PowerSkin is a name that many folks are familiar with, since they have created their fair share of shock-absorbing, battery-boosting cases for smartphones and gaming accessories. Having said that, the folks over at PowerSkin are more than pleased to announce the launch of its second Apple-certified external charging solution for the iPhone 5 in the form of a silicone battery case.
The PowerSkin for iPhone 5 will come with 1,500 mAh of power capacity, which would translate to an extended talk time of up to 6.5 hours, in addition to music playback time by up to 32 hours. There is an on/off button which is located on the back, enabling users to enjoy power-on-demand while the included LED battery lights will show just how much charge is left. If you are interested in providing an extra boost for your iPhone 5 without making it bulk up considerably, then the PowerSkin for iPhone 5 does seem to be quite the decent purchase, where it will retail for $79.99 a pop, accompanied by free express shipping through March 7th. [Press Release]
This is far from the first attempt at incorporating a bottle opener into an iPhone case. But the Fortress 2 from XGearlive is hands down the only design you should consider. Instead of a clunky slide-out mechanism, or an unsightly bulge on the back, it neatly integrates a subtle opener onto the edge of its bumper case form factor. More »
Leap Wireless’ sales of the iPhone have significantly under-performed, despite expectations that a prepaid iPhone 5 would be in hot demand, with $100m-worth of unsold stock expected by June. Leap’s deal with Apple saw the iPhone 5 offered through Cricket Wireless at $500 with no ongoing commitment, but according to an 10-K SEC filing, the carrier predicts it will have only sold half of the expected units by the time the smartphone reaches its first birthday.
Leap signed a three year long purchase commitment with Apple back in May 2012, which came into effect when Cricket began selling phones the following month. That agreement basically means Leap must buy a certain, minimum amount of devices from Apple, even if it doesn’t necessarily sell that many.
“At our current purchase rate, we project that we will purchase approximately one-half of our first-year minimum purchase commitment through June 2013 … If Apple were to require us to meet the annual minimum commitment in each of the three years of the contract term, we estimate that we would be required to purchase approximately $100 million of additional iPhones in mid-2013 above our current purchase rate, approximately $150 million of additional iPhones in mid-2014 above our current purchase rate and approximately $200 million of additional iPhones in mid-2015 above our current purchase rate” Leap Wireless
Part of the problem, Leap suggests, is the limitations of its network coverage. Cricket service isn’t available to the same extent as that of AT&T and Verizon, which can mean potential customers either can’t buy the iPhone where they live, or choose another carrier because they may need to travel outside of Cricket’s network.
As the carrier points out, “if Apple introduces an AWS-compatible version of the iPhone in the future, we will be able to sell the device in additional markets covering approximately 40% of our covered POPs.” Nonetheless, Leap isn’t counting on that necessarily happening – or, indeed, Apple agreeing to renegotiate the purchase commitment – and so is considering other strategies.
They include more comprehensive device leasing or financing programs, which would spread the upfront cost of the iPhone 5 out over a more extended period, or even just changing the sticker price of the iPhone itself. The carrier also hopes to work with Apple to boost its promotional drive, to tackle the possibility that many people might not even consider Cricket in the first place.
Interestingly, while Leap’s COO says he is “not concerned about … meeting the Apple commitment,” attempting to reassure the market during a recent financial results call, he is also putting a big chunk of his faith in another device. “I would say there was a stronger device [than iPhone 5] in our lineup” Jerry Elliot told analysts last week, referring to Samsung’s Galaxy S III.
If you’re an iPhone 5 owner who prefers those bumper cases that only cover the edges of the smartphone, XGear has a new offering called the Fortress 2. The case wraps all the way around the edges of the iPhone 5 and has a sliding door that opens allowing you to charge and sync the device without any problems. The bumper case also leaves all of the controls uncovered for easy access.
The Fortress 2 is CNC machined from a solid block of aluminum and shouldn’t interfere with the antenna or disrupt your signal strength. Possibly the best feature of this case for fans of frosty adult beverages is that it has a built-in bottle opener on the top right corner. That means while you’re drunk texting your ex, you’ll be able to pop open a fresh beer to keep the buzz going.
The Fortress 2 is made in the USA and is available for $99.99(USD). It is offered in multiple colors including light blue, dark blue, red, bare aluminum, matte black, purple, and pink. For an additional $10 you can get the case with their Banshee Tempered Glass Screen Protector.
You don’t need to worry about water damage to your iPhone if you are using Thanko’s new iPhone 5 waterproof case “V-Lock3″. While using “V-Lock3″, you cannot use the On/Off switch for sounds and earphone jack but there is no problem with typing, pressing buttons, making phone calls, and taking photos/movies. Lightning connector is protected with a silicon cap. 2 colors (black and white) are available. The retail price is 2,980yen. Specifications:
It seems that the iPhone 5 rush is finally slowing down. After several months of the manufacturer not being able to keep up with demand on Apple‘s new smartphone, it’s reported that the Chinese phone maker is finally slowing down production and are temporarily stopping the hiring process until later next month.
