iPhone 5S Release Date: Don’t Count on September 20

The iPhone 5S release date could take place on September 20th according to the latest Apple reasoning and reports.

While an iPhone 5S launch in September is almost certain based on multiple reports, the iPhone 5S release is not nearly as certain and the logic behind picking September 20th as the iPhone 5S release date conveniently dismisses other data about Apple’s beta program.

Apple announced the iOS 7 beta on June 10th, which started a countdown not only to the iOS 7 release date, but also to the iPhone 5S release date which will almost certainly come two days after the official iOS 7 release. The big variable here is how long Apple will keep iOS 7 in beta.

The iPhone 5S release date is tied to the iOS 7 release, but neither is set in stone.

Dave Smith of the International Business Times claims to have unlocked the secret behind the iPhone 5S release date, pointing to the 100 day iOS 6 beta period. Dave Smith writes,

We don’t think Tim Cook wants to mess with the successful Apple formula left behind by Steve Jobs, so we believe Apple will again follow this iOS release timetable by launching iOS 7 exactly 100 days after its introduction, on Sept. 18.

An iPhone 5S release date on September 20 based on this reasoning completely ignores the rest of the “successful Apple formula left behind by Steve Jobs,” which is more about shipping products when they are ready for the public rather than on an arbitrary timeline of software testing. This also overlooks the fact that Steve Jobs was not a part of the iOS 6 release timing.

Users need only look at iOS version release date history chart from Will Hains below to see that Apple does not always release a major iOS release after 100 days.

The length of iOS betas varies greatly, making it a very rough indicator of iPhone releases.

The longest iOS beta is iOS 5, which is arguable the largest change to the iPhone software in recent years, which came with the iPhone 4S. The average length of major iOS beta releases is 97.8 days, which is close to 100, but that means there are shorter and longer releases, detailed below.

• iOS 2 – 94 days in beta
• iOS 3 – 92 days in beta
• iOS 4 – 74 days in beta
• iOS 5 – 128 days in beta
• iOS 6 – 100 days in beta

With variances in the length of the iOS beta periods, it’s possible to use them as a marker of a possible iPhone 5S release date, but not as the final word on an iPhone 5S release.

The International Business Time’s reasoning also skips over the lack of an iPad iOS 7 beta for the first 14 days of the beta period, which could impact the time needed to finish testing the iPad version of the software. While Apple is not expected to announce the iPad 5 and the iPhone 5S at the same event, Apple’s last two major iOS releases arrived for the iPad and iPhone on the same day.

iPhone 5S Release Date

The iPhone 5S release date is still unknown but many sources are pointing to an iPhone 5S launchin September which means Apple would offer the iPhone 5S release roughly two weeks later, based on past activity.

If the iPhone 5S special event takes place by September 10th, it is likely that we could see an iPhone 5S release date in September, but if Apple holds an event any later, it could push the release to early October.

Apple used October as the launch date for the iPhone 4S, and moved the iPhone 5 launch up to September. Previously the iPhone launched earlier in the year, so outside of general timing there is not enough data to point to a specific iPhone 5S release date yet.

If the iPhone 5S release date is on September 20th, it will be because the iOS 7 release is ready, not because the last iOS beta lasted 100 days.

Apple may also launch a cheaper iPhone aimed at emerging and global markets later this year, but it is unlikely that the company will use the iPhone 6 name for a non-flagship iPhone.

Highest paid Tech CEO's

Research conducted by Equilar Inc. on behalf of The New York Times has revealed several interesting figures in terms of CEO compensation. The spectrum of the study covers publicly-traded companies only, with an annual revenue of at least $1 billion, resulting in a list of the top 200 highest paid CEOs.

First things first, the study found that year on year, remuneration packages for 2012 have increased an impressive 16% compared to data from 2011. Own some stock in one of the listed companies and feel like ambushing its CEO at a Starbucks in order to give him an earful about his ridiculous pay? Relax! The study also found that the leap in compensation packages was eclipsed, albeit slightly, by a 19% raise on average return.

With no further ado, We give you the winner: a techie – Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle. He topped the list with a whopping $96.2 million package. Those include the CEO's salaries, bonuses, perks and stocks. Unsurprisingly, stocks make up the lion's cut of their respective total earnings.

