The iPhone 5C and 5S Revealed: Apple Announcement Rundown

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The iPhone 5C

The iPhone 5C

Did any huge, blockbuster surprises come out of Apple’s new iPhone presentation today? Not really. Still, we now have a clearer picture of the features, pricing, and availability of the new iPhone 5C and 5S models, and we learned a few other tidbits as well.

Here’s a quick summary of some of the larger items Apple announced today:

  • The iPhone 5C: As expected, Apple has come out with a more modestly priced iPhone designed to gain them more market share. On the inside, the iPhone 5C (pictured above) has comparable specs to the iPhone 5. The exterior is what distinguishes it, with its multiple color options and single-piece plastic construction. Well, that and the price: with a 2-year contract, the 5C will run you $99 for 16 GB and $199 for 32 GB.

  • The iPhone 5S: Apple didn't leave smartphone power users out either. The iPhone 5S--available in black, silver, or gold--does bost some major improvements. The new 64-bit A7 chip, which Apple promises is up to twice as fast as the previous model--will allow the phone to support a 64-bit version of iOS while supporting both 64- and 32-bit apps. A new motion processor (the M7) supports more robust health and fitness apps. A new 5-element camera lens and upgraded flash allow for more natural looking photos, as well as better action shots with "Burst Mode" (takes bursts of 10 frames per second) and slo-mo HD video with 120 frames-per-second capability. Plus, there's the highly anticipated fingerprint scanner, which allows the user's fingerprint to replace a password for both access to the phone and authentication for actions like iTunes purchases. There are 16, 32, and 64 GB models available, priced $199, $299, and $399 respectively. The iPhone 5S will be available in stores on 9/20.

  • iOS 7 Release: Apple previewed the newest version of iOS--which is a pretty significant overhaul of the software--earlier this summer. Today, they announced that iOS 7 will be available for download on supported devices on 9/18. Said supported devices include iPad models as far back as the iPad 2 (including the iPad Mini), iPhones as far back as the iPhone 4, and the 5th-generation iPod Touch.

  • Free iWork: Apple threw in an announcement that the iWork productivity suite--which includes Keynote, Pages, Numbers, iPhoto, and iMovie--will now be free on new iOS devices.

A quick reminder: 3n1media does provide support for mobile devices of all makes, models, shapes, and sizes. So reach out if you'd like help designing a strategy to incorporate these new devices into your company's environment, or if you get your hands on one and just want help using it!