According to the Financial Times, Foxconn has confirmed the news that iPhone 5 production has begun to slow down, thus the need for more employees is no longer needed currently. Foxconn has always been hiring new employees almost every single day, so the halt of the company’s hiring process is a slight surprise.
What’s possibly even more interesting is that the manufacturer will be ramping up its workforce starting later next month, which lines up perfectly with rumors that iPhone 5S production will be begin around that time. Of course, it’s just hearsay for now, but it’ll be interesting to see what the next couple of months bring.
Foxconn has said that the iPhone 5 has been the manufacturer’s most difficult product to make yet, which isn’t terribly surprising considering that the phone has an all-new design that’s thinner and taller. Foxconn has said that with a phone that’s this light and thin, “the design is very complicated.”
UPDATE: In an interview with Bloomberg, spokesman for Foxconn Bruce Liu said that the hiring halt is not because of the iPhone 5, but rather more employees are coming back from the Chinese New Year than expected.
Apple’s iPhone 5 became the best selling smartphone globally in Q4, pushing past Samsung’s flagship Galaxy SIII, according to research by Strategy Analytics. The data comes from its Handset Country Share Tracker service. It’s the first time the iPhone 5 sales have topped Galaxy SIII shipments. According to the analyst, a “rich touchscreen, extensive distribution and generous operator subsidies have propelled the iPhone 5 to the top spot”.
Strategy Analytics estimates that 27.4 million iPhone 5 smartphones shipped worldwide during Q4, versus 15.4 million Galaxy SIII units. The iPhone 5′s share of the total global smartphone shipments was 13 per cent in Q4, according to the analyst, while Samsung’s handset captured an estimated seven per cent share.
Neither Apple nor Samsung break out quarterly per handset model device sales — although Samsung does report channel shipments for some smartphone models, and Apple has reported launch weekend sales of new iPhones — so it’s worth stressing that Strategy Analytics figures are estimates.
In addition, comparing the performance of Apple and Samsung’s respective flagships has another drawback. The different launch dates of the respective handsets make a direct sales cycle comparison a little unfair, since Apples iPhone 5 launched last September, positioned to fully capitalise on holiday sales, while Samsung’s Galaxy SIII is considerable older, launching back in May. The hype around its successor, the Galaxy SIV, is already cranking up, potentially dampening sales as consumers may be opting to wait for the next generation device — with a launch rumoured as soon as next month.
That said, Apple’s iPhone 4S launched in October 2011 – yet still managed to out-ship Samsung’s 2012 flagship in Q4. Apple shipped an estimated 17.4 million iPhone 4S handsets — two million more than Samsung’s Galaxy SIII shipments for the quarter — making the 4S the second most popular global smartphone model in Q4, with an eight per cent share (the Galaxy SIII was third).
Apple’s iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S together accounted for one in five of all smartphones shipped worldwide in the quarter, according to Strategy Analytics’ data. It described this as ”an impressive performance, given the iPhone portfolio’s premium pricing”, adding that the Galaxy SIII’s global popularity “appears to have peaked”.
Apple’s premium pricing strategy is matched by the use of premium materials in the construction of its handsets — with metal and glass the materials of choice for the iPhone 5 and 4S, rather than the plastic used in the Galaxy SIII. Apple is also able to deliver OS updates over the air, bypassing carrier testing requirements, which frequently impede Android updates — meaning some Android fans may choose to opt for a newer model of smartphone in order to get the latest version of the OS.
Apple’s iPhone 5 took the smartphone top spot in worldwide sales in Q4 2012, according to new figures, and together with the iPhone 4S pushing the Samsung Galaxy S III into third place. In fact, 1-in-5 smartphones shipped worldwide in the last quarter of 2012 were either iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S models, Strategy Analytics claims, crediting healthy subsidies, broad availability, and the appeal of the latest Apple handset’s larger screen for the improvement in demand. The results are a turnaround from Q3 2012, where Samsung’s flagship ruled the roost.
In Q3, the Galaxy S III came in top, with 18m shipments; the iPhone 5, which had only been on sale for part of the quarter, contributed just 6m shipments. However, while iPhone 5 demand has surged – up to 27.4m units shipped in Q4 2012 alone, the research firm says – iPhone 4S shipments also increased, up over a million units, to 17.4m.
“Global demand for the Galaxy S III appears to have peaked” Strategy Analytics concludes, pointing out that the specter of the Galaxy S4 sequel is already upon us. That device is believed to be waiting in the wings for a March 14 reveal, though the specifications of the phone are hotly contested.
Meanwhile, rumors continue to persist around a low-cost iPhone, though Apple executives have been quick to try to squash the speculation.
Nonetheless, it’s certainly Apple and Samsung’s world when it comes to smartphones at the moment, with the two firms together holding more than half of the overall market. That presents a significant issue for rivals like HTC, who will find it increasingly different to raise their own products, such as the recently announced HTC One, above the noise.
