Today’s iPhone event was short and to the point. Instead of introducing handfuls of new products and apps, we were presented with a quick iOS 7 overview of what was already announced at WWDC, some iWork and app updates (more on that in a second), and then the iPhones themselves alongside accompanying cases. Honestly, this made for one of the most satisfying iPhone events in ages.
Posts tagged with "iPhone"
September 10th iPhone Event: All the Other Stuff
iPhone 5c: Everything You Need to Know
During today’s media event at the Apple Campus in Cupertino, California, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, took the stage to announce the iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5c is Apple’s first plastic-bodied phone with a 4-inch screen, is shaped like the iPod touch, and is also Apple’s first iPhone that’s available in an array of bright colors. The 16 GB iPhone 5c starts at $99 on contract.
On The Possibilities of an iPhone Fingerprint Sensor→
Between rampant rumors and speculation, there’s little we don’t know about Apple’s upcoming smartphones. One of the features expected for the iPhone 5S, the expected iteration of the iPhone 5, is a fingerprint sensor built into the home button. Craig Hockenberry, on his personal blog, talks about how that fingerprint sensor might change the way we interact with our iPhones.
From the beginning, I’ve wanted a way to protect my personal information when sharing a device with friends and family. But any secure solution to that problem would be a pain in the butt. Typing a password before launching an app? No thanks!
Craig is thinking big, beyond the possibilities of bypassing a password or swipe-to-unlock on the lock screen. Those are the obvious things, but what about some of the unobvious things we do with our iPhones, especially with other people?
Apple’s New iPhone Trade-In Program Launches Nationwide
Apple’s new iPhone trade-in program is now being offered at Apple Retail Stores across the United States, details of which have been doled out to a number of news organizations. The trade-in program, a part of the iPhone Reuse and Recycling Program, lets customers receive a credit towards the purchase of a new iPhone by bringing in a working iPhone that’s currently under contract. Apple has provided the following statement to various news outlets:
iPhones hold great value. So, Apple Retail Stores are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling. In addition to helping support the environment, customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone.
Joanna Stern from ABC News explains.
Apple store employees will assess the condition of the phone and determine the value of the phone. According to sources, a 16GB iPhone 5 in good condition would be valued at close to $300. It is unclear if phones with more storage would be worth more …
If you are not currently on a contract or if your contract is up, customers will have to sign up for another cellular contract to take advantage of the program.
As Darrell Etherington of TechCrunch reports, the new trade-in program specifically applies to iPhones at retail stores.
Apple’s intentions for building its own in-store trade-in program were originally outed back in June, when it was revealed that it would partner with Brightstar Corp., a distributor of mobile devices, in order to offer the deal to users. Apple has previously offered up iPhone trade-ins via PowerOn thanks to its “Apple Recycling Program,” but this is in retail stores instead of only working via mail, and specific to iPhones, rather than covering a range of Apple hardware.
According to Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac, the program won’t be widely advertised to consumers.
The trade-in process can be conducted on the store floor, or at the Genius Bar. Apple will not be heavily promoting the program with marketing signage (as of now), but Apple Store employees have been instructed to recommend the program to applicable customers.
Update: Roberto Baldwin of Wired clarifies that the trade-in value you receive must be applied to a newer iPhone that the Apple Retail Store has in stock. This is correct. The iPhone trade-in program that’s launching today is different from Apple’s traditional online recycling programs. (I added this since the Wired article has everything in one place.)
It’s been reported elsewhere that Apple will issue credits or gift cards for new phones. That’s incorrect. If the iPhone you want is out of stock or unavailable, you will not be able to trade-in your old iPhone. The whole process has to happen at the same time. You go in with a phone and walk out with a phone. The employee will offer to set up the new iPhone with you at the store. Or you have the option of taking it home and setting it up there.
You can alternatively receive an Apple Store Gift Card for your iPhone or other electronic device by going through the Reuse and Recycling Program online, which works similarly to trade-in services such as Gazelle.
[via ABC News, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, and Wired]
iPod Eclipse→
Benedict Evans:
As music has moved on from the iPod, it has actually become much less important to the tech industry. With streaming and the decline of ownership, there are fewer barriers to switching service, and every device has a choice of music services, both from the platform owner (i.e. Apple/Google/Microsoft/Nokia etc) and as third-party apps. In effect, music has become a commodity.
