iPhone 5: Complete Redesign Starts Production in May

Well the iPhone 5 rumor mill is in full swing, and reports are backing up claims that Apple's next generation device will come this summer with significant changes. Apple has already shifted some of its parts suppliers from Japanese companies to Taiwanese manufacturers Foxconn and Foxlink. This will likely lower manufacturing expenses for Apple, although it's not clear if the move will result in lower prices for consumers.

apple iphone 5 next generation concept designed by item

iPhone App Store Tops 10 Billion Downloads

Apple's iOS App Store just keeps getting bigger. The unstoppable torrent of mobile apps available via iTunes has soared to more than 350,000 titles, with 60,000 of these specific to the iPad. Apps are divided amongst 20 different categories and available for download in 90 countries worldwide.

apple iphone app store 10 billion downloads

The App Store just surpassed 10 billion individual software downloads since its initial launch in July 2008. In fact, this amounts to a whopping 18 million average downloads every day the App Store has been in operation. Assuming there are roughly 160 million iOS users, each iPhone, iPad or iPod touch owner has acquired an average of 62 apps for their device.

More Proof of iPhone 5 Qualcomm Baseband

Italian hacker Zibri has published a code snippet on his blog that points to a Qualcomm-sourced baseband chip in the next generation iPhone. The code in question showed up in iTunes, and hints that Qualcomm will replace Infineon as the source for iPhone 5 baseband chips.

apple iphone itunes qualcomm baseband

Of course, Qualcomm is the originator of CDMA technology, and this code may just be in place for the Verizon CDMA iPhone. Zibri believes this is not the case, and several other sources have made it clear that Apple may be making the move to Qualcomm basebands across its mobile product line.

Apple Swaps iPhone 4 Screws to Limit Repairs / Mods

Looking forward to swapping out parts on your iPhone to make it white? How about replacing that weak battery? Better check the bottom screws on either side of the dock connector port first. According to iFixit, Apple has been shipping recently manufactured iPhone 4 units with Pentalobe screws.

apple iphone pentalobular screw ifixit

This head design is similar to a Torx screw, however the Pentalobe has five rounded lobes. Pentalobe drivers are not commercially available, which makes the screws more difficult to remove. That is, unless you're an Apple authorized repair outfit.

White iPhone Release Could Happen February 27

Leaked screenshots of Best Buy inventory listings indicate that the long-awaited white iPhone 4 could finally be making its way to consumers. The images show 16 and 32 GB white iPhone 4 models with in-stock dates of February 27, 2011.

apple white iphone release Best Buy february 2011

SKU and model numbers on the listings match those previously used by Best Buy when it was taking pre-orders for the white iPhone 4. Apple then scuttled the white model launch amid production difficulties.

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