All of a sudden, I’m excited about HTC again. After a dire 2012 and a dreary line-up the twelve months before that, the HTC One is a blast of fresh air and has a real “return to form” feel for the company. I was lucky enough to spend some extended time with the One ahead of today’s launch, and came away impressed with HTC’s attention to detail and concerned that it would struggle to communicate its message. Rather than follow the trend of more megapixels, HTC opted out and went for a photography system that, it claims, is far more relevant to how people actually use their smartphones.
First the good news. The One feels excellent in the hand, and while people have commented that – in the leaked shots at least – it bears a resemblance to the iPhone 5, in the metal it’s very different. It’s one of the sturdiest, most premium-feeling Android devices we can recall, and that effort will hopefully pay dividends when it comes to distinguishing itself against other phones in-store.
“It takes us back to the days of the HTC Hero”
It takes us back to the days of the HTC Hero, which was an incredibly exciting device, one that encapsulated the idea that Android was tremendously liberating in some way. That Google pushed out this platform which gave manufacturers great breadth of freedom to innovate on top of it. Android at the time looked relatively basic, and things like HTC Sense weren’t just reskins for the sake of differentiation but a completely new environment in which to operate.
Since then, of course, Google hasn’t been standing still. Most of the key elements that HTC introduced with Sense – the social networking integration, for instance – got gradually integrated into the core OS, and over time HTC’s software felt more like visual change for the sake of it. New UIs aren’t a bad thing in and of themselves – one of Android’s strengths is its flexibility, after all – but when they delay firmware updates then users unsurprisingly sour on them.
HTC One overview:
HTC has moved to address that, building in support for incremental updates into Sense 5, and giving its engineers the ability to tweak preloaded apps like BlinkFeed and the Zoe photography system without having to wait for a full ROM to be carrier tested and distributed. Meanwhile, the apps themselves are the most compelling we’ve seen on an HTC device for some time: BlinkFeed, and its “snackable” approach to news and social consumption does make some sense considering how people use their phones today, while Zoe – though initially confusing – gets more fun the longer you interact with it.
HTC could still shoot itself in the foot, if it doesn’t make good on its promise to develop what its shown us in fledgling status today. I’ve criticized the company in the past for introducing with solid ideas but then failing to capitalize on them – OnLive gaming, for instance, or Sense Online – and so while Sense 5 is a welcome revamp, only time will tell whether HTC has the sticking power to give it the refinement it deserves and the longevity users demand.
That’s not the big problem, though; that has a Samsung logo. The Korean company’s marketing spend around the Galaxy S III has been vast, and shows little sign of abating as the much-rumored Galaxy S4 approaches. No matter how good last year’s HTC One X and One X+ might have been – and we were pretty impressed at the time – they were simply buried by the Galaxy hype, to the point where the smartphone market became in effect a two-horse race: do you go iPhone or do you go Galaxy S III?
“Marketing and promotion is HTC’s weak link”
HTC undoubtedly recognises that marketing and promotion is its weak link; unfortunately, the knowledge you have a problem doesn’t put any more cash in the war-chest, and HTC simply can’t afford to match Samsung’s huge campaigns. That’s bad enough when you have devices, like the One X, which directly compete on specifications with rivals, but it’s a potential kiss of death when, in the case of the HTC One, you’re having to explain complex and confusing decisions you’ve made, such as UltraPixels and the whole Zoe system.
Specifications may “be dead” as we’re regularly told, but consumers still play spec-sheet bingo in stores, comparing the raw numbers of one to the numbers of another. Will they spend the time to figure out why HTC’s 4-megapixels might, in fact, be better than the 8- or 13-megapixels of another device? Or will HTC’s phone simply earn a spot at the bottom of the table?
The only way to compete on that front is education: teaching customer services reps how to teach would-be buyers why they should care about one thing and not just take numbers at face value. That’s not something HTC’s “Quietly Brilliant’ marketing strategy of old has proved particularly good at, and there’re expensive lessons to give, when few sales people will ever be criticized for recommending Apple or Samsung.
If all things were equal, the HTC One would be an inescapable contender in 2013. The hardware is incredible, the software a promising return to old form, and for once there’s a sense that a manufacturer has stopped to consider what users actually do, not what might sound best in “mine is bigger” advertising. Equality is a pipe-dream, though, and the HTC One will have to fight tooth and nail – and HTC make the very most of its limited marketing budget – if it wants to raise its head above the rest of the smartphone noise.
From Green House comes an elegant, light aluminum bumper iPhone 5. Instead of hiding the simple elegance of the iPhone, it enhances it, covering only the vulnerable edges with sleek aluminum which matches the look of the iPhone. It comes in 3 different colors (black, ash silver, bronze). It’s a sliding style with no need for screws to set up. Also, it comes with LCD protective film and cleaning cloth. Retail price is 2,980yen including tax.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
PowerSkin is a name that many folks are familiar with, since they have created their fair share of shock-absorbing, battery-boosting cases for smartphones and gaming accessories. Having said that, the folks over at PowerSkin are more than pleased to announce the launch of its second Apple-certified external charging solution for the iPhone 5 in the form of a silicone battery case.
