The iPhone Blog


iOS 6: A fresh coat of paint

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 04:05 PM PDT

A brief look at the history of Apple's mobile UI, and what hints they may hold for iOS 6

A brief look at the history of Apple's mobile UI, and what hints they may hold for iOS 6

Sometimes you break out the sledge hammer, knock down the walls, and rebuild from scratch. Palm did that. Microsoft did that. RIM is doing that. Other times you pick up a brush and slap a coat of paint on the walls and the place suddenly looks good as new. (And yes, there's a trompe-l'oeil : skeuomorphism joke that I'm going to avoid.)

With iOS, Apple has both said and acted in a way that indicates they consider familiarity to be a features -- that's why the iPad introduced in 2010 pretty much looked and worked the same way the iPhone did when it was introduced in 2007.

It's also the reason the core of iOS -- Springboard -- isn't likely to change any faster than iOS' hundreds of millions of mainstream users can digest. Because, to users, the interface is the app. Apple can remove Google data from Maps.app, but as long as the interface works in a familiar way, and the content remains accurate and appealing, to many users the change will be transparent. How many noticed when Apple swapped out Skyhook Wi-Fi location data for Apple's own database?

As much as we've explored the idea of a new iOS Home screen, and what potential a 4-inch, 9:16 iPhone screen may allow, we've also been hearing for a while now that renovation may not be on the agenda this year. For iOS 6, what we might be getting is more like a coat of really good paint.

But which colors will they use?

Here's a brief look at Apple's iPhone interface designs over the years, and how each of them would look applied to the default UIKit. (That part's just for fun -- many of them are clearly ludicrous.)

Pinstripes

The original iPhone app treatment (UIKit) remains the current iPhone app treatment. Pinstripes. Back in 2007, compared to PalmOS, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and Symbian, the pale gray blue and subtle white line of iOS 1 (iPhone OS) worked. Or at least, people were all too busy playing with inertial scrolling and pinch-to-zoom to really pay attention to the color-scheme.

There were a few exceptions, like Notes with its yellow pad treatment, but most of the core iOS apps came into the world in pinstripes, and have worn them ever since.

The original iPhone pinstripe interface was introduced in 2007 and remains pretty much unchanged in 2012.

Felt

For the first few years, first-party Apple apps stuck to the default interface. iOS 4's Game Center, released in 2010 was one of the first major, notable exceptions. It was made to look like a Las Vegas gaming table complete with green, burgundy, and yellow felt with polished wood trim.

2010's iOS 4 Game Center interface was meant to invoke the felt and wood of gaming tables.

Linen

With iOS 4, Apple introduced the linen texture as a metaphor for background or behind-the-scenes content, and aggressively expanded it in iOS 5 and OS X Lion. It was used in setup screens, for the fast app switcher dock, for folders, for Notification Center (breaking the background motif), and Siri. It wasn't used in the same way as felt, as a skin over UIKit, but as a way of visually differentiating an alternate level of functionality.

When you saw linen, you knew you weren't in an app any more.

(We originally developed the iMore app using the default UIKit, until Nickelfish's Justin Marucci suggested a linen based interface would be more modern.)

Apple started using linen in iOS 4 as a way to visually indicate features that existed in the background or otherwise outside of the main interface.

Wood

Alongside iOS 4, Apple released iBooks, which unlike the iTunes Store and App Store, needed to be downloaded separately. While it used the default interface for the store component, the built-in reader used a wooden shelf motif for the list view.

iOS 5's Newsstand featured a a similar, fold-out version of that look.

The wood shelf interface of iBooks, released alongside iOS 4 in 2010, also had a flatter, non-glossy title bar.

Leather

2011's Find my Friends, which like iBooks wasn't included in the core OS but required a separate download from the app store. It took the stitched leather look, which Apple had already used in the iPad and iOS X Lion's calendar and address book, to it's fullest extreme.

Stitched leather, introduced in its most extreme form in 2011's Find my iPhone app, is best used for comfort and to jazz up boring data driven apps.

Reminders, also introduced in iOS 5 in 2011, also wore leather, albeit less like comfy couch and more like an action-oriented jacket.

Silver

When Apple released the iPad in 2010 with iOS 3.2, they announced they'd re-written many of the core apps from scratch, including the above-mentioned leather-bound book looks. More than that, however, they dropped pinstripes from the get go. Instead, they went with a more subtle, more silver looks for the default apps.

