Apple hires Tag Heuer executive ahead of iWatch launch

Apple hires Tag Heuer executive ahead of iWatch launch

Apple has reportedly hired the sales director of luxury Swiss watch maker TAG Heuer to help promote its forthcoming iWatch, which is expected to launch in October.

The appointment was announced by Jean-Claude Biver, head of watchmaking at global luxury conglomerate LVMH, which owns TAG Heuer. Biver told CNBC that the watchmaker's vice president for sales, Patrick Pruniaux, left last week "to take a contract with Apple". He did not say what the new job would be.

A TAG Heuer spokeswoman told Reuters that Pruniaux "was probably head-hunted". Apple declined to comment.

Pruniaux is not the first executive from the luxury sector to be appointed by Apple in recent months. Burberry ex-chief executive Angela Ahrendts started as its new head of retail and online sales in May, and former head of French fashion brand Yves Saint Laurent Paul Deneve was hired last year to work on special projects.

The hirings hint at Apple's growing interest in the wearable technology sector, which is expected to be worth $8.3bn (£4.9bn) by 2018. The company is rumoured to be developing an 'iWatch' to rival Samsung's Galaxy Gear.

New report : Here come new iPhone 6 Picture / New Design | Apple Rocks

The cycle of rumors ahead of Apple’s next-generation iPhone 6 launch this year is staying true to form. First, people assume that the new iPhone’s release will take place in the early fall, around the same time that last year’s model debuted. Then reports pop up to suggest that Apple’s next-gen smartphone will actually launch sooner than expected during the early summer months. Next, rumors slowly push the expected launch date back until we’re right back where we started.

It happened in 2012, it happened last year, and it is happening again this year.

Following rumors suggesting the iPhone 6 would launch in July and then August, a new report from German Apple blog iFun suggests that the launch will take place in September. The report cites unnamed sources in claiming that Apple Stores in Germany will restrict employee vacation time in September in order to ensure that all hands are on deck for the iPhone 6 launch.

Apple restricts vacation time ahead of and during its iPhone launches each year, though it typically doesn’t begin informing employees of this restriction until much closer to the iPhone’s release date.

While reports attempting to pinpoint the next iPhone’s release time frame have been all over the map during the past few months, the smart money has remained on a September release. Extremely reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported back in early April that Apple’s iPhone 6 would debut late in the third quarter.

According to Kuo, the iPhone 6 will feature a brand new design with a 4.7-inch, 1,334 x 750-pixel display, as well as a new Apple A8 processor and NFC. The analyst also says that a second new iPhone model with similar specs and a 5.5-inch full HD screen will launch sometime later in the fourth quarter.

Source : Macrumors

iPhone 6 Release Date, Design, Display, Specs, Software and Price | Apple

Those thinking about buying an iPhone in the next few months are going to face some tough decisions. For some, it will be choosing between the iPhone 5s or Apple’s 2014 iPhone, currently dubbed iPhone 6. While the iPhone 6 is still shrouded in a whole lot of mystery, we want to take a look at how the rumored device is progressing next to the iPhone 5s, Apple’s current iPhone.

Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone. In the case of last year, it was iPhones as the company debuted not one, but two new iPhone models to take on the likes of Android and Windows Phone. The iPhone 5c is the company’s plastic budget option. The iPhone 5s represents the company’s flagship model and the one that attracts the most attention. And while the iPhone 5s is the company’s flagship for the time being, there will come a time when it passes the torch.

Rumor has it, the iPhone 5s could be relinquishing the top spot as early as this summer, and it’s those rumors, and others, that have prospective smartphone shoppers on edge.

For weeks, we’ve been asked the same questions by family and friends: “Should I buy the iPhone 5s or wait for the iPhone 6?” “When is the iPhone 6 coming out?” “What will the differences be?” While we can’t answer those questions exactly, we can offer those with similar questions a look at how the iPhone 6 currently stacks up with the iPhone 5s.

