When Apple unveiled the iPhone 5S yesterday, the standout feature was undoubtedly its Touch ID fingerprint sensor that unlocked the smartphone through biometrics.
That immediately led to privacy-concerned individuals to start pointing fingers in the company's direction, and not in order to test out the smartphone's innovative fingerprint scanner.
Apple, anticipating conspiracy theories, reiterated today that the iPhone 5S won't actually store users' fingerprint images on the device, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Instead, Touch ID keeps fingerprint data encrypted within its A7 processor. It's locked away on the device itself, not on Apple's servers or iCloud.
Touch ID data encryption
Fingerprint data, according to yesterday's presentation, includes a fingerprint's arch, loop or whorl classification and individual ridge details smaller that the human eye can see.
The Touch ID system goes as far as capturing minor variations in ridge direction caused by pores and edge structures.
Because there isn't a stored fingerprint image on the device, it's unlikely someone could reverse engineer your fingerprint even if they cracked the the A7 system-on-a-chip, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The other fear is that the iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor won't work consistently or at all for people with impairments.
Apple admitted to the paper that testers with sweat and moisture-laden digits were incompatible with the Touch ID system in some cases.
Likewise, the fingerprint sensor may be unable to pick up on fingers scarred by accidents or surgery.
The solution here is to use the still-available four-digit passcode - the other kind of digits. It's not going anywhere, according to Apple.
In fact, setting up a backup passcode is required when enabling Touch ID and only this code works after a reboot or 48 hours of inactivity, preventing hackers from buying time to find a way to circumvent the fingerprint scanner.
Even if Apple hasn't put to rest these two chief fingerprint sensor concerns for you, it's always possible to opt for the plastic iPhone 5C. It has just as much Touch ID technology as aluminum. Meaning none at all.
When announcing its new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C handsets on Tuesday, Apple confirmed that both would be compatible with EE and Vodafone's 4G networks, but strangely there was zero mention O2.
Some of those details have emerged on Wednesday and, unfortunately for the network and its customers, the new iPhones won't work on O2's new 4G network for 'weeks' after the September 20 release date.
Reading between the lines, it appears as if O2 may be awaiting approval from Apple before it can roll out 4G settings to its customers and activate the next-gen mobile speeds.
'Within the coming weeks'
In the fine print of its website, spotted by Pocket-Lint, O2 wrote: "iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are both 4G-ready devices that will be enabled to run on our 4G network within the coming weeks – this will happen when new settings are ready to be sent by Apple and we will inform customers when they are available."
In lieu of the lack of 4G data, O2 has pledged to knock £5 off the first month's bill for customers who buy the iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C within the initial release window.
In slightly better news, the network has confirmed that the iPhone 5S will be available on its O2 Refresh tariffs, which enable users to pay slightly more upfront to get a new phone mid-contract. The Refresh deals will start at £119 for the 16GB handset.
Pictures claiming to show a leaked build of the as-yet-unreleased Windows Phone 8.1 update have appeared online, bringing word of potential new features.
The shots, posted by WindowsPhone.pl show a Notifications Live Tile on the homescreen of a Windows Phone handset, suggesting an Apple-style Notifications Centre is in the works.
The leaked shot also showcases ticks applied to multiple Live Tiles at the same time, which suggests users will have the power to move around more than one app at a time, or perhaps even group them into folders.
The knowledgeable folks at WPCentral reckon it's the former rather than the later, as multi-tile selection is a feature launching on the Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT desktop updates coming next month.
But before we get to that...
However, it's not the first Windows Phone update we've stumbled upon in the last few days. Just this weekend screenshots of the GDR3 update - likely to predate the launch of WP8.1 - leaked onto the web.
Judging by the screenshots, that update will bring a new driving mode to mute all calls and alerts when a Bluetooth headset is connected. It'll also enable users to close apps from the multitasking view and allow users to choose whether they want their screen to appear in portrait or landscape mode.
You seem like a cool dude, Tim. Why can't your company be?
Apple's inflated ego shown bright yesterday, brighter than the gold iPhone 5S.
The company's new iPhone and iPhone 5C announcement was as boring and uninspired as they come. Even Jony Ive didn't show up, not that he ever does, instead videoing in his droning commentary about unapologetic plastic.
