iPhone 6 release date, news and rumors

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.

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.

iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z Comparison

The iPhone 5 and Sony Xperia Z are two of the most popular phones of the year. Picking between them is pretty tricky.

Do you want more games, or more screen inches? We’re compared the two phones to find out which will be right for you. 

iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z - Design

iPhone 5 – Aluminium rear, toughened glass front,
Xperia Z – Glass-covered front and rear, IP57

If anything, the Sony Xperia Z has more in common with a previous iPhone, the iPhone 4S, than the iPhone 5 design-wise. It uses two glass layers on the back and front, which give the phone a glossy look without resorting to using glossy plastic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
However, in-hand the feel isn’t dramatically different from a plastic phone.

The iPhone 5 is, though. Its rear is aluminium, apart from the glass inlays on the top and bottom of the phone’s rear.  Get the phone between your fingers and the phone’s build quality is immediately obvious.

They’re also phones of very different sizes. The Xperia Z is significantly larger. The Sony phone is just over 7cm wide while the iPhone 5 is under 6cm, making it much less of a handful.

What they do have in common is slimness. These are exceptionally skinny phones. The iPhone 5 is 7.6mm thick, the Xperia Z 7.9mm . Phones don’t get much thinner than this.They’re also fairly similar in the way they approach their body shape. They’re severe, boxy phones rather than curvy ones – part of the reason why they’re able to be so slim.

One of the most notable features of the Xperia Z, though, is its water resistance. The phone uses rubber-sealed flaps that cover all of its ports to make the phone able to be submerged in water without dying,

It’s rated to IP57, which means it’s guaranteed to be able to withstand jets of water and is dust-proof. However, in real life it can happily be dunked.

We’ve heard tales of iPhones that have survived being dropped in water – but it generally involves a few days drying out in an airing cupboard.
 

iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z - Screen

iPhone 5 – 4-inch IPS 1,126 x 640
Xperia Z – 5-inch 1080p LCD screen

The Sony Xperia Z’s screen specs are far better than the iPhone 5’s. Its display is much larger – five inches instead of four, and both screen resolution and pixel density are much higher.

Specs-wise, the Xperia Z is well ahead. However, in person the iPhone 5 provides better image quality.  The Xperia Z’s contrast is surprisingly poor and angled viewing is not great. It’s not as good a screen as its specs suggest.

It’s partly deliberate too – the Sony Xperia Z's image engine reduces contrast in order to improve battery life.

Contrast, colour and black levels are all excellent in the iPhone, which has a high-grade IPS screen. Of course, there are still benefits to a large screen like the Xperia Z’s.

For playing games and watching movies, the large screen of the Xperia Z is a godsend.

It also comes with a plastic screen protector fitted. Again, this does the image quality no favours, but does make some practical sense. You end up with no annoying air bubbles and it’ll keep the actual glass of the screen scratch-free, although the screen protector itself scratches quite easily.

iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z - Power

iPhone 5 – dual-core Apple A6 CPU, 1GB RAM
Xperia Z – quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2GB RAM

As they run completely different systems, comparing the Xperia Z to the iPhone 5 is to compare apples to oranges, but the Xperia Z undoubtedly has more powerful innards.

It has a quad-core Snapdragon S4 chip running at 1.5GHz while the iPhone 5 has a dual-core 1.3GHz Apple A6 chip. The cross-platform Geekbench benchmark is one of the best ways to compare the raw power of these phones.

The iPhone 5 wins 1600 points in the benchmark, where the Xperia Z scores 2100. The Xperia Z has the beefier CPU.

Of course, this isn’t reflected a great deal in their day-to-day performance. Both phones are very nippy, and if 3D gaming is what you’re after, the iPhone 5 is a much better bet. iOS has a better games selection than Android, making the iPhone a superior gaming machine despite the larger screen of the Sony phone.

iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z - Camera

iPhone 5 – 8-megapixel camera with LED flash
Xperia Z – 13-megapixel sensor with LED flash

Both the Sony Xperia Z and iPhone 5 have cracking cameras for a phone. In good lighting, they can produce some great photos.However, once again the Xperia Z is the more problematic phone. It has a higher-spec camera than the iPhone 5, with 13 megapixels at its disposal instead of eight, but technically it’s the inferior camera. Dynamic range, exposure judgement and colour accuracy are better in the iPhone, although shoot on a sunny day and the Xperia Z will be able to resolve a little more fine detail.

The iPhone 5 is also slightly quicker at focusing.

Where the Xperia Z wins back some cred is with its app, which offers many more features than the camera app of iOS 6. The iPhone 5 camera app is extremely pared-back, only offering HDR and panorama in terms of extra features.

