Will.i.am promises to turn your iPhone into a 14-megapixel 'genius-phone'

Not content with his deliberately undefined role at Intel, the main pulse behind the Black Eyed Peas is preparing for yet another incursion into the world of technology -- this time by launching a dedicated camera accessory for the iPhone 4and iPhone 5 (and presumably the 4S, too). Will.i.am claims the device has "its own sensor and a better flash" and will "turn your smartphone into a genius-phone" by replacing the native 5- or 8-megapixel camera module with one that churns out 14-megapixel images instead. The Telegraph reports that the add-on will be the first of a series of "i.am+" branded accessories that will launch on November 28th. No pricing has been revealed so far, but the range will be sold solely by Selfridges in London and -- much like Harrods with its own glam gadgetexclusives -- that store isn't particularly known for bargains.

[Source: Engadget]

Google Street View is back on the iPhone, but it's not pretty

Last night, Google made good on its promise to make Street View available on iOS devices, but it's not pretty.

Google may or may not be working on its own iOS maps app, as Chairman Eric Schmidt says Apple device users shouldn't expect a Google Maps app anytime soon. In the meantime, Google's engineers did the next best thing -- they added Street View to the Web version of Google Maps.

To view Street View, just go to maps.google.com in mobile Safari or Google Chrome for iOS. You can't just tap on any location to view Street View. Instead, you may have to tap on a business or transit stop, or start at a known point and then "move" in Street View to the location you wish to view.

Unfortunately, there are some real issues with the temporary workaround. A number of users worldwide have reported gaps in the data where there was full coverage before, and Apple 2.0's Philip Elmer-DeWitt complained of frequent crashes.

It's not the perfect solution we all wanted, but at least Street View is back.

[Source: Engadget]

iPhone 5, 4S are Apple's greenest phones yet

Apple says it makes the "the most environmentally responsible products in our industry," and an independent study has backed up this claim. iFixit and Healthystuff.org dissected 36 smartphones and analyzed their chemical composition using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The study graded the phones based on the presence of known hazardous chemicals like bromine, mercury and lead.

Over the years, Apple has steadily improved its products moving from a "high concern" rating for the original iPhone to a "low concern" rating for the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5. The iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4 are both in the "moderate concern" level, with the iPhone 4 (2.95) falling just under the 2.81 score of the "low concern" Samsung Evergreen.

[Source: TUAW - Read more there]

iPhone 5 speaker is loudest iPhone speaker yet

Lucky iPhone 5 owners (I'm not one of them yet) can be proud to know that their new device is the loudest iPhone yet. The folks over at iClarified thought that it seemed a bit louder than older versions, so they did the right thing and tested the iPhone 5 -- and every other model of iPhone ever built -- with a decibel meter.

What they found is that the iPhone 5 speaker is indeed the loudest yet, pumping out an impressive 100.3 dBA when a pink noise file was played in the Music app. That's greater than the previous winner, the iPhone 4S, which tipped the meter at 97.9 dBA. Remember that the decibel A-weighting (dBA) is measured on a logarithmic scale, so that seemingly insignificant 2.4 dBA difference actually corresponds to an 18 percent increase in loudness.

[Source: TUAW - Read the full story there]

Tim Cook's apology shows that Apple cares, but still needs to fix problem

Last week I wrote an article criticizing Apple's new Maps capability explaining why it was a deal-breaker for me and why I was leaving the iPhone. That article generated hundreds of comments (in agreement and disagreement), tweets, and emails to me and TUAW, some going so far as calling for me to be fired. Since that article was published, the criticisms of Maps have exploded, so much so that Tim Cook released a rare public apology from Apple and pointed users to mapping apps from competitors. While that may help stem the bleeding until Apple can figure out how to fix its Maps mess, there are two things about Tim Cook's statement I want to address.

The first is that Cook's apology shows that Apple truly cares about its users. You know those times you mess up and realize how hard it is to apologize for your mistake? It's usually pride or embarrassment that gets in the way of apologizing. Either way, it's still incredibly hard to admit you were wrong. Now multiply that feeling by a million, knowing that your apology -- the admission that you were wrong -- will be reported by every major newspaper and tech blog in the world.

