Apple's changes will impact the iPhone accessories business
Though Apple announced the iPhone 5 this morning to much fanfare, Phil Schiller defended the new smartphone against some criticism amid the media blitzkrieg.
Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing explained in an interview with AllThingsD why some expected technologies such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and wireless charging didn't make it in the final product.
Both technologies have many examples in the current market, and have been on the wishlist of Apple fans for quite some time.
NFC has seen its way onto many phones like the Google Nexus S and can be used to pay for groceries or share data in person.
Schiller said that Apple's program, Passbook, is a capable analog to NFC in the wireless commerce market. However, Passbook is mainly used to store loyalty cards, gift cards and can be used instead of boarding passes and football tickets.
Schiller said he has his doubts about NFC, and wonders if it's the solution to any of today's problems.
Passbook, he said, fulfills most of customers' current needs, saying it works without any existing merchant payment system.
Charging is still wired
Technophiles were also hoping the iPhone 5 would include some sort of wireless charging system like the Nokia Lumia 920, but Schiller dashed those hopes as well.
Schiller pointed out that wireless charging stations still need to be plugged into a wall and that the USB cord is still widely used and can be plugged into wall outlets with the packaged adapter, into computers or even on airplanes.
He said it just not worth it to add another component.
"Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated," Schiller said.
'Lightning' in a dock connector
Apple also took a little flak for changing the iPhone and iPod's docking jack, to the smaller "Lightning" connector.
The previous design was introduced in 2003, and an entire side industry uses the port to connect the phone to almost anything.
Schiller said the company had been waiting to pull the trigger on the new cord for a while, but now they couldn't make the mobile devices any smaller or thinner with the old cord. But Apple doesn't change their connectors willy-nilly.
"This is the new connector for many years to come," he said.
So it looks like we won't be seeing native wireless charging for a while now, and Apple is content to dip its toe in the pool of wireless commerce.
For now, they're just two more items to ask Santa for when iPhone 6 speculation begins.
If you're eyeing the iPhone 5 but worried about canceling your unlimited data plan with AT&T, you're in luck. AT&T will grandfather in existing data plans.
So you have an existing data plan, and you want to scoop up the next iPhone but you’re afraid that carriers will charge an exorbitant penalty fee that could empty your wallet — well AT&T users are in luck. In light of Apple’s iPhone 5 announcement today, the carrier says that existing data plans would be grandfathered into their iPhone 5 purchase.
“We offer customers the flexibility to keep the iPhone data plans they already have or choose any of our individual or new Mobile Share plans. We’re proud that more customers choose AT&T for iPhone than any other U.S. carrier and look forward to making iPhone 5 the newest addition to our lineup,” Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility, said.
One thing to note is that the iPhone 5 is a 4G LTE smartphone. Existing iPhones use 3G, or for those of you on AT&T and have updated to iOS 5.1, you would have been switched to what AT&T claims to be worthy of the 4G title. Debate over this label hasn’t deterred AT&T from branding its existing service as a 4G network.
“AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering 275 million people. Built on top of this widespread 4G network, blazing-fast 4G LTE is available in more than 60 markets today and planned in more than 100 by the end of this year,” the release added.
In reality, Apple would have needed to make some hardware changes, which we’re seeing on the iPhone 5, before AT&T iPhones could claim to be using a true 4G network.
Verizon, after heated backlash for the company’s decision not to grandfather in existing unlimited data plans for users that did not need to switch to a tiered data plan, overturned that decision. Verizon, like AT&T, will grandfather in unlimited plans when users switch to the iPhone, but will not offer to subsidize the cost of an iPhone 5. What that means it that you’re going to have to pay the full retail price of the phone if your two year contract isn’t up by the time the iPhone 5 is stocked on September 21.
AT&T customers can go onto AT&T’s page for the iPhone, and pre-order the iPhone 5 beginning on September 14. And as already announced, the new Apple smartphone will cost $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model, and $399.99 for the 64GB model, granted that you sign up for a two year data plan.
The US official killed in yesterday's Benghazi attack was named Sean Smith. He was an EVE player, a member of Goonswarm, and a good friend.
Yesterday, a group of armed militants stormed the American consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi. According to BBC reports, the attack took place during a protest over the anti-Islamic sentiments seen in a low-budget film purportedly produced by American Sam Bacile (although some reports suggest this is merely a pseudonym), and promoted in the Middle East by an Egyptian-American Coptic Christian named Morris Sadek. The attack left the American ambassador, Christopher Stevens, and three other American officials dead. U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility that the attack was part of a coordinated terrorist action.
Although the names of the three Americans with Stevens were not initially released by authorities, one of the victims was quickly identified by his friends online as Foreign Service information management officer, Sean Smith.
Smith was a huge fan of CCP Games’ EVE Online, and a long-standing member of the infamous Goonswarm, an amorphous group of gamers who initially came together on the forums of the Internet humor site Something Awful. While many claim that Goonswarm exists purely to infuriate other players in whichever game they happen to be playing — Goonswarm is most prominent in EVE Online, but has branched out to a number of other online titles — even these people can’t deny the group’s ability to affect change on a massive scale within a game due to its sheer numbers, dedicated player-base, and surprisingly well-coordinated actions.
Last night Smith (aka “Vile Rat”) was online speaking to his friend and fellow gamer, Alexander Gianturco, who goes by the handle “The Mittani” Gianturco has since posted the exchange as part of a eulogy to his friend. According to Gianturco, Smith was a long-time online gamer who was working as an IT consultant in Benghazi when the attack occurred. Due in part to his work, Smith spent a lot of time on the ‘net, doing the sorts of things anyone else might: conversing with friends, passing the time and playing video games.
