Teen suffers second-degree burns after iPhone catches fire in pocket

A 13-year-old girl from Maine has suffered first and second degree burns after her iPhonecaught fire in her pocket. The smartphone allegedly caught fire last Friday while the girl was in class. Some reports indicate that the device in this case was an iPhone 5C, but that is unconfirmed.

The girl reportedly had the iPhone in her back pocket when she sat down. She reportedly heard a popping sound from her back pocket where the phone was and saw smoke. The boys in class were reportedly asked to leave the room while the girl removed her pants.

The teacher covered her with a blanket and she was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released. Officials investigating the fire say that they think the smartphone shorted out when she sat down.

The principal of the school says that the girl did the stop, drop, and roll procedure taught in school. The officials say that people need to be cautious when putting smartphones in their back pocket out of fear of causing an electrical short. There have been no official comments from Apple on the case.

SOURCE: USA Today

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Turn your Apple iPhone into an air freshener with Scentee, now available in America

Want to make sure that the world around you smells like strawberry, rosemary or even coffee? Scentee is an odd little accessory for your Apple iPhone or (just one) Android device that plugs into the earphone jack on the phone. Using a third party app, you can have the Scentee spray out a pleasant smelling aroma based on timed intervals, an alarm clock setting, or whenever you feel like a spray is necessary.

The Scentee costs $35 and can be filled with different fragrances. Each one costs $5 and is good for about 100 sprays. You can choose from coffee, lavender, rose, rosemary and strawberry. The Scentee starter kit includes one scent cartridge, a manual, USB charger and a mount. The accessory has been around previously in Japan, and is now being offered to America via online sales. The app has been on iTunes since November, but has not been available in markets outside of that country.

The Scentee works for the Apple iPhone 4s, Apple iPhone 5, Apple iPhone 5s and the Apple iPhone 5c. It also works on the Apple iPad 2 and the third-generation Apple iPad. There is one Android handset that supports the aroma sprayer, the Samsung Galaxy SC-04E, which can be found only in Japan.

You can click on the rather long and convoluted video below to see the Scentee in action, or click on the sourcelink to view the accessory's web site.

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Android grabbed over 50% of US smartphone sales in Q4 reports Kantar

Some new numbers are in that look at the smartphone market in Q4 2013. These numbers are from research firm Kantar and they show that Android had over half of the smartphone market during the quarter in the US. While Android grew, its major competition the iPhone declined.

Kantar reports that the iPhone market share for Q4 2013 dropped to 43.9% from nearly 50% the same quarter of the previous year. Android gained in the US bringing its share of the smartphone market to 50.6%.

That growth for Android is up significantly for the 46.2% of the market it held in Q4 2012. Kantar doesn't offer details on how many smartphones shipped in Q4, but the company says Apple sold more iPhones than the same time last year despite the share decline.

Kantar also notes that the US isn't the strongest market for the iPhone anymore. Japan now has that distinction with the iPhone making up 68.7% of smartphone sales in Japan in Q4. The iPhone market share in Great Britain was 29.9% and the Apple smartphone had 19% of the market in China. Windows Phone also grew its market share during the quarter growing from 2.4% in Q4 2012 to 4.3% in Q4 2013.

SOURCE: Computer World

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Apple iOS 7 fix for random iPhone reboots in pipeline

Apple is readying a firmware update for iOS 7 which the company says will address unexpected reboots that users of the iPhone have reported in considerable numbers since the latest smartphone OS version was released. The glitch, colloquially known as the "white/black screen of death", affects iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5 users, among others, with the smartphone suddenly freezing and then performing a soft-reboot.

The exact cause of the problem is unclear, though some have suggested that the reboots are more common when the battery level falls below 30-percent. That's not consistently the case, however, and the reboots can occur when apps are being loaded or switched between.

"We have a fix in an upcoming software update" an Apple spokesperson told Mashable, "for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash."

The problem manifests in different ways depending on the color of the iPhone. Those with a light colored handset usually see a black Apple logo on a white background, while on a dark handset that's reversed.