Apple's decision not to live stream its iPhone keynote was particularly puzzling. The lack of an immediate, "I'm there" connection to these new major products that Apple is taking into the holiday season (primetime in the consumer tech world) was off-putting.
It stands in direct contrast – and perfectly highlights – a key difference between the two kings of the mobile operating system, iOS and Android.
Closed orchard
Android is (all together now) open, inclusive and growing globally at breakneck speed. iOS is far less open, plenty would say difficult, exclusive and stalling in many markets.
Apple's always had an aloofness about it, an attitude that's kept it interesting from the sheer fact that no one is quite sure what's going on behind its IL doors.
Not in Apple's innermost circle? Wait with baited breath like the rest of the world to see what we have to wow you.
There's a certain cache that comes with that, but increasingly that approach is not only out of touch but alienating.
Even during its most recent event – the announcement of Android 4.3 and the new Nexus 7 – Google kept it intimate but still streamed it to the masses. The information was immediate, unfiltered and ready for consumer digestion.
Yesterday, those not sitting in Apple's conference room or at a Berlin store or locations in Tokyo or Beijing – where Apple reportedly just replayed the Cupertino event - were left to find their information elsewhere. Not that there aren't plenty of news resources (shameless TechRadar plug) and Twitter to glean what's going on at Apple, but doesn't that do even more to take message control away from the company?
Apple operates servers galore and more technical resources than I can count, and yet it couldn't be bothered to throw up a video on its Events page? It couldn't create a stream to bring information directly to customers, the people who are going to buy these products and will keep Apple's coffers and investors fat and happy?
Message control is hugely important to Apple, and perhaps there were copyright issues or embedding concerns that it factored in its decision not to broadcast the keynote.
Mitigating factors and control freak-ness aside, there are a zillion avenues for people to get the latest, so why not eliminate the question of authenticity, look square in the camera and say, "Hey consumers of the world, here are our new iPhones. What do you think?"
In creating a limited, exclusive viewing experience, Apple isn't only creating a self-imposed mystique around its product launches. It's creating a barrier, a wall between it and consumers.
Adjustment needed
Perhaps Apple was trying to capture the allure stolen by the infinite leaks it can't seem (or isn't trying) to stymie.
I can't blame Apple entirely for much of the air being sucked out of yesterday's event thanks to leaks, but I do point a finger at the narrow scope through which it insists it must be viewed.
My colleague John McCann astutely wrote about the glimmer of innovation we see in the iPhone 5S' Touch ID, but argued "Apple is still plugging a handset design which arrived over three years ago...it's pretty poor it couldn't come up with anything more than an updated camera and quicker processor."
I couldn't agree more. Apple no longer warrants the exclusiveness it imposes.
Other phone makers are still up and coming compared to Cupertino, and therefore have a stake in being accessible. However, in a quickly saturating market, being closed off isn't going to do Apple any favors in winning more customers. Instead, it will look as lame as it did yesterday, where it peddled a tiresome attitude over real innovation.
With a new iPad announcement expected in October, I hope for its own sake Apple decides to open up its virtual doors. Even more so, I hope it delivers something that at least starts to justify its aloofness. Because that approach is rapidly wearing thin.
Despite continued fiscal troubles at the corporate level, almost everyone seems to agree the HTC One is a fine handset - so could an even bigger model win the hearts and minds of Sprint customers in the U.S.?
That seem to be the case, judging from a Twitter post on Monday from the @evleaks account, a frequent source of solid information on the latest handsets and when they might arrive on carriers worldwide.
"HTC One max is Sprint-bound," the exceptionally brief tweet reads, offering no further clues as to when the giant-sized phablet might actually stomp its way into the nation's third-placed wireless carrier.
Previously known under the codename "T6," the HTC One Max began popping up on the radar back in June, first with blueprint designs and later with a number of up close and personal photos of its mammoth 5.9-inch 1080p HD display.
Go, go, Godzilla
For readers who follow the exploits of super-sized smartphones, the HTC One Max display size matches up nicely against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which the rival manufacturer confirmed earlier this month.
Rumored to be powered by a quad-core, 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, the HTC One Max could also harken back to days of the ill-fated HTC Flyer by including a stylus.
Sadly, one of HTC's most highly-anticipated One Max features may have been overshadowed by Apple's iPhone 5S announcement on Tuesday: A rumored fingerprint scanner may wind up looking like a "me too" feature by the time the handset finally arrives.