“If you play this stupid game, you may not realize it, but you play in a galaxy created in large part by Vile Rat’s talent as a diplomat,” Gianturco said. “No one focused as relentlessly on using diplomacy as a strategic tool as VR. Mercenary Coalition flipped sides in the Great War in large part because of Vile Rat’s influence, and if that hadn’t happened GSF probably would have never taken out BoB. Jabberlon5? VR made it. You may not even know what Jabberlon5 is, but it’s the smoke-filled jabber room where every nullsec personage of note hangs out and makes deals. Goonswarm has succeeded over the years in large part because of VR’s emphasis on diplomacy, to the point of creating an entire section with a staff of 10+ called Corps Diplomatique, something no other alliance has. He had the vision and the understanding to see three steps ahead of everyone else – in the game, on the CSM, and when giving real-world advice.”
The protests surrounded the film Innocence of Muslims, which depicted the Prophet Mohammed as fraud and a pedophile. Protesters in Egypt had already burned an American flag in front of the consulate in Cairo, and the Libyan protests may have been coordinated. The date, the 11th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, was also lost on no one.
During their discussion last night, Smith told Gianturco:
(12:54:09 PM) vile_rat: assuming we don’t die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures
While alarming, this wasn’t particularly unusual for Smith, who’s situation was well known among his friends. A few years earlier while Smith was stationed in Iraq, he also found himself under fire but finished his time there “physically unscathed,” according to Gianturco.
“He was on jabber [the IM service] when it happened,” Gianturco posted. “That’s the most fucked up thing. In Baghdad the same kind of thing happened – incoming sirens, he’d vanish, we’d freak out and he’d come back ok after a bit. This time he said ‘FUCK’ and ‘GUNFIRE’ and then disconnected and never returned.”
Soon after that conversation, media services around the world began to report that protests outside the American embassies in both Libya and Egypt had begun to turn violent. It wasn’t long before news of American deaths was being reported, and Gianturco recognized that his friend was dead and the EVE Online community was in morning.
While that’s easier to recognize his influence if you happen to be an EVE player, the end point is that Sean Smith had a huge impact on both the people he played EVE alongside, as well as the game as a whole, both personally and within the digital world he enjoyed. While the name of the fallen ambassador may soon be a household name, the name of Sean Smith will not be forgotten. Since the attack, a number of in-game space stations have since been renamed in Smith’s honor. While that might be a seemingly minor remembrance to the man, it is exceedingly heartfelt.
We recommend you read the blog post in its entirety. It’s equal parts mournful reminiscing and raging at the state at the world for ending the life of such a well-liked member of an online community. But in sum the piece is a touching memorial to a man from those who called him “friend.”
Lofty targets for Samsung's flagship mobile devices
Samsung Mobile boss JK Shin wants the company's flagship Galaxy S3 smartphone to reach 30 million sales in 2012 as it prepares to go head-to-head with the iPhone 5.
In a bullish claim told Korean news agency Yonshap that it can add another ten million devices in the final quarter of the year, despite solid competition from a new Apple device for the first time.
In the first four months of its existence, the S3 has only had to content with a dated iPhone 4S device. Many buyers have chosen the Samsung device rather than wait for the iPhone 5.
Doubling down on the Note 2
Shin also says he expects the new Galaxy Note 2, which goes on sale in mid-October, to rack up 20 million sales worldwide, over the course of its existence.
That would double the figure achieved by the original Galaxy Note 'phablet' which surpassed the expectations of most observers.
Samsung has set itself some big targets, but the company has specialised in surpassing expectations in the last couple of years.
The iPhone 5 has finally been announced. Pre-orders start September 14 and the phone hits the streets on September 21. We've got a guide to getting yours.
The September 12 announcement of the iPhone 5 was anything but shocking to the tech world, but that doesn’t mean we won’t all dash out to get one. That’s the crazy thing about Apple products: the information can leak days in advance, but the official announcement can put consumers in a trance until they wake up in line on launch day. There’s no stopping the horde of fruit phone frenzied zombies, so you may as well prepare yourself to join in.
Before you decide to jump head-first into the pool of iPhone 5 early adopters, make sure that you take a look at everything that’s out there. The market is full of worthy competitors, from the Galaxy S3 to the new Razrs, and even Apple’s own iPhone 4S. Who are we kidding, though? You want the iPhone 5. I mean, just look at the thing. If you’ve made up your mind and are already packing your tent to camp out at the Apple Store, make sure to arm yourself with this information.
Basics
The iPhone 5 will become available for pre-order online through the Apple Store on Friday, Sept. 14. The phone will officially be available on the following Friday, Sept. 21. Apple stores open at 8:00 a.m., so make sure you’ve got a fresh cup of coffee for the morning. The lowest price rung for the iPhone will be the 16GB model for $200, followed by the 32GB for $300, and the 64GB for $400.
Pre-Order Details
Sprint customers should sprint to Sprint’s iPhone page to do their own pre-order. While the site will remain filled with old model information until the 14th, the service provider will start their own pre-order offer at 12:01 a.m. AT&T users can also get themselves geared up to keep hitting the refresh button come Friday, because they have a pre-order option available as well. The information is likely to live right after midnight on AT&T’s iPhone page. No word has come from Verizon about a Friday frenzy, but it’d be a safe bet for customers to bookmark the iPhone landing page there.
What to Expect when Pre-Ordering
If you decide to be one of the brave few (million) that decide to stay up to snag an early purchase of the iPhone 5, there are a few things you should prepare for. First of all, slow loading. These sites are built to manage a fair amount of traffic, but any event like this is sure to cause the servers to take a beating. If you have to refresh a few times, don’t be too shocked. Once you do get through, you should make sure that you’ve received email confirmation of your order. This will come in handy when you decide to pick up your phone from the local carrier of choice.
What to Expect In-Store
Buying an Apple product on the day of launch historically calls for a camping session the night before. There might not be s’mores in store, but there are no bears either, and you’ll be getting the ultimate Swiss Army Knife when you wake up in the morning. Needless to say, though, you should arrive as early as you possibly can to secure your spot in line. If you’re not committed to the cause and you didn’t pre-order, don’t bother. Wait for the madness to die down after the first few weeks so you can easily slip in and out of the store without running the risk of being squished or body-surfed to the back of the line. But if you want an iPhone on launch day and don’t want to pre-order, be prepared to get in line and wait there… for many hours.
Not all iOS 6 features will be available in every country, so Apple has posted a list to help users find what features they can use at home.
As expected, major features like maps, directions, music, movies, and the app store are widely available in as many as 150 different countries.
However, more specific features like traffic data and business reviews on maps, only appear in North and South America, select European countries, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Meanwhile a feature like 3D buildings on maps is only available in the U.S.
Siri doesn't like to travel
Voice dictation is also limited to only 15 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Siri is under similar restrictions, with Twitter and Facebook integration only available in those same countries minus China.
Siri local search and restaurant search further remove Asia from the list of available regions, while Siri's ability to look up movie showtimes is only accessible from the U.S., Canada, and U.K.
On the other hand, notable new features for iOS 6, like the Passbook app and Facetime over 3G, appear to be widely available to all given their absence from the country-specific list.
While iOS 6 is designed for the newly announced iPhone 5, it will also be compatible with the iPhone 3GS and above, both the new iPad and iPad 2, as well as the fourth generation iPod touch when it launches on Sept. 19.
The iPhone 5 is here - so here's what you need to know
Now the iPhone 5 has been announced, here's everything you need to know about Apple's brand new handset - the successor to the popular iPhone 4S.
This thing has been long rumoured of course, and we've known for a while that we'd have a lot to talk about around this time in 2012 - Apple seems to have cemented September as its time to refresh the iPhone.
1. It's called the iPhone 5
The first thing is the name - it's called iPhone 5 rather than the "new iPhone" following on from the "new iPad" which was the official Apple name for the iPad 3. Today Apple announced it had shifted 400 million iOS devices in total including a whopping 84 million iPads.
2. iPhone 5 screen
The iPhone 5 has a bigger screen than earlier versions and looks pretty much like the leaked versions we saw - the rumour mill was exactly right. There's a fifth row of icons on the home screen, while the display is the expected four inch version, but the iPhone 5 screen is not wider than the iPhone 4S, it's just thinner.
Again it has a 326ppi Retina display but now with a resolution of 1,136 by 640 pixels and a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. Apps will have to be resized for the new device - old apps will appear letterboxed. Apple has managed to make the screen thinner as touch is now integrated into the screen layer itself.
3. iPhone 5 size, weight and colour
In terms of size, iPhone 5 is 7.6mm thick and weighs 112g. It's 20 per cent lighter and 18 per cent thinner and is made of aluminum and glass. As you'll see, it has very similar aesthetics to the iPhone 4 and 4S, albeit in a redesigned shell; the volume and mute buttons are the same, for example.
iPhone 5 has a two-tone back and comes in either "white and silver" or "black and slate". In its usual understated style, Apple says "iPhone 5 combines an anodised aluminium body with diamond cut chamfered edges and glass inlays for a truly incredible fit and finish".
4. iPhone 5 processor
The processor is a new Apple A6 as expected. It has twice the CPU speed and twice the graphics power - the chop is smaller and is more battery-friendly and is based on the new-ish dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU design. It's manufactured on a 32nm process, hence the smaller physical size. Performance is also frugal - Apple says it's better on battery life than the iPhone 4S.
5. iPhone 5 cameras
The camera is smaller, but still has an 8 megapixel sensor size. It's almost exactly the same as that in the iPhone 4S in terms of spec. Apple obviously wanted to make a big thing about the stuff it did to the camera to fit it inside the new chassis, but it isn't a massive step forward although the A6 includes a better image processor.
For the record it's a 3,264 x 2,448 BSi sensor with f2.4 aperture. Apple is also bigging up its low-light performance.
It can also shoot panoramas to produce a 28MP image. It can also take pictures while shooting a video, like many other high end handsets.
The front camera is now 720p rather than VGA for FaceTime calling. There are three microphones including a new beam-forming, directional microphone for higher quality sound.
iPhone 5 now includes support for cellular wideband audio for increased clarity and more natural sounding speech. Apple says that wideband audio will be supported by over 20 carriers worldwide at launch.
There are also new headphones, too! iPhone 5 and the new iPods now have EarPods (what a name!) with a more natural fit and better durability. Apple says there will be far better sound quality with these, too. And yes, the headphone jack is now on the bottom (we don't like this, but you might).
6. iPhone 5 is 4G
As expected, we've now got a 4G LTE iPhone, primarily for the US. However, it will work on EE's new 4G UK network. The 802.11n Wi-Fi also works on 5GHz now as well as 2.4GHz.
From EE: "Our Orange and T-Mobile customers will also be able to get hold of the iPhone 5 with the biggest and best network and the fastest possible 3G network speeds. Pricing and availability to be announced in due course." So no explicit 4G talk at the moment.
O2 and Three are the other networks to announce availability so far, but nothing from Vodafone as yet. Check out iPhone 5: when will you get it?
7. The iPhone 5 dock connector is Lightning
The new 8-signal dock connector is called Lightning, though Apple says that between iCloud, AirPlay and wireless sync, you won't really need it. You can plug it in either way, while it's 80 per cent smaller than the old dock connector. An adaptor will be available for the old 30 pin type. Will it be included with the phone? We doubt it.
8. The iPhone 5 has iOS 6
The new iPhone features iOS 6 - the next generation version of Apple's mobile operating system. It includes Passbook, Apple's new e-tickets app, plus FaceTime over 3G (depending on the network) and Apple's own mobile apps (including turn-by-turn navigation).
There's also native Facebook integration. The YouTube icon seems to be missing, while the Maps icon remains the same despite the change in mapping. There's also iCloud's Shared Photo Streams so you can now share pics with other friends and family.
iOS 6 will be available on 19 September for other iOS devices.
9: iPhone 5 memory and other specs
Once again - and surprisingly - the same memory sizes are available, so that's 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. You also get Bluetooth 4.0
10: iPhone 5 release date and pricing
The iPhone 5 release date is 21 September. iPhone 5 will be available in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the US on that date, with other territories to follow. New iPhone re-orders start 14 September. In the UK, the handset will be available from the Apple Online Store, Apple's retail stores, and through Everything Everywhere, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and select Apple Authorised Resellers.
In terms of iPhone 5 price, we have a starting figure of $199 in the US with a contract, but nothing contract-wise for the UK as yet. We do have a £529 outright price though.
iPhone 5 will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries on 28 September, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
By the way, the iPhone 4 and 4S will remain available, though the 3GS is now dead as a new product.
Apple has confirmed to TechRadar that its new iPhone 5 will come with a smaller SIM card yet again.
The new SIM card will be up to 40 percent smaller than previous designs, (12.3 millimeters x 8.8 millimeters) and allows for phones to be even thinner than before.
However, it's likely that Apple chose to omit this vital piece of information as while it does facilitate smaller devices, it's yet another component to upgrade after the new Lightning dock.
Let's go smaller again
Consumers will need to order a new SIM card to upgrade to the new iPhone 5, coming only two years after the first SIM change to the current microSIM standard.
Vodafone has said it has 500,000 nano-SIM cards in stock and ready to be dished out to customers now that the iPhone 5 has launched, so at least the networks are ready.
But it's not good news for those looking to pick up an iPhone 5 on launch day, as it means yet another hoop to jump through in order to get your shiny new smartphone.
How does Apple's new iPhone hold up against Motorola's edge-to-edge RAZR Maxx HD? Check the specs here to find out.
While Apple is getting the spotlight today for its new iPhone 5, the spiffy new handset will soon have to stand up against the competition. And one of the potential heavy-hitters out there is the (Google-owned) Motorola RAZR Maxx HD. Sporting an edge-to-edge, 4.7-inch display, and massive battery life, the RAZR Maxx HD is looking to be one of the silent heros in the Android camp. So, how does the shiny new iPhone 5 stack up against one of Motorola’s flagship handsets? Take a look at the spec breakdown below to find out.
Along with unveiling newhardware today, Apple has announced many changes to iOS and iTunes. The latest version of iOS makes better use of iPhone 5 and iPod touch's new 4-inch 1136x640 display, with many core apps having already been updated. For instance, Safari now has a full screen option, Calendar now shows more events and the home screen has a fifth row of icons.
In addition to real estate-oriented changes, the Maps app now includes a built-in search engine for point of interest, turn-by-turn directions that work whether the device is in landscape or portrait, and a 3D mode takes you on a flyover of 3D models rendered from actual pictures. Photo Stream has simplified the process of sharing pictures, Siri has more movie-related data, Mail has a VIP folder for storing flagged messages, and the Phone app can now automatically send an SMS when you can't answer a call.
Apple's desktop iTunes application has been revamped with mobile-like changes, including an edge-to-edge interface that seamlessly links the store, books, music and videos into one uniform appearance. Every entry in iTunes now has a Facebook Like button, and iCloud is now completely integrated. Clicking on an album expands it in place, much like the way folders work with iOS, and you can preview songs while browsing the store.
Apple has also tweaked the window that displays what's currently playing by adding a drop-down box containing information of upcoming tracks and the new iTunes also features a mini player that provides basic controls in a compact, minimalist interface. The iTunes update will be available in October and iOS 6 will be available as a free download for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad 3 and the fourth-gen iPod touch on September 19.
LG is extremely confident in the Optimus G's camera
LG has made some big boasts by way of a new video for the Optimus G, claiming the powerful smartphone is packing the "world's best camera."
The LG Optimus G will feature a 13-megapixel "ultra slim camera" in some regions, while others will only get an 8-megapixel snapper.
The video doesn't specify which regions will get the better camera, though LG will likely reveal that info soon, as the LG Optimus G is reportedly launching in September in Korea and worldwide by the end of the year.
Either way, the LG Optimus G's camera will sport some impressive tech.
Optimus G camera specs
According to the video, the LG Optimus G's camera includes "High Accuracy PKG technology from LG Innotek," which according to LG's website grants it small size and better accuracy, among other advantages.
LG Innotek's director of optical solution business Hyeong-cheol Moon calls the Optimus G's camera "the world's best ultra compact and ultra slim camera" and claims that the 13-megapixel shutter is the highest-pixel camera on any smartphone.
Apparently no one told him about the Nokia 808 Pureview, with its 41-megapixel camera, or the just-announced Nokia Lumia 920 with its similar Pureview tech (though, granted, a mere 8 megapixels).
Moon also cites the image sensor's small pixel size, the thin, large-diameter lens, and the display's True HD IPS+ tech, which he says minimizes noise and enhances color-matching between the lens and the display.
The LG Optimus G is a beast
That said, 12 megapixels really is as high as a smartphone needs to get, and the rest of the Optimus G's specs sheet is even more impressive.
The newest Coca-Cola vending machines are even more hi-tech than you thought, with a 46-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, HD camera, and NFC to boot.
Vending machines haven’t received a technological revamp in quite a while. We’ve seen interesting mods that require you either tackle, hug, or tweet to get a drink dispensed, but none of those integrations were revised from the root of the hardware. Intel is changing this up by introducing a next-generation of vending machines that will come with Intel Core i7 processors — making those tall machines typically found in gyms, school cafeterias, and airports run on the same chips that are supporting your average PC laptop.
Intel unveiled these next-gen vending machines yesterday at Intel Developer Forum 2012 in San Francisco, which completely changes the way these machines formerly looked. No more bulky buttons that display the drink options — everything will now be within a 46-inch touchscreen via a gallery style interface.
The new Coca-Cola machines also have a 1080p camera to snap pictures of the buyer so it can collect information about who is purchasing products from these vending machines and what they are buying. On the buyer’s side of interactivity, the built-in camera becomes a photo booth that allows customers to take pictures with their newly purchased product and send them off to friends. Can’t update anything these days without a social integration.
In addition to these specs, the next-gen vending machines also sport Wi-Fi connectivity, QR code reader, microphone, NFC, and a money slot. The option for NFC is great for those who are embracing mobile payment applications, and the QR Code reader is useful for the coupon clippers coming to claim their free or discounted drinks.
The integration of large screen display is not only great for video interactiveness but also turns the average vending machine into an advertising space. We’re not sure if Coca-Cola plans to do anything with the information collected from the machine (other than the demographics market research) but you can be on a lookout for these next-gen Coke machines in the near future. The machines have reportedly started popping up in eight countries across South America so they should make their way up north shortly.
DayZ's journey from plucky mod to full PC game has been quick. Now it looks like Dean Hall's zombie sim will make it to consoles.
People like DayZ. A lot. They like it a whole lot more than most mods for strict military simulators like ArmA II. How much do they like DayZ? By the beginning of August, Dean Hall’s mod had lured more than 1 million players into its zombie-filled landscape. ArmA II sales jumped 500 percent because so many people wanted to play the game. Bohemia Interactive is now developing it as a standalone PC game.
There are a lot of people that only play games on consoles though. Will Bohemia bring DayZ to the living room? Producer Jan Kunt thinks the game is ready made for Xbox Live Arcade.
“We’ve always wanted to make games for consoles as well,” Kunt told Videogamer.com, “Obviously we’re a PC developer and have been for some years, but consoles have a huge market and you don’t have so many problems with piracy.”
“Obviously DayZ, you’ve seen the success of Minecraft on Xbox Live Arcade, and we’re probably be stupid not to try to do something similar.”
XBLA needs another zombie game like Call of Duty’s multiplayer modes need more racist, misogynistic bullies playing them, but a downloadable version of DayZ would be most welcome on the platform. The example of Minecraft is important though. Would an XBLA DayZ replicate the full experience or be truncated? Bohemia and Hall need to finish the game before answering that question.
After an afternoon of big reveals, including the iPhone 5, new iPod Nano and Touch models, as well as the next version of iTunes, you would have thought Apple to be content.
Fortunately, Apple is hardly one to rest on their laurels, and instead of merely waiting until next week's iOS 6 launch, has released a new update to iTunes today.
The iTunes 10.7 update will shore up compatibility with the new iPods, as well as prepping the service to work with iOS 6.
Coming in at a meager 165MB, the update doesn't add much else in the way of important upgrades.
Final version of iOS 6 released for devs
Additionally, Apple has released the final retail version of iOS 6 for developers.
Though many devs have had their hands on the beta version of iOS 6 for a while now, the iOS 6 GM (or Golden Master) is indicative of the final build the rest of the iPhone-adoring public will see on Sept. 19.
Xcode 4.5 GM has also been released ahead of the final build, which should make it much easier for developers to create apps for iOS 6.
iOS 6 will work across a litany of Apple's devices, including the iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and 4th gen iPod Touch, as well as all of today's officially announced products.
Check out how the specs of Apple's hot new iPhone 5 compare to its toughest Android rival, Samsung's Galaxy S3.
The iPhone 5 is finally here. And if you’ve been paying attention to the rumors over the past few months, then you pretty much already know all the phone has to offer. The rumors were spot on. The question now is: How does the iPhone 5 stack up against its biggest rival, Samsung’s Galaxy S3? Check out our spec showdown below for the complete breakdown.
Disney released a new trailer for the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph this morning, and it's even more cameo-packed than the first.
We’re beginning to suspect that the Disney PR team circulated an internal memo before issuing this latest Wreck-It Ralph trailer that reads, in full, “We need more esoteric gaming references!” Otherwise how do you explain this clip’s increased focus on the surprisingly massive number of iconic gaming characters featured in the film? Disney knows what it’s doing here, and what it’s doing is appealing directly to the nostalgic soft spots that lie in the hearts of all twenty- and thirtysomething gamers. Needless to say, we fully support this scheme.
If you recall Wreck-It Ralph’s debut trailer, you’ll no doubt remember that it included appearances from Q*bert, M. Bison, Bowser and one of Pac-Man’s spectral foes. All of those characters reappear here — Q*bert has a much larger role in this clip — but joining them are big-name characters like Sonic the Hedgehog, Frogger, Kano from Mortal Kombat and Dig Dug (and lesser characters like the purple anthropomorphic rhino from Altered Beast). Most crucially though, Zangief reappears and since we found him so delightful in the first trailer, we’re giddy to see that he’s given even more lines in this one.