Here, we do just that. While the iPhone 6 and its upcoming release date are still moving parts, we feel like we have enough information to make some comparisons in a few key areas this early. So here, we take a look at how the rumored iPhone 6 is currently matching up with Apple’s current iPhone, the iPhone 5s.

Release Date

While the iPhone 6 isn’t as exposed as the Samsung Galaxy S5, there are still some very credible rumors that allow us to start painting a picture of the device, comparing it to the iPhone 5s. Maybe the most important piece of information that smartphone shoppers seek in the early days is the release date.

Well, iPhone 6 rumors across the board point to a release either in the summer or the fall. This makes sense because Apple always announces, and releases, its new iPhone either in the summer or the fall. The company has not released a new iPhone in the summer since the iPhone 4 all the way back in June of 2010.

The Wall Street Journal claims Apple is preparing two iPhone 6 models with larger screens and that the smaller one is, “further along in development, and is being prepared for mass production,” while the larger iPhone 6 is in, “preliminary development,” according to the sources. This could explain why we’ve heard rumors that point to one iPhone release this summer with another in the fall.

Still, specific dates remain out of reach, and they likely will remain out of reach until much later in the year. Specific iPhone release date rumors typically don’t emerge until a few weeks prior to launch.

So, if these rumors are dead on and there is likely some truth to them, the earliest we’ll see a new iPhone is this summer and the latest that we’ll see an iPhone 6 is the fall. In other words, the iPhone 5s has quite a bit of life left in the tank. It also means that those who decide to wait will likely be waiting for several months.

Design

The iPhone 5s kept the same design as the iPhone 5 like ‘S’ iPhone models tend to do. However, this year’s iPhone is expected to be an iPhone 6 and Apple always changes the design with the numbered version of its iPhone. We saw it change after the iPhone 3GS launch with the iPhone 4. And we saw it changes after the iPhone 4s launch with the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5s is one of the lightest, thinnest smartphones on the market thanks to its 7.6mm frame that weighs a mere 112 grams. Its industrial design also makes it feel like a piece of $200 hardware.

We haven’t heard too much about the iPhone 6 design but it’s reasonable to think that Apple will make some design tweaks. Just how much different the design will be is up for debate.

According to a Wall Street Journal report the iPhone 6 will use the same anodized aluminum material. A 9to5Mac report recently revealed that Apple is fast tracking the output from the Sapphire factory that it invested in during 2013. This points to the possible use of Sapphire with this year’s iPhone. Sapphire is a strong material that could be used with the iPhone 6′s display, making it nearly impossible to break.

Reports also suggest that the iPhone 6 will come with a larger display. If that’s the case, we could see a new design with thinner bezels and a new look that helps Apple keep the overall size of the iPhone down, even with the addition of a larger screen. A recent iPhone 6 concept shows what a larger iPhone could look like next to the iPhone 5s.

iPhone 6 concepts showing what larger displays could look like.

A recent report from LEDInside of TrendForce claims that the iPhone 6 will be thinner than Apple’s previous iPhone models thanks to a shift from 0.6 mm thick LED backlights to backlights that are just 0.4 mm thick. It’s not clear how much thinner the iPhone 6 is expected to be.

At the moment, the differences are tough to gauge, but it does appear that the iPhone 6 could take design cues from the iPhone 5s, could feature a more durable screen in front, and offer a larger but thinner form factor.

Display

It’s not set in stone but it’s looking like the iPhone 6 will offer a larger screen than the 4-inch Retina display found on the iPhone 5s. Sources can’t agree on a screen size just yet, likely because Apple is still testing prototypes, but they do offer a pretty specific window that Apple is working with for its next iPhone.

We could see two iPhone 6 models with a larger screen sizes in 2014.