Apple's 2012 WWDC app brought this look to the iPhone as well, but with an even more subtle effect.

iOS 6

Apple has worked relentlessly over the years to make the iPhone and iPad all about the screen. Casing has been minimized, bands have been flattened, buttons have been moved behind the curves.

At the same time they've made apps more visually dynamic, using many of the aforementioned skeuomorphic designs. That's for two reasons:

  1. To make apps accessible to people for whom technology has traditionally been anything but.
  2. To make otherwise boring, data-driven apps more visually interesting.

As much as the mockups above were fun to render, Apple treats the default interface chrome more like casing than like content. The Settings app doesn't need to be made more accessible or more visually interesting -- it would distract rather than add to its experience.

There's a common cliché associated with Apple design -- 10:3:1. From a handful of concepts, one production version emerges. It's probably no coincidence the WWDC app, and the leaks of the redesigned Maps app look like evolutions of the default interface first introduced with the iPad.

And personally, I think the iPhone would look great with a fresh coat of silver.

While OS X has had Appearances options for years -- aqua or graphite, for example -- it's harder to see Apple doing that on iOS. Though they did once ship brushed metal...

Update: Since I started working on this late last night (photos don't shop themselves!), both iDownloadBlog's Christian Zibreg and 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman have also reported hearing about interface refreshes to Apple's core iOS apps. WWDC should be fun.

Additional resources



iOS 6 rumored to debut Facebook integration

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 02:33 PM PDT

iOS 6 rumored to debut Facebook integration

Apple may be setting its status to "in a relationship with" Facebook, if new rumors pan out. Apparently iOS 6 will feature Facebook integration similar to what we've seen with Twitter in iOS 5, like being one of the default Share To options, but there's also the possibility that Facebook account integration could enable even easier single sign-on for multiple apps.

Apple and Facebook have enjoyed an up and down relationship so far - Tim Cook had only nice things to say about the company at D10 this week, though he would have handled the acquisition of Instagram a little differently. At the same time, he said "we can do more with them" and "stay tuned", which were are certainly some loaded words. Sure, Facebook integration didn't make it into iOS 4 and the Ping integration got pulled right after launch, but while Steve Jobs complained about Faceook's "onerous" terms despite months of negotiating, he and Mark Zuckerberg seemed to be civil and almost friendly about negotiations. Even Tim Cook clarified that Facebook simply had their own way of doing things and they stuck to their guns, much like Apple. There are some far-fetched rumors that Facebook is going to be making their own phone, but I really don't buy it.

Of course, not everybody is a huge fan of Facebook, and may resent it playing such a huge role in the app ecosystem from here on in. One would expect developers will still have their own registration and account creation process for those that don't have Facebook accounts, but I wouldn't be surprised if smaller devs wanted to avoid the hassle of making their own infrastructure started to rely on Facebook exclusively for registration. After all, if Facebook is baked right into iOS, might as well leverage it, right?

We'll find out just how big of a role Facebook plays in iOS 6 next week at WWDC. Which Facebook features would you like to see bake in to the next version of the iPad and iPhone's operating system?

Source: TechCrunch



Apple boasts strongest manufacturing supply chain in the world, turns over inventory in five days

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 02:26 PM PDT

Apple boasts strongest manufacturing supply chain in the world, turns over inventory in five days

Gartner has just published their findings from looking at the supply chain strength across manufacturers worldwide, and Apple still tops the list. The ranking was based on a survey of 173 peers, 37 Gartner research opinions, a three-year weighted return on assets, the number of inventory turns each year, and three-year weighted revenue growth. This earned Apple a composite score of 9.69, compared to Amazon's 5.4 (which earned them second place), Samsung's 3.67 (13th place) and RIM's 3.00 (19th place). Apparently the inventory turn score means that iPhones, iPads, and other Apple hardware only sit in a warehouse for five days before being shipped off to an avid customer. Samsung's inventory turn was 17.1 according to Gartner, while Apple's was 74.1 - that should give you an idea of how much faster Apple can pump this stuff out. Let's not even get started with RIM's inventory issues.

