Leaked: More Low-Cost iPhone Photos

iPhones in blue and white are now among the rumored new line of cheap iPhones allegedly coming soon.

Following the colorful iPhone shells we showed you last weekend, these additions to the budget plastic iPhone add fuel to the rumor mills.

There's more. Intrigued by the possibility of these plastic shells for low-cost iPhones,MacRumors commissioned Federico Ciccarese to create digital renderings of the budget iPhone.

Take a look below, complete with iOS 7 onscreen. (These renderings don't include the blue version of the rumored cheap iPhone.)

Ciccarese took the shapes of the plastic shells in the leaked photos and fleshed them out into entire handsets. The overall result looks similar to an iPhone 5 covered in plastic.

Ciccarese estimates the thickness of the new iPhone 5 at 8.5 millimeters, almost a millimeter thicker than the current iPhone 5, which measures 7.6 mm thick. In his vision of a low-cost iPhone, rectangular volume controls replace the round buttons with the "plus" and "minus" symbols that are reminiscent of Leica cameras.

While these are lovely renderings, they are simply guesswork based on leaked photos that may or may not resemble the final product. We most likely won't have a better idea until September, when some analysts have predicted this entry-level iPhone may see the light of day.

The price could be around $300 — less than half of that of the standard iPhone, which now costs $649 unlocked.

Would you rather spend more on a metal iPhone or save money with a colorful plastic shell? Let us know in the comments below.

The iblazr Flash Will Light Up Your Mobile Phone Pics

Modern mobile phones have improved in their picture-taking abilities, but there is still one thing lacking: a good flash for dark shots.

The iblazr mobile phone flash promises to work on both iOS and Android devices to light up the night. This simple flash consists of four powerful LEDs that work with an included camera app to provide more light when shooting both photos and video.

The flash can also rotate to support the phone's front-facing camera, to brighten up portraits or very dark video calls.

iblazer's site mentions no release date for the device, but the company is heavily updating social media channels with new images of the flash. Its Facebook shows off pictures of the flash compared to the iPhone 5's on-board flash.

Would you use an external flash for your mobile phone pictures? Have you figured out any other solutions to add light? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photos courtesy iblazr

Apple’s iOS 7 Will Ship On Time For A Preview Release In June And Full Launch In September, Report Says

Apple’s iOS 7 will arrive “on time,” according to a couple of well-placed sources following a report from Bloomberg this morning that suggests it was risking delays in the face of major software changes. Apple blogger and noted beard-wearer Jim Dalrymple gave one of his famous one-word confirms today on his blog, agreeing with a source which told AllThingsD that while Apple has had to shift engineering resources away from OS X to iOS to make sure things proceed on schedule, the update will arrive on time.

Apple says on its WWDC landing page that we’ll see “what’s next in iOS and OS X,” but it hasn’t spelled out that we’ll see new versions of either its Mac desktop OS, or the mobile platform that powers iPhones and iPads. Still, the focus at WWDC is on software, and it’s more than reasonable to expect given the teaser on the information page as well as references to the future of iOS and OS X made in the official press release noting when tickets for WWDC would go on sale this year.

iOS 7 delay rumors have been making the rounds since John Gruber noted that Apple was “running behind” on the next version of its OS, and they cropped up again today thanks to Bloomberg’s report. But while Apple is apparently having to devote more engineering resources than normal to helping with the redesign process, which is rumored to be headed up by Jony Ive and involves a big visual refresh, which will embrace “flat” design (favoring solid colors and doing away with optical effect that mimic the textures and reflections of physical materials) and bring big changes to the calendar and email tools built-in to iOS.

The changes coming in iOS 7 are about modernizing the UI, likely to inject some fresh energy into a mobile operating system that has retained a fairly stable aesthetic style throughout the course of its six year existence. A significant change to the basic functionality of some apps and the look and feel of the entire OS would be quite difficult on its own, but Bloomberg says that the management shift that took place at the end of last year with Scott Forstall’s departure ended up causing a pause and refocus in the direction of overall development.

WWDC is just over a month away, so we’ll see exactly how extensive the modification really is with a likely introduction of a public developer preview version at that time, if Apple continues doing the same thing it has in the past around the iOS development process.

iPhone 5S rumoured specs: Apple A7 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 12-megapixel camera

iPhone 5S release date has been the subject of a lot of speculation off-late. While some reports have indicated the phone may launch in June-July, others insist that the next generation iPhone will release in August. However, there has been very little information coming out in terms of the purported specs of the phone. Until now.

The folks over at DroidGator have come across a picture of what they claim is a iPhone 5Smotherboard. They add that the picture was sent to them from an IP belonging to Apple HQ in Cupertino, thereby lending credence to the image. The website says the new motherboard is similar in size to the iPhone 4S motherboard, which "may mean that the future iPhone 5S should arrive with the same touchscreen that the previous handset has: 4 inches."

The picture also shows a A7 chip, which the website claims is a quad-core processor, clocked at 1.2GHz. Other rumoured specs include 2GB RAM and Power SGX554MP4 GPU. The website also claims the new iPhone will ship with a faster Siri, with support for additional languages.

