On Gear Live: iPhone 16e Review: Apple Just Killed the Budget iPhone

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It’s official: Apple will introduce the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on September 10

iPhone 5S 5C event invite

As anticipated, Apple has sent out press invites to its next iPhone event, scheduled for September 10th. As Apple typically does, hints of what's to come are foreshadowed in the invite graphic. This time around, it appears that Apple is focusing on the multi-hued iPhone 5C, which we've seen will be available in multiple plastic colors as the entry-level iPhone option. We recently gave you a look at what you can expect both new iPhone models to look like. Of course, we'll have all the details for you live as it happens a week from today.

It's rumored that the iPhone 5S and 5C will go on sale on September 20th, ten days after Apple introduces them.


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Google slashes price of Nexus 4, now $199 with no contract required

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

Google Nexus 4

With Apple expected to release the lower-cost iPhone 5C next month, Google has just cut the price of the Nexus 4, dropping it to $199 for the 8GB model without contract--that's $100 less than it cost just a day ago. If you prefer the 16GB version, you can get that one for $249. These prices are a steal for the Nexus 4, which is widely seen as the best current Android smartphone, even thought it lacks LTE. This is a much more inexpensive way to get the pure Google experience in a smartphone than it would be to buy the Google Play editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4. The price cut is now live in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Korea, the United States, and the UK.

Read More | Google Nexus 4

Apple iPhone 5, gold iPhone 5S, blue iPhone 5C shells compared [Video]

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Videos,

Apple iPhone 5, 5S, 5C compared

It's widely expected that Apple will take the stage on September 10th to announce its fall smartphone update, including the iPhone 5S and lower-priced iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5S is expected to be available in a new champagne gold color, and we gave you a look at what the gold iPhone 5S should look like. Now, a video has surfaced that shows a black iPhone 5 alongside the rear shell of the white & gold iPhone 5S.

Additionally, a blue iPhone 5C rear casing is also compared, giving us a look at what Apple's iPhone for the budget-minded will look like when it launches next month. All signs are pointing to a September 20th release for Apple's updated fall smartphone line-up.

Click to continue reading Apple iPhone 5, gold iPhone 5S, blue iPhone 5C shells compared [Video]


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

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors,

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.


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

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Design, Handhelds, Rumors,

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

Nokia Lumia 1020 unboxing gallery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Features, Galleries,

Nokia Lumia 1020 PureView viewfinder

The Nokia Lumia 1020 boasts a ridiculously large 41-megapixel PureView camera as the standout feature. It's "the largest back side illuminated sensor available on a smartphone." A smartphone needs more than just a great camera though, and Nokia has outfitted the Lumia 1020 with a 4.5-inch 1280 x 768 AMOLED PureMotion HD+ display covered by Gorilla Glass 3, and it sports "super sensitive touch" which allows you to use the phone even while wearing gloves.

The Lumia 1020 includes a wrist strap that you can optionally attach to it, and Nokia will also be selling a Camera Grip that makes the device easier to use as a camera. We're finalizing our Lumia 1020 review, but in the meantime, we've put together our Nokia Lumia 1020 unboxing gallery for you to get up-close and personal with the Windows Phone through pictures.

Gallery:


AT&T HTC One Mini available August 23rd for $99

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

HTC One Mini

The HTC One Mini has finally been given a release date, and you can get your hands on the 4.3-inch version of what we deemed the best current-generation Android smartphone in just four days on August 23rd. The HTC One Mini boasts a 720p display, 1.4GHz dual-core SnapDragon 400 processor, 1GB RAM, 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera, 1,800mAh battery, and runs Android 4.2 out of the box. You'll have to be an AT&T customer for the priviledge, and you'll need to be willing to drop $99 and sign a two-year contract to make it all happen.


Apple releases iOS 7 beta 6 build 11A4449d to developers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

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


Bleeding Edge TV 488: Poppy turns your iPhone into a 3D camera

We give you a behind-the-scenes look at Poppy, a device that turns your iPhone into a 3D video camera, 3D image taker, and 3D viewer. We chat with the co-creators, Joe Heitzberg and Ethan Lowry about what it took to make Poppy, the inspiration behind it, how it works, and how you can get your hands on one through Kickstarter in this episode!

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Unboxing Live 119: HTC First & Facebook Home

In this episode we open up the HTC First smartphone, the first phone to ship with Facebook Home as the default launcher. Facebook Home turns your phone into a device that is hyper connected to Facebook, including lock screen slideshows of recent updates from your friends, and direct access to Facebook and Facebook Messenger from the lock screen as well. The HTC First reminds us of a flatter iPhone 3GS, or to be more current, looks a lot like the leaks of the upcoming budget-friendly iPhone. It originally debuted at $99 with 2-year contract, but now sells for $0.99 instead after lukewarm reception.

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