iOS 7: First impressions

One of the best things about Apple's latest iPhones is the slick new iOS 7 software that runs the devices. But that souped-up operating system could end up hurting sales because the free software upgrade will also work on iPhones released since 2010, giving owners of the older models less incentive to buy Apple's newest products.

Perhaps unwittingly, even Apple's software boss Craig Federighi alluded to this potential problem while he was bragging about iOS 7 at the company's unveiling of its new phones Tuesday. He predicted that anyone who elects to install the software will feel "like they're getting an all-new device."

(Also see: Apple unveils iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s)

I understood what Federighi meant once I was able to see the iOS 7's improvements in action on Apple's two new iPhones, the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. Although Apple announced iOS 7 at a conference three months ago, Tuesday marked the first time the company allowed reporters to experience the software hands-on.

Although the iPhone 5c is less expensive than its predecessor, the iPhone 5, iOS 7 almost made it look fancier than previous generations. As an iPhone 5 owner, I was feeling a bit envious until I remembered that I'll be able to spiff up my device, too, when the software is released on Sept. 18. The operating system will work on the iPhone 4 and later models, iPad 2s and subsequent versions, and the iPod Touch that came out late last year.

iOS 7 looks much different than previous versions of the operating system because it no longer displays iPhone apps as three-dimensional, embossed objects meant to mirror their real-world counterparts. The icons instead are flatter and more colorful.

Any significant change in design typically upsets users familiar with the old way of doing things, but I suspect the complaints about iOS 7 will be muted unless there are some terrible bugs in the software that weren't evident during the brief time that I was given to experiment.

I am fairly certain most people who download iOS 7 are going to be pleased. The software makes it easier to navigate around an iPhone and adds some compelling new features.

(Also see: 10 big improvements in Apple's iOS 7)

The additions include the ability to stream music through an advertising-supported service called iTunes Radio and five free apps that used to cost consumers anywhere from 99 cents to $4.99 apiece. The free apps are Apple's photo-editing tool, iPhoto, and video-editing program, iMovie, as well as work-oriented apps called Pages, Numbers and Keynote.

Apple doesn't appear to be removing any popular apps built into the operating system, as best as I could tell. The company did that last year when it replaced Google's mapping app with its own navigation system only to be ridiculed for misguiding users with shoddy directions. Apple isn't bringing back Google Maps with iOS 7, but it is promising that its alternative is getting better.

The software upgrade also will make it easier to take better pictures on the iPhone and automatically sort photos into different categories to denote particular events. I particularly liked a feature that lets you control how the camera operates by toggling between options at the bottom of the screen with the swipe of a finger. Once the camera is open in IOS 7, the choices include taking a square, panoramic or standard photo. The bottom-of-the screen controls also include an option to switch to video mode.

When taking a picture in iOS 7, photographers can also choose a filter to use as they snap the photo rather than waiting to touch up the shot later. When shooting video, shots can be zoomed in while recording. I can't do any of that on my iPhone 5 because it is still powered by iOS 6.

The new system also empowers users to access other open apps more easily by clicking twice on the home button. When you do that, the apps are displayed as tiles that can be scrolled across horizontally so you can more easily see and choose several of them.

Apple is also making it easier to access frequently used controls such as and airplane mode by enabling users to pull up the panel from the bottom of the display screen instead of finding and pressing a settings option.

Other than the new software, the iPhone 5c isn't anything special, as one might expect from a cheaper phone.

(Also see: iPhone 5c price disappointment: 'Low-cost iPhone' fails to check-in)

The only thing that really distinguishes the 5c from the iPhone 5 is that it's housed in plastic instead of aluminum. Some consumers will no doubt like the plastic alternative because it comes in five colors: green, blue, yellow, pink and white. The price also may be more appealing, with the 5c starting at $99 with a two-year wireless contract, a $100 discount from iPhone models released in previous years.

A higher-end iPhone dubbed the 5s boasts several advantages that aren't available on any other model. The coolest innovation allows you to use your fingerprint to unlock the iPhone 5s instead of relying on a four-digit code that has to be repeatedly typed in. The fingerprint reader can also be used to access Apple's apps and iTunes store instead of a password.

(Also see: 10 new features in Apple's iPhone 5s)

Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks the fingerprint scanner will revolutionize technology security. "There is going to be a whole new generation of kids who grow up not knowing what a password is," Cook predicted during a brief discussion with a small group of reporters after he left the room where Apple was demonstrating its new iPhones.

