages, including shows like 60 Minutes, NPR, Ted Talks, NBC Nightly News, and even our own Bleeding Edge TV and Unboxing Live.

"From comedy to hard news to sports to innovative educational content and so much more, podcasting has transformed the global media landscape," - Apple

Read More | Twitter (Apple)

Gallery: Apple iTunes hits 1 billionth podcast subscription


Apple DevCenter Hacked

The Apple Developer Center portal has been in hiatus since last Thurday. Reasons for it being down took many by surprise as they were led to be believe it was related to a mundane web maintenance. However, Apple has come forward with information that the Dev site was compromised. Now, a security researcher named Ibrahim Balic has come forward claiming responsibility for the exploit several hours before the Dev site went into full lockdown.

Balic managed to see and copy Apple developer's full names and corresponding Apple ID and emails with an unavoidable injection tool attack. No other information was garnered from the exploit such as credit card information or App codes. Such information is under additional lock and key encryption housed in other servers.

Balic claims that he was also able to get a hold of the Apple ID of regular users. He stresses that this is for security research purposes only and he does not intend to give out any information to the general public as to how he managed the exploit. Full Apple statement below. Still, no apologies from Apple over the faux linen landing page. Here's a video of Balic discribing vulnerabilities within Apple's web services.

 

Click to continue reading Apple Developer Portal hacked, security researcher responsible comes forward

Read More | AllThingsD

Gallery: Apple Developer Portal hacked, security researcher responsible comes forward


iPad vs Surface

Microsoft's 900 million write off on the Surface RT hasn't prevented them from continuing its advertising campaign efforts by bashing Apple's iPad and propping thier device as the the better alternative. Microsoft recently slashed the price of the Surface RT by $150 in hopes of getting them off store shelves and into customer's hands. The Surface tablet has been suffering from poor sales as it dove into the highly competitive tablet computer arena. The question is will these continued commitment efforts work? Check out the video ad. Does Microsoft make its case?

Click to continue reading Microsoft doubles down on anti-iPad ad campaign amidst major Surface RT failure [Video]

Gallery: Microsoft doubles down on anti-iPad ad campaign amidst major Surface RT failure [Video]


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