Evasi0n Jailbreak for Apple iOS 6 Installed On 1.7 Million Devices Since Monday

Evasi0n Jailbreak for Apple iOS 6-based devices has been released on Monday and more than 1.7 million users have hurried to install the program on their iGadgets. The administrator of the Cydia appstore, Jay Freeman revealed that the website was accessed more than 14,000 times per minute during peak download times.

iPhone and iPad users have been waiting for the new Evasi0n jailbreak to be released for a long time. Luckily, the program was available on Cydia website on Monday and users hurried to install it on their devices.
 More than 1.7 million users installed Cydia on their gadgets and the traffic was frequently visited during peak download times. Based on Jay Freeman’s report, the administrator of the Cydia appstore, the servers encountered various problems due to the large traffic and they even went offline at a certain point.

Besides Redsn0w iOS 5.1.1, Evasi0n is the most popular untethered jailbreak that may be found on the Internet at present. Its release has taken a long time because hacking Apple devices is usually very difficult. Developers at evad3rs managed to create the program even though it has been a very detailed process. Thanks to them, Evasi0n has five distinct bugs in the new iOS code as opposed to Stuxnet, the malware built by the NSA to destroy centrifuges in Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities, which had only four.

iPhone 5 smartphones and other devices running on iOS 6 will be able to function with Evasi0n. The jailbreak is the first untethered program that is compatible with the previously mentioned devices. The fact that the jailbreak is untethered gives users the possibility to boot their devices without connecting the phone to a computer or a different gadget. This is the most preferred version of jailbreak as the smartphone will preserve the functions that were set during the installation process.

Evasi0n is also available for other operating systems, so users also have the possibility to download the version for Windows and Linux. There is, however, one more issue that needs to be solved in order for the jailbreak to function properly, namely, the software must no longer crash the weather app on iPhone 5. On the other hand, however, the jailbreak revealed that there was a weather app available for iPad all this time, but it was not available without the jailbreak.

iOS 6.1 Firmware Update Delivers New Features for iPhone 5 to 3GS, iPad 4 to 2

Apple released a new iOS 6.1 firmware earlier this week, with a bundle of new features compatible with iPhone 5, 4S, 4 and 3GS, iPod Touch 4G and 4G, iPad 4, 3 and 2. These surely look appealing enough to convince Apple users to upgrade, particularly when the iOS 6 jailbreak for A5 devices is so close to the public release.

First of all, here’s how to install the new iOS 6.1 firmware on your Apple device: go to the device’s Settings menu and select General > Software Update and > Install Now. The file is 107 MB in size and once you have upgraded to the latest version you will get access to several new features, including LTE coverage, but only for iPhone 5 and iPad mini.

Upgrading to iOS 6.1 gives you the ability to purchase movie tickets through Fandango with Siri’s and to iTunes Match subscribers the possibility to download individual songs from iCloud. There’s also a new button to reset the Advertising identifier as well as something called “bug fixes and improvements”.

iOS 6.1’s bug fixes and improvements aims to solve the Smart App Banner bug that enables JavaScript in Mobile Safari without user’s knowledge. “If a user disabled JavaScript in Safari Preferences, visiting a site which displayed a Smart App Banner would re-enable JavaScript without warning the user” explains the Apple’s Support Webpage. “This issue was addresses bby not enabling JavaScript when visiting a site with a Smart App Banner”.

There’s also a “Voice Dial Only” feature for Siri, which limits her from undertaking any task besides calling your contacts. Redmond Pie says this is a feature that could be “quite useful in case you need to call somebody quickly without having Siri launch iTunes and waste a good minute of your time trying to close it off”.

The fifth version of iOS 6.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is according to Redmond Pie the final one too. A report on the Redmond Pie website says “that the latest beta seed doesn’t actually appear to be a true beta in the normal understanding of the world relating to Apple releases”.

Redmond Pie notes that iOS 6.1 “activates without the need for developer registration, it doesn’t have any expiry date, and the build ID is that of any final build, meaning that this could actually end up being the final build of iOS 6.1”.

Untethered iOS 6.1 Jailbreak for iPhone 5 Could Be Released on Super Bowl Sunday

It’s been a long wait for the untethered iOS 6.1 jailbreak for iPhone 5 and according to recent reports we’re several days away from a public code release. The evad3rs jailbreak team has recently hinted Super Bowl Sunday could be the day they release the untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.1 on iPhone 5.

