Apple launches iPhone 5S, cheaper 5C, eyes India and China

NEW DELHI: Apple has, for the first time, unveiled a cheaper smartphone, named the iPhone 5C. It has almost the same specifications as iPhone 5, which was launched as the company's flagship device last year, but in a plastic body. The iPhone 5C (with contract in the US) is cheaper than all new iPhones launched till now, and is said to be targeted at emerging markets like India and China. With the launch of iPhone 5S, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 5 that was rolled out last year and served as the flagship model till now. Apple also launched its pricey new iPhone 5S, which will take over from iPhone 5 as the latest flagship device of the company. It will be available in three colours - gold, white and black. But the wow appeal usually associated with Apple's launches clearly seemed to be missing from today's event. Unlike in the past when iPhone's newer models turned slimmer, lighter, glitzier each year, Apple seemed to have reserved most of its attention to what lies inside the body this time. However, in a bold move aimed to take on rivals Microsoft and Google, Apple also announced that it was making its premium productivity suite iWork, which can be downloaded free with iOS 7. Under the hood of iPhone 5S Unlike the iPhone 5C, this device is made using aluminium and is powered by the A7 processor. The A7 chip is the only one in the world to feature the 64-bit desktop-class architecture and is twice as fast as previous processors in performing tasks and rendering graphics. "With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, almost everything you do on iPhone 5s is faster and better than ever, from launching apps and editing photos to playing graphic-intensive games," claimed the company. The new iPhone 5S has an 8MP camera, which comes with dual-LED flash. The camera's sensor is 15% larger than that of its predecessor and offers better low-light performance. Apple claims that this phone's camera can take 20 photos in two seconds, features auto image stabilization and records 720p videos at 120 frames per second (which is the highest for any smartphone). 1080p videos are recorded at 30fps. iPhone 5S also has an all-new M7 chip that tracks motion data without waking the A7 chip and interacts with health apps to give fitness data. However, Apple claimed the two-chip system does not affect battery life of the device, which offers 250 hours on standby and 10 hours of talk time on 3G networks. At the launch, the company showcased the gaming prowess of the iPhone 5S, which supports OpenGL 3.0 standard. The new phone delivers more details and makes graphics more vivid. Google had recently introduced the OpenGL 3.0 standard in Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean). It can render rich and complex visual effects, previously only possible on desktops and gaming consoles. Apple has also introduced a new, hi-tech biometric feature called Touch ID, using which one can unlock the phone with the touch of a finger. Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life. All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored on the chip itself. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store. "iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing. "iPhone 5S sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people," Schiller claimed. Pricey proposition iPhone 5S ( with contract) will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model. The 16, 32 and 64GB unlocked variants have been priced in the US at a hefty $649, $749 and $849, respectively. This is the same pricing format followed by Apple for previous iPhones. In first phase, iPhone 5S will start retailing in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free on contract. Cooking old wine for Asia Apple's move to launch a cheaper version is clearly aimed at boosting penetration in key Asian countries like India, China and Japan. However, many may be disappointed as iPhone 5C comes across as old wine in new bottle since it has received hardly any hardware update. Instead of cutting the prices of its older models, Apple has adopted a different strategy this time. "In the past, we've lowered the price of the current iPhone, making it accessible to more people. This year, we're not going to do that," said Schiller teasingly. "The business has become so large that this year we're going to replace the iPhone 5, and we're going to replace it with not one, but two new designs," he reiterated. Of the two devices launched tonight, this is how Schiller described the cheaper variant made of polycarbonate: "iPhone 5C is beautifully, unapologetically plastic." iPhone 5C will come in two variants and will have two-year contracts. It will come in five colours - green, grey, light blue, peach, and yellow. It has a 4-inch screen and comes with Apple's A6 processor, which power the now-discontinued iPhone 5. This new cheaper iPhone has an 8MP camera with a five-element lens, similar to the one used in iPhone 5. Connectivity options in the new handset include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi. The 16GB variant of this smartphone will cost $99 on contract, while the 32GB version has been priced at $199. The unlocked 16 and 32GB versions of the iPhone 5C have been priced at $549 and $649, respectively. The company also announced cases in six colours for this handset, which will cost $29 a piece. iWork now offered free Earlier, Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the launch event at Apple headquarters in Califiornia, US, with an introduction of the company's new iOS 7 operating system. Cook surprised everyone by announcing that Apple was making available free with the new iOS 7 five of its premium paid productivity software apps such as iPhoto, iMovie. Pages, Numbers and Keynote are collectively known as iWork suite. The move clearly seems aimed at taking on Microsoft Windows Mobile and Android devices. iOS comes on September 18 iOS7 will be available for downloads from September 18, which is in contrast to Apple's past practice of rolling out the iOS update on the day of unveiling the latest iPhone. The delay could disappoint Apple aficionados, as also the fact that iOS 7 updates won't apply to many older generation devices. It is a bad news for many existing owners of Apple's mobile devices such as iPhones and iPad. The older generation devices won't get the iOS 7 update which will apply only to iPhone 4 and 5, iPad 2 and 3, iPad mini, and the 5th-gen iPod touch. This means the owners of the iPhone 3GS and iPad 1 would be left high and dry. The iOS 7 which will come pre-loaded on the two new iPhones, will feature new icons and ringtones; several new Siri features (including a male voice option); redesigned search and Safari browser; new multitasking layout in a 3D look; new camera features, including Sqaure (for Instagram photos) and better segregation of images as per location, occasion and time. It will also have a new Control Center, besides Notification Center that can be opened even on a locked screen by merely swiping down from top to bottom of the screen. Other features include improved multitasking, AirDrop and iTunes Radio. iOS and Android evenly poised With Apple shipping its 700 millionth iOS device next month, it will become the most popular mobile operating system in the world. claimed Cook. Interestingly, Apple and rival Google are neck to neck vis-a-vis app downloads. Apple's App Store had 900,000 apps and 50 billion total downloads according to the company's announcement made at the time of launch of iOS 7 on June 10. Google's Android had 1 million apps and same 50 billion downloads as announced by the company while launching the Android 4.3 on July 24.   TOI Tech