News

Apple Working on iPhone 5S and iPhone plus, Not iPhone Math

The always reliable Jeremy Horwitz of iLounge has debunked some of the rumors we covered in our first 2013 rumor roundup. Apple is currently developing three iPhones, but that does not mean we will see all three in 2013. U.S. Apple fans will be getting an iPhone 5S this year. It will look like the iPhone 5 and feature a "larger rear flash," according to Horwitz. Apple is also developing a low-cost” plastic-bodied iPhone for China Mobile's 700 million subscribers. It''s unclear if the more affordable iPhone will ever make its way to the U.S..

2013 iPhone 5S Rumors

As for my favorite recent Apple rumor, the iPhone Math is most likely the iPhone+. It's another new model in early prototyping stages which probably won't be released this year, if at all.

"Consider it Apple’s 'just in case / Plan B' hedge against ever-growing Android phone screen sizes," explained Horwitz.

Horwitz did not address the unnamed iPhone with a 12MP camera, which also came from the iPhone Math camp, but it could just be the iPhone 5S.

HipKey Alarm Keeps Track of Your iPhone and Keys

Apple is now offering the Bluetooth hipKey proximity and movement alarm in the Apple Store online. The accessory measures less than two inches across, yet packs a 90dB alarm and internal rechargeable lithium ion battery. With a range of 164 feet and battery life spanning from 2-4 weeks, hipKey watches out for your valuables and iOS device.

hipKey Bluetooth iPhone

With the companion iOS app and built in motion mode, you can leave the hipKey in a purse or bag to be alerted as soon as the bag moves. The proximity sensor can also be used to give a warning when your iPhone is left behind or if someone tries to steal the device. Child mode will send an alert when your child wanders too far away.

iPhone 5S to Feature Home Button Fingerprint Scan?

How convenient would it be to secure your iPhone without ever having to enter a passcode again? One analyst is predicting that Apple will raise the stakes in the smartphone race by adding a fingerprint sensor to the iPhone 5S. AppleInsider observes that Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has a "particularly strong track record" when it comes to predicting Apple's upcoming products.

iPhone black home button

Not only would a fingerprint sensor push Apple ahead of the competition, but Kuo believes it would cause problems for others to catch up. Android and Windows phones typically have multiple buttons below the display. The addition of a fingerprint sensor would cause "intuition issues" for users. In contrast, the iPhone 5S will have only one button, perfect for integration with a fingerprint sensor.

Google Dominates Top Apps of 2012 Rankings

We already pointed out in December that iOS devices seem to be running more Google apps than any other apps available in the App Store. So it makes sense that five of the top six mobile apps In 2012 were made by the search engine giant. Apple's decision to replace Google Maps on iOS 6 is the only reason why Facebook managed to nab the number one spot in 2012, according to the latest comScore Mobile Metrix ranking. Other apps rounding out the chart include Pandora, iTunes, Cooliris and Yahoo! Messenger.

Google Apps

Facebook also dominated in app usage accounting for 23% of time spent on apps. Facebook's redesigned app, which was much faster and user friendly, probably helped with usage. Facebook's sister app Instagram nabbed 3% of the market, while Gmail was the most used Google app. Various Google apps also accounted for 10% of app usage, making Facebook and Google products the most used on mobile devices in 2012.

What to Expect from Apple in 2013: Rumor Roundup

Unlike like the previous couple of years which were filled with dreams of tear-dropped iPhones, the start of 2013 has been pretty quiet for the normally busy Apple rumor mill. The end of 2012 put an end to some the biggest Apple rumors with the launch of the iPad 4, the iPad mini, and the long awaited iPhone 5. This is also why Wall Street is predicting a slow start to the new year for Apple, and why AAPL is down even after the company recently announced a record $54.5 billion in revenue.

2013 Apple Rumors

Apple CEO Tim Cook promised iOS fans some "amazing new products" in the company's quarterly earnings press release released yesterday. Here's what the rumor mill thinks they will be.

iPhone 5S:

Some analysts are promising a 2013 summer release for the iPhone 5S. Apple isn't expected to make any changes to the iPhone's form factor like it did with the iPhone 5, but purported photos of leaked iPhone 5S parts show minor changes to the aluminum chassis. It is also rumored that Apple will offer the iPhone in an iPod touch-like array of colors, and introduce a Home button fingerprint sensor system.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - News