Apple Announces iPhone 5s With 'Touch ID' Fingerprint Sensor

[TTMax]

The 5c would have been tempting at £349 or even £399 but £469 for a 16GB is eye watering stuff. And to add another £20 to the already exorbitant price of the 5 is taking the piss - they clearly think people will pay it in the UK and they are probably right. Of course you can always get a 2 year contract, but I prefer to buy unlocked phones. I have owned a 3Gs and currently a 4s, and I just can't justify upgrading for speed, a slightly better camera and a fingerprint sensor, and of course the bigger screen. 4s users, hang on another year! The iPhone 6 will almost certainly have a bigger and better screen, 802.11 ac, wireless charging, 128GB, new form factor, 2GB RAM, better camera...and more Of course if your 2 year contract is due for renewal, your decision is already made...

 

[Gidiyup]

Take a standard business card and put it over the screen of your iPhone 5. That's almost the exact size of the screen. I would like to have a phone with at least 4.5 to 4.7 which would be perfect. For me, the 4 inch screen is getting a tad small as my eyes get worse. I had a glimmer of hope that they might pull out a surprise but it looks like I'm waiting for the iPhone 6 or I might be looking at some other phones.

 

[158273]

so, youre expecting apple to change the laws of physics for you? riiight.

Mirasol screens can be read outdoors. They're far from perfect, but the techonology is there and someone like Apple could perfect it (just like they did with Touch ID).

 

[insider-man]

The biggest letdown for me is no 802.11ac Wi-Fi..... their brand new iPhone can't support their new router to it's full potential?!

Hmmm so you and the 17 people who voted this quote up don't actually realise that none of the iPods, iPads or iPhone can use the old 802.11n to it full potential already!?

Just so you know 802.11n can support speeds of up to 600Mbps however this speed is only reached if the device supports 4 Spatial streams and a 40Mhz channel. The "i" devices only support a single Spatial stream with a 40Mhz channel on 5Ghz which means, on a 5Ghz wireless your data connect rate is a max of 150Mbps. For many people who only have 2.4Ghz 802.11n networks they will only be get a max data rate of 72Mbps since 2.4Ghz does not support the 40Mhz channels. But of course you won't get a real data throughput near 150 or 72 Mbps.

As for the 802.11ac standard it's basically based upon wide channel to get more throughput and when people start deploying it and the 5Ghz frequency will get more saturate just like the 2.4Ghz frequency.

People should understand that regardless of standard the only real way to get more throughput in wireless is by the use of a wider data channel which in turn chews up the unlicensed frequencies.

Also it's not just the "i" devices that only use one Spatial stream the vast majority of mobile devices do! If 802.11ac comes to mobile devices it essentially will support the same throughput levels as 802.11n, it's just the marketing thing to say "we support 802.11ac!" - just like currently many people seem to be thinking that 802.11n on their mobile devices has reached it's limits. . . .

 

[lazaruzz]

this is the "S" update...as with the past several iterations they are the "tock" of a two-year, tick-tock design cycle. whats not to get?

i doubt youve had every iphone if you dont get it by now.

I don't think you understand what I'm saying I know its an update, but Tim Cook is trying to make it sound like its a new design if you watched the KeyNote. Plus i don't remember apple ever saying new design when the iPhone 3gs or the 4s came out. That is my point.

 

[mdelvecchio]

The second is that the camera is still only 8MP.

bigger pixels make better pictures; not cramming in more small pixels. everyone in digital photography knows this...most spec nerds do not.

I do recognise that upgrading to 64bit processing is impressive. But this is not an improvement that will mean anything (or provide any noticeable improvement) to most users.

if you enjoy smooth, fast apps, i would disagree with you.

This has been a tech-upgrade that seems to disappoint techies and mainstream customers alike.

i doubt that. i think it and the C will sell in record numbers.

----------

Apple could be sued? Really? Like Apple and all the other tech companies are being sued for giving all our other data to the NSA currently?

Seriously. If you think corporations and government intelligence agencies are going to admit how they are colluding to spy on you, then YOU are the one who's high.

1) apple has stated they arent giving the NSA carte blanche to their data. they have stated they only remit the smallest amount requested via legal orders.

2) apple has stated they intentional dont store what they dont need, for this purpose. they even make a swipe at google for not doing the same.

3) apple has stated the device doesnt send the prints. it stores a hashed copy of the data points locally. just like your PIN -- that doesnt get sent anywhere.

4) were this a lie, it would be easy to detect via a control room and packet sniffer. were this lie exposed, they would be sued in a massive lawsuit.

5) your paranoia, regardless of actual facts, is your problem.

 

[milo]

Can you store multiple fingerprints on a device? What happens if my wife or kid wants to use it in an emergency?

Looks like five fingerprints can be stored, probably can be from different people.

 

[ActionableMango]

And that preorder date is only for the 5C. No preorder date for the 5s. No, really. Which has been covered in this thread over and over already.

You got me there! I shall commit ritual seppuku.

 

[mdelvecchio]

What laws of physics? I have gear on my boat with color screens that can be read in bright sunlight, and most of it sells for a lot less than a current iPhone.

Why do so many people here get "upset" when a user says he'd like to see an improvement in the iPhone screen that would allow it to be easily seen and used outdoors in bright light?

who's upset? you?

anyway, LCD screens do indeed use physics to operate. that whole...light...thing. i seriously doubt you have any backlit capacitive multi-touchscreen devices on your boat that work any better. you may have equipment that you can see, but its different tech...which is the key. not all screens are the same.

 

[mdorais]

What has the design team been working on for the last year??? The only major new design they're releasing this year is the 5c. There won't even be iPod upgrades. I really hope there's some awesome secret product that has been taking up all their resources.