The Wall Street Journal believes the company will deliver a 4.5-inch and a 5+-inch iPhone 6. NPD DisplaySearch believes that two iPhone 6 models with higher resolution displays will be coming in 2014. A KDB Daewoo Securities report uncovered by OLED-Display includes two iPhone 6 display sizes. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, who accurately predicted many iPhone 5s features, thinks Apple is planning an iPhone 6 with a screen between 4.5-inches and 5-inches.

Here’s how that breaks down:

• 4.5-inch display – WSJ
• 4.7-inch display – 1600 x 900 resolution – NPD
• 4.7-inch to 4.8-inch display - 1920 x 1080 resolution – KDB
• 4.5-inch to 5-inch display – Kuo
• 5+ inch display – WSJ
• 5.5-inch display – 1920 x 1080 resolution – NPD
• 5.5-inch display – 2272 x 1280 resolution – KDB

The video below shows what iOS 7 looks like on larger screens from 4.5-inches all the way up to 5.7-inches. A larger iPhone 6 above 5-inches will challenge Apple to design a phone, and software, that continues to support the one-handed use current iPhone owners love.

Specs

A research note from KDB Daewoo Securities claims a great number of possible iPhone 6 specifications. Drawing from that note and from other reports, here is a list of features currently rumored to be on board the iPhone 6.

• Apple A8 64-bit processor
• iOS 7.2 or iOS 8
• 4.5-4.8-inch and 5 -5.5-inch displays
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB / 32GB/ 64GB / 128GB storage options
• 3.2MP front-facing camera
• 8-10MP rear-facing camera
• 1,800 mAh battery
• 802.11ac WiFi
• Touch ID

Here is how the iPhone 5s matches up:

• Apple A7 64-bit processor
• iOS 7
• 4-inch Retina Display
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB / 32GB / 64GB storage options
• 1.2MP front-facing camera
• 8MP rear-facing camera
• 1570 mAh battery
• 802.11 a, b, g, n Wi-Fi
• Touch ID

The biggest differences from the iPhone 5s would include the change in processor. The iPhone 5s utilizes a 64-bit A7 chip and an upgrade to a new A8 would likely offer even better performance. Apple’s current iPhone uses 1GB of RAM so an increase in RAM would also help be key to areas like multitasking and gaming.

The latest Apple iPhone 6 rumors suggest an improved camera with a f1.8 aperture.

There is also chatter about an improved camera. Apple always improves its iPhone cameras year after year and this year’s camera will supposedly be an improved 8MP camera or a 10MP camera.

Another big change could be the inclusion of 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company claims that the iPhone 6 specs are “locked in” and that 802.11ac will be on board. This is a feature that enables faster Wi-Fi speeds and it’s a feature that is currently found on Apple’s new Mac lineup.

Software

iOS 8 will almost certainly be the software that debuts with the iPhone 6 and from the looks of things, it’s not going to be another major overhaul to the iOS operating system.

According to 9to5Mac, the iOS 8 update will not bring a lot of visual changes. Instead, it will pave the way for health and fitness tracking. Apple is working on an app code named Healthbook which may connect with sensors in an iPhone 6 or iWatch to help users track and manage a number of things including steps taken and calories burned.

A new iOS 8 concept from Carlos Quijano brings rumors to life, showing a health and fitness app.

It’s not clear whether or not the iPhone 6 will boast any unique features though it would not be surprising to see Apple tailor some of its apps for the larger display.

One thing that we should note is that when and if iOS 8 arrives, it will be the first major iOS update for the iPhone 5s which debuted with iOS 7 back in September. What this means is that iOS 8 will serve as a strike for the iPhone 5s. Apple tends to give devices three years of support before killing it off and that should mean a longer life for iPhone 6. That’s something prospective buyers need to keep in mind.

iPhone 6 Price

Chris Caso of Susquehanna Financial Group thinks the price of the iPhone 6 could jump up from the iPhone 5s. Caso says that his firm sees ” the potential for the iPhone 6 price point to move higher,” adding, “we think Apple could get away with a $50 to $100 premium for a larger screen size iPhone 6.” Apple’s iPhone 5s starts at $199.99 on-contract.