Unfortunately, as we reported in July, there is one huge hole in the list of iconic gaming characters Wreck-It Ralph might include: Namely, the Mario Bros. According to director Rich Moore, though Disney approached Nintendo about including Mario and/or Luigi in Wreck-It Ralph, the Japanese gaming giant wanted too much money (which makes us wonder exactly how much money is too much money for a cameo in this movie). It can’t have been cheap to include the huge roster of classic gaming characters seen in the film’s trailers so far, and while we have no doubt that Nintendo’s plumbers would command the highest possible rates for a cameo appearance, could they really be that much more expensive than the other, confirmed characters?
As for the movie itself, we like what we’re seeing here. Though Wreck-It Ralph is apparently not a Pixar production (assuming the title cards are being honest with us, this project appears to be a pure Disney film), the humor present seems to walk that fine line between “entertaining for kids” and “legitimately funny to adults.” That may be the result of the trailer’s creator cherry-picking the best bits from the movie, but at this point we’re willing to stand in line to see this film purely for the warm, fuzzy waves of nostalgia generated by watching all of our favorite gaming figures interacting with one another in something other than creepy fan fiction.
Presumably we’re not alone in that sentiment, and this may be the first movie to date to be crowned a box office success due entirely to a short appearance by a half-naked, surprisingly genial Russian bear wrestler.
The iPhone 5 is here. But is it worth the money to upgrade from the iPhone 4S? Check out the specs and decide for yourself.
A new year, a new iPhone. Apple announced today the latest version of it’s best-selling handset, the iPhone 5. As expected, the device features a number of updates, most notably a larger, 4-inch display, a better camera, and an updated processor. So, is it worth throwing down a few hard-earned Benjamins to upgrade from the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 5? Check out our spec comparison chart below to find out.
Apple showed off a new design for its iPod Nano and iPod Touch at the September 12 event in San Francisco.
After revealing the long-awaited iPhone 5 (confirming all the rumors) and its new version of iTunes, Apple brought a new line of iPods into the limelight. Presented to a packed room by Greg Joswiak, the crowd was treated to a newly designed iPod nano and iPod touch.
The 7th-generation iPod Nano is 50 percent thinner than its predecessor. It has a multi-touch, 2.5-inch display capable of widescreen video and will come in seven colors: silver, black, purple, green, blue, yellow, and pink. There’s a built-in FM tuner with a live pause feature. Fitness seems to be a big part of the Nano with a built-in pedometer and native support for Nike+. The new Lightning connector has been extended to the iPod line up as well, guaranteeing a few more sales of the new adaptor. Bluetooth support is included, handy for wireless headphones or speakers. And even with all that, Apple still promises 30 hours of music playback on battery.
The new iPod Touch has slimmed down as well. It’s thinner than ever, measuring just 6.1mm and weighing in at 88 grams. It’s loaded with the same widescreen, updated 4-inch Retina display of the iPhone 5. The older A5 processor is packed in, offering performance up to seven times better than past generations. As for battery, we’re looking at 8 hours of video or 40 hours of music. The camera’s been upgraded to a 5-megapixel iSight, able to shoot 1080p video and take advantage of the new Panorama feature. AirPlay mirroring was shown off as well, definitely a welcome addition.
The new Touch also underwent a few aesthetic changes. It can now be purchased in five different colors: silver, black, blue, yellow, and pink. There’s also a hidden button on the rear of the phone that allows for a matching wrist loop to be attached. It looks a lot like the wrist straps on a Wii remote, only plastic instead of nylon.
Both the new Nano and Touch have an additional Project RED version with a portion of the profits going to fight AIDS in Africa. The 16GB iPod nano is $150 and the new Touch will be $300 for 32GB and $400 for 64GB. Availability is set for sometime in October.
Apple also debuted a set of redesigned headphones, calling them “EarPods.” We covered them previously and the new design is exactly what was shown in these leaked photos. The EarPods have been reshaped to funnel music into the ear, rather than splash it all over like the current headphones on offer by Apple. They’re available as a standalone accessory starting today, but will thankfully be bundled with the new iPod Touch, iPod Nano, and iPhone 5.
Like its publishing partner for multiplayer shooter Fuse, Insomniac Games is done with single-player-only games.
Earlier this month, EA Labels president Frank Gibeau proudly touted that he was finished greenlighting development on games that are only for solo players. The Insomniac-developed, EA-published Fuse, formerly OverStrike, certainly fits the bill. Like so many shooters these days, Fuse is playable solo but it’s built with four players in mind. Resistance 2 and Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One are Insomniac’s experiments in co-operative play that gave birth to Fuse, but the studio has a rich heritage in single-player games. Is it giving up the single player ghost?
Just like Electronic Arts, Insomniac is done developing single-player-only games.
Speaking with Gamespot, Insomniac CEO Ted Price said that the nature of the modern game industry means that the era of games like the original Ratchet & Clank is over. “I can’t imagine that any game we’d do from here on out will be single-player-only,” said Price, “The [industry] has changed. As gamers, we have always been social, but thanks to the way technology has evolved, it’s much easier for us to play together. And it’s much easier for developers to create experiences where you can play together. So we want to encourage that with all of our games because ultimately, in my opinion, it’s often more fun to play with a friend.”
To reiterate, solo campaigns aren’t disappearing from EA or Insomniac’s games. After Gibeau’s words circled the web last week, the executive was quick to say that EA would still make single-player content. “You can have a very deep single-player game but it has to have an ongoing content plan for keeping customers engaged beyond what’s on the initial disc,” Gibeau told Kotaku, “I’m not saying deathmatch must come to Mirror’s Edge.”
