iPhone 5s vs. iPhone 5: The improved camera

Apple unveiled the iPhone 5s, the successor to its bestselling flagship phone, the iPhone 5, on Tuesday. The iPhone 5s is a much improved version of the iPhone 5 with new internals, although it sports almost the same design. It offers some revolutionary features including a new A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, a fingerprint scanner, new colour options and better battery life, among others.

The iPhone 5s also boasts of a much improved iSight camera. Apple has not increased the resolution of the sensor but has put a new 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 5s that has a 15 percent larger sensor, bigger pixels measuring 1.5 microns and an aperture of f/2.2 allowing more light to come in, in addition to a backside illumination sensor (BSI). This, according to Apple, will allow users to take good quality pictures even in low light, apart from capturing sharper detail.

Also see: Take a look at our complete specification by specification comparison in tabular format here: Apple iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 5s comparison.

The Apple iPhone 5s' iSight camera comes with a continuous burst mode which is capable of shooting 10 pictures per second, and offers a real-time analysis suggesting individual shots or a sequence of photos that users might like best.

The iSight camera on the iPhone 5s comes with an accompanying True Tone Flash that feature a white LED and an amber LED which work with software algorithms to adjust flash intensity and colour temperature, with over 1000 unique combinations to light the subject.

The latest iSight camera also comes with auto-image stabilisation to help reduce noise and motion from shaky hands or moving subjects. The camera also offers a Slo-Mo mode to shoot slow motion video at 120 frames per second at 720p. It also comes with live video zoom for zooming in up to 3x while shooting a video, in addition to live photo filters that can be previewed before shooting a picture.

In addition to these, the iPhone 5s camera also offers a new Square mode for taking photos for sharing on social networks, and a Panorama mode for taking panorama photos. It's worth pointing out that these features are included in iOS 7 and would also be extended to the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5s sports a new 1.2-megapixel front-facing FaceTime HD Camera that also comes with a BSI sensor for capturing low-light self-clicks and support for 720p HD video recording for high-quality video chats.

Overall, the iPhone 5s offers a better camera bringing the ability to take images in low-light conditions, and capture slow motion videos. It also offers a smarter dual-LED flash.

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.

Touch ID: Inside the fingerprint scanner on Apple's iPhone 5s

Apple unveiled the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c at a special event held at its headquarters in Cupertino. While the iPhone 5c did not live up to its promise of being a 'low-cost iPhone', the iPhone 5s showed off some promising innovations, like the new Apple A7 chip and, perhaps the highlight of the event, a built-in fingerprint scanner called Touch ID.

Touch ID can be used to unlock the phone, by simply placing a finger on the Home button. It can also be used to confirm purchases made on the App Store, iBookstore or the iTunes Store.

You can scan and add multiple fingerprints (e.g. left and right thumbs, as well as index fingers), including those from multiple people (e.g. your wife or kids), and Touch ID will authenticate based on any of stored prints.

In case you are worried about privacy, Apple assures that fingerprints are encrypted and stored in a secure area inside the new A7 chip. Fingerprints are not accessible to any third-party apps, and nor are they sent to Apple's servers or backed onto iCloud.

So what's the technology behind Apple's latest innovation? The Touch ID capacitive sensor embedded in the Home button scans your finger at 500ppi resolution to get a high resolution image of your finger. The sensor embedded in the Home button is just 170 microns thin.

The new Home button is made out of sapphire crystal, one of the "clearest, hardest" materials out there. The Home button protects the fingerprint sensor and also acts as a lens to precisely beam your fingerprint to the scanner. The Home button is surrounded by a steel ring, that can detect touches and tell Touch ID to start scanning when a finger is placed.

The sensor uses advanced capacitive touch to take high-resolution image of the sub-epidermal layers of your skin. The resultant image is then analysed, and grouped into one of three fingerprint types: Arch, Loop or Whorl. It then analyses ridges and other details too small for the human eye to see, to come up with a match for one of the stored fingerprints.

Here's a video that gives a closer look at Touch ID.

10 new features in Apple's iPhone 5s

Apple unveiled the next-generation iPhone, iPhone 5s along with the new iPhone 5c at a special event on Tuesday. The iPhone 5s is a much improvised version of the iPhone 5 with new internals, although it sports almost the same design. It offers some revolutionary features. Here's a look at 10 new features of the iPhone 5s.

1. New A7 chip with 64-bit architecture
According to Apple, the iPhone 5s is the first smartphone in the world to be powered by a chip with a 64-bit architecture. The iPhone 5s' A7 chip delivers CPU and graphics performance up to 2x faster than the A6 chip that powered the iPhone 5.The phone runs a 64-bit version of iOS 7, designed to take advantage of the A7 chip. The A7 chip supports OpenGL ES version 3.0 to deliver gaming console-level detailed graphics and complex visual effects. The iOS 7 native apps including the Camera app takes advantage of the new A7 processor.

2. Touch ID - the fingerprint scanner
The most talked about feature of the iPhone 5s, the Touch ID is a new fingerprint identity sensor integrated with the phone's Home button. Fingerprint recognition can be used for unlocking the phone and also for approving purchases from iTunes Store, the App Store, and the iBooks Store. The Touch ID feature is capable of 360-degree readability allowing users to enter fingerprints in portrait, landscape, or any other position. It even supports multiple fingerprints. The iPhone 5s Home button is made from sapphire and is scratch resistant.

3. A new M7 coprocessor for efficiency
The iPhone 5s' A7 processor is supported by its M7 coprocessor that takes care of measuring motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass sensors of the phone, sending them to new fitness apps without waking up the A7 processor, leading to improved battery life. It also recognises different types of motion.

4. A new iSight camera
Apple has put a new 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 5s that has a 15 percent larger sensor, bigger pixels measuring 1.5 microns and an aperture of f/2.2 allowing more light to come in. It comes with a Continuous burst mode which is capable of shooting 10 pictures per second, and offers a real-time analysis suggesting individual shots or a sequence of photos that users might like best.

The camera comes with an accompanying True Tone Flash that feature a white LED and an amber LED which work with software algorithms to adjust flash intensity and colour temperature, with over 1000 unique combinations to light the subject.
The iPhone 5s camera comes with auto-image stabilisation to help reduce noise and motion from shaky hands or moving subjects. The camera also offers a Slo-Mo mode to shoot slow motion video at 120 frames per second at 720p. It also comes with Live video zoom for zooming in up to 3x while shooting a video, in addition to live filters.

5. A new FaceTime HD front-facing camera
The iPhone 5s sports a new 1.2-megapixel front-facing FaceTime Camera that comes with a Backside illumination sensor (BSI sensor) for capturing low-light images and support for 720p HD video recording.

6. Support for a large number of 4G LTE bands
The iPhone 5s has up to 13 LTE bands, more than any other single model of a smartphone. This will allow iPhone 5s users to access high-speed Internet in more countries around the world. The new iPhone even supports Band 40, which is the same frequency band on which Airtel's 4G service has been deployed in India.

7. Two new colour options
The iPhone 5s is based on the iPhone 5's design complete with the chamfered edges. However, Apple has scrapped the Black variant and introduced a new Space Gray colour, in addition to the widely rumoured Gold colour variant.

8. iOS 7
The new iPhone 5s will run iOS 7 that leverages its 64-bit A7 chip, the Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor, and the new iSight camera. It also sports a brand new user interface and brings new features, such as a refreshed multitasking view, AirDrop, and Control Center. It also offers new native apps and a new version of Siri.

9. Better battery life
The iPhone 5s claims to offer up to 10 hours of talk time on 3G and standby time of 250 hours. In contrast, the iPhone 5 claims to deliver 8 hours of talk time on 3G and standby time of 225 hours.

10. Free bundled apps
Apple will also offer its premium iWork and iLife apps including Pages, Keynote, Number, iLife and iMovie, free to customers who buy the new iPhone 5s.

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 unveils iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s

Apple Inc introduced two new iPhones on Tuesday including the "iPhone 5c" that comes in five colors and starts at $99 with a contract, priced to bring one of the industry's costliest smartphones within reach of the masses in poorer emerging markets.

Chief Executive Tim Cook kicked off the event at the company's Cupertino headquarters which also ushered in the pricier iPhone 5s. Shares in Apple, which had been in negative territory most of the morning, briefly went positive and were down just 0.5 percent at $503.48.

Cook expects Apple to ship the 700 millionth device - an iPhone or iPad - based on iOS mobile software sometime next month.

The world's most valuable technology company is trying to beat back rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in markets like India and China, where it is quickly losing ground.

Wall Street approves of the move to offer a more basic version of the device, although some investors warned initially that it would reduce margins and potentially tarnish a brand that has been linked to premium users since its 2007 inception.

Now they hope a bigger emerging-market presence can help reverse a 29 percent fall in the company's share price since it hit a record high of $702.10 a year ago. The selloff was fueled by fears of slowing growth and a perception that Apple's ability to innovate and shake up industries was dwindling.

The new iPhones, coupled with a belief that Apple will announce a deal with the world's largest carrier in China, have spurred investors to build bullish share and options positions in the company over the past two weeks.

Also sparking Apple's upward momentum was hedge fund billionaire Carl Icahn's revelation last month that he had taken a large position and was pushing for the company to expand its program of share buybacks.

He has said the stock may rise to as much as $700 if Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook pushed for a larger buyback. The shares were down 0.5 percent at $503.64 in morning trading.

Industry observers said Apple had not turned out a category-defining electronic device since late co-founder Steve Jobs made a bet on the iPad in 2010. Speculation revolves around a smartwatch along the same lines as Samsung's recently introduced Galaxy Gear, or some sort of TV product.

But analysts said neither was likely to generate numbers anywhere in the neighborhood of the iPhone, which supplies half of Apple's revenue and is the company's highest-margin product.

"Apple needs to demonstrate in the coming months that it has other product lines which can start to make up for slowing growth and falling margins in (the) iPhone and iPad," said Jan Dawson, a chief telecoms analyst for Ovum Research. "That's a tall order."

More immediately, Apple will get a boost if it succeeds in enlisting China Mobile Ltd in its iPhone network. For the first time, the company will host media in Beijing just nine hours after its Cupertino, California, launch, spurring speculation it will announce a distribution agreement with the Chinese carrier.

The world's largest wireless carrier serves more than 740 million users and is perceived as more amenable to carrying the popular smartphone now that profit and subscriber growth are decelerating. Net income grew just 2 percent in the quarter that ended in June.

And smaller rivals China Unicom and China Telecom, which both already sell Apple's iPhone are making headway against the market leader.

Separately, Japan's largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo, is expected to begin selling it as soon as this fall, other sources said.

One key question is whether Apple will also sell its cheaper iPhone 5c in more mature markets like Europe or the United States, heightening the risk that it will begin cannibalizing sales of the flagship 5s.

Globally, the market for cheaper smartphones priced around $300 - the iPhone 5 now starts at $649 without a contract - may grow to 900 million units by 2015, Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimated. Assuming Apple manages to capture just 10 percent of that market, the 5c would bring in revenue of $30 billion annually.

"The only real potential to surprise investors (on Tuesday) seems to be in the scope and velocity of a new China strategy, and any new features within iOS 7 and fingerprint scanner technology," said Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes.

"Since it missed the trend toward larger screened phones and seems poised for only incremental iPad improvements, we believe that Apple needs to prove it can innovate in software and services."

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. 

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 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, fifth-generation iPad and iPhone 5S parts spotted in fresh, separate leaks

While the purported low-cost iPhone (also referred to as the iPhone 5C) has made a number of online appearances, alleged pictures of the next generation iPad's rear shell surfaced last week.