The iPhone 6 price could jump according to one analyst.

Thus far, this is the only iPhone 6 price rumor that we’ve seen. However, it does make sense. Apple could perhaps shift the iPhone 5s to $99, introduce a 4.5 to 4.8-inch iPhone 6 at $199 on contract and a larger than 5-inch model at $249 or $299 on contract. That’s just speculation but it makes sense given Samsung’s pricing for its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note.
Source : Gottabemobile

iPhone 6 : Camera and wireless charging

UPDATED Everything we've heard so far about the new iPhone 6

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iPhone 6 camera

Apple's bought camera sensors from Sony before, and this year we're going to see a new, 13-megapixel sensor that takes up less room without compromising image quality. But that's not what everybody thinks.

The China Post, quoting a tip from the country's Nomura Security, claims that the next iPhone won't go for a 12 or 16-megapixel sensor, instead sticking to the existing 8-megapixel unit. However, with more recent rumors believing that Apple has signed up to use a new material that will dramatically improve the quality of light trickling into the phone, a 10MP+ sensor suddenly seems a lot more likely.

On top of that, more impressive tech will also help make your snaps stand out. A patent confirms this, saying Apple's aim is to use "voice coil motor actuators" to move the lens around the optical axis.

An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff.

Will the iPhone 6 be handy for pro photographers? [Image credit: Apple Insider]

iPhone 6 Sapphire crystals

GT Advanced Technologies provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries and has announced that it's signed a multi-year supply agreement with Apple to provide sapphire materials.

Sapphire has figured prominently in recent Apple products - the iPhone 5S' Touch ID fingerprint reader features a cut sapphire crystal cover and the iPhone 5 was the first to feature a sapphire crystal lens.So what will we see in the iPhone 6? Certainly the Touch ID fingerprint reader, but also other scratch-proof materials - as we said, possibly the display, which makes a lot of sense.

GT says it will own and operate the machinery to produce this stuff at a new Apple plant in Arizona.

Apple has also filed a "Sapphire Windows" patent (discovered by Appleinsider) which details the numerous methods of growing, harvesting and polishing transparent sapphire wafers, then cutting them with advanced lasers.

Sappire Windows

iPhone 6 wireless charging

Wireless charging still isn't mainstream. Could Apple help give it a push? CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable.

The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones. Here are more details on the iPhone 6 wireless charging patent.

Meanwhile, a further Apple patent seems to imply that future iPhones will be able to adjust volume as you move them away from your ear.

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Via Techradar

iPhone 6 : Case and healthcare

UPDATED Everything we've heard so far about the new iPhone 6

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iPhone 6 casing

It's been suggested that there could even be three size variants of the new iPhone - check out these mocked up images by artist Peter Zigich, and that makes sense seeing as the iPhone 5C will need a sequel.

He calls the handsets iPhone 6 Mini, iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 XL (these look rather like the iPhone 5C variant though).

However, as ZDNet rightly points out, different size variants aren't exactly easy to just magic out of thin air.

You can expect more premium metal to come your way with the iPhone 6 too, and Apple patents for liquidmetal 3D printing suggest there may be a new way to form the sultry chassis on the new iPhone.

Writing in early January 2014, MacRumors quotes a batch of liquidmetal patents reportedly filed by Apple employees.

This has been doing the rounds for a while though, and apparently it's a tricky material to work with.

That chassis could well be the thinnest yet - with word that Apple will slim down the svelte 7.6mm 5S body for the iPhone 6, and if leaked images of the phone's case are legit the handset may well be shockingly slender.

Credit: C-Tech

An unbreakable display

Here's an interesting one: Apple looks like it's signed a big deal to use a lot of sapphire glass in its phones, with the company buying up the technology to use the super-hard technology for its displays.