Additionally, Redmond Pie is reporting via Tinhte.vn that the iPhone 5S will ship with a 12-megapixel camera with improved low-light performance.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that Foxconn, the company that manufacturers iPhone and other Apple products in China, has stepped up hiring at its Zhengzhou plant. The company said Monday it has added about 10,000 assembly-line workers a week in Zhengzhou, its major production facility for iPhones. This increase in hiring is being seen as a sign that Apple is gearing up to produce the new iPhone.

"We have been very busy recently as we will start mass-producing the new iPhone soon," a Zhengzhou-based Foxconn executive with direct knowledge of production plans told WSJ.

How to share Wi-Fi without revealing password

There must have been times when you do not wish to share the password of your Wi-Ficonnection, but have to share it. And if sharing the password is your biggest concern, then here is the perfect solution for you.

There was an instance when my neighbour barged into my room and asked if he could use my internet network. It looked like an emergency, so I could not refuse. Since then, I have been trying to find a way to share Wi-Fi network without sharing password. And below is the best way that I have come across.

Please note that this method is only useful when the other person is using Android, iOS or any other device that can read QR codes.

Apparently, we would be creating a QR code with the details like Wi-Fi network name, password, encoding type etc, so that the scanning of the code would be enough to get a connection.

I have tried it on a couple of online QR code generators, such as QR Zilla and ZXing. But you can use any of the QR code generator as well (provided, it lets you create a QR code for Wi-Fi connections).

Use any of the QR code generator and get going with the creation of a QR Code. Do mention all the details that are required It would include details like network name, password, SSID, encoding type etc.

Once done filing the details, just click on the Generate button to get the code.



Now whoever asks you to share internet connection, just ask them to scan that particular QR code and voila! That device would be connected to your Wi-Fi network now.

If you are wondering about disconnecting that device now, then just turn your router OFF for a couple of minutes and that is it. If that device needs the connection again, then it need to scan the QR code again.

Source: Dwarka Rao, PCsPlace

Top 5 iOS Video Camera Apps

Lights, iPhone, Action! Anyone can be a filmmaker these days, and with the help of a handful of apps, the results can be pretty amazing. Our No. 1 choice in this genre is Vine -- for those who want to leave a lasting impression with just 6 seconds of footage. It can be art, politics, product branding, news reporting, comedy -- the possibilities are endless.

Video cameras have been one of the killer hardware features in the smartphone revolution, and Apple's iOS platform for iPads and iPhones has made an important contribution to the video camera app market.

This week, All Things Appy takes a look at key apps in this arena.

About the Platform: Apps are found in Apple's iTunes App Store. Browse to the store from your device, and then perform a search for the app that you want to download.

No. 1: Vine

Vine from Vine Labs is rated 4 stars out of a possible 5 stars for all versions based on 4,740 ratings, and 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 1,364 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

Twitter's Vine lets you create arty 6-second looping videos for distribution on social networks including Facebook, Twitter and the Vine network.

This clean-cut app -- notably sans play and record buttons -- allows you to make your own videos and see those created by others.

Uses include art, marketing and journalism.

No. 2: iMovie

iMovie is rated 3 1/2 out of a possible 5 stars for all versions based on 12,844 ratings, and 4 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 503 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

This app has it all when it comes to high-definition movie making. Create movie trailers with original scores, titles and transitions. Shoot directly into the timeline, or add videos from your library.

Animations and sound effects are all precision-controlled.

While we ordinarily limit the All Things Appy selections to free apps, this is the must-have iOS movie capture and edit app. It costs US$4.99 in the iTunes App Store.

No. 3: CineBeat Music Video Maker

CineBeat Music Video Maker is rated 4 1/2 out of a possible 5 stars for all versions based on 1,899 ratings, and 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 320 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

Smule's CineBeat lets you compose music to match your videos. Just record a video and the app converts it into a pop video, which you can then share.

Free music filters include unplugged acoustic and rap. This app isn't of the same prosumer grade as iMovie, but it's fun for the kids and will keep them occupied.

Not a bad introduction to filmmaking for them either.

No. 4: Horror Movie Maker

Horror Movie Maker is rated 4 out of a possible 5 stars based on 79 ratings in the iTunes App Store. There are not enough ratings to display stars for multiple versions.

Another movie maker app with filters. This time, turn your friends into horror movie victims by videoing them and superimposing effects like Texas Chainsaw 3D or slashing LeatherFace. Direct your own horror movie.

Brought to us by Lions Gate, the indpendent movie distribution company, and great fun for young adults.

No. 5: Skype

Skype is rated 3 1/2 stars out of a possible 5 stars for all versions based on 351,392 ratings, and 2 1/2 stars out of 5 for the current version based on 332 ratings in the iTunes App Store.

The granddaddy of video calling lets you IM, voice or video call, bringing friends and family together globally. The current version appears to be a bit glitchy, according to reviewers, so consequently not higher in our positioning.

