New mystery and controversy surrounds the iPhone 6

New mystery and controversy surround the iPhone 6

Evidence continues to mount that Apple’s next-generation iPhone 6 will include at least a few big “firsts.” It will supposedly be the first new iPhone to include a larger display that actually benefits users (as we noted when reviewing the iPhone 5, the handset’s taller 4-inch screen didn’t really offer much of an advantage to users over the iPhone 4′s 3.5-inch panel). It will also likely be the first device to feature Apple’s new A8 processor as well as several other new key components. Beyond that, it seems more and more likely that the iPhone 6 will be the first mass-market cell phone to feature a sapphire crystal display cover — but where is all that sapphire going to come from?

Apple’s move to a sapphire front panel isn’t confirmed by any means, but it certainly looks like that will be the case. Beyond Apple’s investment in sapphire maker GT Advanced, an executive from Gorilla Glass maker Corning basically had a fit trying to convince the world that sapphire is a horrible material to cover a smartphone screen. He definitely sounded like an exec who just lost a good amount of business.

We also recently saw a report suggesting that Apple has everything it needs to make more than 100 million sapphire iPhone screen covers. That seems like more than enough to take care of the iPhone 6 during its launch quarter — the company’s current quarterly iPhone sales record sits at 51 million — but a new report suggests Apple’s big GT Advanced bet doesn’t quite have the legs some industry watchers thought it would.

“US-based GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) is setting up a factory in Arizona for exclusive supply of sapphire to Apple, with the factory to be able to meet only 9.0-16.6% of demand for sapphire used in screen covers of a new-generation iPhone in 2014,” Digitimes Research analyst Jessie Lin wrote in a report on Friday. “The estimation is based on GTAT’s forecast sales of US$188-348 million from sapphire material (not including sapphire crystal growing equipment and technology).”

The research notes that average production cost of a 4-inch sapphire wafer is $30, and the group used a 5-inch wafer size when calculating its estimates. The iPhone 6 is rumored to have a 4.7-inch display and will therefore need a sapphire panel larger than 4.7 inches to cover its face.

The group estimates that Apple will ship 70 million next-generation iPhone 6 handsets this year, so it says GT Advanced’s sapphire yield will cover 16.6% of them at most.

Of note, 9to5Mac thinks that Digitimes Research’s estimates are way off, and the cost of producing each sapphire wafer for the iPhone 6 actually sits at about $6.40.

More from BGR: 5 fantastic new iOS 7.1 features you have to try out right now

This article was originally published on BGR.com

iPhone's iOS 7.1 Has a Gesture Control Feature

By Zach Epstein, BGR

Apple released iOS 7.1 to the public on Monday afternoon, and it came right on time, as per BGR’s exclusive report from back in December of last year. The new software update brings with it a wide range of visual changes, bug fixes and feature additions, such as support for Apple’s CarPlay and new Siri capabilities. There is plenty of great new functionality to look through, and we posted a video walk-through that highlights almost all of it. There is one iOS 7.1 feature in particular, though, that isn’t exactly new but you still really have to check out.

As noted by The Loop, iOS now includes a feature that allows you to control the iPhone with head-based motion gestures. In other words, the front-facing camera will monitor your face, and simply shaking your head in a certain direction will trigger an action.

This feature has been present in iOS since the release of iOS 7, but it hasn’t been widely publicized. Like The Loop’s Dave Mark, we weren’t aware of it until now.

Here’s how to enable it:

Open Settings and go to General → Accessibility → Switch Control.

Tap Switches to add a new switch. Use a source of Camera, then Left Head Movement and a System setting of Siri. In other words, you want the camera to watch you, and when you shake your head to the left, you want the system to bring up Siri.

Now tap back and tap Switch Control to On.

You should see some blue rectangles scanning each item on the screen. Shake your head to the left. Siri should come up.

The feature takes a bit of getting used to, but beyond the obvious benefits such a feature provides for people with certain disabilities, head gesture controls can add a range of new possibilities for everyone.

More from BGR: Awesome video walkthrough shows you everything new in iOS 7.1

This article was originally published on BGR.com

‘iPhone Air’ Concept Imagines What Apple’s Next Phone Might Look Like

(Image: YouTube/Sam Beckett)

There is nothing new to report on the much anticipated follow-up to Apple’s iPhone 5s. That doesn’t mean, however, that fans can’t dream of what to expect. And they often do.

The newest imagined design of what Apple may have in store for us, unlike some other concepts, seems fairly smart and grounded. It’s called the iPhone Air, and the mock-up was produced by Sam Beckett.