Sapphire is already used by the Cupertino brand for its TouchID sensor cover and the camera glass, so extending it out makes a lot of sense. Whether it will be cost effective remains to be seen - but given iPhones are one of the top device for broken screen repair, reducing this problem would go down nicely.

And what's this? NFC in an iPhone? About time too. Well, that's what iDownloadblog reckons, quoting Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Many Android phones now boast NFC and Apple appears to have been happy to be left behind here, so we can't see it suddenly rocking the contactless technology when it appears to be on the wane.

And what about a bit more space to sling our content? We've already seen a 128GB iPad, so why not a 128GB iPhone 6? Yes, it'll cost a fortune, but high-spending early adopters love this stuff.

It could save your life - with iOS 8

With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, who's betting against the next iPhone coming with iOS 8?

We'd expect a September or October release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases - although it's likely we'll see what the new software will entail from June this year.

And owning one could definitely make you healthier, as Apple has apparently met with the FDA, according to the New York Times, to chat about the increased health-tracking software it will use in iOS 8. This will very likely be in association with the iWatch, which should debut at the same time as the new platform.

However, the new iPhone will need to be a posterchild for the technology too, so from tracking your prescriptions to monitoring your health levels, we very much expect Apple to bring its new handset to the healthy fore as well.

iPhone 6 processor

Not a huge surprise, this one: the next processor one will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life.

Anyone hoping for some juicy Samsung technology hidden under the iPhone 6 body will be disappointed though, as reports suggest Apple is looking to push its Korean rival further out of the iPhone picture with its eighth-gen handset.

Apple is apparently cutting the amount of A8 processors it is having made by Samsung, although it hasn't severed ties completely just yet.

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iPhone 6 with iOS 8 release date, news and rumors

UPDATED Everything we've heard so far about the new iPhone 6
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The new iPhone could be one of the most pivotal devices in the Cupertino brand's history - with the the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C simple updates to previous models, there's a lot of pressure heaped on the iPhone 6.

As per usual, the internet is awash with rumor, speculation and downright lies over this next-generation handset, which is why we spend our time trawling through each nugget of info, debating its merits and curating it into this easy-to-read hub for all things iPhone 6

Some of you might have been expecting the iPhone 6 to have debuted in 2013, but given the iPhone's history - from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone - we were never going to get the 6 until 2014. In fact, it will technically be the iPhone 8 by that point... but hey, who's counting these days?

One thing is for sure, with the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One 2 and Sony Xperia Z2 just around the corner, Apple will need to be on its game with the new handset - and many believe a bigger screen is simply a must.

iPhone 6 release date

The iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014, although exactly when that will be in the year is still a little unclear.

Here's what we think is most likely to happen: at WWDC in June this year we'll see the obvious release of iOS 8, but also a larger-screened iPhablet as Apple looks to bring itself to the fore in Asian markets and rivalling the likes of the Galaxy Note 3.

We'd have usually given this kind of rumor a wide berth, but multiple reports have spoken of a larger device from Apple at the June event, so we're starting to give them some credence. At the very least, Apple is definitely testing it, but may not bring it to market.

After that, Apple will launch the iPhone 6 in September, along with the iWatch and the first view of iOS 8, to allow it to both bring a new product to market as well as keeping its schedule safe. This is backed up by KDB Daewoo Securities, which does have a decent record in Apple early leaks.

Apple has launched the last few iPhones at a special event in September, so the smart money is on September 2014 for the iPhone 6's arrival but won't be the only mobile hardware we see from the firm this year.

Lost home button?

According to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included." It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though?

The Retina+ Sharp IGZO display would have a 1080p Full HD resolution. It's also been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market.

We reckon there will be two screen sizes and resolutions, as mentioned above. A Full HD display makes perfect sense for the iPhone 6, especially if it grows to a 4.7-inch screen as mooted, and the iPhablet will push things even further to preserve the Retina experience on a larger display.

In other areas, patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not.

That said, there's still a small possibility of the iPhone 6 sporting a flexible wraparound display after more patents were uncovered, but we reckon that's more likely to feature on the iPhone 7 or 8 instead.