A big part of being able to do this kind of thing is called just-in-time delivery, which means Apple is only making products as the orders come in. Of course, this means that iPhones, iPads, Macs and other products need to be pumped out very quickly, but it ensures that no inventory goes to waste by gathering dust in a warehouse and depreciating in value over time.  I can only imagine how hard it is for Apple and Foxconn to keep making these products fast enough to keep up with demand, nevermind doing so with such efficiency.

It's crazy to see Apple's beating out giants like Wal-mart, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's with logistical stuff like this, but with Tim Cook's history in operations, you can only imagine Apple's strength in this area improving. Apple has an iron grip on its manufacturing processes in China, but humanitarian needs may put a slight damper on the blistering speed of their factory output.

Source: Gartner via BusinessInsider



iPhone was to originally be named iPad, Ive and Jobs were "as close as lovers"

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 02:26 PM PDT

iPhone was to originally be named iPad, Ive and Jobs were

Ken Segall, an ex-Apple marketing director currently on tour for his book on Apple and Steve Jobs , revealed a few interesting anecdotes about his time with the late luminary. We had already heard from Segall about Jobs'... interesting plan to dress up as Willy Wonka and give a tour of Apple to whoever found a golden ticket with their iMac, but Segall had a lot to say about the naming process. Apparently Jobs originally hated the name "iMac", which was suggested by Segall; Jobs actually wanted "MacMan", which was originally pitched by Phil Schiller. Other names that were in the running included "EveryMac" and "MiniMac".  As for Apple's mobile offerings, we already know that Apple had worked on a tablet computer before they made a smartphone, so it's no surprise to hear that the iPhone was originally going to be called the iPad, though from what we've previously heard the name "Safari Pad" was also possible.

What's really interesting is Segall's commentary on the relationship between head designer Jony Ive and Steve Jobs. He said they were "inseparable" and "as close as lovers." Still, the pair had one explosive argument over which colors of iMacs to release after the Bondi Blue model was released in 1998, which ultimately resulted in Ive storming out.

Ive and Jobs were already known to be really close, but it certainly casts the relationship in a different light when they're described to have been "as close as lovers". I'm tempted to think that Segall is taking a bit of creative liberty, but from what we heard of Tim Cook's behaviour in comparison to Jobs, Apple's co-founder was definitely prone to picking favorites.

I'm sure Segall's book, Insanely Simple: The Obssession That Drives Apple's Success, is chock-full of stories like this. You can pick it up at the link below.

$14.59 - Buy now

Source: PC Advisor



Google hosting Maps event just before WWDC where it will probably sulk about the iOS break-up

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Google hosting Maps event just before WWDC where it will probably sulk about the iOS break-up

Google has just announced that they're holding an event for Google Maps directly before Apple's World Wide Developer Conference next week. The timing of June 6 isn't entirely a surprise since we're expecting the announcement of iOS 6 to include Apple's own Maps infrastructure in the place of Google's.

This is a pretty big deal, since the iPhone has been using the Google Maps engine since the very beginning of iOS. Google and Apple have been understandably drifting apart over the last couple of years as Android has gained prominence. That said, one can expect that the Google Maps announcement will be directly competing with Apple's for attention, and tactically aimed at deflating some of the excitement that iOS 6 maps will offer.

One of the big rumors surrounding Apple's upcoming revamping of the Maps app is 3D visualization. So, naturally, the Google Maps invitation reads: "The Next Dimension of Google Maps". Clever Google.

I can only wonder how much longer YouTube will remain a prominent preload given the strained relationship between Apple and Google. Who else could Apple reasonably partner with for video, or search for that matter? I can't picture Bing being the default search engine in Safari for iOS, or Siri intermediate and anonymize a lot of queries, robbing Google of what they truly need, the data behind the searches and the ads they return, but it sure would be neat to see Vimeo take YouTube's place. If Google loses its footing as a core part of the iOS experience, will they still maintain a presence in the App Store, or will they try to go to the mobile web with everything, like they did with Voice once upon a time?

Of course, nothing is official just yet - we don't even know for sure if Apple and Google are breaking up over maps. Who knows? Maybe Google is still a part of the picture somehow, even with all of Apple's direct involvement.

Source: The Next Web via AndroidCentral



NCSettings for iPhone and iPad review [jailbreak]

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 08:35 AM PDT

NCSettings for iPhone and iPad review [jailbreak]

NCSettings for iPhone and iPad adds a row of system toggles to Notification Center for commonly used settings such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, brightness, and airplane mode. It's very similar to the system toggles you'd find in SBSettings but integrated in a way that's much more consistent with the default look of iOS.