With an Xperia Z you get all sorts of filters and effects, although the iPhone 5 will get these sorts of things once iOS 7 lands in September or by using third party apps.

iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z - Software

iPhone 5 – iOS
Xperia Z –Android

iOS or Android – it’s a commonly-asked question when buying a phone. Comparing them isn’t easy, as they’re totally different. iOS is simple, Android is flexible.  One of the key benefits of Android is that if you don’t like a part of a phone, you can generally swap it out for a third-party alternative – even for things like SMS messaging interfaces. You can't do such things with an iPhone.

Widgets also let you customise what your phone looks and feels like – they add things like calendars and clocks to your home screen. Again, you don’t get these with an iPhone.

What iOS is still the best at, though, is apps and games. Android is pretty good – Google Play is home to over a million apps, apparently – but the depth and breadth on the App Store is far superior.

Verdict

The Sony Xperia Z is a phone that boasts some significant spec advancements over the iPhone 5, which was released earlier. It has more power on tap, a much higher-resolution screen and a higher-resolution camera.  Its waterproofing is very neat too. However, it is also a more problematic phone. The camera isn’t quite up there with the very best and the screen is a little disappointing in person. It offers far better fiddleability, though, and we’d much rather watch a movie on that big 5-inch screen.

The iPhone 5S will be with us very soon, packing a better processor and camera. In the meantime read our round-up of best phones.
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/iphone-5-vs-xperia-z#WWrHIZZrEtdKeRBk.99

BBM for Android and iPhone

Reports indicate BBM for Android is back in closed beta testing

BBM for Android and iOS is now back in closed beta testing, according to reports.

IBNLive has an image showing a download page for BBM, though doesn't explain where it came from. It shows in the download description for v71 that beta testing has been re-enabled.

The move comes nearly two weeks since BBM for Android and iOS failed to launch as expected, to the dissapointment of many who were eagerly anticipating the messaging service being enabled on non-BlackBerry handsets.

The terminated launch came after a beta build of BBM for Android leaked online, although BlackBerry hasn't explained precisely why having an unofficial build doing the rounds is cause to slam the brakes on.

While BlackBerry has re-iterated that BBM for Android and iOS is still on the way, the fact that it is re-entering closed beta suggests there may be a little while to go yet before it finally arrives.

October 1 2013

BBM for Android and iPhone is still in rollout hell, and BlackBerry has no updates about when the application will be landing. It was meant to land last weekend and yet here we are –– over a week later –– and we still know nothing about when BBM will be getting launched.

Last week we were told that it would be at least a week before the IM client started rolling out. But now – a week and a bit later – we’re still none the wiser about when BBM will be landing inside Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

KYM reached out to BlackBerry for a update on the rollout –– like, is it happening this week or next week or next month –– and we were pointed to BlackBerry’s last update on its Inside BlackBerry blog, which was published on September 23 (you can read that below). 

BlackBerry has confirmed BBM is still coming to Android and the iPhone via its official Twitter account. The company has yet to give a concrete timeframe, however. 

Once released, BBM will go into direct competition with services like WhatsApp on Apple and Google’s mobile platforms. Interestingly, WhatsApp now boasts around 200 million users, according to The Telegraph, versus BBM’s 60 million. 

BlackBerry hasn’t discussed expected adoption rates thus far, but a look at the gross figures show that BBM has a long way to go before it catches up with WhatsApp. Still, 1 million downloads of the leaked APK is a pretty decent start. 

The leaked version of BBM was apparently downloaded 1.1 million times, according to reports. BBM did appear in the App Store in some regions, but the release has now been delayed. 

Users who did manage to download BBM via the App Store will still be able to use it, although BlackBerry has now disabled the leaked Android version.

Here’s BlackBerry’s official statement: 

“Prior to launching BBM for Android, an unreleased version of the BBM for Android app was posted online. The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already - more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app - is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day. 

“Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it's ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM. We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability.

“As soon as we are able, we will begin a staggered country roll-out of BBM for Android and continue the roll-out of BBM for iPhone. Please follow @BBM on Twitter for the latest updates and go to www.BBM.com to sign-up for updates about BBM for Android and iPhone. These issues have not impacted BBM service for BlackBerry.”

Although BlackBerry did not elaborate on the cause of these "issues", security expert Graham Cluley suggested that BlackBerry may not have been able to cope with the spike of activity hitting its servers, reports The Telegraph. 

"What seems, in part, to have tripped up BlackBerry is the poorly-policed free-and-easy Google Play Android app store, where multiple BBM apps, posing as official releases, appeared," he said.

