New report reiterates ’5C’ name for budget iPhone, calls for a gold 5S colorway

In the past few months we've seen a tons of leaked images showing iPhone 5C parts from behind and front, that's not only many rumors we've heard saying that Apple is already working on a low cost budget iPhone entitled "iPhone 5C".. But now I should ask a question: "What does 5C refers to ?" Check out the following report as you will get surprised...

A new report out of Japan today corroborates previous chatter, claiming that we’ll be seeing two iPhones on stage that Tuesday: a low-budget model that is indeed called the ‘iPhone 5C,’ and an iPhone 5S with a gold colorway…

The folks at 9to5mac pointing to a report from the fairly reliable Macotakara, citing the fact that it correctly predicted the ‘iPad mini’ name for Apple’s smaller tablet last fall. The site offers details for both the iPhone 5S and 5C.

As for the 5S (rough translation via Google Translate):

“The name of coming iPhone to be iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C according to my Asian source, Rumored coming iPhone powered by A7 processor Will be Released as “iPhone 5S”. 

This source told That KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s guessesMay be true. Ming-Chi guessed several points, the resolution of iSight camera will be stayed on 8M pixels but F-stop will be brighter up to 2.0. The gold color which is rumored as 3rd color of iPhone 5S will be optional, and rectangle mark of home button Will be removed.”

Considering that we’ve seen evidence of the A7 chip in iOS 7, it’s safe to assume that we’ll see it in the iPhone 5S. The 8MP sensor doesn’t necessarily line up with previous chatter, but we have heard the phone will take better low-light shots.

But hold on a second ! Do you think Apple will unveil a new iPhone with a gold colorway ? Then please don't call it a cheap low cost budget iPhone..

Speaking of the budget iPhone:

“Additionally, That source told about coming low-cost iPhone, Which is covered by Plastic case made ​​from polycarbonate and glass-Fibre, it Will be Released with expected name, “iPhone 5C.”

We’ve seen several reports regarding Apple’s low-cost handset over the past 6 months, as well as a number of part leaks. Everything thus far has pointed to the same polycarbonate device, available in various colors, priced at around $300.

The blog says that "C" refers to the color of the iPhone that we should see it very soon..

So given everything we’ve seen up until now, it seems pretty likely that Apple will show off these two handsets at its event. As for the new iPad mini and redesigned iPad 5, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them at a second event in October.

So what do you think ? Can we see a colored iPhone and with a gold ? Share your thoughts...

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Apple Store app to be redesigned with free iTunes content in iPhone sales push

Apple will release a new version of its Apple Store application for the iPhone and iPod touch next week, according to a new report. The update will include a redesigned interface and a handful of new features, including free downloadable iTunes content.

The move is said to be part of Tim Cook’s goal to sell more iPhones direct from Apple’s direct sales channels. Apparently, the plan is to get the app installed on as many device’s as possible so that more people are exposed to the company’s choice products…

9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman has the scoop:

“Sources say that the new app update is also designed to go hand-in-hand with a new initiative in Apple Stores. When a new iOS Device is sold, Apple employees will be encouraged to install the new Apple Store app on the newly purchased device. According to comments from Tim Cook at last month’s secretive summit for Retail Leadership, only 20% of Apple customers are aware of the Apple Store app’s existence. This new plan will certainly increase that percentage.”

Gurman goes on to say that it was no coincidence that the Apple Store application was updated earlier this year with a push notification feature that will alert users when they become eligible for an iPhone upgrade. Apple is working to engage more customers.

The app update is scheduled to land on Tuesday, July 23rd—the same day that Apple isposting its financials for the June quarter. It’s only expected to announce 26-29 million iPhone sales, but Verizon’s strong quarter suggests it could have sold more than 30.

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Foxconn said to be hiring workers to build next-gen iPhone

According to a new report, Foxconn—Apple’s go-to manufacturing partner for many of its iOS devices—has begun hiring workers to help it produce the next-generation iPhone. A recruiting firm that works with the company has reportedly started large-scale recruitment.