Compare this to dedicated eBook readers, which still have a feature that smartphones haven’t replicated (E Ink). The iPod didn’t have exclusive features that tied music (and customers) to the device; the built-in WiFi and cellular options of iPhones facilitated the rise of streaming services and access over ownership. The only iPod-only feature I can think about is storage in the 160 GB iPod Classic; millions of people just don’t need an iPod anymore.
For further evidence, look at Apple’s upcoming launches: iTunes Radio can be used on iPod touches connected to WiFi, but iPhones (and cellular iPads) can use it all the time.
Apple Now Offering Free Downloads in the Apple Store App→
Much like visiting Starbucks and picking up a free song, the Apple Store is now distributing their own freebies. This week it’s an app called Color Zen, which shows up in the Apple Store app alongside the store’s information. If you’re at home, the app just shows up in the list of things that Apple is currently featuring. Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac writes that it’s an incentive to get people to download the app.
We previously reported that Apple Store employees are instructed to install this application on a new iOS Device during Personal Setup (After a purchase). At an internal event in San Francisco last month, Tim Cook revealed that only a small percentage of Apple customers are aware of the app, but Cook wants to use the app as an element of his plan to boost iPhone sales in his stores.
China Labor Watch Publishes Report With Mention Of New “Plastic iPhone”→
MacRumors’ Erik Slivka:
Earlier today, labor rights group China Labor Watch issued a report making claims of poor working conditions at Apple’s assembly partner Pegatron.
The report, available as a PDF here, contains mentions of a new “low-priced” plastic iPhone that will “soon” released by Apple:
Pegatron (Shanghai) Ltd Co. is part of the Pegatron Group, which was a subsidiary of Pegatron Group until 2010. Pegatron primarily assembles cell phones and tablet PCs for Apple. Its assembled products include iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and low-priced plastic iPhones. Some of Pegatron’s major equipment, such as micro-computer and detection hosts, is provided by Apple.
In the report, a worker details the actual process of pasting protective film on the back of this unreleased iPhone:
Today’s work is to paste protective film on the iPhone’s plastic back cover to prevent it from being scratched on assembly lines. This iPhone model with a plastic cover will soon be released on the market by Apple. The task is pretty easy, and I was able to work independently after a five-minute instruction from a veteran employee. It took around a minute to paste protective film on one rear cover. The new cell phone has not yet been put into mass production, so quantity is not as important. This makes our job more slow paced than in departments that have begun mass production schedules.
The report also contains photos and details of poor working conditions at Pegatron, to which Apple has responded with an official statement. We’ve already outlined why it’d make sense for Apple to release a low-priced iPhone, and, at this point, several signs seem to be pointing to such a device coming out later this year.
Capturing the Moon With an iPhone→
One of the best methods of taking photos of stars, planets and satellites is with a webcam, like the old Toucam Pro, and processing with Registax. That’s not the easiest method though, and when you want photos of the moon, an iPhone does the job very well.
Jared Earle captures spectacular photographs of the moon by attaching an iPhone to a spotting scope with an interesting set of accessories and offers up some tips on how to get the perfect shot. So cool.
Apple Airs New iPhone 5 Commercial: “Music Every Day”
Following the “Photos Every Day” commercial first aired last month, Apple today posted a new iPhone 5 ad called “Music Every Day”. As the name suggests, it is a follow-up to the previous commercial, this time with a focus on music.
Music Every Day doesn’t show music apps – instead it puts the spotlight on people enjoying music with their iPhones and Apple’s distinctive white earbuds. The commercial includes a variety of everyday situations – from exercising and waiting in line to a DJ set and a group of friends listening to music in their car. It’s not about the playback feature itself, it’s about music as a life companion.
Apple only briefly shows the iOS Music app in the commercial. The spotlight, unlike the Photos commercial, isn’t strictly on the iPhone’s display itself – rather, it emphasizes how music can seamlessly fit in our lives thanks to a device that’s often carried in a pocket, put on a table or outside of the shower, or shared with friends. The protagonist of the ad isn’t the iPhone per se: it’s people relying on it to enjoy their music.
The iPhone qualities that Apple subtly implies (intuitiveness of the interface, sound quality, portability) are important, but secondary. The voiceover sums it up at the end: “Every day, more people enjoy their music on the iPhone than any other phone”. With an elegant juxtaposition, the ad fades to black.
Apple hasn’t uploaded the new commercial to its website yet, but you can watch the official YouTube version below.