Still, Skype's massive user base and the likelihood of finding friends to video conference with earns it a position in our top five apps for the iOS platform.

Want to Suggest an Apps Collection?

Is there a batch of apps you'd like to suggest for review? Remember, they must all be for the same platform, and they must all be geared toward the same general purpose. Please send the names of five or more apps to me, and I'll consider them for a future All Things Appy column.

And use the COMMENTS feature below to add your comments!

iPhone and Yahoo are Going to Make a Deeper Relations

The iPhone and iPad maker is said to be discussing a deeper partnership with Yahoo to get more of its services on iOS devices.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And in the case of Apple and Yahoo, Google is most definitely that company for the two.

So it makes sense that Apple and Yahoo might deepen their partnership, which is just what's happening, says The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

In a somewhat vague report, the Journal says the two companies have been in talks to bring more of Yahoo's content and services to Apple's devices. That's on top of what's already there, a list that includes weather, sports scores, stock information, and Web search in Safari.

A new deal, which the Journal notes has not been made yet, could include additional Web content from other Yahoo properties like the company's sports and news sites.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And in the case of Apple and Yahoo, Google is most definitely that company for the two.

So it makes sense that Apple and Yahoo might deepen their partnership, which is just what's happening, says The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

In a somewhat vague report, the Journal says the two companies have been in talks to bring more of Yahoo's content and services to Apple's devices. That's on top of what's already there, a list that includes weather, sports scores, stock information, and Web search in Safari.

A new deal, which the Journal notes has not been made yet, could include additional Web content from other Yahoo properties like the company's sports and news sites.

iphone 5S Different Colors and Different Screen Sizes

A new year brings with it new iPhone 5S rumors. And this time around the latest from Apple could even come in pink.

Analyst Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets is all bullish on Apple this morning claiming his sources tell him that the next iPhone will arrive in May or June with more choices for customers including "more color patterns and screen sizes." Apparently White's bulls aren't seeing just red Apples, though. Rather, he believes the iPhone 5S could have as many color choices as the most recent generation of the iPod Touch:

These colors included pink, yellow, blue, white & silver, black & slate... We believe the addition of color to the iPod Touch lineup was a testing ground for adding color to the next generation iPhone that we believe could be available in eight colors in total.

White also says his "checks" indicate that Apple could be planning to offer a single iPhone model in different screen sizes for the first time, perhaps opening the door to a lower-priced iPhone, or going after consumers interested in the trend of bigger phones and phablets like Samsung's higher-end Galaxy line of phones.

The rumor fits with the way Apple has traditionally worked and their movements of late. Testing the waters with the iPod Touch for an improvement to the iPhone and offering consumers greater choices to compete with the broadening market sounds a lot like Tim Cook's way of thinking to me.

Besides, what else is there for the iPhone fan who lines up for each iteration to buy? How about a second iPhone for his girlfriend or mother in pink? Brilliant.

iphone 5S to Offer Multiple Screen Sizes

iPhone 5S buyers could have their choice of screen size, according to Topeka analyst Brian White.

Citing information from a meeting with a "tech-supply chain company," White said today he believes Apple will unveil the iPhone 5S in at least two or possibly three different screen sizes.

"We believe Apple is coming around to the fact that one size per iPhone release does not work for everyone, and offering consumers an option has the potential to expand the company's market share," White said in an investors note released today.

The analyst didn't specify or even speculate which screen sizes might be available. The iPhone 5 sports a display size of 4 inches, a boost from the 3.5-inch screen found in previous models.

This isn't the first time White has pitched this prediction. In January, the analyst cited sources who claimed the next iPhone might be offered in different screen sizes and different colours.

Let's play with the assumption that Apple considers three different screen sizes for the next iPhone.

One model would likely adopt a size larger than 4 inches. That could prove tempting to consumers who might otherwise gravitate to larger-screen Android Phones. A second model would stick with the current 4-inch display for people who don't want a change. And a third could go smaller than 4 inches and sell at a lower price.

However many screen sizes Apple offers, White believes the iPhone 5S will debut in July. That forecast echoes the opinion of other analysts eyeing a summer release for the next iPhone.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster believes the new iphone will come out in june end, while KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks the iPhone 5S will be announced in june end and available by July end.

White also joins his fellow Apple analysts in anticipating a lower-priced iPhone this year, forecasting a summer launch along with the 5S. And just how low-priced will it be?

"Our research is now indicating that we should not expect the price to dip below $300 and those expecting a $150 to $200 iPhone will be disappointed," White said. "We have previously discussed an [average selling price] of $250 to $300 for a lower priced iPhone; however, a price tag of $300 to $350 now makes more sense."

The predicted price range would be for an unlocked, non-subsidized version of the low-cost iPhone targeted to developing markets such as China.

An iPhone in different sizes and colors? A low-cost iPhone? All of these notions sound atypical for a company such as Apple, which tends to move more slowly, surely, and traditionally.

But Apple is facing increasing pressure, both from Android rival Samsung and from investors. The company needs to apply more innovation and offer more choices across its traditional lineup to prove it's still a competitive force.