The boost in hiring makes sense, as recent reports suggest that Apple has begun ramping up production of its next-gen handset ahead of what is expected to be a fall launch. We saw a similar bolster in Foxconn’s workforce ahead of the iPhone 5′s launch last summer…

CNET points to the report in China Business News:

“Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of electronics by revenue, has restarted hiring assembly line workers in the  Chinese mainland to produce Apple’s next-generation gadget iPhone 6, the China Business News (CBN) reported Tuesday, citing company insiders.”

Though the report refers to the product as the ‘iPhone 6,’ it doesn’t appear to be more than guesswork, as there is no indication of a model number of the handset. Besides, as aforementioned, the timing matches up perfectly with Apple’s forecasted iPhone 5Sproduction.

Foxconn has been a major producer of the iPhone and iPad for the past few years, but word is that it’s been losing some orders recently to its Taiwanese competitor Pegatron Corp. Many believe the move has something to do with Foxconn’s iPhone 5 production issues.

We don’t know much about this year’s iPhone release, but many believe that it will be an ‘S’ model upgrade to its predecessor. Its features are rumored to include a faster processor, a dual LED flash, a better camera with slow-motion capabilities and a fingerprint sensor.

Apple is expected to unveil the handset, alongside multiple refreshed iPads and other products, sometime in the next three months.

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Photos of alleged budget iPhone shell surface

A pair of photos have surfaced this morning, allegedly showing the plastic shell of Apple’s rumored budget iPhone. The Cupertino company has long been said to be working on a lower-cost handset to help it make inroads into emerging markets like China and India.

The two images come from Nowhereelse.fr, who has shared accurate photos of leaked Apple components in the past. And while the site acknowledges that it’s possible the part could simply belong to a Chinese clone, it does match up with several previous reports…

In fact, a number of the shell’s features are consistent with past claims surrounding the low-end iPhone, including its round rear microphone hole and its rounded edges. It’s also an odd green color, which matches up with reports that it’ll come in an array of new colors.

Back in January, iLounge’s Jeremy Horwitz cited ‘reliable sources’ in a detailed report of the handset. He claimed that it would be “substantially made from plastic,” with metal accents, and look like a cross between the iPhone 5, the fifth-gen iPod touch, and the iPod classic.

“Apple’s budget housing looks closest to the iPod classic in shape, though not in materials. Unlike the plastic iPhone 3G/3GS, which featured soft curves on all sides, the budget iPhone’s curves start and end at flat surfaces, so each side and the back are flat. This seems like a trivial change, until you realize that it allows Apple to use flat rather than curve-matched parts: the right side has a flat, centered SIM card tray just like the iPhone 5’s, while all of the buttons and ports are on flat rather than curved surfaces. A flat-backed iPhone won’t rock on a flat surface when it vibrates, either.”

Horwitz has accurately predicted details of Apple products ahead of their announcements in the past, and a number of credible news outlets, including Reuters and Bloomberg, have since corroborated the report with their own independent sources. So it does hold some weight.

As far as the device’s price tag, we keep hearing that it’s going to fall somewhere in the $300 price range, and it won’t be as low-cost as other low-end smartphones. Two weeks ago, Pegatron’s CEO T.H. Tung reiterated that fact, saying he wouldn’t describe the device as ‘cheap.’

When will we see the handset? According to supply chain chatter, the phone is said to be going into mass production next month, ahead of a fall launch. The consensus seems to be that if there is a budget iPhone, it’ll land in September alongside the 5S and other device refreshes.

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iOS 7 allows developers to detect blinking and smiling in photos

As the tech community continues to dig through the iOS 7 betas, a new feature has been discovered. Apple’s next-generation mobile operating system contains new APIs that allow developers to detect blinking and smiling in photos.

Now, iOS has had basic facial recognition for a couple of years now (since version 5). But according to a new report, Apple has added new image detectors in iOS 7 that are capable of identifying certain facial expressions in photographs…

Benjamin Mayo of 9to5Mac has the scoop:

“iOS 7 adds several new camera-orientated features for developers, which may hint at future consumer-facing features. In iOS 7 beta 2, Apple has added new image detectors that find certain face expressions in photos. As of iOS 5, the APIs have provided basic face recognition, but in iOS 7, characteristics such as blinking and smiles can be individually distinguished.”

Mayo goes on to speculate that because the stock Camera app received face detection when Apple added the function in iOS 5, these new APIs that allow for the recognition of individual expressions could be an indication of things to come.