Following Apple’s release of iOS 6.1, planetbeing tweeted that the jailbreak developed seems to be working just fine even with the upgraded software. “iOS 6.1 appears to be vulnerable to the exploits we are planning on using” he announced, but “in terms of code, we have two proof of concepts that we need to merge and polish, so we will not be ready to release until that and testing”.

Just last week, reputable jailbreak developer pod2g announced there is a new team working on finding exploits in A5 devices to break iOS 6. The team confirmed there was a lot of progress being made over the past few weeks and explained they are waiting for the release of Apple’s 6.1 beta version. Now that iOs 6.1 rolled out, MuscleNerd was the first evad3rs member to hint at a possible release date.

“Hey, did everyone know the Super Bowl is this Sunday? What will you be doing?/ cc @evad3rs evad3rs.com” reads MuscleNerd’s Twitter post.

iDownloadBlog believes MuscleNerd’s Twitter message is a sure confirmation the untethered jailbreak for iOS 6 on iPhone 5 will be released on Super Bowl Sunday. And they’re not alone, particularly after another Twitter post confirming over 22 iOS devices will be supported by his team’s jailbreak tool.

“@unicornhacker yes, every other 6.1 device variation will be supported. All TWENTY-TWO of them (omg!). Plus atv2 if it’s out in time” the hacker tweeted this Monday.

So, here’s a new dilemma: what do you do? Upgrade now to iOS 6.1 or wait until Super Bowl Sunday to get the jailbreak too?

iPhone Owners Sue Google for Tracking Safari

It’s not the first time Google is being accused of using unethical methods to collect information about users’ web browsing habits. In UK, almost a hundred iPhone owners have initiated a class lawsuit against Google for tracking Safari without their approval and knowledge.

The Guardian writes there are about 10 million British Apple device owners that could have been impacted by Google’s bypass of Safari’s privacy settings. It first began with ten iPhone users initiating the legal proceedings but several days later the number is close to 100 and from the looks of it the number of complaints isn’t going to level out just now.

“We’ve had more than 70 people come forward to join this action. We are seeking further details in respect of these individuals’ cases and, where appropriate, will be making further claims for them against Google” Dan Tench, lawyer in charge of the case against Google told The Guardian.

The British law firm Olswang was hired by the iPhone users to represent them in the Safari privacy breach lawsuit against Google. Lawyers have already requested Google to reveal the final purpose of the data obtained without users’ knowledge as well as which personal data has been collected. The firm says its clients are suing Google for violating the Data Protection Act of 1998 as well as privacy breach, computer misuse and tresspass.

“This is the first time Google has been threatened with a group claim over privacy in the UK” Dan Tench explained. “It is particularly concerning how Google circumvented security settings to snoop on its users. One of the things about Google is that it is to ubiquitous in our lives and if that’s its approach then it’s quite concerning” the lawyer added.

A Facebook group called Safari Users Against Google’s Secret Tracking says “Google deliberately undermined protections on the Safari browser so that they could track users’ internet usage and to provide personally tailored advertising based on the sites previously visited”.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission fined Google $22.5 million for the same thing. At that time, Google’s statement denied collecting any personal information.

Baird Analyst Cuts Apple Shares Estimates to Neutral

Apple is under a lot of scrutiny from markets and investors fearing earnings will fall shorter than expected as demand for the company’s iDevices seems to be in a slump. Forbes published today a Baird analyst’s rating update, as William Power decided to cut his Apple shares estimates to neutral over fears that Wall Street’s estimates are too high for what the company is able to deliver.

There is a lot of uncertainty for the March quarter, as rumors about Apple’s upcoming products and slow-performing current sales are adding to investors’ anxiety. The news that Apple will release this summer two new iPhones and most likely in October a new 4th generation iPad and a 2nd generation iPad Mini is concerning, as investors fear consumers will not welcome the new products with just enough enthusiasm to boost revenues over estimates.

Baird analyst William Power took into account reports, predictions and expectations and has decided to cut his rating of Apple shares to neutral from outperform. Power estimates the Apple stock will drop to $465 from $570 and has firm concerns the June quarter is going to be problematic.