Price mirrored the sentiment. “We understand that a large portion of players are interested in that single-player experience. A lot of us gamers are interested in both. I love single-player games but I also love multiplayer games, and I think Fuse offers you the opportunity to do both without having to skimp on either side.”
Skimping on either side is definitely the concern when it comes to incorporating online and social elements into every game. EA’s SSX for example would have benefitted from a greater focus on how the game played by a single person rather than incorporating intrusive annoying social features and micro-transaction-based gear acquisitions. Insomniac games have often benefitted from that sort of focus. Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time is a crafted single-player-only game and it happens to be the finest thing the studio has ever made.
Though Apple's iPhone 5 and iOS 6 will be getting most of the attention from today's press conference, they weren't the only stars of the show.
Apple also introduced a major revamp to their iTunes service, set to arrive in late October for Mac and PC clients.
The latest updates to what Apple called "the world's most popular media player" will incorporate plenty of cosmetic and interface changes, as well as a few new tricks to make the existing package even more impressive.
iCloud improvements
With more than 200 million people using iTunes on the Cloud, it should come as no surprise that Apple will be including better iCloud integration when the update arrives.
No matter where you bought your music, movies, or books on iTunes, iCloud will seamlessly incorporate that purchase into all of your libraries.
More importantly, you will now be able to continue watching or listening to movies and music exactly where you left off, and you'll be able to resume playing your media on any device with iTunes.
Cosmetic changes
Once the October update arrives, iTunes will be ditching the sidebars in favor of a full-window interface.
The new grid-style view for your library will allow you to see everything you have in a specific category, be it movies, music, TV shows, or books.
Clicking on an album will let expand the screen to show you a track listing, all the while keeping the rest of your library in plain sight for continued exploration.
There's also an all new MiniPlayer, which will give users the ability to listen to and search for new songs without having to open their entire library.
Additionally, iTunes will add Up Next, which will offer improved insight into what songs are coming up in the playlist, and will allow you to change your queue without much fuss.
iTunes on iOS
The Mac and PC versions of iTunes aren't the only ones getting a bit of polish.
Coming along with the Sept. 19 iOS 6 release is a new version of iTunes for all iOS devices.
Since 60% of all iTunes downloads come from mobile devices, it certainly makes sense for Apple to continue their redesign across all their brands.
iTunes will incorporate a carousel view, and the new library view will be utilized across music, movie, and book stores.
You'll also be able to continue browsing the store while previewing a new song, and will allow you to share your media selections on Facebook and Twitter.
With a new wave of iPods also on the way, this iTunes update couldn't be coming at a better time.
While the iPhone 5 was the big announcement, Apple's ever-present music store got a sizable redesign as well. Both iOS and application versions of iTunes have new looks coming soon.
While the big news to come from the Apple press conference was the highly anticipated iPhone 5, Apple also snuck in an update to its iTunes music store. After hyping up just how great the product already is, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddie Cue, told the crowd at the Cupertino headquarters that the “number one music store in the world” was going to get better — or at least different.
After realizing that two thirds of all iTunes purchases have come from iOS devices, Apple started with a redesign of the mobile app, according to executives. The new look is more streamlined and consistent throughout the store, from music to books and videos. The screenshots show a banner of featured content at the top of the store, followed by rows of new and popular items below it. The store is promising to yield better search results and improved performance. You’ll also be able to preview products while browsing, a handy feature for anyone that actually likes to try — or listen — before buying. The App Store also got a new layout that prominently features Facebook integration. You will be able to “like” and share your favorite apps through the Store. The iTunes iOS app will be available September 19 along with iOS 6.
While the iTunes app got a nice revamping, the desktop application also got its share of changes. The new iTunes comes with an edge-to-edge design will make the browsing and viewing experience more immersive, as options from your library and the store sprawl across the length of the screen. Clicking on an album cover will cause the album to expand in line, revealing the tracks of the selection. It’s very much a design cue from iOS. A new feature called “In the Store” will show top songs and albums from an artist, allowing you to finish off your discography of your favorite musicians.
Browsing the new iTunes library by artist will allow for some artist-to-listener sharing. For instance, when you look at Coldplay’s library, you can also see pictures that the band is sharing with their followers. It feels like a feature borrowed from the ill-conceived Ping music network.
If you’re playing music from a playlist or a full album, the music player will have a drop-down menu called “Up Next” that will show songs that are next in the queue. The pop-out mini player also got a redesign. It’s smaller, sleeker, and has the same handy drop-down feature. The mini player displays a small clip of the album art with the name of the song and artist currently playing. The same area becomes the control panel for when you want to change songs. You can also pull up the search bar, which now provides a live preview of your search term, including album covers.
Movies received an overhaul similar to the music department within iTunes, with the edge-to-edge view of all your video collections. Because iTunes has full iCloud integration, films you were watching on your iOS device can now be continued on your desktop or other computers running iTunes with the iCloud. The iTunes 11 download will be available late October.
Apple has announced the new iPhone 5, offering a larger screen, 4G connectivity and slightly tweaked design.
The new iPhone - the world's thinnest smartphone at 7.6mm - is made entirely of glass and aluminium, something Apple says is 'unlike anything we, or anyone in the industry, has made before.'
Thinner again
It's weighing in at just 112g, which is 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S, and has a 4-inch screen, which offers a 1136 x 640 resolution (326ppi) and has 44% colour saturation for more 'rich' colours... perhaps an effort to rival the deeper hues of the Samsung Galaxy S3's Super AMOLED HD screen.
