iPhone 5

How the iPhone camera has improved over the years

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

The iPhone may be one of the most popular cameras in the world today, but it hasn't always been like that. The original iPhone (and the iPhone 3G) had just a 2MP camera, with no flash, putting the handset well behind the competition in terms of photo-taking.

Since the 3G, however, Apple has made sure to update the phone's camera with ever iteration. It went from a 3.2MP sensor to a 5, and then to 8. And wouldn't you know it, someone has created an image showing its improvement in picture quality over the years...

T-Mobile offering iPhone 5 for $0 down with trade-in this weekend

Cody Lee ∙ May 10, 2013

If you're still looking for that perfect Mother's Day gift, you might be interested to know that T-Mobile is going to be hosting a nice little sale this weekend in honor of the holiday. And it looks like the iPhone 5 is going to be one of its featured bargains.

According to a new report, the fourth largest US carrier is going to be offering the handset as part of a special trade-in deal. Customers will be able to score Apple's flagship smartphone for $0 down, a savings of $100, with the trade-in of a valid mobile device...

AT&T announces Aio Wireless prepaid brand with $35-$70 tiers

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 9, 2013

While its fierce rival Verizon has chosen to sit on the sidelines and watch T-Mobile regain consumer trust with its newly found 'Uncarrier' business model and no-contract plans, AT&T has jumped on the prepaid bus with a new Aio Wireless brand rounding on T-Mobile’s offering. Just like Sprint’s Boost and Virgin, Aio Wireless is a MVNO wholly owned by AT&T and marketed as a standalone brand.

As we explained last week, Aio (as in 'All In One') is aimed at those eager to avoid committing their soul to AT&T at all cost by opting for a month-to-month service instead. The offering includes $40/$55/$70 tiers (pricing varies by market) with unlimited talk/text and 250MB/2GB/7GB of data.

Aio Wireless also offers Apple's iPhone 5 and a few popular Android and Windows Phone handsets. Go past the fold for more information...

USPTO publishes Apple’s extensive Lightning connector patent

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 9, 2013

Much has been written about Apple's new Lightning connector, introduced with the iPhone 5 to supercede the aging 30-pin Dock connection. Thursday, the United States Patent and Trademark Office published three Apple patent filings from 2012 detailing how the Lightning connector is built. Among the questions addressed: how did Apple create an "orientation agnostic" connector design while also ensuring stability and proper alignment?

New Nokia video pits PureView camera against iPhone 5, Galaxy S3

Cody Lee ∙ May 9, 2013

Nokia has yet to find an answer to the iPhone or Samsung's Galaxy line, but it's hoping it's getting closer. The Finnish phone-maker is expected to release a new flagship handset, the Lumia 928, within the next few months featuring its patented PureView technology.

Adding to the speculation, Nokia posted a new video yesterday on the Lumia's landing page of video shot with the 928's PureView camera, and compared with footage taken with the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy SIII. And I'll give you one guess who comes out on top...

Apple v Samsung fight for mobile profits intensifies

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

For some time, whenever Android proponents argued for the platform's dominance based on handsets shipped, Apple fans would counter by pointing out the iPhone was tops in profits.

Indeed, a new report shows Apple had more than half of all mobile profits during the first quarter of 2013, leading Android handset rival Samsung.

According to Canaccord Genuity, the iPhone maker came away from this year's first period with 57 percent of mobile phone profits, despite having just eight percent of the worldwide handset market share.

By contrast, South Korea's Samsung - which leads in market share - earned just 43 percent of the share of profits. However, the two companies could soon switch positions. The analyst firm claims iPhone sales will be weak in the upcoming June quarter, overshadowed by profits fueled by Samsung's new Galaxy S4...

T-Mobile’s new iPhone 5 ad uses ‘Intertubes’ metaphor

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 8, 2013

In his now legendary attempt to criticize an amendment that would have prohibited service providers from charging for a tiered Internet structure, former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens in 2006 likened the web to a series of tubes. “The Internet is not a big truck," he famously said, "It’s a series of tubes.”

Tapping that meme, T-Mobile USA on Wednesday posted its third iPhone 5 commercial that literally depicts its network as a sewage pipe which pumps out twice as many gak compared to its rivals. The message couldn't be clearer: T-Mobile's pipes aren’t as clogged up as its competitors' are.

I'll be revisiting that commercial in a year or so to check how clogged up T-Mobile's tube gets after data-hungry smartphone users crowd its LTE network. As for the commercial, T-Mobile won the Internet for today. Your video is right after the break...

Sharp expected to begin iPhone 5S display production in June

Cody Lee ∙ May 8, 2013

Earlier this year, it was believed that the iPhone 5S would go into production in March ahead of an early summer release. But after rumors of manufacturing issues began to circulate, the handset's expected arrival time was pushed back to the fall.

And a new report out of the east this morning corroborates that theory. A Japanese newspaper is reporting that Sharp, one of Apple's primary panel partners, is gearing up to begin mass production of LCD displays for the iPhone 5S next month...

Apple patents smart audio splitter

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 7, 2013

Many of us have shared a pair of earbuds with a friend. The problem crops up when you enjoy rocking out at max volume while your friend enjoys a more modest audio level. Enter Apple with what's essentially an intelligent audio splitter.

Instead of enduring the default sound level of the iPhone or iPod, an adapter envisioned by Apple would allow you to customize your individual audio, according to a patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday.

Additionally, the headphone splitter would permit two people to use built-in mics to speak over the soundtrack, opening up some wild possibilities with gaming...

Verizon to start offering $100 off iPhone 5 this month

Cody Lee ∙ May 6, 2013

T-Mobile must have rattled some cages when it introduced its $99 iPhone 5 last month, because we're starting to see more competitive pricing from the other carriers. Sprint is currently offering $100 off the iPhone 5 for new customers, and it looks like Verizon is about to launch a promotion of its own...

Accessories makers embracing Bluetooth to side-step Lightning, AirPlay and Apple exclusivity

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

A growing trend by accessory makers to adopt wireless connections could disconnect Apple from a significant source of revenue. In a departure from the days of the iPod, where accessories such as speakers were designed with 30-pin connections fitting only Apple devices, add-on device manufacturers are have increasingly been turning to Bluetooth for some time to connect a growing number of mobile devices - many not made by Apple.

The reason for the transition includes the rise of Samsung, Amazon and other iPhone and iPad rivals, along with the feeling Apple kept secret from accessory makers its new Lightning connection. As a result, some of the largest accessory makers are turning to the wireless Bluetooth standard to avoid any more surprises from Apple, according to the New York Times...

Apple releases iOS 6.1.4 for iPhone 5 with updated audio profile

Cody Lee ∙ May 2, 2013

Apple has, unexpectedly, released a new version of iOS this morning. The update brings the firmware to 6.1.4, and doesn't appear to include any new features or changes other than an 'updated audio profile.'

The new software is currently only available via OTA (over the air update), but it should be posted online shortly. As usual, jailbreakers will want to stay away from the update, as it will not work with evasi0n...