“We are increasingly wary of several near-term risks, particularly consensus estimates that we believe remain frustratingly too high” reads William Power’s research note to investors. “With estimates likely to fall further and gross margin concerns likely to linger, we believe the shares could drop further, despite the sharp sell-off and valuation” the analyst adds. “Notably, we remain positive on Apple’s leading product portfolio, unmatched ecosystem and potential new products, and would look for a more significant reboot of estimates to potentially get more aggressive again” he says.

The intensely rumored cheaper iPhone might not have the effect most imagine. Cheaper will give Apple a better grip of the budget smartphone market, but at the same time it will deeply impact margins for the quarter. Add that to the impact iPad Mini’s cheaper price has had over Q1 and Q2 and as an investor you’ll have enough reasons to keep a close eye on Apple’s stock evolution.

Evad3rs Dev-Team Has a Jailbreak for iOS 6.1 Ready for Release

Before losing your grip hearing the latest news about the jailbreak for iOS 6.1, just remember we’ve been tricked before. This time however it seems like it’s legit, as reputable hacker Pod2g confirms the Evad3rs Dev-Team does have a jailbreak for iOS 6.1 ready for release.
iOS 6 on A5 devices has surely been the ultimate challenge for a lot of jailbreak developers. They’ve been working on and off for the past few months, but it wasn’t until recently that developers announced making progress with actually finding exploits they could use to jailbreak iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S. In a recent interview with iDigitalTimes and Twitter posts, hackers Pod2g announced the jailbreak for iOS 6.0 and 6.1 are ready for release. 
Last Thursday, Pod2g released the name of a new team working on a jailbreak for iOS 6 on A5 devices. Working under the Evad3rs name are familiar names but as iDigitalTimes notes “some have yet to get their due recognition”. The name became popular after last week’s announcement that “6.0 is jailbroken, 6.1 beta 4 also. Now we are waiting 6.1 to confirm and release”.
Whereas Pod2g aka Cyril is one of the most popular names in the world of jailbreaking iDevices, this time around the credit goes to PlanetBeing. “He is completely the man on that particular jailbreak. It is his work, like it was mine on previous 2/3 ones” Pod2g told iDigitalTimes. For the current jailbreak project, Pod2g “gave ideas that pushed them to their maximum, I kind unblocked the situation, but it would certainly have happened without me helping”.
Before rushing to install the iOS 6 jailbreak remember there’s another firmware update planned for release these days. “Of course this is excellent news but contain your excitement for holes at this point can still be patched by Apple while we are awaiting the 6.1 release” also reads the iDigitalTimes report. 
The good news is that it seems hackers are already prepared to take on Apple’s next challenge, since Pod2g revealed they have “found other vulnerabilities” which will certainly be used for the next jailbreak.

Geohot’s First iPhone App is Called “Reactions”

From jailbreaking iDevices to developing apps for iPhone and iPad is not such a long way as Geohot has found out. iClarified announces Geohot’s first iPhone app, called “Reactions” has been submitted for Apple’s approval.It’s not an app that jailbreaks your iDevice.

Forget about that. Geohot’s first iPhone app is oriented at the user passionate about photography and social networking. It offers the hassle free solution for all of those that publish via Facebook and Twitter everything they photograph, but it might be a handful for the few not so interested in what people like and comment.

There’s also one more twist to this iPhone app: it records your reaction while you’re busy taking a picture of something else using both cameras at the same time.“Previous photo applications only allowed the use of one camera.

Or even worse, let you choose between cameras. Disgusting. Here at Reactions we don’t believe in choice, we believe in both” reads the description. “Why make Obama president? Let Obama and Romney be president. Let’s even let Ron Paul be president too”.

This photo sharing app is as basic as it gets. Aim your iPhone, take the picture and voila: you get a combined work of art displaying the subject of your photographic vision and the face you made while taking that “spectacular” picture.

The app integrates Objective C, Facebook and Dropbox “to ship your reactions to all your friends without needing to rebuild your social graph”.The biggest caveat however is the huge focus this app puts on sharing via social networks every picture you take.

“At Reactions, we offer you no way to save your pictures. If you want to save them, you have to share them. After a reaction is captured, you have 3 seconds to hit the unlabeled cancel button, or else your photo is automatically shared with all your Facebook friends” reads the Reactions website.