Assuming Sprint gets first dibs on the HTC One Max, Americans who favor Verizon Wireless, AT&T or T-Mobile may have a bit of a wait ahead of them until any carrier exclusivity deal expires.
Three has served up a few more details regarding its impending 4G network launch, adding a new city for 2013 and listing 42 more it plans to add before the end of next year
The network, which is the last of the major UK networks to go live with the next-gen speeds, has revealed a launch in Manchester, London and Birmingham in December, but has now added Reading to those plans.
However, it's not just those city dwellers who'll receive the enhanced mobile connectivity. It'll also stretch to surrounding areas like Oldham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and West Bromwich.
Then, next year it'll be upgrading its network in 42 more cities around the UK, a list of which can be found on the network's website.
Unlimited data and no price bump
Despite its later launch, Three is already winning the battle for hearts and mind by automatically moving existing customers with 4G-ready devices on to the 4G LTE plans at no extra cost.
The company is also refusing to cap data for its customers and will not insist on them signing a new contact. Indeed, the wait looks like it'll be worth it for Three subscribers.
In a post on its website, the company wrote: "We think everyone should enjoy the wonders of 4G, with no catches. So when we start rolling out 4G, we'll nudge up our customers who have a 4G Ready device at no extra cost. No hefty price tag. No extra charges. No expensive new phones or contracts. And no fuss. Great news."
Asus sure loves to confuse us all with its naming schemes, but fans of the PadFone Infinity are in for a treat with the company announcing that the phone-cum-tablet is getting an update next week.
In Taipei on Tuesday Asus will make the new PadFone Infinity official, it announced today, and we're expecting the new vessel to come with a 5-inch full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC and the option of an all-white version.
For those unfamiliar with the PadFone's hybrid concept, it's essentially a smartphone that tucks inside a tablet to form an extension of the screen. It seems to be proving a winner for Asus too given that it's pushing ahead with the device.
And beyond?
Asus has posted a teaser video showing the phone rocketing out of the tablet, just in case you're still puzzled by how this all works. There's also a website up featuring a countdown to launch.
Aside from the spec upgrades we've already mentioned, the overall design looks set to stay much the same.
Oddly, Asus chose not make the announcement at its IFA press conference last week. But then it did have about a gazillion other things on the bill to get through, including the new Transformer Pad.
Check out our hands on review with the most recent Padfone Infinity
Innovation. Once upon a time you couldn't utter the word without making a connection to a certain fruit-based company.
But ever since it decided that "resolutionary" was a word (it's really not, okay?) it's gone down hill in the innovation department and Apple seems to have past its best before date.
The last big innovative change from Apple - in the iPhone department at least - was way back in 2010 with the iPhone 4. It brought a new design along with a host of new features including a super fast processor and Retina display. Well played Apple.
Go past this though and the iPhone 4S was hardly ground breaking, and sure the iPhone 5 rocked up with a bigger screen, but please, that's not innovation.
Just not trying anymore
I can't berate Apple for launching incremental upgrades every 12 months while we're locked into two year contracts, because everyone's doing it - just look at the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 or the Optimus G, G Pro and G2.
What I do take issue with is the fact it feels like Apple has just stopped trying - happy to rest on its incredibly loyal fan base who'll lap up anything new.
Of course you could argue: why should Apple do the extra leg work? Sure it's making a ton of money and what's not to love about that?
But what are we, the consumers, getting from it? A smaller bank balance and a "new" phone that your friends will think is the one from last years when you try and show it off. Thanks a lot, Apple.
The saving grace
All may not be lost, though. While the iPhone 5S made me shudder when it was confirmed and I feared for another unflattering incremental upgrade - which for the most part it is - there was one shining ring of hope.
That silver ring wrapping that iconic home button. Hello, what's this: Touch ID? Surely it's not really a fingerprint scanner? What, it is? It actually is! Well colour me intrigued.
Now before you jump down my throat with, "But fingerprint scanning has been around years", I'm aware of that, thanks. The innovation here is it's implementation - remember Apple is rarely the first to a technology, but it's usually the best when it comes to integration.
There's no ugly square scanner like the ones you find on laptops - the sleek installation into the iPhone 5S' home button means you barely even know it's there.