I found the fingerprint scanner, called "Touch ID," simple to use during my brief test of the 5s. It just took less than a minute for the phone to record the fingerprint on my thumb, instructing me along the way. Once my prints were in the phone's memory bank, all I had to do was lightly press on the home button when the 5s was locked in sleep mode and it quickly opened.

The 5s also contains a faster processor and technological wizardry designed to take sharper pictures and even record slow-motion video.

Best of all, though, the 5s comes with the iOS 7. I am already looking forward to downloading the software next week so I can simulate what it's like to have a new iPhone for free.

(Also see: Apple says iOS 7 will be available September 18)

Nokia, HTC quick to ridicule Apple's new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s

Quick to capitalise on what they clearly saw as a 'lukewarm' unveiling of the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, rivals HTC and Nokia have deployed their vast PR resources to variously disparage Apple.

HTC took to its blog, in a post titled "Here's to Confirmation," and pointed to the lack of innovation on Apple's part of simply (and once again) upgrading components, while still retaining the same design fundamentals. The Taiwanese manufacturer asked forward-looking consumers to forget about the iPhone 5s, and choose its own products, which offer a "real change" with a "genuinely new experience." It even initiated the HTC Trade Up program, where users can exchange their iPhone devices for minimum $150 rebate on a new HTC One (pictured above).

Here's a quote from HTC's blog: Compare the HTC One that to what you saw today. An iPhone 5 that looks the same as the one before it, and the one before that. But it's made out of metal! It features a camera with bigger pixels! And there's a second line of phones made with colored plastic unibodies! Sound familiar?

Nokia US didn't even wait until after the event, and took to Twitter to share its 'opinion', while Apple was still making its announcement. Nokia called the Apple iPhone 5c, which will come in a wide variety of colours, an obvious attempt to copy the multi-hued Lumia design philosophy.

What do you think of Apple's new mobile offerings? Is the iPhone 5s a worthy upgrade? Does the iPhone 5c make you reach for your wallet? Let us know in the comments section below.

iPhone 5c price disappointment: 'Cheaper iPhone' fails to check-in

Apple unveiled two new iPhones at a special event held at its Cupertino headquarters on Tuesday. It announced iPhone 5s, successor to the iPhone 5, which comes with a lot of new features like a brand new A7 processor, the first 64-bit chip inside a smartphone, improved camera, and, the highlight of the device, a fingerprint-scanner called Touch ID.

Apple also unveiled iPhone 5c, which was widely anticipated to be the low-cost iPhone, but it turned out to be a big disappointment on that aspect. While the iPhone 5c boasts impressive hardware specifications and comes in a wide variety of colours, the key criteria for this iPhone was always going to be the price, and this is where it disappoints.

The iPhone 5c was supposed to be Apple's weapon to take on Android in at least the mid-level smartphone segment, if an entry-level pricing was never going to come to fruition. However, one look at the off-contract pricing for the iPhone 5s in various regions, and all those hopes can be put to rest.

The entry-level 16GB iPhone 5c without a contract has been priced at $549 in the US. That comes out to a whopping Rs. 35,000 at current exchange rates (1 USD = 63.65 INR) and does not include the duties and other charges that come in while pricing a product in India. If you were hoping for a sub-Rs. 25,000 pricing for the iPhone 5c in India, it's safe to say we won't see anything like that.

The pricing in other regions is even worse, with the iPhone 5c priced at 599 euros (approximately Rs. 50,500) in Germany and 469 pounds in the UK (approximately Rs. 47,000). Of course both those prices include VAT, which can be sizeable. Pricing in Hong Kong is HKD 4,688 (approximately Rs. 38,500). However, it's the pricing in China, one of two "emerging markets" - the other being India - that the iPhone 5c was said to be targeting that is really surprising. The iPhone 5c price in China is 4488 Chinese Yuan Renminbi, which works out to over Rs. 46,500, without duties or any other charges.

With just a $100 price difference between the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s, it's a little difficult to fathom why the iPhone 5c even exists. The iPhone 5c surely won't help Apple penetrate into any newer markets, and its only selling point seems to the number of colours it's available in.