Back in September last year, rumors pointed to a 6-inch display, with further talk of a phablet sized 6-inch iPhone claiming it might arrive as early as May 2014 - which jives nicely with the above chat on an iPhablet.

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Visions of a larger iPhone 6 are stunning

The rumors that the iPhone 6 is finally growing up have stirred Apple fans with design chops to action.

Italian designer Federico Ciccarese has shown us his visions of a possible future iWatch or an iPhone Air in the past, and this week he got in touch again to share with us how he conceives of a bigger iPhone 6 with both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens.

You can click through the gallery below of images created by Ciccarese, and also scroll to the bottom of this post for a separate video conception of the next iPhone. Ciccarese said he created his renderings based off reports of a 4.7-inch iPhone with a 750x1,338-pixel resolution and a 5.5-inch version with an 878x1,568 display.

Another designer duo has taken their iPhone 6 dreams a few steps further. Ran Avni of Israel and Enrico Penello of Italy teamed up to create the below video concept showing the larger iPhones. Their concept adds a few more of the rumored features as well, including curved display glass, illuminated volume buttons, and higher display resolutions than those used in Ciccarese's concept.

Have a look for yourself, and let us now in the comments if this is everything you hope to see in the next iPhone.

Watch Video On Youtube Click

Via : Cnet

Apple’s admitting the “cheap” iPhone 5c failed by bringing back the iPhone 4

Would you pay $320 for a four-year-old smartphone? Apple seems to believe that aspiring consumers in emerging markets will. The company has reportedly restarted manufacturing the iPhone 4, which it discontinued with the launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c models late last year. So says the Economic Times, an Indian business newspaper, which cites “three senior executives with direct knowledge of the company’s plan.” Apple will sell the iPhone 4 only in India, Indonesia and Brazil, according to the report.

Selling smartphones in emerging markets is a tricky proposition. Many of these markets don’t have the system of one- or two-year contracts that subsidize handsets common in the West; people pay full price for a phone upfront. Moreover, consumers want cheap phones but also want cachet. Companies have a hard time finding a balance between the two. Apple tried offering 0% interest financing and buy-back schemes, allowing it to retain a high sticker price (for the cachet) while in practice selling phones at a discount. Indeed, the company kept its price steady in India despite a massive fall in the value of the rupee late last year, effectively accepting lower margins.

The iPhone 5c was meant to solve this problem. Offer people a brand new device at the same price as older models and they should in theory snap it up. Instead, the exact opposite happened: Consumers across the world—not just in developing countries—saw the “cheap” iPhone 5c as simultaneously too expensive and insufficiently exclusive. They rushed to buy the more expensive iPhone 5s instead, catching Apple by surprise and causing supply problems.

The limits of a brand

All of which explains why Apple would be willing to do something as out of character as to bring back an older model. Indians will buy some 225 million smartphones in 2014, according to a recent forecast, 92% of which will be to first-time buyers. Brazil and Indonesia will between them buy nearly 100m smartphones. Many of these new customers will know and admire Apple, and a phone priced at Rs 20,000 ($320) might be just the thing to turn them into Apple loyalists for their long lives as consumers of phones and apps.

Or it might not. These consumers also have a wealth of options, including new, much cheaper devices from Samsung and LG, many local manufacturers selling cheap phones with all the bells and whistles, and new entrants such as HP. Moreover, older iPhones tend not to react very well to iOS 7, the latest version of the company’s smartphone operating system. That means the phones will either work badly or run on the very different-looking iOS 6, emphasizing how old they are. Either way, consumers in India, Brazil and Indonesia will have to make a choice between a four-year-old phone from Apple and a powerful new one from a less desirable brand. It will be a test of Apple’s marketing prowess.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Via : http://qz.com/

iPhone 6 said to be unveiled in June in two large-screen sizes

Rumors are already starting to roll in about Apple's purported iPhone 6, according to Apple Insider. The newest claims come from Chinese analyst Sun Changxu, who told Chinese-language Web site QQ Tech that the smartphone will come in two large-screen sizes and could be unveiled as soon as June.