Beckett’s design is not a huge departure from the iPhone 5 and 5s, with a similar look from the sides, front and back. But, according to the accompanying specs, his iPhone Air concept is both thinner (by 0.6 mm), and sports a larger 4.7-inch screen, while increasing the phone’s overall size by only 8 percent. (The iPhone 5s has a 4.0-inch screen.)

Beckett also conjectures, based on months of rumors, that it’s reasonable to expect a strong sapphire display in lieu of the Gorilla Glass that the company usually builds with. Sapphire is also the material that Apple uses in its Touch ID home buttons for the iPhone 5s.

(Image: YouTube/Sam Beckett)

The iPhone Air name, the designer thinks, could be a way for Apple to further distinguish its rollout of both a premium and economy line of iPhones — with the iPhone Air being the new moniker for the high-end line.

Analysts expect the next iPhone to launch this fall.

Beckett’s video showcasing the iPhone Air design (below) sure makes the whole concept look slick. But, remember, no matter how much we like it, ’tis only but a dream. For now.

iPhone 6 Will Resemble iPod Nano, iTunes Radio Beats Spotify, Secret Loyalty Program Expands

iTunes Radio Has 8% of US Streaming-Music Market, Ahead of Spotify After Only Six Months

According to Edison Research, Pandora (NYSE:P) still leads the streaming-music market with a commanding 31% market share, but Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iTunes Radio has made great gains since its debut last September, taking 8% market share. That is right behind the second-place streaming-music provider iHeart Radio, which holds 9% of the market. This leaves Spotify, with 6%, in fourth place, and rounding out the top-five is Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play All Access, with 3%.

Analyst Upgrades Apple, Claiming iPhone 6 Will Be a Huge Boon to the Company

This morning, Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest, upgraded Apple from "outperform" to "sector perform," giving the stock a $635 price target (as of this writing, the stock traded at $537.50 per share). Why did he upgrade Apple, when so few analysts are doing the same? Hargreaves believes that the company is going to release a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in the fall, and that it's going to be a big hit for the company.

Hargreaves says that Apple will charge $299 for the phone (with a contract), which is $100 above the price of the current flagship iPhone, the 5S. He thinks the big screen will attract a lot of customers ready to upgrade, and that Apple will see a subsequent boost in both sales and earnings.
Additionally, the Pacific Crest analyst does not think that Apple will introduce two phones again like it did last year. This means that Apple wouldn't debut a bigger, 5.5-inch phablet like some rumors have suggested.

The iPhone 6 May Resemble an iPod Nano Mixed With a 5C

This morning, the Japanese blog Macotakara published a report detailing Apple's plans for the new iPhones to come out later this year. That's right, plural. Unlike Andy Hargreaves, Macotakara writer Danbo predicts that Apple will launch a 4.7-inch iPhone as well as a 5.7-inch model., citing "sources that can be trusted."

Danbo expects these new iPhones to be high-end models of the current 5C, though they will likely be made with anodized aluminum like the iPod Nano, not plastic like the 5C. Sources said that the new models are, at least in design, a cross between the the iPhone 5c and the seventh-generation iPod Nano, which is pictured below.



Sources told Macotakara that the new phones will not be replacements for the 5C, but rather high-end models. So, iPhone 5 is to iPhone 5S as iPhone 5C is to iPhone 6, at least according to "sources that can be trusted."

Apple's Secret Loyalty Program Is Expanding

If you've ever spent over $5,000 on Apple products in one year, you know that the company has a secret loyalty program that gives discounts to big-time Apple buyers. The program works with a tier structure: Red Tier is for customers who spend over $5,000; Green Tier is for those who spend over $35,000; Blue Tier is for those who spend over $200,000. According to TechCrunch, loyal customers in every one of those tiers will now see even greater discounts thanks to an expansion of the program.

For example, on Mac computers, the Red Tier discount has reportedly increased from 5% to 6%, and is now 8% for Blue Tier customers. Additionally, unlocked iPhones and Apple TV have been reportedly added to the list of discounted items.

Consumers are, of course, unlikely to see these discounts: They are mostly targeted at institutional buyers, such as companies and schools.