It seems Apple is not willing to shed its 'premium' tag just yet, and that, more than anything else from Tuesday's event. will surely disappoint millions who were hoping to see Apple in a more 'affordable' avatar.

Apple sends invites for September 10 special event, new iPhones expected

After a flurry of rumours, we now have official confirmation from Apple that it's hosting a special event on September 10 in San Francisco, where it's expected to announce two new iPhones and the final version of iOS 7, the next iteration of its mobile OS.

Apple has started sending invites for the special event according to a number of Apple-focused publications including Jim Dalrymple's The Loop. The event will be held at Apple's Cupertino headquarters and will start at 10am Pacific Time. 

The picture accompanying the invite features a White Apple logo surrounded with circles in different colours, in line with the colourful new UI of iOS 7 and perhaps representing the colourful shells of the iPhone 5C, the alleged budget iPhone. The image is marked by a 'This should brighten everyone's day' message.

A number of rumours including some by credible publications and journalists such as AllThingsD and Jim Dalrymple, had confirmed September 10 as the most probable date for Apple hosting a special event to announce the next generation iPhone, iPhone 5S and the low cost iPhone, iPhone 5C.

The iPhone 5S is expected to come with a brand new Apple chip, the A7, alongside 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM, retaining the form factor of the iPhone 5. A 128GB storage variant of the phone has also been rumoured. The iPhone 5S is likely to come with a larger f2.0 aperture compared to the iPhone 5, that comes with f2.4 aperture. It's also likely to sport a fingerprint reader.

The low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C has leaked several times. Alleged pictures of the iPhone 5C have revealed a plastic polycarbonate body back panel in White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green colours, a round camera lens and LED flash, Apple logo and iPhone branding. It's expected to be powered by a dual-core CPU, and have a 4-inch screen, just like the iPhone 5, with a resolution of 640x1136 pixels. The iPhone 5C is rumoured to have 1GB of RAM, and come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage variants. It'a also likely to sport an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel front facing camera camera and run iOS 7 complete with Siri which would be available in English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Spanish.

The iPhone is usually made available to the public in major markets including US, Canada, France, Japan, Hong Kong, UK, and Singapore, around a week after the official announcement. Rumours have indicated that Apple will start selling the iPhone starting September 20. 

iPhone 5C leaked specifications point to dual-core CPU, Siri support

We've seen the low-cost iPhone or the iPhone 5C a number of times in multiple colours thanks to leaked videos and images. However, not much is known about the hardware specifications of the phone except that it might feature internals similar to the iPhone 5. A new report claims to shed some light on the specifications of the low-cost iPhone.

According to SIM Only Radar, the iPhone 5C will be powered by a dual-core CPU, and will have a 4-inch screen, just like the iPhone 5, with a resolution of 640x1136 pixels. The site cites a specs sheet that it received from a tipster as the source for this information.

The sheet mentions that the iPhone 5C will have 1GB of RAM, and will come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage variants. It will sport an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel front facing camera camera and run iOS 7 complete with Siri which would be available in English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Spanish, as per the tipster.

The iPhone 5C will reportedly be 6 grams lighter than the iPhone 5 at 106 grams and will measure 124.2 x 58.4 x 7.6 mm. The iPhone 5 measures 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm. If the rumoured specifications are true than the phone would almost be the same size as that of the iPhone 5.

It's worth pointing out that Apple hasn't officially acknowledged the presence of a low-cost iPhone. The low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C has leaked several times. Alleged pictures of the iPhone 5C have revealed a plastic polycarbonate body back panel in White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green colours, a round camera lens and LED flash, lightning connector port, Apple logo and iPhone branding.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S along with the iPhone 5C on September 10 at an event in San Francisco.

Phone 5S Gold and Graphite back shells leak in new videos

Looks like Apple has not been able to prevent its upcoming devices from leaking innumerable times, ahead of their rumoured launch. The next-generation iPhone, the iPhone 5S, and the low-cost iPhone, iPhone 5C, appear online in different leaks almost every day.

In line with previous rumours that pointed to the iPhone 5S being offered in two new colours, Gold and Graphite, some new videos showcasing the back shell of the next generation iPhone in these two colours have appeared online.