Gamers, alert! For number two on the list is Activision Blizzard's CEO, Robert Kotick. With a 'frugal' pay package of about $8.3 million in 2011, Kotick has much to celebrate, as he's the winner in the on year increase ranking with a mouth-watering raise of 680% pegging his pay at $64.9 million for 2012.

Spicing things up is newcomer Marissa Mayer, Yahoo's very own new CEO. With a salary just north of $450,000, Mayer's $36.6 million package comes mainly in the shape of stock. As good a motivation as any to try and turn the company around. A few spots below is John Donahoe, CEO of eBay with his respectable $29.7 million package, a 81% increase on his fortunes from last year.

Upon a closer look, we estimate about 30 techie CEO's on the list with packages ranging anywhere from $11 million all the way up to Ellison's $96 million. Other notable faces include AT&T's Randall Stephenson at $21 million, as well as Corning's (Gorilla Glass) CEO, Wendell Weeks, who took $11.5 million home. Meg Whitman's new job at HP is paying her $15.4 million, exactly as much as IBM's Virginia Rometty.

source: NYT

Launched today: Xbox Music web version

About a week ago, a Microsoft rep confirmed for Engadget that Xbox Music will be launching its own web version, in what seems like an effort to have the service available across multiple platforms and devices. As of today, the service is now officially up and running, featuring the minimalistic Windows 8 design language we have come to loveand expect.

Up against competitors such as Spotify, Microsoft may have to play catch-up in terms of functionality, as users are already frustratingly reporting the lack of a preview function. A useful feature is the ability of the client to read music stored on local SD cards, a handy feature if your tablet is running low on memory. The rest of the functionality is mostly what you'd expect to come by default – a search function, organization and playback of playlists, etc. 

Upon your initial sign-in, your entire library should quickly follow through and synchronize, if you're an Xbox Music Pass holder and already sport one. If not, a free 30 day trial is available for you to take a look. There's currently no ad-supported web version of the app, therefore a $9.99 subscription is what you'll need to cough up for the service.

source: Engadget

Launched today: Xbox Music web version

About a week ago, a Microsoft rep confirmed for Engadget that Xbox Music will be launching its own web version, in what seems like an effort to have the service available across multiple platforms and devices. As of today, the service is now officially up and running, featuring the minimalistic Windows 8 design language we have come to loveand expect.

Up against competitors such as Spotify, Microsoft may have to play catch-up in terms of functionality, as users are already frustratingly reporting the lack of a preview function. A useful feature is the ability of the client to read music stored on local SD cards, a handy feature if your tablet is running low on memory. The rest of the functionality is mostly what you'd expect to come by default – a search function, organization and playback of playlists, etc. 

Upon your initial sign-in, your entire library should quickly follow through and synchronize, if you're an Xbox Music Pass holder and already sport one. If not, a free 30 day trial is available for you to take a look. There's currently no ad-supported web version of the app, therefore a $9.99 subscription is what you'll need to cough up for the service.

source: Engadget

Lamassu Bitcoin ATM incoming despite regulatory road bumps

A Bitcoin ATM capable of gobbling up currency from over 200 countries and converting it instantly to the virtual currency is expected to hit the public this quarter, potentially shifting Bitcoins themselves into the mainstream. The machine, made by Lamassu, can switch physical to digital cash in fifteen seconds, the manufacturer claims, simply scanning in a QR code linked to a Bitcoin account and then sucking in a bill to add to it.

An exact indication of how many Bitcoins the cash will get you is flashed up on the display before the transaction is completed. In the case of the video below, showing the Lamassu machine in action at Bitcoin 2013, that’s in US dollars. Lamassu says it will work with the Mt.Gox and Bitstamp exchanges, among others.

As for the physical money – which, despite Bitcoin’s best efforts, still has appeal to some people – that’s stored safely away in a “steel vault” inside, bolted to whatever solid chunk of masonry is nearby. The overall ATM is sized to fit on a table-top, though can also be wall-mounted.

Lamassu says that, since it first unveiled the ATM, its had inquiries about potential deployment from potential customers in China, Canada, Libya, Cyprus, Kenya, Israel, the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, and Switzerland. The machine is expected to go into production this quarter, though it’s unclear how quickly it will actually show up in public.