With the reader supporting multiple angles you're not left swiping your finger constantly until it finally registers - a quick placement over the button and you're done.
At the moment Touch ID only lets you unlock the handset and authenticate purchases in iTunes and the App Store, but considering you can register multiple fingers we wouldn't be surprised if future iOS updates see your finger power become more involved.
In short, it's a great little feature and I've no doubt that the likes of Samsung, HTC and LG will be bringing finger scanning tech to their next smartphones - undoubtedly set to be dubbed "copycats" by anyone connected to Apple.
There's more to do
But Touch ID is not enough. Apple is still plugging a handset design which arrived over three years ago and other than the scanner it's pretty poor it couldn't come up with anything more than an updated camera and quicker processor.
The eye-tracking and hand-waving controls on the Galaxy S4 are questionable, but they at least show willingness to develop new features. Even Nokia is arguably doing a better job when it comes to improving smartphone cameras.
So good job, Apple. It's nice to see you've finally woken the innovation team from their slumber. But stick the kettle on, these guys clearly need coffee before they can properly get going.
Here's what we thought of Apple's big iPhone launch event:
Touch ID is all well and good, but what about the Fingerprint Thieves?
Some people believe that the iPhone 5S is the best iPhone that Apple - or for that matter, anybody - has ever made.
They may well be right, but that doesn't mean it's perfect, and it certainly doesn't mean that Apple's latest i-device is flaw-free or beyond criticism.
There are plenty of reasons to love the iPhone 5S - here are seven reasons - but you won't find them here: right now we're the haters, and haters gonna hate.
1. It's even more expensive
The iPhone has never been the most affordable smartphone, and the iPhone 5S is the most expensive yet: it starts at a whopping £549 for the 16GB version, which is £20 more than the outgoing (and obsolete) iPhone 5.
And that's for just 16GB of storage, which isn't really enough any more. The sensible choice, the 32GB model, is £629 in the UK. It'll be a bit cheaper on contract, of course, but it's still quite hefty.
2. It's ruined the trade-in value of your iPhone 5
Here's how the smartphone Circle of Life is supposed to work. Apple unveils a new thing, you trade in last year's new thing, you put the money towards the new thing. Easy.
Here's how it worked this year. Apple unveiled the iPhone 5S and discontinued the iPhone 5, causing recycling sites to rush to their computers and brutally slash their iPhone 5 trade-in rates so severely that a mint iPhone 5 will soon be worth less than a packet of mints.
And as we've already mentioned, the iPhone 5S got a sneaky price hike too, which just adds insult to injury.
3. It should be scratch-proof, but it isn't
Apple can call the dark coloured one Space Grey all it likes, but its real name should be Scratchy McRubbish: that anodised aluminium casing is so prone to scratching that you can scuff it by playing an episode of Itchy and Scratchy in iTunes.
The white one's a bit better, but only because white is closer to the colour of bare aluminium and as a result, the scratches aren't as obvious. The gold one should be fairly scratch-resistant too, because gold is comparatively easy to anodise. Hang on - did someone mention the gold one?
There's a reason for that, and that reason is simple: gold things are for magpies, old people and idiots. Don't believe us? Sit back and imagine the kind of people who would just love a gold iPhone. Are you thinking Robin Thicke? Russian gangsters? The cast of The Only Way Is Essex? Of course you are.
5. There's a bigger, better one due next year
The networks would really like you to take your iPhone 5S on a two-year contract, but we all know Apple's modus operandi by now: the big hitters come out every two years with a new design and lots of new goodies, and the S models are relatively minor upgrades released in the years in between.
This is an in-between year, an "S" year, and we know what that means: a bigger, better iPhone 6 this time next year that will make you rue the day you put a cross in the box of that two-year contract. Just imagine what it might do.
If an S-model iPhone can read your fingers, maybe the 6 will be able to read your mind, or make your pets levitate. To be honest, we'd be quite delighted if it just had better battery life and a slightly bigger screen.
6. The irrational fear that somebody's going to steal your fingers, or maybe photocopy them
Now that Apple's embraced fingerprints to unlock your iPhone and authorise iTunes purchases with Touch ID, try not to imagine somebody stealing your phone and then coming back for your fingers so that they can unlock it.