"Most Android users assume that if an app is in the official Google Play store, it must be official and safe to install on their phone. The truth, sadly, is rather different."

Writing on Inside BlackBerry, Andrew Brocking has now provided the following update about what BlackBerry is up to re: BBM for Android and iPhone: 

"The team is now focused on adjusting the system to completely block this unreleased version of the Android app when we go live with the official BBM for Android app. We are also making sure that the system is reinforced to handle this kind of scenario in the future. While this may sound like a simple task – it’s not. This will take some time and I do not anticipate launching this week."

We'll update this story as soon as we know more about when BBM will be launching.

BBM for iPhone Review

BBM for iPhone did launch in some reasons last weekend, and one of the first reviews of the IM client has now appeared online. ThinkDigit managed to download the app and has now published a review of the application, which it gave 4.5-out-of-5 –– not too shabby then.

Below is an extract from the tech blog’s evaluation of BBM for iPhone:

“Not a revolutionary messenger app by any means, but in an ecosystem filled with messenger clients, it comes across as one of the slickest options. This probably is the best thing that could happen to all users who wished to switch platforms, but the BBM friends list held them back. Equally, the friendships can be rekindled with those who stayed back, while you moved on to an Android smartphone or an iPhone.

“Initial issues remain, but the BBM client on the iPhone is very similar to what we saw on the BlackBerry Z10 - which means functionality and usability will be a breeze. You cannot download BBM right now on iOS and Android due to various issues, but the moment it becomes available again, we would urge you to give it a shot.”

BBM for iPhone demoed in “hands on” video

While the majority of people are still waiting to get their hands on BBM for Android and iPhone, some users – in a few regions – have now got access to the cross-platform IM application.

BlackBerry is steadily rolling out the iPhone version of BBM to certain regions. It’s yet to land in the UK but iMore has a pretty detailed video first look of the application running on an iPhone.

“It looks just as you'd expect and mirrors the current version of BBM on BlackBerry. BBM includes chat, groups, file sharing and various settings to play around with,” said the report.

Check out the first look at BBM below:

Sept 18 2013

BlackBerry confirms BBM for Android and iPhone release date

BlackBerry has confirmed the release date for BBM for Android and iOS. In a statement to the press BlackBerry outlined the release date for both platforms as well as some of the features we’ll see once the IM client goes live.

BBM for Android will get a release date on September 21 and the IM client will come to Apple’s iPhone on September 22.

“BBM is a very engaging messaging service that is simple to use, easy to personalize and has an immediacy that is necessary for mobile communications,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President for BBM at BlackBerry.

“With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform, this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers.”

BBM for iPhone and Android will initially include chat, photo and voice note sharing, multi-person chats with up to 30 people, and the ability to post status updates and personal messages. However, BlackBerry says the apps will get BBM Channels in a future updates. Although there's still no word on when it is coming to Windows Phone. 

BlackBerry highlighted the following features of BBM inside the release: 

BBM Chat – Enjoy real, immediate conversations with friends on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones. Not only does BBM let you know that your message has been delivered and read, it also shows you that your friend is responding to the message. 

More than chat – With BBM you can share files on your phone such as photos and voice notes, all in an instant.

Keep your group in the loop – Multi-person chats are a great way to invite contacts to chat together. BBM Groups lets you invite up to 30 friends to chat together, and go a step further than multi-chat by sharing photos and schedules. And, with Broadcast Message, you can send a message out to all your BBM contacts at once.

Post Updates and stay in the know – BBM lets you post a personal message, profile picture and your current status, and lets your contacts know instantly in Updates.

Your unique PIN – Every BBM user has a unique PIN that maintains your privacy, so you don’t have to give out your phone number or email address to a new or casual contact.

And here's some pictures of what BBM for Android and iOS will look like: 

BBM will be available as a free download for Android smartphones running Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean (Android 4.x) beginning at 7AM EDT on September 21. BBM for iPhones running iOS 6 and iOS 7 will become available for each market on the App Store schedule of 12:01 AM local time on September 22. For more information, or to download BBM for Android or iPhone, visit www.BBM.com.

BlackBerry Z30 announced – no word on BBM for Android and iOS

BlackBerry has unveiled the BlackBerry Z30, the most powerful phone the company has ever produced. But sadly there was no mention of when BBM for Android and iOS would become available. Previous reports had suggested BBM for Android would launch on September 18, which, of course, is today.

That’s looking rather unlikely now. But multiple sources seem convinced a release is nigh – some even speculate it could happen on September 20. There was also talk of Samsung getting a three month exclusive on the cross-platform IM service, but that rumour has now been put to bed.  