Bitcoins are gaining notoriety, though mainstream awareness of the virtual currency is still lacking. Machines like the Lamassu ATM could well help raise its profile – and its perceived legitimacy – though regulators are still distrustful.

In fact, as the Bitcoin Foundation noted back in March, the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has cooked up tough regulations around ATM-style machines that convert traditional currency and Bitcoins. As Lamassu founder Zach Harvey told Wired UK at the time, “it’s pretty much impossible to comply with the regulations” pointing out that instead of trying to operate the machine itself, he would sell it to others who might fare better with the rules.

VIA CoinDesk

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Android 4.0: Skype for Android goes mobile first

Skype has launched a new version of Skype for Android today, with Derek Snyder, head of mobile marketing at Skype, telling Pocket-lint that the changes reflect "a new direction and new strategy for Skype".

The broad changes arrive with the new Skype for Android 4.0, which is being called Android 4.0, and recognises the importance of the Skype platform on mobile devices, with Snyder also confirming that Skype for Android has seen 100 million Android installs.

The new Android 4.0 has been completely redesigned from the ground-up, so is an entirely new app, but pulls in elements from Windows Phone 8's modern UI.

Three main areas have been addressed in Android 4.0, aiming to put the mobile user's need first, rather than hanging on to Skype's legacy of desktop video calling.

First, messaging is being brought to the forefront, with Snyder saying messaging would now be "at your fingertips",

Second, Skype is looking to improve the experience across devices. Skype is already on most major platforms, but with a different user experience in each case. Android 4.0 is the first step in bringing a coherent design language across all platforms.

Finally, Skype for Android will be more reliable and less power hungry, so it will be less of a concern for those using on the move.

Cutting out the fluff, Android 4.0 removes the landing screen, so you're straight into the action, able to see your recent conversations and calls. The design, says Skype, makes it faster and easier to get to all the features you want.

The change will be welcomed by Android users, as the current app is known for being a bit of a power hog, and not the most reliable. The most obvious shift in focus for Skype appears to be a move towards messaging, as it looks to claw back ground in the cross-platform IM battle against apps like WhatsApp.

WhatsApp, by comparison, confirmed via Twitter that it had handled 27 billion messages in 24 hours, while a report from research firm Informa recently detailed that mobile IM messaging is now more prolific than SMS messaging.

Snyder declined to comment on when the update would be coming for iPhone users, stating that this was an Android announcement, but did point out that the aim was to have parity across all platforms.

Skype for Android 4.0 will be free to download from Google Play for Android 2.3.3 devices and higher.

Quell Memento Arrives In Google Play After Amazon Appstore Exclusivity

The Quell games are some of the most consistently engaging puzzlers on a mobile device, and the newest installment has finally reached Google Play after being an Amazon Appstore exclusive. Quell Memento has a ton of polish and more zen puzzles than you can shake a Bonsai Tree at.

Quell Memento is a compelling experience that urges the player to help an old man reclaim his lost memories across 140 masterfully designed levels and 20 hidden stages. The game mechanics evolve as the story advances, but the learning curve is just right. It's not too easy, but not frustrating either. The graphics are also beautiful in a minimalist kind of way.

  

 

The game costs $2.99, which is $1 more than on Amazon right now. Although, the Google Play version of a game tends to get faster updates than the Amazon one. Google Play is certainly more convenient, as well. Quell Memento additionally supports Google Play Games for achievements and leaderboards.

RSS App gReader Updated To v3.3.4, Adds Support For The Old Reader

As you're reading this, the world has changed. After years of faithful service, Google Reader has ceased operation. Ever since the announcement was made services like Feedly have been revving up to take its place. The Old Reader is another alternative that doesn't get as much attention, but it's got some admirers. The uber-popular RSS reader app gReader has just been updated with support for The Old Reader to help ease the transition.

  

Getting set up on The Old Reader isn't as simple as Feedly, for example. This product is still in beta, and doesn't have its own mobile app. Third-parties can connect using the API, but importing your feeds through the web requires that you have the .opml file of your subscriptions from Google Takeout.