That's far-fetched to say the least, of course, and we'd just dismissed the whole paranoid possibility when Newsweek writer Peter Jukes mentioned on Twitter that criminals would be able to 3D-print replacement fingers. Just because it's unlikely doesn't mean that you shouldn't fear the Fingerprint Thieves.
7. You'll have to wait for it
If you've already decided you want an iPhone 5S, nothing here will change your mind - but that doesn't mean you can just order your iPhone 5S today and embark on a new life of gadget-fuelled cosiness.
Nope: you'll have to wait until 20 September, or longer still if you don't live in one of the nine launch countries (the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK).
Apple's latest and greatest iPhone 5S comes with an integrated fingerprint scanner to prevent unauthorised access and make it easier to get into the iTunes Store - is it another game-changer from the Cupertino company or a needless gimmick?
We take a look at the history of fingerprint scanners, the tech underpinning Apple's new toy and asks how much of a difference Touch ID will make to our mobile-powered lives.
How does it work?
The new Touch ID capacitive sensor sits under the familiar Home button, making it slightly less concave as a result. The button itself is made of laser-cut sapphire crystal (to avoid scratches) and surrounded by a stainless steel detection ring that can tell when you're trying to log in and when you're just trying to launch Siri (you don't actually need to press down to use the Touch ID technology).
The sensor is 170 microns thin (thinner than a human hair) and can scan your fingertips at a resolution of 500ppi in any direction.
It's also able to scan sub-epidermal skin layers — in other words, it'll still work in less-than-perfect conditions (with hands made raw from the cold British winter, for example).
The Touch ID fingerprint scanner
Once your iPhone has a scan of your finger, it stores your fingerprint in a secure encrypted format on the integrated A7 processor. Apple is promising that the data is not passed to third-party apps (at least not yet) and doesn't leave your device - it isn't backed up to iCloud or stored on Apple's servers in any way. Whenever you match the fingerprint that's stored, you're in.
It's a bold move, if not a completely original one. Carolina Milanesi, Research VP at Gartner, thinks Apple's move can be a success: "Apple seems to have put a lot of work into the Touch ID - they absolutely know that it has to work flawlessly for users not to be put off.
"I think linking it to the iTunes login is a nice touch, no pun intended. Apple's timing is, in more cases than not, not a coincidence so I am sure we will see more biometrics in their devices." Keep your eyes on the new range of iPads.
Haven't we seen this before...?
Fingerprint-scanning technology has been in consumer devices for some time. IBM was rolling out fingerprint scanners in its laptops back in 2004, and we've seen it used in Microsoft's line of mice on and off since 2005.
2011's Motorola Atrix 4G had an integrated sensor in it until the unit was withdrawn due to poor sales. Apple hasn't come up with this technology all by itself, either: you might remember it acquired biometric security experts AuthenTec in June 2012 and the fingerprint authentication company Microlatch later in the same year.
The Motorola Atrix 4G
AuthenTec's fingerprint scanning expertise has been seen in the past in handsets such as the waterproof Fujitsu F-01A.
Two weaknesses in the technology up to this point have prevented it from gaining serious traction: firstly, it hasn't always worked with any great degree of accuracy, leading to users jabbing at their handsets in frustration.
Secondly, it has been known to be easily fooled in the past (using plasticine or photocopies for example). If Apple can overcome these problems — and early hands-on impressions from the launch event are that it has a good chance — then we might eventually see sensors such as the one in the iPhone 5S replace passwords and passcodes for good.
Tony Cripps, principal device analyst at Ovum, spoke to us about Apple's implementation of the technology: "The word from the event is that the Touch ID system actually works very well. The risk with many fingerprint ID systems historically has been their failure to recognise repeatedly and consistently the fingerprint registered on them.
"First impressions imply Apple has overcome this problem, which could lead to wider acceptance in other CE devices and by other device makers."
Fingerprint sensing security isn't perfect, and we don't know yet whether a lifted fingerprint (from the back of the case, perhaps) would be enough to unlock the iPhone 5S.
Your average pickpocket doesn't carry a forensics kit along with him, but we'll have to wait and see how robust Touch ID is — brace yourselves for plenty of in-depth hacking attempts in the tech press over the coming weeks ("How To Unlock An iPhone 5s With A Biro And Sellotape").
At this stage, we just don't know how strong Apple's tech is — our initial impressions are that Touch ID works "incredibly well", but it's still early days.
Will it make a difference?