According to Changxu, the upcoming iPhone 6 will most likely have a 4.7-inch, 1,136-pixel-by-640 pixel display. Changxu said that Apple could release another smartphone shortly later that has a higher-resolution 5.7-inch display. Word has it that Apple will reveal its new smartphone at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Several sources have already speculated that Apple's next iPhone will come in a larger size. In October, a handful of reports said the screen size will jump to almost 5 inches from the current 4 inches. Some analysts even pegged possible screen sizes at anywhere from 5.7 inches to 6 inches. Similarly, a report last week from DisplaySearch said the iPhone 6 could have a 5.5-inch 1920 pixel-by-1080 pixel display.

During an event launching the iPhone on China Mobile last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked whether Apple might launch an iPhone with a bigger screen or flexible display. All Cook would say, in essence, is that customers can expect some nice updates in the future.

"We never talk about future things," Cook said. "We have great things we are working on but we want to keep them secret. That way you will be so much happier when you see it."

Meanwhile, the rumored iWatch is also getting its share of speculation. According to G for Games, Apple's supposed computerized wristwatch is said to have a flexible OLED display from LG. Reportedly, LG has finalized a partnership with Apple to make 1.52-inch OLED displays for the watch. Production is said to begin later this year.

There's been talk of a purported iWatch for about a year now, yet no conclusive signs of any device have appeared. In October it was rumored that LG Display was close to signing a deal with Apple to provide the OLED displays. However, the release of the device is said to have been delayed due to screen technology decisions, battery issues, and corporate shuffling.

[Via Apple Insider].

iPhone 6 release date, news and rumors | Apple.com | Applescloud.com

UPDATED Everything we've heard so far about iPhone 6

The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have been announced. So what does that mean for the iPhone 6?

Well, we'll tell you. Or, at least, we'll tell you what we can glean from rumor and speculation - some reliable, some not so much.

Given the iPhone's history - from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone - so it was no surprise the 5S was first and so we're looking at the second half of 2014 for a new iPhone 6.

One thing is for sure, with potential refreshes of such super handsets as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z1 and HTC One, the next iPhone will have to seriously up its game.

iPhone 6 release date

The iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014, although exactly when that will be in the year is still a little unclear.

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek says that there will be a June 2014 release for the iPhone 6. We reckon it will be later than that, around a year after the 5S.

Interestingly, in May 2013 Stuff reported it received a photo of the till system at a Vodafone UK store (which it has since removed along with the reference to Vodafone), with '4G iPhone 6' listed.

Apple has launched the last few iPhones at a special event in September, so the smart money is on September 2014 for the iPhone 6's arrival.

That said, the June date has cropped up again, with fresh reports claiming that Apple will break the tradition of its software-centric WWDC eventin June by launching a 4.7-inch iPhone 6, followed by a larger model later in the year.

iPhone 6 home button

According to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included". It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though?

iPhone 6 screen

The Retina+ Sharp IGZO display would have a 1080p Full HD resolution. It's also been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market.

Take this one with a pinch of salt, because China Times isn't always right: it reckons the codename iPhone Math, which may be a mistranslation of iPhone+, will have a 4.8-inch display.

The same report suggests that Apple will release multiple handsets throughout the year over and above the iPhone 5S and 6, which seems a bit far-fetched to us.

Patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not.

That said, there's still a small possibility of the iPhone 6 sporting a flexible wraparound display after more patents were uncovered, but we reckon that's more likely to feature on the iPhone 7 or 8 instead.

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also says he believes the new iPhone will have a bigger screen. Different sizes also seem rather likely to us - the word on the street after WWDC 2013 was that there would be 4.7 and 5.7-inch versions.

