Taiwanese report reiterates 4.7 inch and 5.6 inch iPhones incoming, claims larger model will not use iPhone branding

A report published in Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, via Mac Otakara, reiterates the flurry of previous reporting that Apple will release two new iPhones this year with larger displays, around 4.7 and 5.6 inches respectively. This has been reported countless times in the past by multiple sources. It also says that Apple is targeting a release in the third-quarter, again unsurprising at this point.

However, the report goes onto say that only the larger of these two phones will feature sapphire-glass. According to this sketchy report, the 4.7 inch model will continue to use Corning’s Gorilla Glass like the current iPhone 5s and 5c.

9to5Mac reported Apple was readying its Arizona factory to produce sapphire glass for iPhone screens earlier this month. With Apple only just ramping their use of sapphire this year (also rumored to be used in the iWatch), the claim that sapphire will be used for just one iPhone variant is not unreasonable due to potential supply constraints.

What is much less likely, is what the Economic Daily News says next. It claims Apple will not name the larger ~5.6 inch device an iPhone. According to their information, Apple will treat this form of iPhone as an ‘experimental’ product and not use the iPhone name. However, this last claim should definitely be approached with skepticism. Apple is unlikely to complicate its product lineup by distinguishing the 4.7 and 5.6 inch models any more than they do with the 5s and 5c — although they feature different suffixes, they are both iPhones.

Moreover, why would ‘first-hand supply chain sources’ have knowledge of Apple’s branding and marketing plans?

- 9to5mac.com

AAPL stock more than 3 percent up on China Mobile news

After the fall in Apple’s stock value when the China Mobile failed to materialise as expected on 18th December, yesterday’s news that the deal had finally been concluded sent the stock shooting back up again, having climbed more than 3 percent at the time of writing (it was up 4% in pre-market trading but has settled).

With the WSJ having reported that 18th December was the day, the market was clearly jittery when nothing materialized. Everything had appeared to be in place: regulatory approval, Apple putting the handsets on sale in China on the opening weekend, China Mobile posters, a pre-order website, in-store displays – and 4G service up-and-running on schedule … 

One theory suggested that China Mobile wanted to renegotiate its volume breaks with Apple after seeing far greater demand for the iPhone 5s than for the cheaper 5c, while Fortune suggested this morning that perhaps Apple wanted to delay the deal until supplies had caught up with demand elsewhere, and that China Mobile had been applying none-too-subtle pressure on Apple by announcing the date as if it were a done deal.

Either way, there will be a lot of relieved faces that the deal has finally been signed, and Apple can look forward to a bumper quarter once the handsets go on sale in January.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 23, 2013/7:32 am - 9to5mac.com

iPhones and iPads make up three-quarters of mobile devices used in small & medium businesses

Apple has a 76 percent share of the mobile device market among small to medium businesses (SMBs), according to SMB cloud services company Intermedia. Samsung took second place with 12 percent.

The company also reported seeing spikes in new device activations when Apple launched the new iPhones and iPads. Unsurprisingly, most businesses opted for the iPhone 5s over the 5c … 

Intermedia based its numbers on use of ActiveSync, a means of synchronising mobile devices with Microsoft Exchange. The company has around 700,000 business customers.

Apple sees the business market as an important one for both Macs and iOS devices. The company created a new webpage in June promoting the business features of iOS 7, followed up in August showing how iPad apps can help businesses and in October with a new volume purchasing program for Mac apps.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 17, 2013/4:04 am - 9to5mac.com

Contract-free carriers Straight Talk, NET10 picking up iPhone 5s, 5c on December 13th

Just as stock is starting to really level out and the holidays are quickly approaching, contract-free carriers Straight Talk and NET10 Wireless announced plans to begin selling both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c starting December 13th.

Both Straight Talk and NET10 offer monthly plans which include unlimited talk, text, and data, but that of course comes at the cost of paying for the iPhone at full price. The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will retail for $649 and $549, respectively, for 16GB and will be sold exclusively at Walmart where each carrier is supported.

While the initial iPhone purchase may cost you a good bit more than a subsidized expense through a traditional carrier, the monthly bill may not as both carriers offer monthly plans at $50 or less.

