Reports are flooding that pre-order demand for Apple’s iPhone 5 was so severe, the company sold out of its initial supply within an hour of it going on sale at 12 a.m. PDT.
Shipping for the phone has also been pushed back by two weeks, meaning phones won’t find their way into delivery trucks until Sept. 28, one week after the initial Sept. 21 shipping date.
As of Friday morning, no change had come to the two-week shipping timeframe, though the UK Apple Store is showing a 2-3 week shipping time for the 32GB and 64GB models.
A 2-3 week waiting time for some models (Credit: Apple)
Apple is reportedly giving pre-orderers the option of picking up their phone at Apple retail stores next Friday.
TechRadar has reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if and when more information becomes available.
Starting strong
Despite a somewhat lackluster response from certain fronts, the sixth-gen iPhone is apparently just what consumers want.
According to TechCrunch, the iOS 6-packing smartphone sold out 20 times faster than either the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 4S, the latter of which was the first to welcome Siri into the mobile device lexicon.
The volume of consumers on the Apple Store reportedly caused site problems like error messages to pop up.
Another new Apple product, the Lightning-30 pin port adapter designed to let legacy devices plug into the new iPhone, has also sold out.
That $29 (£18) accessory won’t ship until October.
Check back with TechRadar throughout the day for updated shipping times and availability.
HP CEO Meg Whitman has confirmed that the company is taking tentative steps back into the world of the smartphone.
Despite the catastrophic flop that was the company's Palm hardware, she told Fox Business Network that HP is working on a phone because smartphones are the new computers.
"We have to ultimately offer a smartphone because in many countries of the world that would be your first computing device," said CEO Meg Whitman.
"We are a computing company, we have to take advantage of that form factor."
Tablet tales
HP is already focusing its efforts on a line up of Windows 8 tablets, including the converta-tab HP Envy x2 which was announced at IFA 2012.
But when it comes to phones, HP won't be repeating past mistakes and buying up BlackBerry-makers RIM.
When asked if that was a possibility, Whitman emphatically replied, "No, that is not a direction that we're going to head."
Microsoft has rebranded Windows Marketplace as Windows Phone Store, with a refreshed design and improved algorithm.
Amid Wednesday’s Apple hoopla, Microsoft announced a new design and rebranding of Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace. As expected, Microsoft has deployed design and algorithm changes, and rebranded the place as Windows Phone Store.
The rebranding includes updates to core features, and a refreshing, minimalistic redesign that simplifies the store’s look to put it in line with its Windows Metro Windows 8 design guidelines. You should find the site easy on the eyes.
The search box is one of the more significant updates, and now includes full Bing integration. Searches will allegedly provide “intelligent” results compared to the previous search functionality. For example, you’ll be able find the app you’re looking for even with typos, discover similar apps that won’t necessarily include the same key word as your search term, and find recommend apps in the same genre as your search.
Bing’s intelligence shines the more you conduct searches thanks to its machine learning algorithm. The Bing-integrated Store search engine will, over time, learn and output search results tailored specifically to what it believes you’d like to check out and download.
“We’ve been rolling out a much improved backend for both the Windows Phone Store and Windows Phone Dev Center. The welcome addition of Bing’s search engine is part of this infrastructure upgrade,” Director of Program Management at Microsoft, Mazhar Mohammad, wrote in Microsoft’s blog.
While the major updates revolve around app discovery, Microsoft has also put a focus on curation. Microsoft staffers are curating their favorite apps within the subpage “Spotilight,” under the Apps + Games category. But under the hood, updates to its categories like “New + Rising” will surface top apps based on tweaked metrics that take into consideration how quickly an app is being downloaded. The “Best Rated” category takes into account customer ratings and the frequency of an app’s use. Adding to this, you’ll notice a standalone News section that curates articles related Microsoft’s mobile products that are syndicated from other publishers.
Microsoft has also recognized that many of its users (read: parents) have requested that sexual content be taken off its app store. While Microsoft hasn’t outright banned sex-themed apps (that abide by its guidelines), the company will instead bury such apps, making it that much more difficult to surface those types of apps in the search results. Of course, if you’re searching for the term “sex” then Bing will suggest what you asked for.
Windows Phone Store rolled out first in Australia and New Zealand, and will launch in the rest of the world over the next few weeks.
Nintendo announced yesterday that its next-gen game console will launch in Japan on December 8, with a basic and deluxe console available from 26,250 yen. Today, the company revealed that the US will receive the Wii U even earlier, as the system is set to hit shelves on November 18.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed in a pre-recorded video streamed online yesterday that both consoles will have 2GB of RAM, which will be split in half for game memory and system memory. Games will load from a proprietary optical disc that can store up to 25GB of data and read at 22.5MB/s. It will consume a maximum of 75W, though Iwata said the average power consumption is around 40W.
Two versions will be available: the basic model in white will cost 26,250 yen in Japan and $299.99 in the US, while the deluxe in black will cost 31,500 yen and $349.99. Aside from the difference in color, both share the same hardware and only differ in storage -- the basic has 8GB and the deluxe has 32GB. The cheaper console comes bundled with a Wii U Gamepad, AC adapter and HDMI lead, while the pricier unit adds NintendoLand, a console stand, and a GamePad charging cradle.
The 6.2-inch touchscreen GamePad controllers will available to purchase separately complete with AC adapters, as will the two stands that ship with the deluxe model. Those that prefer to use traditional gamepads can purchase the Xbox 360-style Wii U Pro Controller or even reuse existing Wii Remotes and Nunchuks with the new console.