Waiting for Apple to address the problem is not something every iPhone owner is willing to do, and the company's support forum is full of users either experiencing the issue or with a potential way to patch it. Although most affected find their phone restarts with no issues, some have had to connect an external power source in order to reboot.

The official fix is expected to be part of iOS 7.1, the next significant update, and currently in the fourth round of testing with developers. When it'll be released publicly is unknown at this stage.

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iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5C head to head review

GADGET DESIGNER Apple's iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C handsets have been on the market since last September, which means that we've managed to spend a couple of months with both of the devices to find out which one really is best.

Design
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are world's apart in design. The iPhone 5S carries over the iPhone 5's two-tone aluminium design, while the iPhone 5C does away with this in favour of a fully plastic chassis.

Although we immediately warmed to the design of the iPhone 5C because the phone was something new and different from Apple, the iPhone 5S undoubtedly is the more premium of the two. It's the smaller of the two, also, measuring just 7.6mm thick. As with the iPhone 5, this means that the iPhone 5S sits comfortably in hand despite its angular shape.



One downside of the iPhone 5S design, however, is that Apple's aluminium casing is prone to scratches and chips.

Some have argued that the plastic casing of the iPhone 5C makes it look cheap. As we pointed out in our iPhone 5C review, however, the handset feels surprisingly tough, with the smooth plastic feeling more expensive than cheap. That said, we did find it hard to grip at times due to the slick plastic, although the handset's chunkier 8.9mm casing didn't make it feel bulky.

The iPhone 5C is available in blue, green, pink, yellow and white, while the iPhone 5S is available in white, gold and space grey.

While some will prefer the plastic casing of the iPhone 5C to aluminium, the iPhone 5S has an additional design feature which we think puts it ahead in this category - its Touch ID sensor.



This is a reworked Home key, and allows users to unlock the device using their fingerprint. Although it's temperamental at times, we think that this feature nudges the iPhone 5S to victory in design.

Winner: iPhone 5S

Display
While they are world's apart in design, the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C both have the same 4in 640x1136 resolution display with a pixel density of 326ppi.

Of course, while it's impossible to pick a winner in this category, it's worth noting that the screen on both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C remains one of the best smartphone displays on the market, producing crystal-clear images and sharply defined text.

Winner: Draw

Performance
There are only a few major differences between the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, but performance is one of them.

The iPhone 5S features Apple's 64bit A7 chip, which is paired with the firm's M7 coprocessor for more accurate movement detection. The iPhone 5C, on the other hand, features Apple's previous generation A6 processor that made its debut in the iPhone 5.

While there are no major performance differences between the two in real-world testing, the iPhone 5S is the more powerful of the two compared to its cheaper sibling in gaming, opening apps, and loading webpages. We also found everything was a little bit smoother on the iPhone 5S, with the iPhone 5C stuttering occasionally.

Winner: iPhone 5S

Software
Both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C run Apple's latest iOS 7 mobile operating system.

Of course, the software remains nearly identical on both devices. There are a few slight differences, with the iPhone 5S boasting the ability to buy apps, and of course unlock the device using the built-in Touch ID sensor. The iPhone 5S camera app also comes with a built-in slow-motion video recording mode, a feature that's missing on the cheaper iPhone 5C.



As we mentioned, iOS 7 is also slightly smoother on the iPhone 5C, with apps opening a fraction quicker, webpages loading more smoothly, and gameplay being more impressive.

Beyond that, however, you'll find the same, minimalist iOS 7 user interface and features on both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. Although Apple's latest mobile operating system received a fair bit of criticism at launch and we still have our gripes with the reworked user interface, we have warmed to iOS 7. The new user interface feels fresh, and new features such as the Control Center and the redesigned Safari web browser are welcome.

