All the talk and column inches are understandably being devoted to Apple's iPhone 5 right now. Always guaranteed to get attention, large hardware releases will have the pulse racing for many people, whether that be due to the urge to splash the cash, or the distinct feeling that Apple is holding something back.
iOS 6 was first announced a couple months back at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, otherwise known as WWDC '12, and with the iPhone 5 showcased last week in a well documented Yerba Buena-based affair, Apple also revealed the latest iteration of its famous mobile ecosystem would be landing on 19th. True to its word, the company has made the final version of iOS 6 available to download for the masses today.
If you've ever been fortunate enough to visit a branch of Madame Tussauds, you'll know how much of an enthralling experience it can be. Some of the world's greatest philanthropists, inventors, actors, musicians, leaders and general public figures are on display, and all of them offer an incredible likeness to the actual person they represent.
Further adding to yesterday's coverage, which showed images purported to be of a mockup of the iPad Mini, Andy over at GizChina has managed to get his hands on what looks to be an identical dummy model. Costing $13, the form factor representation of the upcoming Apple gadget has been doing the rounds on the Chinese market, and this is the first time we've managed to get an up close and personal look at what is believed to be the iPad Mini.
The iPhone 5 is set for a general public release in two days time, and overnight, we have started to see some reviews being published from those who were lucky enough to get their hands on the review and testing units. The reviews are obviously a great resource for people who are considering exchanging their hard earned cash for an iPhone 5, but there will also be a lot of people who are wondering about the actual performance of the device when using it in a real-world environment for everyday tasks.
A whole week has already passed since Apple gave the world its first (official) look at the iPhone 5, and with the past seven days in tech having been almost solely dedicated to the Cupertino's latest must-have smartphone, the reviews from Apple's select few have just been released.
As we close in on the release of the highly-sought iPhone 5, many consumers will be keeping a vigil by their front doors, anticipating the arrival of their mail and packages; but once the outer envelope is torn away in a frenzied rush of excitement, what can they expect to see in terms of packaging?
The "stuck on a desert island" analogy is a thought-provoking hypothetical situation thrown up by many, in order to try and direct a subject into really mulling over an answer. When Samsung applied that theory to its Facebook followers - asking which electronic device they'd want if caught in the above situation - it seems the overwhelming majority opted for the iPhone, which is certainly a nice premise for the recently-announced iPhone 5.
Although the iPhone 5 has now been unveiled by Apple, attentions will still focus on the Cupertino company's smartphone for the time being - at least until the release date is finally upon us. Once that's done and dusted though, talk of the so-called "iPad Mini" should re-ignite once more, and last about a month until its purported release.
If you are in the business of designing and developing accessories or cases for Apple hardware, or just a hardcore fan who has keen interest in the engineering behind products and how they are actually put together, then Apple's trend of releasing blueprints and schematics of their new mobile devices is sure to please. Over the weekend, we were treated to some rather detailed technical drawings of the sixth-generation iPhone and that has been followed up with the blueprints of the fifth-generation iPod touch and the seventh iteration of the iPod nano.