The gReader update also includes a few minor bug fixes – nothing particularly important. The Old Reader has a clean web UI and provides various social sharing features through Facebook, if you're into that. Take a look if you're a gReader user. Don't be shy – it's a brave new world without Google Reader.

Five DSLR technologies that have made their way into mobile phones

Mobile phone cameras have improved a lot in past couple of years and a lot of features are being equipped in smartphones these days that weren’t even imaginable some years ago. Let us have a look at five such technologies which were available in high end cameras and DSLR cameras but they have made their way into smartphones these days.

Larger Image Sensors

Image credit: SoyaCincau

One of the best things to happen to mobile phone cameras was the use of larger image sensors. Nokia, who is generally known to produce one of the best mobile phone cameras, introduced the larger sensor trend with the release of Nokia N8 and there was a lot of hype about it. Later, this trend continued with the release of high end smartphones such as Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC One which are equipped with a 1/3 inch sensor. But the biggest camera sensor in a mobile phone is used in Nokia 808 PureView which has an amazingly larger 1/1.2 inch CMOS FSI sensor. As we all know, larger sensors mostly result in better image quality and better per pixel quality.

Optical Image Stabilization

Image courtesy of HTC

Optically stabilized lenses were only available in DSLR cameras and later in point & shoot cameras. But starting last year, yet again first from Nokia, the OIS system was used in a mobile phone camera for the first time. Even HTC used the OIS in their latest flagship model, the HTC One. OIS comes very handy in reducing the shaky effects of unstable hands, especially in low-light conditions. During low light conditions, the lens is open for a longer period of time to let in more light but the device needs to be stable.

HDR Images

Image credit: AndroidPIT

Some photographers don’t buy the whole idea of High Dynamic Range photography but they come in very handy, especially in some situations when using a mobile phone. It is very useful in situations where the frame consists of different lighting conditions such as bright sun and shadows. What HDR photography does is, it takes 2 or 3 images with different exposure levels and superimposes them on top of one another to create an end result that comes out with higher dynamic range overall. Devices like HTC One, LG Optimus Pro and Sony Xperia Z have real-time HDR video recording but it is not as effective as expected.

Stereo Audio Recording

Image credit: Phandroid

With more processing power in smartphones, manufacturers are able to employ multiple microphones to record better voice. HTC even has included very high frequency microphones which can record audio with noise cancellation technology. Almost all the smartphones in the medium and high end price range are equipped with stereo noise cancelling microphones.

Faster Shutter Speed, Minimal Lag & Dedicated ISP Chip

Image credit: ePHOTOzine

Like DSLR cameras with faster Image Processing Chips, the newest smartphones have a dedicated image processing chip that makes the camera much faster. This splits the image processing load from CPU and keeps it free for other tasks. This kind of arrangement was first used in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which also introduced the ‘Zero-Shutter Lag’ feature in the camera, which results in almost no lag in between shots. It also allows simultaneous video recording and clicking of images.

Recent flagships such as Samsung Galaxy S4 and LG Optimus G Pro can record from both front and rear camera at the same time which is quite an achievement. Phones like HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Sony Xperia Z use this ability to click a large number of high resolution images to either stitch them into a Panorama image or remove unwanted objects from the frame.

This article was contributed by Asif Iqbal from MySmartPrice.com

New Nexus 7 specifications leaked by Asus employee

The new Nexus 7 tablet - also known as Asus K009 - will be launched in the second quarter of this year (end of July). This is an employee of Asus said in a live chat, which also has a previously unpublished specification list of the 7 inch tablet. The question is to what extent a customer service employee has knowledge of unannounced products, but the list is lying there at least not to.

• 7 inch LED
• 1980 x 1200 pixels (!)
• Snapdragon CPU 600
• 2 GB RAM
• 32 GB internal memory
• 5 megapixel camera
• 1.2 megapixel front camera
• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
• 4000 mAH battery
• NFC chip
• LTE support

MapmyIndia's new Locate app brings GPS tracking

MapmyIndia has introduced new Locate app for keeping family, friends connected with each other with location tracking.