NCSettings-for-iPhone-and-iPad

Once you activate NCSettings for iPhone or iPad in Notifications it will instantly show up in Notification Center.

When you first install NCSettings to your iPhone or iPad you'll have to hop into Settings and enable it under Notifications. Move it up and down to wherever you'd like it to appear in Notification Center. I prefer it all the way at the top above the weather widget but you can place it where you'd like. Once you've done that, just pull down your Notification Center shade and you'll notice a new row of icons. These are system toggles just like many are already used to having in SBSettings.

NCSettings-for-iPhone-and-iPad-settings-panel

You can change what toggles show up in NCSettings under Settings. Just turn on and off the toggles you want by dragging them to either on or off. You can also drag them to reorder.

You can edit and remove toggles you don't want to use by adding, moving, and reordering them under Settings. You can also change things like the icon spacing and how volume and vibrate toggles function. NCSettings currently has options for brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, airplane mode, 3G, cellular data, private browsing, location services, auto-lock, power, silent, vibrate, lock rotation, and volume.

The thing I really like about NCSettings opposed to SBSettings is that it blends really nicely into iOS and doesn't look like it's out of place. It isn't as full featured as SBSettings and won't give you options like changing the carrier banner or managing memory but if you don't require those features and just want access to system toggles, NCSettings is a great choice.

The good

  • Blends in with Notification Center perfectly for a cleaner look and feel
  • Supports a good amount of toggles stock
  • Allows you to rearrange your toggles in whatever order you'd like

The bad

  • Not as powerful as SBSettings
  • Doesn't have themes and additional toggles

Conclusion

NCSettings natively supports almost every system toggle you'd want or need and it's super easy to configure. Many jailbreak apps have confusing Settings panels and are overloaded with options. That's not the case here and it's about as Apple like as you're going to get.

If all you want is system toggles and don't need all the additional options SBSettings provides, NCSettings is a great choice. Many users may actually prefer it.

Free - Cydia Search Link

Additional Resources



Nano-SIM standard decided by European standards institute

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 07:41 AM PDT

Nano-SIM standard decided by European standards institute

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has announced that they have decided on the next generation of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The original iPhone (and many other phones) used mini-SIM cards. The iPad and iPhone 4 were among the first devices to use the much smaller micro-SIM standard. This new nano-SIM design will be 40% smaller than current iPhone micro-SIM cards, measuring 12.3 mm wide, 8.8 mm high, and 0.67 mm thick. 

It's still unclear if ETSI sided with Apple's original submission, or the compromised design offered by RIM, but one way or the other, Apple played a big role in the decision.

RIM's original design wasn't backwards-compatible, which was one of the main tenets of Apple's, but ETSI says that the next generation of SIM cards should play nice with older hardware. If it feels like we're pretty much skipping right over the micro-SIM standard, don't worry -- outside of Apple, manufacturers have taken a long, long time to adapt it, and no doubt  it will take a year or two before manufacturers start pumping out phones in mass that support the new SIM standard. Plus there are service providers that will need to make the transition on their end.

Ultimately, a smaller SIM card means a smaller SIM card slot, which means more room for other smartphone internals. This is a consistent theme for Apple, who aggressively moved to the micro-SIM and pushed hard for the nano-SIM. Next generation phones like the iPhone 5 will almost certainly use LTE 4G networking chips, which still aren't as small and power efficient as 3G chips. Apple will need space, be it for more memory, processor cores, sensors, battery, or antennae. That's also the likely reason Apple may soon adopt a smaller dock connector port as well -- every millimeter matters.

Specifics on the new SIM standard will be published shortly, but until then we can be sure of one thing: the new card will be very, very tiny.

Source: ETSI via TNW



Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 only $62.95

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 07:16 AM PDT

Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 only $62.95For today only, the iMore iPhone Accessory Store has the Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $62.95! That's a whopping 30% off! Get yours before they're gone!

Shop Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

An industry-first, the CONVERT Plus features two smartphone cases in one - a sleek case that includes a battery for everyday protection and power and a heavy-duty case for the demands of the outdoors or rugged professions.