Two games were revealed during yesterday's announcement, New Super Mario Bros. priced at 5,985 yen and Nintendo Land for 4,935 yen. The press event this morning revealed more titles, including 007 Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, NBA 2013, Wipeout 3 and more.
Nintendo also unveiled TVii, which is said to be "the most different non-gaming initiative Nintendo has ever introduced." Using the GamePad, users will be able to scan TV listings from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime in addition to their DVR and live TV. Users can customize their view lists by adding favorite shows and they can even watch trailers. Nintendo TVii will be available in Canada and the US at no additional cost.
The Apple iPhone 5 is finally here, with the latest arrival boasting a 16:9, 4-inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE.
Last year's iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors.
As a result, this year's launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007.
For anyone following the iPhone 5 rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 will not bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip.
The iPhone 5's camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front-facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. Wi-Fi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world.
But it is the size, design and shape that will win the most admiring glances. The all glass and aluminium chassis can claim to be the thinnest smartphone, at 7.6mm 'thin'.
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The 4-inch screen keeps the retina resolution despite the added length, which Apple has brought in to make the iPhone 5 more movie-friendly.
The added real-estate is welcome, especially given the growth of its rivals, and apps will apparently be easy to move onto the new screen size for developers.
In the hand the Apple iPhone 5 certainly feels comfortable. You can see why Apple decided to keep the width the same, since it fits the hand nicely – just as its predecessors have.
iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S
The most relevant comparison for many is with its predecessor the iPhone 4S and, for those on the now common two year contracts, the iPhone 4.
The new phone certainly feels different – and although there will be the odd naysayer, the overwhelming majority will feel that the iPhone 5's design is a good step on from the now ageing chassis of both the 4S and 4.
The move away from glass is a welcome one, and the aluminium manages to bring a premium feel in a notable lighter device.
A new chip definitely brings a snappier feel. Many people with an iPhone 4 will be all too used to the lagginess when trying to do anything even slightly complex with the devices, and the Apple iPhone 5 manages to take things on as far as you would expect in more than two years.
What is perhaps more suprising is just how much snappier this feels than the iPhone 4S. The A6 chip clearly has a significant amount more grunt under its smaller hood – but what is surprising is that you can immediately tell when you use the device alongside its predecessor.
Practically speaking, this probably isn't enough to make you want to leave a 4S unless you are a hardcore fan, but it will convince many iPhone 4 users to stick with the Apple ecosystem for another generation – and you get the impression that this is goal number one for the company.
The added length could have made the phone unwieldy, but the loss of thickness ensures that it maintains its balance and premium feel.
Those people who have got used to the iPhone 4 and 4S will certainly notice the difference that the new iPhone 5 design brings. It served to make the device feel more modern, and the materials used keep that premium feel that Apple has put so much stock in.
Thinner, lighter and more screen were always on the cards, and the fans' desires are understandable.
The aluminium backplate feels lovely – just textured enough to feel very different from its predecessors and, to our taste, preferable to the glass.
The iPhone 5 screen is bright and colourful, although it's difficult to truly appreciate the small upgrade that Apple has made in the bright lights of the show room.
The camera is also more difficult to test properly, but it certainly seemed faster to take a photo, something that can be a frustration on older iPhones.
From a software perspective, iOS 6 brings with it a wealth of new features that will certainly make a major difference to not only the way the iPhone 5 feels, but also its predecessors the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S when they get the updated software.
Maps, for instance, is significantly altered after Apple ended its longstanding agreement to use Google Maps and pushed forward with its own offering, in conjunction with sat nav giant TomTom.
The new maps certainly look the part, with some beautiful 3D renders and snazzy looking new vector graphics. We really want to take some time to tell you just how well the new offering performs in the wild, when we get a handset in for our full iPhone 5 review, coming soon.
The showcased flyover mode was great for the riverside of London, but as you would expect fell flat pretty quickly once you left the tourist districts and got to residential areas.
Early indications elsewhere are good, however, as the 'Apple designed' tag is pushed to the fore. The tilt and rotate view functionality looks gorgeous, and the turn-by-turn navigation is likely to attract plaudits with a simple and intuitive interface.
Siri has been given a major, and frankly much-needed, overhaul with the voice 'companion' functionality extended into new languages and new territories in an attempt to turn the iPhone 4S's overhyped and under-featured personal assistant up to a useful level.
It coped better with the noise of the press room than its predecessor – presumably due to the new microphone set up in the new iPhone 5, and could answer the two or three stock questions we asked it.
Given the obsession with Facebook, the need for better integration was a key addition for Apple in its latest operating system, and the iPhone 5 and its older brothers will benefit from a major overhaul of the way in which the social network links up with your handset.
The Facebook (and Twitter) functionality feels much more central to the experience this time around, and having the ability to post from the notifications screen feels like an obvious inclusion that works well.
Early verdict
Given the level of hype around the Apple iPhone 5, it's almost inevitable that phone itself ends up feeling a little underwhelming when it is launched, but Apple is a past master at ticking the boxes, and giving its growing legion of fans enough to justify an upgrade.
Is it going to sell like hot-cakes? Of course. Will it send shockwaves shuddering through the tech world and turn competitors back to their drawing boards? No.
Not having NFC is a real misstep, as it would have made the Passbook application in iOS 6 much better (and in keeping with its Android and Windows Phone rivals) and it certainly would have been nice to see something remarkable in addition to some nice, but not startling, upgrades.
But, in truth, Apple will be well aware that it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to succeed and, in this case, it has yet again provided a fine phone that will keep it battling at the top of the charts for another year.