Jailbreak Developer Demands Apple to Release iOS 6.1

Over the past few weeks hackers announced progress in finding exploits that could lead to the release of a jailbreak for iOS 6 on A5 devices. They kept mum for months in a row, whereas the buzz around the release of a hack for iPhone 5 and iPad 4S only grew more and more intense. Recent posts from hackers via social networks talked about finding new exploits in iOS 6, whereas one jailbreak developer dares Apple to release iOS 6.1 making it seem like a jailbreak release is certain.

Just several days after Tech Crunch published an epic article on jailbreaking iPhones and iPads based on an interview with reputable developers, pod2g and planetbeing have good news for the future of jailbreaking.

“Tons of progress the last few days, I think the future is looking bright for jailbreaking.:)” PlanetBeing announced via Twitter, whereas pod2g was so confident that he dared Apple to release a new version of the so-called unbreakable software. “Come on Apple. Release that 6.1 now!” reads his Twitter post.

Earlier this week, there was a similar vibe coming from the jailbreak community as the same two developers caused a lot of buzz with the first announcements in weeks about progress being made with the jailbreak process for iOS6.  “@planetbeing oh yeah! 2 new vulnerabilities in a day, chance with us. But we still miss that initial code execution for a public jb :/” announced pod2g.  “Made some nice progress today with @pod2g. I think I’ll try to reward myself with a nap:)” read PlanetBeing’s post on Twitter at the beginning of the week.

Apple is expected to release another beta version of iOS 6 anyway, since the fourth and current one expires January 28th. Avoid however to upgrade to iOS 6 until developers announce the jailbreak code is safe to use.

Two Hackers Announce iPhone 5 Jailbreak Progress

It’s pointless to tell you how eager we all are to find exploits in iOS 6 and jailbreak it for A5 devices. As you know, iJailbreakiPhone5s has its very own team working on an iPhone 5 jailbreak, so we are all very interested in any news related to the subject. Recently, two iPhone hackers announced some iPhone 5 jailbreak progress, finding new vulnerabilities in only one day.

iPhone Dev-Team and Chronic Dev-Team, not to mention a plethora of other hackers, have the brightest minds in jailbreaking iOS and iPhones working intensely to find new exploits in Apple’s iOS. Older devices weren’t that hard to crack, whereas A5 devices (iPhone 4S, 5) are giving hackers nightmares. Two hackers announced over the past weekend there was some progress made in identifying new exploitable vulnerabilities, but the date of a public jailbreak release remains unknown and uncertain.

“@planetbeing of yeah! 2 new vulnerabilities in a day, chance was with us. But we still miss that initial code execution for a public jb :/” hacker @pod2G announced via Twitter this Sunday. The announcement caused frenzy on Twitter, with all those interested in the iPhone 5 jailbreak asking for more details and wondering how long will it take before the public jailbreak will be released.

Wang is the hacker that teamed with Pod2g and he made a similar announcement. “Made some nice progress today with @pod2g. I think I’ll try to reward myself with a nap” he wrote on Twitter.

Both Pod2g and Wang have previously developed successful jailbreaks for Apple devices, but with iOS 6 the number of exploits has reduced. “The bootrom has been getting smaller and smaller, but we can’t even get a dump of it right now. Even if we get code controlling the entire phone running, like we do, we can’t see the bootrom” Wang explained in a previous statement. “And if we can’t dump it, we can’t look for code and mistakes very easily” since the bootrom is hidden when iPhone 5 completes the boot process.

Why Jailbreaking iOS 6 on iPhone 5 and 4S Is So Difficult

Over the weekend, two reputable jailbreak hackers announced they found new exploits in iOS, but the public jailbreak code is still nowhere close. So, why is jailbreaking iOS 6 on iPhone 5 and 4S so difficult?

Tech Crunch asked the same question and talked with one of the two hackers that announced progress over the weekend. Wang explained what makes iOS 6 so hard to jailbreak on A5 devices, why exploits are so scarce and why the public jailbreak code is still miles away. 

Confronted with numerous other things that take their toll on the jailbreaking process, teams have shifted focus to individual projects, but then again, iOS 6 is much stronger, as Apple introduced changes that reduce access to the bootrom, where hackers fished for vulnerabilities. “The bootrom has been getting smaller and smaller, but we can’t even get a dump of it right now. Even if we get code controlling the entire phone running, like we do, we can’t see the bootrom” Wang explained.