Start with the SURFACE Plus case and upgrade by adding a layer of shock-absorbing silicone and a precision-fit skeleton. On top of the protection offered by the case, your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 will remain secure thanks to our patented locking CONVERT Plus holster that fits a duty or utility belt up to 2" wide.

SURFACE Plus Case

  • First Apple Certified iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 case with a removable battery
  • Sleek case (~0.73) that adds protection without bulk
  • Case includes 1700mAh battery
  • Includes Micro USB cable

Rugged Skin and Skeleton

-Controls, ports, and camera covered while remaining functional - Shock-absorption with less bulk - Protects vulnerable parts of device (corners and sides)

CONVERT Plus Holster

  • Face-in design protects face of device
  • Locks for security and swivels for convenience
  • Comfortably clips to belts up to 2" wide

Ultimate Screen Guard

  • Precision-cut for iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4
  • Retains touch screen sensitivity and clarity
  • Installs without use of adhesives


AT&T announces new data roaming packages

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 06:09 AM PDT

AT&T announces new data roaming packages

Planning on going somewhere this summer with your iPhone or iPad? AT&T has announced cheaper data roaming packages you may want to check out.

  • 120 MB Data Global Add-on package for $30/month
  • 300 MB Data Global Add-on package for $60/month
  • 800 MB Data Global Add-on package for $120/month
If you go over your allotment, you're automatically signed up for another round of the bottom tier.
Considering as of last summer AT&T was asking  $25 for 50 MB, these are pretty good deals, and puts them on par with a recent data roaming package Verizon has recently started to offer: 100 MB for $25. Personally, I prefer to pick up a local SIM card rather than sign up for a roaming package (mainly because Rogers charges $50 for 10 MB), but often language barriers and time constraints can stop that from happening.

So where are you going this summer? Planning travel to any exotic locales? If you're looking for ways your iPad or iPhone can help you out on the road, be sure to check our feature on the best summer vacation apps.

Source: AT&T via AC

Boost Mobile rumored to offer pre-paid iPhone starting September

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 01:53 AM PDT

Boost Mobile rumored to offer pre-paid iPhone starting September

Boost Mobile has been rumored to start selling the iPhone as a pre-paid phone starting this September. This follows yesterday's news that Cricket Communications were rolling out pre-paid iPhones starting later this month. 

Boost are rumored to be able to offer both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in early September; on its pre-paid tariffs. At the moment Boost's handset range is heavily dominated by Android devices so the addition of the iPhone would be a welcome change.

Boost is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that runs on Sprint's network so the iPhones will all be CDMA versions. Boost currently offers a popular $50 a Month Unlimited plan that includes unlimited talk, text and data. That cost can be reduced further if a customer has a good payment record.

This is a just a rumor for now but it is interesting to see more options for customers who are looking for an iPhone and do not wish to take out a long term contract.

It is common practice in Europe and is the way that I have chosen to go. I bought an unlocked iPhone 4S from Apple and I have a 30 day rolling SIM only plan. The plan gives me 2000 talk minutes, 5000 SMS messages and real unlimited data. The monthly cost is just £25.00 ($38).

Of course, September is getting quite close to the rumored launch date of the next generation iPhone 5. Apple has traditionally lowered the cost of older iPhones when newer ones come on the market. The iPhone 5 might carry a good-sized price-tag if bought off-contract and up-front, but the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 should be cheaper by then as well.

Whether or not Apple chooses to keep the 2009 iPhone 3GS on the market any longer, and at what price, is the question. While a very inexpensive way to get customers onto the iPhone platform and still one of the best selling smartphones in North America, it's also the last device on the market without a Retina display, FaceTime camera, and other current iPhone staples.

Source: TechnoBuffalo



Axon Runners review for iPhone and iPad

Posted: 31 May 2012 09:26 PM PDT

Axon Runners review for iPhone and iPad

Axon Runners cruised on into the App Store today with some pretty sharp graphics, but does its tired corporate sponsorship from Coke Zero drag it down? Check out our review below to find out.

