PSA: iPhone 5 pre-orders kick off on September 14th at 3:01AM ET

PSA: iPhone 5 pre-orders kick off on September 14th at 3:01AM ET

Ready to hop on the iPhone 5 bandwagon after tuning into yesterday’s unveiling? Keep an eye on the clock and pull out a credit card, because Apple, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will kick off online pre-orders tomorrow at 3:01AM (or at 12:01AM PT for folks on the West Coast). Sixth generation iPhones begin shipping on September 21st and start at $199.99 for 16GB models bound to two-year contracts. Those who relish a healthy dose of suspense can always test the hand of fate — and retail availability — by visiting Apple’s brick-and-mortar establishments at 8AM on launch day.

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PSA: iPhone 5 pre-orders kick off on September 14th at 3:01AM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple gives region-by-region breakdown of iOS 6 capabilities: specifies Siri and Maps functionality

Apple gives regionbyregion breakdown of iOS 6 capabilities specifies Siri and Maps functionality

In an effort to let its customers know exactly what they’ll get when the iPhone 5 (and downloadable updates) arrive in their country, Apple has broken down what iOS 6 will offer in different territories. US customers will get the full bounty that the mobile OS has to offer, being the only country whose maps will be peppered with 3D buildings. A pretty comprehensive list of 23 iPhone-enraptured countries will join the US in claiming turn-by-turn navigation and traffic information, including most of western Europe, Australia, China and Canada. 49 countries will get their maps augmented by local search results, while directions and satellite imaging will arrive on an even larger list of places you’ll now need to visit.

Siri content, meanwhile, is a little leaner, with the likes of the UK, Japan, Canada and Australia all joining the US on some pretty short lists, gaining Twitter, Sport, Facebook and local search integration. Movie content, including reviews and showtimes, will only be fully enabled in the USA, UK and Canada. Check Apple’s full breakdown at the source below.

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Apple gives region-by-region breakdown of iOS 6 capabilities: specifies Siri and Maps functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s iPhone 5 keynote event now live for online viewing

Apple's iPhone 5 keynote event now live for online viewing

San Francisco shook today, but thankfully, it wasn’t from an earthquake. In case you missed today’s event, Apple took the wraps off of the new iPhone 5, along with a new batch of iPods, a new version of iTunes and a round of price reductions. A replay of the keynote is available on Apple’s website, where you can join Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and even the Foo Fighters make waves. So grab your beverage of choice and settle in for two hours of gadget goodness — you’ll find it at the source link below.

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Apple’s iPhone 5 keynote event now live for online viewing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S (and old Dock Connector vs. Lightning): a photo tour

iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S and old Dock Connector vs Lightning a photo tour

We knew the iPhone 5 was thinner and lighter than the iPhone 4S, but seriously, it’s thinner and lighter than the iPhone 4S. By a pretty notable margin. Picking up the iPhone 5 is almost jarring — it’s barely heavy enough to feel “premium,” and it’ll probably make you handle it with care for free of breaking it in half with too tight a tug. The new Dock Connector — also known as Lightning — is most certainly smaller, and looks most at home on the new iPod nano. Without further qualifying, have a look at the comparison gallery below.

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iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S (and old Dock Connector vs. Lightning): a photo tour originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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7th-generation iPod nano hands-on!

7thgeneration iPod nano handson!

Not to be outdone by a refreshed iPod touch (and, let’s face it, a new iPhone), Apple also shot out a 5.4mm-thick iPod nano today — that’s 38 percent thinner than the one it replaces. We just got our hands on the newest, tiniest music player outside of Apple’s product launch today, replete with a 2.5-inch multitouch panel and a familiar Home button. As you’d expect, the enlarged display is hugely beneficial. While there’s no bona fide version of iOS on here, the stripped-down variant seems sufficient for handling media alone. As if the ability to watch widescreen video wasn’t enough, fitness gurus are also apt to take notice — inbuilt support for Nike+ gear, along with Bluetooth, make this one potent device.

The Lightning connector seems to make a lot of sense here, given the dearth of real estate along the bottom, but somehow the company squeezed a big enough battery in here to net some 30 reported hours of battery life. In playing with it, we found screen transitions to be adequately smooth, and video playback was surprisingly enjoyable to watch. The screen is most definitely less stunning than the one on the iPod touch, but at $149, you can bet quite a bit of these end up in stockings this holiday season.

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7th-generation iPod nano hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5th-generation iPod touch hands-on!

5thgeneration iPod touch handson!

It’s obvious that the iPhone 5 is the star of today’s show, but Apple’s not letting its iPod line go untouched. The newest iPod touch takes a note from the newfangled display on its cellular sibling, bringing a vaster panel (the same 4-inch, 1,136 x 640 one found on the new iPhone). At 88 grams and just 6.1mm thick, it’s also shockingly thin and light — of course, the anodized aluminum backing makes it feel like a premium piece of kit. Premium, as in, right up there with the iPhone. In a world where Apple’s seeing its iPod sales sink quarter after quarter due to self-cannibalization from the iPad and iPhone, it’s interesting (but appreciated) to see so much effort placed on the new iPod touch.

The introduction of the dual-core A5 chip (that’s dual-core on the CPU and the graphics side) is a huge boon for the touch. Apple’s claiming a 7x improvement in graphics, and given that this thing is claiming such a huge swath of the mobile gaming market, it’s pretty much a necessity. Indeed, our interactions with the device were notably faster than on the prior touch. We didn’t exactly have 40 hours here to test the audio playback claims (in fact, we didn’t even have eight to test the claims on video), but you can bet that’ll be a huge selling point.