Read more: http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/technology/articles/iPhone-6-Will-Resemble-iPod-Nano/3/11/2014/id/54117#ixzz2vmczZkkD

Early iOS 8 details emerge – big improvements coming

iOS 7.1 almost fixed one of the most infuriating things about the iPhone

Apple just released iOS 7.1 to the public on Monday but now it’s time to move on. We first saw details surrounding Apple’s upcoming iOS 8 update begin to trickle out last month, including the uncovering of a new Healthbook app that will see Apple’s mobile platform join the recent rush of fitness-related apps and features that are pouring into smartphones. Now, 9to5Mac is back with a report covering more new features set to arrive in Apple’s iOS 8 update later this year.

9to5Mac has a nearly flawless track record when it comes to reporting on Apple’s unannounced plans, and the blog on Tuesday revealed a number of new features and updates set to debut in iOS 8. According to the report, Apple’s new mobile software will focus heavily on improving the iOS Maps experience.

While Apple’s Maps app hasn’t been covered as widely recently, it still lags Google Maps in terms of accuracy and reliability. Readers might recall that Apple was widely criticized following the release of its mapping solution, which was riddled with bugs and nearly killed some people at one point.

9to5Mac reports that Apple’s updated mapping app in iOS 8 will feature better data and enhanced transit guidance courtesy of recent Apple acquisitions such as BroadMap, Embark and HopStop. Then, moving forward to iOS 9 and beyond, the report claims Apple is also working on adding some augmented reality features and indoor mapping.

Unless Apple decides to really change things up this year, we can expect the company to debut iOS 8 during its annual WWDC conference this summer. The first iOS 8 beta will likely be released to developers at that time, and then iOS 8 will probably be released to the public sometime in the fall alongside the launch of the new iPhone 6 and its iPhone phablet counterpart.

More from BGR: Awesome video walkthrough shows you everything new in iOS 7.1

This article was originally published on BGR.com

iOS 7.1: What's new in the latest iPhone, iPad software?

• 

Screenshots from iOS 7.1, the new Apple mobile operating system released today.

Apple

Apple has rolled out the first major update to its iOS 7 mobile operating system.

iOS 7.1, which is live as of this morning, includes a handful of minor tweaks: upgraded fingerprint recognition for the iPhone 5S, a fix for a persistent home-screen bug, improvements to iTunes Radio, and a new look for the Calendar app. The platform also gets at least one major upgrade, in the form of CarPlay, which helps integrate messaging, maps, and music with your vehicle's touch screen.

RECOMMENDED: 40 iPhone tips and tricks everyone should know

For now, CarPlay works with specific car models built by five companies: Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Honda, and Volvo. But Apple says a range of manufacturers will be added in the future.
If you've got an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, or iPhone 5S, you'll receive a push notification for the download. (Ditto for iPad 2 or later iPad models; iPad mini or later iPad mini models; and the fifth generation iPod Touch.) You can also download the software via iTunes.
But make sure you've got enough space cleared on your device: As Eric Zeman of Information Week notes, iOS 7 requires between "250 MB and 325 MB [of free space], depending on what device you have." In other words, get ready to part with some of those big video files.
iOS 7, which was released last fall in conjunction with the iPhone 5S, represented a major overhaul from iOS 6. Gone were the cartoonish, skeuomorphic icons; ushered in was a "flat" interface with sharp lines and plenty of color.
Late last month, after security experts disclosed the existence of an iOS 7 bug that was described as "bad as you could imagine," Apple was forced to release a security fix, but that update did not add any meaningful features.

Why Apple’s CarPlay could be the best smartcar choice

 

One of the more entertaining trends at CES 2014 involved automakers and in-car apps. The auto companies appeared somewhat desperate in their attempts to make new mobile tech features seem relevant and necessary, as essential as the functions we’ve come to expect from our smartphones.

Ford F -0.26%  , for example, unveiled a pizza-delivery app, while Mercedes-Benz talked about taking Facebook FB +0.03%   mobile. GM GM -0.91%   announced that future cars would come LTE-equipped, and Audi demoed its very own tablet-based entertainment system. Each manufacturer wanted to show off its app store, even if apps themselves were in short supply.

To call most of this redundant would be to state the obvious: 150 million Americans now own smartphones, which they generally carry with them into the car. More importantly, embedding mobile technology into the car is a recipe for obsolescence. The average automobile on the road is 11 years old; the average smartphone was bought in the last 12 months. So while your next car might seem pretty clever as you’re driving it off the lot, rest assured that for the majority of its existence, it will be about as “smart” as that tattoo you got in college.

The dearth of apps points to yet another problem. Car manufacturers have been reluctant to commit to a software platform — much less a standard — and developers appear to have returned the favor by not bothering to port their apps. For example, GM is pushing its own software platform called Connected by OnStar but has hedged its bets by signing onto both Google’s GOOG +0.61%   Open Automotive Alliance and the Linux-based GENIVI Alliance.