Axon Runners is a futuristic racing game where you steer a young rebel through various courses on a hoverboard that can latch on to many different surfaces. Your goal is to pick up as many orbs as possible throughout the course while minimizing your number of wipeouts. You control your racer with slow swipes to steer left and right, and jump sideways and vertically with quick flick gestures. Jumping is actually the only way to increase your speed, and you get more points per orb the faster you're going, so be ready to bounce around a lot. You can also discharge some of your velocity in an energy blast which can collect orbs a bit further ahead from you. As you play, you unlock new boards with varying abilities and new outfits, while a few are reserved for in-app purchases. You have attain a certain score on each level in order to continue on to the next stage, and even then, your rating is given on a scale of five stars. There are only 10 levels in the story mode, and another 6 in the hard mode, so five-starring each level will be the main challenge for hardcore players. The developer promises that a second chapter and additional challenge levels are on the way, at least. Here's hoping they don't hold the content hostage with in-app purchases.

 

The game models and textures are all very sharp, fit the setting, and though the audio is a little more subdued, the soundtrack is solid and appropriately electronic. The achievements are actually kind of clever, and hook into Game Center. Game Center also handles leaderboards, in addition to some pretty decent in-game stat tracking.

The difficulty curve on Axon Runners is pretty steep; you'll end up going pretty fast, and the steering is very sensitive. Crashing into obstacles happens a lot, and the ragdoll physics that follow aren't even that entertaining. Sure, the reset time is instantaneous, and there's no limit on how often you can wipe out, but every once in awhile, you'll spawn directly in front of an obstacle which is pretty much impossible to avoid the first go-around, and occasionally, you'll glitch right through the map and be in one of those classic eternally-falling situations like I did at one point.

My other contention is that there's a long, convoluted plotline involving trying to rescue their friends from some alternate digital reality or something that just doesn't get delivered very well. I'm thinking they were just trying to do too much in only 10 levels. The cutscenes between levels feature some really high-quality art, but the dialog scrolls by too quickly to be able to really catch what's going on. A few more levels to pace the story properly and some better timing controls on the dialog captions would have really gone a long way.

Lastly, the game is pretty much bought and paid for by Coke Zero, which means you'll see at least some kind of in-game poster every time you play. Sure, at least that means you won't have to deal with relatively trashy Google ads, and the Coke Zero mentions are relatively infrequent, but considering the game already costs $3.99, I'd rather not have to deal with any advertising at all.

The good

  • Fast action
  • Responsive controls
  • Sharp futuristic graphics

The bad

  • Contrived Coke Zero promotion
  • Sharp difficulty curve
  • Rushed, confusing plot

The conclusion

If you can get over a few of Axon Runners' consistent roadbumps, the game can provide a fun, fast, and unique racing experience. It has some really great art to it, and a neon future vibe to it. The storyline, though ripe with potential, feels rushed and blows by between levels far too quickly to really catch what's going on. At its current price point, I can't really recommend Axon Runners, but give it some time for a maintenace patch or two and maybe it will be worth hopping on the hoverboard by the time the next chapter is available.

$3.99  - Download Now

AxonRunners-10 AxonRunners-1 AxonRunners-2 AxonRunners-3 AxonRunners-4 AxonRunners-5 AxonRunners-6 AxonRunners-7 AxonRunners-8 AxonRunners-9 AxonRunners-hero



iPhone 4S part costs breakdown compared to Nokia Lumia 900 illustrate Apple's insane margins

Posted: 31 May 2012 06:36 PM PDT

iPhone 4S part costs breakdown compared to Nokia Lumia 900 illustrate Apple's insane margins

Recent research from iSuppli shows that even though the iPhone 4S is more expensive than the Lumia 900, Apple actually pays less per part than Nokia does. The biggest individual price difference is between displays; Apple pays $37 for theirs, Nokia pays $58. All told, Apple pays $190 in parts, while Nokia pays $209, which leads to Nokia making a $241 margin per device, and Apple making $459.

To be fair, Apple has some pretty great agreements in place with manufacturers thanks in no small part to the massive scale at which they place orders, plus the Lumia 900 has a bigger screen and an LTE antenna to pay for. In any case, when boiling costs down to a per-device basis, it's easy to see why Apple is sitting on a mountain of cash. You would think that Nokia would have mastered churning out a bajillionty phones at scale and reaping the benefits of scale, but those glory days of the dumbphone reign are long gone, and clearly not translating well to their future in smartphones.

As much as we can on Nokia for having such slim margins, that's more a result of their market position rather than cause of it; Windows Phone is still very young, and even though it's set to overtake BlackBerry market share given its current momentum, it will be a long time still before Nokia (or anyone else) will be able to see the same margins as Apple.