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5th-generation iPod touch hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 hands-on!

iPhone 5 handson!

At long last, the iPhone 5. We just got our hands on Apple’s latest smartphone following its unveiling in San Francisco, and suffice it to say, it’s a beautiful thing. Some might say we’ve been waiting for this moment since October 4th of last year, but another crowd may say that the real next-gen iPhone has been on the burner for much longer. Indeed, this is the first iPhone since June of 2010 to showcase an entirely new design, but it’s obvious that Apple’s not going to deviate far when it comes to aesthetics.

Apple followers will aptly recall Steve Jobs’ quote in July of 2010 — you know, that one about “no one” wanting a big phone, with current CEO Tim Cook seated just feet from Steve as the phrase was uttered. Now, however, Apple’s inching ever closer to that very realm, with an elongated 4-inch display that enables new apps to take advantage of more pixels (1,136 x 640), while legacy apps can still operate within a familiar space. The phone itself doesn’t feel too much different than the iPhone 4 and 4S; yes, it’s a bit taller, but by keeping the width the same, you’ll utilize a very familiar grasp to hold it.

In typical Apple fashion, even the finest details have been worked over tirelessly. The metal feels downright elegant to the touch, and the same line we’ve said time and time again applies here: there’s no doubting the premium fit and finish when you clutch one of these things. Yeah, the headphone port’s now on the bottom, but avid Galaxy Nexus iPod touch users shouldn’t have too much trouble adjusting.

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iPhone 5 hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S: what’s changed?

iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S what's changediPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S what's changed

Its name is enough to send CEOs into cold sweats, which is why the rest of the mobile world spent last week announcing their hardware back-to-back to steal a march on this handset. Now, after all of the rumor, speculation and leaks, Apple’s sixth iPhone has finally been unveiled in San Francisco. We’ve got around 45 minutes before the world begins idly speculating about next year’s iteration, so let’s spend what little time we have delving into what’s changed between now and the last time we were here.

Check out our liveblog of Apple’s event to get the latest news as it happens!

Check out all the coverage at our iPhone 2012 event hub!

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iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S: what’s changed? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple iPhone 5: Everything You Need to Know [Iphone 5]

The new iPhone 5 is here. It’s thinner and faster than ever, with a new form factor that uses a gorgeous panoramic screen with more resolutions and less consumption. It also surfs the web much faster, thanks to its new LTE capabilities. And, just as we knew, it has a new smaller dock connector called Lightning. More »

Apple Officially Reveals The iPhone 5: LTE, 4-Inch Retina Display, New A6 Chip, Lighter Than iPhone 4S

iphone5-5

And just like that, months and months of breathless speculation have finally come to an end. Apple’s Phil Schiller has just officially announced the new iPhone 5 at the company’s massive press event here in San Francisco, less than a year since its predecessor was unveiled.

Some of the news won’t come as much of a shock considering the sheer volume of rumors and leaks lately (even Apple let some details slip earlier today) — I’m going to resist the temptation to pontificate on every new feature as it’s revealed (for now, anyway), so let’s get right down to it.

The iPhone 5

  • We can finally put the debate to rest — Apple’s newest mobile juggernaut is called the iPhone 5 (despite actually being the sixth iPhone to hit the market). It’s 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S, 18% thinner, and crafted out of (what else?) glass and aluminum.
  • Pre-orders for the iPhone 5 will begin on Friday, September 14, and the device will ship to lucky consumers starting on September 21. As usual, the device will be available in 16, 32, and 64GB models, which will cost $199, $299, and $399 respectively with a two-year contract from AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint.
  • The long-rumored (and handsome) two-toned design is indeed legitimate, as is the new iPhone’s larger 4-inch Retina Display. And yes, that 16:9 display runs at 1136 x 640 with five rows of icons. According to Schiller, it’s “the most accurate display in the industry” because the touch sensors are embedded in the display as well.
  • As expected, Apple has also unveiled a brand new chipset for the iPhone 5: the A6, which Schiller says is a full two times faster than the A5 chip in the iPhone 4S
  • The iPhone 4S’s battery life wasn’t anything to write home about, but the iPhone 5 seems equipped to do much better — 8 hours of 3G talk time, as well as 8 hours of 3G and LTE web browsing to be precise.
  • The iPhone’s audio system has been bolstered with a smaller (but improved speaker). There are also now three microphones in the mix: one on the front, one on the back, and another on the bottom.
  • That oft-rumored miniature Dock Connector is real: it’s all-digital, has eight pins and it’s called “Lightning.” Yes, there’s an adapter for it, but no word yet on exactly what it will cost you.

Connectivity

  • It’s hardly a surprise at this point, but the iPhone 5 packs support for Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T’s LTE networks here in the States. What’s really impressive is that combined that LTE support with 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi onto a single “ultra fast” chip.
  • Despite what a handful of leaks pointed to in the weeks leading up to the event, there’s been no mention of an integrated NFC chip yet.

Camera

  • Smartphone cameras are really starting to give their point-and-shoot brethren a run for their money (think Nokia’s PureView and HTC’s ImageSense tech), but instead of running up the megapixel count, Apple has stuck with an 8-megapixel camera. That said, the backside-illuminated sensor is smaller, and features much better low-light performance (finally!).
  • App developers may be bummed to know that the camera now also has a built-in panorama mode. The revamped camera also supports 1080p video capture, and users can now snap photos while recording video at the same time. I wonder how HTC feels about that.