First spotted by 9to5Mac, a new video by TLDToday, compares the internal structure of the Gold iPhone 5S' casing with that of the iPhone 5, noting that it's much different from its predecessor. The video reveals that the space reserved for the battery has increased, and position of the logic board screws has been changed, with the logic board and chip set being expected to take less space. So, we can expect the iPhone 5S to have a better battery life in addition to a faster processor and graphics. The video also reconfirms the pill shaped dual-LED flash as seen on previously leaked cases of the iPhone 5S. 

 

Another video from DetroitBORG compare the iPhone 5S shell to the iPhone 5C shell noting that the 5C shell sports larger dimensions compared to the 5S. The iPhone branding is again in a thinner font, similar to past leaks.
 
 

The website also features a third video by iPhone jailbreaker Tanner Marsh of iCrackUriDevice fame, which features the back casing of a Graphite or Grey coloured iPhone 5S. The shell looks very similar to the Slate and Black iPhone 5 except that the colour is a bit lighter. However, this could also be an early prototype of the Slate and Black iPhone
. 

The iPhone 5S is expected to come with a brand new Apple chip, the A7, alongside 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM, retaining the form factor of the iPhone 5. A 128GB storage variant of the phone has also been rumoured. The iPhone 5S is likely to come with a larger f2.0 aperture compared to the iPhone 5, that comes with f2.4 aperture. It's also likely to sport a fingerprint reader.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S along with the iPhone 5C, the cheaper version of the iPhone, on September 10 at an event in San Francisco

iPhone sales power China Telecom to higher profits

State-owned China Telecom, the country's third biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers, said Wednesday that profit grew in the first half of the year as revenue from iPhone sales kicked in.

Beijing-based China Telecom, also the world's biggest fixed-line telephone operator, stepped up marketing spending to woo customers after it became the second Chinese mobile company to offer Apple's popular iPhone in the first half of 2012.

Company officials had warned the increased spending would hurt short-term profitability but help in the long term.

The efforts appear to have paid off.

The company posted a 10.2 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) profit in the January-June period, up 16 percent from the year before.

Operating revenue rose 14 percent to 157.5 billion yuan.

China's three state-owned mobile phone companies are locked in an increasingly competitive battle as they invest heavily in faster fourth-generation networks to support new data-hungry smartphones and tablet computers.

China Telecom Chairman Wang Xiaochu also warned of the threat from free instant messaging apps such as the hugely popular WeChat that have eroded two important sources of revenue, text messaging and voice calls

"There are still uncertainties in domestic regulatory policies while the accelerated evolution of new technologies is driving up industry competition," Wang said. "The cross-sector competition of mobile internet gradually emerged. In future we will face new challenges."

The company's mobile customers rose to 174.5 million, up 13.8 million from the end of last year. Mobile data revenue rose 36 percent.

Fixed lines slipped 4 percent to 159.6 million.

Apple to begin shipping two new iPhones in September: Report

Apple has asked its Taiwan-based supplier to begin shipping two new versions of the iPhone next month, including a lower-cost model, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The Journal, citing unnamed sources, said Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision, the parent company of Foxconn in China, was readying both a standard iPhone with new upgrades and a less expensive model with fewer features.

Last week, the news site AllThingsD, part of the same company as The Journal, said Apple had scheduled a September 10 event to unveil the new smartphones as part of an effort to regain momentum.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment.

Apple's move comes with its chief rival Samsung reportedly set to unveil its own smartphones and other devices, including a smart watch.

Speculation has centred around whether Apple will shift its strategy to include a lower-cost handset to appeal to more consumers, especially in emerging markets.

A survey released by Gartner last week said Apple's share of the smartphone market worldwide fell to 14.2 percent in the second quarter, while Samsung's share rose to 31.7 percent.

Gartner said the Google Android operating system was used on 79 percent of smartphones sold in the period.

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C pictured alongside iPhone 5 in leaked images

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, the next-generation iPhone and the much-rumoured low-cost iPhone respectively, have made yet another appearance in a series of images shared on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo.

The images, picked up by GSMArena.com via SimOnlyRadar.nl, give an idea of how the two new iPhone models will look compared to the existing iPhone 5. As the site notes, the iPhone 5S (left in the picture above) and iPhone 5C (centre in the picture above) are actually dummy devices, but the image highlights the differences (or lack thereof) in the size and physical appearance of the devices.

In addition to the image posted above, the site has also posted a series of other images that show the new devices from various angles.

