After releasing a number of devices without the functionality, Apple finally made the decision to add NFC compatibility to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as announced at last Tuesday's media event. Integration of NFC technology is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but if you had grand ambitions of purchasing the iPhone 6 with the intention of pairing it with your treasured NFC devices then you'll need to put those plans on hold. Sources from within the Cupertino company have confirmed that the NFC capabilities of the iPhone 6 will be locked down from within to only be compatible with the company's own Apple Pay mobile payment system, with no indication of when, or if, that limitation will be lifted.
Tomorrow is the big day when Apple will push the big red button after which the final release of iOS 8 will be available to all iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users around the globe. And in order to prepare our readers for the big update, we’ve outlined a handy guide which will ensure that the whole process will go smoothly for everyone.
When we purchase our beloved mobile gadgets from the various stores that retail them, we almost forget the amount of work and the numerous processes that go into producing a freshly boxed, factory sealed device. With Apple having already taken some 4 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders, the shipments are arriving by the plane load, and below, we have a rare, first-hand look at the process of hauling them over by air.
The only surprise about the Chinese designed and manufactured Sophone i6 is that it's taken exactly a week after Apple's media event to get into the public eye. The Chinese smartphone industry has a reputation for being quick off the mark when it comes to producing copies of leading industry devices, so it's no surprise that this unapologetic iPhone 6 clone is now available. We can only imagine that the manufacturers behind the Sophone are the first in what will be a long line of Chinese companies to produce a similar offering in the coming weeks.
By and large, jailbreaking is a relatively safe affair to perform, and as long as you abide by the precautionary steps that must be taken when opening areas of the ecosystem ordinarily shut off by Apple, you're generally safe. However, given that third parties can access root files, things can sometimes go horribly wrong, and with the jailbreak scene having been afflicted by two widespread incidents in the past five months, another piece of malicious software is said to be capable of stealing your Apple ID and password to buy apps without your consent.
Apple's close relationship with U2 has been long-standing and, from an outsider's point of view, pretty harmless. Indeed, the fact that the Irish band's latest album Songs of Innocence was to be released for free as an iTunes exclusive was clearly a win for the consumer. The move, which was announced after Apple's iPhone 6 event last week, presumably meant that U2 fans could get their fill for free - excellent - while non-U2 fans could just skip the release. Much to the surprise of just about everyone outside Apple, though, the album was pushed out to just about everyone with an iOS device, much to the bemusement of those who don't happen to like U2.
UK mobile retailer Phones 4u has entered administration, and while this is a disaster for all associated with the company as a whole, it's also a bit of a headache for those who happened to place an iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus pre-order with them.
Given that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are larger, of higher resolution and offer better keyboard functionality than any previous Apple handset, it stands to reason that productivity will also improve. Folks considering the iWork suite, for example, to be a non-starter on the stuffy iPhone 5s canvas will be able to get their fill one of the newer models, and as per an Apple training document, both the 64GB and 128GB models of each new iPhone will get iWork and iLife apps installed as standard.
Apple has today announced that it has clocked in a record number of pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in its first 24-hours of availability. The number of next-generation iPhone units sold as part of the initial pre-order issue has surpassed 4 million, putting the release on track to be the biggest launch in the Cupertino company's 38-year history. The decision to move to two larger-screen models appears, on the face of things, to be a stroke of genius by Apple as consumers from ten territories ensure initial stock was depleted.
Samsung doesn't usually need any encouragement to do a spot of advertising, and with an ad budget that probably rivals the best of them it has started go use some of those dollars to poke yet more fun at Apple.
