A BlackBerry representative has responded to the internet chatter, issuing a statement toCrackBerry and confirming that the app will be available to both Android and iOS at the same time.

Victoria Berry, BlackBerry's communications director, said, "The excitement around the upcoming BBM launch on iPhone and Android devices seems to know no bounds. Although I’m a big fan of this passion, I want to clarify that no one will have an exclusive on offering BBM. We’ll be bringing the app to Android and iPhone users across the globe soon.”When it does finally hit Google Play, BlackBerry has confirmed the app will be available to all Android handsets running Ice Cream Sandwich and higher. 

Rumours. Rumours. Rumours. When it comes to BBM for Android and iOS there are plenty. But today’s update does look a little more solid than some of the other guff we’ve seen during the past month or so. Blackberry will apparently launch BBM cross-platform on September 20 via an event in Jakarta – and there’s even an invite. 

The report comes, once again, via CrackBerry – one of the web’s best resources for all things BlackBerry. Below is the apparent roll-out schedule for BBM to Android and iOS. Looks like September 20 could well be on the money… 

• Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: Android version published on Google Play
• Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: BBM.com goes live
• Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: CRM messages sent out to pre-registrants
• Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: Follow-up CRM message sent out after full App Store deployment
• Saturday, Sept 21st: BBM on iOS becomes available 12:01am EST in local time zones.

Apple iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5

Apple has announced the iPhone 5C, it's new alternative and cheaper smartphone. So what's the difference between it and the iPhone 5? We take a look in our iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5 comparison review. See also: iPhone 5C review.
On the whole, the iPhone 5C can be thought of as the iPhone 5 but wrapped in a new plastic shell. There are some other differences though so read on to find out what they are. See also: iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S launch: as it happened.

Apple iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5: Price (UK)

Apple has discontinued the iPhone 5, leaving the 8 GB iPhone 4S on sale at £349. So if you want an iPhone 5 you'll have to get it second hand or from a mobile operator which is still selling it. See also: iPhone 4S vs iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5S: What iPhone should I buy 2013?
Nevertheless, here is how the iPhone 5C compares to the pricing system for the iPhone 5 when it was on sale. It's cheaper than usual but can hardly be described as budget.
The iPhone 5C will be available to pre-order from 13 September and will go on sale on 20 September with the iPhone 5S.

Nevertheless, here is how the iPhone 5C compares to the pricing system for the iPhone 5 when it was on sale. It's cheaper than usual but can hardly be described as budget.
The iPhone 5C will be available to pre-order from 13 September and will go on sale on 20 September with the iPhone 5S.

Apple iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5: Design and build

As we mentioned, the iPhone 5C is essentially the iPhone 5 but in a polycarbonate plastic casing and as such is a little bigger and heavier. It's slightly more than a millimetre thicker and is 20 g heavier – nothing major here.

The bigger difference is the plastic casing which comes in five different colours – white, red (Apple calls it pink), blue, yellow and green. The iPhone 5C is steel reinforced inside.

Apple iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5: Processor

Once again,  there's no difference between the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5 in the engine room. Apple's new plastic iPhone has the same A6 chip inside.

Apple iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5: Connectivity and 4G support

On the connectivity front, the iPhone 5C is largely the same as the iPhone 5 with the Lightning connector, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS.
A key difference is support for more 4G LTE frequency bands. Apple states that the iPhone 5C is compatible with EE and Vodafone's networks in the UK but O2 confirmed that the smartphone, along with the flagship iPhone 5S will support it's network.
"And One More Thing...Yes iPhone 5S and 5C will support 4G on O2. More info coming soon." tweeted O2.
O2 uses the same 800 MHz frequency which Three will use when it launches its 4G and the latter is taking registrations for the new iPhones with advertising for 4G so it's all good on this front too.

Apple iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5: Battery life

Apple has given the iPhone 5C a slightly larger battery than the iPhone 5 which is a factor for it's heavier weight. It provides a boost in battery life, according to Apple, of an extra two hours of talk time and browsing over 4G LTE plus 25 hours on standby.

How to Jailbreak iOS 6.1.3

Step 1: Visit the website https://equsi0n.com/ to Download Equsi0n iOS 6.1.3 jailbreak Tool For Free.Step 2: Download Equsi0n iOS 6.1.3 jailbreak Tool from the website.Step 3: Install the Equsi0n iOS 6.1.3 jailbreak Tool on your machine.Step 4: Launch the Equsi0n Tool And Read the instructions before using the Equsi0n iOS 6.1.3 Tool.