Nobody knows what platform next year’s models will be running, and that makes software development a risky investment. Perhaps this explains why, a year after releasing its software development kit, GM has only 10 apps to show for it.

The whole idea of smartcars needs rethinking, and that’s what makes Apple’s AAPL -.00%   CarPlay so interesting. Known during development as “iOS in the Car,” Apple did well to rename the product, since CarPlay pulls its functionality from the phone itself rather than loading the iPhone’s operating system onto the dashboard. At the moment, this requires a wired connection, but Volvo VOLVY -0.43%   has said that a Wi-Fi option is in the works.

There are some caveats. CarPlay will enter life as an app in your vehicle’s existing operating system. How well it is incorporated — and the extent to which you can avoid your car manufacturer’s default interface — will vary. AnandTech and SlashGear see this as a trade-off, but it also constitutes an advantage. Automakers are more likely to adopt an app than they are a prepackaged operating system, and it’s no coincidence that, at launch, Apple can already brag of an exhaustive list of CarPlay partners, including Ford, GM, Toyota TM -0.04%  , BMW, Nissan JP:7201 -2.02% , and Honda HMC -0.90% .

 

Apple iOS 7 update: what you need to know

Are you not sure if you want to update your iOS 7 yet? WSJ’s Daisuke Wakabayashi joins digits with details to look for.

Mercedes has raised the possibility of adding this service to preexisting models as an aftermarket solution. If so, that’s good news for software developers, who will need to do some work to make their iOS software CarPlay-compatible. In this case, they’re immediately guaranteed a large and committed market, and it wouldn’t be surprising (or difficult) to see Apple develop a quick lead in apps.

From Cupertino’s perspective, the best part about CarPlay may be that no one else is in a position to copy it. Google will have a hard time convincing carmakers to adopt Android wholesale. Too many of them see the dashboard as a piece of branding and a potential revenue stream. On the other hand, Google’s operating system is so fragmented that it will take years to get something like CarPlay adopted (although this is probably Google’s best option, given the limitations of cars and the car market).

This is a situation where integration pays off. Being both a hardware and software company has hurt Apple in some ways — closed products tend to guarantee you a minority market share — but it also allows the company to offer tightly integrated solutions where no one else can. CarPlay is one such opportunity. Mobile payments may be another. Consumers give up variety when they buy into the iPhone’s 4-inch, three-model universe, but Apple can reward that sacrifice by giving them more varied ways in which to use that iPhone.

The difficulty for competitors is that, as pointless as it is to reinvent the smartphone, it would be even more futile to try and reinvent Apple. I suspect that CarPlay will be a big deal. In any event, it’s nothing to laugh at.

Got a Sprint iPhone 5? You can now activate it on Ting and save money

Until now, the only iPhones you could bring to Ting and save money on service were the 4 and 4s. Now you can activate a Sprint-compatible iPhone 5 on Ting, which has unique plans and flexibility.
Ting, a reseller of mobile voice and data services, added Apple’s iPhone 5 to its list of supported devices on Tuesday. The company uses Sprint’s airwaves to provide service so it can only activate Sprint-compatible phones. Until now, the company supported dozens of Android phones and the iPhone 4 and 4s.

While there are plenty of MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, that buy voice and data at wholesale pricing and then resell them to the public, Ting is relatively unique. Ting customers who use fewer voice minutes or data than their allowance are charged for a lower service tier, which can save money. It also allows for overage flexibility without exorbitant costs, as customers who use more service than their plan allows are simply bumped up to the next plan as needed.
Last month, Ting celebrated its two-year anniversary by lowering prices even further while adding more minutes, messages and data for some plans. You’re still limited to Sprint’s network with your iPhone 5 or other Ting-compatible device, but the plans could save money based on your usage and the new prices.

So now that the iPhone 5 is on-board with Ting, when will the newer iPhones follow? Probably not before September, as the Ting blog notes Sprint likes to keep flagship phones to itself for about a year. For now, then, your Sprint iPhone 5c or 5s is staying directly on Sprint.

Encrypted Chat App 'Cryptocat' Launches on iOS

Open source web and Mac application Cryptocat is now available on iOS. Designed to allow secure online chatting, the app encrypts chat messages to allow users to have single and group conversations that are secure and unable to be intercepted or monitored.