Apple has done a lot to improve the iPhone’s camera over the years, adding a Panorama mode and improving low-light quality. It’s obviously an area of great interest for the company, as it frequently touts its ranking as the #1 camera on Flickr.

And it looks like it’s going to continue to build on it with the iPhone 5S. Recent reports, as well as components leaks, suggest that Apple’s next-generation handset will feature an improved camera with a dual LED flash and 12 megapixel sensor.

Call me crazy, but if you combine that kind of hardware with these new APIs, you get one heck of a camera. Here’s hoping the rumors materialize this fall when Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone, alongside the public version of iOS 7.

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Facebook reportedly working on Flipboard-style reader for iOS

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Facebook has been quietly working on a new service for the past year that displays content from users and publishers in a format, tailored for mobile devices, similar to Flipboard.

We’ve seen a number of new products this year from Zuckerburg’s team, as the company continues to try and evolve from being ‘just a social networking service.’ There was the search graph, then Facebook Home, and now there’s Reader…

‘Reader,’ per the report, is what the project is being called internally. And word has it that Michael Matas, a Facebook designer who previously worked for Apple and smart-thermostat maker Nest Labs, is a lead designer for the team.

Here’s The Journal’s Evelyn M. Rusli:

“Facebook Inc. FB +2.64% is aiming to become a newspaper for mobile devices. The social network has been quietly working on a service, internally called Reader, that displays content from Facebook users and publishers in a new visual format tailored for mobile devices, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The project, which the company has been developing for more than a year, is designed to showcase news content in particular. Recent versions of Reader resemble Flipboard Inc., a smartphone and tablet app that aggregates stories from multiple sources and lets users swipe to flip through articles, said the people with knowledge of the project.”

Why is Facebook working on a Flipboard-like reader? Easy. It’s finding that most of its mobile users are skimming their timelines and then leaving the app. And it’s hoping that a more immersive experience will lead to better ad deals.

It’s unclear when, or if, Facebook will unveil the project, but comments from Zuckerberg about wanting FB to be the ‘best personalized newspaper in the world’ suggest it’s taking it seriously. As of now, they’re focused on the iOS platform.

“The team has thus far focused its efforts on building for Apple Inc.’s AAPL -0.80%mobile operating system to take advantage of the design elements of the iPad and iPhone devices, according to the people familiar with the project.”

I don’t use Facebook much, but I’d like to see what this Reader thing is all about. The report mentions something about a ‘trending topics’-type feature, which I think could be particularly interesting considering its 1 billion+ user base.

What do you think about the idea?

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New photos of alleged iPhone 5S with dual LED flash surface

As the iPhone 5 nears the end of its 12-month life cycle, rumors regarding Apple’s next-generation handset are beginning to pick up. It’s believed that the phone, which is expected to be called the iPhone 5S, is already in production.

And when devices go into production, it becomes harder to control component leaks. That might explain how the folks who took these two photos got their hands on what appears to be a nearly complete (minus the display) iPhone 5S…

Here’s MacRumors:

“MacRumors has received several images that appear to show both the interior and rear shell of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5S. The device appears to carry the same redesigned logic board that appeared earlier this week, suggesting that this is indeed a new iPhone.”

The site then goes on to point out some interesting things in the above photo of the inside of the alleged iPhone 5S. For example, notice how the large chip isn’t labeled as an A6 or A7. It’s possible that this particular device is just a prototype.

They also note that the battery carries a more recent Apple part number of 616-0652 compared to the iPhone 5 battery, which has carried part numbers -0611 and -06113. And it has a higher capacity of 5.92Whr, compared to the 5′s 5.45 Whr.

And now for the back:

The first thing you’ll notice about this rear shell is that it looks almost exactly like the iPhone 5. And that’s fine, because nearly everything we’ve heard up to this point has suggested the next iPhone will look identical to its predecessor.

There is one major difference though—check out the larger, pill-shaped window for the LED flash next to the iSight camera. This too matches up with previous 5S reports we’ve seen, which all say the handset will sport a dual LED flash.

Not much else is known about the next-generation iPhone, though. Rumors of the handset have called for everything from an all-new A7 processor, to a built-in fingerprint sensor, and many think the device will come in several colors.