Hackers used to take advantage of a bootrom exploit called Limera1n to jailbreak iPhone 4 and previous models, but with A5 devices, Apple made sure this vulnerability was removed. It was the kind of exploit that once taken advantage of it would last for the entire life of the device, so no need for another jailbreak if the device is rebooted. Now, “in order to upgrade the bootrom, you have to throw out your phone and get a new one... so [Apple] can’t ever upgrade Limera1n”. 

“It sure seems like it, because who else would care about reading the bootrom? You can’t really get a virus on your phone by reading the bootrom” Wang said of Apple restricting access to the bootrom. Tech Crunch writes that hackers used to found exploits in bootrom over USB, but Apple made sure those bugs will not exist with iOS 6 and A5 devices. So hackers need to start looking for exploits some other place, like for instance the Lightning connector.

Apple Said to Release a 4.8-inch iPhone Math This Summer

For the past few weeks there have been a bunch of reports coming from China about Apple’s supply orders for iPhone 5 and plans to release two new iPhones this summer. China Times writes that Apple will release an upgraded iPhone 5 and a 4.8-inch iPhone Math.

There are numerous reports trying to pinpoint Apple’s next move. It’s hard to ignore them since most of the previous reports proved to be accurate. It’s even harder to ignore rumoring when Apple is said to release a cheaper iPhone to break into the cost-affordable Android smartphone market. Translated reports from China indicate that the second (cheaper) iPhone could be the 4.8-inch iPhone Math.

BrightWire translated information published in the China Times and although everybody agrees iPhone Math isn’t exactly following in line with Apple’s traditional release plan, it might well be this isn’t the case of a mistranslation. That’s hardly the case since the name “iPhone Math” is used in the English form in the report from China Times.

According to China Times’ scoop, iPhone Math will be launched this summer, along with a better iPhone 5. The device is said to feature a 4.8-inch screen and an 8MP camera. What’s confusing everybody in the media now is that China Times’ report talks about a device that will be larger than the current iPhone 5, whereas The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg talk about an iPhone that is smaller and cheaper. In the meanwhile, Jeffries’ analyst Peter Misek was the first to announce Apple is indeed working on a 4.8-inch iPhone display, but one month after that report Misek informed there is no sign the company is still working on that device.

The China Times report also notes that during the holiday season, Apple will release a third iPhone for the year, which is reportedly going to feature a 12-MP camera.

Jailbreaking Is Still Popular Despite no Fix for A5 devices

There are a lot saying jailbreaking iPhones is no longer something that gets users interested, but the truth is the more they wait the more they find they need iPhone 5 to do more than what it does now. Tech Crunch recently talked with a few popular jailbreak developers and sellers and found jailbreaking is still popular, although there is no fix for A5 devices.

The perks of jailbreaking an iPhone can fully transform a user’s experience, delivering access to settings and controls that make this device a lot more fun to use. And a lot more worth its price tag. Jailbreaking allows the user to transform the device in a Wi-Fi hotspot, as well as install all kinds of custom skins and apps. Jailbreaking is legal, although Apple is really not happy with it, and users are keeping it popular, despite the long wait for the A5 fix.

“Every time we release jailbreak, we get a massive spike of renewed interest, during which time people furiously are upgrading, jailbreaking, browsing packages, and purchasing products” says Jay Freeman, Cydia creator. “They are seriously active users, that spike is so large that the rate it falls over time swamps the rate of organic user accumulation, so the overall usage of jailbreaking is always going down” he added.

However, every jailbreak scam, every faulty software do disrupt trust and impact interest. Freeman believes the lack of good jailbreaks for iPhone 5 is to some extent drawing people away from the topic. “We have to look at iOS 6: we don’t have a ‘good’ jailbreak for iOS 6 on the iPhone 4 or iPod 4 (as it is tethered), and we have no jailbreak for iOS 6 on any of the newer devices, including last year’s iPhone 4S” Freemand added.

