News & Reviews:   Apple iPhone

Now we've all seen images of the Apple iPhone 5S in champagne gold but it appears that it may have other colour features in the form of a gunmetal casing. While we don't have an actual gunmetal chassis to show you, we do have leaked pics of a gunmetal coloured SIM tray. When inserted into a white Apple iPhone 5S casing it really shows a difference. Gunmetal is generally grey in colour and sometimes comes in brushed metal. We have no idea if this is still aluminum or a different type of metal but with the leaked images of the champagne gold Apple iPhone 5S a gunmetal version is also just as likely. As usual, no details just yet on a release date for Malaysia or pricing but all eyes are looking towards September (we're guessing if no announcement comes next month, all eyes will move on to October and so forth ;).

We've seen any number of colourful plastic backcasings for the upcoming low-cost Apple iPhone 5C and we've also seen it in white. However, we've never seen it black, until now. Recently leaked images show the glossy black Apple iPhone 5C and it looks way better than any of the other colours. No idea why it took so long for it to surface but it should offer an interesting option when or if the Apple iPhone 5C gets released. Again, no news on availability in Malaysia although many are guessing it will probably be after the 10 September announcement. Pricing is rumoured to be not so low-cost as initially expected (around $400 ~ $500 or RM1317 ~ RM1646) but it is still better than the upcoming Apple iPhone 5S which is rumoured to cost $650 (RM2139). For now, check out the pics.

The next Apple iPhone will undoubtedly be the Apple iPhone 5S but even then a whole truckload of rumours and leaked pics have fueled predictions about the features that may come with Apple's next version of the iPhone. So far, everyone is saying it will come on 10 September 2013 with release dates for Malaysia and other countries expected around October but this isn't a feature. Compiling these features into one post, the features that have been circulating the most and may appear for the Apple iPhone 5S include:

• 1.5GHz Apple A7 Chip + 1GB LPDDR3-1333 RAM
• 12MP f/2.0 aperture camera + dual LED flash
• Fingerprint scanner behind Sapphire glass Home key
• Champagne Gold body
• 128GB storage
• NFC

Apart from the whole slew of hardware upgrades for the upcoming Apple iPhone 5S, Apple may also be one of the few smartphone makers to offer a smartphone with 128GB worth of storage memory. This prediction comes from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who has made several fairly accurate predictions about upcoming smartphones in the past. According to him, the 128GB Apple iPhone 5S would cost $499 (RM1634) on contract. Other predictions for the Apple iPhone 5S include tech specs such as a new A7 Chip with 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The new A7 chip will use ARMv8 architecture providing 20% more energy efficiency than the previous A6 chip. Other features confirmed by the analyst include an upgraded F/2.0 aperture camera with dual-LED flash along with a gold colour casing option as well.

Previously Apple teased 10 September 2013 as the date when they would reveal the next Apple iPhone, which would probably be the Apple iPhone 5S. Many are expecting it to come with the final version of iOS 7 and be announced alongside the low-cost Apple iPhone 5C. However, this may no longer be the case as some anonymous tipsters have suggested that both smartphones may be released on 25 October 2013 instead. While this would definitely involve the Apple iPhone 5S and lower cost Apple iPhone 5C, it could also come with the announcement of the new MacBook Air as well. We're thinking that while the Apple iPhone 5S and 5C may be announced on 10 September 2013, they'll only be released and be available on 25 October 2013 which could be the reason for the different dates. However, we shouldn't have to wait all that long as 10 September 2013 is just around the corner.

The upcoming Apple iPhone 5S is shaping up to be the most radical change in production cycles for an Apple iPhone as it may be the first 'S' version to introduce significant hardware changes as rumours indicate. These rumours include:

• a higher capacity battery (due to the reportedly heavier weight)
• faster A7 processor
• sapphire glass home button with embedded fingerprint scanner
• 8MP f/2.0 aperture rear camera
• double LED flash (from leaked spare parts)
• come in white, dark gray and champagne gold

Concept renderers often predict what may happen in the future when a new smartphone, tablet or other device hasn't appeared just yet. As you can expect some are accurate while some are just plain fantasy. One fantasy concept render of the Apple iPhone 6 has recently appeared showing completely bezel free edge to edge usage of a flexible screen in a super thin housing. While the initial design retains many of the aspects for an iPhone it doesn't really show why anyone would find a use for such a display. Personally, we'd be wondering where to grip the darn thing but it does offer a cool concept render of a customizable phone interface where you could define where the controls on the sides would be and for what purpose.

According to insider information, the next Apple iPhone, which should be the Apple iPhone 5S, is coming soon on 10 September 2013. This fits with previous release dates which also happened around this time period and while the rumour circulating is about the iPhone 5S release, it will also mark the final release of other related devices and products like perhaps iOS 7 (which is already in beta 5) and the supposedly low-cost Apple iPhone 5C. While these are the more definite announcements that are likely to happen on that date, bear in mind that the Apple iPad 5 could also make an appearance as backplate housing for the tablet has surfaced. The Apple iPad mini with Retina Display on the other hand is still slated for around 2014 though.

We've seen any number of leaked Apple iPhone 5C back housing videos, which is the rumoured low-cost Apple iPhone otherwise known as the Apple iPhone Lite. However, most of them have been just with the plastic backplate or casing. A new video of the Apple iPhone 5C has made an appearance on Youku, China's version of Youtube, this time with the front panel as well. Placed side by side with the Apple iPhone 5, the video shows that the front panel may also be mostly plastic while the bottom part looks a lot like the Apple iPod Touch. So far no news on tech specs but many are speculating that it may be a cut down version of the Apple iPhone 5. No news on pricing or availability in Malaysia just yet but it is expected it to be much lower priced than the normal Apple iPhone smartphones and is aimed at students and emerging markets. Check out the video for yourself.

For those not in the know (or aren't an Apple iOS developer) then know this, Apple's iOS 7 beta 4 has been released. Apart from the new features and bug fixes, going through the change log confirms a new fingerprint scanner for the upcoming Apple iPhone 5S. This was found by developer Hamza Sood who discovered a folder labeled "BiometricKitUI". This folder contained script which described processes that show a fingerprint scanner in action. This included statements like "a person holding an iPhone with their left hand while touching the Home button with their thumb" or "A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process". This would be a definite change from the norm as most 'S' upgrades to the Apple iPhone have largely been software and not hardware related.