Everyone's favourite privacy-loving cat is now on iPhone! Get an encrypted cat in your pocket, have private chats with friends any time.

Easily have group conversations with your friends without fearing monitoring or interception. Cryptocat is free, open chat that aims to provide an open, accessible Instant Messaging environment with a transparent layer of encryption that's easy to use.

Unlike other secure chat apps, including Confide, Cryptocat does not require usernames, email addresses, or accounts to use, with users entering a one-time nickname to chat. There are also no buddy lists or account history, making conversations ephemeral.

According to the developers, Cryptocat is a native iPhone application that uses iOS APIs rather than web cryptography, but it is designed to work seamlessly with other Cryptocat clients. Along with an iOS app, Cryptocat is also available for the Mac and as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Cryptocat was originally announced for iOS in December, but the app was initially rejected by Apple, a decision that has since been reversed. According to the app's developer, who spoke to The Verge, the issues with Apple have been resolved.

"There was some very important help given by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and we ended up scheduling a conversation with Apple, and after a while Apple was very gracious and understanding,” he said. "I couldn't be happier with Apple right now."

Cryptocat can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

New Android "RAT" infects Google Play apps, turning phones into spyware zombies

An easy to use new "Remote Administration Tool" malware package for Android offers to infect users, steal their photos and text messages, secretly capture audio or video, record their calls, download their web browser history and steal their email, Facebook and VPN account information.

The practice of selling such a malware package targeting Android is so common it has a pet name among security researchers: an "Android RAT," for Remote Administration Tool.

However, the latest RAT is raising eyebrows in the security community because of its low cost (just $300 for unlimited use, paid for via untraceable currencies such as Bitcoin) and its ability to sneak past Google's automated malware scanner in the Google Play app market, where legitimate appearing, RAT-infected apps can hide out undetected.

Dendroid infects Google Play, gnaws at user data

Known as Dendroid, the new Android RAT package is being sold as an "APK Binder," which can take any original or stolen Android app and incorporate its own malware as a Trojan payload. After distributing the infected app, Dendroid's RAT customers can monitor the spread of their infection via web based tools.

RAT infected Android devices can be remotely zombified by the perpetrator, allowing virtually unlimited access to photos, data and messages on the device. The Dendroid RAT provides full access to infected devices' camera and microphone, and can place calls or listen in on a user's phone conversations or text messages.

Distributing Dendroid is easy because, as a report by security firm Lookout stated, "it looks as if Dendroid was designed with evading Play Store security in mind."

The firm noted that, "Amongst its numerous features, Dendroid features some relatively simple — yet unusual — anti-emulation detection code that helps it evade detection by Bouncer, Google's anti-malware screening system for the play store."

Google's Bouncer scans for malware by emulating submitted apps to review their functionality for telltale, illegal behaviors. Dendroid-infected Android apps are designed to be smart enough to avoid executing their malware code while being run in emulation by Google's Bouncer scanning process.

Malware is Android's primary exclusive app

Most malware is incentivized by commercial activity, often by presenting ads or spreading spyware that can harvest valuable marketing data. In addition to these, Dendroid also offers to earn its keep as a tool for generating massive Denial of Service attacks across the population of its infected devices.

A report by Lucian Constantin for IT World cited Bogdan Botezatu, a senior e-threat analyst at Bitdefender as saying that "Dendroid is a much improved remote access tool that is definitely aimed for commercial purposes," adding that "Although it roughly does the same as Androrat [an older Android RAT], it appears to be much more stable and allows cybercriminal groups to better manage the pool of mobile bots." Android malware has pretty much followed in the footsteps of Windows malware

Constantin noted that "Android malware has pretty much followed in the footsteps of Windows malware," again citing Botezatu as stating that "Cybercrime is all about making easy money with minimum of effort. Creating a piece of malware that is stable, tested and does not crash the host device requires a lot of work and skill."

How to avoid Dendroid

Android users can adopt the same protections that Windows PC users did during the malware crisis that plagued Microsoft's platform ten years ago. That includes not installing apps from untrusted sources and installing third party malware scanner tools.

Over the past ten years however, a significant portion of Windows users have simply switched from the wide open, malware saturated Windows platform to Apple's Macs and iOS devices. Macs never became a significant malware target, an advantage Apple advertised and worked to preserve.

When it introduced iOS in 2007, Apple incorporated a new security model that attempted to destroy the low hanging fruit supporting the malware market on previous mobile devices.