Winner: iPhone 5S

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Leaked packaging shows Apple iPhone case that gives the phone NFC and support for Isis

Leak of retail packaging shows new case for the Apple iPhone that supports NFC and the Isis Mobile Wallet
A leaked photograph of some retail packaging appears to show a new case for the Apple iPhone that will be offered by AT&T. The case will feature a micro-NFC chip, which together with a free mobile app, will allow the iPhone to support the Isis mobile payment service. The Incipio Cashwrap will retail for $70 and is already in AT&T's inventory, according to published reports.

At CES, a version of the case for both the Apple iPhone 4 and Apple iPhone 4s was revealed. The cases are expected to launch in March. While AT&T is involved in the release of the Cashwrap case, it is unknown whether the other two carriers involved in the Isis mobile payment service, T-Mobile and Verizon, will also offer the cases.

By using the case and installing the Isis Mobile Wallet app, you can store credit cards and loyalty cards, using them to pay your bill by tapping the iPhone on an Isis Mobile Payment terminal.

source: Engadget

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iPhone 6 with 4.7-inch screen due in June, 5.7-inch iPhone to follow later?

Apple may launch the iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch screen at WWDC in June and follow-up with a 5.7-inch iPhone later in the year.

According to Chinese analyst Sun Chyang Xu, who predicted the Moto X ahead of time, the new iPhone 6 is going into production next month. He says this will be a trail production with full scale manufacturing in May - just in time for WWDC in June.

The iPhone 6 will come with a 4.7-inch display which, Chyan Xu claims, will be the same 1136 x 640 resolution screen as the current model. A higher resolution will appear on the larger 5.7-inch model which will follow later in the year. Despite the shift in release dates we'd expect both to be announced at the same time at the 10 June WWDC.

That being said Apple has exhausted it's easy growth through distribution expansion as it's arrived in China. Now it's likely the fruit giant will need to have more than one phone launch a year - hence the two sized handsets. Whether that will mean another launch event other than WWDC is unclear but it would be a first for Apple.

Little else is known at this early stage. Expect to hear more after the crazy announcement-fest that is Mobile World Congress in February.

Via: unwiredview

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Apple's iPhone 6 could arrive with a 5.5-inch display and iWatch may have 1.3-inch AMOLED screen

The next generation of Apple iPhone could come in even larger sizes with a 5.5-inch iPhone 6.

Reseach company DisplaySearch has made its forcast for Apple in 2014. It believes we can expect two iPhones, one at 4.7-inches with a 900 x 1600 resolution screen (386ppi) and the other at 5.5-inches with a 1080 x 1920 resolution (401ppi). Both will use the same low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) LCD screens as the iPhone 5S.

DisplaySearch also estimates that the much talked about Apple iWatch should come equipped with a 1.3-inch or 1.6-inch flexible AMOLED screen. The smaller size will have 348ppi while the larger will be a reduced 278ppi.

The rumoured Apple iPad Pro tablet, at 12.9-inches, would have a 2732 x 2048 resolution screen for 265ppi, predicts DisplaySearch.

It's all predictions right now but a growing screen size is a common trend that Apple can't ignore. As for that iWatch, if we don't see it this year Apple may find itself slipping behind.

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Apple relaunching 8GB iPhone 4 in India to boost sales

Apple is said to be re-releasing the iPhone 4 in India, specifically the 8GB model, according to The Economic Times. The move comes as a result to boost sales in the Indian market, which Apple has been losing to cheaper rivals running Android and Windows Phone 8

The iPhone 4 was a popular model for Apple because of its relatively lower price compared to the newer iPhones in India. Apple and the iPhone in particular are aspirational brands in India and as such are on everyone's wishlist but the high price of the unlocked models means most people either go for the older cheaper models or some rival brand, of which there is no shortage.

With the iPhone 4 being discontinued last year after the launch of the iPhone 5c and the 5s, Apple lost one of its key sellers in the Indian market, along with its customers as well. With the relaunch of the iPhone 4, Apple is trying to gain back some of these customers.

According to the source, the iPhone 4 8GB will be priced in India at around INR 15,000 ($244) through buy back schemes and EMI options. The phone is expected to go on sale as early as next week.

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