Apple introduced its next generation of iPhones on Sept 10.
*** The top of the line is now the iPhone 5S. The 5S uses the same 4 inch screen as the current iPhone 5. The price is $199 with a two year contract, or $650 off contract and unlocked for use with any carrier.
The 5S has a big improvement in processing firepower. The 5S employs a 64 bit processor, the first in a mobile phone. The result: Up to twice as fast as the iPhone 5. Apple says this new processor part of its A7 family, which means it's a dual core processor. The 5S includes an improved graphics processor, said to be up to 56 times faster than the iPhone 5.
Despite the faster processor, Apple says the 5S will have slightly better battery life than the current iPhone 5.
Apple added a secondary processor called the M7 to monitor touch and motion activities. The M7 chip reduces power consumption by allowing the main processor to sleep when it's not needed to run apps.
The camera on board the iPhone 5S is upgraded with a larger sensor and faster F2.2 lens. Pixel count remains the same at 8 mp, so each pixel is larger (more light-sensitive). New features include slow motion video, and an option to quickly take multiple photos (20 photos in 2 seconds) so you can choose the best and discard the rest. Example: Better baby photos and less frustration for the baby photographer. The 5S includes a flash unit with two LEDs of different colors. One LED is designed to capture better skin tones.
The 5S will have a fingerprint sensor called Touch ID to unlock the phone. The sensor is in the form of a ring around the iPhone Home button. The sensor works with up to 5 fingerprints (different people, for example. "Honey, can you answer my phone?" ). Touch ID will work with the iTunes Store. No mention was made of future uses of the fingerprint sensor, which might include identification for other financial transactions, and access to online accounts.
The 5S will be available in 16, 32 and 64 GB models. Add $100 for each increase in storage capacity. (Ouch!) Three colors will be available: Silver, Dark Grey and Champagne Gold. The 5S will be available for sale in stores on Sept 20. Presumably online orders will start that day, as well.
*** A new version of the iPhone called the 5C will feature a plastic body. The 5C is essentially the same as the current iPhone 5, repackaged with a colorful shell in place of the aluminum body of the iPhone 5. Five colors are available: White, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green. The iPhone 5 will no longer be sold.
The 5C with 16 GB storage will be available for $99 with a 2 year contract, or $550 off contract. Add $100 for a 32 GB model. Pre-orders for the 5C begin Sept 13, with delivery starting Sept 20.
*** iOS 7, an all-new operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, will be available Sept. 18 for most iOS devices. The new OS is said to be reworked to take advantage of the 64 bit processor in the iPhone 5S.
*** One nice spiff for purchasers of the 5S and 5C: Apple's iWork suite of software is included for free. Titles include Numbers (spreadsheet), Pages (word processing) and Keynote (presentation). These programs used to cost $10 each. The iLife suite (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand) also will be provided for free with all new iOS devices.
*** The top of the line is now the iPhone 5S. The 5S uses the same 4 inch screen as the current iPhone 5. The price is $199 with a two year contract, or $650 off contract and unlocked for use with any carrier.
The 5S has a big improvement in processing firepower. The 5S employs a 64 bit processor, the first in a mobile phone. The result: Up to twice as fast as the iPhone 5. Apple says this new processor part of its A7 family, which means it's a dual core processor. The 5S includes an improved graphics processor, said to be up to 56 times faster than the iPhone 5.
Despite the faster processor, Apple says the 5S will have slightly better battery life than the current iPhone 5.
Apple added a secondary processor called the M7 to monitor touch and motion activities. The M7 chip reduces power consumption by allowing the main processor to sleep when it's not needed to run apps.
The camera on board the iPhone 5S is upgraded with a larger sensor and faster F2.2 lens. Pixel count remains the same at 8 mp, so each pixel is larger (more light-sensitive). New features include slow motion video, and an option to quickly take multiple photos (20 photos in 2 seconds) so you can choose the best and discard the rest. Example: Better baby photos and less frustration for the baby photographer. The 5S includes a flash unit with two LEDs of different colors. One LED is designed to capture better skin tones.
The 5S will have a fingerprint sensor called Touch ID to unlock the phone. The sensor is in the form of a ring around the iPhone Home button. The sensor works with up to 5 fingerprints (different people, for example. "Honey, can you answer my phone?" ). Touch ID will work with the iTunes Store. No mention was made of future uses of the fingerprint sensor, which might include identification for other financial transactions, and access to online accounts.
The 5S will be available in 16, 32 and 64 GB models. Add $100 for each increase in storage capacity. (Ouch!) Three colors will be available: Silver, Dark Grey and Champagne Gold. The 5S will be available for sale in stores on Sept 20. Presumably online orders will start that day, as well.
*** A new version of the iPhone called the 5C will feature a plastic body. The 5C is essentially the same as the current iPhone 5, repackaged with a colorful shell in place of the aluminum body of the iPhone 5. Five colors are available: White, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green. The iPhone 5 will no longer be sold.
The 5C with 16 GB storage will be available for $99 with a 2 year contract, or $550 off contract. Add $100 for a 32 GB model. Pre-orders for the 5C begin Sept 13, with delivery starting Sept 20.
*** iOS 7, an all-new operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, will be available Sept. 18 for most iOS devices. The new OS is said to be reworked to take advantage of the 64 bit processor in the iPhone 5S.
*** One nice spiff for purchasers of the 5S and 5C: Apple's iWork suite of software is included for free. Titles include Numbers (spreadsheet), Pages (word processing) and Keynote (presentation). These programs used to cost $10 each. The iLife suite (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand) also will be provided for free with all new iOS devices.
