iPhone 7

KGI (again) predicts iPhone demand has peaked for the year due to lackluster improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2016

Shortly following the iPhone 7 launch in September 2016, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted fewer iPhone 7 sales than the iPhone 6s garnered in 2015. In a new note issued to clients today, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, the analyst reiterated his belief that iPhone demand has peaked for the year due to a lack of significant improvements.

He is now forecasting a drop in unit shipments in November and December from five to fifteen percent based on supply checks and greater iPhone 7 stock availability.

Some Chinese users are giving their old iPhones a makeover to look like iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2016

Reuters is reporting that some users in China are giving their older iPhones a makeover to look like the latest iPhone 7 rather than buying brand new devices. Folks who don't have the money to upgrade to the latest and greatest iPhone have resorted to replacing their iPhone 6/6s back casing with a fake iPhone 7 shell complete with false dual-cameras and even dust plugs to hide the removed headphone jack.

“The makeover quirk mirrors a broader view among some Chinese users that the iPhone 7 doesn't have enough new features to convince them to trade up,” writes Reuters.

Foxconn revenue rises on brisk iPhone 7 sales, but earnings fall due to losses at Sharp

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2016

Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s top contract manufacturer and the biggest assembler of Apple products, reported rising revenues for the September quarter and a decline in net profit. Revenue for the July-September quarter climbed from NT$1.066 trillion ($33.43 billion) a year earlier to NT$1.075 trillion ($33.7 billion) thanks to brisk sales of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

However, losses produced by Foxconn-owned electronics maker Sharp caused net profit to fall to NY$34.6 billion ($1.09 billion) from NY$37.9 billion ($1.19 billion) a year earlier.

TSMC posts record profits as iPhone 7 demand fuels orders for A10 Fusion chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 8, 2016

Chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) today posted record profits and its shares have climbed to their highest level on record as strong demand for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus fuels orders for the handsets' in-housed designed A10 Fusion processor. That TSMC is the sole supplier of the A10 has no doubt helped it capture record profits amid a global slowdown in the smartphone market.

Rumor: Apple could add new Jet White finish to iPhone 7 lineup

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2016

The fairly reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara is reporting that Apple is considering adding a brand new colorway to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lineup: Jet White. Based on purported information received from suppliers, the outlet speculates Apple may be planning to add a Jet White model to the iPhone 7 lineup, although plans could change and Apple could abandon the idea. Mac Otakara cautioned that its sources “may be unreliable.”

New “Dive” ad from Apple promotes iPhone 7 stereo speakers and water resistance

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 2, 2016

Apple today shared a new television commercial via its YouTube channel highlighting stereo speakers and the improved IP67 water resistance on the iPhone 7 series. Titled “Dive”, the 60-second video opens with a pool scene depicting an older guy who is soaking up sun rays whilst listening to “La Virgen de la Macarena” by Arturo Sandoval playing through the iPhone's stereo speakers.

He then turns up the volume and proceeds to climb the high dive as everyone else is watching with anticipation. As the song climaxes, he jumps off causing his device to get splashed with water poolside. The video closes with Apple's “practically magic” tagline used consistently in iPhone 7 advertisements.

Speck’s Presidio Grip iPhone 7 cases handle everyday clumsiness with ease

Anthony Bouchard ∙ November 1, 2016

Anyone who knows me personally knows I’m a huge fan of Speck’s cases because they keep a slim form factor, and yet they pack a lot of drop protection and a superior anti-slip feel in your hand into that compact package.

Starting with the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, Speck has re-worked their case lineup into what’s being dubbed the Presidio series, which features an all new drop protection technology they’re calling Impactium.

Tip: save space on iPhone 7 Plus by turning off depth of field photo duplicates

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 26, 2016

iOS provides a Portrait mode in the stock Camera app to owners of the dual-camera iPhone 7 Plus.

As you know, Portrait mode lets you take dramatic DSLR-like depth of field photographs where the camera automatically creates a beautifully blurred background while keeping the subject in the front sharp and in full focus.

Your iPhone 7 plus defaults to saving both the original twelve-megapixel photo and its depth of field counterpart, effectively doubling storage requirements for Portrait shots.

In this quick tutorial we're going to show you how you can easily disable photo duplicates for depth of field photos with just a few taps.

Google’s dedicated search app gains ability to preview Now cards with 3D Touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 26, 2016

Google today issue a small update to its dedicated search app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Bumped to version 20.3, the free of charge app has gained the ability to preview Google Now cards with 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Just press a card within the app to peek at its contents, then swipe up to access additional options or press harder to open the card in fullscreen mode.

T-Mobile sees improved customer retention on strength of iPhone 7 release

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Wireless carrier T-Mobile on Monday announced earnings for the September quarter. Total revenues for the quarter were $9.2 billion, an eighteen percent year-over-year increase. T-Mobile said it was able to increase revenue thanks to new T-Mobile One plans and add-ons, the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September and an influx of prepaid customers who migrated to postpaid plans.

Services revenue during the quarter came in at $7.1 billion, a thirteen percent year-over-year increase. The carrier has added two million new customers during the quarter.

Video showdown: Siri on iPhone 7 Plus vs. Google Assistant on Pixel XL

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 22, 2016

Siri continues to receive criticism over at times unreliable performance although Apple's been advancing its personal digital assistant by leaps and bounds since its debut in October 2011.

Google, on the other hand, is regularly praised for its powerful knowledge graph and accuracy.

You probably know that the search company's exciting new feature, Assistant, recently made its debut on the new Pixel smartphones.

With that in mind, YouTuber Marques Brownlee took it upon himself to pit the Pixel's Assistant against the iPhone's Siri in a cool side-by-side video comparison.

Let the battle of the smartphone voice assistants begin!

iPhone 7 hitting Armenia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Central African Republic on November 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2016

Two weeks from today, November 4, Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will arrive in Armenia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Central African Republic. The next wave of iPhone 7 expansion has been confirmed by local Apple websites for the aforesaid countries.

With about three-dozen countries left to go, the iPhone 7 will have been available in all of the markets Apple sells handsets by the end of this year.