More rumors in September 2013 pointed to a 6-inch display, with further talk of a phablet sized 6-inch iPhone claiming it might arrive as early as May 2014.

A couple of months later word of a 4.9-inch prototype iPhone 6 hit the web, and at the start of 2014 we heard that Apple will launch a 4.7-inch and a 5.7-inch iPhone 6, not once, but twice - just to keeping us all guessing.

iPhone 6 casing

It's been suggested that there could even be three size variants of the new iPhone - check out these mocked up images by artist Peter Zigich.

He calls the handsets iPhone 6 Mini, iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 XL (these look rather like the iPhone 5C variant though). However, as ZDNet rightly points out, different size variants aren't exactly easy to just magic out of thin air.

You can expect more premium metal to come your way with the iPhone 6 too, and Apple patents for liquidmetal 3D printing suggest there may be a new way to form the sultry chassis on the new iPhone.

Writing in early January 2014, MacRumours quotes a batch of liquidmetal patents reportedly filed by Apple employees.

That chassis could well be the thinnest yet - with word that Apple will slim down the svelte 7.6mm 5S body for the iPhone 6, and if leaked images of the phone's case are legit the handset may well be shockingly slender.

Credit: C-Tech

The iPhone 6 will finally do NFC

About time too. Well, that's what iDownloadblog reckons, quoting Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Many Android phones now boast NFC and Apple appears to have been happy to be left behind here.

iPhone 6 storage

We've already seen a 128GB iPad, so why not a 128GB iPhone 6? Yes, it'll cost a fortune, but high-spending early adopters love this stuff.

See our video below on what Apple needs to do to slay Samsung's Galaxy S4

The iPhone 6 will run iOS 8

With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, who's betting against the next iPhone coming with iOS 8?

We'd expect a September or October release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases.

iPhone 6 processor

Not a huge surprise, this one: the next processor one will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life.

Anyone hoping for some juicy Samsung technology hidden under the iPhone 6 body will be disappointed though, as reports suggest Apple is looking to push its Korean rival further out of the iPhone picture with its eighth-gen handset.

Apple is apparently cutting the amount of A8 processors it is having made by Samsung, although it hasn't severed ties completely just yet.

iPhone 6 camera

Apple's bought camera sensors from Sony before, and this year we're going to see a new, 13-megapixel sensor that takes up less room without compromising image quality. But that's not what everybody thinks.

The China Post, quoting a tip from the country's Nomura Security, claims that the next iPhone won't go for a 12 or 16-megapixel sensor, instead sticking to the existinh 8-megapixel unit. Expect optical image stabilisation and improved autofocus though. And maybe a better flash.

A patent confirms this, saying Apple's aim is to use "voice coil motor actuators" to move the lens around the optical axis.

An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff.

Will the iPhone 6 be handy for pro photographers? [Image credit: Apple Insider]

iPhone 6 Sapphire crystals

GT Advanced Technologies provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries and has announced that it's signed a multi-year supply agreement with Apple to provide sapphire materials.

Sapphire has figured prominently in recent Apple products - the iPhone 5S' Touch ID fingerprint reader features a cut sapphire crystal cover and the iPhone 5 was the first to feature a sapphire crystal lens.So what will we see in the iPhone 6? Certainly the Touch ID fingerprint reader, but also other scratch-proof materials. GT says it will own and operate the machinery to produce this stuff at a new Apple plant in Arizona.

iPhone 6 eye tracking

One thing seems certain - Apple can't ignore the massive movement towards eye-tracking tech from other vendors, especially Samsung. It seems a shoe-in that Apple will deliver some kind of motion tech within the next iPhone, probably from uMoove.

iPhone 6 wireless charging

Wireless charging still isn't mainstream. Could Apple help give it a push? CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable.

The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones. Here are more details on the iPhone 6 wireless charging patent.

Meanwhile, a further Apple patent seems to imply that future iPhones will be able to adjust volume as you move them away from your ear.
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