There's nothing new to note in terms of the appearance of the phones, with the iPhone 5C sporting a White plastic body and the iPhone 5S bearing a metallic finish similar to the iPhone 5. Looking at the images, there's no way to ascertain the absence of presence of a fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S, as has been rumoured.

There's no fresh information in terms of specifications of either phones, to confirm or deny what we've heard earlier.

While there's no official word yet, Apple is expected to unveil the next generation iPhone and a lower-cost iPhone at a special event on September 10. A new report suggests that Apple may begin shipping both iPhones soon thereafter.

iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C to go on sale on September 20 in Japan and Greece: Reports

After emergence of September 10 as the date when Apple will host a special event, and reports of Apple asking its suppliers to begin shipping two new versions of the iPhone shortly thereafter, it appears that the Cupertino giant will indeed launch its new iPhones soon, if two new reports are to be believed.

A report in Nikkei mentions that Apple's next generation iPhone, the iPhone 5S and the low-cost iPhone 5C would launch on September 20, ten days after the phones are announced at an even in San Francisco.

Greece-based website, Techmaniacs also confirms that the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C will launch on September 20, while it also claims that Apple will release the final version of iOS 7 on September 16.

Just a few days back, image of a purported Gold coloured iPhone 5S had appeared online. The phone was pictured from various angles and sports a form factor similar to the current generation iPhone. This is in line with what we've heard earlier since the physical dimensions of the next-generation iPhone - expected to be called iPhone 5S - are believed to be identical to the iPhone 5.

The usually reliable KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also said that Apple is planning to introduce a 128GB storage variant of the next-generation iPhone, in line with company's move to introduce a 128GB fourth-generation iPad, earlier this year. The analyst also predicted that the next-generation iPhone will come with a brand new Apple chip, the A7, alongside 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. 

Kou also believes that iPhone 5S will come with larger f2.0 aperture compared to the iPhone 5, that comes with f2.4 aperture.The analyst also reiterated that the iPhone 5S will come with a dual LED flash and fingerprint reader.

The low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C has leaked several times. Alleged pictures of the iPhone 5C have revealed a plastic polycarbonate body back panel in White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green colours, a round camera lens and LED flash, Apple logo and iPhone branding. However, we've not heard much about the specifications of the phone till now.

iPhone 5S purportedly pictured in Gold colour, 128GB storage variant predicted

The next-generation iPhone is set to launch on September 10, and the rumours and leaks related to the phone are going into overdrive.

Engadget has shared an image of a purported Gold iPhone 5S that was originally posted by Macboutic.fr. The phone is pictured from various angles and sports a form factor similar to the current generation iPhone. This is in line with what we've heard earlier since the physical dimensions of the next-generation iPhone - expected to be called iPhone 5S - are believed to be identical to the iPhone 5.

Interestingly, the images do not sport any Apple branding, as seen on the back of iPhones and iPads, which the publication notes is a deliberate move. The site has also shared pictures of some of the internal parts of the purported iPhone 5S.

Meanwhile, Apple Insider is quoting the usually reliable KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo to say that Apple is planning to introduce a 128GB storage variant of the next-generation iPhone, in line with company's move to introduce a 128GB fourth-generation iPad earlier this year.

The analyst also predicts that, as expected, the next-generation iPhone will come with a brand new Apple chip, the A7, alongside 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. According to the Kou, the latest chip is expected to be based on the ARMv8 architecture, and Apple's new design may provide improved efficiencies of up to 20 percent. Kou also believes that iPhone 5S will come with larger f2.0 aperture compared to the iPhone 5, that comes with f2.4 aperture.

The analyst also reiterates that the iPhone 5S will come with a dual LED flash and fingerprint reader.

Purported pictures of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C parts appear online, September 10 event confirmed by close source

If rumours are to be believed, than the next generation iPhone, which is most likely to be named iPhone 5S, and the new low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C, would be released in about a month's time on September 10. 

While the source of the rumour, AllThingsD, is one of the most credible source when it comes to all things Apple, The Loop's Jim Dalrymple, who is well connected at Apple, has also responded in the affirmative. He has a great track record of being accurate with Apple related rumours, so it's all but certain that the event will take place on September 10.