Check the full press release below for more details and read our iPhone on Staight Talk review…

Written by: Zac Hall @apollozac December 9, 2013/7:07 am - 9to5mac.com

This is what the 5c ‘Crocs’ case would look like for the iPhone 5s

When Apple launched the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c earlier this fall, the company also debuted accompanying cases. To match the plastic colors of the 5c, Apple launched a “Crocs-like” case for  the phone with holes on the back.

The iPhone 5s launched alongside a leather case in multiple colors. Now, technology writer Michael Andrew shares photos of what he claims to be a prototype version of the 5c case for the 5s.

There are, however, two crucial differences between the iPhone 5C version of the case that was meant for the iPhone 5/5S and the actual, official iPhone 5C case that was released to the public:

• Instead of the seven-by-five grid of holes that is on the back of the released iPhone 5C case, the case for the iPhone 5/5S sports a subtly different six-by-five grid of holes.
• Unlike on the iPhone 5C case, the top and bottom of the iPhone 5/5S is not protected by the silicon case.

We can’t verify that these photos represent an actual Apple prototype, but they, nonetheless, show what the 5c case would look like if designed for the 5s’s body. Another photo is below:

Written by: Mark Gurman @markgurman December 3, 2013/11:40 am - 9to5mac.com

Get your subsidized iPhones while you can – AT&T says the deals can’t last

AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson told investors yesterday that with smartphone penetration approaching 90 percent, the existing business model – where carriers sell highly-subsidized smartphones to drive demand – will have to change.

When you’re growing the business initially, you have to do aggressive device subsidies to get people on the network. But as you approach 90 percent penetration, you move into maintenance mode. That means more device upgrades. And the model has to change. You can’t afford to subsidize devices like that.

Many U.S. iPhone buyers don’t realise the true cost of their handsets, as carrier subsidies mean they typically pay no more than $200. The full retail cost of those handsets, however, ranges from $549 for a 16GB iPhone 5c to $849 for a 64GB iPhone 5s. The balance is paid by the carrier, then clawed back through the contract payments … 

Carrier business models are changing, with T-Mobile the first to separate monthly fees for device and phone service with its Uncarrier program back in March. AT&T seems to be thinking along similar lines, with CNET reporting that the company saw the future in financing, rather than subsidizing, devices.

Stephenson also acknowledged that breaking customers of their habit of upgrading to a new phone every 18 months to two years is not an easy task. But he said a business models focused on financing rather than providing a subsidy would be “transformative” for the industry. He said the company’s new AT&T Next program, which offers no-money down and 0-percent financing, drives smartphone penetration in a way that is more sustainable over time.

It’s not all bad news for consumers, however. In the UK, where subsidies are much more visible, all carriers offer the option to pay full price for the phone in order to get much cheaper monthly service fees. As an example, I bought my iPhone outright at full retail, and as a result pay just £15 ($24) a month for unlimited voice calls, texts and data. Upgrading every other cycle means I typically save $3-400 over the course of two years.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 11, 2013/4:57 am - 9to5mac.com

iPhone 5s undisputed king at all four major U.S. carriers ever since launch

The iPhone 5s has retained its status as the best-selling smartphone at the four tier-1 U.S. carriers for the third month running, with the iPhone 5c taking third place after the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Data from Canaccord Genuity showed that the iPhone 5s has topped the sales charts at AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile every month since launch, reports AllThingsD.

“Our surveys indicated continued strong sales of the iPhone 5s, as it was by far the top selling smartphone at all four tier-1 U.S. carriers and at most channels where the smartphone launched globally,” analyst T. Michael Walkley explained in a note to clients. “Our surveys also indicated steady iPhone 5c sales with the smartphone’s color options and more affordable price point proving popular with its intended audience” … 

Prior to the launch of the new iPhones, Apple held the top slot at only one of the four carriers, AT&T, with the iPhone 5 sitting in second place behind the Samsung S4 at the others.

