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The wait is finally over. Apple’s two new models the iPhone 5S – which it has termed as the most secure phone ever - and the not-so-budget iPhone 5C with a plastic-build are finally out.
The budget iPhone 5C will be ‘budget’ depending on which part of the world you live in and how strong your local currency is, vis-a-vis the US dollar.
The iPhone 5C will cost $549, that is Dh2,000 (approx), off contract. Off contract is the phone not linked to a telecom service provider’s plan.
For $100 more, an UAE Apple fan can have the real deal - iPhone 5S which is priced at $640 off contract, Dh2,400 (approx).-
This means that all Apple die-hards here in the UAE and elsewhere, will have to shell out Dh2,000 at least to get their hands on the iPhone 5C now.
On September 20, the two devices will go on sale in the United States, Australia, Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan and Singapore.
iPhone 5S, key facts
The new iPhone 5C is displayed during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. The company launched the new iPhone 5C model that will run iOS 7 is made from hard-coated polycarbonate and comes in various colors and the iPhone 5S that features fingerprint recognition security. (Getty Images/AFP)
- The iPhone 5S will have 64bit A7 chip and will be 40 times faster than the iPhone5 and 65 times faster than the original iPhone.
- The phone is made of high-grade aluminum with diamond-cut edges.
- The phone will come in silver, gold, and space gray – a new introduction.
The Gold Standard in Smartphones
New iPhone 5S will come in a gold color as well as "space gray." shows at an iPhone event at Apple's headquarters in Silicon Valley on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. Apple unveiled two new iPhones on Tuesday in its bid to expand its share of the smartphone market, including one as low as $99 with a US carrier contract. "The business has become so large that this year we are going to replace the iPhone 5 and we are going to replace it with two new designs," Apple chief Tim Cook announced at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters. Apple will begin taking orders on Friday, and on September 20 the two devices will go on sale in the United States, Australia, Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan and Singapore. (AFP)
The iPhone 5C is made with all the incredible technology that customers have loved with the iPhone5.
“It has an incredible new design. One that's more fun, and more colourful than anything we've made before," said Phil Schiller, Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing for Apple, at the launch.
The top-line iPhone 5S, which starts at $199 with a contract for US buyers and $649 (Dh2,400) without one, "is the most forward-thinking phone we have ever created," said Apple vice-president Phil Schiller. "It is the gold standard in smartphones."
Schiller said the 5S model includes a speedier chip which puts computing performance on par with desktop machines.
"It has over a billion transistors in it," he said, adding that the device will be a mobile game lover's delight with blazing smooth, rich graphics.
The 5S will also have some 10 hours of talk time, or 40 hours of music listening, Schiller added.
Apple introduced a fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 5S as a new security measure in place of passwords.
"You can just press the home button to unlock your phone," Schiller said. "You can use it to authenticate iTunes purchases."
Schiller added: "We have so much of our personal data on these devices, and they are with us almost everyplace we go, so we have to protect them."
Apple also broadened its colour palette, announcing the low-cost phone in blue, white, pink, yellow and green, and the top-line model in silver, gold and a new "space gray."
According to Phil, a new motion co-processor makes the iPhone 5S motion sensitive and will enable a "whole new level" of fitness apps.
The Core Motion API in iOS 7 will be updated to characterise data and let developers know whether you're walking, driving, etc.
Reticle Research principle analyst Ross Rubin described Touch ID as a "show stealer" that addresses "a necessary annoyance that many consumers have to deal with many times a day."
Camera
Apple has called its camera SLR like stuff with a new Apple-designed lens with f/2.2 aperture and a much larger sensor for low light conditions.
Phil said it requires bigger pixels to take better pictures. "We know a secret. We know it's actually bigger pixels that make a better picture." For video there is a 120fps slow-motion camera.
iOS 7
Apple said its iOS 7 software will debut September 18. It includes a free iTunes Radio Service featuring more than 200 stations "and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store."
The two new handsets keep the four-inch screen of current iPhones, despite some speculation Apple would boost the size to compete with larger phones from rivals like Samsung.
Watch for TV disappointed
Apple employees arrange a display of the new iPhone 5C during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. The company launched the new iPhone 5C model that will run iOS 7 is made from hard-coated polycarbonate and comes in various colors and the iPhone 5S that features fingerprint recognition security. (Getty Images/AFP)
The event was a disappointment to some who were looking for a fresh device from Apple, such as a smartwatch or TV service.
"I think there was an expectation for that 'one more thing,'" said Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies. "People were looking for some pizzazz and they didn't get it."
Apple announced separately a deal with Japan's biggest mobile phone carrier NTT DoCoMo to bring the two new iPhones to that country.
Apple shares sank more than $11 to $494.64 by the close of trading on the Nasdaq exchange.
Analysts cool
Members of the media inspect the new iPhone 5C during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. The company launched the new iPhone 5C model that will run iOS 7 is made from hard-coated polycarbonate and comes in various colors and the iPhone 5S that features fingerprint recognition security. (Getty Images/AFP)
Analysts were cool to budget concept. IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said that with the 5C, "Apple is seeking to fend off lower-priced rivals while it enjoys bigger profit margins and still maintains the aura of being an aspirational brand."
The iPhone 5C is part of Apple's bid to counter the flood of low-cost smartphones from rivals, most of which use the Google Android operating system.
"The 5C is a no-compromise device," Gartner analyst Van Baker told AFP after trying out Apple's new phones. "It is just in a plastic case instead of a metal case, and they basically reduce the price by the cost of materials."
"Anyone expecting Apple to come truly down-market with the iPhone 5C was fooling themselves," said Ovum analyst Tony Cripps.
"The day that happens is the day the company signals that it has run out of headroom for expansion."
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