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iPhone 6 will reportedly sport 1704 x 960 display resolution

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors,

iPhone 6 1704 x 960

It's been rumored for months that Apple will launch two larger iPhone models this year, and now 9to5Mac is jumping in with a report on the new display resolution. If correct, we should see the iPhone 6 sporting a 1704 x 960 resolution. That's way up from the current 1136 x 640 resolution found on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s Retina displays, and would allow Apple to release the phones with a larger display while enhancing the Retina quality of its smartphones. No, it's not 1080p (that would be 1920 x 1080,) but it's close enough that at the rumored screen sizes of 4.7- and 5.5-inches, you'd be hard-pressed to notice.

The number we want to look at here is the pixels per inch (ppi), which will tell us how sharp the displays will be. 1704 x 960 at 4.7-inches results in a pixel density of 416 ppi. On a 5.5-inch iPhone, that drops a bit to 356 ppi. The iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, comparatively, both have a 326 ppi display, so the new iPhone 6 models definitely will look better than the current devices.

iOS 8 won't be much different from iOS 7 in terms of the design and layout, so instead we can likely expect app icons that are sharper and larger on the home screen, and in-app elements to be clearer as well once developers get their apps updated for the new display. Of course, Apple will have its own first-part apps ready at launch.

Word is that we may see Apple unveil the iPhone 6 at a special event in August, but this info seems solid. If you recall, a couple of years ago we reported that the iPhone 5 would get a bump to a 4-inch 1136 x 640 display prior to it being announced.


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Tzukuri Eyewear makes losing sunglasses a lot harder with iBeacons

Tzukuri Eyewear iphone sunglasses

Sunglasses are one of the items that are easy to leave behind and lose, and Tzukuri Eyewear is looking to make that problem a thing of the past by using iBeacon technology. Imagine, if you will, a pair of shades with an iBeacon embedded into its frame that your iPhone connects to and is aware of. Since the iPhone can tell the distance of the beacon signal, you get a notification letting you know that you left your sunglasses behind. You can see just how far away from you they are as long as you are still in range of the iBeacon signal. Pretty cool, right?

The Tzukuri Eyewear models of sunglasses are made using 3D analysis so that they look good on more faces than the average pair. They have six designs in three sizes, each of which is handcrafted in Japan and incorporate high-quality anti-scratch, polarized lenses with 100% UV protection.


Apple reports $45.6 billion Q2 2014 revenue: 43.7m iPhones, 16.3m iPads, 4.1m Macs sold

iPhone 5s 5c 2014 earnings

Today, Apple announced its second quarter earnings results, with revenue at $45.6 billion, beating the guidance of $42-44 billion that it previously gave, while also soundly beating analyst estimates.

How did Apple make that money? Mostly on the back of the iPhone. Device sales for Q2 2014 include 43.7 million iPhones sold, 16.3 million iPads, 3 million iPods, and 4.1 million Macs. In the same quarter last year, the iPhone sold 37.4 million, iPad 19.5 million, iPod 5.6 million, and Mac 3.9 million. The company also announced that Apple TV sales has now surpassed 20 million.

Apple isn't done yet. During today's earning call, CEO Tim Cook reiterated that Apple has new hardware categories that it's excited to reveal here in 2014. Time will tell if they'll be big enough to garner their own bulletpoint in the quarterly results in the future.


Photo purports to compare iPhone 6 display panel with iPhone 5s display

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

iPhone 6 display

A photo that purports to show a front panel from the upcoming iPhone 6 has appeared on China's Weibo site. In the photo, someone is holding the alleged iPhone 6 part up next to a current black iPhone 5s in order to show a size comparison between the two Apple smartphones. The display panel matches up with the rumored 4.7-inch size increase. Of course, that doesn't mean that this particular image is real, but iPhone leaks do start happening annually, like clockwork, around this time of year for the past three years.

Click to continue reading Photo purports to compare iPhone 6 display panel with iPhone 5s display


Apple releases 8GB iPhone 5c in select markets

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,

iPhone 5c 8GB

Apple has released an 8 GB version of the iPhone 5c. The new lower-capacity model will only be sold in select markets where LTE is just now coming to fruition as an entry-level device (since the iPhone 4s only supports 3G.)

"The mid-tier iPhone segment is growing year-over-year and the 8GB model provides a more affordable option for markets where LTE is becoming more established," an Apple representative told Re/code.

Apple's Online Stores in  the UK, France, Germany, China, and Australia are the only territories selling the 8 GB iPhone 5c. In Europe, the cost is £429 for an unlocked model, available in all the same colors as the larger-capacity models. To be honest, this one has us scratching our heads a bit--8GB of storage on a phone that takes 8-megapixel images and high definition video is absolutely nothing. If Apple has it planned for the entry-level buyers, then the price should be less than it is.

Be sure to check out our iPhone 5c review.