Apple stated that it "designed the iOS platform with security at its core," detailing that, "when we set out to create the best possible mobile OS, we drew from decades of experience to build an entirely new architecture. We thought about the security hazards of the desktop environment, and established a new approach to security in the design of iOS. We developed and incorporated innovative features that tighten mobile security and protect the entire system by default. As a result, iOS is a major leap forward in OS security."

Apple has since brought many of these protections to its desktop Mac platform, from signed apps to a secure app market and regular free software updates that target and solve vulnerabilities faster than malware authors can build a business around them.

In stark contrast, Google simply recreated Microsoft's malware-harboring platform among mobile devices via Android, allowing third party developers to release "open" apps that can obtain inappropriate access to user content and data.

Google maintains no accountability for the devices that ship with Android, and most devices ship with outdated versions with known security vulnerabilities. Most of these will never receive security updates.

Originally posted on appleinsider.com

New Concepts Imagine the iWatch as a Lifestyle Device, Traditional Timepiece

While earlier iWatch concepts were inspired by the wearable's health-tracking features, a new set of renderings from Argentine design student Tomas Moyano imagines the iWatch as a device that'll produce "a further and deeper interaction between human beings and technology."


Moyano pictures a perfectly round device, with grooves in the side that'll allow for multiple looks with different bands. Similar to the Shine from Misfit Wearables, the concept design features no buttons to catch on your sleeve and no holes to allow in water or dust. Submersible and resistant to dust, the watch lacks speakers and will rely on vibration notifications to alert you to an incoming message.

Wait a moment, no speakers? Think about it. A watch is almost always on your hand, pretty far from your ears. Imagine yourself walking on a noisy city: If you want to hear a notification sound from your smartwatch, it should be a loud sound, and to produce it, it would need a lot of energy and big components. Both things not easy to include on a such small device.

Besides that the iWatch will be constantly in contact with your skin and body, an important fact to consider. That's why I decided you shouldn't hear, but feel the notifications. That is right: Vibration notifications. Perfectly submersible and dust resistant vibration notifications.

Battery life will be a challenge in such a small device, so Moyano visualizes the iWatch with micro-solar panels and wireless recharging. To conserve this precious power, the concept iWatch will sacrifice the cellular connection and associated services that require an internet connection. Moyano's concept envisions Maps working on the iWatch, but it is not clear how the maps would be usable on such a small-screened device.


Another circulating iWatch concept created by Hungarian freelance designer Gábor Balogh and published by The Verge is inspired by traditional wristwatch design. The concept uses an actual product image of the Havana timepiece from Swedish watchmaker Triwa. Balogh replaces the face of the watch with rumored iWatch features such as messages and heart rate tracking.


Though the iWatch may not have many of the features mentioned above, it is rumored to include biometric functions like a heart rate monitor that'll tie into Apple's iOS 8 ecosystem via a new Healthbook app. It may also ship with a version of Siri tailored for the wrist-worn device.

Originally posted on: http://www.macrumors.com/2014/03/07/apple-iwatch-concept/

Joys of selling on Ebay thanks ebay member "mycellrepairpet"

 

My ebay nightmare with seller mycellrepairpet. Buyer is claiming all lcd screens are the same and that I need to bundle all of them and give a refund for extra screens I gifted the guy. Beware do not work with this guy.

Short link to this blog http://bit.ly/1fGFVCU

Ebay Auction;
This item is being SOLD AS IS where is how is with NO RETURNS, REFUNDS OR WARRANTY.Lot of 40 working iPhone 4,4S broken LCD screens.
4 working iPhone 5 broken LCD screens
1 working iPhone 5S broken LCD screen
NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.............

Payment by Paypal only, Payment must be paid in full within 24hours of auction end.

Shipping by Priority mail, signature confirmation

-end of Ebay Auction- 

The buyer opened a case: Item doesn't match the description

Mar 04, 2014 at 5:13 PM

The case details: The buyer says the item doesn't match the description. The buyer paid on Feb 26, 2014. The item is defective or broken

Additional information: "13 of the 40 iPhone 4 screens that you shipped are non functional - the lcds are badly damaged and non repairable . the iPhone 5 screens are just fine. "

The buyer requested: A refund. The refund amount includes the purchase price plus original shipping.