Wang on the other hand, a reputable jailbreak developer, believes the popularity of jailbreak is “still pretty popular” even though Apple’s improvements seem to overwhelm consumers. But nothing is unbreakable, and with so many brilliant minds looking for iOS 6 jailbreaks, it’s just a matter of time before the public code for the iPhone 5 jailbreak will be made available.

iPhone 5 Is Flickr Users’ Digital Camera of Choice

There’s been a lot said about the 8MP iSight camera on iPhone 5, and despite the initial reaction, users love using it. In fact, according to a recent report from Barclays, iPhone 5 is so appreciated it is Flickr users’ digital camera of choice.

A survey by the Pew Research Center indicates that people use their smartphones primarily for taking a picture. Users ranked this above anything else, including sending and receiving text messages, accessing the internet, sending or receiving email, recording video, downloading apps and looking for health and medical information. Barclays’ recent report comes to confirm smartphones are gradually becoming the replacement of the average digital camera.

Barclays’ analysts found that the iPhone has become the favorite digital camera for Flickr users. The data they analyzed showed there are about 5,000 users on Flickr taking photos with iPhone 4S and another 4,000 average daily users with iPhone 4. On the overall, Apple has four iPhones in top five most used smartphones with a camera by Flickr users.

According to Barclays, the iPhone’s secret to success and significant popularity with users makes it “the digital camera of choice for consumers in developed markets”. iPhone 5 features an 8MP iSight camera with better HDR capabilities that provide better color and reduced motion blur. Camera delivers a resolution of up to 28 megapixels and helps the user take clear shots without additional photo editiing software/

Being user-friendly, with great camera features and fast access to social networks, the camera on iPhone 5, 4S and 4 “helps warrant a premium” and “creates stickiness”. In other words, the camera on these devices is a perk and more and more users are going to reap the benefits. With iPhone 5’s new camera quality and features, the number of people choosing it instead of a conventional digital camera “should make it rise much faster than any other Apple device in history on Flickr”.

Apple Earnings and iPhone 5 Rumors Have Investors Scared

Apple might be one of the most thrilling financial investments, but the past few months have brought some scrutiny and uncertainty regarding the company’s future success. Recent stock slips, iPhone 5 slow-sale rumors and the upcoming Apple earnings report for last quarter have investors scared of a plunge in revenue.

It’s been a difficult time for Apple, trying to stay at top of a market when innovation in technology is no longer that hard to provide at affordable prices. iPhone 5 should have fixed the slow sale problem that impeded on Apple’s earnings throughout 2012. Recent rumors indicate that Apple is trying to cut losses with iPhone 5 by reducing the orders for parts from suppliers. Meanwhile, Apple is also rumored to be launching two iPhones this summer, one extremely affordable.

“There’s this lingering unease about the stock because Steve is no longer around” said Charles Wolf, Needham & Co analyst. “The problems last quarter have raised the issue in investors’ minds that Apple no longer has a leader of Steve’s stature” he added. Analyst Walter Piexyk with BTIG has a similar take: “If the company gets on the call and provides a positive outlook to sales, then investors will be relieved. But any reduction in earnings guidance could scare people”.

Investors have had a hard time seeing as Apple stock keeps plunging instead of skyrocketing like it once used to. Last September, Apple’s stock was at $702 and in only a few months, it dropped $200 to $500 last week. So, Wednesday’s release of Apple’s earnings for last quarter might only cause more loss if they came under Wall Street’s earnings estimates for $54.69 billion and $13.41 per share.

However, CNN Money writes about a consensus view that Apple’s earnings year-over-year will record a 3 percent decline. But as the website notes, “the so-called consensus is hardly that. It’s merely the average of all the estimates”. So, while everybody is talking about Apple’s earnings taking a plunge, analysts’ predictions aren’t so gloomy. In fact, Apple’s earnings in last quarter are positive, but not impressive.

Thomson Reuters talked with analysts that had estimates ranging from 14 percent decline to a 14 percent increase in Apple earnings. The most accurate seems to be the estimate made by crowdsourcing site Estimize which sees Apple’s earnings rising by about 4 percent.

AT&T Makes FaceTime over Cellular Available for All Data Plans

FaceTime has easily become an appealing feature for iPhone and iPad users, although data plans often made it challenging to use it to the max. A new announcement from AT&T makes FaceTime over Cellular available for all data plans.