[Source: TUAW - Read the full story there]

Verizon iPhone 5 update fixes mobile data use on WiFi bug

Verizon customers received an unexpected bonus when they opted for the latest iPhone, but in an unfortunate case of carrier Karma, the necessary sacrifice was their mobile data. An update has been issued to fix a Verizon-specific bug which, "under certain circumstances," used cellular data when connected to WiFi. To plug the potential leak, you'll need to head to the About screen in the phone's Settings, General menu, where you should find a update prompt. Install, then -- importantly -- reboot, and if "Verizon 13.1" shows as your carrier in that same About tab, you know you're safe. We'd also recommend checking your data allowance with crossed fingers -- for what use is LTE if you've already hit your monthly cap?

[Source: Engadget]

The A6 inside the iPhone 5 varies its clock speed for performance

One possible reason the iPhone 5 has such great battery life is the clever way the A6 changes its clock speed. While originally thought to be clocked at 1GHz, the chip has been clocked at 1.1GHz as well as 1.3GHz by Current Editorials.

While 9to5Mac saw the chip's speed drop as low as 550MHz, this seemed to do more with an as-yet-updated Geekbench app testing the chip (which also resulted in the 1GHz assumption). A Geekbench update seems to paint a different picture now. By all accounts it appears the chip can change "speeds," however, resulting in better battery life and dynamically tuning itself to the demand for CPU.

Between this and the human-powered layout found in the dissection of the A6, it's obvious Apple's decades of hardware expertise have all led to creating an amazing CPU for the iPhone 5.

[Source: TUAW]

iPhone 5 launch spurs store heists from Tennessee to Japan

It is no secret that Apple devices are in high demand; and due to their not-so cheap price tags, a slew of heists have occurred around the world since the launch of the anticipated iPhone 5.

A few of the more notable thefts come from Murfreesboro, Tenn., London, United Kingdom, and Osaka, Japan. In Tuesday’s Murfreesboro (what a name, eh?) case, which police dubbed “the most systematic, brazen crimes they’ve seen in years,” according to the local NewsChannel5, eight thieves allegedly swiped over $100,000 in stolen iPhone 5s and iPads from a Best Buy. Surveillance video even shows the group, with each crook wearing hooded sweatshirts and dark ski masks, plowing down the store’s loading garage door with a hot car.

Another incident involves 252 pilfered iPhone 5s in London. According to the U.K.’s Mirror News, the smartphones were shoplifted just hours before launch time at an O2 store in Wimbledon. Cops are looking for the Tandem Centre store’s assistant, 23-year-old Usman Sethi, in connection to the crime. The new iPhones disappeared along with some cash around 1:30 a.m. from the store’s safe.

In Osaka, law enforcement said 191 iPhone 5s went missing from three different stores between 2:30 and 4:30 a.m. The Wall Street Journal noted surveillance video at one of those stores, Softbank Corp, show three male culprits stealing the Apple devices from a locked backroom within a four minute span. It is unclear at this time if the “unusual string” of robberies are connected.

[Source: 9to5Mac]

This is the first jailbroken iPhone 5

Unless Walt Mossberg or David Pogue knocked it last week, @Chpwn (Grant Paul) has the first jailbroken iPhone 5,which he posted to his Twitter account a few minutes ago. It is usually common courtesy to give Apple devices 24 hours before jailbreaking, but someone apparently could not help himself.

[Source: 9to5Mac]

iPhone 5 owners report scuffs and scratches out of the box

When Apple VP Phil Schiller took the stage on September 12th to talk about the company’s new iPhone 5 hardware he went on at length about the exacting level of precision that goes into its manufacture. But despite Apple's insistence that its tolerances are measured in microns, several iPhone 5 owners are reporting that their new devices are arriving with a variety of scuffs and scrapes out of the box (myself included, pictured above).

