Apple iPhone 5s 64

Samsung recently said that it is planning to have 64-bit chips in its own range of smartphones — turns out it may have had a head start. Apple’s A7 is the first 64-bit ARM processor to land in a smartphone. (Credit: CNET) Chipworks, working with iFixit, has torn down the iPhone 5s, allowing it to …

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Moto X beats out iPhone 5S, 5C, and Galaxy S4 for durability

Apple fanboys and Samsung believers aren’t going to like this: Google’s Moto X has been crowned the king of durability. The latest “breakability” score by protection plan company SquareTrade claims Moto X is the best surviving smartphone when it comes to drops, slides, and water dunks. Coming in second place is Apple’s iPhone 5S, then Apple’s iPhone 5C, and lastly …

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Sony sensor found inside iPhone 5s

The boffins at iFixit have uncovered yet another Sony sensor inside the latest iPhone. The camera module inside the iPhone 5s. (Credit: iFixit) What differentiates the 8-megapixel unit from that found on the iPhone 5 is the larger pixel pitch. Jim Morrison from Chipworks is quoted by iFixit, stating that: “the DNL markings are consistent with the markings on the …

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BlackBerry loses US$950m, job cuts to follow

BlackBerry has announced that it anticipates losing between US$950 million and US$955 million in the second quarter of this financial year. BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) The loss has initiated a number of changes at the beleaguered company, with 4500 jobs set to be axed and a company-wide change in strategy to refocus on the business and “prosumer” …

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Apple Touch ID “hacked”

German hacker group the Chaos Computer Club claims to have hacked Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner using “easy everyday means”. (Credit: Apple) It was only a matter of time before someone claimed to have defeated Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner — and German hacker group the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) is the first to step up, with what it is …

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Getting to know Control Center on iOS 7

Jason Cipriani/CNET The simple act of enabling Bluetooth, or disabling Wi-Fi on an iOS device has never been truly simple. The process required way too many taps to navigate to a switch buried deep within the Settings app. With iOS 7 the process to control things such as Wi-Fi, orientation lock, music, brightness, airplane mode, and Do Not Disturb has …

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Foxtel unveils movie

Foxtel has introduced a new service into its ever-growing brand family, called Presto. (Screenshot by Nic Healey/CNET Australia) The service will cost AU$24.99 per month, with users gaining access to all seven of Foxtel’s movie channels: Foxtel Movies Premiere, Foxtel Movies Comedy, Foxtel Movies Drama/Romance, Foxtel Movies Thriller/Crime, Foxtel Movies Action/Adventure, Foxtel Movies Family and Foxtel Movies Masterpiece. Presto is …

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Australian wireless microphone frequencies become illegal in 2015

The use of many wireless microphones and transmitters in Australia will be illegal from the start of 2015 thanks to a change in the frequency range. (Credit: Sennheiser) Currently, the spectrum between 520MHz-820MHz is used for TV broadcasting, and wireless microphones can operate in the gaps between. As the transition between analog and digital broadcasting is completed, the frequencies between …

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BlackBerry on why you should give BBM a chance (Q&A)

BlackBerry Messenger finally makes its debut on iOS and Android devices this weekend. But will anyone care? Related stories Best Password Manager to Use for 2022 Your Phone Screen Is Gross. Here’s How to Clean It Without Causing Damage Spending All Night With the First iPhone Kanye West’s Donda 2 Skips Spotify, 5G BlackBerry is Dead BlackBerry’s 5G Phone Is …

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Apple’s iPhone 5C ad stresses the plastic, not the specs

To the tune of Sleigh Bells’ Ring Ring (and you have to wonder if the New York duo had phone ads in mind when they composed this catchy song), Apple reveals its new iPhone 5C to the world. Not the keynote-following, tech-literate world, but the rest of the world — the ones who’ll buy this hyper-coloured mobile. The ad is …

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Android KitKat release set for October, Nexus 5 too?

Android KitKat is coming next month. That’s the word from the chocolatiers at Nestlé who lent their name to the next update for Google’s operating system for mobile phones and tablets — which could mean the Google Nexus 5 is imminent too. Each new Android update is shown off by a new Nexus phone, and if KitKat is coming then …

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iPhone 5S on Three isn’t cheap, but has unlimited data

Three has revealed its pricing for the iPhone 5S, which hits shops today. The numerical network’s tariffs aren’t exactly cheap, but do get you unlimited data — something that’s tough to find on other UK networks. The 16GB iPhone 5S can be yours for £37 per month over two years and £99 up front, on the ‘Ultimate 500’ tariff that …

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Where to find the bubble level in iOS 7

The bubble or spirit level is not among the headlining features of iOS 7, but if you are assembling a piece of Ikea furniture, hanging a picture, or otherwise find yourself in need of a level, it can save you a trip to the garage or basement for your actual level or the App Store for such a third-party app. …

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iPhone 5S vs. 5C: Which should you buy? (infographic)

Casting a wider net than ever, Apple launched two iPhones this year, the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S. For some, choosing a device is as easy as picking a color, but with $100 separating the two prices, making that decision might be a little more difficult than expected. As you consider your choices, use this infographic to see how …

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How to completely silence Do Not Disturb in iOS 7

Jason Cipriani/CNET When Apple first introduced Do Not Disturb (DND) in iOS 6, it was welcomed as a solution for not interrupting meetings or waking you up all night from alerts. While DND succeeds at those two claims, immediately after the release of iOS 6 users realized it needed more. You see, on iOS 6 users who had DND turned …

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