FaceTime over Cellular was launched last year in September, when AT&T announced the service will be gradually rolled out to eventually grant access to all users. The service was previously available for customers with a Mobile Share plan or with an LTE device on tiered data plans. The service was now opened to all tiered and shared data plans and FaceTime over Wi-Fi is available for customers with compatible models of iPhone and iPad.

“As a result of ongoing testing, we’re announcing AT&T will enable FaceTime over Cellular at no extra charge for customers with any tiered data plan using a compatible iOS device” reads the company’s announcement. “This means iPhone 4S customers with tiered plans will be able to make FaceTime calls over the AT&T cellular network”.

The actual service update will take place for no extra cost automatically announced Mark Collins, senior vice president of voice and data products. “We have already begun updating our systems and processes and expect to start rolling the update out to customers on an ongoing basis beginning in the next couple of weeks” the SVP wrote on the carrier’s website. “Customers do not need to do anything – the update will be applied automatically over the next few months” he added.

The first rollout of the service brought scrutiny from customers and AT&T was forced to issue a statement claiming the plan abides by FCC’s rules.

FaceTime over Cellular is still not available for older generations of iPhone and iPad. Any devices older than iPhone 4 or second-generation iPad aren’t compatible even if these devices have been updated to iOS 6.

Former Apple CEO Says Cheap iPhone Is Needed

If you ask current Apple management about the release of a cheap iPhone, you will hear explanations that it’s not in the company’s interest to gain market share or to woo buyers on a budget. On the other side, John Sculley, former Apple CEO says the cheap iPhone is definitely needed for the company’s evolution, particularly when developing markets are so interested in popular smartphones for a bargain price.

A few days ago, Apple management exec Phil Schiller was explaining in an interview with a Shanghai news outlet that it’s not in the company’s interest to bet on cheap devices, because that’s not what Apple does. However, Bloomberg talked with former Apple CEO John Sculley about the cheap iPhone release and the answer was a definite “yes” for the company’s evolution in developing regions.

Apple has millions of mignons in the United States, but in emerging economies, oftentimes the price tag is not affordable for a similar number of customers. Just look at the tablet market, where budget products released by Amazon and Google have appealed to buyers a lot more than the expensive iPad, despite the difference in tech specs, display quality and app potential.

“As we go from $500 smartphones to even as low, for some companies, as $100 for a smartphone, you’ve got to dramatically rethink the supply chain and how you can make these products and do it profitably” former Apple CEO John Sculley told Bloomberg Television in an interview in Singapore. "Apple needs to adapt to a very different world" he added.

Over the past few months, Apple has been losing ground in favor of more affordable brands, like Samsung, which has been recording raving sales in the emerging economies the cheap iPhone should target. And while Apple is pricing so high its devices, the technology they feature is getting more and more affordable, that even budget smartphones are closing the gap.

“Samsung is an extraordinarily good competitor. The differentiation between a Samsung Galaxy and an iPhone 5 is not as great as we used to see” Sculley added.

Future Doesn’t Lay In Cheap iPhone Says Apple Exec Phil Schiller

It’s been weeks now since the first rumor came out about Apple preparing to release a cheap iPhone, particularly designed for China, South America and Eastern Europe. It would be so cheap that it would definitely sky-rocket the company’s sales, yet Apple Marketing executive Phil Schiller says the future of the company doesn’t lay in cheap iPhones. In fact, that’s not what Apple does.

For the truly dedicated fan, Apple is a company that delivers only premium products, both in terms of tech specs and price. Even if the price tag isn’t exactly affordable, that still has many people saying Apple shouldn’t start producing low-cost devices. The Apple Marketing SVP recently reacted to the rumors, but he hasn’t exactly denied there is going to be a release of an iPhone that will cost around $150.

In an interview with Shanghai Evening News, Apple Senior Vice President of Marketing Phil Schiller was asked if cheap devices are the company’s future. He denied the report that the company is developing a cheap iPhone just to “grab market share away” seeing as low-cost smartphones have been more and more appealing to buyers today. In fact, he did his job very well, reiterating that iPhone 5 is the best such device for Apple, whereas the company isn’t that interested in gaining more market share.

“We are not like other companies, launched multiple products in one breath, then pinning his hopes on a product to get the favor of consumers” Apple’s marketing SVP told Shanghai Evening News. “Competitors launched many dimensions new products, but after purchase will find no suitable software products and user experience” he added.

