Apple iPhone SE: 7 things you need to know

A look at the iPhone SE's size, memory, and other features to get an idea of whether an upgrade is worth your money.

Apple announced its newest iPhone this week, a 4" model called the iPhone SE. Many rumors and predictions turned out to be true, but a few missed the mark. We look at its size, memory, and other features to get an idea of whether an upgrade is worth your money.

Honey, Apple Shrunk the 6s

The iPhone SE is essentially a 6s in 5s' clothing. It includes the same A9 processor, which could provide amazing gaming capabilities for a 4" handset. It also offers support for the always-on "Hey Siri" function, adding hands-free accessibility to the personal assistant. The SE will also boast the same 12-megapixel camera of the 6s, as well as the ability to take Live Photos and 4K video.

The Cheapest New iPhone — Ever

Analysts theorized that the starting price for the iPhone SE would match that of the 5s, at $450 for a 16GB model. However, it appears Apple is discontinuing the 5s entirely, replacing it with the SE as the latest "budget-friendly" iPhone. Furthermore, the 16GB model of the SE is, at $399, $51 cheaper than what was predicted. And according to Apple, that's the "most affordable [introductory] price" ever for an iPhone.


You'll Still Want the Expensive One

Instead of a 32GB model, the SE jumps from 16GB to 64GB, the latter of which costs $499. If price isn't a huge factor for you, it's worth it to pay $100 more to gain four times the storage space. After all, iPhones are known for their lack of expandable storage.

No 3D Touch, Which is No Surprise

The event made no mention of 3D Touch, but did highlight Live Photos as a feature on the SE. It's safe to assume Apple would've emphasized 3D Touch if it were indeed going to be utilized to capture Live Photos on the SE. It's likely that users will have to use the "long press" that was theorized leading up to the new iPhone's announcement.

Answering the Call For Smaller iPhones

A huge group of consumers still prefer a tiny iPhone. Apple noted that they sold 30 million 4" iPhones (which includes the 5, 5s, and 5c models) in 2015 alone. Both the compact size and compact price tag suggest that Apple is focused on capturing upgrades from those shoppers specifically.

We've Seen Deals on New iPhones Within Days

For the iPhone 4s, it was nearly a year before we saw any real sales. With the 5, deals appeared after about 7 months. The 5s smashed those timelines, and we saw prices slashed within 6 days of its release. It's quite possible that the SE could see similarly rapid savings, but don't expect those deals to come from Apple. Rather than preordering, you should keep an eye on other retailers for price cuts.

The iPhone SE is Due for Release on March 31

As announced, preorders for the iPhone SE begin this Thursday, on March 24. The smartphone is set to be released next week, on March 31, and will be shipping the same day. It's available in two sizes, 16GB for $399 and 64GB for $499, and in the four colors that seem to be becoming standard for Apple products: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold.

Readers, are you excited for the iPhone SE? Are you a fan of the smaller screen, or do you prefer the larger sizes of more recent models? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

source:csmonitor

Apple Temporarily Pulls iOS 9.3 Update for Older iOS Devices

Apple has temporarily stopped offering the iOS 9.3 update for older devices like the iPad Air and earlier and the iPhone 5s and earlier due to installation issues some users have experienced. On older devices, iOS 9.3 requires users to input the Apple ID and password originally used to set up the device, which can lead to the device becoming stuck at the Activation Lock screen if the original account information can't be recalled.

In a statement given to iMore, Apple says it is working on a fix and plans to issue a new version of iOS 9.3 in the next few days. Customers with an affected device who attempt to download iOS 9.3 during this time will not be able to install the update as Apple has stopped signing it.

Updating some iOS devices (iPhone 5s and earlier and iPad Air and earlier) to iOS 9.3 can require entering the Apple ID and password used to set up the device in order to complete the software update," an Apple spokesperson told iMore. "In some cases, if customers do not recall their password, their device will remain in an inactivated state until they can recover or reset their password. For these older devices, we have temporarily pulled back the update and will release an updated version of iOS 9.3 in the next few days that does not require this step."

For customers who have already installed iOS 9.3 and have gotten stuck at the Activation Lock, Apple has published a support document with steps on how to solve the issue. Apple recommends removing Activation Lock via iCloud or attempting to enter an Apple ID or password through iTunes.

Update: Apple has released a new build of iOS 9.3 for the iPad 2 and may be planning to roll out updates for additional devices. Apple has not yet resumed signing iOS 9.3 for affected devices.