The company’s record-breaking sales numbers certainly don’t make it easy to guess at how widespread the issue is, but an informal poll in the MacRumors forumsindicates that out of some 1260 respondents, more than a third are reporting some kind of damage. The source of the scuffs (pictured below) is anyone’s guess, but as All Things D points out, the iPhone 5’s case is made out of anodized (i.e., coated) aluminum, which, while being lighter than the stainless steel used in the iPhone 4 and 4S, is also softer and appears to be more susceptible to scratching. It's worth noting that HTC used a comparable oxidized finish for its One S handset — a phone whose users reported having similar cosmetic issues.

So far, Apple hasn't commented on the issue, but if you’re one of the unlucky buyers stuck with a scratched phone (and you’re not into the whole "worn in" look), it may be worth taking your device in to a local Apple Store and asking for an exchange. And if you haven't yet picked yours up, we'd suggest giving it a thorough look-over in the store before heading home with your new phone.

[Source: The Verge]

QDOS Protects iPhone 5 with New Unique Case Collections

19th September 2012 - QDOS, a designer of innovative accessories for iPhone, iPod, iPad, smartphones and tablets, today announces the first of many new chic and unique cases for the hugely anticipated iPhone 5. Nine cases make up three eye-catching collections named Pure, Metallics and Racing, ensuring there is an option for all tastes. Including designs that are bright, industrial, classic and classy, each case combines lightweight, scratchproof, polycarbonate material, with a finish that promises to stand the test of time. Perfect for protecting that precious, ‘must-have’ new gadget, they are available now from www.qdossound.com at £19.99.

Blending original design with inspiration from the successful iPhone 4 collection, the distinctive new cases are all made from hardwearing polycarbonate said to be as strong as steel but as light as cork, great for today’s gadget hungry user on the move. Designed to preserve the look and feel of the new iPhone 5, the polycarbonate has been layered to emulate the double glass finish of the device. To ensure the aesthetically pleasing designs withstand everyday impacts and retain their shape, each graphic is embedded deep within the polycarbonate, guaranteeing fade, peel and chip resistance.

These durable cases fit snugly round the iPhone 5 offering easy access to all new sockets, buttons and camera lenses and protecting the device from any dust creeping in. As always, the device remains easy to use whilst the unique bevelled outside edges provide rugged protection and reinforced grip.

The Smoothies Pure collection: This light and slim line collection boasts three classic colours. White for every occasion, Black for a masculine feel or outstanding bright Red for a fiery iPhone 5.

The Metallics collection: For a more industrial feel, the Metallics range includes three unique designs. A Mirrored Union Jack for a patriotic, pop art look, a unique brushed Titanium design for a stunning glass and steel effect and finally a Mirrored case perfect for checking reflections on the go.

The Smoothies Racing collection: These chic darker colours ooze class and the metallic paint finish emulates a premium racing car design. Choose from Khaki,Purple or Blue and really stand out from the crowd.

For more information regarding these cases, please visit their website here.

iPhone 5 hits the teardown table, scores a 7 out of 10 for repairability from iFixit

If it's the day that shipments of the latest iPhone arrive around the world, then it is just as surely the day that iFixit's teardown specialists break out their screwdrivers and show you what's inside. This is not the first teardown of the iPhone 5, but it will certainly be among the best and most detailed. Some pleasant surprises inside Apple's latest device are signed indicating it will be much more easily repairable than its predecessor, thanks to a case that opens front to back, a pop-out ear speaker and a display assembly the team says is reminiscent of the iPhone 3GS. Also good news for those suffering through worn-out home buttons is an integrated metal support this time around, which may help extend its lifespan and make replacing it easier when it does expire. Beyond that, a 28nm Qualcomm MDM9615M chip is handling LTE, HSPA+, EV-Do Rev B and TD-SCMA connectivity, while the new metal back casing barely outweighs the back glass from the iPhone 4S. Hit the source link or check out the video review (embedded after the break) for more pics and details from deep inside the iPhone 5, while most fans wait a few more hours to get their grubby fingers all over the outside of one.

[Source: Engadget]