Apple is touting Touch ID primarily as a more secure version of the passcode and according to Senior Vice President Phil Schiller only half of us ever bother setting up a passcode anyway. The next time someone steals your phone in the street, they'll either have to take your finger along with them or force you to unlock it first.
It saves you from forgetting your passcode and reduces the security risk caused by users who set up the same code on all of their devices and services for convenience's sake. Even if hacks to circumvent Touch ID eventually come to light, it's still a significant upgrade in terms of the security of your iPhone.
The button which is also a scanner
However, it's also about ease-of-use and unlocking your mobile with one press rather than four or five. With its tight iTunes integration you'll be able to get new apps, movies and music without having to enter your Apple password each time.
Further down the line we might see Apple embedding the technology in iCloud, on your Mac or even in high street retail stores to let you prove you are who you say you are. From there, it's obvious how the principle could extent to banking or mobile payments (think Passbook, for example).
Ian Hogg, Director of Mobile Analysis at IHS Electronics & Media, explained that iOS7 has a big part to play too: "Mobile security that protects a handset is important to secure the information that users have on their device - banking passwords, purchase histories, email addresses, contacts.
"Apple is adding significant new features that make it harder for a thief to circumvent 'find my phone' and 'remote wipe' features."
For the time being though a revolution in biometrics is still some way off. For now, Touch ID makes it easier to use your iPhone and keeps it more secure at the same time. Only if and when the technology expands beyond your personal handset will its safety be seriously called into question.
"The concern some users may have, as with the current furore over online services," adds Tony Cripps, "is more that Apple itself might volunteer user information seemingly protected behind that fingerprint to government agencies. How consumers ultimately choose to respond to such concerns in the long run is yet to be seen."
It seems everyone agrees that we need a safer replacement for passwords. Tattoos and pills have been touted as possible personal identification solutions of the future, but the launch of the iPhone 5s has put fingerprint sensing technology back in the spotlight.
Only when the phone is out and being put through its paces will we know just how well it works and how far users are ready to trust it.
From one metal back to another... how the iPhone has changed
It was January 2007 when Steve Jobs took to the stage of the Moscone Center San Francisco to announce the arrival of the iPhone, which went on sale worldwide later that year.
If you find it difficult to remember that far back, Leona Lewis was number one in the UK with A Moment Like This and Brits were flocking to the cinema to get teary-eyed at Will Smith in The Pursuit Of Happyness.
While our pop music and movie choices may not have improved much, smartphones were changed forever: from that point on, touchscreens, apps and digital media were the way forward.
iPhone 1 (first generation)
Launched: June 2007 (US), November 2007 (UK)
Part iPod, part phone, part Internet device: the original 2007 iPhone.
Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone as three devices in one: a touchscreen iPod, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a truly mobile web browser.
Now we take touchscreens, digital media playback and Web access for granted, but in 2007 the iPhone was unlike anything that had appeared before. Its 3.5" screen has a 320x480 pixel reoslution (one of the best displays of the time), with a 2MP camera built-in, and up to 8GB of storage.
Third-party apps were not yet allowed on "iPhone OS". In the TechRadar review, we noted that despite several shortcomings, the phone had "changed the mobile device landscape... multitouch will prove to be a model for interfaces in the future."
iPhone 3G (second generation)
Launched: July 2008
The second iPhone model brought with it 3G connectivity, but was very similar to the original
High-speed connectivity was big news in 2008, which is why the second generation iPhone included 3G in its moniker (rather confusingly, as this was the second generation iPhone). It also brought with it a thinner shape, a plastic back and -- crucially -- support for the newly launched App Store.
The app store model worked so well you'll now find it replicated in everything from your smart TV to your Windows 8 laptop, and the change helped Apple's phone really start to gain traction.
Our said in our review promised that buyers would be "amazed by the function and feel of this handset." The iPhone era had begun in earnest.
iPhone 3GS (third generation)
Launched: June 2009
Video recording came to the iPhone with the launch of the 3GS model.
The 3GS upgrade was viewed as disappointingly minor at the time, but look at the detail and a different picture emerges: as well as faster performance, the new handset offered a better 3.2MP camera (that could now record video as well as take photos), extra storage options and voice control (the precursor to Siri).