Yet, while that was true when Android first came out, for the moment competitors’ products and software potential is growing through the roof. Soon, iPhone’s best selling pitch won’t be the enormous number of apps available. Plus, Apple has been dipping its toe in new markets just to show it can, so it’s very likely people in China, Eastern Europe and South America will get the chance to buy a $150 iPhone.

“So a lot of people in the Chinese market using a functional machine, some manufacturers use cheap smartphones to replace feature phones, but this is not Apple’s product development direction” Apple exec Phil Schiller concluded.

Rumor Has It, iPhone 6 Will Be Released This Summer

A rumor about Apple releasing iPhone 6 this summer has caused a lot of buzz and for good reason. The company is said to release two models of the same iPhone, only that one of them will be cheaper and designer particularly to pertain to buyers in countries such as China, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

iPhone 5 hasn’t been released all that long. In fact, only three months after the release, the market is already flooding with rumors and insiders’ reports that Apple isn’t satisfied with how the buyers are reacting to iPhone 5. The latest news is that Apple is preparing to release iPhone 6 this summer, but with a twist. There’s going to be a cheaper model available, but not for the budget-seeking buyers in America, but for the markets where buyers have a lower level of revenue, like Latin America, China and Eastern Europe.

Most of these market rumors about Apple and its products were confirmed at a later date but the actual release of products such as iPad mini. So, there are actually chances that Apple is going to release two smartphones this year. But from the details offered by the reports so far, iPhone 6 won’t deliver that much innovation after all.

Some media sources are referring to the new iPhone in the report as iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S. It’s a bit confusing, but if Apple is going to release it, it’s likely going to be named iPhone 5S and here’s why. The iPhone that should be released this summer is going to feature a camera and a new display, with Super HD resolution, whereas the cheaper model could feature only 3G, since this is predominant in the targeted countries.

Analysts looked at the possibility that Apple will be releasing iPhone 6/ iPhone 5S this summer. First of all, it would definitely fall in line with Apple’s newest decision to release a new generation of devices every six months. Former Apple CEO John Sculley said that Apple is “going through a very significant change now in terms of product cycles” and “it’s really introducing products twice a year”.

Analyst Peter Misek estimates that iPhone 6 or iPhone 5s is going to feature a “new super HD camera/screen, a better battery, NFC” and possibly an IGZO screen for Retina+, 128 GB storage”.

Apple Cuts iPhone 5 Parts Orders over Poor Demand

Although Apple promoted their iPhone 5 as the best smartphone ever, the price and most likely the unreleased jailbreak software for iOS6 haven’t exactly had buyers rushing to order the new device. As a result of the poor demand, Apple was forced to cut orders for iPhone 5 parts.

iPhone 5 was released last fall and since there was such a high anticipation, buyers rushed to make their pre-orders. The buzz however seems to have taken a plunge over the past few months, particularly after many users started reporting battery life issues and network coverage caveats with their iPhone 5. There have been several reports by now that talked about a poor demand for iPhone 5 that would eventually harm Apple’s revenue. On Monday, Nikkei reported that Apple has slashed its orders for iPhone 5 parts for the quarter.


On Monday, Japanese newspaper Nikkei informed that Apple has decided to reduce its order for iPhone 5 parts, in particular for the liquid-crystal display panels. According to the Japanese newspaper, Apple reduced to half its orders from its three suppliers Japan Display, Sharp and LG Display. The previous order was for 65 million units in the quarter from January to March. The newspaper estimates that Japan Display will cut its LCD display output somewhere from 70% to 80% compared to the last quarter production.

The report from Nikkei hasn’t been confirmed by Apple yet, but that hasn’t stopped the markets from taking a plunge. Before the bell, Apple shares fell more than 4 percent at $498.20, a deep plunge compared to Friday’s closing figures at $520.30 on Nasdaq. The report and plunge in Apple stock also impacted the performance of the company’s suppliers, Cirrus Logic Inc and Qualcomm Inc.

It’s not the first order Apple slashes for iPhone 5 parts. Back in September 2012, Reuters was writing that Apple cut down its orders for memory chips that were supposed to be integrated in iPhone 5. The report wasn’t confirmed by Apple, but the explanation read that the company is only seeking to diversify its supply sources for memory chips.