MapmyIndia has launched a tracking service driven app - Locate. With the new Locate app, you can keep track of your friends and family using the maps. Users can add up to three people via email or contacts so that the location of these folks can be tracked on the maps. The location data gets cached locally and is updated as the user goes live over mobile data connection.

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Google offers Latitude service that allows keeping track of friends who are fine with letting you see their whereabouts. Foursquare offers something similar albeit with an objective to check-in or show the last visited location.

In Locate, the movement of the approved user can be tracked in real-time over the web. We believe that this real-time speed will be dependent on your network strength. Apart from that, users also get to see the tracking and location history.

Locate app is available for free for devices running Android 2.2 Froyo or higher and can be downloaded from the Google Play store.

Swingtel launches 4.7 inch quad core phone for Rs 11,900

The phone has a 1.2 GHz quad core processor, 1 GB RAM, Android 4.2 OS, 5 megapixel rear camera, 1.9 megapixel front camera and 2050 mAh battery.

Yet another quad core phone has been launched in India. This time around Swingtel, a Mumbai based mobile and tablet brand, has launched a 4.7 inch display totting Tigertab for Rs 11,900.

The phone is powered by 1.2 GHz Mediatek quad core processor (CPU) which is the most common platform being used by most Indian and Chinese brands including Micromax on their Canvas HD A116. TigerTab has 1 GB RAM and 4 GB Internal memory.

The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean based dual SIM phone has a 4.7-inch display with modest 800x480p screen resolution. It has a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 1.9 megapixel front camera and a 2,050 mAh battery. For connectivity it has 3G WiFi, Bluetooth, A-GPS and USB.

Swingtel Tigertab comes in a red metallic finish and comes with two extra covers in grey and white. The phone is already available across several online retail sites.

However the pricing of the phone is on the higher side, given that it gets slightly small display, lower resolution display and camera compared to most phones in this price range. You can even buy Micromax Canvas HD A116 for about Rs 700 extra.

Precursor Games Co-Founder Arrested for Child Pornography

Think Dennis Dyack being a part of Shadow of the Eternals developer Precursor Games was the worst thing? Not by a long shot.

Canadian police have arrested co-founder Ken McCulloch on charges relating to child pornography. A press release by the Niagra police stated that, “On Thursday, June 27th, 2013, Detectives from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit/Child Abuse Unit, Technological Crimes Unit and Uniform Officers executed a search warrant at a St. Catharines residence. Subsequently, a significant number of computer systems and peripheral devices were seized as evidence.

“Kenneth McCulloch, 42 years old, of St. Catharines, Ontario, was arrested and is charged with one count each of Possession of Child Pornography, Making Child Pornography Available, and Accessing Child Pornography, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. This investigation is ongoing. McCulloch is being held in custody, pending a bail hearing scheduled for June 28th, 2013 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.”

In an official company post, CEO Paul Caporicci stated that, “Having just learned of these disturbing charges today and based on the serious nature of them, Ken McCulloch is no longer affiliated in any way with Precursor Games.” The former Silicon Knights director’s name has been removed from the site and staff listings.

Phil Spencer: “We Still Have Exclusives to Reveal”

Microsoft revealed at its Xbox One reveal event that they will be bringing 15 new exclusives to their next generation console, with 8 of them being all-new intellectual properties. As it stands, TitanFall, Killer Instinct, Crimson Dragon, Forza Motorsport 5, Project Spark, Dead Rising 3, Halo, Sunset Overdrive and many more have already been revealed during Microsoft’s E3 presser.

But the publisher isn’t done yet. According to Microsoft Games Studio head Phil Spencer in a short response on 

There is a chance we could see titles like the next Banjo-Kazooie and Gears of War along with a new Fable. However, there’s also a chance that Lionhead Studios and Rare could be bringing out entirely new IPs for the Xbox One.

As for where these exclusives will be revealed, our money is on Gamescom. Expect a few announcements before then as well. Which exclusives are you looking forward to, or wish that Microsoft would announce?

10 Most Wanted Features The PS4 Is Still Missing

Sony really came out strong at E3 this year. They wowed the crowd and really left their competition reeling and so worried Microsoft had to completely change their game plan. There is no doubt that the PS4 is going to be an amazing piece of hardware upon it’s release. With all the features that are going to be available to the console on Day one it seems like Sony didn’t miss a thing. While we here are GamingBolt don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, there still is room for some improvement.

