iPhone 5

Inteliscope mounts an iPhone to your favorite tactical firearm

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yes, you read the headline correctly. The Inteliscope will link technology with the firearms industry in mid-June. If there was ever a time you wished to use an iPhone as a scope, get excited because your weird and strange wish is now granted.

When I first received word from the InteliScope marketing relations team, I spent a while trying to determine what exactly this product is designed to do. Is it a game? Does it come with a fake gun? Is there a Bluetooth connection to the trigger for some type of modern Duck Hunt experience?

Well, no, it is nothing like that. This is not a game. In fact, one of the advantages of this accessory system, according to the company, is the ability to "shoot around corners with no head exposure." Creepy. Get the details past the fold...

Apple offers iPhone discount to India’s students

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 20, 2013

In yet another attempt to capture the nascent smartphone market in India, Apple is now promoting discounts for students. Students can receive $144 on an iPhone when they trade in their old smartphones. Apple and Samsung have engaged in a marketing struggle, both rolling out installment plans to encourage Indian buyers of rival smartphones.

The iPhone maker also announced a cash-back deal when Indian consumers use American Express to purchase an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 before June 10, according to a Monday report...

Hacked AT&T carrier update could improve your device’s network performance

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Last week, a hacked carrier update surfaced for T-Mobile subscribers that promises to increase the cellular data speeds of the iPhone 5. It claims to pull this off by increasing the handset's bandwidth supply, allowing for "better throughput of data."

This weekend, the same person behind the T-Mobile hack unveiled a similar workaround for AT&T customers. As before, the process installs a modded carrier file to your device that aims to improve its network performance with better band management...

Give your iPhone a gorgeous makeover with iMIUI

Cody Lee ∙ May 16, 2013

A few days ago, we were contacted by one of the developers of a jailbreak theme I had never heard of before called iMIUI. In the email they told us that we just had to check out their theme, saying it could be the next ayecon.

Given that Surenix's ayecon theme is easily the most popular in the jailbreak community right now, that's a pretty bold statement. But after using iMIUI over the past few days, I'm starting to think they might just be right...

Kouros clothes your devices in premium Italian leather

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

On my quest to find a quality sleeve for my iPhone 5 and iPad mini, I stumbled upon many fakes or wannabe premium options. In fact, I have yet to find a sleeve to request for review. Thankfully, Kouros found me. A Portugal-based company priding itself on quality ingredients for its products, Kouros makes an exceptional sleeve for both iPhone 5 and mini.

All products are designed by the in house creative team through regular brainstorming, focusing on fashion trends that are practical for a technologically driven lifestyle. To that end, the company uses rigorous testing methods to ensure longevity, suitable look, and proper feel. For this review, I take a close look at the Essence for iPad mini and Prime for iPhone 5, both of which are simplistic, professional leather sleeves...

Mophie unveils new 2,100 mAh Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 2, 2017

Good news for all of you iPhone power users out there. The California-based accessory-maker Mophie took the wraps off a new battery case today for the iPhone 5: the Juice Pack Plus.

This is the third case we've seen from Mophie for the iPhone 5, and it's also the most powerful. Forget about built-in 1500 and 1700 mAh batteries, this one has a 2,100 mAh pack...

Verizon knocking $100 off the iPhone 5 for some customers

Cody Lee ∙ May 15, 2013

Last week, reports began bouncing around that Verizon was going to be running a promotion later this month that knocked $100 off the iPhone 5. And it appears that, at least for some Big Red customers, that deal has gone live.

Several news outlets are reporting today that some VZW subscribers are being offered Apple's latest handset for $100, along with a two-year contract of course, bringing about one of the lowest prices we've ever seen for the device...

The XiStera: a multifunctional accessory for your iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ May 14, 2013

Looking for an accessory that will help you get the most out of your iPhone? Then you might want to check out the XiStera, by the SwipeCase team. With 8 different functions, it's essentially the swiss army knife of iPhone accessories.

The XiStera may look like a little 2-3-inch piece of plastic, but it's not. Under that TPV santoprene mold is a stainless steel component that houses multiple useful functions including a headphone wrap, tripod mount, and more...

Siri updated to respond to longer queries with quotes on brevity

Cody Lee ∙ May 14, 2013

This is kind of interesting. A thread has popped up in the Reddit forums this week regarding some recent changes to Siri. It appears that Apple has quietly updated the digital assistant with a new, quirky attitude toward lengthy queries.

Now, when Siri is asked a question (or given a command) that is excessively long, she will quote famous passages from notable historical figures like William Strunk and Thomas Jefferson on the subject of—you guessed it—brevity...

Bluelounge smartly redesigns the MiniDock for iPhone 5

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated September 30, 2013

Covering several Bluelounge products in our review section, astute readers will now be somewhat familiar with the product line. Creating items from packs to docks, Bluelounge attempts to combine form and function for their small, yet clever array of items. The company, taking hints from both art and architecture, prides itself on "forward design aesthetic."

Well over a year ago, the MiniDock became a staple item for users trying to get rid of desktop clutter. A portable charging dock made carrying a 30 pin cable around the house a thing of the past. Today, Bluelounge updates their MiniDock with Lightning compatibility and refines a few nice touches at the same time. I was able to get my hands on a prerelease model and am impressed with the new features...

How ‘Uncarrier’: T-Mobile increases iPhone 5 down payment to $149

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 13, 2013

When T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest wireless carrier, started selling the iPhone 5 back in April, it offered the iconic smartphone for $99 down payment and 24 monthly payments of $20 to cover the full cost of the phone. And in an effort to push the device and lure would-be consumers into signing up, the Deutsche Telekom-owned telco last weekend started offering the device for the $0 down payment, with trade-in.

Unfortunately, the launch promotion for new users has ended now. As a result, the 16GB iPhone 5 now has a $149 payment, $50 more than before. Wait, the $99 down thing was actually a promo offer?

Increase T-Mobile LTE download speeds on iPhone 5 thanks to a hacked carrier update

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

T-Mobile subscribers are still getting used to having access to the iPhone, and those with existing AT&T unlocked iPhone 5 received a carrier update to add LTE support for T-Mobile's frequency. Unfortunately, that's not all it did.

Turns out that update may have also limited the bandwidth available to T-Mobile customers using one of those unlocked handsets, leaving them with something of a gimped LTE service. Bummer, right?

Well, remember the guy that worked out how jailbroken iPhone users could enable T-Mobile's LTE before the aforementioned carrier update? That same clever man has also worked out how to give T-Mobile the bandwidth you'd expect from one of the hottest LTE handsets on the market. And you don't even need to be jailbroken for it to work...