 

[macduke]

Of what benefit is "liquid-metal"? The name is cool, but that's not a good reason to use it.

Lighter, stronger, more resistant to scratching, radio-transparent so you can make a true unibody enclosure without window inserts like every other non-plastic iPhone. It will probably look amazing and might not need a case. I think those are good enough reasons, no? Plus Apple bought their patents so you know it's coming.

 

[Gcapple]

No pre order

Friday the 13th. you 2 clearly missed that part lol

http://bgr.com/2013/09/10/iphone-5s-release-date-specs-announced/

That is odd...I don't see anywhere where it mentions the 5s Preorder date...because there is none..Go to the Apple Store and check it out online.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Mirasol screens can be read outdoors. They're far from perfect, but the techonology is there and someone like Apple could perfect it (just like they did with Touch ID).

thats great but those arent capacitive multi-touchscreens. read their whitepaper...its a new tech in its infancy.

im sure there will be developments in the future, as always, but complaining that the "S" doesnt do enough because its not a brand new multi-touch display tech that doesnt exist is pretty silly.

----------

I don't think you understand what I'm saying I know its an update, but Tim Cook is trying to make it sound like its a new design if you watched the KeyNote. Plus i don't remember apple ever saying new design when the iPhone 3gs or the 4s came out. That is my point.

i dont think you understand. its marketed as an iphone "5", not 6. please quote where cook says this is anything other than an "S" re-design.

 

[rette]

anyway for security reasons i will register the touch ID with my big toe

I would think the little toe is much more secure. The big toe tends to get stubbed.

 

[topmounter]

wish they made the jump to 128GB phone

i guess since other phones come out with such crappy numbers they didn't feel need to raise it up

128GB would have required effort (and a hit to the margins) beyond slapping on a new paint job.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Apple 2013 - Profits before (quality) Products?

No 128GB option? When flash memory is so cheap.

No 12MP camera? When competitors do.

It seems to me to be about maximising profit, rather than provide meaningful improvements for users.

Mdelvecchio, I do accept that more megapixels do not necessarily mean better pictures. But I would expect an Apple 12MP camera to provide better pictures.

 

[rette]

so would it be gay or something for a guy to buy the gold iphone?

Just use the term "no-homo" every time you pull the phone out of your pocket you should negate the effect.

 

[diegogaja]

Curious

Just out of curiosity, where is the "wow" factor with the GN3? Or with any other phone these days?

I think with many on this board it's more a matter of boredom and people wanting something new or something that's not there yet tech-wise.

And FYI...all phones can be tracked. None is better off than another.

Thanks Apple, my choice is now clear. Your Android-ish look to iOS 7 and the same screen size made it easier for me to now pre-order the Galaxy Note 3.

There was no "wow" factor at all. A new chip "A7", minor tweak to the camera, and the useless to me fingerprint scanner. Ain't it bad enough your phone can be tracked? For some reason I'm being reminded of the movie Eagle Eye with Shia Labeouf.

Maybe next year Apple, this year I'm buying my first Android.

 

[B4U]

Hope I am not alone on this...

Want the new hardware but hated the look of the software...
The old iOS 6 icons look better to me and they actually make sense to what they are.

 

[wildmannz]

iPhone 5S identity

I am SUPER dissapointed that NFC wasn't included, so I'm not going to upgrade. I would have had it been included. I really hope you're right, and someday we actually get NFC.

I'm not - although I was curious to see whether they would include it.
I have it in my current phone - HTC One SV. Never used it. Ever.

And I am SOOO getting the 5S.
Looking forward to switching back to iOS after a over a year in the wilderness.
No pricing points up where I live yet.
http://store.apple.com/nz/iphone www.vodafone.co.nz/iphone5s/

Watching and waiting

 

[trims]

I confess I am very disappointed with the 5s.

Two reasons. The first is the lack of a 128GB option. The second is that the camera is still only 8MP.

I do recognise that upgrading to 64bit processing is impressive. But this is not an improvement that will mean anything (or provide any noticeable improvement) to most users.

It is an interesting upgrade. And the reaction is interesting too.

Shifting the entire iOS ecosystem to 64-bit and being the first to use ARMv8 is a massive achievement, but for far less cost Apple could have offered 128GB storage.

Totally redesigning the camera with a larger sensor, improved optics and software to take better pictures is a massive achievement, but for far less cost Apple could have stuck in a 12MB sensor.

The phone buying public won't appreciate these advances, but Apple are well placed for iPhone 6. All they need is a 4.8" screen and 128GB storage to reap that public acclaim.

 

[pure3d2]

I wonder what they are planning to call color version iphone when they release iPhone6s. There would be already iphone6c, released with iphone6.

I really hope they're not going to call a future phone the iPhone6C. Six-C in Cantonese sounds almost identical to "eat s h i t."

 

[lazaruzz]

i dont think you understand. its marketed as an iphone "5", not 6. please quote where cook says this is anything other than an "S" re-design.

Marketed as an iPhone 5? There is no iPhone 5 anymore.
He said it right there replaced with the new design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZYHHJgCp-M&feature=youtu.be

 

[chlamydiaherpes]

finger print Id

Is there anyway you can bypass the finger print iD so I know for sure nobody will come back for me to help them unlock it. I ask because by diagnosis
I have what they call phatological generosity, I cant stop helping people no matter what cirmustances.

 

[diegogaja]

Seriously?

And you think your files are somehow safer on your workstation? or emailed?

That made me chuckle.

No, because nothing I do on my phone is remotely sensitive.

I do all my sensitive e-mail work from my office workstation and I leave all my confidential files secured in my office.

If something really needs to be protected like that, I sure as hell am not going to access it over an open signal on a device that can be lifted from me in public.