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.

Source : techradar[dot]com

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.

• Want more deets on the iPhone 5S? Right this way then. Or perhaps you'd like to read our hands on review?

Apple Store

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.

• Catch up on all the details about the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

Source : techradar[dot]com

When Apple released the iPhone 4S, the masses moaned that it wasn't a significant technological leap forward from the original iPhone 4.

But is the same true of the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5? Will the internet clog with the festering opinions of disappointed Apple fans?

Apple's commitment to iterative product development suggests so. The question is: where is the 5S better? Screen? Processor? You'll find the answers in the comparison review below...

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Build

At first glance, the 5S looks identical to the old iPhone 5 and, sure enough, a quick read of the spec sheet reveals that their dimensions and weight are identical - 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm and 112g.

The only physical differences are the redesigned Home button, which incorporates the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor and is surrounded by a thin stainless steel ring; and the dual LED flash (one white light, one amber light) around the back.

Where the iPhone 5 was available in two color choices - black or white, the new 5S has silver/white, 'space grey'/black and gold/white options. The gold version is either snazzy or ridiculous, depending on your point of view.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Display

The iPhone 5S and the now discontinued iPhone 5 both feature the same 4-inch Retina display with the same 640 x 1136 pixel resolution.

We've seen bigger and better - the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 display, while the HTC One has a 4.7-inch 1080 x 1920 screen.

But the iPhone 5S/iPhone 5 panel is still good enough for gaming, video-watching and flicking through those Jonny Ive-produced iOS 7 menus.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Camera

While both phones feature an 8 Megapixel camera on the back and a 1.2 Megapixel lens on the front, that doesn't tell the whole story.

Apple has made some improvements to the iPhone 5's camera, including adding image stabilisation, live photo filters and a new Burst mode that takes 10 shots per second and automatically suggests the best one.

Where the iPhone 5 had a bog-standard LED flash, the iPhone 5S has a dual LED (True Tone) flash to reduce the intensity of the light and help you take better photos.

Apple has also improved the image sensor, lens cover and f/2.4 aperture - the iPhone 5S camera has a 15 per cent larger sensor and an improved f/2.2 aperture to let in more light for brighter results.

Finally, the iPhone 5S can take better 1080p video too. The main 8MP camera now has a slow-motion video feature plus video stabilisation to reduce unwanted camera wobble.

The front-mounted iSight camera also features an improved backside illumination sensor (BIS) for better performance when FaceTiming in the gloom.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Connectivity

With the iPhone 5S heading for China Mobile and NTT Docomo, plus a range of different countries around the world, it supports more LTE bands than the iPhone 5.

It's the only real difference between the 5S and its predecessor. Both include 3G/HSDPA and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO support, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

There's also a version that supports the TD-LTE technology that's beginning to pop up around the world.

No NFC this time. Perhaps Apple is saving that for the iPhone 6...

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Processor

New iPhones, especially flagship models, typically get a speed boost and the iPhone 5S is no different.

Where the iPhone 5 has an A6 processor, the 5S debuts Apple's 64-bit A7 chip - the first 64-bit processor to appear in a smartphone.

With over one billion transistors (twice as many as the A6), Apple claims that the A7 is twice as fast as the A6 and 40 times more powerful than the original iPhone.

The A7 also includes an M7 co-processor designed to monitor the data from the phone's accelerometer, compass and gyroscope.

This data will help future fitness apps more accurately track your movements. But in the short-term there are other benefits - the Maps app can switch to walking directions if it detects you aren't driving, while the M7 can reduce network activity if the sensor data tells it that your phone hasn't moved for some time.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Software

While the iPhone 5S comes with iOS 7 pre-installed, iPhone 5 owners can sleep safe in the knowledge that they can upgrade their phones to match.

What they won't get is the Touch ID app, which offers fingerprint security and works with the fingerprint sensor built into the iPhone 5S Home button.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Storage

The iPhone 5S takes its capacity cues from the iPhone 5, offering the same three storage options - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Battery Life

In terms of battery life, the spec sheets tell us that the iPhone 5S just edges out the old iPhone 5. It's rated at 10 hours of talk time on 3G, while the iPhone 5 can only muster 8 hours.

Standby time is calculated to be 250 hours for the 5S and 225 hours for the iPhone 5. Average usage is much the same - 10 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, up to 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback.

That doesn't sound impressive until you consider that, thanks to the A7 processor, the iPhone 5S is twice as fast.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5 - Early verdict

If you crave a new iPhone, then the 64-bit iPhone 5S is a decent upgrade.

It may not have a better screen or more storage, nor does it have a significantly superior camera or vastly improved connectivity.

But since the announcement of the iPhone 5S and the lower-spec iPhone 5C, the original iPhone 5 has disappeared from the Apple Store, never to return.

The 5S is pricey though - on a two year contract, the 16GB model will cost $199, the 32GB model $299 and the 64GB 5S $399. Ouch.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple launched two new phones on September 10 - the high-end iPhone 5S and the not-so-low-end iPhone 5C. How do the two models compare?

What technology do they share? Find out in in our comparison below.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Build

The two phones couldn't be more different in terms of their look and feel. The iPhone 5S retains the classic good looks of the iPhone 5 and is available in three aluminum color combos - silver/white, "space grey"/black and gold/white. It has a premium polish that the plastic iPhone 5C, with its five bright color options, obviously lacks.

In terms of size and weight, the iPhone 5S is exactly the same size as the old iPhone 5 - a neat and stylish 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm. Although there are only millimeters in it, the iPhone 5C is bigger in every respect - measuring 124.4 x 59.2 x 8.97mm. There's a more noticeable difference in the weight. The iPhone 5S is a mere 112g, while the iPhone 5C (with a reinforced steel structure hidden beneath the polycarb plastic) is 132g.