Transaction information: While the buyer's case is open, the funds from this transaction, including the purchase price and shipping, are not available for withdrawal. View PayPal transaction  You have responded to the buyer. Mar 04, 2014 at 5:26 PM Your message to the buyer: "So im confused at what your wanting me to do? 13 screens are not working. Im not sure I sent you a few extra screens also with the order also that I didnt say was in there. Im confused why you opened a case about it instead of just sending me a message." The buyer has responded to you. Mar 04, 2014 at 5:44 PM Buyer's message: "I was actually sending a message and the case was opened unintentionally. part of bays new messaging system.. I can ship these back iff you want.. but I want a partial refund for the defective screens. The extra parts you sent are 3gs motherboard and lcd which are of no use for me" We have notified the buyer of your intent to issue a partial refund of $40.00 through PayPal. Mar 04, 2014 at 6:38 PM Refund information: A partial refund of $40.00 through PayPal. If the buyer accepts your offer, issue a refund by Mar 07, 2014. Your note: "Sounds fair to me I dont want them back you can keep them. " The buyer has responded to you. Mar 04, 2014 at 8:50 PM Buyer's message: "45 screens at $320 = $7.11 per 13 bad screens x $7.11 = $92.44 refund " We have notified the buyer of your intent to issue a partial refund of $40.00 through PayPal. Mar 04, 2014 at 9:30 PM Refund information: A partial refund of $40.00 through PayPal. If the buyer accepts your offer, issue a refund by Mar 07, 2014. Your note: "Well that would be true I guess but 4 of those screens are 25.00 each and the other one was 55.00 the 40 iPhone 4/4S ones were 4.12 each. So your saying that its 13 that were not working and by your math its 53.56. Well I pull them myself and they were working there was 2 extra iPhone 4/4s screens that I threw in the box also making it 42 screens that I knew were broken There was also 2 extra iPhone 5 broken LCD screens. So that would make your box hold 49 screens in total along with a iPhone 3gs screen and logic board. I put the extra items in because I figure you can do something with it. So with redoing math. 13 screens with a box that had 4 extra iPhone 5 and 4 broken screens in it makes the 13 now 9 broken X 4.12= 37.08 refund. Now that is your word against mine I know there was only 4 broken ones and I have it listed as sold as is no refunds. Take the 40.00 or don't. I shipped it to your confirmed address by USPS tracking number 9410809699939696973783" The buyer has responded to you. Mar 04, 2014 at 10:05 PM Buyer's message: "This isn't about anyones word. This is about fact. theres 13 non functional lcds. Your listing states the lcds are good and functional and you will lose a case if I escalate it to ebay. I purchase hundreds of screens per month and your listing is not as described. I expected every single screen to be tested and functional as you had stated. There is not a single extra iPhone 5 screen in the package, maybe one extra iPhone 4 screen but defective anyhow. And the 3gs board you threw in - who buys 3gs phones anymore? Doesn't help me. I can ship it back. When I purchase in bulk I calculate the total quantity and divide the total price by that quantity. Not the breakdown you decided to come up with. So I can ship these damaged screens back to you and you can see for yourself they are the same ones you shipped in the package and are not as described. total refund I am asking stands or I am taking this up the chain of command for ebay to decide." You have responded to the buyer. Mar 04, 2014 at 11:07 PM Your message to the buyer: "FACT IS I SENT 4 EXTRA LCD SCREENS TO MAKE 49. This is fact and you can say that yeah you buy in bulk but you know as well as I do that a iPhone 5 and a iPhone 5S LCD screen is worth WAY WAY WAY more then a iPhone 4/4s screen THIS MY FRIEND IS A FACT. THERE WAS 2 BROKEN IPHONE 5 SCREENS ADDED TO THE BOX. To make a grand total of 4 good and 2 bad iPhone 5. 1 good iPhone 5s, and 40 good iPhone 4/4s, 2 bad iPhone 4/4s. You can send them back but if any of the 1 iPhone 5s, 4 iPhone 5, 40 iPhone 4/4s screens do not work I will not agree to the refund either. Since you buy in bulk you have access to all sorts of crap. You sound like a used car sales man with all the screens are a single price, get out of here who are you kidding? Any one with any knowledge oh how to use eBay can see the prices of the broken screens. I will NOT be bullied by you and will fight it to the end. I will video each and every screen that comes back and will not accept the return if its not what I sent you exactly." You have responded to the buyer. Mar 04, 2014 at 11:09 PM Your message to the buyer: "I tried to do a nice gesture by sending you a few extra parts and you pull some crap like this. Unbelievable how you think you can do something like this and get away with it. Do you work for the united states government thinking you can just dictate what you want?" You have responded to the buyer. Mar 04, 2014 at 11:28 PM Your message to the buyer: "So searching on eBay and looking back at sold completed auctions here we have item 181303334530 lot of 10 iPhone 4/4s screens sold