The display was the same 3.5-inch 320x480 screen, and the device's appearance remained largely unchanged from the 3G model. TechRadar's take on the unit praised the multimedia and Internet capabilities while still finding niggles with the camera, call quality and battery life – this was the first of the more iterative updates to the iPhone but did enough to keep users happy.
iPhone 4 (fourth generation)
Launched: June 2010
The iPhone 4 transformed the look and display of Apple's flagship device.
If the 3GS was a minor upgrade, the iPhone 4 was a serious step up - a new, flat design with an integrated antenna (although questions were raised about how you held the device) a high-resolution Retina display (640x960 pixels) that showed the rest of the world how it was done and a superior 5MP camera (featuring HD video recording) on top of internal performance improvements.
The competition was catching up, and Apple had responded in brilliant fashion. We were certainly impressed, despite some reservations about the high price, saying "it's intriguing to see record-breaking numbers queuing up to pick up this device — but after playing with it for a few days, you can see why."
iPhone 4S (fifth generation)
Launched: October 2011
Siri made its debut with the iPhone 4S, which also featured an improved camera.
Apple pulled out the "S" tag again for the fifth generation handset, indicating a minor upgrade rather than a major overhaul.
The design was the same, but inside was Apple's new A5 processor, vastly improved graphics capabilities and an 8MP camera with 1080p video recording. iOS was evolving at the same rate as the hardware, of course, and Siri began life as an iPhone 4S exclusive.
The improvements were enough to persuade us to describe it as "the best thing Apple has ever created" in the official TechRadar review.
iPhone 5 (sixth generation)
Launched: September 2012
Six handsets later, Apple finally decided it was time to tweak the iPhone's screen size and aspect ratio.
20 per cent lighter than its predecessor, the 2012 iPhone adopted a 4-inch screen running at 640x1136 pixels.
Otherwise, despite the usual speed bump and a stronger antenna, it was very much business as usual in terms of the design and capabilities.
Our biggest gripe in our iPhone 5 review was with the aging iOS, but with iOS coming soon that issue is very much negated, which will please a number of iPhone 5 users who've been holding onto the handset for nearly a year.
iPhone 5S/5C (seventh generation)
Launched: September 2013
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The big step in the seventh stage of the iPhone's evolution is the arrival of a cheaper, plastic-backed model to help battle Android at the lower end of the market. The signs were there already — remember Apple has kept the iPhone 4 and 4S on sale during the iPhone 5 era.
As for the flagship iPhone, it's a case of under-the-hood improvements: more power, a better camera, and more storage. The bigger changes are arriving with IOS 7, the most radical revamp of the mobile operating system since the App Store arrived back in 2008.
The only app list you'll ever need... for the first few days, that is.
At first glance some might dismiss the iPhone 5S as a clone of its predecessor, but look closer and you'll find a few subtle differences. There's a faster processor, better camera and fancy fingerprint scanner to name but three.
There's not long to wait before you can get your hands on the new device (it arrives on September 20), but to whet your appetite we've put together our tailored guide to your first iPhone-5S-powered trip to the App Store, bringing you the best apps that will keep you gazing lovingly at your new toy when you feverishly rip it from the box.
Flipboard (Free)
Serving up fresh batches of filtered news in a stylish way, Flipboard is the ideal window onto the web. Sprinkle in sources you like, from the BBC, to Talk Sport, to Tech Radar; there are thousands of RSS feeds out there.
If you don't know where to start, then check out some of the popular curated magazines on offer. You can also fold in your social media accounts for a complete real-time picture of the stuff you care about most.
Private Photo Vault (Free)
We don't need to know why you have photos on your iPhone that you'd rather keep private; it's none of our business and Private Photo Vault keeps it that way.
You can safeguard private albums behind a password, PIN, or pattern. The app lets you view, edit, share, and transfer photos as normal, it just doesn't let anyone else in. Sadly developers can't get access to the fingerprint scanner, so you won't to be able to protect you pics with a digit.
You can even set up a decoy password, and capture a photo and GPS location when there's an attempted break-in.
TurboScan (£1.49)
We've all got an old flatbed scanner gathering dust under the desk, but thanks to TurboScan it can be relegated to the car boot pile in the garage.
This app transforms your iPhone into a document scanner. You can capture letters, or sign contracts, and then convert them into PDF or JPG files to store or send by email. It's quick and easy to use, the scans are sharp and clear, and it supports AirPrint too.