Whatever it is, you can bet Apple will be unveiling it this fall. With no new mobile products out this year yet, the company is expected to have another big holiday season with two new iPads, a new iPhone, and possibly a new budget handset.

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Pegatron CEO says Apple’s budget iPhone won’t be ‘cheap’

Speaking at his company’s shareholders meeting on Thursday, Pegatron CEO T.H. Tung made some interesting comments on Apple’s often rumored ‘budget iPhone.’ He said don’t expect the handset to be inexpensive, as the “price [on it] is still high.”

For those unfamiliar with Pegatron, it’s a manufacturing company and one of Foxconn’s biggest rivals. The CEO’s comments seem to confirm earlier reports that Apple has chosen the company, over Foxconn, as its primary budget iPhone maker…

Japanese blog Macotakara (via AppleInsider) points to Tung’s comments in a report by the China Times. The news outlet says that the executive told investors today that products currently on the market can carry a number of names, but “cheap” is not how he would describe the low cost iPhone. He went on to say that smartphones are increasingly offering more value for the money.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve heard Apple’s budget handset characterized as “not cheap.” Last month, AllThingsD shared a note from analysts Gokul Hariharan and Mark Moskowitz saying they felt Apple’s low cost iPhone could come in at $350.

“We believe Apple could take 20-25 percent of this market in the next 12 months (from almost no market share currently), if it prices a lower-priced product at $350-400 levels.”

And I don’t think it would surprise anyone to see Apple price its so-called low end iPhone at $350 or higher. Apple doesn’t typically undercut its competitors on price. Just look at the iPad mini—people thought Apple was nuts for starting it at $329.

I think this comment Tim Cook made while speaking at this year’s Goldman Sachs Technology and Interactive Conference sums it up best:

“Our North Star is making great products. We wouldn’t do anything that’s not a great product. It’s not why we’re on this earth.

We wouldn’t do anything we don’t consider to be a great product. That’s just not who we are. That said, if you look at what we’ve done for people who are price sensitive, we’ve lowered the price of the iPhone 4 and 4S as of last September, and last quarter we didn’t have enough supply of the iPhone 4. It surprised us.

Also take a look at the history of iPod. When we started, it was $399. Now you can get an iPod shuffle for $49. Rather than cheapening, we build new products with a separate experience.”

There’s been a lot of talk about Apple offering a budget iPhone in recent months. Just last week, Reuters ran a report claiming that it was on track to release the cheaper handset this fall alongside its iPhone 5S, and test production was going to start in July.

As for the phone itself, it seems like we have a pretty good idea of what it’s going to look like. It’ll be shaped like the iPhone 5, with the curved corners and other elements of the iPod touch. And several reports have said it’s going to come in a variety of colors.

There’s obviously no way to know for sure, but many industry insiders and pundits are expecting Apple to launch the low cost handset alongside a new flagship iPhone, the 5S, and two new tablets this fall. Like last year, it’s going to be a busy holiday season.

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Alleged iPhone 5S Home button and vibrator parts surface

Part leaks for Apple’s next-generation smartphone, rumored to be the iPhone 5S, have thus far been hard to come by. Back in January a purported speaker assembly for future iPhones popped up, but that’s been pretty much the gist of it.

Until today, that is. A Japanese electronics parts vendor claims to have gotten its hands on a couple of 5S components. The first is a Home button, which looks a bit different from its predecessor. And the second appears to be a vibrator…

French blog Nowhereelse.fr points to the photos of the parts, noting that their serial numbers look similar to those on authentic Apple parts. Notice how on the back of the iPhone 5 Home button, the serial number begins with an ’821.’

So assuming these components are the real deal, what do they tell us about the iPhone 5S? For starters, look at the differences in the Home buttons. The 5S button has a much longer flex cable, which appears to be fit for different internals.

The second part is said to be a 5S vibrator motor, with a flex cable that looks like it connects to its volume rocker and mute switch. While there’s no image for us to compare it to,MacRumors says the cable is more compact than its predecessor.

Overall, these pieces seem to line up with previous reports that suggest the iPhone 5S will look very much like the 5. The handset is rumored to have an upgraded camera system and a fingerprint scanner, but we’ve yet to see any evidence supporting that.