Meanwhile, pictures featuring parts that appear to be the top and bottom strips for the back of the iPhone 5S, have also surfaced online. French website Nowhereelse.fr has posted these pictures that originally appeared on Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo. The top strip has space for a dual-LED flash, in line with previous rumours that pointed to the next generation iPhone sporting a pill shaped dual-LED flash or a smart flash which will have white or yellow light depending on the ambient light conditions. Previously, purported pictures of an iPhone 5S prototype that appeared in June, had also revealed the same camera flash.

Recently, Japanese website Mac Otakara had also suggested that the iPhone 5S camera would sport the same 8-megapixel resolution but the lens would feature some enhancements including a wider f/2.0 aperture for taking low-light photos, reaffirming KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's predictions. 

While it's still not clear if the low-cost iPhone, rumoured to be named the iPhone 5C will also be unveiled on September 10, images of the alleged volume rocker buttons of the budget iPhone have also appeared online. Sonny Dickson, who had previously posted a gallery of high resolution pictures of the purported low-cost iPhone, has now posted a set of pill shaped plastic buttons in Green, Yellow, Red and Blue colours.

It's interesting to note that the low-cost iPhone has leaked several times but the pictures were of preproduction units and did not feature cut outs for the Power and Volume rocker keys. The plastic, coloured buttons are in line with the low-cost iPhone's alleged coloured shells, also made of plastic.

iPhone 5C spotted in new high-resolution pictures, expected price leaks

The purported low-cost iPhone just doesn't stop when it comes to making appearances online.

New high resolution photos of the alleged device have surfaced online, once again, courtesy Sonny Dickson who had earlier shared a video of a partially assembled low-cost iPhone (also identified as iPhone 5C).

Dickson has posted an entire picture gallery featuring close up shots of the low cost iPhone's back and sides, in addition to photos of its internals.

The device pictured matches the one that previously appeared in high resolution images and video.

The pictures show the same plastic polycarbonate body back panel that appeared in recent leaks, in glossy White, complete with a round camera lens and LED flash, Apple logo and iPhone branding.

At the bottom of the phone, there's a small hole for the second microphone, next to the 3.5mm headset jack port, two screw holes with the Lightning connector port at the centre, and four holes for the speaker towards bottom right.

It's worth pointing out that similar to previous appearances, the shell does not have any buttons or even a SIM-tray, though it does have holes at the designated places in line with the iPhone 5. It also doesn't have any certification logos. Perhaps the device is still a stage away from the final product. The pictures of the internals also don't reveal much as they don't feature the main board.

While the device is said to be the low cost iPhone, it's still difficult to confirm if Apple will indeed launch it this fall when it's expected to announce new devices.

It's also being rumoured that Apple will launch the phone at a price of 3000 yuan ($490 or Rs. 30,000 approximately). According to a post on Sina Weibo by C technology (via PhoneArena), as expected, the low cost iPhone might not be a budget device though it will be priced relatively less compared to the iPhone 5.

Android's smartphone marketshare rises to nearly 80 percent: IDC

Smartphones powered by Google's Android software increased their global market share as iPhones lost ground in the absence of new models being unleashed by Apple, the International Data Corporation reported Wednesday.

Android's share of the smartphone market grew to 79.3 percent in the second quarter while that of iPhone slipped to 13.2 percent from 16.6 percent in the same three-month period last year, according to IDC figures.

(Also see: Android powered 69 percent of smartphones shipped in Q4 2012: Report)

"The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone," said IDC mobile phone research team manager Ramon Llamas, referring to the software platform on which the Apple handsets are built.

"Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple's market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition."

Apple is "well positioned" to recapture market share with the release later this year of a new iPhone and the next-generation iOS mobile operating system, according to Llamas.

IDC reported that 187 million Android-powered smartphones were shipped in the second quarter of the year as compared to 31.2 million iPhones.

Smartphones powered by Microsoft Windows software showed the biggest jump, hitting 3.7-percent of the market in a 77.6 percent rise that "re-enforced" the mobile platform's third-place position, according to IDC.

(Also see: Windows Phone inches ahead of BlackBerry in smartphone marketshare: IDC)

The gain was driven by Nokia, which released hot new Windows smartphones and accounted for just shy of 82 percent of the 8.7 million Windows phones shipped worldwide during the quarter.

"Last quarter we witnessed Windows Phone shipments surpassing BlackBerry and the trend has continued into the second quarter," said IDC mobility tracker program manager Ryan Reith.

"Nokia has clearly been the driving force behind the Windows Phone platform, and we expect that to continue."