TuneIn Radio (Free)
For a steady supply of music or chat, TuneIn Radio is all you need. We're talking about access to over 70,000 radio stations worldwide, and more than 2 million podcasts or shows, all wrapped up in an accessible package.
Everything is neatly divided into categories and genres, so you can let your mood guide you, search for something specific, or you can trust in the pack and check out the recommended and trending lists to discover something interesting.
Zeebox (Free)
If you want to make sure that you don't miss any episodes of your favourite TV programmes then zeebox can serve as a handy reminder service.
It provides listings for seven days in advance. You can also use the app as a remote control for your Sky+, Virgin Tivo, and some models of TV (provided they're connected to the same Wi-Fi network).
You'll find the app provides loads of extra info and real-time social network commentary on whatever you're watching.
Evernote (Free)
An elephant never forgets and Evernote is your very own iPhone-based elephant. Write down shopping lists, record voice notes, take photos and annotate them; whatever you need to note down, this app serves as your notebook in the cloud.
It can sync across all your devices, and you can share notes easily via email and social networks. Spend some time getting to grips with Evernote's impressive feature set and you'll find it's the only note and to-do list app you'll ever need.
Camera+ (£1.49)
You'll find a bucket load of extra camera-related features in Camera+. You can select from various modes that will help you fine-tune your camera settings to capture the very best shots possible.
There are also effects and filters you can apply, and a range of editing tools for cropping and applying borders or captions.
It's so intuitive to use that you don't need to have any real photography skills to feel the benefit. You'll be sharing your creations in no time.
Change4Life Meal Mixer (Free)
There's a whole series of Change4Life apps from the NHS. They're designed to help us all get a bit healthier. The Meal Mixer is focussed on healthy recipes and it's especially useful for busy families.
You'll find over 100 calorie-counted recipes within, you can search by ingredient to generate ideas for using whatever's in the cupboard, and there's an option to add recipes directly to your shopping list.
This is all about budget-conscious, tasty and healthy options for everyday use.
LogMeIn (Free)
Of all the remote desktop apps on the market this is probably the easiest to use. LogMeIn lets you remotely control your PC or Mac on your iPhone via Wi-Fi or your mobile network connection.
That means you can grab, or even edit, files that are on your desktop at home, wherever you happen to be. You have full access to remotely run software.
This is also a great remote control solution if you have an HTPC setup or media server.
Snapguide (Free)
Seizing on the wholly-positive potential of the Internet to enable us to do just about anything for ourselves by following someone else's step-by-step instructions, Snapguide is a truly great idea.
For the most part you'll find easy to follow recipes with insider tips that elevate your results, but there are loads of categories within and how-to guides for just about anything you can think of.
You can even earn yourself some karma by creating a guide for others.
The anticipation is over - Apple has unveiled the iPhone 5S to the world and announced it will be available September 20. But now we're onto the next question: where can we actually pick one of these up and which 4G networks is it compatible with?
Well, we have the inside information on who will be stocking the new iPhone and when you'll be able to grab it. Here's the 411.
If you're looking to pick up the iPhone 5S SIM-free, the Apple store has the handset available for £549 for the 16GB version, £629 for the 32GB and £709 for the 64GB.
EE
EE will be stocking the iPhone 5S, as it announced via a tweet soon after the reveal, and will have the handset available on 4GEE, Orange and T-Mobile from September 20.
You'll be able to pre-order on September 13 and those of you with eligible devices can upgrade via EE's new 'swap' program (conveniently announced yesterday) if you're six months or longer into your contract.
Three
Three has put up a pre-registration page for the iPhone 5S and has confirmed it will have the iPhone available for pre-order on September 13 and will make it available from September 20.
And given that the iPhone 5 was set to work on the network's 4G, we're fully expecting the 5S to do so too though this is yet to be confirmed.
Vodafone
Vodafone was one of the first to tell us that it will be stocking the new iPhone 5S but isn't giving any specific details on price and availability just yet. However Apple has confirmed that the 5S will support 4G on Vodafone's network, and there's a page for you to "register interest" over on Vodafone's site.
O2
O2 has confirmed that it will be stocking the iPhone 5S and that it will work on the network's 4G. There's nothing on price plans just yet but O2 has put up a pre-registration page so you'll be the first to know when there is.