You'll also notice that the classic Home button on the iPhone 5S has been redesigned to incorporate a revolutionary Touch ID fingerprint sensor. A thin stainless steel ring now encloses the button - the iconic rounded square is gone. Around the back, the iPhone 5S also features a dual LED flash. The iPhone 5C doesn't. More on this later.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Display

As expected, both new iPhones feature the same 4-inch touch-sensitive Retina display that debuted in the iPhone 5. The resolution remains unchanged at 640 x 1136 pixels and, although the pixels per inch rating of 326 means that the screen is crisp and clear (iOS 7 looks fantastic), it lags behind rival phones with bigger screens and fuller HD resolutions.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Camera

When it comes to photo prowess, iPhones have been good, but never quite as good as Nokia's Carl Zeiss-equipped Lumia handsets. Rather than bump up the raw Megapixels to 13, the iPhone 5C makes a few improvements to the Apple designed lens - notably a new camera app that auto sets white balance, exposure and creates a dynamic local tone map each time you snap a photo. There are also live filters and video stabilization to reduce camera shake. Plus an improved backside illumination sensor in the 1.2MP front iSight camera, which should compensate for any poor lighting during FaceTime calls.

The iPhone 5S makes further improvements, adding a dual LED "True Tone" flash, a Sapphire crystal lens cover and 15% larger sensor (with an f/2.2 aperture) that lets more light in - the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5 have a f/2.4 aperture. Alongside the existing face detection and panoramic features, there's also a new Burst mode, which can snap 10 photos per second and intelligently pick the best one. Both phones feature 1080p video capture, but the 5S also includes a fun Slo-mo option. This shoots 720p video at 120fps so you can capture the finer detail of key moments.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Connectivity

Both new iPhones feature wider support for LTE, as well as 3G/HSDPA and CDMA2000 support. There's still no NFC in either iPhone, but wireless connectivity is well served with 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Processor

Performance-wise, the iPhone 5C uses the same dual core Apple A6 CPU that appeared in the iPhone 5 that it replaces.

However, the iPhone 5S debuts the new A7 processor, a revolutionary 64-bit chip that Apple says offers twice the performance of the A6. Technical details on the A7 are sketchy, but it runs OpenGL ES 3.0 for fast, detailed 3D graphics and has an M7 motion co-processor, designed to monitor the various sensors in the iPhone 5S. Expect future fitness and health apps to take full advantage of this.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Software

Both phones come with iOS 7, but it's worth pointing out that the 5S will run a 64-bit version of Apple's operating system and should be twice as speedy. We've already noted that there's a new camera app and iOS 7 makes Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie and iPhoto apps free of charge. The iPhone 5S also includes the Touch ID app, enabling owners to use the built-in fingerprint sensor to unlock their phone or to approve iTunes purchases with a simple press. Another revolutionary feature that's unique to Apple's new flagship handset.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Storage

As for storage, Apple hasn't chosen to venture into 128GB territory. So there's a familiar choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB iPhone 5S models, while the iPhone 5C is available in 16GB or 32GB capacities. Choose wisely. Unlike many rival Android phones, Apple refuses point-blank to include a microSD slot for iPhone owners to expand the default internal storage.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Battery Life

According to the specs, both phones will manage up to 10 hours of talktime, up to 250 hours on standby, up to 10 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, up to 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Pricing

As expected, the iPhone 5S isn't cheap. Sign your freedom away on a two-year contract and the 16GB model will cost $199, the 32GB model $299 and the 64GB 5S $399. Compare this to the iPhone 5C on a similar two year deal - the 16GB model will set you back $99, while the 32GB version costs $199.

Apple iPhone 5S vs. Apple iPhone 5C: Early verdict

The iPhone 5S is easily the better of the two phones and it's no more (and no less) than we expected, considering Apple's iterative release policy.

If you were hoping for a bigger, higher resolution display or NFC, you'll need to wait for the iPhone 6. For now, the 5S is a souped-up iPhone 5. It impresses with its fingerprint recognition sensor and its all-new 64-bit A7 processor, which comes with an M7 co-processor that Apple undoubtedly have big plans for. A test-bed for a body monitoring iWatch? Only time will tell.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple has no current plans to open up its new fingerprint sensing technology to third-party app developers, the company's Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller has confirmed.

The new Touch ID tech, announced on Tuesday for the new iPhone 5S handset, enables users to unlock the handset and authenticate iTunes purchases by placing a finger on the revamped Home button.

The dual functionality has immediately led to speculation about what else the sensor could be used for, but Schiller told the AllThingsD blog Apple has shut down the possibility, for now at least.

When pushed on whether devs could get access in the future Schiller declined to comment, potentially leaving the door open for a future roll out.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was a little more forthcoming when asked by the same site. He said: "You can probably imagine a lot of [other] uses," but wouldn't be drawn on the company's future plans.

Security concerns?

The Touch ID tech, which blends right into the new Home button, utilises a sensor that's 170 microns thin, and scans sub-epidermal skin layers using a 500ppi resolution sensor.

In order to conserve battery, the sensor is only active when it knows your finger is present and has 360-degree readability so you won't have to reorient your finger every time you wish to use the device.

The company has also promised that all of your fingerprint data will be stored locally on the device and will never be uploaded to iCloud or the company's servers.

It's surely those security precautions that would prevent Apple opening the Touch ID tech up to its army of iOS developers. Naturally, users would not want that data fed back to app developers alongside email addresses, high scores and more.

Still, as Cook intimates, its fun to imagine potential users for the tech in gaming, educational and entertainment based-apps. Lend us some of your thoughts in the comments section below.

• What is Touch ID? Bring yourself up to speed with Apple's new pass code killer

Source : techradar[dot]com