This display gives you access to more apps on the screen, with five rows of icons and the standard four icons at the bottom - first party apps have been updated to make use of the extra screen real estate, and old apps will run with black bars to make sure they can run on the larger screen too.
4G and faster
As expected, it's now got a 4G chip inside, meaning superfast mobile broadband speeds from a single radio chip. It will run 4G speeds on Everything Everywhere in the UK (and possibly more) and in the US, there's access to Sprint, AT&T and Verizon's dizzying mobile speeds.
The chipset inside is the new Apple A6 chip, which is 22% smaller than the predecessor, and more energy efficient, and offers up faster loading speeds and graphics that look visually impressive - think close to console quality.
Battery snapper power
Apple is claiming 'incredible' battery life on the iPhone 5 that exceeds that of the iPhone 4S, with 8 hours talk time, 8 hours of 3G or 4G browsing, 40 hours of music and a whopping 225 hours on standby... although we'd be gobsmacked if anyone ever achieved those numbers.
The camera sticks at an 8MP sensor, and offers up backside illumination, a hybrid IR filder, f/2.4 aperture and a 25% smaller sensor. Essentially the same as the 4S in spec, but with dynamic low light mode, precision lens alignment and sapphire crystal, that offers better dark snaps and strong scratch resistance.
Apple spent a long time touting the processing power of the iPhone 5 camera, thanks to the new A6 chip. This means 40% faster image capture, and a smart filter than helps make colours look a little bit more pure - and panorama mode is now added in, and a 'simple to use' method that results in a 28MP image.
The FaceTime camera is predictably on board, but has been boosted to HD quality, and the same backside illumination as the rear sensor offers. Three microphones are present in the updated audio system, on the bottom, back and front of the iPhone 5.
Wideband Audio, which seems to be a lot like Orange's HD Voice function, allows wider voice spectrums, with 20 carriers (Orange included) supported at launch for clearer voice chattery.
Thunderbolt and Lightning
Apple has made the move we all expected and included an 80% smaller dock connector, dubbed Lightning to partner the Thunderbolt port used on Macs.
There will be accessories to help you use those old docks and power leads - but let's be honest, Apple wants to create a whole new ecosystem of leads. It's an 8-signal connector, and will be digital for faster transfer speeds.
iOS 6 updates
Apple showed off the improvements we saw from iOS 6, which included superbly slick satellite imagery using Apple's new Maps app, PassBook for all your loyalty cards and tickets (with geo-locational tools so things automatically pop up on the lock screen) and the ability to share desktop tabs with Safari through iCloud tabs.
We saw the same again from Siri, with the ability to launch apps by voice, info on movies and scores from your favourite sports - and you'll be able to get your hands on iOS 6 from 19 September.
In no change to tradition, the iPhone 5 will come in both Black and White, with the former seeing an anodised finish and the latter offering a lovely aluminium back.
It's a departure from the previous singular design and hue, and will at least show those on the commute that they've got Apple's latest device.
Where's the NFC?
However, it's not all happy days: the iPhone 5 does not have Near Field Communication compatibility, which means you won't be using the iPhone to pay for your goods or travel on public transport.
This is a big blow for the networks and financial providers looking to convince users that using a handset as your main method of payment is a good idea... Apple seemingly thinks that NFC is not secure enough or not widespread to the correct level to chuck it in the new iPhone.
iPhone 5 price and release date
The iPhone 5 will cost the same as the iPhone 4S, and will ship on 21 September in multiple countries around the world, including the UK, US and Australia, coming on 240 carriers.
You can pre-order the new iPhone 5 from 14 September, and it will come in the same storage flavours: 16GB ($199 / £499), 32GB ($299 / £599), and 64GB ($399 / £699).
With the iPhone 5, Apple shows off a capable, improved - yet 25 percent smaller - camera.
Without a doubt, one of the iPhone 4S’s most lauded features has been its double duty as point-and-shoot camera. It quickly rose to the top of Flickr’s most popular cameras and has become a major threat to digital pocket cam manufacturers. So it’s only fitting that Apple carry on the tradition with the iPhone 5.
How does the latest iteration improve on its predecessor? Allow us to quickly break it down for you, starting with what’s exactly the same.
Been there, done that
The iPhone 5 has an 8 megapixel sensor – same as the iPhone 4S
The new camera will capture images at a 3264 x 2448 resolution – same as the iPhone 4S
Backside illuminated sensor – same as the iPhone 4S
Five-element lens with F2.4 aperture – same as the iPhone 4S
Like the 4S, the 5 will shoot video using the rear-facing camera at 1080p…
New territory
…But the front-facing camera will also now be able to shoot video (for Facetime purposes) at 720p.
There’s a new dynamic low light mode.
Better processing power thanks to the A6 chip, which should translate to improved noise reduction, image stabilization, face detection, faster shooting (40 percent faster), and, as mentioned above, better low light shooting capabilities. You can also now take pictures while shooting video.
The sapphire crystal lens: Apple says the material is renowned for being “hard and crystal clear.” It’s an attention-getting phrase, for sure, but for the record this really just means better protection for the lens. It’s a really resistant material, so you shouldn’t have to worry about damaging your iPhone 5’s camera very easily.
There’s a built-in panoramic stitch capability — which can shoot images up to 28 megapixels in size) — with an auto-stabilizer for those with shaky hands.
As expected, shareable Photo Streams are also now available (this is an iCloud and iOS 6 feature).
Obviously, the iPhone 5 is smaller and thinner than the last iteration, which is generally bad news for shooting capabilities. The iPhone 5’s camera is smaller, 25 percent smaller in fact, and there’s plenty here that’s similar to what we currently have in the 4S… but Apple’s still doing what it can to remain on top of the smartphone-as-pocket-cam game.