It’s possible, though, that part leaks will start to pick up in the coming weeks. Most of the chatter we’ve heard points to a summer release for the 5S, meaning that production of the handset should start to ramp up within the next month or so.

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Bloomberg: Samsung in race with Apple to get wristwatch to market

We’ve heard a lot of talk in recent months that Apple is working on a wristwatch-like device. And it could be ready to launch as soon as this year. We’ve also seen some alleged leaked screenshot images that suggest Samsung is working on a similar product.

Tonight, Bloomberg is out with a new report that adds significant weight to both rumors, claiming that not only are both companies preparing wearable devices that perform similar functions as smartphones, but they’re both racing to get them to market…

From Bloomberg’s Jungah Lee:

“Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) is developing a wristwatch as Asia’s biggest technology company races against Apple Inc. (AAPL) to create a new industry of wearable devices that perform similar tasks as smartphones.

“We’ve been preparing the watch product for so long,” Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business, said during an interview in Seoul. “We are working very hard to get ready for it. We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them.”

Although there was no indication of what features the watch might have, or what its price will be, the fact that a Samsung executive confirmed that the company is working on one is interesting. You’d never hear an Apple exec talk about future product plans.

But you can bet that if Samsung is working on one, Apple is too. In anticipation of the inevitable saturation of the handset market, both companies are looking for other product lines. And if that’s not enough proof the iWatch is real, Bloomberg reiterates it:

“Apple seeks to introduce its wristwatch device as soon as this year, said one of the people familiar, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public.

The features under consideration by the Cupertino, California-based company include letting users make calls, see the identity of incoming callers and check map coordinates, one of the people said. It would also house a pedometer for counting steps and sensors for monitoring health-related data, such as heart rates, this person said.”

Previous reports claimed that Apple has a team of over 100 designers working on the wristwatch-like device. It’s said to run a reworked version of iOS, and the company is looking to get its battery life up to 4-5 days, although it’s been struggling to get it past 2 or 3.

Keep an eye on this space because it’s about to get really interesting. Both Samsung, with its S Health software, and Apple, with the likes of Jony Ive in its corner, have the abilities and the resources to do some impressive things with smartphone-connected watches.

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Alleged Google Now for iOS promo video surfaces on YouTube

This is pretty interesting. An alleged promotional video showcasing a Google Now—Google’s impressive voice assistant that debuted in Android Jelly Bean last summer—for iOS app surfaced on YouTube this afternoon.

The big deal here is that while Google added some Now elements to its iOS Search app last fall, it kept location and contextual-based features exclusive to Android. But if the promo clip is real, that could be changing soon…

Engadget was tipped off to the [what would have to be] leaked video earlier today. And they were able to grab a copy of the clip before it was ‘mysteriously’ pulled. Sorry, it is a low-resolution video and it does require Flash.

The site notes that while it’s very possible that it’s an elaborate fake, it does seem to feature the same voice actress that did the original Google Now video. So that, and the fact that it was pulled earlier lend weight to its credibility.

Google has received much praise for its Now feature, which quickly repsonds to a range of informational and trivial questions, among other things. In fact, it’s a bit odd that it would want to port such a big part of Android to iOS.

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Official web site photo suggests Apple may produce yellow iPhone

The image shown above appears to depict a worker on the assembly line putting together what looks like a yellow iPhone. It’s not a blurry shot obtained from shady Chinese sources nor does it represent one of the colorful iPod touches – Apple saw fit to publish this interesting photograph on its Supplier Responsibility page, accompanied by the caption “A worker prepares an iPhone for final assembly”.

 

 

Some analysts expect the iPhone 5S, a successor to the iPhone 5 reportedly due this summer, will come in a bunch of colors and possibly two display sizes. Other sources report the rumored less-pricey iPhone will also be colorized (why stop there, how about colorful iPads?). We’re not sure what to make of this, whether it’s an error or an intentional leak, but the fact Apple would post such a photo on its own web site is interesting, to say the least…

Other outlets have reported on this yellow iPhone image as well, like Tencent, a major Chinese news outlet.

The photograph can be seen on Apple’s Supplier Responsibility page, as depicted below.

 

 

What say you?

Does the photo – along with the fact Apple approved its use – indicate the company may be producing a yellow iPhone model?

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