Source: WSJ



iPhone and iPad factory conditions haven't improved says activist group

Posted: 31 May 2012 06:36 PM PDT

iPhone and iPad factory conditions haven't improved says activist group

A Hong Kong-based activist group called The Student & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior has recently issued a report concluding that very little has change in terms of working conditions since the Fair Labor Association published the results of their in-depth audit. SACOM's conclusions come from the result of over 170 employee interviews and visits to several Foxconn factories. Apparently unreasonably high production targets, inhumane worker treatment and salary cuts "remain the norm". SACOM demanded four changes of Foxconn: proper election of trade union officials, wages in line with living costs, proper training in safety protocols and access to appropriate protection, and sufficient compensation for those who have been infringed upon.

It's good to see another watchdog getting involved with Apple's factories, considering the FLA and Apple are suspiciously cozy. Other groups, like the China Labor Bulletin, agree with SACOM that there hasn't been much other than PR stunts after the audit. SACOM has found that even with the increased wages, the reduced hours have ultimately lowered salaries.

To be fair, it's only been a few months, but one would have hoped that the requested changes were being implemented a little more speedily. At best, Foxconn factories have seen a slightly increased compliance with overtime laws, but the changes needed at iPad and iPhone factories are far more broad than that. Apple has certainly taken an active interest in improving worker conditions, but in the end, Foxconn is their supplier, not their subsidiary, and there's only so much pressure they can apply.

Source: SACOM via Reuters



iMore community spotlight for May 2012

Posted: 31 May 2012 06:36 PM PDT

iMore isn't just a website, it's a community fueled by millions of people who comment on the stories, give and get help on the iPhone and iPad forums, and join us each and every month in discovering great new ways to enjoy our iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads. This month we chose JustMe'D and he is exactly that kind of super engaged, incredibly helpful, truly awesome iMore community member.

But enough from us, let's let Ty do the talking.

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am 49 year old retiree (City of Orlando), married w/4 kids, and I enjoy life, reading, technology, fitness and my God.

How long have you been an iPhone or iPad user?

I bought an iPhone 3G in 2007 and although I enjoyed it, I enjoyed Blackberry devices more so I had it for about 2 months before it slipped into the ocean off the coast of South Carolina. I purchased the iPad 2 last summer and the iPhone 4S in October so I guess my total time with iOS devices is just under a year.

What brought you to iOS?

I was looking for a professional looking device with power, speed and simplicity. I found what I was looking for in both the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S. I purchased them and have been content ever since.

What brought you to iMore?

Whatever device I use, I try to become a part of a collection of users and such was the case with iMore. I perused it for a while, like the information on the blog and the knowledgeable people throughout the forum and I wanted to be a part of it.

What are your favorite apps?

What are some of your favorite accessories?

  • Apple Bluetooth Keyboard
  • iPad Smart Cover
  • Bose IE2 headset
  • Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset

What are you most looking forward to from Apple in the future?

Just more great products and services.

Thanks JustMe'D!

If you haven't joined our incredible community yet, there's never been a better time. Meet great people, get help with your iPhone and iPad, share your ideas, and enjoy fantastic conversation. Perfect for newcomers and pros alike — Join now and maybe you will be picked for our reader spotlight along with a free iPhone case of your choice!



Contest Winners: $110 (not billion) dollars, Remarks for iPad and stylus pens!

Posted: 31 May 2012 06:35 PM PDT

Contest WinnersIf there's one thing iMore loves even more than iPhones and iPads, it's giving cool iPhone and iPad accessories and apps to our awesome readers. This week we have...

What would you do with $110 (not billion) dollars?

  • ckalli
- What would you do with $110 (not billion) dollars?

Remarks for iPad

  • dino195
  • fastfrank
  • FendrGuitPlayr
  • marcsimons
  • rajkumr
- App Store link

Win 1 of 8 FREE stylus pens from the iMore Store!

Adonit Jot Pro

  • acevedodaunas
  • astralisdustin
Wacom Bamboo
  • iceDreeHD
  • twenty8elven
SGP Kuel H12
  • doc10house
  • Joselito Castro
Ten One Design Pogo Sketch Pro
  • carltonarts
  • lionelandknight
Didn't win anything this time? Never win anything? We know how you feel! Luckily, we have more chances for you to win all the time, so hurry up and enter everything!



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