for 21.63. Next item 291057915094 lot of 10 cracked iPhone 4/4s screens sold for 15.50. item 171244323508 is a lot of 4 iPhone 5 screens sold for over 80.00. So your theory is flawed that all screens are the same. Im sure any eBay team member knows that, that's common knowledge and easily searchable on eBay. Now I personally take each and every screen off and I know they all worked before I shipped them. All worked except the 2 iPhone 5, 2 iPhone 4/4s screens, 3gs screen and the 3gs board that I tossed in. The last 6 items in the previous sentence I sent you, you did not pay a dime for I gave them to you for free. " You have responded to the buyer. Mar 04, 2014 at 11:36 PM Your message to the buyer: "Here is a item you recently purchased 251450394775 11 iPhone 4/4s screens 39.99. Lot of 4 iPhone 5 screens item 291088446766 99.99 lot of 4 iPhone 5 screens item 171248180674 99.99 These are items you purchased so please dont try and tell me they are all the same." We have notified the buyer of your intent to issue a partial refund of $45.00 through PayPal. Mar 05, 2014 at 12:59 AM Refund information: A partial refund of $45.00 through PayPal. If the buyer accepts your offer, issue a refund by Mar 08, 2014. Your note: "Here is the difference of what you claim isnt working. Never again will I try to help a ebay member by giving them free stuff. Ill even give you 45.00 no more then that sorry." The buyer has responded to you. Mar 05, 2014 at 8:59 AM Buyer's message: "I really don't understand what your point is in researching my previous purchases when in fact they show that I am a regular purchaser broken screens Furthermore I don't understand your logic in sending me defecting "FREE" parts that have absolutely no value - and attempting some kind of guilt trip over sending them. Lastly I understand that the screens you sent out were working and tested. Perhaps you didn't test them after you removed them off the phones that you repaired ? often times lcds break when the phone is taken apart... and if that is not the case then the screens were damaged during shipping. These lcds are extremely fragile and we all know that packages get knocked and thrown around during shipping. So again and I can send you video or pictures as proof - but 13 of the screens you sent are damaged. a $45 refund is not sufficient or even close to the value that I paid per screen." You have responded to the buyer. Mar 05, 2014 at 10:37 AM Your message to the buyer: "The reason I did research is to prove a simple fact. All the screens are not created equal and don't all cost the same. Some are worth more then others this is a fact. Yes Free broken parts we did add to the box. Why because I figured you knew or had some knowledge of people that could use them. I will not refund you based off all 49 screens sent costing the same price. the screens added then equally divided up. That doesn't work for me. I will offer you the 45.00 or just let eBay decide what we need to do because Ive listed my auction according to eBay rules, Ive shipped the items rite away and have been more then willing to work with you. I will not be extorted and I know the difference between rite and wrong, and what you are pulling is wrong on so many levels. I wouldn't be surprised if you did stuff like this on a regular basis. " You send a $45.00 refund to your buyer . Mar 05, 2014 at 12:09 PM Refund information: The refund was issued through PayPal as an eCheck and should be processed by Mar 09, 2014. It was sent as an eCheck because you didn't have enough funds in your PayPal balance.  Screen Shots of the convo

Apple wins patent for wildest iPhone design you’ll ever see

Meet the iPhone of the (possible) future. Patently Apple notices that Apple has won a patent for a radical new iPhone design that imagines a wraparound bezel-free display that also eliminates the traditional physical home button that has been a staple of the iPhone ever since its launch in 2007. The casing for the new iPhone design is also a major departure from the traditional iPhone as it looks much more like a fourth-generation iPod nano than any other smartphone Apple has ever released.

In its patent filing, Apple envisions that the new iPhone’s curved display will be made from flexible material that can present “an illusion of depth perception” capable of “mimicking a 3D experience.” Apple also says that users would be able to control the volume on the phone “by holding a finger over the volume indicator” and “expanding the volume control over the entire left side of the device,” thus eliminating any need for a volume button. Patently Apple adds that “Apple’s patent also notes that the advanced iPhone design may contain several cameras and use facial recognition.”

While we’re unlikely to see this iPhone design used in the iPhone 6 or really any other iPhone over the next couple years, it does seem like something Apple might release in the future once flexible display technology matures. This patent filing first cropped up a year ago so it’s definitely something that Apple has had on its mind for a long time now.

More from BGR: Al Franken warns against Com-Warner Cable merger, citing history of broken promises

This article was originally published on BGR.com