Ailing Blackberry saw its share of the global smartphone market shrink to 2.9 percent from 4.9 percent in the second quarter last year, IDC reported.

A total of 236.4 million smartphones were shipped during the quarter in a 51.3 percent rise from the 156.2 million shipped in the same period a year earlier, according to IDC.

Android retained its crown as the top smartphone platform in the United States in the quarter with 59 percent of the market, the same as the prior quarter, a report released Tuesday by comScore indicated.

California-based Apple remained the most popular smartphone maker in US and its share of that market was up slightly to 39.9 percent from the first three months of this year, according to comScore.

Paid $1200 for two iPhones, received two apples. Literally.

A 21-year-old Australian woman who was trying to buy Apple smartphones online was conned into paying USD 1,200 for two edible apples!

The woman, who has not been named, had posted an ad on website Gumtree asking to buy two Apple smartphones.

She was soon contacted by another woman who said she had 'two Apples' for sale.

They met at a McDonald's restaurant where the woman handed over the money for what she thought were two new smartphone boxes. The buyer did not check inside the boxes and on arriving home found they contained real apples.

Senior Constable Jess Hopkin of the Crime Prevention Unit in Upper Mt Gravatt, near Brisbane, warned people to be careful when buying things online, according to 'Herald Sun'.

"If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

It's really just common sense," said Hopkin.

Gumtree spokeswoman Niki Hennessy said the company took the safety and security of its users seriously.

"We are continually improving processes and user education to make Gumtree the safest possible platform for buying and selling," she said.

Apple announces trade-in program for third-party chargers

Fears of dangerous shocks caused by unsanctioned chargers for Apple gadgets prompted the company on Monday to announce a trade-in program.

Beginning on August 16, people with counterfeit or third-party power adaptors will be able to swap them for certified Apple models for the local equivalent of $10.

"Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third party adapters may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues," Apple said in a blog post.

"While not all third party adapters have an issue, we are announcing a USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to enable customers to acquire properly designed adapters."

People must bring the unwanted chargers along with a corresponding iPod, iPad, or iPhone to an Apple Retail Store or to an authorized Apple service provider.

Apple said device serial numbers need to be valid to qualify for the adapter trade-in program, which will continue until October 18.

Last month, Apple began investigating reports that a women in China was electrocuted while using an iPhone that was charging.

USPTO turns down Apple's claim on 'pinch to zoom'

In a setback to Apple, the US Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) has rejected the company's claims on the 'pinch to zoom' gesture. The claim is also part of the lawsuit filed by the Cupertino giant against Samsung Electronics in the court and this could now affect the amount of damages that Samsung has to pay to Apple, as the latter has already appealed for a retrial.

According to a report by PC World, 21 claims of a patent including "pinch to zoom" filed by Apple, were rejected by the USPTO in a "final office action," as the patent office felt that these were unpatentable or already anticipated by previous patents.

As per a patent office document, claim 8 relates to "determining whether the event object invokes a scroll or gesture operation by distinguishing between a single input point applied to the touch-sensitive display that is interpreted as the scroll operation and two or more input points applied to the touch-sensitive display that are interpreted as the gesture operation."

The USPTO ruled that claim 8 related to "pinch to zoom" was anticipated in US Patent No. 7,724,242 awarded to Daniel W. Hillis and Bran Ferren. "Hillis teaches distinguishing the number of contact points and determining whether the event object matches a gesture pattern," ruled the USPTO.

Apple can respond to the decision within two months, and just like the previous instances, can go to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board for a judicial review.

The "pinch to zoom" patent covers a two finger gesture on a touch screen that was first introduced by Apple with the iPhone. It lets users pinch with two fingers to zoom in and out while browsing a webpage, image or a document. Pinching in zooms in while pinching out zooms out.

As we mentioned, the "pinch to zoom" gesture is part of claim 8 of Apple's patent (7,844,915('915 patent)) which was also included in Apple's lawsuit against Samsung in the court.

In August 2012, a jury had awarded Apple US$1.05 billion in damages as it found that 21 out of 24 Samsung smartphones and tablets infringed claim 8 of Apple's patent.

However, Samsung filed an appeal in US District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division and the court has now ordered a partial retrial.

Apple's cheaper iPhone to be called iPhone 5C?

While rumours are rife about Apple launching a new low cost variant of the iPhone, it's still not known what the purported phone will be called. 