A complete PS library in Gaikai

It would be great to see every game in the Sony library as it stands in Gaikai. This isn’t something that needs to be released and available on release, but at some point it would be nice to have the option to play some of our old favorites from PS+. While it does sound like Sony plans on releasing some titles on Gaikai from previous PlayStation generations it doesn’t sound like they’re planning on taking on such a monumental task.

Backwards compatibility

Many of us already have a PS3, and many of us also have limited space to set everything up in our entertainment areas. There are quite a few games that will still be worth playing on the PS3, even when the PS4 is released. This means anyone looking to play a favorite or go back and play a few games they’ve missed is going to have to have both of their consoles up and running. While there is certainly a reason why Sony has not included backwards compatibility in the PS4, it sure would be a nice option to have.

Folding@Home-like service

This was a great little feature to have on the PS3, allowing the processor from the console to be used for scientific research. Plenty of people used this feature and allowed the machine to lend a helping hand in some number crunching while the PS3 was sitting ideally. It’s a great idea, but the problem with it is the console is usually being used when it’s one. IT’s still a great idea and gives the owner a little bit extra from the entertainment hardware than simply being able to play and stream games.

Full 4K media support:

While Sony is supporting 4K resolution; the next big thing in Televisions and displays, it is only for select media. Games and movies will have to be made to use this feature rather than simply being enabled with the console detects a 4K compatible display. If Sony really wants to get the most out of their graphics, pushing this option out to all the developers would certainly be a good way to do it. Sure, right now a TV like this is out of our price range but the way technology moves forward it’s not going to be like that forever. Sony might as well get in on the bottom floor with this one.

Complete Keyboard and Mouse Support:

Now, I know some titles are going to have this option and the PS3 even allowed for a keyboard and mouse to be plugged into it, but it would be nice to have this option for gaming as well. Plenty of game-types could certainly benefit from this option, especially first person games. This is probably a pipe dream, but racing games have a steering wheel and pedals, so why not a keyboard and mouse option for the PC fans in all the games?

More cooperative play:

So Sony and a lot of developers have announced plenty of online and cooperative titles that are coming to both the PS4 and the Xbox One, but this is tread that I really hope continues to grow. While competitive arena play can be fun I think there are some really good, creative opportunities available to developers on the new generation of consoles. With the great community backbone that’s going to be available for the PS4 right out of the box there is certainly a bright future on the horizon for cooperative play.

Remote Access to Your Console:

While you can see other people’s consoles and as well as their videos or other content they’ve created online what about being able to remote into your console from any or all mobile devices, maybe even being able to manage it from the PS+ website. You can buy games, manage data stored on the machine and even track it if it’s been stolen. iPhones, Android device and computers have all this stuff, for $400 big ones, shouldn’t we have that too?

An Actual Release Date:

Sony is saying that it will be available by the Holiday season, 2013. But how’s about a specific day. At this point I don’t think it’s asking too much. There has been rumors floating around the web about its release in Mid-November and some saying specifically the 13th of that month. Sony however, is staying pretty close-lipped about their true release date. I am not going to get my hopes up about it until Sony either confirms it or backs up their release date with an official press response.

Better Codec Support:

I don’t know about you, but I use my PS3 for a lot of other media too. While most of us have Netflix and can stream plenty of content to that it would be nice to see some better support for video and other media. Maybe not right away, but it would be something to work on for the future. With all the different file formats out there, it would be nice to not have to take the time to convert various media-types from data folks have collected over the years to get it functioning properly and in the right aspect ratio. While the PS3 has the best multimedia support out of the current consoles to date, it would be great to see them continue this trend.

Better Network Presence:

I like my devices to talk to one another and I don’t mean over the cloud. It would be nice to see the ability to easily pull and push PS+ content to your PS4 from your PC or Mac computer. You could copy over video from the console to share with friends who maybe don’t have a PS4 or PS+ account, or to have a local backup on a storage disk. Sony has already taken huge steps in sharing through their community with the console, so why not make it an equally viable option for any computer that can connect to the web? Accessibility of your information no matter where the player is, is going to be key in the next generation.