Source:macrumors

iPhone 7 Design 'Confirmed' In First Leaked Images

Today we get our first look at the iPhone 7 and, alongside arguably the most controversial design change in Smartphone history, potential owners are in for a shock…

French site NoWhereElse (home to prolific leaker OnLeaks) has obtained the first iPhone 7 schematics and they reveal Apple AAPL +1.05% plans to change – well, not a lot. Nevertheless the schematics, which OnLeaks (aka Steve Hemmerstoffer) ‏states are ‘confirmed’ give us 3 key revelations:

1.Goodbye Antenna Bands

It has long been rumoured that Apple has created a breakthrough ‘smart’ material that would enable it to finally kill off the unsightly antenna stripes on the iPhone range. The stripes are cut into the handsets’ aluminium chassis to stop it killing signal strength and, right on cue, NoWhereElse’s schematics show they have gone, which creates a much cleaner overall look.

iPhone 7 schematics show important changes, but do not have a Wow Factor. Image credit: NoWhereElse.fr

That said, antenna bands are expected to remain on the top and bottom edges of the iPhone 7 – something the technical drawings don’t reveal.

2.Upgraded Camera

It should be no surprise that the iPhone 7 will sport an upgraded camera – every new iPhone does – but the NoWhereElse schematics show something that Apple hasn’t done in several years: make the module bigger.

 

The track record of NoWhereElse’s schematics drawings is unparalleled. Even if there’s irony in the images being taken on a computer running Windows. Image credit: NoWhereElse.fr

3.Thinner Design

While the dimensions are not shown in the leak, Hemmerstoffer says iPhone 7 schematics are marginally thinner than the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus – models which were actually fractionally thicker than the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Ever thinner smartphones have started to irritate customers who’d rather manufacturers focused on practicalities like bigger batteries. Samsung finally accommodated this with the superb Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge so, if Apple does not do the same, it could prove a controversial move.

Of course the biggest talking point with the leaked schematics though is clear to everyone…

Source: Forbes

iPhone SE (or iPhone 6c) UK release date rumours, feature rumours and leaked images: New 4-inch iPhone will be unveiled on 21 March

Multiple sources now report that Apple will launch its new 4-inch iPhone SE (or iPhone 5 SE, iPhone 6c iPhone 7c, iPhone mini etc), at a press event on 21 March. Here are the latest mini-iPhone rumours, including iPhone SE UK release date, design, specs and features

When will Apple launch its next 4-inch iPhone? Will it really be called the 'iPhone SE'?

Apple's iPhone SE (standing for 'Special Edition') will be unveiled at a press event on 21 March, according to multiple sources. This is expected to be Apple's first 4-inch iPhone since the iPhone 5s in 2013. Some have also speculated that it will match the colourful plastic design of the iPhone 5c, which launched at the same time as the 5s.

Back in 2015, we were worried that Apple had decided to ditch the 'C' range from its iPhone line-up, and stop making 4-inch iPhones altogether after the success of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s (and iPhone 6) and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus (and iPhone 6 Plus). But it's been consistently rumoured that a smaller iPhone 6c (now believed to be called iPhone SE) might launch in 2016.

Here, we've gathered all of the latest iPhone SE rumours, including release date, design, specs and features speculation. We've also got iPhone SE concept images and mockups.

Source: Macworld

iOS 9 features - updated for iOS 9.3

Includes everything in iOS 9.3, Apple's next iPhone and iPad update

Update: This iOS 9 update page has been revised to warn about the 1970 iPhone date glitch, and to detail iOS 9.3 beta 3 news regarding Night Shift mode and Verizon Wi-Fi calling.

iOS 9 launched back in September of last year and it's a lot better than iOS 8, thanks to new features that make the iPhone and iPad software easier to use.

Siri is smarter, Apple Maps has been improved and the notifications drop-down menu is now sorted logically. Best of all, every device that works with iOS 8 works with iOS 9. Since launch it's improved even further too, with the rollout of iOS 9.1.2, the current stable version of the software.

iPads benefit big from this current operating system update. New iPad multitasking functionality, especially for the iPad Air 2, finally fulfills the tablet's promise of productivity on the go.

While iOS 9 and even iOS 9.3 beta 3 lack some key Android features, there's a lot to like about it, now that new hardware is available in the form of iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus and iPad Pro.

iOS 9.3 update

iOS 9.3 is Apple's first major update with brand new features to highlight. While iOS 9.1 added new emojis, iOS 9.2 tweaked Apple Music and Apple News and iOS 9.2.1 just fixed bugs. But iOS beta actually bring new functionality.

Specifically, the preview software debuts Night Shift, which automatically tints your iPhone and iPad with warmer colors. Bright blue light can keep you up at night, studies have shown.

Night Shift uses the time and geolocation to determine the sunset and the display returns to normal in the morning. It's a feature we've seen from third-party apps like f.lux on Mac, but a first directly from Apple.

Educators wielding iPads can dive into a new classroom app and multi-student login. Passing an iPad around the class can let students save their work to individual profiles and pick up where they left off.