Following up on the previous rumours, Apple focused Japanese website Mac Otakara has published(via Sonny Dickson) two new videos of partially assembled low cost iPhone (iPhone 5C) and next-generation iPad.

The first video shows the front and back panel of the fifth-generation iPad assembled together. Interestingly, unlike the back panel that appeared in leaked pictures, last week, this one shows a transparent or translucent Apple logo similar to the one seen on MacBooks. The leaked images featured a case that had the Apple logo carved out.

 

The second video shows a similar assembly of the back and front panels of the alleged low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C. It shows the same White coloured plastic back panel that we've seen several times. It also reaffirms that the phone's front panel will be all black, similar to the image and video of the phone posted by Techdy in July.

 

New images featuring alleged iPhone 5S parts have also surfaced online courtesy Sonny Dickson. The parts include the nano-SIM tray and speaker button, flex cables for the home button, charger connector, Wi-Fi component, and speaker. However, there are no signs of a fingerprint scanner, support for which is said to be included in iOS 7.

As always, we'll add that the leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt as there's no way to verify the authenticity of the parts that appear in the video. Even if they're authentic, they could be from internal prototypes of these devices and not the final versions. 

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 5S, the next generation iPhone, along with the low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C in fall with iOS 7. The new iPad and iPad mini are also expected to be released in the fourth-quarter.

iOS 7 beta 4 code 'confirms' fingerprint sensor in new iPhone

Looks like rumours of a new iPhone with a fingerprint sensor might finally turn out to be true, going by close analysis of the latest beta of iOS 7.

According to a report by 9to5mac.com, iOS 7 beta 4, which was seeded to registered developers on Monday, includes a folder named "BiometricKitUI." The code present in the Accessibility section of the OS contains text strings related to a VoiceOver tutorial with instructions on using the fingerprint sensor on the iPhone. The report is in turn based on observations by Hamza Sood. The text strings mention:

"Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb 
Photo of a person holding an iPhone with their right hand while touching the Home button with their thumb 
A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process. 
Recognition is %@ complete"

The string indicates that the fingerprint sensor would most likely be present on the iPhone's Home button and it's likely that it would be deployed in the unlocking mechanism of the phone.

Previous reports had indicated that Apple had selected Taiwanese chip maker Chipbond for sourcing a number of components for the iPhone 5S, including the touch display driver and hardware to support fingerprint sensor and near field communications (NFC) functionality. The report suggested that Apple would integrate the fingerprint sensor with NFC driven mobile payments to strengthen security, which remains a major concern for the company.

Apple had acquired mobile security firm AuthenTec, last year, in a deal valued at about $356 million. AuthenTec makes security software and chips including chips for fingerprint recognition and near-field communication (NFC) for mobile phones that it licenses to companies like Samsung. After the deal, analysts and tech pundits have been expecting Apple to use the technology in its next generation iPhone. Another report had pointed out to the company's notice to its customers saying that it won't offer its technology to them starting 2013.

While the Apple iPhone 5 was also rumoured to support NFC before its launch, the company did not include it. It does support mobile payments via Passbook, Apple's software-based wallet. 

Earlier, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had also claimed in his new research report that the Apple iPhone 5S would have a fingerprint reader under the Home button for security.

Meanwhile, the iOS 7 beta 4 brings several performance, usability and cosmetic changes. In terms of UI changes, the beta fixes the position of the 'slide to unlock' arrow in the lock screen, brings new buttons to the dialler and call answer screens, a Cancel option in universal search (Spotlight) interface, ability to swipe between different sections in Notification Center, visual tweaks in Safari and Mail apps, tweaked filters UI and HDR button in the Camera app, new Airplay icons, and improved transparency and animations in folders.

Usability wise, the new beta supports unlimited apps in the multitasking view, faster Compass calibration, new sound alert for AirDrop, Siri Q&A feature, new resolution switch in the iPad while running iPhone apps, ability to shuffle all songs in the Music app, and search functionality in Reminders app, amongst other changes.

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.