iPhone 5 Hardware Details Revealed

There are rumors, then there are details revealed by trusted sources within Apple. 9to5Mac not only has these contacts, but they have combed through iOS 6 beta to learn more about the next generation iPhone hardware. The results, while not entirely surprising, are interesting for those waiting until Apple's October launch of the iPhone 5.

iPhone 5 back parts

The hardware has been labeled by Apple as "iPhone5,1" otherwise known as N41AP. When it comes to the basics, this device will carry a variant of the A5X chip with 1GB of RAM and a mysterious new GPU chip called the SGX543RC* (the asterisk hides numbers that could identify Apple employees working on the device).

Apple: MobileMe Officially Replaced by iCloud June 30

MobileMe is going away forever. Current users have until the end of the month to download photos and files from iDisk, Gallery and iWeb before the service disappears. Final warnings are being distributed via email to subscribers after Apple announced the end of MobileMe last year.

MobileMe ending

MobileMe users were granted storage space online for $99 per year. Now with the advent of iCloud, which offers 5GB free, Apple decided to close down its precursor. Those planning to transition their MobileMe content to iCloud must complete the process by June 30 to prevent the loss of data.

System-Wide Facebook Integration Coming to iOS 6

The wait will soon be over for those looking forward to full Facebook integration into iOS devices. Apple is reportedly in talks with Facebook to finalize a deal before the launch of iOS 6 at WWDC later this month. TechCrunch reports the deal is all but complete and the software is ready.

Facebook iPhone icon

Rumors and code snippets led many to believe that Apple was planning Facebook integration with iOS 5 or even with the iOS 5.1 update. Now it seems that all systems are go, and iPhone users will need only to authenticate with their Facebook credentials to participate.

Pre-Paid iPhone Coming to US Carriers Starting in June

Wireless carrier Cricket has announced it will be offering two iPhone models pre-paid with no contract starting on June 22. The iPhone 4 or the iPhone 4S will be available subsidized for $400 and $500 respectively. This pricing is $150 cheaper than buying a no-commitment iPhone 4S from Apple.

Cricket iPhone pre-paid

Besides no contract, Cricket offers the advantage of an unlimited talk, text and data plan for only $55 per month. This undercuts all of the major carriers, although Cricket will throttle data speeds when customers exceed 2.3 GB during the billing period.

Apple's Nano-SIM Design Standard Approved

The SIM card in your iPhone is about to get smaller. The nano-SIM standard was just approved by the European Telecommunications Institute (ETSI), shaving 40 percent off the size of current micro-SIM cards. The new standard will increase the amount of space available in mobile devices for other components.

nano SIM card

Apple's proposed nano-SIM card is pictured above from The Verge, inside the outline of a standard SIM card. The nano-SIM that was approved has the same dimensions as Apple's proposed card, coming in at just 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.67mm. The function of the SIM card will remain unchanged, and the new design can be packaged for backwards compatibility in older devices.

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