However, a new leaked photograph of plastic retail packaging that appeared on a Chinese website shows white plastic boxes marked 'iPhone 5C' complete with the Apple logo. It's hard to confirm if the packaging boxes are genuine, or whether they're being made for Apple's upcoming low-cost iPhone. 

If we assume that these boxes are genuine, then it's likely that Apple would use them for it's budget iPhone which is rumoured to come in a number of colour options. The leaked picture was posted on Chines website WeiPhone and was first spotted by Nowhereelse.fr.

While the next generation iPhone is likely to be called the iPhone 5S, inline with Apple's nomenclature pattern for the iPhone, the 'C' in iPhone 5C could denote 'colour/ color'.

Another interesting thing to note here is that the plastic boxes seen in the leaked images appear to have a lining inside where a front cover, which would most likely be transparent, can fit. So the packaging would be pretty similar to the iPod touch's packaging to highlight the new iPhone's coloured trims. 

The budget iPhone has made several appearances in pictures and videos. The leaks hint at colourful back panels made of polycarbonate/ plastic and a 4.0-inch screen. 

A video of the phone appeared on the blog of Techdy, showing the  plastic polycarbonate body back panel of the alleged low-cost iPhone that appeared in recent leaks.

French website Nowhereelse.fr had earlier shared a couple of pictures that originally appeared on a Chinese website depicting Red, Yellow and Green plastic shell cases of what looks like the back of a new variant of iPhone.

Another picture of the rear shell appeared in April, and was shared by case manufacturer Tactus. The case maker had said that the cheaper iPhone would be available in Black, White, Blue, Red and Yellow colours, citing the 'factory producing this secretive project' as a source. Tactus had informed that the actual phone might be around 9mm thick, 120mm in height and around 62-65mm in width, making it both taller and wider than the iPhone 4 and 4S.

Apple-focused Japanese blog Macotakara had also suggested that the new low-cost iPhone will come in multiple colours.

Australian woman electrocuted while using iPhone

A 20-year-old Australian woman has been hospitalised in Sydney after she got a shock from her iPhone, according to media reports.

The woman from Sydney's north was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition, the spokeswoman of New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance was quoted as saying in reports.

It is not known if the phone was plugged in to a charger at the time, she said, adding that the paramedics had responded to a number of shocks from mobile phone chargers this year.

Inspector John Brotherhood said it only took a small shock to interfere with your heart.

"Basically, if the jolt moves you, if it takes your breath away or if it's at all a cause for concern, you need to get it checked out," he said.

The incident comes a week after technology giant Apple announced it will launch an investigation into claims that an iPhone electrocuted a Chinese flight attendant who was making a call while charging her iphone.

(Also see: Chinese family says daughter got electrocuted while using iPhone)

NSW Ambulance attended 232 Triple Zero calls for electric shocks between January 1 and June 30 this year, reports said.

Apple may have delayed - or ramped up - production of iPhone 5S as rumour mill goes into overdrive

The silly season of rumours related to Apple's next generation iPhone is officially here. Two reports released on the same day claim diametrically opposite things as far as the production status of the iPhone 5S is concerned.

First up is a report from Bloomberg that quotes Taiwanese newspaper The Commercial Times, to say that Apple may delay the launch of the iPhone 5S until the end of the year after the design was changed to feature a bigger 4.3-inch display. This, the report claims, is a delay from the originally planned launch date of September or October.

However, the cheaper iPhone seems to be on track for a launch in Q3 this year, according to the Commercial Times report, after chips for the phone started shipping in June.

That brings us to the report in AllThingsD that quotes Jefferies analyst Peter Misek who suggests that while production ramp-up for the cheaper iPhone is indeed underway, Apple's manufacturing partners will also begin pumping out the iPhone 5S later this month, a contradiction to the report that Bloomberg cites.

Misek also shares his thoughts on the pricing of the cheaper iPhone.

Interestingly, Misek said that iPhone production ramp-up will follow one that's already under way for Apple's long-rumored lower-cost iPhone, a device he figures the company will price somewhere between $300 and $400 - without a subsidy. He estimates production plans at 25 million to 30 million units, split pretty much evenly across the 5s and its new lower-cost sibling. And he said the new entry probably won't be competitive with the truly low-end handsets popular in emerging markets.