Apple releases major iOS 7.1 update, here’s what’s new!

iOS 7.1 new features

Earlier today Apple released iOS 7.1, an update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that brings with it several major features and improvements. Some of the more notable additions include CarPlay, Siri enhancements, iTunes Radio improvements, and overall stability improvements for iOS 7 on the iPhone 4. If you're unfamiliar, CarPlay was unveiled last week at the Geneva Motor Show, and will be available in some 2014 model vehicles, bringing iOS 7-style functionality to the center console dashboard, allowing users to control things like Maps, Music, Messages, and other apps.

You can download iOS 7.1 now, and we've got the full list of all the changes, according to Apple, after the jump.

Click to continue reading Apple releases major iOS 7.1 update, here’s what’s new!


Bleeding Edge TV 502: WWE Network on Apple TV review

Since a lot of people were curious about if the WWE Network would be available on Apple TV, and how it would look compared to the other platforms out there, I went ahead and put together this video walkthrough and review. There are a bunch of pros to using an Apple TV for the Network, but one caveat that can be seen as a con.

In this video I cover:

  • How to subscribe to the WWE Network on Apple TV and skip the signup issues plaguing other devices
  • How to link your Apple TV purchase to your WWE.com account so you can access the Network everywhere
  • How to link your Apple TV purchase to other Apple TVs
  • How to use AirPlay to send WWE Network content from your iOS device to an Apple TV wirelessly

I also give an interface tour and my overall thoughts on how the WWE Network looks and feels on Apple's set-top box. I'll be doing more videos focusing on other devices as well, so if there's one you'd like me to focus on, feel free to contact me on Facebook or Twitter and let me know. Keep an eye on our YouTube channel (you can subscribe here!) to see the new stuff as it drops.

If you like what you see from the Apple TV, you can pick one up here from Apple.

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live's YouTube channel!

 

Click to continue reading Bleeding Edge TV 502: WWE Network on Apple TV review


Ask Andru: How to improve Touch ID and secure your iPhone

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Features, Software,

iPhone 5s Touch ID

We're back for another installment of Ask Andru, where I take your burning tech questions and give you practical answers! This time, we have a two-parter as it pertains to securing your iPhone 5s (see our iPhone 5s review) and iPad, as well as making Touch ID work as well as expected. Here we go, these questions were sent in by Mike:

I have two questions,

  1. I have a two part question, what is the best security app for the iPad mini with Retina display & the iPhone 5s?

  2. Since I picked up my new iPhone 5s from the AT&T Store-Lynwood this past October and two exchanges for two new replacement phones from the Apple Store @ Alderwood Mall, the Touch ID still has not worked for me. Have other users had problems with the Touch ID? In regards to exchanging my 5s for a 5c or a Droid phone, I have been informed that it is past their respective fourteen day warranty period to facilitate an exchange because their operating systems will not allow this transaction to take place. So thus, AT&T and Apple have left me with a defective product.

Regards,
Mike

Let's start with that first one. When most people talk about security apps, I think they're asking about something that will protect them from viruses and malware getting installed on their mobile devices. For Android, for example, you might want to have something installed due to the rampant malware that can be found in the Google Play store. However, Apple sandboxes each app, and as such, none get full access to take over your device, no matter how hard they try. Apple also has a vetting process for each app as well, so there are no antivirus or anti-malware apps that you'll need. Yet, one app that I do love for security and protection is called 1Password. Let me explain.

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: How to improve Touch ID and secure your iPhone


Is this our first look at the iPhone 6?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

iPhone 6 leak front

Is this the iPhone 6? It's February, and that means that like clockwork, it's time for the next iPhone leaks to start dropping. The only thing we know is that Apple is working on its next flagship device, and that the iPhone 6 should launch this fall. We've ben hearing reports that Apple will release two larger-sized variants this time around: a 4.7-inch model, alongside a 5.5-inch version.

As you can see in the pictures (which, to be clear, have not been verified to be real), the displays here are larger than those found on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, and also takes on the design language of the iPad Air and iPad mini. Neither are too far-fetched, and for our tastes, we think it looks great. Also, check out that bezel-less display, another rumored feature of the iPhone 6. Of course, even if these are real, Apple tests multiple designs, and this could be one of a few different ideas that the company is playing with.

We've got two more pictures of the device after the jump. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

EDIT: Forum posters at MacRumors have taken a closer look at the images and have determined that they're rendered fakes. Reasons include textures that repeat and the usage of an out-of-date font.

Click to continue reading Is this our first look at the iPhone 6?


Apple releases iOS 7.1 beta 5 build 11D5145e to developers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 7.1 beta 5 download

If you've got an Apple developer account, you should know that Apple has released iOS 7.1 beta 5 build 11D5145e, and you can go and grab it right now. Of course, you can log in to the Developer Center to manually grab the file, or head into the Settings > General > Software Update section on your iOS device for the over-the-air install. As far as new changes, the release notes point to international Siri improvements:

"This seed adds new natural-sounding Siri voices for English (Australia), English (United Kingdom), Japanese, and Chinese (Mandarin – China)"

Along with the new iOS software, Apple has also released new betas of Xcode 5.1, and the Apple TV software as well.

Click to continue reading Apple releases iOS 7.1 beta 5 build 11D5145e to developers


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