On the basis of these numbers, Canaccord Genuity has increased its forecast shipment numbers for Q1 2014 from 52M to 54M. Supplies of the iPhone 5s have been a limiting factor until recently, but a store survey just a few days ago showed that supplies now appear to have caught up with demand.

The news comes just a day after the iPhone market share in China was reported to have doubled since the launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c.

Written by: Ben Lovejoy @benlovejoy December 13, 2013/4:22 am - 9to5mac.com

Unlocking VS Jailbreaking

Jailbreak Your iPhone 5 VS Unlocking iPhone 5
How would you like to have more control over the features of your iPhone 5? Would you like access to apps that are not available in the app store? Would you like to further customize the theme of your iPhone 5 and add to its functionality? If so, then you need to learn about jailbreaking compared to unlocking!

What Does It Mean To Jailbreak My iPhone 5?
Jailbreaking your iPhone 5 means that you are modifying your iPhone by using software that removes the limitations that are placed on the phone by its provider. This software allows you to gain access to the iOS operating system, so you can make changes to your iPhone that you would not be able to do otherwise. Keep in mind that jailbreaking is different from unlocking, although you may have heard the two terms used interchangeably. Unlocking your iPhone 5 allows you to move freely back and forth between multiple carriers. This is a discussion for another time. For now, let’s focus on all the cool things you can do with your jailbroken iPhone 5!

What Can I Do With Unlock iPhone 5?
There is so much you can do once you free your iPhone from its factory limitations. Here are some of the most widely used functions available to a jailbroken iPhone 5:

• Find and play games that are only available to a jailbroken iPhone.
• Gain access to a large variety of wallpapers, ring tones, and screen-savers.
• Customize how you navigate the iPhone.
• Use gestures for multitasking and to unlock your iPhone.
• Rename your apps.
• Add widgets to your home screen.
• Increase your iPhone security.
• Change your default browser.
• Use your iPhone 5 as a storage device.
• Allow multiple users on a single device.

Pros And Cons to Jailbreaking VS Unlocking Your iPhone 5
As you can see, there are several benefits to jailbreaking your iPhone 5 as well as iPhone 5 unlocking. You will be open to a larger variety of customization features that add to the functionality of your iPhone, and you will have broader access to apps and games. However, there are some downsides that you should consider before jailbreaking your iPhone 5:

• No more warranty. Once you unlock your iPhone 5, the warranty is null and void. If a problem occurs during the unlocking process or after the phone has been unlocked (even if it is not related to jailbreaking), then you are stuck paying for the repairs.
• It might slow you down. Some have reported issues with their jailbroken iPhones running slower, and some crash altogether.
• Updating is difficult with jailbreaking as opposed to unlocking your iPhone. If you are someone who has to have the latest updates, then this will be a problem for you. When Apple releases a new update, you will either have to restore your phone to its previous condition before it was jailbroken in order for you to be able to install the update, or you will have to wait for a new jailbreak to be released.
• Beware of bricking. Some people damage their phones when they attempt to jailbreak them, and they become useless (like a brick). Make sure the steps you follow are reliable. You may want to use a reputable jailbreaking service.

Is It Legal To Unlock My iPhone 5?
As of January 2013, there are some legal issues with unlocking your iPhone 5. Fortunately, there are loopholes around it. As for factory iPhone 5 unlocking by IMEI number, you are in the clear! Jailbreaking has been declared legal, and as of 2012, over 10,000,000 people have jailbroken their iPhones.

How To Jailbreak Your iPhone 5
There are several methods for unlocking and jailbreaking your iPhone 5. You can find several paid services, or you can download the software and try it yourself. Here is one tool you might want to check out:
Evasi0n: This is the latest free jailbreak tool for the iPhone 5 running all iOS 6 versions. This version is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Evasi0n does NOT activate iPhone 5s. In order to jailbreak your iPhone 5 using Evasi0n, follow these steps:
Step 1. Back up all the information from your iPhone 5.
Step 2. If you have an unlock code enabled, disable it before you proceed.
Step 3. Connect your iPhone 5 to the computer and open Evasi0n. Wait for it to start the iphone 5 unlock procedure, and do not touch the phone. If your iPhone 5 is blocked during the Finding Offsets or Patch